Thank you so much to Lucy Foley and William Morrow for my ARC of this book! Jess needs to get away quickly. The first and only place she can think of Thank you so much to Lucy Foley and William Morrow for my ARC of this book! Jess needs to get away quickly. The first and only place she can think of is her half-brother’s apartment in Paris. He didn’t sound thrilled when she asked to come stay, but Ben told her he would be waiting when she arrived. Only, he wasn’t waiting… He wasn’t anywhere. When Jess finally gets into Ben’s apartment, she finds his keys and wallet, but Ben is nowhere to be found.
As time goes by and Ben still doesn’t appear, Jess decides to look closer. The people that live in Ben’s building are all strange and unusual, and they all have something to hide. Each one of them had their own experiences with Ben that makes them seem guilty. What do an alcoholic, a socialite, the nice guy, the concierge, and the girl on the edge have in common? Jess wants to find out.
Lucy Foley brings Paris to life in this atmospheric and eerie thriller. The scene was set perfectly and the apartment complex is a character on its own. Foley is the Agatha Christie of this generation, taking tons of red herrings and mysterious elements and bringing them together to write a suspenseful whodunnit. The characters in this story are unique, peculiar, and completely captivating. Each new narrator brings their own perspective to The Paris Apartment that draws the reader deeper into the story.
Foley is the master of the slow reveal, and gives a little bit at a time to lead up to the big reveal. You never quite know what to expect, which makes the plot even more exciting. This well-written and entertaining read is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Agatha Christie, and Foley’s previous books. 4-stars.
Simone St. James is the master of pairing the paranormal with reality and making it both intriguing and believable. Thank you to Berkley and Simone StSimone St. James is the master of pairing the paranormal with reality and making it both intriguing and believable. Thank you to Berkley and Simone St. James for my ARC of this book! In her newest novel, St. James writes about a true crime blogger, Shea, who is looking into The Lady Killer Murders. One of the most infamous crimes in her small town of Claire Lake, the murders were sensational and drew in the public because of their stunning and unlikely murder suspect.
Beth Greer, accused of the crime, is beautiful, rich, and completely cold. It is easy to see how she was convicted in the court of public opinion, but Shea thinks there is more to the story than meets the eye. When she meets Beth by chance, she can’t pass up the opportunity to try to set the record straight. When Beth invites Shea to her mansion, Shea can’t help but be curious about what she will find.
The mansion is anything but normal. Things move around when Shea isn’t looking, she hears strange voices, and she sees the wisp of a girl outside the window. The mansion is kept exactly the same as it was in 1978, right down to Beth’s mothers face cream on the nightstand. Even though she is terrified, Shea can’t help but want to hunt down what is lurking in the darkness.
The Book of Cold Cases is expertly written and completely immersive. St. James knows how to keep a reader's attention, and I was hooked from the very first page. The contrast of mysterious and alluring Beth against awkward and terrified Shea is fun to read about and easy to picture. The characters in this book are unique and dynamic, making you want to learn more about them. With her haunting prose, St. James writes an atmospheric and disturbing book that kept me guessing until the end. If you liked her previous books, I recommend picking this book up as soon as possible! 4.5 stars!...more
This was literally my most anticipated book of the year so thank you to Alice Feeney and Flatiron for this book! It was an homage to Agatha Christie’sThis was literally my most anticipated book of the year so thank you to Alice Feeney and Flatiron for this book! It was an homage to Agatha Christie’s And The There Were None, and was about the Darker family all coming together to celebrate their Nana’s birthday. when the tide comes in the members of the Darker family are all stuck together and Nana is found dead soon after sharing her will. Now, the remaining members of the family have to figure out what is going while being picked off one by one.
Thoughts: Alice Feeney is my favorite author and is the master of the double or triple twist! I GUESSED EVERY TWIST IN THIS BOOK. Every. Single. One. I was 30% in and knew exactly what would happen and why. I can’t explain how disappointing this was because I’ve come to expect a dynamic twist and total surprise.
