Reviews tagging 'Mass/school shootings'

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

7 reviews

libhollywood's review

dark emotional tense fast-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

4.75

Busted out the notes app for this one!! Such an interesting read: so bouncy, bright and readable but also BEYOND tense and emotional. I loved the beginning a bit more than the ending (

when Roach as a more sinister character was still unfurling/still more sympathetic, though I think the transition to full villain was well done

) but the whole thing was fascinating. Raised heaps of interesting discussion about the ethics of true crime, including thoughts I’ve considered many times before and ideas that were completely new. Especially fun to reflect on my years as a bookseller/the industry as a whole. Feels like I could read this book and follow these characters forever. 🌟

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

addie's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

itsbumley's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

elgin's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Stalking, and Dysphoria

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

beth_s98's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Honestly, this book wasn’t for me, and I only finished it partially out of spite. I hated Roach,

and while I think that’s kind of the point, I struggled to get through her chapters.

I liked Lauren, and a lot of the other characters were interesting.

I hate in the end that Lauren doesn’t get true peace, and we are left with Roach walking back into her life.

There were just so many moments that I felt were either unnecessary or just beyond plausibility. I don’t think the writing was bad, but I was not a fan of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Mass/school shootings

katndrsn's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.25

Well the first 75% of the book had the potential to build to something brilliant but the ending was contrite and the epilogues were extra nails in the coffin. Disappointing really, I had much higher hopes for this novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

Minor: Blood and Mass/school shootings

emilypalah's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.5

Wasn’t one of my favourites, the descriptive writing was very well thought out but the characters irked me and it felt like a bit of a chore to finish…did keep me feeling uneasy though which was probably the author’s intent! I just would rather not feel on edge on top of wanting to just finish the book just to finish it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcoholism and Vomit

Minor: Mass/school shootings