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hectaizani's review
4.0
This book will have you thinking twice about meeting up with "friends" from the Internet. Short chapters that switch between three points of view got wildly confusing at times. By the end I wasn't sure that I knew what was really going on because the two main characters had way too many secrets to share.
b4bookish's review
challenging
dark
fast-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
2.5
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and Mariette Whitcomb for the opportunity.
The story follows two friends who met on social media through their love of true crime books. They end up trying to solve a cold case together and learn secrets about each other along the way.
At first, I really enjoyed the different POVs, including from the killer. I assumed as the book went on, the reader would learn more and become invested in the characters. Unfortunately, this just never happened for me.
Alyssa and Morgan continue to be one dimensional throughout the entire book. Do you learn about some of their past and secrets? Sure. Do you ever care about what's going to happen to either of them? I didn't. And I really wanted to.
The "big reveal" at the end was not only predictable but also fell flat; 2-3 pages of explaining the killer's shallow motives and justifications were not enough to explain what I just read and why it should all make sense. I wasn't shocked, sad or enraged. I was bored.
I would have enjoyed this book with more from Alyssa and Morgan's inner thoughts. For example, Alyssa has a husband and son and mentions how much she loves them, but never once calls them or talks about them in any way other than not wanting to die and leave them alone. As a mother, I just didn't feel like she really cared about any of it.
The story follows two friends who met on social media through their love of true crime books. They end up trying to solve a cold case together and learn secrets about each other along the way.
At first, I really enjoyed the different POVs, including from the killer. I assumed as the book went on, the reader would learn more and become invested in the characters. Unfortunately, this just never happened for me.
Alyssa and Morgan continue to be one dimensional throughout the entire book. Do you learn about some of their past and secrets? Sure. Do you ever care about what's going to happen to either of them? I didn't. And I really wanted to.
The "big reveal" at the end was not only predictable but also fell flat; 2-3 pages of explaining the killer's shallow motives and justifications were not enough to explain what I just read and why it should all make sense. I wasn't shocked, sad or enraged. I was bored.
I would have enjoyed this book with more from Alyssa and Morgan's inner thoughts. For example, Alyssa has a husband and son and mentions how much she loves them, but never once calls them or talks about them in any way other than not wanting to die and leave them alone. As a mother, I just didn't feel like she really cared about any of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment, Torture, and Stalking
spookshow's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat
I received a copy of this book from the author via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 2.5
Alyssa and Morgan are besties. They met through the bookstagram community and share their love of thrillers, true crime and keeping their secrets close to their chest. When Alyssa asks Morgan to be her plus one to a funeral, Morgan jumps at the chance, after all, this is the first time they'll be meeting in real life. Morgan soon learns that Alyssa's true motivation behind attending the funeral is to try and uncover the truth about what happened to her brother twenty years ago. So they work together to do this, after they find out that he was apparently the last known victim of a serial killer that stalked the town all those years ago, they decide it is they who will bring that Killer to justice. As they investigate, the secrets that they keep from each other begin to come to light and they end up turning from hunters to hunted. In the end, how well do you REALLY know your friends...
I was pretty keen to read this one when it popped up on Booksirens, it was a psychological thriller that sounded so different to any others that I've read before. And while it definitely was different, for some reason it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. I was intrigued about the relationship between Alyssa and Morgan, because let's be honest, we all have friends that we've made through online communities, and some of those friends we may talk to almost every day but have never met. So, it was an interesting spin for sure. I enjoyed the fact that Morgan and Alyssa had met through the bookstagram community, of which I, myself am a member, so that was a cute little addition to the story line. I do feel that it was brought up and mentioned quite a lot which at some point became a little bit overkill for me. It felt like one of those little details that was trying really hard to be a quirk of the characters, but it was mentioned so often that it just became a little tedious after a while. I loved that Morgan was also an author who writes under a pen name, that little detail was used just enough for it to become a great part of Morgan's personality as well as a wonderful detail in her and Alyssa's relationship, so I really enjoyed that one.
The story is told through alternating POVs between Alyssa, Morgan and the serial killer known as The Skull Keeper. Given that name because, you guessed it, they keep the skulls of their kills as a souvenir. I always enjoy books like this that do have that mystery killer floating through it, especially when we get to see part of the story through their point of view. It's always nice getting to see the story from different perspectives. The Skull Keeper's point of view chapters do begin 20 years earlier, to the time that Alyssa's brother goes missing, but that timeline does catch up to the present one that we're following Alyssa and Morgan through. The pacing was okay, I did feel that this was more of a slow burn novel, probably a bit slower than I would have liked, but that's neither here nor there really. At times the story line felt pretty convoluted and messy, but it was easy enough to follow, if that makes any sense at all. There just seemed like there were a lot of threads and a lot going on in this book that at times I sort of had to take a minute to wrap my head around where I was in the story and what was happening at that point in time. I don't feel that this could have been written in a different way that would have made the story less convoluted though, I think if it were written any other way, it wouldn't have worked as well.
