Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Joyride

Stephen Crye, possibly a pseudonym for Ronald Patrick, authored Joyride, a 1983 horror paperback published by Pinnacle. The book's blurb on the back cover suggests it is comparable to movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th, only more horrifying and grisly. I originally heard about the book during an interview I conducted with horror writer Brian Berry, who praised the book's use of slasher tropes. Will Errickson also mentioned the book in his interview with Nick Anderson of The Book Graveyard.

Joyride has a narrative that features events happening in both 1982 and 1974. In 1974, the author presents the story of young Robert, a 17-year-old high school kid that's tormented by his fellow students. At home, Robert is abused by his father, a wheelchair-bound dictator that dumps daily diatribes in an outward deflection of his own emotional instability. Robert's only peace is through books, writing poetry, and one-sided friendship with a popular 12th grader named Carla. The events of this period culminate in Robert being facially disfigured in a cruel joke.

In 1982, Robert now lives in the cemetery that his family owns. His mother and father are both dead. When a group of graduating seniors arrive to kickoff the rest of their lives, Roberts slips in behind them and locks the cemetery gates. As night descends, the teenagers are hunted and killed off one-by-one in a macabre murder spree. But, Robert has special plans for a girl named Priscilla, who he mentally sees as Carla, the girl that he had longed for previously.

If you love slasher cinema from 1973 through 1986, like Slaughter High, Prom Night, Graduation Day, etc., then this vintage horror novel will be a real pleasure. Crye/Patrick perfectly captures the spirit of the slasher genre by injecting this scarred madman into the narrative while serving him plenty of stereotypical teenagers to feast on. It isn't a masterpiece by any means, but it doesn't have to be. 

As one of the only true slasher books from that era, Joyride is a cause for celebration. Highly recommended. You can also watch my video review of this book HERE. Also, spend a fortune on acquiring the book HERE.

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