Camp Lanier Book Review: A Horror Novel by Sylvester Barzey

I just have to share my Camp Lanier book review with you. I finished reading it last night and it was unreal. It’s almost the end of the summer so I thought a little summer camp horror would be a satisfying weekend read. And I was correct. But now it’s the next morning and I can’t stop thinking about this book.

Imagine heading off to your Summer job in the woods with no cell phone and no way to contact the outside world besides letters. That’s fine. But then weird things start happening. That’s not so fine. I mean, how are you supposed to call for help with no cell phone?

This is my first time reading a book by Sylvester Barzey and it was very enjoyable. Keep reading for my full Camp Lanier book review because this book is an unforgettable horror that will stick with you for a long time afterward.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review! And if you’re interested in reading more of my book discussions, click here.

What is Camp Lanier by Sylvester Barzey about?

At Camp Lanier, the horror is no ghost story.

Taylor Johnson didn’t mean to hurt anyone.

When she’s caught shoplifting with her wealthy white friends, she’s the one who takes the fall. Her only way out? Agreeing to work in a community service program that takes at-risk youth and employs them at Camp Lanier for the summer.

Taylor’s heard the rumors about Camp Lanier.

Everyone has.

Urban legends say that an all Black town was forced out to create the lake, and it has been cursed ever since.

Taylor’s too old to believe in ghost stories.

But if the ghosts aren’t real, why is she the only one who can hear someone crying at night? Why are kids disappearing? And the whispers of a serial killer named the Atlanta Ripper stalking the woods… that can’t be real, can it?

None of it makes sense.

Kids have been “running away” from Camp Lanier for the last 52 years, and Taylor wants to find out why – even if it means swimming to the bottom of the lake and finding out what’s really down there.

Camp Lanier is a horror novel from Sylvester Barzey that’s based on the urban legend of Lake Lanier in Georgia. If you like Black heroes, terrifying ghosts, and scares that will keep you up at night, then this is the book for you. (from Amazon.com)

My First Impressions

Taylor Johnson is a great character, so my first impression of this story was how unfair it all was! I hated how the so-called friends (aka the rich kids) at Taylor’s school treated her. I hated how her lawyer treated her. And the conversation Taylor and her Mom had after she picked her up from mall jail was just so sad it made me want to cry. But then things started looking up. At least she was allowed to spend the summer at a work release program for at-risk youth rather than go to jail.

But like in all great horror movies and books, things don’t look up for long.

I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert on the genre or anything, because I’m definitely not. I’m a big chicken when it comes to scary movies. But I will say that I thought this story was so cool and unlike anything I’ve read before. The spookiness was so good and I really felt frightened every time Taylor found herself in trouble (like during the dock scene!).

Taylor is a Great Main Character

Taylor Johnson is a teenage girl going through a lot. After the loss of her brother, her parents picked up and moved them to Atlanta Georgia. But the family is under a lot of financial stress after her dad lost his job.

Meanwhile, Taylor is one of the few black students at her private school and has to work so much harder than everyone else to feel involved and like part of the group. So when peer pressure gets the best of her and she winds up in a sticky situation, she’s given two choices. Go to jail or spend the summer at a work placement camp. So off to camp she goes.

I loved Taylor as the main character of this ya horror book. She was very sweet and caring and I really felt for her struggles at both school and at camp. As a white person, I’ve never dealt with a lot of the things Taylor deals with. And I think the author explained it in a way that really made me reflect on what a privilege it is to not know those feelings.

This is Not a Good Old Fashioned Ghost Story

The horror story that unraveled in this book was delightfully creepy. As things were uncovered little by little and the history of the camp was revealed, I was so impressed by the originality of this story. It was also really cool to read the author’s note at the end which had more information about the town and the people that inspired this story. History can be really sickening though. 

One thing I really enjoyed about this story was how it seemed to lead you in different directions. First there were little things happening to Taylor that no one else noticed, which made me wonder if she was overreacting or losing her mind. But as the story progressed I realized that the horrors of this camp keep coming. Whether it was the creepy little girl or the scary story that was told to the kids around the campfire, there was a lot going on and a lot to be scared of.

Lots of Great References

The author mentions the horror movie Get Out quite a few times which felt very appropriate given that this is another horror story featuring a great black protagonist. Maybe it’s just me but I was also kind of getting Holes by Louis Sachar vibes. I felt like Taylor and Stanley were very similar in that they were both basically innocent of their crimes. Well, Taylor did actually steal. But barely.

The author just seems to have a good handle on what kids are into and there’s mention of popular brands, like Savage Fenty. I felt like the writing style and the references make this the perfect books for teens (and adults) who are looking for a part thriller and part slasher story. This book is a mix of blurred horror genres.

This was a Quick Read because it was Incredibly Readable

Author Sylvester Barzey’s writing style was right up my alley. I don’t read a lot of young adult novels anymore but this one intrigued me because of the storyline. But once I started reading I didn’t want to stop. The conversation flowed so naturally and the characters were all interesting without being overly described. I hate when you start reading a book and suddenly the author just dumps  bunch of information on you.

Victoria made me laugh so many times. Her scenes with anyone pretty much stole the show. Her and Taylor were an epic duo as cabin mates. She may have even become Taylor’s best friend.

The Atmosphere of this Story was SO GOOD

I love summer camp. I’ve been to a variety of camps over my lifetime and there’s just something so fun about cabins, campfires, and hopefully some S’mores. After Taylor’s parents left her at Camp Lanier we slowly got to meet the rest of the employees at camp. Taylor shares a cabin with Victoria and I appreciated their friendship. I loved how supportive Victoria was, even though it kind of seemed like Taylor was going crazy.

Taylor was a very easy main character to like, and I enjoyed Victoria and Liam as well. One of the most interesting parts of a story is the side characters. Not everyone was cool, but you’ll learn about that after you read this story.

In Conclusion

I really enjoyed this story about a camp counselor who must fight a serial killer with the help of some unlikely friends. This story was fun to read because of all the thought and care the author took into crafting the story. The camp had such an interesting back story with the manmade lake and the old residents of the town.

I would recommend this book if you’re a big fan of horror. Like I said, I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the genre but I’m learning little by little and found this book to be really good. It’s part creepy ghost story and part slasher novel and will keep you guessing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinions on this book. Make sure you keep reading until the very end because the author shares an Author’s Note with historical facts about the town and lake that inspired this story.