A well-meaning father drags his family into the California mountains for a quiet Christmas in a remote cottage with the intent to heal their fractured relationship. Unfortunately for the family, the property they chose to rent was the site of a grizzly murder ten years prior and the culprit may still be lurking in the shadows.

This was a lot of fun! If you like old-school slashers, this will be right up your alley. Both teens, Austin and his sister Fiona, were both fully realized, sympathetic and well-developed characters who I found myself rooting for right off the bat. I loved just how quickly the author got to the action as well as how inventive he was with the story’s gruesome kills. That being said, given that this is a novella, I guess there isn’t a lot of time to spend hanging around and developing characters, however this did not feel shallow at all. The stakes definitely were there and I was fully invested as the novel moved toward its climax.

Candy Cain Kills is a quick, frightful festive read perfect for horror enthusiasts looking something a little less cutesy this time of year.