Thank you so much to Del Rey and Josh Malerman for this chilling horror book. It was about Bela, a girl who loves her family more than anything. She lThank you so much to Del Rey and Josh Malerman for this chilling horror book. It was about Bela, a girl who loves her family more than anything. She loves her Mommy, Daddo, Grandma, and even Other Mommy, a tall hairy creature that lives in her closet and asks her every day “Can I go inside your heart?” Terrifying things start happening around around the house, and Other Mommy is getting tired of asking the same question over and over.
Bela realizes that Other Mommy is going to make her pay, and only the bonds of her family can keep her safe. But there are cracks in her family she never knew about, and as secrets start to unravel, Bela has to decide if she wants to give Other Mommy an answer or run for her life.
Thoughts: This book was SO CREEPY! I loved that it was from Bela’s perspective, and Malerman did such a good job of writing from her point of view. This story is so great because of what it doesn’t say. It leaves the horror up to the reader’s imagination, and you feel that something is waiting for you in the dark. You can feel the build of dread as this family tries to do everything they can to escape Other Mommy.
The story was about childhood trauma and family dynamics and innocence. Malerman explores the way our childhood affects our adult lives, and the things we carry with us. I thought the juxtaposition of Bela with the party her family throws and all the guests was especially well done. I couldn’t put it down for a minute and I want to go back and read some of Josh Malerman’s past books! 5-stars! ...more
I can’t even find the words to describe how much I loved this book. It was about Eve and her partner Charlie, who just purchased an old home to repairI can’t even find the words to describe how much I loved this book. It was about Eve and her partner Charlie, who just purchased an old home to repair and flip in a beautiful neighborhood. One day a man knocks on the door, telling Eve that he and his family are driving through town and he used to live in their house. He asks if he can show his family around, and Eve lets them in. The only problem is, as soon as she does, weird things start happening.
First the family’s daughter goes missing. Then someone appears in the basement, and Eve starts not being able to trust her eyes. But the worst part is, the family won’t leave. Then Charlie doesn’t come home, and Eve isn’t sure what to make of this family. Something is wrong with them, with the house, and possibly with her.
Thoughts: OH MY GOSH THIS BOOK! First of all, I love that it was based on a Reddit thread (creepy pasta?) because OMG the creep. This book is the ultimate descent into madness. I hate the idea of people not leaving my house, and this story was the most eerie version of that. This family was so “normal” that it was obvious that something was off. The story was so well composed and the author threw in just enough details to completely freak me out. There were some truly grotesque images that I wish I could unhear, and there were points where I had to put the book down because it was too close to bedtime.
I physically couldn’t put this book down, and told several while I was reading it that they needed it ASAP because of the way it captured my attention. This is my favorite book of the year so far, and I’m SO happy it’s going to be turned into a Netflix series. This book will have you questioning everything, except how amazing it is. FIVE STARS! ...more
This book was EVERYTHING! Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and Robyn Harding for my copy of this book! It’s about Camryn, a newly publish This book was EVERYTHING! Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and Robyn Harding for my copy of this book! It’s about Camryn, a newly published author who is finally having her dreams come true. Everything is going great, until she gets a disturbing message from an unknown person. She tries to forget about it, but then she gets a scathing one star review on her book, and soon her book is flooded with bad reviews. Then the online trolling starts to creep in to her her personal life, and crosses the line from an angry reader to someone out to get her. Is this person someone she knows? She begins to be targeted more and more, and now she realizes that this vendetta is deeper than she first believed.
Thoughts: I loved this book! Robyn Harding is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. The way she writes is dynamic and interesting and leads the reader down a path of this fun thriller. This book is written for readers, and anyone who is in the bookstagram or author space will love this book. The idea of an internet troll being able to destroy someone’s life is so relevant and so truly terrifying.
