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A review by ramreadsagain
Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book!
Death of a Bookseller is out at the end of April 2023!!
Really enjoyed this like the true gross girlie I am. It follows Roach and Laura, two binge-drinking booksellers with strong (and opposing) opinions on the true crime genre, though their similarities end there. Roach becomes as obsessed with Laura as she is about true crime, convinced there is a deep dark connection between the two of them. Laura, meanwhile, detests Roach’s attention and finds her love of serial killers disturbing and problematic.
We watch both characters circle the drain of self-destruction as dangerous obsessions threaten to turn deadly.
Really loved the writing style of this, Roach and Laura’s POVs each felt so distinct and they were very well-developed characters. I do think the POVs switched a bit too often for my liking though. Neither woman is likeable, but in entirely different ways.
While some scenes started to feel a bit tedious (there are only so many drinking sessions I can be bothered to read about), I found the plot very gripping throughout. The author’s love of bookselling (yet criticisms of the industry) shone through and I loved the discussions on related topics.
I do have a couple of criticisms that I have placed under the spoiler below, but to conclude I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it!
My only main downside is that I wasn’t particularly satisfied by the ending. I was hoping for a death – though yes there is the point of Laura Bunting ‘dying’ to become Laura Cordovan but I feel she should have at least stopped being a bookseller to complete the metaphor. A pet peeve of mine is that I hate epilogues of ‘several years later’ though I did massively love the last few lines of the book.
Death of a Bookseller is out at the end of April 2023!!
Really enjoyed this like the true gross girlie I am. It follows Roach and Laura, two binge-drinking booksellers with strong (and opposing) opinions on the true crime genre, though their similarities end there. Roach becomes as obsessed with Laura as she is about true crime, convinced there is a deep dark connection between the two of them. Laura, meanwhile, detests Roach’s attention and finds her love of serial killers disturbing and problematic.
We watch both characters circle the drain of self-destruction as dangerous obsessions threaten to turn deadly.
Really loved the writing style of this, Roach and Laura’s POVs each felt so distinct and they were very well-developed characters. I do think the POVs switched a bit too often for my liking though. Neither woman is likeable, but in entirely different ways.
While some scenes started to feel a bit tedious (there are only so many drinking sessions I can be bothered to read about), I found the plot very gripping throughout. The author’s love of bookselling (yet criticisms of the industry) shone through and I loved the discussions on related topics.
I do have a couple of criticisms that I have placed under the spoiler below, but to conclude I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it!
My only main downside is that I wasn’t particularly satisfied by the ending. I was hoping for a death – though yes there is the point of Laura Bunting ‘dying’ to become Laura Cordovan but I feel she should have at least stopped being a bookseller to complete the metaphor. A pet peeve of mine is that I hate epilogues of ‘several years later’ though I did massively love the last few lines of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent and Stalking
Minor: Violence and Murder