BRUH what even was this book. The emotional rollercoaster I was on was insane. A Freida book that didn't feel too goofy, unlike much of her others.BRUH what even was this book. The emotional rollercoaster I was on was insane. A Freida book that didn't feel too goofy, unlike much of her others....more
FIVE BRIGHT SUPERNOVA STARS. Seriously, wtf did I just read? What even is life? This was my first 5 star read in a while, and it cured my depression. FIVE BRIGHT SUPERNOVA STARS. Seriously, wtf did I just read? What even is life? This was my first 5 star read in a while, and it cured my depression. I need a minute. Nobody talk to me....more
Ughhhh I normally hate (view spoiler)[people getting away with murder (hide spoiler)] tropes but this book did it so well I have to give it 5 stars. Ughhhh I normally hate (view spoiler)[people getting away with murder (hide spoiler)] tropes but this book did it so well I have to give it 5 stars. ...more
I've read some pretty horrible things but this one takes the cake. This book was horrific. Besides the gore, rape, and torture, the plot was kind of bI've read some pretty horrible things but this one takes the cake. This book was horrific. Besides the gore, rape, and torture, the plot was kind of boring believe it or not?
I am absolutely incensed with rage right now. I adored book 1 (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), inhaled book 2 (Good Girl, Bad Blood), and then we arriI am absolutely incensed with rage right now. I adored book 1 (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), inhaled book 2 (Good Girl, Bad Blood), and then we arrive to book 3. And I'm presented with this steaming pile of shit??? Set this book on fire instead of reading it. Pretend the series ended with GGBB. Do not read this.
Someone more mature would cool off before writing a review. Maybe chew on the plot and the ending a little more. Devil's advocate, the benefit of the doubt, and all that bullshit. Nah. I haven't learned that lesson yet babyyy so prepare for a spoiler-filled rant.
***Reader discretion is advised starting now.
I absolutely adored my sweet Pippa Fitz-Amobi. She is smart, intelligent, and moral. We share the same values. My heart went out to her when the book started because she clearly has PTSD and she's acting like a different character. I gaslight myself that the book will get better. It does! There's this duct tape serial killer that's introduced and I'm here for it. Give me a demented POS for Pip's third season of her podcast. If anyone can solve this, Pip can. But *gasp* he's already in jail. But he can't be because he's stalking Pip.
Pip is then kidnapped by the real DT killer. She figures out his identity. Escapes. DESIDES NOT TO CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY WON'T BELIEVE SHE WAS, WHAT? KIDNAPPED??? Comes back. And fucking murders him. Our sweet Pip kills her kidnapper instead of calling the police.
It gets much fucking worse. She still doesn't call the police and says, Hey I was just fucking kidnapped by this dude here's all the evidence of this kidnapping/attempted murder crime, because the fake DT killer is in jail. Instead, baby girl decides to frame Max, our serial rapist, for murder. To do that, she needs to manipulate the time of death.
I'm supposed to believe Pip reverses rigor and livor mortis with a car AC and heater. Oh I'm sorry, that's how science works? Let me just SHRED MY TWO DEGREES. For the love of god throw your whole computer away right now, Holly Jackson. What the fuck is that.
Now, don't get me wrong. I hate a rapist as much as the next person. Throw him to the wolves. Have him tarred and feathered. Drawn and quartered, even. But to frame him for a murder that you committed is.... kind of heinous? And for all her friends to support that? And then to get away with it and have a happy happily ever after? Doesn't sit right with me.
Also, Max will now be known as a killer. Not the rapist that he is. So.... You didn't do what you think you did, ma'am.
I wish I could scrub my brain with bleach because this was not it....more
It's been 2 days since I finished this and I'm still reeling. I feel... speechless? Which is saying something because I always have something to say. It's been 2 days since I finished this and I'm still reeling. I feel... speechless? Which is saying something because I always have something to say. All I can manage, is WTF....more
This was in-cre-di-ble. I had to stop reading several times to process WTF I just consumed. My brain was doing flips trying to figure out this twist aThis was in-cre-di-ble. I had to stop reading several times to process WTF I just consumed. My brain was doing flips trying to figure out this twist and that twist. When I tell you I almost bust out a whiteboard to make sense of this and quell my confusion. ...more
Admittedly, I hadn’t read the first two books of the Frankie Elkin series before reading this one. You don’t need to in order to understand this storyAdmittedly, I hadn’t read the first two books of the Frankie Elkin series before reading this one. You don’t need to in order to understand this story, but I wonder if I wouldn’t have found Frankie so insufferable if I had gotten to know her in the previous novels. Frankie’s “weird hobby” is finding missing people and she is summoned to a prison to help a serial killer, the Beautiful Butcher, find her long-lost sister. The plot seems unique enough and I was interested, but this book was not it for me.