There were so many interesting and suspicious characters in this book, and so many ways this story could go. I loved the chapters of Burnt Orchid in between the other chapters, and would LOVE to actually get to read that full book. The things happening to Camryn were not scary, but just creepy enough to make me feel really uneasy. The ending was what I guessed, but I didn’t know all the details and how Harding would weave everything together. I can’t recommend this enough- 5 stars! ...more
Thank you SO much to William Morrow for my copy of A Talent For Murder. THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE SWANSON! It’s about Martha, a woman who thinks she’s cThank you SO much to William Morrow for my copy of A Talent For Murder. THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE SWANSON! It’s about Martha, a woman who thinks she’s cursed in love. She has always had bad luck with men, but finally meets Alan, a nice man who travels half the year for his job. She decides to marry him, but remembers the curse when she finds blood on his shirt after a conference. She is suspicious, so she decides to investigate the recent cities that Alan has traveled to and discovers a pattern of death and unsolved murders.
Martha begins to think she may have married a serial killer, and enlists her graduate school friend Lily to help investigate Alan. After all, Lily helped Martha in the past, and she knows she can trust her. But what Lily finds is so much deeper and darker than Martha could have imagined.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. So many layers and so twisted. I loved that it was part of the Lily Kitner series and the way she is involved is just perfect. I thought the layers in this story were genius and it kept going deeper and deeper. I loved that Henry Kimball was still involved in the story and that you get to see how his relationship with Lily continued after the first two books.
This book is dark and has triggers for stalking, murder, psychopathy, sexual sadism, assault, and rape. You can absolutely read it as a stand alone book, but the other ones set it up to be an even better read. I can’t recommend this book enough- 5 stars! ...more
At seventeen, Lenora Hope Hung her sister with a rope
Stabbed her father with a knife Took her mother’s happy life
“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said But she’s thAt seventeen, Lenora Hope Hung her sister with a rope
Stabbed her father with a knife Took her mother’s happy life
“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said But she’s the only one not dead
Thank you SO MUCH to Riley Sager and Dutto for my copy of this book! One bloody night in 1929, the Hope family was brutally murdered. All but Lenora, who survived to tell the police she didn’t do it. After the massacre, Lenora didn’t set foot outside of her cliffside estate, Hope’s End, and her story turned to legend.
Now 1983, Lenora is in need of a caretaker. Her previous nurse disappeared in the night and Kit is out of options. She takes the job as her last resort, and is surprised to find the infamous Lenora confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak or move, except for her left arm. She communicates by tapping on an old typewriter, and decides she wants to share her story with Kit. But can Lenora be trusted?
Thoughts: The Only One Left is another home run from Riley Sager. From the very beginning, the atmospheric setting and eerie plot capture the reader’s attention. The story of Lenora is fascinating, and set in the creaky Hope’s End, it is the perfect backdrop for an unreliable character. The cast of characters Sager creates are unique and interesting, but Kit and Lenora are the stars.
I couldn’t read this book fast enough, and the pages of type written story between the chapters had me anxious to turn the page. Always master of suspense, Sager had me gasping out loud and listening for sounds in my house. I loved this book and it may even be my new favorite book of his! I recommend this book to anyone who likes a creepy setting, twisted cast of characters, and a satisfying ending. 5 stars! ...more
I can’t believe that this book is a debut! Julia Bartz and Atria Books have a hit on their hands and I LOVED IT! The premise was amazing- Alex wants tI can’t believe that this book is a debut! Julia Bartz and Atria Books have a hit on their hands and I LOVED IT! The premise was amazing- Alex wants to become a published author and all she sees is her friends' success. When she gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to join a writing retreat hosted by the reclusive horror author Roza Vallo, she can’t believe her luck. Even the fact that her ex best friend Wren will also be attending doesn’t keep her away.
When she arrives, Roza tells them that they all have to start and finish a novel from scratch in the next month, and not meeting deadlines will have consequences. With the prize of a million dollar publishing deal, Alex is determined to win the contest. There are strange things going on in the house, and when one of the aspiring writers disappears, Alex has to decide if she wants to look deeper into what is going on, or save herself.
Thoughts: This book was SO intriguing and I couldn’t put it down. The premise was so interesting and I loved the idea of a writing retreat hosted by a horror author and feminist icon. I loved the atmospheric and gothic vibes of the old mansion, as well as the claustrophobic feeling of being secluded during a snowstorm. This book was not realistic, but it worked so well and kept my attention the whole time.
