A decade ago, the release of the horror film No One Can Hear You Scream catapulted a young no-name cast into Hollywood fame. But below the surface, they were dealing with the fallout of their friend’s tragic death on set.
Now the cast is reuniting at the remote ski resort where the movie was filmed to announce the sequel and get a first glimpse of the screenplay. Cassidy, Jake, Ben, and Ruby—they’ve all followed different paths over the years, and each has their own reason for agreeing to return to a place they had sworn to leave behind.
At first everyone works hard to ignore the shadows of the past and focus on the opportunity ahead. But the reunion takes a dark turn during the midnight announcement to fans when a disturbing incident stirs up a long-buried secret.
Each of them has something to lose. Each of them has something to hide. And if they want to survive the weekend, they'll have to deliver the performance of a lifetime… (Pub Date: Nov 10 2026)Perhaps due to its inspiration from horror movies and books, this story reads like something you've seen before. But it's on purpose; don't be fooled. We start years after this group of actors filmed a horror movie about being locked in the very resort where they find themselves again. This time, stuck there for real in a snowstorm. Their director disappears, the power goes out, and there's no phone service. And they have to watch their words because Izzy, some kind of podcaster for a famous horror-movie-focused website, is also there, supposedly to livestream what was meant to be the announcement of a sequel to their movie. They can't trust her, but she can't trust them either, as she realizes they know more about the disappearance of one of the cast members years earlier than they've told the public.
3.5, rounded up to 4.
The book's pace only picks up later, as it breaks from the mold and shows its true colors. However, it takes too long to get there, and I'm wondering if it's out of the need to introduce each of the characters. Also, it's told from two points of view, Cassidy's, the leading actress of that horror movie, who is trying to get her career back on track even if it means facing all the trauma that same movie brought her; and Izzy's. Each of them has their own story, so I understand the need for the dual narration, but it still didn't work for me. Maybe because Izzy's story was so much more interesting, while Cassidy was just there, reacting to stuff happening. Even when she does take more initiative, it's mostly because the plot needed her to, which doesn't help make her interesting.
My other issue is related to all we discover later, so I won't spoil it for you. But, considering how emotional everything was, there was a better way to handle these big reveals. I also wish they hadn't been saved for so late. At times, there wasn't enough time to digest the latest twist and recalculate my predictions before the next one. Thus, not enough payoff.
Aside from that, the feeling of familiarity I mentioned is intentional. This book has its own story, and it's a good one that keeps you turning pages. We get some interstitial chapters too, showing what people are saying online, and they're both interesting, as we get to hear opinions on each character and the story, and also informative, filling the gaps our characters can't or won't reveal. And what I liked most is that this isn't a locked-room mystery, but maybe it is. Actually, you don't even know what kind of mystery it will be until you're already way too deep into the story—are they being manipulated? Do we have a psycho on the loose for revenge? Are they even really locked in there?—and asking myself these questions was the most fun part and made this read feel more unique.
I recommend it to whoever likes their thriller with a flavor of horror and nostalgia for all those '90s flicks.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
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