~spoilers below~
The story moved very slowly. For twenty-two chapters we learn about atolls, coconut crabs, wolf spiders, and jungle foliage. I wouldn’t say I liked AP Environmental Science when I was in school and now I’m learning how to be a conservationist from a thriller. Things don’t pick up until chapter 23 where Frankie doesn’t lift a finger to do her actual job, I mean hobby, and find the missing sister. Instead, "Missing" Sister is dropped off on a private plane right at Frankie's fingertips. Very convenient!
Then all hell breaks loose because Serial Killer was smuggled onto the private plane (how big was this Cessna?) and Frankie really tried to lure out a deadly serial killer who just decapitated a man and placed his head on a stake with a plate of spaghetti. Lmaoooooo no ma’am. She don’t want your plate of SPAGHETTI. Then it is revealed that Missing Sister and Serial Killer are actually… *drum roll* working together! Wait, what? So you’re telling me that Frankie could have been eliminated from this entire story and it would have ended exactly the same?
The answer is a resounding YES because it ends with a MURDER SUICIDE where Missing Sister kills her serial killer sister who is also her mom. That’s right! We also got an incest revelation wedged in at the very end in case you needed something else unnecessary. I won’t give up on Lisa Gardner, but unfortunately, I’m giving up on Frankie.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date of March 12, 2024....more
OKKAAAYYYY! This was one hell of a ride. Holy cow. John Marrs does it again. Honestly, this book was effed up and dark and I loved every second of it.OKKAAAYYYY! This was one hell of a ride. Holy cow. John Marrs does it again. Honestly, this book was effed up and dark and I loved every second of it. Buckle up for the complex emotions you'll feel for Laura. 5 incredible stars. ...more
First and foremost, this book is dark. If you can't handle Saw and Hostel levels of demented, this one's not for you. Now that that's out of the wFirst and foremost, this book is dark. If you can't handle Saw and Hostel levels of demented, this one's not for you. Now that that's out of the way, I am obsessed. I was hooked from the beginning and Mia Sheridan had an impeccable way of keeping you interested in every aspect of the story. I don't even like romance and I found myself sobbing and rooting for these two! The pacing is wonderful and I was never bored. Everything about this was perfect. Highly recommend.
Heavy trigger warnings: rape, sexual assault, captivity, torture, kidnapping, human trafficking ...more
Mary Kubica does it again! Five bright stars for this gripping psychological thriller. While reading this the dread is palpable. I felt uncomfortable Mary Kubica does it again! Five bright stars for this gripping psychological thriller. While reading this the dread is palpable. I felt uncomfortable in my skin and was looking over my shoulder while I was home alone. Ma'am, the twists are TWISTING. My mouth was agape, on the floor, in need of a jack stand to bring it back up after the first twist was revealed. And make sure to keep that jack stand close by because it doesn't end there. I went in blind and I recommend you do too. Trust Queen Mary Kubica to take you on a wild ride.
Many, many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date of April 2, 2024....more
This book had me in the first half; albeit it was hard to focus and give a shit about Madi and her POV in part one. By the last half-ish things got...This book had me in the first half; albeit it was hard to focus and give a shit about Madi and her POV in part one. By the last half-ish things got... weird. When I thought (view spoiler)[Skyler was a zombie I was all in. Hell yes. A desperate father did some ritual to bring back his dead baby. Amazing. But, like, that's not what happened at all? And not only is he back from the dead, Skyler is a... crab? But why? (hide spoiler)]
Madi's behaviors and motivations at the end of the book are difficult to understand. I'll even give her the benefit of the doubt and (view spoiler)[ pretend that Crab Skyler possessed her and that's why she gave up on her own literal daughter to take care of a crustacean boy. (hide spoiler)]But none of that was explained. She just began acting in ways that make zero sense for any sensible person to behave. But... maybe that's the point. What kind of mother would do that?
I am speechless but have so much to say. I inhaled this book like it was my last breath. To say I loved this is an understatement. This book is darkI am speechless but have so much to say. I inhaled this book like it was my last breath. To say I loved this is an understatement. This book is dark so be prepared for a wild ride.
It was like reading a trainwreck from beginning to end and I just couldn't stop because it was kind of amazing.It was like reading a trainwreck from beginning to end and I just couldn't stop because it was kind of amazing....more
This was a riveting, fast-paced, psychological thriller. I had one million theories and wasn't able to guess the twist! Being a therapist myself I wasThis was a riveting, fast-paced, psychological thriller. I had one million theories and wasn't able to guess the twist! Being a therapist myself I was aware of some plot holes that I couldn't ignore. I also didn't love the ending. Other than that, I loved the rest of this disturbing tale.
Trigger warning: child murder, kidnapping, sexual abuse, graphic violence...more