The idea of a remote locked room mystery on a creepy island on Halloween is an AMAZING setting. There wasn’t much character development and it was really hard to root for anyone. As always, her writing was phenomenal and Daisy’s voice was funny and engaging. I loved the suspense and the eccentric family, but it wasn’t a new idea or a surprising ending. 3- stars...more
Thank you so much to William Morrow and Nicci French for my copy of The Unheard. This book is about Tess, a woman who has to share her daughter with hThank you so much to William Morrow and Nicci French for my copy of The Unheard. This book is about Tess, a woman who has to share her daughter with her ex and his new wife. She wants Poppy to be with her father, but it’s hard to see her moving on. When Poppy comes back and is acting differently, Tess finds a violent drawing that makes her ask some serious questions. Something is wrong and Poppy is too young to know it, but Tess needs to get to the bottom of what is really going on.
Thoughts: This is a terrifying premise. The idea that your child saw something horrible and doesn’t know how to talk about it is scary. This domestic thriller was engaging, but I did find there to be some plot holes. I did enjoy the underlying current of horror and the fast paced writing kept me engaged. I love a good unreliable narrator and red herrings always make a book fun. This is your classic domestic thriller with an overprotective, seemingly “crazy” mother and an untrustworthy father. 3.5 stars for this one. ...more
Thank you so much to Minotaur Books and Alex Finlay for my copy of The Night Shift. From the packaging in a fun VHS sleeve to the premise, this book rThank you so much to Minotaur Books and Alex Finlay for my copy of The Night Shift. From the packaging in a fun VHS sleeve to the premise, this book really grabbed my attention. It is about a brutal murder of everyone working in a Blockbuster video on New Years Eve 1999. There is only one survivor who doesn’t remember much. Fifteen years later, there is another killing spree in an ice cream store, also leaving one survivor. These two crimes seem connected and the survivor of the first attacks reaches out to the survivor of the second.
Thoughts: This book was so nostalgic. I loved that it was set in a Blockbuster and that there were so many fun throwbacks to the 90s. I really enjoyed every character and point of view in this story. It is super fast paced and the short chapters made it easy to read. I enjoy Finlay’s writing style and the way it keeps the reader engaged throughout the whole story.
The murderer was quite obvious to me, but I still really enjoyed the telling of the story. There were some plot holes and things were rushed to be concluded in the last two chapters, which I think could have been explained and spread out a bit more. The epilogue was a bit too perfect for me, and I think a messier ending would have been better for this story. Regardless, this book was extremely engaging and fun. There was a lot going on and I loved every aspect and storyline. 4.5 stars for this mysterious thriller. ...more
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Libro.fm for my ALC of The Golden Couple. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are amazing writers and I higThank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Libro.fm for my ALC of The Golden Couple. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are amazing writers and I highly recommend getting this book on audio when it comes out on March 8, 2022. This book is about a couple, Marissa and Matthew Bishop, and their relationship with their new therapist Avery. Avery claims to fix her clients in 10 sessions with her unconventional therapy methods. While the Bishops seem like the perfect couple, there has to be a reason Marissa cheated on Matthew. As Avery and the Bishops dive deeper into their marriage, they realize they are just scratching the surface.
Thoughts: I LOVED this book on audio. The two narrators did an amazing job and I was immediately immersed in the story. Avery was a great character and was interesting with so many layers. I also loved Marissa’s perspective, as she had a lot more going on than I originally thought. There were so many different ways this story could have gone, and I loved that I never really knew how it would end. I did have a few problems with the ending however, but it was still a good story.
