How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates

Like a rom-com twist on Scream, debut author Thompson’s unputdownable slasher-romance mash-up gets a meta edge from protagonist Jamie Prescott’s passion for both genres. Jamie, a grad student at work on a thesis about the similarities between horror films and rom-coms, attends a speed dating event at a nightclub with her roommate, Laurie—but the night takes a sharp turn away from romance and toward horror when one of her speed dates is found murdered. The novel plays out over the course of this one violent night, as the remaining attendees realize they are locked in the club with the murderer and fight for survival. It’s a gripping and often gory high-stakes drama that still leaves room for romance to blossom between some of the speed daters, including Jamie and cool under pressure Wes. Thompson dextrously balances horror and romance tropes, using Jamie’s genre-savvy narration to provide tongue-in-cheek commentary, and opens each chapter with horrific twists on classic rom-com quotes (“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life killing somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” —Not When Harry Met Sally”). It’s pure entertainment. Agent: Hana El Niwairi, CookeMcDermid Literary. (Feb.)