The Executioners Three

FeaturedHot
51-+xcsSB8L
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
13+
Release Date
August 26, 2025
ISBN
978-1250334664
Buy This Book
     
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries.

*This beautiful hardcover edition will include designed printed edges and special endpapers.*

Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?

Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

But her investigation is quickly disrupted by the rivalry between her school and the school of the partying teens she got arrested. For over twenty years, the two student bodies have had an ongoing prank war, and Freddie's failed attempt at Good Samaritanism has upped the ante. Worse, the clever―and gorgeous―leader of the rival prank squad has set his sights on Freddie.

As more pranks unfurl, more bodies also start piling up in the forest. But it's the supernatural warning signs around town, each plucked straight from an old forgotten poem called "The Executioners Three," that worry Freddie the most. She knows the poem and its blood curse can’t be real, but she's quickly running out of time to prove it.

Because the murderer―or executioners?―knows she's onto them now, and their next target just might be Freddie.

Editor review

1 review
engaging YA supernatural mystery
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
THE EXECUTIONERS THREE is an engaging supernatural murder-mystery that keeps the reader on their toes. The story follows Freddie, a teen who is anything but cool and only has one friend, Divya - until she calls the police on a scream she hears in the woods and ends up busting up a huge party for the rival school. Now, the cool kids (including her crush) want her help with pranking their rivals.

However, the scream in the woods that Freddie heard was an actual case, but the death has been deemed self-inflicted makes her suspicious. As Freddie searches for more information and seeks to figure out what is happening in her small town, she will find herself wrapped up in something more dangerous and deadly than she ever could have suspected.

What I loved: This is an intriguing premise and I loved the way that the supernatural was tied up in the case with a spooky murder-mystery feel. As Freddie pulls together the bits and pieces related to the case, it gets bigger and darker and infinitely more intriguing. With little hints along the way, this had dark and spooky elements that made it a perfect fall read.

At the same time, there is a lot of teen drama and a bit of romance that added to the fun. Freddie is still a high schooler, and even if she wasn't always cool, she still cares deeply about those around her, especially her BFF. The romance and other elements of teen drama were a touch of fun amidst the dark and spooky mystery, and they worked really well to help break the tension and to get the reader invested in the characters involved.

Freddie was a really fun main character, and the story is told from her perspective. She felt like a teen with crushes and some confusion, but she ultimately grows in her trust in herself and her capabilities throughout the story. She is tenacious and clever, and her perspective was a lot of fun. Similarly, the romantic interest was also really compelling, and while there was a potential other crush, he was a stand-out from the start, and they seemed well-suited.

The way the case develops was great and keeps the reader hooked. The end was satisfying with good resolution, though there was a bit of an opening to maybe have this amateur supernatural sleuth appear in future books (and I would totally be on board with that!)

Final verdict: THE EXECUTIONERS THREE is an engaging YA supernatural murder-mystery with compelling characters, teen drama, and a consuming case. Recommend picking this one up!

Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

1 review
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0(1)
Characters
 
5.0(1)
Writing Style
 
5.0(1)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A(0)
Already have an account? or Create an account
Great read
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Murder mystery? Check. Creepy woods? Oh yeah. A girl detective with major X-Files energy? We’re in!

So Freddie Gellar is just your average teen with a love for true crime, a solid moral compass, and zero chill when she hears blood-curdling screams in the woods. Naturally, she calls the cops. But instead of teens being teens, the next morning there’s a body. And the local sheriff? Shrugs it off as suicide. Freddie? Yeah, no she's not buying it!

Instead, she does what any self-respecting amateur sleuth would do, starts her own investigation, complete with theories, suspects, and probably more Red Bulls than is medically advisable!

What unfolds is part murder mystery, part small-town creep-fest, and part witchy horror story. The further Freddie digs, the weirder things get; there's definitely something dark simmering under the surface of her town, and it might involve a centuries-old curse and, yep, some seriously sinister magic!

Freddie is an absolute gem, funny, sharp, and determined in a way that makes you want to follow her down every spooky rabbit hole. And while things get intense and very stabby the story never loses its heart. It’s about friendship, fear, and what it means to chase the truth when everyone else would rather look away.

If you love stories with smart girls, eerie vibes, true crime podcast energy, and maybe a witch or three this one’s for you!
Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0