Bartz focused on the question of how far we would go to get what we want, and who we would sacrifice along the way. This book was about female empowerment and though I’m usually not a fan of sexual content in thrillers, it worked well for this book. I loved the locked room thriller vibes and couldn’t put it down. The ending was rushed, but I can see why it had to be. 4-stars! ...more
“A puppet is a possession that possesses the possessor”
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Grady Hendrix for my copy of this book. Why did the“A puppet is a possession that possesses the possessor”
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Grady Hendrix for my copy of this book. Why did their parents flee their home in the middle of the night? What had them in such a rush that they were killed instantly in a car crash? That’s what Louise and Mark Joyner want to know. The estranged siblings lost their parents in an instant, but nothing has prepared them for their next task- selling a haunted house.
Their mother collected puppets, and the house is filled to the brim with the dolls of their childhood. Each sibling is harboring a dark secret about one puppet in particular- Pupkin. He led them through their childhood, and seemed to take on a life of his own…but now he has a life of his own? Going through the house, Pupkin comes alive in a new and terrifying way. He doesn’t want the house to sell, and Mark and Louise start to realize that the only way to break away from their past might be to burn it all down.
Thoughts: Hendrix has the uncanny ability to write horror in a funny and entertaining way. This story made me scared to sleep with the lights off, sick to my stomach, and laughing out loud all in the same few chapters. It is first and foremost a horror book, but the undercurrent of meaning behind the plot touches on how sometimes we feel like puppets, controlled by our childhoods. Our past can keep us safe, but it can also bind and suffocate us.
Memories are subjective, and nothing really is as simple as we think. This book exacerbated my already fragile fear of puppets and took it to a whole new level. I found myself wanting to look away from the book, but simultaneously obsessed with finishing each chapter. Fans of The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires will fall in love with How To Sell A Haunted House. 5 stars!...more
This book was EVERYTHING. I am so happy I picked up Sign Here because it was unlike anything I’ve read before. In the same vein as Rachel Harrison’s wThis book was EVERYTHING. I am so happy I picked up Sign Here because it was unlike anything I’ve read before. In the same vein as Rachel Harrison’s witty and dark writing, Claudia Lux writes about hell in a hilarious and intriguing way. This book is about Peyote Trip, a man in hell who works in the Deals Department. And yes, it’s just like it sounds. Everything is damp and broken, none of the pens work, and the coffee machine is always out of order. Peyote needs one more member of the Harrison family to sell their soul, and is working on that when Calamity Gamon pops into his life.
The Harrisons are on a summer vacation to their lake house and it brings back a lot of memories. Peyote is watching the plan he set in motion, but things aren’t always how they seem, in Earth or in Hell. Secrets threaten to bubble over, and when the Harrisons decide to bring a friend of their daughter’s on vacation, Peyote may not know what’s coming, and how it affects his master plan.
Thoughts: The writing in this book was clever and witty and entertaining. From the very first page I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. The chapters that were set in Hell were amazing to read and full of surprises. Lux writes so well that I felt completely immersed in the story, and loved the way she bounced from Hell to Earth. I loved hearing about the members of the Harrison family and there were no times where I lost interest.
There are so many twisted secrets in this book that it made it fun to read. I loved the story and the journey, but I especially loved the characters. They were so much fun to read about and as well as dynamic and fun. AND THAT ENDING. I loved this book from start to finish and recommend it to anyone who likes a fun and twisted horror- 5 stars! ...more
THIS BOOK WAS WILD! Thank you so much to PRH Audio and David Ellis for my copy! Look Closer is about Simon and Vicky, a lawyer and domestic violence aTHIS BOOK WAS WILD! Thank you so much to PRH Audio and David Ellis for my copy! Look Closer is about Simon and Vicky, a lawyer and domestic violence advocate with a stable and boring marriage. But everything is not as it seems. When the body of a woman is found murdered after Halloween, their marriage begins to unravel and secrets start to come out. At stake is a twenty million dollar trust fund, and everyone wants to get their hands on it. Both Simon and Vicky are hiding things in their past, and those things are about to come back to haunt them.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK WAS SO TWISTED. It was not your average domestic suspense and I was HERE FOR IT. There were so many twists and turns and I loved the journey. I loved all the characters in this book and the look into their minds. Simon's journal entries were my favorite chapters by far, and gave you insights into the mind of a stalker. I loved the Halloween aspect, I loved the law professor aspect, and I loved the police aspect. There were so many amazing things that just WORKED.
