Who knew (not me) there is such a crossover Venn Diagram in traits between slasher movies and rom-coms? In HOW TO KILL A GUY IN TEN DATES (Simon and Schuster 2026), debut author Shailee Thompson indulges in two of her favourite genres: slasher/horror/bloody crime thrillers, and sentimental/doe-eyed/perfect match romantic comedies. And she combines the two so well we forget which book we’re in (until a machete slices someone’s head open, or a horny couple almost have sex in a closet). It’s a strange dichotomy, but Thompson’s knowledge of both genres, in films and books, combines them into a highly entertaining, grisly, compelling, page-turning fight for life, with the added warm fuzzies of ‘eye-fucks’, instant attraction, sizzling intimacy and desperate need.
The premise is simple yet original. Film buff Jamie and her best friend Laurie attend a speed-dating event at a nightclub, planning to meet 10 men each for 10 minutes each, to see if they might ‘match’ and want to take their relationship further by meeting up again at the end of the night. They expect to have a relaxed and fun night, enjoy a few drinks, meet possibly mediocre men (but who knows? Maybe ‘the one’?!) and have a good laugh.
What Jamie certainly doesn’t expect is one of her dates to have his throat slit during a blackout, and when the lights come back on, to find that she and the others (those still alive) are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, in a building designed like an impenetrable maze, with the doors and exits locked, and the killer or killers constructing grand romantic gestures while simultaneously hunting down the survivors one by one. It is a nightmare, a bloody, visceral, violent scene. But Thompson tempers this with the rom-com part – friendships and bonds are forged, passion ignites, flirtation and skin-to-skin electricity still occur despite the compromised environment.
Armed with makeshift weapons, Jamie uses her extensive knowledge of slasher films – and what NOT to do – to try to save herself and those with her. We’ve all had that feeling watching a horror movie when we shout at the TV to the lone girl descending the stairs because she heard a strange noise: ‘Don’t do it! Call the police! Get back-up! Hide! Run!’ Jamie has a list of 10 rules including ‘Always hide for longer than you think’ (Rule 2); ‘Don’t split up’ (Rule 5); and ‘Don’t Say ‘I’ll be right back’’ (Rule 8). She also needs to focus on identifying and avoiding the killer/s, and stop getting distracted by some very hot guys she meets during the night. After all, even a hot guy could be a killer, couldn’t he?
This genre-bending killer love story defies all narrative presumptions yet also follows every rule or idea about what makes a great story. Thompson’s writing and dialogue is crisp, punchy and outrageously funny. HOW TO KILL A GUY IN TEN DATES will not be everyone’s cup of tea – there’s a LOT of blood and gore, and descriptions of spectacularly gruesome kills. But there’s also love and friendship, sacrifice and loyalty, courage and desire. This novel will appeal to readers who love something really different, a cross-genre book that will test your appetite for gore and satiate your support for a brave, clever and independent female protagonist.