Listening to this book on audio really made the characters come to life. I didn’t trust anyone and every character felt unreliable. I loved the concept of a rogue therapist and her methods were intriguing to me. I liked this story despite a few plot holes, and think it was a lot of fun. 4.5 stars for this one! ...more
Last Seen Alive is the fifth book in Joanna Schaffhausen's Ellery Hathaway mystery series. Thank you so much to Minotaur books for my copy! This book Last Seen Alive is the fifth book in Joanna Schaffhausen's Ellery Hathaway mystery series. Thank you so much to Minotaur books for my copy! This book is about Ellery, and her relationship with FBI agent Reed, who saved her from a serial killer. Ellery wants to get away from her past, but she may not be able to get away so easily. The killer claims he will give the FBI the location of the other victims if Ellery is delivered to him to make amends, but can he be trusted? Is it worth it to find the location of the other victims? And what happens when a new body turns up?
Thoughts: I love Ellery as a main character! It is so easy to root for her and get behind her throughout this fast-paced book! It was SO creepy to read about the serial killer and the book definitely ramps up in tension and creates a lot of anxiety. This book was dark and gave off Hanable Lecter vibes. Once again, I do not enjoy romance in my thrillers, so that was a downside for me in particular.
You do not have to read any of the series to enjoy this book. The creepy setting is almost like a character and gets you in the mood to be chilled to the core. This book is both plot and character driven, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. It is full of action and suspense- 4.5 stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Kingsley Book and Jess Kitching for my copy of this book. The Girl She Was Before is about Nat, the girl with the perfect life. SThank you so much to Kingsley Book and Jess Kitching for my copy of this book. The Girl She Was Before is about Nat, the girl with the perfect life. She wasn’t always perfect though, and was terrorized as a teenager. And now that her best friend was murdered, people think that Nat was involved. Nat knows that it can’t be a coincidence that her friend was killed right when her tourmenter returned to the area. Now, Nat needs to prove that she isn’t the killer, and she also wants to prove that Chrissy is, and get justice once and for all.
Thoughts: This book is a psychological thriller that surrounds bullies and bullying. The chapters alternating between the past and the present gave the reader a good idea of Nat’s childhood and what she endured, and who she is today. This book is also about friendship and the lasting impact both bullies and friends can have on someone.
This was a fast moving plot with short and engaging chapters. It is full of twists and suspense that drew me into the story. It felt like a drama where you didn’t know who to trust and who did what. I was surprised to hear this is a debut because it was so well written and engaging. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fast-paced book with lots of fun twists. 4.5 stars for me! ...more
Thank you so much to Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for my copy of Twenty Years Later. Donlea is a fantastic writer and sucks you into any story Thank you so much to Kensington Books and Charlie Donlea for my copy of Twenty Years Later. Donlea is a fantastic writer and sucks you into any story he writes. I was introduced to him during his book Suicide House, and couldn’t get enough! This book takes multiple storylines and brings them together to tell an amazing story. The first character is Avery, the host of a popular TV show. She looks into past crimes or important events in history and tells their stories. She wants to tell a selacious murder mystery, but now she is realizing there is more to it than meets the eye.
The accused murderer was killed on 9/11, so the case went cold. As the towers were falling, she made a call to her sister proclaiming her innocence. Her sister is trying to clear her name, but all the evidence points directly at her and is hard to refute. There are so many sub-mysteries at play here and they all come together to make a great story.
Thoughts: I loved this plot! It was unique to have the setting of the murder around 9/11 and it gave it an interesting twist. I enjoyed all the perspectives of the story, especially Avery’s story. Donlea did an amazing job tying the stories together and creating a story that is memorable and unputdownable. I loved that the chapters were short and labeled easily so you knew the date and time of each perspective.
There are some things that are a bit of a stretch, but they are still enjoyable. I guessed many of the twists in this book, because there were only so many things that could happen. It was still fun to read the story and Donlea’s writing is fantastic as usual. 4-stars! ...more
First of all, thank you to Park Row Books and Kimberly Belle for my ARC of this book that comes out on December 12. In this fast-paced, edge of your sFirst of all, thank you to Park Row Books and Kimberly Belle for my ARC of this book that comes out on December 12. In this fast-paced, edge of your seat drama, Kimberly Belle returns with a story about a masked intruder. Jade and Cam Lasky are a happy couple with two wonderful children, a beautiful house, and a growing restaurant business. Then one evening, Jade is confronted with a masked intruder in her home, holding her hostage. Cam is desperate to collect the ransom money but he has been keeping a big part of his life from Jade.