There were so many things going on that worked together perfectly. This book seemed like it would be a straightforward book, but there were so many layers and things going on behind the scenes. You have to pay attention, because every detail matters and works to create a twisted narrative with a spectacular ending! 5-stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Catherine Ryan Howard and Blackstone Publishing for my copy of this book that comes out on August 16.
The scene is set. The actorsThank you so much to Catherine Ryan Howard and Blackstone Publishing for my copy of this book that comes out on August 16.
The scene is set. The actors are in place. The setting is a remote cabin in the woods. Adele Rafferty is running scared.
Final Draft is a psychological horror set in the remote woods of Ireland. Based on a “true story that hasn’t happened yet”, Adele thinks this movie is both her big break and recovery from the disaster that was her first foray into the silver screen. After the whirlwind 24 hours it takes her to drop everything in LA and arrive in remote Ireland, she receives a text that tells her to GET OUT OF THERE NOW and begins to suspect there is something more nefarious going on than just a horror movie.
Thoughts: This is the best book you will read in 2022 and you can quote me on that. The premise of a book within a screenplay within a movie within a book is not as confusing as it sounds, and turned out to be one of the most riveting books I’ve read in a long time. Adele is a wonderful main character, both dynamic and unreliable. The story is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Catherine Ryan Howard, and that is well-written, full of twists, and symbolic of the world around us.
I loved the greater message about women empowerment and how sometimes we have to save ourselves. It was both relatable and heartbreaking to read the male characters in show business, but even more interesting to hear about women and the results of men’s actions. This story is powerful, creepy, and extremely meta in the best way.
I haven’t read a book that truly creeped me out like this in a long time. The setting was dark and slimy and had all the right elements to make me keep the lights on while reading. I could never quite put my finger on what was really going on, and I think that’s what makes for an exceptional story. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone as one of the biggest successes of the year. FIVE STARS! ...more
This would have been one of my favorite books of 2021, if I had not finished it in the first two days of 2022. THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING. Amazing writinThis would have been one of my favorite books of 2021, if I had not finished it in the first two days of 2022. THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING. Amazing writing, fantastic research, and an intriguing topic. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Doubleday Books for my ALC. This book is a masterful narrative about the OxyContin epidemic in the United States and the family that created it. It brings out a million emotions, but primarily infuriating anger at what people have gotten away with and how much pain one family can cause.
Thoughts: This book just made me fall in love with nonfiction. It is SO well written that even though it is quite lengthy, it flew by. It is so well researched and shows the beginnings of the Sackler family and how they created the OxyContin epidemic years before the drug was created. I LOVED listening to this on audio, as Patrick Radden Keefe is not only a phenomenal journalist, but a wonderful narrator.
This book taught me so much I never knew had happened. The way this story was told so perfectly, with the progression through three generations of Sacklers, leads the reader through the story with ease and wonderful set up. It made me so mad to hear about what a family did for money, and now I want to go read everything Keefe has written. It’s hard to describe this book in words, but please please go pick this up right now. 5 stars! ...more
“Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic.”
That is the last anyone hears from Cambry Nguyen- her suicide note. “Please Forgive Me. I couldn’t live with it. Hopefully you can, Officer Raycevic.”
That is the last anyone hears from Cambry Nguyen- her suicide note. Three months ago Lena Nguyen’s twin sister drove to a remote bridge in Montana and jumped off. Or at least that is what the police say. Lena isn’t buying it, and armed with a tape recorder she heads out to Montana to see the “haunted” bridge for herself. She meets the same Officer Raycevic from the suicide note at the crime scene, hoping she will be able to figure out more details about her sister’s death.
When she finds out Raycevic stopped Cambry for speeding just an hour before her death, she wants more information from the last person to see her alive. There are many suspicious things about her death, including 16 calls to 911 in a dead zone and the fact that Cambry kept extensive journals, most of which seemed to have disappeared. Lena is not one to give up easily, and she promises herself she won’t go home until she finds out what really happened. Thank you to William Morrow and Taylor Adams for my ARC of this book that comes out on June 15, 2021.
