Reviews

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

betsyeliza's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

read_with_tea's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

shonaholmes's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Found this one lingered too long in places and rushed too much in others. I missed some catharsis in the resolution. 

amy_h29's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

burghbooksandbrews's review

3.0

This is a tough one for me to gather my thoughts on. While I was fascinated by the bookstore setting and the critiques of true crime culture (particularly those that romanticize serial killers), I had trouble clicking with this one. I know both main characters were meant to be unlikeable, but it made it very hard to relate to them because of how extreme their personalities were. Roach is a very disturbed, true crime obsessed individual that takes her obsession to the extreme of having that be her personality, and Laura is a kind of stuck-up, self-obsessed character with a tragic backstory that makes her relationship to true crime very interesting. This obviously leads to tension between the two characters.

Flipping between their perspectives was interesting, particularly as Roach diverges into creepier territory in her determined race to form some kind of relationship with Laura who straight up wants nothing to do with her. Having us in the mindset of both characters keeps us one step ahead of both of them. The other characters in the book were very flat and under-developed, so there weren’t even any secondary characters to really root for in this one. I just came away feeling very cold towards this one and wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to just anyone.

I read a review where someone said this was very Single White Female, and I definitely agree with that. So if that is something that interests you, then you may be into this one more than I was.

The bookstore setting was my favorite part as I loved learning more about the art of bookselling and the highs and lows of a local bookstore!

kimmieshiyou's review against another edition

I fucking hate Roach and this entire story is making me angry. Laura sucks too.

megs2kool's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? Yes

2.0

hylyrvs's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

emiliaduncan's review against another edition

Creepy characters 

heartsneedle's review against another edition

3.0

3.5/5