As the story unravels, Jade begins to find out that her husband may not be exactly who she thinks he is. Cam is not as financially stable as he led Jade to believe and he may have put their family in danger. Is this just a home invasion? Or is there more to the intruder than they first believed?
Thoughts: My Darling Husband kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire book. I loved the way Belle revealed layers of the story slowly, so the mystery always got more complex. This book took a common fear and explored what someone would do when put in that situation. The multiple points of view gave an interesting look at what the characters were thinking and skipped from the present to the past.
I loved the narrative about hidden secrets and the lengths families will go to protect one another. The characters were full of detail and easy to imagine and relate to. I found multiple characters I could root for and felt myself holding my breath with them many times throughout the book. The technique of showing time counting down really added to my sense of doom and panic. I couldn’t put this book down and think people who enjoy panic room style mysteries are going to love it! 5-stars!
Thank you so much to Kathryn Foxfield and Sourcebooks Fire for my copy of this book that comes out November 30th. The premise completely grabbed my atThank you so much to Kathryn Foxfield and Sourcebooks Fire for my copy of this book that comes out November 30th. The premise completely grabbed my attention and I was totally intrigued. Good Girls Die First was about Ava, a girl who is lured to an abandoned carnival in fear that someone knows her secret. There she meets nine other people who have also been asked there in a mysterious note. After the group realizes that they’re cut off from the mainland, they start to turn on each other while wanting to discover who brought them there, and why.
Thoughts: This was a classic YA book full of teen romance, drama, and lots of secrets. The plot was so intriguing and the setting was so unique and chilling. Unfortunately there were so many characters that were similar that it was confusing to read about. They were very stereotypical and literally defined as “the shy one” or “the sporty one” which was pretty immature writing if you ask me.
The plot was both confusing and predictable. The secrets are basically obvious immediately, so the reveals weren’t too much of a shock. I loved how creepy the book started out, but then it got kind of boring and the multiple storylines began to blend together. The characters were not likable and I wish the villain would have been revealed later because it did take away some of the enjoyment. Great concept but not my favorite book. It could have been shorter, less revealing, and packed a much bigger punch. 2.5 stars. ...more
First of all, thank you so much to Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of Reckless Girls. Hawkins’ writing is fantastic and I was so excFirst of all, thank you so much to Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of Reckless Girls. Hawkins’ writing is fantastic and I was so excited to get my hands on this book! It is about Lux, a woman who isn't sure what she wants to do in life. She lives in Hawaii and craves a life of adventure. When she is hired with her boyfriend to sail two women to the remote island of Meore, she is excited to start the adventure. He suspicion is pricked when the women want to go somewhere so remote, but she is sure they have their reasons.
Meore Island has a dark history of causing its inhabitants to go crazy, so everything is a possibility except a boat already being there when Lux arrives. This beautiful boat holds a beautiful couple, who are the perfect addition to their group. But when another stranger arrives, Lux isn’t so sure anymore. Each person has cracks, and starts to show what is really going on underneath.
Thoughts: This book was really a locked room mystery in the form of a deserted island. You know the players, the crimes, and now you just have to figure out what is going on. This book reminded me a bit of And Then There Were None, but a different spin. It was a new idea that made reading it a lot of fun.
I really liked the characters in this book because I couldn’t pinpoint what was really going on. I liked that they were all so unique and their secrets made them even more interesting. The story was a slow burn, which was fine, but the ending was so predictable. There were a few twists, but one of the downsides of a locked room mystery is that there are only a few suspects. I think the author tried to give the reader red herrings, but those just didn’t work for me. In the end it was a fun popcorn read with an interesting storyline. 3.5 stars! ...more
First of all, thank you to Berkley Publishing and Stephanie Wrobel for my ARC of this book that comes out on February 22, 2022. Welcome to Wisewood, wFirst of all, thank you to Berkley Publishing and Stephanie Wrobel for my ARC of this book that comes out on February 22, 2022. Welcome to Wisewood, where we keep your secrets if you keep ours. Wisewood is a private island off the coast of Maine where people can go for six months to get away from it all. Some people are struggling with anxiety, others drug abuse, but no matter the cause, Wisewood touts that it is the solution.
