Heads Will Roll

Winning (Burn the Negative) takes cancel culture to terrifying extremes in this gruesome yet surprisingly upbeat horror novel. Sitcom star Willow is caught in “tweetageddon” after her well-meaning post is misinterpreted and she’s accused of being a right-wing, anti-gay crackpot. After losing her job, her fiancé, and all of her friends, she heads to Camp Castaway, an adult sleepaway camp that bans phones and promises to unplug visitors from the internet. The “Camp Mom,” Bebe, created the haven out of a sincere desire to help others, but the place hides a dark secret. On the first night, campers hear a classic fireside ghost story about Knock-Knock Nancy, a headless spirit who cuts off the heads of others in hopes of replacing her own. As campers begin to disappear and eerie knocking sounds are heard throughout the campsite, Willow and the others start to wonder whether the story might be true. Their retreat from the world soon becomes horrific, but, in banding together, this group of wounded souls learn to embrace their true selves. Between the frequent jump scares and blood spillage, Winning’s story is packed with an awful lot of heart. Readers will be on the edges of their seats. Agent: Kristina Perez, Perez Literary. (July)