I obtained a overview copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my overview and all opinions are my very own.

The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard

Mogsy’s Ranking: 3.5 of 5 stars

Style: Younger Grownup, Horror, Thriller

Collection: Stand Alone

Writer: Tor Teen (August 26, 2025)

Size: 304 pages

In the event you have been a 90s child like me, The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard goes to really feel like a throwback in the most effective and typically essentially the most irritating methods. Mixing city legends, smalltown horror, and highschool shenanigans, this e-book serves up equal elements nostalgia and intrigue. Though it does take a while to seek out its stride, I feel readers will discover a lot right here to get hooked on.

The story follows Freddie Gellar, a clumsy however exuberant teenage woman who by no means anticipated a single impulsive cellphone name to vary her life. In any case, she simply thought she was doing her civic obligation by phoning in a noise report back to the cops. As a substitute, her tip winds up breaking apart a rival college’s celebration within the woods, placing half their soccer crew out of fee once they all get busted for underage ingesting. Consequently, her actions additionally trigger an escalation within the long-standing prank battle between Berm Excessive and Allard Fortin Prep. In a single day, Freddie is reworked from the unassuming outsider to prank queen, incomes the admiration of the favored youngsters in school and even the eye of her longtime crush. For some time, it feels as if all her goals have come true…till it doesn’t.

What started as a sequence of innocent tips out of the blue turns sinister with the invention of a useless physique. Quickly after, one other ugly scene is discovered, making it clear one thing way more harmful than highschool drama is at play. Decided to uncover the reality, Freddie dives into her personal investigation, aided by a cocky Fortin Prep boy named Theo Porter, who ought to be her enemy however isn’t fairly performing like one. Clues unearth an previous story within the historic archives in regards to the Executioners Three, a darkish piece of native lore that may not be only a legend as everybody thought. As extra unsettling occasions pile up, Freddie realizes extra folks she is aware of and cares about will die if she doesn’t put a cease to the lurking menace.

The very best factor in regards to the e-book is its tone. Freddie’s voice is enjoyable and vigorous, even irreverent and sassy from time to time. However what can’t be ignored is the persistent undercurrent of darkness. Dennard balances small-town quirks and the frenzy of highschool life towards genuinely creeptastic moments, particularly after we witness unsettling sights within the woods or when Freddie and her associates are confronting the horrifying legacy of the Executioners Three. Our protagonist’s frenetic persona is likely to be one thing of an acquired style, however she’s really fairly straightforward to root for when you get used to her. Sensible, decided, and greater than a little bit bizarre, Freddie’s wit provides appeal to the narrative, particularly when she and Theo are enjoying their banter off one another.

However for all its strengths, the e-book additionally had just a few hiccups. To start out, I felt the story took too lengthy to get off the bottom. The primary act devotes plenty of time to highschool dramatics and the silliness of prank wars, which, whereas helpful for organising the stage, begins to tug earlier than the meat of the thriller lastly kicks in. To be truthful, the e-book turns into a lot stronger as soon as issues shift gears, however the sluggish buildup was positively making an attempt my endurance.

The 90s references have been one other combined bag. Nostalgia is enjoyable, and I even had a smile for all of the mentions of boy bands, X-Information, and ICQ right here and there. However as they continued, it typically feels overdone to the purpose of gimmicky. Moments like the place the fixed title dropping bordered on parody, just like the story was winking at us a little bit too arduous. And at last, the central plot, whereas partaking, didn’t really feel as impactful as I’d hoped, overshadowed by the barage of distractions created by feuding youngsters, highschool relationship woes, and 90s overkill. There have been instances when the thriller really felt like an afterthought, not practically fleshed out sufficient to reply all my questions, and manner too easy as to be simply predictable.

Remaining ideas? The Executioners Three is a stable learn that delivers small-town horror with city legend vibes set to the good backdrop of the Nineties. However the steadiness between these components isn’t at all times good. Nonetheless, for those who’re a fan of Susan Dennard and YA thrillers—or perhaps a retro addict on the hunt in your subsequent Concern Road–type chiller—I’d positively suggest giving this one a glance.