Maybe that’s why Natalie Collins hasn’t heard from her sister in half a year. The last time they spoke, her sister Kit told Natalie that there has to be more to life than a 9-5 job, and then she disappeared. When Natalie receives a threatening email, she knows she has to go find Kit. Someone is going to reveal a dark secret that Natalie thought she buried and she has to get to Kit before they do.
Thoughts: There is so much more to this book than originally meets the eye. Not only is the origin of Wisewood intriguing and captivating, but the characters in this story wrap the reader up from the start. The multiple perspectives are all interesting and start to build a story that comes together to shock and awe the reader.
This Might Hurt dives into the origin of our fear. It looks at what humans are afraid of and why. This book examines the human condition and boils down to the universal truth that we just want to be loved for who we are. Though this book has an undercurrent of many complex and interesting themes, it is a fun story and is fast-paced from start to finish.
This book goes beyond Wrobel’s first novel in many ways. I loved the themes of control and manipulation and the deeper questions such as how far can you push someone. Anyone who enjoys a hypnotic and cult themed book will immediately be drawn to This Might Hurt. Wrobel has quickly shot to the top of my list of favorite authors, and we can be sure she has many great books to come. 5-stars!
Thank you so much to Park Row Books and Lisa Unger for my copy of Last Girl Ghosted. This book was so much more than I thought it would be by the titlThank you so much to Park Row Books and Lisa Unger for my copy of Last Girl Ghosted. This book was so much more than I thought it would be by the title. It seemed like it would be a needy girlfriend following a man through social media who didn’t want anything to do with her. Boy was I wrong! This book was about Wren, a woman who meets a man on a dating app. Things are going great, when suddenly he disappears out of the blue. Soon after, a private investigator comes knocking, telling Wren that there were girls before her who had the same encounter with the man. Girls who had gone missing and were never heard from again.
Thoughts: I really enjoyed how many layers this book had. It was not the shallow, social media based book I imagined. There was so much to this story and I enjoyed reading about both timelines. Wren was a dynamic character who really interested me. I loved the way there were so many aspects of this story that came together to create a dynamic journey. This book was dark, twisted, and full of a unique backstory.
Unfortunately, I did find some plot holes in this story that didn’t necessarily make sense. Sometimes things were too convenient and were either explained away or never explained at all. I HATED one aspect of the ending, and really wish the author had left it out. Nevertheless, there are so many important topics in this book and many of them are very heavy. I loved seeing these themes and the way the author addressed them. The story was a fun and creepy one, but there were just too many things that were off for me. 3-stars ...more
I love a good story about revenge. Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books and Anne Mette Hancock for this wonderful book. It’s about Heloise, a Danish jI love a good story about revenge. Thanks so much to Crooked Lane Books and Anne Mette Hancock for this wonderful book. It’s about Heloise, a Danish journalist who is receiving strange letters from Anna, a woman known to be an escaped murderer. Anna knows a lot about Heloise and seems to be trying to communicate something with her. At the same time, the reporter who first wrote about the murder is found dead in his apartment. Is it the same murderer, or is there something much deeper going on? Heloise keeps receiving letters from Anna and is hinting that they may be connected in a much deeper way.
Thoughts: This book captivated me from the very beginning. I love Scandinavian fiction and this book transported me to Denmark. Heloise was a dynamic and interesting character that I loved to learn about. She was easy to root for and much more complex than she first appeared. I also enjoyed the police procedural aspect of this book because it was pretty straightforward and didn’t get bogged down with too many details.
