Night of the mannequins

A teenage prank involving a mannequin turns deadly when the inanimate figure comes to life and goes on a killing spree. Thankfully, teenager Sawyer has a plan: In order to prevent more murders, he must kill each of his friends involved in the joke. This is an unsettling tale told entirely through Sawyer's unreliable narration, in a stream of consciousness confession as he plans and executes each murder, constantly looking over his shoulder for signs of the real monster. Readers will be simultaneously drawn to and repulsed by Sawyer, and entertained by the pervasive dark sense of humor. Award-winning author Graham Jones (The Only Good Indians) creates a suspenseful, fast-paced novella that keeps readers hooked. VERDICT A hotter voice in horror would be hard to find these days, and Graham Jones does not disappoint, delivering another masterpiece. Give to fans of slasher or serial killer tales, and those who enjoyed James Tynion's graphic novel series "Something Is Killing the Children" or Oyinkan Braithwaite's My Sister the Serial Killer.