The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard (Aug. 26, 2025) Thank you, @macmillan.audio for the #gifted advanced listening copy! #macaudio2025
It’s 1999 and Freddie Gellar is about to make an unforgettable discovery and gain a reputation as prankster of her school. Sure, she didn’t mean to get most of the rival prep school arrested during their big party – she just heard screaming, and when your favorite show is The X-Files, you assume the worst. But when a body turns up the next day, Freddie realizes she’s stumbled into something much darker.
Determined to uncover the truth, Freddie starts digging – and the deeper she goes, the more danger she’s in. Between basic cable, flip phones, microfiche, and cameras that require physical film (and patience), solving a crime in 1999 comes with its own unique challenges. What follows is a wonderful blend of thriller and paranormal mystery – think Scooby-Doo meets Stranger Things – complete with a deliciously cutthroat prank war between the public high school and the elite prep school.
I loved how the town’s current events were tangled up with its hidden history, and how the side characters felt like they had secrets worth uncovering. Parts of the story are genuinely chilling, while others had me grinning at the clever twists. Freddie herself is a standout. She’s brave, impulsive, and so much fun to follow. I didn’t want her story to end.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Caitlin Davies did such a great job with a wildly diverse number of characters and events. I would absolutely recommend this one on audio. (10h 48m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book Smart Kate 