“Willow is in need of an escape.

A former sitcom star, she’s been publicly shamed on the internet after posting something she really shouldn’t have.

She checks in to Camp Castaway, an adults-only retreat based at an old campground in the woods.

It’s the first night and the campers gather round the fire to tell some ghost stories. That’s when Willow hears the tale of Knock Knock Nancy. A local urban legend about a witch, brutally beheaded in this very woodland.

They say her restless spirit knocks on doors late at night. If you answer, she’ll take your head.

Willow doesn’t believe in ghost stories. But the next day, a camper has vanished under mysterious circumstances. And then that evening, in her cabin, Willow hears it . . . .

Knock, Knock, Knock.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning. Heads Will Roll was published by Penguin Books on 7th August 2025 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of Heads Will Roll, but that has in no way influenced my review.

I am totally obsessed with horror fiction, and in particular, slashers. I’m gradually working my way through the genre, trying to read absolutely everything that has, so far, been published. However, I am always on the lookout for brand new slasher fiction as well, which is why Heads Will Roll caught my eye. And how could it not with that incredible striking cover?! Melding retro summer camp vibes with a more modern look at cancel culture and identity, this modern-day slasher is a gripping, nerve-wracking joy to read.

But a disclaimer before I get stuck into this review. Heads Will Roll is another of the books I read last year in the middle of an unplanned, uninvited blogging hiatus. I was reading like a woman possessed, I just wasn’t reviewing anything because of *and I said I wouldn’t mention it again but…* shoulder surgery. So, with that in mind, this will be a shorter review than usual. I remember this book VIVIDLY. But my thoughts will be greatly condensed.

Willow, a former actor on a popular sitcom, has been publicly shamed. She posted something on her socials that she really shouldn’t have. The fallout was huge, and now the work has dried up. Her agent, to help limit the damage to Willow’s burgeoning career, has sent her to Camp Castaway (also known as ‘Camp Cancelled’) to detox from social media, her phone and her life in general. There is no social media, no contact with the outside world. Just facing up to her insanely embarrassing mistake. On her first night, Willow and her fellow campers gather around the campfire where the obligatory ghost stories are shared. And that’s where Willow first hears of Knock, Knock Nancy. A terrifying urban legend that has haunted the dreams of many a camper over the years. But hold on. They’re a group of adults. Ghost stories are for children. They really should know better. Willow doesn’t believe a word of what she’s being told. That is until the following morning when one of the campers has mysteriously disappeared…

I very much enjoyed this adults-only trip to summer camp with the disgraced and the humiliated. What a brilliant premise. There’s definitely a retro feel to proceedings with the cabins and the surrounding woods. But with the overall emphasis being on how easy it is for those in the spotlight to do or say the wrong thing and end up officially cancelled. But to be honest, the internet is the least of their worries at Camp Castaway. There’s something a lot worse waiting to greet them, and chances are, it’s not going to end well for any of them. The first half of the book is a little on the slow side, but this is where the author introduces his characters. Things really dial up as the story progresses, with plenty of gore and death. As you would expect with a title such as Heads Will Roll, there is a fair bit of decapitation. I really enjoyed this book. It’s a little different to what I initially expected, but it stays true to the slasher genre. Lots of blood-soaked fun, shocks and surprises along the way, a clear, take-home message and a cast of interesting characters. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Heads Will Roll. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning was published in the UK by Penguin Books on 7th August 2025 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Josh Winning is the critically acclaimed author of Burn the Negative, which was long-listed for a Bram Stoker Award, plus Heads Will Roll and The Shadow Glass. He is a senior film writer at Radio Times and has written for Total Film, Gay Times and Den of Geek. During his years as a film journalist, he has been on set with Kermit the Frog (and Miss Piggy), devoured breakfast with zombies on The Walking Dead, and sat on the Iron Throne on the set of Game of Thrones. Josh lives in Suffolk with his cat Penny and dreams of one day convincing Sigourney Weaver to yell “Goddammit!” at him.