The characters were incredibly interesting. Both Morgan and Alyssa have such deep pasts that the other doesn't really know about. Pasts that are a lot darker than you'd first expect or assume. I feel like we got more of an insight into Morgan's life and past than we did Alyssa, Alyssa's story, while we did get the rundown on what she had been doing in the dark, so to speak, it felt like it wasn't as deeply delved into as I would have liked. We get the reasoning behind things that she did and that she had done, but I feel like there was an opportunity for this to be explored a bit more. From almost the first meeting of The Skull Keeper, I had an idea on who I believed it was, and though I wasn't a hundred percent correct and at times I wavered a little and wondered whether it could have been a couple of other people we encountered, my initial assumption was correct. So while the reveal of that was well done, I didn't get that "oh wow" factor that I would have liked. I don't believe that my assumption was based on any details that were too obvious throughout the story, or that Whitcomb made it too easy to figure it out, I think I just put it down to having read a lot of books in my time and one thing that I find happens a lot is that my assumption is generally correct in thrillers and the like. Which is incredibly annoying, I wish there was a way that I could turn my investigative brain off and just read the bloody book like a normal person and be wowed at the end how I'm supposed to be hahaha.
All in all, this was definitely a book that stands out for being different which is fantastic in a genre that is incredibly oversaturated to the point that a lot of books read the same as the next. The characters were well written and I do feel that they were very real and I enjoyed them both, probably Morgan moreso than Alyssa. The story itself was interesting though a little messy at times, and I'm sad that it just fell a little short for me. I am so glad that I'm in the minority with my lower rating and I'll definitely be checking out more from this author in the future! Oh! I also want to add, I absolutely loved the little scene with the spider, I had a bit of a giggle and a smile on my face through that whole exchange. If you're looking for a psychological thriller that hits differently and stands apart on it's own for it's unique story, give this one a go, you may just love it!
I received a copy of this book from the author via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 2.5
Alyssa and Morgan are besties. They met through the bookstagram community and share their love of thrillers, true crime and keeping their secrets close to their chest. When Alyssa asks Morgan to be her plus one to a funeral, Morgan jumps at the chance, after all, this is the first time they'll be meeting in real life. Morgan soon learns that Alyssa's true motivation behind attending the funeral is to try and uncover the truth about what happened to her brother twenty years ago. So they work together to do this, after they find out that he was apparently the last known victim of a serial killer that stalked the town all those years ago, they decide it is they who will bring that Killer to justice. As they investigate, the secrets that they keep from each other begin to come to light and they end up turning from hunters to hunted. In the end, how well do you REALLY know your friends...
I was pretty keen to read this one when it popped up on Booksirens, it was a psychological thriller that sounded so different to any others that I've read before. And while it definitely was different, for some reason it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. I was intrigued about the relationship between Alyssa and Morgan, because let's be honest, we all have friends that we've made through online communities, and some of those friends we may talk to almost every day but have never met. So, it was an interesting spin for sure. I enjoyed the fact that Morgan and Alyssa had met through the bookstagram community, of which I, myself am a member, so that was a cute little addition to the story line. I do feel that it was brought up and mentioned quite a lot which at some point became a little bit overkill for me. It felt like one of those little details that was trying really hard to be a quirk of the characters, but it was mentioned so often that it just became a little tedious after a while. I loved that Morgan was also an author who writes under a pen name, that little detail was used just enough for it to become a great part of Morgan's personality as well as a wonderful detail in her and Alyssa's relationship, so I really enjoyed that one.
The story is told through alternating POVs between Alyssa, Morgan and the serial killer known as The Skull Keeper. Given that name because, you guessed it, they keep the skulls of their kills as a souvenir. I always enjoy books like this that do have that mystery killer floating through it, especially when we get to see part of the story through their point of view. It's always nice getting to see the story from different perspectives. The Skull Keeper's point of view chapters do begin 20 years earlier, to the time that Alyssa's brother goes missing, but that timeline does catch up to the present one that we're following Alyssa and Morgan through. The pacing was okay, I did feel that this was more of a slow burn novel, probably a bit slower than I would have liked, but that's neither here nor there really. At times the story line felt pretty convoluted and messy, but it was easy enough to follow, if that makes any sense at all. There just seemed like there were a lot of threads and a lot going on in this book that at times I sort of had to take a minute to wrap my head around where I was in the story and what was happening at that point in time. I don't feel that this could have been written in a different way that would have made the story less convoluted though, I think if it were written any other way, it wouldn't have worked as well.
