Dark Friday

by: Jeffrey Lever

Published by: Capital Crimes Press

Reviewed by C. L. Rossman

Casey Wood and his high school friends hang out together to watch and rate horror movies and their sequels. The boys call themselves “The Order” and it all seems innocent enough until one day someone suggests they ask each other “If you were going to kill one chick from school, who would it be?” Things get very personal when one boy suggests killing another member’s girlfriend. The leaders try to calm things down and say it isn’t “For real”—and the meeting break up.

But then on Halloween night, five girls are killed. Is The Order behind it? Has one member gone berserk? A few of the more rational boys try to find out what’s going on, before they’re all implicated in the murders.

You might describe this book as a cross between “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th.” The town is even named “Jasonville,” but the story’s structure is rather confusing. It begins on Halloween night AFTER all the murders are done, flashes back to the boys in the club earlier, then another flashback to the night of the murders, then goes forward again, back again, and so on. That was my major problem with it: starting after the action, and switching back and forth too many times. And the girls who are killed are cardboard figures. One gets the feeling the author doesn’t care about them—they’re just there as status symbols for the boys

The main character seems to be either investigative reporter Kevin Gibson, who arrives after the murders, or Casey Wood, the boy who uncovers the murderers. His motives are not pure, however; first of all, he’s looking to protect himself and his friends.

Armchair Interviews says: This book is slanted toward horror and mystery fans.

Author’s Web page: http://www.AuthorsDen.com