Reviews

Death of a Bookseller, by Alice Slater

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smeghead's review against another edition

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? N/A

1.5

I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I requested this book as it sounded like a premise that I'd be very much interested In. When I started reading this I was engaged almost immediately as there was a feeling of tension building from the off, unfortunately this soon disappeared as the vast majority of the book essentially became the same scene repeating over and over and over again. This coupled with endless, mind numbing talk of cigarettes/smoking in place of any character depth or development and every character in this book being extremely loathsome with no redeeming qualities, from our two main protagonists, to their boss and the love interests made it impossible to feel any connection or want to route for any of them. Nothing happens in this book. There isn't even the titular death.

everlorebooks's review against another edition

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dark 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

lauraspages's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

alicejohans's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.5

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"As I smoked, a project of my own unfolded. No more poetry, no more plagiarism. I did have a story to tell, a story that would bring Laura and I together irreversibly, in a way that she could never reject or reclaim or control, our names forever linked in black ink."

Set in London in 2018 there two protagonists and perspectives: likeable, 'cool' Laura Bunting and her poetry and dislikeable and morbid 'outsider' Brogan Roach and her true crime obsession). Working together in Spines bookshop in Walthamstow, London, the reader gets to know them, their clashes and their bookseller colleagues. Both women are keeping secrets about who they really are, but Roach (and her pet turtle, Bleep) can be delusional and has an obsessive personality, turning her attention from true crime to Laura. At first Roach wants to befriend Laura and then emulate, stalk and undermine her using the alternative identity of 'Brodie', created for her equally dark new boyfriend, Sam. Roach becomes fixated on Laura's mother having been murdered ten years ago, by 'the Stow Stalker'. Laura weakens and diminishes as a result of alcohol, anxiety and paranoia and Roach is uplifted and becomes more powerful and hungry for connection with Laura and the Stow Strangler.

The combination of true crime and booksellers enticed me to request this debut novel. It's very dark in places, particularly Roach's aptronym name, demonstrated by the mould, dirt and snail and slug infestation of Laura's flat; whilst Laura's surname is also an aptronym, she can be dark top, grieving the loss of her mum, pining for ex-lover and colleague Eli and drinking to forget. The reality of the bookseller elements have not no doubt influenced by the author's experience of working in bookshops, they certainly felt real. If you like crime fiction or true crime and books about booksellers, this will be right up your street.

Content Warnings

thrillerbookclub's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I had seen this everywhere and was excited to read it however I’m sure the reason it is being so hyped is because it’s about a book seller (great marketing from the author) and the cover is great!

That’s probably where the positives end.

I don’t think you will be able to relate to 80% of the book unless you are a bookseller or into true crime. Although if you are into true crime you will be made to feel awful for being so.

I can deal with unlikeable characters but these are on another level!

Plot was boring, repetitive. 0 character development, you only learn that Roach is obsessed with true crime and Laura’s mum died and she has a crush on a colleague.

Will probably be up there with my worst books of 2023