I never expected to have my heart broken by a horror book. Much less a horror book that tells the story of the slasher himself. But that’s precisely what happened when reading I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Tolly Driver, the protagonist, as he unwittingly descends into a world of bloody mayhem. Tolly and his best friend, Amber “Big Plume” Dennison, live in the small Texas town of Lamesa, a place of pump jacks, ranchers, and marching bands. The late ’80s backdrop of the novel is a nostalgic trip for anyone who grew up in rural America during that time. The music, the fashion, and the small-town references all come together to paint a vivid picture of the setting. When “The Lumberjack” by Jackyl was referenced, it took me straight back to that time. I was convinced I was the only person to remember that song.

Tolly and Amber are just trying to spend as much time having fun together as they can before they graduate. However, a prank turned deadly comes back to haunt the town during a high school party. As Tolly narrowly escapes his own harrowing prank, he becomes an unwitting victim of the slasher. As his life slowly becomes unfamiliar, he relies on his best friend and her encyclopedic knowledge of slashers to help him. Together, they try to navigate the bloody changes occurring in the town and in Tolly himself.

With his characteristic blend of eloquence and accessibility, Jones creates a story that is as heartfelt as it is horrific. The narrative style is captivating and creates in the reader an inherent empathy for Tolly and Amber. The story reads like Tolly’s love letter to Amber, but really, what it becomes is a love letter to horror. It explores the utter desolation of being an outcast, the ever-changing landscape of growing up, and what it means to become something more and less than you ever expected. It’s a phenomenal read and well worth the time it takes to visit Lamesa.