You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Secrets of a Serial Killer is a rather creepy thriller that draws you in and keeps you hooked with it's skilfully written plot. It's one you will not put down once you start it.
3.5 stars - This is a strange one for me, so I couldn’t stop reading this book and when I wasn’t reading, I just wanted to read it, but there was a few things that just knocked stars off for me.
It wasn’t a terrible read.. I do think it was far fetched in places, some of the things I read I just thought “really, would they actually happen?”. It was a bit of a slow start too and the ending was just like you hit a brick wall and stop
It wasn’t a terrible read.. I do think it was far fetched in places, some of the things I read I just thought “really, would they actually happen?”. It was a bit of a slow start too and the ending was just like you hit a brick wall and stop
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty
Netgalley review copy
Secrets of a serial killer by Rosie walker
3/5
A serial killer has been terrorising Lancaster for decades, longer than should ever have been possible. The police are baffled, eluded at every turn by the killer whose victims span generations. Speculation is rife among the true crime forums; is someone passing on their gruesome trade?
Every local mother's worst nightmare has become Helen Summerton's reality; he’s taken her daughter, Zoe. As the clock runs down so do her chances of survival. Can Helen unearth the secrets of the killer before it’s too late?
Serial Killer, Creepy old lunatic asylum, Missing teenager, Two kids egging each other on to explore
All the ingredients for a great creepy thriller. And it was, in parts. The beginning. And the end. The serial killer who adopts other people's identities is an interesting premise. But we only got a small glance at this.
Secrets of a Serial Killer is a debut novel, a good one, but not a great one. I can see the potential but it could be greatly improved.
Secrets of a serial killer by Rosie walker
3/5
A serial killer has been terrorising Lancaster for decades, longer than should ever have been possible. The police are baffled, eluded at every turn by the killer whose victims span generations. Speculation is rife among the true crime forums; is someone passing on their gruesome trade?
Every local mother's worst nightmare has become Helen Summerton's reality; he’s taken her daughter, Zoe. As the clock runs down so do her chances of survival. Can Helen unearth the secrets of the killer before it’s too late?
Serial Killer, Creepy old lunatic asylum, Missing teenager, Two kids egging each other on to explore
All the ingredients for a great creepy thriller. And it was, in parts. The beginning. And the end. The serial killer who adopts other people's identities is an interesting premise. But we only got a small glance at this.
Secrets of a Serial Killer is a debut novel, a good one, but not a great one. I can see the potential but it could be greatly improved.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Described as a thriller that will constantly keep you on the edge of you seat, I couldn’t have said it any better. The main character is an angsty teenager, the perfect kind of teenager to attract the eyes of unwanted attention, but we’ve all been through it, wanting to wear the shortest skirts imaginable, staying out late with your friends and constant fighting about boyfriends and grades with your parents. That was Zoe’s life, of course that is way to normal for a thriller and her life quickly changes after a night out at a pub drinking some pints with her friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish, it was everything I look for in a good thriller, the nice amount of chills and unpredictable action. Rosie’s debut novel was exactly that, the book is written through 4 different POV’s, Helen (the mom), Zoe (the angsty teen), Thomas (some kid) and Him (uhm). The whole plot is set during three consecutive days which makes this quite a short and fast read, but I really wouldn’t have had it any other way since I felt the plot was really tightly organized and the author didn’t waste any time with unrequired descriptions of scenery, instead she focused on all the gory scary stuff.
There isn’t really much one can say about this novel without spoiling half of it, so I will abstain from sharing all the details I absolutely adored, just let me tell you that I didn’t finish this book in one sitting because it started to get late, and if I had I wouldn’t have been able to sleep properly that night.
It’s a four out of five stars for me, and I’m really looking forward for Rosie Walker to publish more books, I know I will be reading them for sure.
Thank you, Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishing for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.
Keep on reading fellow Book Lovers!
I thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish, it was everything I look for in a good thriller, the nice amount of chills and unpredictable action. Rosie’s debut novel was exactly that, the book is written through 4 different POV’s, Helen (the mom), Zoe (the angsty teen), Thomas (some kid) and Him (uhm). The whole plot is set during three consecutive days which makes this quite a short and fast read, but I really wouldn’t have had it any other way since I felt the plot was really tightly organized and the author didn’t waste any time with unrequired descriptions of scenery, instead she focused on all the gory scary stuff.
There isn’t really much one can say about this novel without spoiling half of it, so I will abstain from sharing all the details I absolutely adored, just let me tell you that I didn’t finish this book in one sitting because it started to get late, and if I had I wouldn’t have been able to sleep properly that night.
It’s a four out of five stars for me, and I’m really looking forward for Rosie Walker to publish more books, I know I will be reading them for sure.
Thank you, Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishing for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.
Keep on reading fellow Book Lovers!
Everything about this book bothered me. Linking mental illness and serial killing is not only harmful but lazy and overdone. Honestly, I’m struggling to find anything positive about this book. I don’t want to include any spoilers but there are a few random feminist comments in there that are bizarre. I don’t know if the author understands what feminism means. There is also a “what is worse” comparison between the Troubles in Ireland and a serial killer. Just no.