The characters were incredibly interesting. Both Morgan and Alyssa have such deep pasts that the other doesn't really know about. Pasts that are a lot darker than you'd first expect or assume. I feel like we got more of an insight into Morgan's life and past than we did Alyssa, Alyssa's story, while we did get the rundown on what she had been doing in the dark, so to speak, it felt like it wasn't as deeply delved into as I would have liked. We get the reasoning behind things that she did and that she had done, but I feel like there was an opportunity for this to be explored a bit more. From almost the first meeting of The Skull Keeper, I had an idea on who I believed it was, and though I wasn't a hundred percent correct and at times I wavered a little and wondered whether it could have been a couple of other people we encountered, my initial assumption was correct. So while the reveal of that was well done, I didn't get that "oh wow" factor that I would have liked. I don't believe that my assumption was based on any details that were too obvious throughout the story, or that Whitcomb made it too easy to figure it out, I think I just put it down to having read a lot of books in my time and one thing that I find happens a lot is that my assumption is generally correct in thrillers and the like. Which is incredibly annoying, I wish there was a way that I could turn my investigative brain off and just read the bloody book like a normal person and be wowed at the end how I'm supposed to be hahaha.
All in all, this was definitely a book that stands out for being different which is fantastic in a genre that is incredibly oversaturated to the point that a lot of books read the same as the next. The characters were well written and I do feel that they were very real and I enjoyed them both, probably Morgan moreso than Alyssa. The story itself was interesting though a little messy at times, and I'm sad that it just fell a little short for me. I am so glad that I'm in the minority with my lower rating and I'll definitely be checking out more from this author in the future! Oh! I also want to add, I absolutely loved the little scene with the spider, I had a bit of a giggle and a smile on my face through that whole exchange. If you're looking for a psychological thriller that hits differently and stands apart on it's own for it's unique story, give this one a go, you may just love it!
geauxgetlit's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book will make you think twice about meeting your booksta BFF in real life! They didn’t realize just how close their lives entangled, as an estranged brother/ex-boyfriend, died at the hands of a deeply disturbed serial killer who has never been caught.
Together, they will find who The Skull Keeper is once and for all.
Together, they will find who The Skull Keeper is once and for all.
mommasaystoread's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Well, that was one intense read! And a gruesome one. Seriously, take a look at the cover. If it bothers you to look at it, you might think twice about this book because many of the scenes in this one make the cover look quite tame. It's definitely not for the squeamish. That said, if you can handle the chapters from the POV of the killer and the details of torture that the killer comes up with, then this is a total mess with your mind psychological thriller - the best kind, in my opinion. There are whiplash-inducing twists and a story that is impossible to put down. I'll admit that I wasn't sure about the rapid-fire POV changes, but it really works for this book. I feel like it even adds to the story. I realize I'm being vague, but it's totally intentional. As much as I'd love to just lay it all out there and discuss the many elements of the book., I think spoilers would do a disservice to future readers. This is a book to read completely spoiler free. It's a well-thought-out thriller that kept me hooked all the way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Torture
Moderate: Murder
reading_under_covers's review
4.0
Thanks to Enticing Journey Book Promotions and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
HOLY COW - this book was intense! I'll start by saying that this book does get extremely graphic and gorey when it comes to the serial killer - The Skull Keeper (TSK), so be prepared if you plan to pick this one up.
THE SKULL KEEPER was extremely fast-paced with short chapters and witty female leads. The alternating POVs, nods to bookstagram, and an unhinged friendship really kept this book feeling fresh. TSK was a truly terrifying character and was made even more horrifying by the reveal at the end.
Whitcomb used a ton of character names from the show Brooklyn Nine-Nine and it made me sooo happy whenever a new name drop happened, so bonus points for that alone!
If you're looking for a darkly humorous and complex serial killer book, then I recommend picking this one up!
Publication Date: March 20, 2023
HOLY COW - this book was intense! I'll start by saying that this book does get extremely graphic and gorey when it comes to the serial killer - The Skull Keeper (TSK), so be prepared if you plan to pick this one up.
THE SKULL KEEPER was extremely fast-paced with short chapters and witty female leads. The alternating POVs, nods to bookstagram, and an unhinged friendship really kept this book feeling fresh. TSK was a truly terrifying character and was made even more horrifying by the reveal at the end.
Whitcomb used a ton of character names from the show Brooklyn Nine-Nine and it made me sooo happy whenever a new name drop happened, so bonus points for that alone!
If you're looking for a darkly humorous and complex serial killer book, then I recommend picking this one up!
Publication Date: March 20, 2023
bookishciara's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Years ago Wild Bay was being tormented by a serial killer, The Skull Keeper. TSK tortured and killed numerous women, leaving their bodies to be found. Local cops couldn't figure out what happened and it became a cold case. Forward to present day when two booksta besties came into town. One trying to figure out what happened to her brother, the other what happened to her first and true love. Once they start their investigation into this case other people start dying. Is it a coincidence or is TSK at it again? Can these two besties figure out what is going on before it's too late?
This is my first book by Mariëtte and it won't be my last. She knows how to hook you from the very beginning. This book was dark and twisted, which is exactly what I needed! One thing that stood out to me was the humor in it. As someone who uses humor when they are sad/happy and all the things in between I loved this. I also loved reading my booksta besties names throughout the book! The bookstagram references were so fun and unique.
If you like all things dark and twisty, I recommend this book! There are some very hard topics so if you need a list of trigger warnings let me know!!
Thank you to the author and book sirens for my copy!
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