“The Seasonal Killer” by Bernard Doucette

The Seasonal Killer

Bernard Doucette
Independently Published (2025)
ISBN: ‎ 979-8281325486
Reviewed by Paul Knobloch for Reader Views (07/2026)

The Seasonal Killer: A Comedy Thriller by Bernard Doucette is a nostalgic coming-of-age thriller that combines the childhood adventure of an eighties friendship story with the darker tension of a serial killer mystery. Told through the memories of retired police officer and teacher Brett Dubois, the novel looks back at the truly unusual summer of 1981, when a group of ordinary kids discovered that a monster was hiding in plain sight. While the hunt for the Hudson Valley Hunter provides the suspense, the emotional core of the story is really about friendship, loyalty, and the hidden potential of people others underestimate.

The tale begins when true-crime journalist Monroe Jackson approaches Brett decades after the events, believing there is more to the official story of Eugene Dibbs’ arrest than the public ever learned. Brett reluctantly reveals the truth about himself and his childhood friends, a tight-knit group of outsiders known as the Subpar Squad. During one unforgettable summer in New Valley, New York, Brett, Jake, Jason, Max, Dan, and their friends spend their days exploring, playing games, fighting bullies, and enjoying the freedom of childhood. Their lives change when they accidentally witness a suspicious man disposing of what appears to be evidence of a horrific crime.

The boys eventually connect the man, Eugene Dibbs, to the murders committed by the serial killer known as the Hudson Valley Hunter. At first, their investigation resembles another childhood adventure, complete with surveillance missions and elaborate plans. However, the danger becomes very real as they uncover evidence that Eugene is not simply suspicious but responsible for the disappearances and deaths terrorizing the region. When adults fail to take them seriously, the Squad decides that they must find proof themselves.

One of the strengths of The Seasonal Killer is the way it balances humor and horror. The members of the Subpar Squad constantly insult each other, make jokes, and get distracted by normal childhood concerns, but their friendship is what allows them to survive. Brett provides perspective and leadership, Dan offers practicality, Max brings creativity and fearlessness, Jason’s humor hides surprising cleverness, and Jake’s stubborn refusal to quit becomes the moral force behind the investigation. Some of the back-and-forth between them even reminded me of my own adolescence:

Are you out of your f***ing mind? What about Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana? Any of those names ring a bell to you, dick-bop?

The book also works because Eugene Dibbs serves as a dark mirror image of the Subpar Squad. To the outside world, Eugene appears responsible, quiet, and ordinary. He keeps his house neat, has a steady job, and blends easily into society. Meanwhile, the Subpar Squad members are dismissed as troublemakers and underachievers. The reversal is central to the book’s message: appearances are unreliable, and character is revealed by actions rather than reputation.

The final confrontation brings the novel’s themes together. After discovering Eugene’s trophy box and the hidden room where he committed his crimes, the boys finally find the evidence needed to expose him. But Eugene gets to them first, forcing them into a desperate fight for survival. Using their knowledge of the woods, fireworks, teamwork, and even help from former enemies — the very qualities adults dismissed as childish become the tools that save them.

At its heart, The Seasonal Killer is a story about the moment when childhood innocence meets the reality of evil. The novel captures the bittersweet realization that growing up means discovering the world is more dangerous and complicated than it first appears. However, it also argues that courage does not belong only to obvious heroes. Sometimes the people who rise to the occasion are the overlooked kids, the outsiders, and the ones nobody expects to matter. The Subpar Squad may never get their parade, but they know the truth: when the moment came, they stood together.