Chopping Spree, by Angela Sylvaine, (Sept. 2024, Dark Matter INK), $14.99, ISBN: 9781958598313
Ages 14+
I am a woman of a certain age, and that certain age involved reading Stephen King before I entered my teens, and watching movies where a lunatic chased teens, and hanging out at the mall. Chopping Spree ticks off all of those boxes: I mean, look at this cover! Let’s dive into this novella: set in the present-day, the action in Chopping Mall takes place in a mall that’s all about giving folks the ’80s experience, from the hits piped through the speakers to the pastel colors. Penny is a high school junior who works at the mall, working at a trendy store run by her best friend’s parents. The town has been besieged by disappearing teens, and Penny has her own thoughts on the matter but doesn’t want her cool coworkers to think she’s some kind of conspiracy nut. When an after-work part goes horribly awry, though, Penny and her friends find themselves the target of a killer let loose in the mall, and she’s about to learn some very dark secrets about her town.
I had a blast reading Chopping Spree. It’s quick, it’s fun, and it never takes itself too seriously. With an over-the-top reveal and an ending that will leave readers shrieking with glee, it’s Tales from the Darkside-level joy. With Halloween coming, now’s the perfect time to put this on a display right next to Stranger Things.
Mom Read It 