I enjoyed the flow of the story, even though it did seem a bit disjointed at times. There was a lot going on and it could be a bit difficult to keep track of, but it all came together at the end. Be aware there are a lot of very triggering themes in this book and it is a lot to read about. Nevertheless, this book makes a wonderful first book in the series and I can't wait to see what is next for the characters. 4-stars. ...more
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Rachel Harrison for my ARC of this book that comes out on October 5. Weird, disturbing, creepy, and wonderful, CacThank you to Berkley Publishing and Rachel Harrison for my ARC of this book that comes out on October 5. Weird, disturbing, creepy, and wonderful, Cackle is one of my favorite books of the year. Annie has been safe and normal her entire life. After being dumped by her boyfriend of ten years, Annie needs to get away. She takes a teaching job in an idyllic small town where everyone seems to know each other. Things are looking up, because on her very first day she meets the gorgeous and magnetic Sophie who wants to be her friend.
Sophie is self-confident, strong willed, and doesn’t need anyone to be happy. She tries to mentor Annie and Annie starts to wonder why she seems to be the only person who isn’t afraid of Sophie. But Sophie has it all- a huge mansion in the woods, seemingly ageless beauty, and skills and talents that are pure magic. Annie soon begins to suspect that there is more to Sophie than meets the eye, and she can’t help but be intrigued.
Thoughts: Rachel Harrison is one of my new favorite authors for her creativity and lyrical writing. Cackle was everything a book needed- spooky, empowering, campy, and uplifting. Harrison marries that eerie plot with witty and fun writing. It’s if a Disney story came to life, using the supernatural with wonderfully human characters. But beware, if you aren’t a fan of spiders this story will really make you squirm.
The characters in this book were what really made the story enjoyable. They were interesting and unique and flawed in a wonderful way. I didn’t know where the story was going, but I really enjoyed where it ended up. There were many deeper lessons to be learned beneath the main story about women empowerment, inner strength, and finding who we are. This is the perfect book to read around Halloween and will be one I come back to again and again during spooky season! 4.5-stars! ...more
Horrorstor is a classic Grady Hendrix story set in a superstore called Orsk. We chose it for our book club this month, and held our meeting in an IKEAHorrorstor is a classic Grady Hendrix story set in a superstore called Orsk. We chose it for our book club this month, and held our meeting in an IKEA, which was especially fun. This book is about strange things happening in an Orsk store in Ohio. Sales are down, things are broken, and the store manager is panicking. He asks some employees to stay overnight to monitor the store, and the book quickly turns into a horror story. Things are unexplained, but quickly go to creepy and then terrifying.
Thoughts: This book was satire and I loved it. Hendrix’s writing style always keeps my attention and I loved the play on IKEA in this book. This book reads like a ghost story but is formatted like an IKEA catalogue. Each chapter begins with an ad for a piece of furniture, and it is so much fun to look through. This storyline was fun and relatable even though it’s not realistic. I enjoyed all the characters for what they brought to the story and how entertaining this book was.
This book is creepy and claustrophobic in the best way. Not only is the location unique, but the background on the haunting is also a lot of fun to read. It was a quick read because of the mixed media style and I read it in just a few hours. I love that every book Grady Hendrix writes is completely different and unique, while maintaining his amazing sense of humor and irony. I highly recommend getting a physical copy of this book so you can enjoy the overall experience of reading it. Super fun read- 5-stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire and Sara Walters for my copy of The Violent Season. The town of Wolf Ridge turns violent every November. The peoThank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire and Sara Walters for my copy of The Violent Season. The town of Wolf Ridge turns violent every November. The people of the down start killing and being killed, and no one knows why. Last year Wyatt’s mother was one of the victims, murdered in her home, which makes Wyatt believe that the “violent season” is not just an urban legend. This year Wyatt thinks the sickness has spread to her best friend Cash, who she can’t help but be in love with. He mentions his nemesis Porter, but Wyatt starts spending a lot more time with Porter and can’t understand why Cash hates him. As things progress, Wyatt starts to learn more about her mother’s death and the dark history of Wolf Ridge.
