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spacedout_reader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I thought the writing was good and the characterization was superb, every one felt like a real, flawed individual. However, for me the story was ultimately not that satisfying, and it felt like it left a lot of loose ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder
laurenvoice's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Death of a Bookseller was a captivating, yet disturbing read!
The main characters, Roach and Laura, were well-written. They were so well written that somehow it became easy to feel sorry for Roach and have a strong dislike towards Laura.
Despite the feeling Roach was meant to be the "bad guy" in this story, it was hard to ignore Laura's toxic behaviour and no one ever holding her to account due to her past trauma; what happened was unthinkable, but it shouldn't give her a free pass to be a bully.
That said, Roach was very much on the creepy side; she's the female version of Joe Goldberg. It would have been interesting to get more insight into why Roach was the obsessive type and why she tried to mimic the image of other people rather than her own. Although it was easy to feel sorry for Roach, it did not excuse her behaviour and what she put Laura through.
Surprisingly, it felt fitting that Death of a Bookseller ended on a cliffhanger. Usually, a cliffhanger with no signs of a sequel is quite irritating, but for this story, it felt right. Death of a Bookseller had that constant dread and unease feeling; it only felt right that the story would end with the same feeling.
The main characters, Roach and Laura, were well-written. They were so well written that somehow it became easy to feel sorry for Roach and have a strong dislike towards Laura.
Despite the feeling Roach was meant to be the "bad guy" in this story, it was hard to ignore Laura's toxic behaviour and no one ever holding her to account due to her past trauma; what happened was unthinkable, but it shouldn't give her a free pass to be a bully.
That said, Roach was very much on the creepy side; she's the female version of Joe Goldberg. It would have been interesting to get more insight into why Roach was the obsessive type and why she tried to mimic the image of other people rather than her own. Although it was easy to feel sorry for Roach, it did not excuse her behaviour and what she put Laura through.
Surprisingly, it felt fitting that Death of a Bookseller ended on a cliffhanger. Usually, a cliffhanger with no signs of a sequel is quite irritating, but for this story, it felt right. Death of a Bookseller had that constant dread and unease feeling; it only felt right that the story would end with the same feeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Blood
wowsmeows's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"Reading is a way of life for some customers, the
kind of customers who buy more than they read, who behave as though 'bookworm' is as inherent as their blood type or their astrological sign."
Death of a Bookseller is about two characters told through their alternating POVs. There's Roach, a creepy true crime fanatic and Laura, who is unhealthily dealing with her traumatic past. The pair work together in a bookshop are are both unlikeable in their own unique ways. The book explores the idea of hating someone so much that it turns into an obsession and morphs into stalking. As the title suggests, it does delve into a lot of morbid topics with a lot of grotesque language and descriptions throughout. I'd recommend checking out content warnings for this read. However, it is a very slow read and because we have the split POV, I dont think I would personally class it as mystery or a thriller novel as we know what both characters are doing and thinking at all times.
What I I did enjoy was that it had some interesting ideas around the ethics of true crime as a genre. It really made me think about how healthy it really is to consume true crime content. I also thought the book was well written and I thought both characters had distinct personalities that shone through in the text.
I will say that I did dislike the ending and I did feel a bit frustrated by it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Vomit, Alcoholism, Death, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Murder, and Gore
lottieingham's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Stalking, Vomit, Death of parent, Grief, Death, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
isb_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Wow. Just wow. This book was an unnerving, grotesque, intriguing, mind-effing wonder. I felt so deeply connected to the characters that it was easy to slip into the dark world Alice Slater has created here. Obsession is a powerful thing, and this book will not soon leave my mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Gore, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Stalking, Blood, Body horror, and Murder
mags94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was very much a character driven book mixed with internal monologue. I did enjoy that. I enjoyed the two POVs but often wished we sometimes got POVs of other main characters. I think that could have added to the character driver book. However I did read this super fast and even though I found the characters annoying at times I think that was the point. I still couldn’t wait to read more about their lives. Overall this was a very enjoyable read to me but not quite a 5 star as I wish we got more views..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Blood
readsbyhope's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Vomit, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Grief, and Alcohol
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a psychological, slow burn thriller that will leave you shaking and looking over your shoulder at some of your own colleagues.
Roach works at Spines and is more than obsessed with true crime, where the killers are more fun to think about than the actual victims.
When Laura joins the bookstore, Roach feels like there is a special bond between them. First, when Laura performs her dark poem at a recital, which Roach obsesses over. Next, when a drunken Laura openly admits her mother was killed, which spurs Roach into a dark plan with her goth rock boyfriend.
We follow Roach down that dark path, ensuring Laura knows how special their friendship is until lines are crossed.
This is a novel so well written that it could be true, a scenario so lifelike and characters that you can find in any workplace, all combined with a story that will leave you spooked.
Roach works at Spines and is more than obsessed with true crime, where the killers are more fun to think about than the actual victims.
When Laura joins the bookstore, Roach feels like there is a special bond between them. First, when Laura performs her dark poem at a recital, which Roach obsesses over. Next, when a drunken Laura openly admits her mother was killed, which spurs Roach into a dark plan with her goth rock boyfriend.
We follow Roach down that dark path, ensuring Laura knows how special their friendship is until lines are crossed.
This is a novel so well written that it could be true, a scenario so lifelike and characters that you can find in any workplace, all combined with a story that will leave you spooked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Animal death
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
laurajordensharris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Drug use, Blood, Cursing, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness
teatunesandtales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I couldn't put this book down, nor get it out of my head. It's gruesome and raw and I'm unnerved by the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Mental illness, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Stalking