Thoughts: Taylor Adams creates a heart-pounding masterpiece in Hairpin Bridge. From the first page to the last, this book had my complete attention. I didn’t want to stop reading for a second, and every chapter ended on a cliffhanger that made me want to read “just one more page”. The story is fast-paced, with twists and turns coming constantly. Lena is such a strong main character and I rooted from her from the beginning.
The chapters of what is happening in the present alternate between chapters written on how Lena imagined Cambry’s last hours went. It is based on police evidence, eyewitness accounts, and just how Lena imagined it would have gone. There are many details sprinkled throughout the story that don’t make sense, but you later realized played a part in the story. Like Adam’s book No Exit, this book has action-packed suspense and gory details.
This book was the first time in a long time I couldn’t put a book down. My heart was pounding, my hands were sweating, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Right when you think you know what is going on, it turns out you have no idea. Bump this book to the top of your list; it’s one you’re not going to want to miss! 5 stars!
HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS FOLKS! Let me tell you about the best book you’ve never heard of. Thank you so much to Macmillian/Henry Holt and Goldy Moldavsky fHOLD ONTO YOUR HATS FOLKS! Let me tell you about the best book you’ve never heard of. Thank you so much to Macmillian/Henry Holt and Goldy Moldavsky for the pleasure of reading this book that comes out on April 13. The Mary Shelley Club is a HIT! You will be hearing about this book in the future.
There are three things everyone knows about a good horror movie.
1. Avoid abandoned buildings at all times 2. Don’t split up - stay together, even if someone wants to “check something out” 3. If there is a murderer on the loose, don’t waste time making out
But what about real life?
The Mary Shelley Club begins Rachel being attacked by two masked men in her home. A year later her world is completely different. After transferring schools and starting to rebuild, Rachel copes by watching horror movies. She wants to master her fear, even if that means forgoing friendship. But sometimes friendship comes to you. For Rachel, it is in the form of The Mary Shelley Club, a secret and exclusive club on her new prep school’s campus. After stumbling into a prank they were pulling, Rachel finds herself being initiated into a club that has one goal - to truly scare people.
Each member of The Mary Shelley Club has a “fear test” where they plan the ultimate scary scenario and act it out. Each member has a role, and the group has a target that they want to get to scream. The four other members of the group have their own reasons for choosing their targets, and Rachel has a target of her own.
At one point in the book Rachel states, “you could say that slashers actually give the Final Girl the kind of agency that women in other film genres never experience”. This book is about female empowerment and the strength it takes to be a Final Girl. It is about overcoming fear in the world around you as well as the fear of yourself. The many references to the horror movie genre are entertaining and capture the reader’s attention in the way other plots can’t.
While some YA books learn towards fledgling romance and unnecessary drama, The Mary Shelley Club reads like an adult thriller. It does have many of the themes of a YA book, but is well done and enthralling. It was if Scream and A Good Girls Guide to Murder had a book baby, and would be a great choice for fans of thrillers, mysteries, YA, or any combination of the three. While some may not enjoy the open ending, I liked that it left room for a sequel. Things are explained just enough that you know why certain things happened, but there is room for more explanation in a future book. One thing is for sure- Goldy Moldavsky is one to watch. 5-stars!
The Maidens was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thank you to Celadon Books and Alex Michaelides for my ARC of this book, which completelThe Maidens was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Thank you to Celadon Books and Alex Michaelides for my ARC of this book, which completely blew me away. Six girls dressed in white make up the secret society The Maidens at Cambridge University. Their leader, esteemed Greek Tragedy professor Edward Fosca. But six used to be seven, before one was found murdered in a field.
Aunt of the murdered girl's roommate, Mariana Andros, is a group therapist who just wants to be there for her niece. Unfortunately, death and doom follow Mariana wherever she goes. The people she loves most in life are all gone, except for her niece Zoe. Mariana goes to her to see if she can help her through the difficult time.
Mariana immediately suspects Edward as the murderer, and can’t get the idea out of her head. She begins to track his moves, look into his background, and search for a motive. She thinks he’s gotten away with murder, and uses the investigation as a distraction from her own personal life. Mariana is much more complicated than she seems, and when another body is found, she decides she won’t rest until someone is brought to justice.