Thoughts: This was a fun YA book that I read in a few hours! I really liked Wyatt as a main character and she was easy to invest in and root for. Even though this was a YA book, it read more like an adult mystery which I enjoyed. The premise of this book was intriguing from the beginning and I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go. This book is full of toxic and harmful behavior, and could be triggering for some people. There are mentions of self-harm, murder, suicide, and sexual assault.
The writing in this book was fantastic, especially for a debut. I like how it dealt with grief and loss and was full of teen angst. This book felt like watching a show on the CW, and was not believable, but it was fun! It was a little bit repetitive, especially with Wyatt’s infatuation with Cash, and there were some things I didn’t think were realistic at all. In the end, it was a fun popcorn read and I did enjoy it. 3.5 stars! ...more
If you like the horror movie genre, this book is for you! Thank you to Gallery Press and Stephen Graham Jones for my ARC of this book! It’s about JadeIf you like the horror movie genre, this book is for you! Thank you to Gallery Press and Stephen Graham Jones for my ARC of this book! It’s about Jade, a horror aficionado and loner who lives in a small town near a lake. She sees the world through the lens of horror and as the daughter of an absent mother and drunk father, she uses horror to escape her reality. Jade narrates the history of Proofrock and the horrors she sees unfolding around her. She casts the new girl Leitha as the Final Girl, and when blood starts to spill around town, Jade believes Leitha is the only one who can save them.
Thoughts: I love that this book is an homage to the slasher genre. It has everything- a gory story, and emotional undercurrent, and a twisted and disturbing turn of events. This story is definitely more of a horror story than a thriller, and does allude to lots of the horror greats. If you don’t want movies like Scream and Freddy vs. Jason ruined, maybe wait on this one. It starts off so quickly and I didn’t really enjoy the cadence, but after a few chapters I really got into the author’s writing pattern.
Jade is a great protagonist because she is tough, strong, and broken. She knows she’s not the pure and angelic classic final girl, but she sees herself as a mentor to the real final girl of the town. The references to the horror movies are so fun and the author weaves Native American culture into the story very well. There was a great social commentary that goes beyond the superficial story to make lots of important points. The speed of this story went from fast-paced to super slow, and back fast again. It was a bit disjointed for me, but I still couldn’t put it down. I loved how raw and real the characters were, and enjoyed the book in the end. 4-stars! ...more
What a heartbreaking wild ride this was. I couldn’t help but feel like I was in an action movie from start to finish. Razorblade Tears is about two faWhat a heartbreaking wild ride this was. I couldn’t help but feel like I was in an action movie from start to finish. Razorblade Tears is about two fathers, Ike and Buddy Lee, who are brought together by the murder of their sons, who were married. Ike has been out of jail for 15 years and is trying to stay on the straight and narrow. Buddy Lee has a criminal past, a drinking problem, and a taste for revenge. Together, the two fathers work to avenge their son’s murders, confront their own prejudice, and find out the reason their children were killed.
Thoughts: This book was everything. It was a fast-paced crime thriller full of poignant dialogue and relevant social commentary. The story was raw, powerful, and really explored the feeling behind a father’s love. It is gritty, violent, and full of the full range of emotions. I felt so many things while reading this book. It made me anxious, angry, sad, stressed, and heartbroken. I really enjoyed the unique perspective the characters came from, and the important conversations about being black, being gay, and living in the south.
This is exactly the kind of movie anyone would enjoy. The characters are dynamic and stay with you long after you finish the book. The story is so fast-paced and twisted that you can’t put it down. This book is completely character-driven and you can see their evolution throughout the story. They are complex and dynamic and easy to root for, even if what they are doing isn’t necessarily right. The book did get pretty violent at times, but the story is 100% worth the read. S. A. Cosby has written a sharp and stunning masterpiece. 5-stars! ...more
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