I Know When You're Asleep

I Know When You’re Asleep by Jessica Blade is a high-stakes YA murder mystery that blends a festive Christmas atmosphere with a brutal, small-town slasher vibe.

The story is set in a town where a killer is systematically thinning out the local high school population, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. While the premise is classic YA mystery, the execution is a bit of a "weird one." The main character, Mandy, feels a bit "too much of everything," and the plot suffers from a lack of realism—specifically in the school's and the police's puzzling inaction as the body count piles up.

The book moves at a pace that occasionally feels sluggish, losing momentum around the 60% mark. For a reader looking for closure, the experience is further complicated by the fact that this is book one of a series; many of the central questions, including the killer's identity and motivation, remain unanswered by the final page. While it drags in sections, it is a solid pick for YA fans who enjoy a "Christmas horror" setting and don't mind a cliffhanger ending. A 3-star read for a story that needed a bit more rhythm and a lot more answers.