The perfect companion to The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides uses beautiful writing and Greek history to create a modern day Greek tragedy. The lyrical writing compliments the eerie murder and mysterious secret society. He once again takes the reader on a psychological journey that leaves you breathless and enthralled. The short chapters make it impossible to put down but there is no way to predict the ending of The Maidens.
As a fan of his debut, The Silent Patient, I loved the references to the book and the way he connects the two stories. Michaelides is truly the master of misdirection, and has the reader guessing until the very last page. He has quickly shot to the top of the list of my favorite authors, and creates books that are true psychological thrillers, full of questionable characters.
This book should be on the top of everyone’s most anticipated books of the year. It is a twisted story of mythology, murder, and obession that will have you hanging on every word until the very last page. 5-stars! ...more
This is my favorite kind of book! Thank you so much to the Bookish Ladies Club, Colleen Hoover, and Montlake for this ARC. It was my very first paranoThis is my favorite kind of book! Thank you so much to the Bookish Ladies Club, Colleen Hoover, and Montlake for this ARC. It was my very first paranormal romance and I wish it never ended. It gave me major Sarah Pinborough vibes and I LOVED IT. Colleen Hover should write more thriller/mystery/paranormal books because they end up being my favorite books of the year!
This book was about Leeds and Layla, a couple that fell madly in love. After an attack on them in their home months later, Leeds takes Layla back to the place they met to try to get away and help Layla be more like her old self. Once arriving at an empty bed and breakfast, Leeds wants to relax but strange things start happening.
Thoughts: I loved the paranormal aspects of this book! I am never one for romance, but this paranormal romance was SO well written, easy to follow, and completely captivating. I was totally engrossed in the story between Leeds and Layla and seriously loved each step of the journey this book took me on. There were some freaky parts but the story was what really got me. I honestly HATED Leeds in this book as well as loved him, so Colleen Hoover really made me feel things. This book was just as good as Verity and I am now a huge CoHo fan. This book will suck you in from the first sentence and you won’t be able to put it down. 5 SUPER STARS! ...more
The Wife Upstairs was a masterful story with a thrilling twist on the typical poor girl meets rich boy story. I can truly say this is one of my favoriThe Wife Upstairs was a masterful story with a thrilling twist on the typical poor girl meets rich boy story. I can truly say this is one of my favorite books of the year and I wanted to say THANK YOU to St. Martin’s Press and Rachel Hawkins for this AMAZING ARC. I don’t think I could have possibly loved this book more.
I just found out this was a retelling of Jane Eyre, but I would have not been able to tell while reading. Rachel Hawkins writing style captured me from the first page and I was completely drawn into the story. It’s about Jane, and dog walker in a rich neighborhood with a questionable past. When she meets Eddie, a recent widower and handsome millionaire, she sees her chance at a better life. But there may be more to Eddie than meets the eye. Eddie’s late wife disappeared under very mysterious circumstances and as Jane starts to become more a part of Eddie’s life, she’s not sure if she will like what she finds.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK GRABBED ME. I don’t know what it was, but this book had me from the beginning with the funny and relatable characters who were full of wit. I enjoyed the setting, the story, and the crazy journey this book took me on. I LOVED the different POV, especially Bea’s. I’ve heard that if you don’t like retellings you might not love this one, but I never read the original Jane Eyre (sorry to my English teacher mom) so it was perfect for me. I loved that it was set in high society Alabama, I loved all the pretentious and rich women, and I loved the twists and turns. 5-stars from me! ...more
“Books must be finished long before they get stacked on the shelf and, perhaps, by the time this one is finally in print, the Nothing Man’s name will “Books must be finished long before they get stacked on the shelf and, perhaps, by the time this one is finally in print, the Nothing Man’s name will already be known. Perhaps you, dear reader, even know what he looks like.”
Every word of every page in this journey of a book was compelling, heart wrenching, and deeply interesting. I will try my best to explain the masterpiece that is The Nothing Man. Thank you THANK YOU to Catherine Ryan Howard, Blackstone Publishing, and Netgalley for this absolute gem of a book.
