Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

41 reviews

anothergirlanotherbook's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

rkatw's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think the ruminations on true crime were really interesting. 
Was sucked in immediately and finished reading in less than 24 hours. Thought the dual narrative was good, even though I definitely preferred one character over another, helped to really highlight their contrast and they key misunderstandings Roach has about Laura. 
Was so tense as I reached the book's conclusion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Violence

thebookcident's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I don't often read crime/ thrillers, but I really enjoyed this one. The switching POV helped give me a needed break from each character and added to the tension. I think Slater had done a great job of creating two distinct voices for each character, that each leaves the reader feeling a certain way. Both of the protagonists are heavily flawed and I would say unlikeable, which I quite liked. I don't need to like a character to want to read them. 
I found lots of visually evoking imagery was used that rinsed my pallet from the darker themes in this novel. 
Also, Slater really captures the feeling of being a retail working over the Xmas period PERFECTLY. 😅
Would recommend as a summer read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

scarlettreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death

mags94's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

This was very much a character driven book mixed with internal monologue. I did enjoy that. I enjoyed the two POVs but often wished we sometimes got POVs of other main characters. I think that could have added to the character driver book. However I did read this super fast and even though I found the characters annoying at times I think that was the point. I still couldn’t wait to read more about their lives. Overall this was a very enjoyable read to me but not quite a 5 star as I wish we got more views..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Blood

readsbyhope's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This is a psychological, slow burn thriller that will leave you shaking and looking over your shoulder at some of your own colleagues.
  
Roach works at Spines and is more than obsessed with true crime, where the killers are more fun to think about than the actual victims.
  
When Laura joins the bookstore, Roach feels like there is a special bond between them. First, when Laura performs her dark poem at a recital, which Roach obsesses over. Next, when a drunken Laura openly admits her mother was killed, which spurs Roach into a dark plan with her goth rock boyfriend. 
  
We follow Roach down that dark path, ensuring Laura knows how special their friendship is until lines are crossed.
  
This is a novel so well written that it could be true, a scenario so lifelike and characters that you can find in any workplace, all combined with a story that will leave you spooked.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Murder

laurajordensharris's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

teatunesandtales's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I couldn't put this book down, nor get it out of my head. It's gruesome and raw and I'm unnerved by the ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

late_nite_reads's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Not bad. But it was too long and was a character driven narrative rather than plot driven.  The characters were spelled out clearly therefore the book became very monotonous and repetitive The themes of the book were stretched out for so long that by the epilogues I was just left feeling meh.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail