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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Gripping thriller more than half the book keeps you on the edge of seat to end
My go-to books are edge-of-your-seat thrillers. There are so many books published every day that promise to scare me, keep me up at night, etc. They very rarely live up to their hype, so I was skeptical when the tagline for my latest read promised to "make your skin crawl." My obsession with the thriller genre began by reading R.L. Stine's Fear Street books way back in middle school. Even then I could tell the writing was subpar, but they were quick reads and I loved trying to figure out the bad guy. Later on, I graduated to reading adult thrillers and I can still remember Dean Koontz's "Intensity" in vivid detail all these years later. I enjoyed that story so much and it's been quite awhile since I've found a book that scared me in such an effortless way. And then I read "Secrets of a Serial Killer" by Rosie Walker.
Holy cow! This book is phenomenal! I could not put it down. The writing is superb and the plot is creepy and full of suspense. There is some violence and gore, but none of it feels like it's there for shock and awe. It serves a purpose in creating suspense and fear, but it doesn't get out of control. This could be easily turned into a terrifying horror movie. I know it may be hard to believe, but I don't have a single complaint about this book. Not one!
When I began reading, I was worried that I would have difficulty keeping track of all of the narrators. There is Zoe, a 17 year-old girl dating an older man, much to her parents' chagrin. She thinks she has all the answers and is fiercely independent, as you'd expect of a teenager. Helen is Zoe's mother and she works as an architect, specializing in repurposing historical buildings into modern living spaces. Her current project involves an old insane asylum. She is divorced from Zoe's father and tends to put all her energy into micromanaging her daughter's life. We also have Thomas, a prepubescent boy who lives next door with his journalist mother. He's consumed with finding out what happened to his father who left suddenly without explanation. He spends his time with his cousin, Maggie, who loves to explore and pretend she's a detective. And then we have HIM, the elusive serial killer the police claim doesn't exist. He's determined to make Zoe his next victim and has twisted things in store for her. Despite the numerous narrators, I needn't have worried. The points of view are masterfully woven together into a seamless story line that had my heart pounding from start to finish. The characters feel very real and authentic in their roles.
Great characters aside, the setting of this novel is also spot on. The time is set in the present in Lancaster, UK, but there's a lot of talk about the history of the lunatic asylum Helen is developing. A famed serial killer was kept there for some time in the 1980s and there seems to be quite a few coincidences between his crimes and several girls who have recently gone missing. The cops chalk it up to a bunch of runaways, but Thomas's mother causes problems for the authorities when she claims there's a serial killer on the loose in her articles. The abandoned asylum and its surrounding woods create the perfect ambiance for such a terrifying story. I could actually smell the mildew from the old caravan in the woods. The writing was that descriptive. I was able to visualize every single scene in this book without any problems and it really was a total creep fest. There's no way this story would have been half as engrossing as it was without such a dynamic setting.
After doing some research on the author, it appears this is her debut novel, but I will definitely be reading whatever Rosie Walker comes up with next. If you're a fan of thrillers and are looking for a truly scary reading experience, you've really got to check this one out. You won't be disappointed!
My Rating: ★★★★★
At the time of this post, this title is set to be released on July 17, 2020.
*Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Holy cow! This book is phenomenal! I could not put it down. The writing is superb and the plot is creepy and full of suspense. There is some violence and gore, but none of it feels like it's there for shock and awe. It serves a purpose in creating suspense and fear, but it doesn't get out of control. This could be easily turned into a terrifying horror movie. I know it may be hard to believe, but I don't have a single complaint about this book. Not one!
When I began reading, I was worried that I would have difficulty keeping track of all of the narrators. There is Zoe, a 17 year-old girl dating an older man, much to her parents' chagrin. She thinks she has all the answers and is fiercely independent, as you'd expect of a teenager. Helen is Zoe's mother and she works as an architect, specializing in repurposing historical buildings into modern living spaces. Her current project involves an old insane asylum. She is divorced from Zoe's father and tends to put all her energy into micromanaging her daughter's life. We also have Thomas, a prepubescent boy who lives next door with his journalist mother. He's consumed with finding out what happened to his father who left suddenly without explanation. He spends his time with his cousin, Maggie, who loves to explore and pretend she's a detective. And then we have HIM, the elusive serial killer the police claim doesn't exist. He's determined to make Zoe his next victim and has twisted things in store for her. Despite the numerous narrators, I needn't have worried. The points of view are masterfully woven together into a seamless story line that had my heart pounding from start to finish. The characters feel very real and authentic in their roles.
Great characters aside, the setting of this novel is also spot on. The time is set in the present in Lancaster, UK, but there's a lot of talk about the history of the lunatic asylum Helen is developing. A famed serial killer was kept there for some time in the 1980s and there seems to be quite a few coincidences between his crimes and several girls who have recently gone missing. The cops chalk it up to a bunch of runaways, but Thomas's mother causes problems for the authorities when she claims there's a serial killer on the loose in her articles. The abandoned asylum and its surrounding woods create the perfect ambiance for such a terrifying story. I could actually smell the mildew from the old caravan in the woods. The writing was that descriptive. I was able to visualize every single scene in this book without any problems and it really was a total creep fest. There's no way this story would have been half as engrossing as it was without such a dynamic setting.
After doing some research on the author, it appears this is her debut novel, but I will definitely be reading whatever Rosie Walker comes up with next. If you're a fan of thrillers and are looking for a truly scary reading experience, you've really got to check this one out. You won't be disappointed!
My Rating: ★★★★★
At the time of this post, this title is set to be released on July 17, 2020.
*Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
For decades, the city of Lancaster has been terrorised by a cunning and gruesome serial killer. The perpetrator remains uncaptured and hidden, their victims spanning generations. Helen Summerton’s worst nightmare becomes a sickening reality when her daughter Zoe doesn’t return home from a night out with friends. As the hours tick by, the more convinced Helen is that Zoe has been taken by him. Will she be able to uncover the twisted secrets of this callous killer and save her daughter before it’s too late?
I gave this story 4 stars (3.5 stars for the story but 4 stars for the audiobook) . The plot was both creepy and captivating, however, I’m grateful that I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio versus reading a physical copy. The audiobook enhanced my reading experience, as it was incredibly atmospheric and suspenseful. Both narrators were extremely enthusiastic and vibrant, collectively bringing all of the characters to life. I truly felt like I was feeling the character’s emotions and seeing the terrifying events unfold through their eyes. I listened to this in the evenings and found myself always having to switch the light on because the story was creeping me out!
I somewhat guessed the plot twist, but the way this was revealed still gave me chills and kept me on edge. I was eager to discover what would happen to each of the characters following the twist and intrigued to find out how the story would end. The various character perspectives maintained the suspense and held my attention from the very first chapter. The alternating POVs supported the overall pacing and I liked how their individual stories aligned towards the end. I also appreciated the nature versus nurture debate – are people really born serial killers, or are they made? This was a very thought-provoking aspect for me.
Overall, I’d recommend giving this a read if you enjoy creepy, fast-paced YA thrillers. However, if you have the option, then I’d definitely consider the audiobook for a more gripping reading experience! Thank you very much to Net Galley and Harper Collins Audio UK for sending me 'Secrets of a Serial Killer' (audiobook) in exchange for an honest review.
I gave this story 4 stars (3.5 stars for the story but 4 stars for the audiobook) . The plot was both creepy and captivating, however, I’m grateful that I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio versus reading a physical copy. The audiobook enhanced my reading experience, as it was incredibly atmospheric and suspenseful. Both narrators were extremely enthusiastic and vibrant, collectively bringing all of the characters to life. I truly felt like I was feeling the character’s emotions and seeing the terrifying events unfold through their eyes. I listened to this in the evenings and found myself always having to switch the light on because the story was creeping me out!
I somewhat guessed the plot twist, but the way this was revealed still gave me chills and kept me on edge. I was eager to discover what would happen to each of the characters following the twist and intrigued to find out how the story would end. The various character perspectives maintained the suspense and held my attention from the very first chapter. The alternating POVs supported the overall pacing and I liked how their individual stories aligned towards the end. I also appreciated the nature versus nurture debate – are people really born serial killers, or are they made? This was a very thought-provoking aspect for me.
Overall, I’d recommend giving this a read if you enjoy creepy, fast-paced YA thrillers. However, if you have the option, then I’d definitely consider the audiobook for a more gripping reading experience! Thank you very much to Net Galley and Harper Collins Audio UK for sending me 'Secrets of a Serial Killer' (audiobook) in exchange for an honest review.
This book was intense, but the best instense ever. I couldn't put it down. The storyline was absolutely fantastic and the way it is written is equally fantastic!
The amount of times I shuddered at some of the things that happened. It's like watching a horror movie and your like "no don't go in there, don't do that, oh no". It was one of the most brilliant thriller books I've read. It's also a careful reminder of be careful who you speak to a to not take drinks from strangers! I was so sure of myself of what was going on and who was who and then BAM! plot twist
The amount of times I shuddered at some of the things that happened. It's like watching a horror movie and your like "no don't go in there, don't do that, oh no". It was one of the most brilliant thriller books I've read. It's also a careful reminder of be careful who you speak to a to not take drinks from strangers! I was so sure of myself of what was going on and who was who and then BAM! plot twist
It was a little unbelievable but it was a quite new look into serial killers.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think the ending added a 0.5 star as I was planning to give this book only 1.5 stars.
I feel as if this book had potential. Perhaps it needed a bit longer of a time to bake in the oven for it to be a PERFECT chilling thriller.
Helen, a mother, is searching for her daughter Zoe who has gone missing after a night with friends. An "eleven-year-old" boy, Thoma's, gets entangled in the mystery of this missing girl because of an adventure he takes with his cousin. And then, the killer, Mr. X, has been committing their dark crimes spending over 30 decades. But how can Mr. X still do what they are doing when the man that was called this had died those 30 years back in the Insane Asylum?
I think my explanation perhaps makes this book sound interesting, and when I look back it does to me too.
This book was too long in my opinion, and the four perspectives we got- one or two could have been scrapped, or changed even for a different person, perhaps the reporter? After 50% I was trying to read, skim read, to reach some kind of twist in the plot (this at least forced me to read much more of the book, maybe you can call this a bit of having interest and addictive?), to get a bit of shock or something to happen. Even when a "reveal" happened, I wasn't shocked because of the foreshadowing there was beforehand in the beginning pages. I already knew who the killer would be, so I was just waiting for approval. And the ending? Well, it improved the stare rating a bit, but also it was to be expected.
There is also the use of putting in supposed articles of news reporters and websites giving context to the story, a bit of background, comments, etc. To be honest? I skipped them, and I didn't lose much by doing that.
A few things that bothered me is the use of the word"destroy", which now will be in my dictorinary for words that I just cannot stand and give me the ick, the word "chunky" is in that dictionary. Then there is this, She knows why he hasn't raped her, like she initially feared. As if that was the worst thing that can happen. *closes the book slowly and puts it aside to process*
I think if Rosie Walker releases a second book, I would definitely give a shot and read it. Her writing is easy, there is potential, she doesn't use many complicated words which I appreciate, and she gives simple visuals (even if they sometimes got me confused when a certain place was described).
I feel as if this book had potential. Perhaps it needed a bit longer of a time to bake in the oven for it to be a PERFECT chilling thriller.
Helen, a mother, is searching for her daughter Zoe who has gone missing after a night with friends. An "eleven-year-old" boy, Thoma's, gets entangled in the mystery of this missing girl because of an adventure he takes with his cousin. And then, the killer, Mr. X, has been committing their dark crimes spending over 30 decades. But how can Mr. X still do what they are doing when the man that was called this had died those 30 years back in the Insane Asylum?
I think my explanation perhaps makes this book sound interesting, and when I look back it does to me too.
This book was too long in my opinion, and the four perspectives we got- one or two could have been scrapped, or changed even for a different person, perhaps the reporter? After 50% I was trying to read, skim read, to reach some kind of twist in the plot (this at least forced me to read much more of the book, maybe you can call this a bit of having interest and addictive?), to get a bit of shock or something to happen. Even when a "reveal" happened, I wasn't shocked because of the foreshadowing there was beforehand in the beginning pages. I already knew who the killer would be, so I was just waiting for approval. And the ending? Well, it improved the stare rating a bit, but also it was to be expected.
There is also the use of putting in supposed articles of news reporters and websites giving context to the story, a bit of background, comments, etc. To be honest? I skipped them, and I didn't lose much by doing that.
A few things that bothered me is the use of the word"destroy", which now will be in my dictorinary for words that I just cannot stand and give me the ick, the word "chunky" is in that dictionary. Then there is this, She knows why he hasn't raped her, like she initially feared. As if that was the worst thing that can happen. *closes the book slowly and puts it aside to process*
I think if Rosie Walker releases a second book, I would definitely give a shot and read it. Her writing is easy, there is potential, she doesn't use many complicated words which I appreciate, and she gives simple visuals (even if they sometimes got me confused when a certain place was described).
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A