I Was A Teenage Slasher – Stephen Graham Jones

Set in 1989 Lamesa, Texas, I Was A Teenage Slasher follows Tolly Driver, a 17-year-old grappling with the weight of small-town life and a dark destiny. When a tragic event pushes him down a path of vengeance, Tolly transforms into a slasher, navigating the blurred line between right and wrong. Stephen Graham Jones crafts a gripping narrative that humanizes the “monster,” blending visceral horror with raw introspection.

The novel pays homage to classic slasher tropes while subverting expectations, offering a fresh perspective through Tolly’s first-person account. Jones masterfully balances gory set pieces with poignant reflections on identity, belonging, and the cost of revenge. The story unfolds like a love letter to 1980s horror, infused with the author’s signature lyrical prose and sharp social commentary.

Tolly’s voice is magnetic—part confessional, part dark comedy—as he recounts his descent into violence with unsettling honesty. The book lingers on themes of isolation and the corrosive nature of anger, asking readers to question who truly deserves sympathy. Fans of meta-horror and character-driven thrillers will find themselves torn between rooting for Tolly and recoiling from his actions.

Jones, a New York Times bestselling author and horror luminary, delivers a tale that’s as thought-provoking as it is terrifying. The pacing builds steadily, weaving small-town gossip, high school drama, and brutal confrontations into a cohesive, haunting whole. By the end, I Was A Teenage Slasher leaves readers questioning the stories we tell about monsters—and the monsters we create.