aliciasplendeur's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect start to get into spooky season.
I enjoyed the duel POVs. The killer was cold and methodical and I still have questions about him. Especially with that ending.
I could easily understand what has fueled Wren to become the woman she is.
The book also deals with two different timelines. Which I didn't pick up on at first but made the reveal between the killer and Wren even better.
This book definitely feels like the start of a series and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Dr. Wren Muller is the best forensic pathologist around. She's armed with the knowledge of historical crimes and plenty of years working for the Medical Examiner. Solving cases came easy until this recent string of murders. The killer is escalating and all she can do is wait for him to slip up.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC to review.
I enjoyed the duel POVs. The killer was cold and methodical and I still have questions about him. Especially with that ending.
I could easily understand what has fueled Wren to become the woman she is.
The book also deals with two different timelines. Which I didn't pick up on at first but made the reveal between the killer and Wren even better.
This book definitely feels like the start of a series and I can't wait to see what comes next.
Dr. Wren Muller is the best forensic pathologist around. She's armed with the knowledge of historical crimes and plenty of years working for the Medical Examiner. Solving cases came easy until this recent string of murders. The killer is escalating and all she can do is wait for him to slip up.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC to review.
allana_099's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rubywhatashmoo's review against another edition
This is just a terrible book! The writing is overly descriptive without adding anything to characters or scenes, the constant mentioning of other famous serial killers (we get it you host a podcast about them) and both main characters (killer and medical examiner) are VERY irritating and assume their knowledge is all encompassing. Sample quotes about the Dr:
“Wren is frustrated. Unidentified bodies in her morgue irritate her endlessly.”
Just urgh. It felt very clunky and difficult to get into the story when everybody involved is objectionable.
“Wren is frustrated. Unidentified bodies in her morgue irritate her endlessly.”
Just urgh. It felt very clunky and difficult to get into the story when everybody involved is objectionable.
lianareadsblog's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t listen to any podcast, let alone a crime one, but after reading this book, I have to make some time for it because it can get addictive quickly.
The story is interesting with a fast-paced action and dual narrative, one from Dr Wren Muller, a forensic pathologist and the other from the killer, Jeremy himself.
I always loved having a narrative from the villain pov in any thriller that I’ve read and I loved we got his in this story. It added so much more concept and nuances to the overall story.
It is a quick read with many twists, some predictable and some unexpected. The graphic descriptions of the bodies are expected, I guess, since it is a morgue autopsy and the main character is seeking clues about who’s the serial killer that is hunting the city.
There’s a lot going on in such a short story and there’s a lot that I think still needs to be answered, so I’m hoping for a sequel as that ending was great but left me wanting much more from these characters and story.
If you are a fan of true crimes stories, this one is for you.
The story is interesting with a fast-paced action and dual narrative, one from Dr Wren Muller, a forensic pathologist and the other from the killer, Jeremy himself.
I always loved having a narrative from the villain pov in any thriller that I’ve read and I loved we got his in this story. It added so much more concept and nuances to the overall story.
It is a quick read with many twists, some predictable and some unexpected. The graphic descriptions of the bodies are expected, I guess, since it is a morgue autopsy and the main character is seeking clues about who’s the serial killer that is hunting the city.
There’s a lot going on in such a short story and there’s a lot that I think still needs to be answered, so I’m hoping for a sequel as that ending was great but left me wanting much more from these characters and story.
If you are a fan of true crimes stories, this one is for you.
calpal98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
As a longtime Morbid listener I knew I needed this book and it was better than I imagined. I absolutely devoured this book. I loved the dual POV and the New Orleans setting. The twists and ending were so good. I am so excited for Alaina and cannot wait to see what comes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Animal death, and Stalking
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Torture, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide
tori2629's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I am being generous with 3 stars... I like Alaina and the Morbid Podcast a lot, and I really wanted to like this. I think the the main character being a Medical Examiner instead of a cop/detective in a crime novel is really interesting and Alaina's "day job" as an autopsy technician definitely gives her a unique insight into that side of things.
Overall though, it read like an over-eager first novel. There was lots of extra prose and verbose descriptions that is intended to seem literary, but just comes off as disingenuous at times. The villain ("The Butcher") was honestly a bit too much. I didn't love his POV chapters and his backstory intended to explain his "why" doesn't quite get there... But even beyond that, to me it feels like she had too many ideas for a serial killer character and decided to just combine them all into one.
Spoiler-ish explanation ahead-
ALSO, what was up with the Fortune Teller reading? I was expecting that to come back up, at least as a mention once Wren realized what was going on, but it was just left hanging. That itself could have been the basis for a whole storyline.
I did like Wren's character though, and if Alaina does end up publishing a sequel I hope she dives more into her backstory and has some interesting character development for her. The book wasn't terrible, but it was only alright. If it wasn't written by someone who I was already familiar with from a podcast I enjoy, I'm not sure I would have finished it.
Overall though, it read like an over-eager first novel. There was lots of extra prose and verbose descriptions that is intended to seem literary, but just comes off as disingenuous at times. The villain ("The Butcher") was honestly a bit too much. I didn't love his POV chapters and his backstory intended to explain his "why" doesn't quite get there... But even beyond that, to me it feels like she had too many ideas for a serial killer character and decided to just combine them all into one.
Spoiler-ish explanation ahead-
Spoiler
The MO's of the murders described could have been perpetrated by at least three different killers over the course of a series. And also, maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention, but realizing after the twist that some of the murders happened in the past was confusing... Which victims were in the house at the end? Just some randos, or were they the ones from the beginning of the book? I can't even remember, because I there were too many different body drops/ torture basement / most dangerous game scenes for me to connect them to a specific time period.ALSO, what was up with the Fortune Teller reading? I was expecting that to come back up, at least as a mention once Wren realized what was going on, but it was just left hanging. That itself could have been the basis for a whole storyline.
I did like Wren's character though, and if Alaina does end up publishing a sequel I hope she dives more into her backstory and has some interesting character development for her. The book wasn't terrible, but it was only alright. If it wasn't written by someone who I was already familiar with from a podcast I enjoy, I'm not sure I would have finished it.
kindredspirit7's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
georginamccarney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mjkitty17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5