Book Review of the Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi

Today’s book is The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Phillip Forassie. It is expected to be published on September 30th, 2025. This book was wild — a true horror slasher. If that genre is triggering for you, be aware that some of the murders in this story are quite gruesome, especially considering they take place in a retirement home.

Brimming with dark humor, violence, and mystery, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a blood-soaked slasher sure to keep readers cringing, laughing, and guessing until the very last page. Rose Dubois is not your average final girl.

She’s in her late 70s, living out her golden years at the Autumn Springs Retirement Home. When one of her friends dies alone in her apartment, Rose isn’t too concerned at first — accidents happen at that age. But when more residents start dropping dead, Rose begins to wonder: are these really accidents, or something far more sinister?

Together with her best friend Miller, Rose starts to investigate. The further she digs, the more convinced she becomes that there’s a killer on the loose — and if she isn’t careful, she might be the next victim. The book runs about 416 pages in hardcover, and I listened to the audiobook version, which was well done.

The story is gruesome and graphic, but also strangely compelling. It’s difficult to imagine elderly people being targeted in such horrific ways, but in the world of fiction, anything can happen. I even read one reviewer’s comment saying they’d love to see this turned into a movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis as Rose Dubois — and honestly, that sounds perfect.

Rose has been living at the retirement community for a while. She prefers her independence despite her daughter wanting her to move in with her. She enjoys the social life there, especially her friendship with Miller. The residents are lively and spirited, treating their retirement like a second youth — full of cocktail parties, games, and community activities.

Things take a dark turn when one of Rose’s friends is found dead under suspicious circumstances. While others assume it’s an accident, Rose feels something is off. As more deaths occur, she starts piecing together clues. We also get a few chilling chapters from the killer’s perspective, which help narrow down the list of suspects.

The pacing occasionally feels a bit slow, but the narration is strong, and the voice work adds depth to the story. Though it’s not overly supernatural, there’s a small eerie element involving three older women who believe they’re witches. After a tragic encounter with the killer, their presence lingers in ghostly form — adding a nice touch of creepiness.

I picked this book up looking for something spooky, and it delivered a classic slasher-style horror experience. You’ll need to suspend disbelief, as with most slashers — especially regarding police work and the number of “accidents” that go unnoticed. By the end, the retirement home’s population takes a serious hit, and you can imagine future families being hesitant to send their loved ones there.

Despite the grim premise, the book is darkly entertaining and full of tension. It’s the kind of story that makes you cringe and cover your eyes, yet keeps you turning the pages.

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