The end of May approaches, and college is done for the spring semester. Professors prepare for their summer courses while students go home to their families for a much-needed break. Everybody except for DJ, who decides to stay behind and reflect on his damaged history with his abusive father and the recent loss of his mother. It wasn't until his very close friend Aurora invites him to go with her for a getaway at her hometown's gay pride party to live it up for the weekend. With reluctance towards the LGBTQ+ community, he decides to go. He invites his sister, Sierra, along with her friends, Greg and Justin to join them for a fun-filled weekend that they would never forget.
At first, DJ has a great time making new friends and getting involved with a community that he was apprehensive about being a part of since he began living fully as his authentic self. His adventures were quickly soiled by a stalker lurking around to torment him. It's not just any old stalker.
It's a cardinal!
One by one, patrons go missing at the hands of the deranged killer. Can DJ save himself and his acquaintances before the masked cardinal takes their lives? Will this pride be canceled from all of the mysterious murders?
Cardinal Rules is a twist between '80s and '90s slasher horror and the LGBTQ+ community, filled with blood, gore, and a little glitter. It's time to put pride back in murder!
Review :
"Brady Phoenix's debut, "Cardinal Rules", is a love letter to slasher films of the 80s and 90s, while also blending in some very real world problems. Phoenix is a powerful voice for the LGBTQ community, bringing awareness to the issues the community unfortunately faces daily. He does this, however, by inserting the topic flawlessly into a genre most people are familiar and comfortable with - a slasher.
Quick plot: DJ is talked into going to a pride parade with friends, and soon finds himself stalked by a hooded and masked maniac looking to slice up everyone in sight. It is strongly reminiscent of a 90s slasher with its characters and wit. It's gory, suspenseful, and will keep you on your toes with an ominous backstory and super creepy villain (I could picture this killer on a big screen). I thought I had the villain picked out from the moment a certain character was first mentioned...but, there was a situation with an axe that closed the door on that theory.
If you like a good mystery, throwback slasher story (I appreciated the nods to Urban Legend and I Know What You Did Last Summer), grab a copy of "Cardinal Rules.""
-Scott Donnelly-Author
"Good story line and character development that keeps you guessing who is the killer. Lots of twists and turns to keep a reader involved in the story. Brady Phoenix is a strong voice for the LGBTQ community and the struggles and biases that are very real."
-Reader
"This is a great book that keeps you guessing from page one. Very well written and a highly recommended read!"
-Reader
"When Dj finds himself forced to attend a LGbtq festival with friends, he has no clue what chaos he is about to get himself into. Lots of mystery and backstory that keeps you guessing and love the banter between characters throughout that makes the story very refreshing. Love the story. The author did a great job."