This book is written like if The Golden State Killer read the book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark right after it was published. The premise alone is genius and so well done. A serial killer reading a book from one of his escaped victims. A book within a book. Brilliantly throughout and masterfully written, this book follows The Nothing Man years after he finished killing. A surviving victim from his last and worst attack writes a book about her experience, and he see it on the shelf. This book follows him reading the book and basically switches between the actual book the victim wrote and the killer’s current experience.
Thoughts: I loved the plot of this book. It was written in a way that completely sucks you in from the first page and is perfect for lovers of true crime. The book within the book read just like Michelle Mcmanara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. The bigger story does an amazing job of describing how a serial killer would feel if they were reading about themselves. It was everything I could ask for in a book- fast-paced, well-written, and completely one of a kind. I loved the main character of Eve and hated Jim, just like a reader should. There were so many suspenseful moments that led to a fantastic ending. I LOVED this book- highly recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers, true crime, mysteries, or crime fiction! 5-stars! ...more
One of the biggest disappointments a book can have is promising to be a cult book and then NOT BEING A CULT BOOK. Here’s the thing though, Nothing ImpOne of the biggest disappointments a book can have is promising to be a cult book and then NOT BEING A CULT BOOK. Here’s the thing though, Nothing Important Happened Today is a cult book. The cultiest cult book. The best cult book I’ve ever read! It’s about cults and serial killers and it warmed my little black heart!
Nothing Important Happened Today is about a mysterious cult popping up all over the world. People are hanging themselves from bridges en masse and jumping off of towers all at the same time. They all have a pre-written suicide note in their pocket, and the day they killed themselves, they received a note with only four words printed on it.
Nothing Important Happened Today
Thoughts: This book was everything I’ve wanted and needed in a cult/serial killer book. It discussed so many famous serial killers and cult leaders and I couldn’t stop reading. This book was written in an odd way, like a manifesto, and it took a minute to get into it. Once I did, I couldn’t put it down. What was going to happen? Why were these people killing themselves? AND THEN THE REVEAL. 10/10 goosebumps and chills and I was here for it. I also really loved the short chapters and how unique the writing was. This book is disturbing in the best way and I highly recommend it. 5-devoted stars! ...more
This book was so action packed I felt like I was watching a movie! There was so much to love about this book, from fast-paced action to a wonderful caThis book was so action packed I felt like I was watching a movie! There was so much to love about this book, from fast-paced action to a wonderful cast of characters. This is just book one in the series and I immediately purchased the other two the second I finished this book!
This book was about Caitlin, a detective that is following in her father's footsteps. Her father hunted the Prophet, a notorious serial killer, for years before he started to lose his mind. After being gone for many years, the killer is back and Caitlin wants to continue what her father started. Creepy and poetic messages start coming in and Caitlin realizes the Prophet wants to play with her. She needs to hunt him down before he kills the people closest to her.
Thoughts: I loved Caitlin, the main character. She is so spunky and drive and never gives up. The premise of this book was based on the Zodiac Killer which grabbed my attention right away. The killer in this book is unbelievably twisted and the story took so many unexpected turns. There is a lot of death in this book and it does not shy away from the serial killer theme at all. While part of you knows where the story is going, Meg Gardiner still throws in some surprises. I felt like I was hunting the killer throughout the book and got to play detective. Something I really loved was how CREEPY this book was. I found myself getting chills and it had my attention right up until the very end. 5-stars for sure! ...more
WOW! This book was EVERYTHING. Megan Miranda really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and I was completely blown away by this story. It’sWOW! This book was EVERYTHING. Megan Miranda really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and I was completely blown away by this story. It’s about a girl who has been through something terrible. As a child she experienced sleepwalking episodes, and one night she sleepwalks out into a storm and is swept away. Three days later she is found in a storm drain and makes national news. Years later she is trying to move on with her life, but the sleepwalking episodes come back. Then, she finds a dead man in her yard and can’t remember what happened.
Thoughts: This book was fast-paced and thrilling. I was completely sucked into the story and couldn’t put it down. I loved the story-line of sleepwalking and found it to be super creepy and super interesting. There were so many creepy details in this story and I loved it. I liked Olivia, the main character, and wanted to learn more about her story.
I connected with the story right away and had no idea where it was going. As the story progressed, I had a few ideas on where it could be going but I was COMPLETELY wrong. I loved the details, the buildup, and the ending of this story as well! 5-stars! ...more