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ehoots's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Blood and Vomit
amystainton's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
I’m struggling to actually pick what to rate this book.
On one hand I loved the different views of the true crime genre from the main characters. Their perspectives felt quite unique and genuine. Before I really grasped the idea of the book I wasn’t so enthralled.
On the other hand, in my copy the end showed some deleted chapters that I think added real depth to the characters and their stories. I think there was a bit of a lack of character depth through the book as a whole. Roach and Laura alike quite often felt one dimensional and stubborn, quite unnatural and a tad boring. I don’t think much need to be added to make them more interesting and multidimensional. It’s a shame that wasn’t the case.
The book was an enjoyable read tho so 3.5⭐️
On one hand I loved the different views of the true crime genre from the main characters. Their perspectives felt quite unique and genuine. Before I really grasped the idea of the book I wasn’t so enthralled.
On the other hand, in my copy the end showed some deleted chapters that I think added real depth to the characters and their stories. I think there was a bit of a lack of character depth through the book as a whole. Roach and Laura alike quite often felt one dimensional and stubborn, quite unnatural and a tad boring. I don’t think much need to be added to make them more interesting and multidimensional. It’s a shame that wasn’t the case.
The book was an enjoyable read tho so 3.5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Vomit
christinesreads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Stalking, and Murder
melusinedln's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I loved the setting of this thriller : most of the novel takes place in a bookshop. The first 100 pages were fun to read, but the book became boring, slow-paced and repetitive until around page 330, right before the end. The end also feels slightly disappointing, as it feels like nothing has really evolved for the characters since the beginning. However, the writing style was pleasing to read and I liked the themes and the criticism of true crime and its community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Vomit and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty
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
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
pil4r's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Un thriller que no termina de serlo.
Death of a Bookseller ofrece una historia que intenta esgrimir el misterio sobre la muerte anunciada de una vendedora de libros, de alguna de nuestra dos opuestas protagonistas.
Slater construye personajes muy caricaturescos, humanos y, por ende, frecuentemente insoportables. Laura y Roach son dos mujeres completamente distintas pero igualmente desesperadas e intensas. Esta desesperación se vincula con la vacancia de cierto amor, de cierta falta del lugar propio que late y duele en ambas.
Las perspectivas son interesantes, entretenidas y dan lugar a efectos emocionales -muy bien logrados- del orden del asco, la verguenza ajena pero también la empatía.
Otros aspectos que disfruté mucho de esta historia son: la verosimilitud de las conversaciones que la autora propone, la atinada discusión en torno a lo problemático y lo atractivo del true crime y lo bien escrita que esta la obsesión que se desenvuelve a lo largo de la trama.
Más allá de todo esto, la novela dejó de ser entretenida e intrigante para mí para resultar larga-de-más a partir de su segundo tercio.
Recomiendo para feministas amantes del true crime y el misterio que estén dispuestas a enfrentarse a perspectivas que incomodan porque nos hacen ver, en los personajes, lo que a veces no queremos ver de nosotras mismas. Siempre y cuando estén también abiertas a encontrarse con una historia a la que le sobran un par de páginas.
Death of a Bookseller ofrece una historia que intenta esgrimir el misterio sobre la muerte anunciada de una vendedora de libros, de alguna de nuestra dos opuestas protagonistas.
Slater construye personajes muy caricaturescos, humanos y, por ende, frecuentemente insoportables. Laura y Roach son dos mujeres completamente distintas pero igualmente desesperadas e intensas. Esta desesperación se vincula con la vacancia de cierto amor, de cierta falta del lugar propio que late y duele en ambas.
Las perspectivas son interesantes, entretenidas y dan lugar a efectos emocionales -muy bien logrados- del orden del asco, la verguenza ajena pero también la empatía.
Otros aspectos que disfruté mucho de esta historia son: la verosimilitud de las conversaciones que la autora propone, la atinada discusión en torno a lo problemático y lo atractivo del true crime y lo bien escrita que esta la obsesión que se desenvuelve a lo largo de la trama.
Más allá de todo esto, la novela dejó de ser entretenida e intrigante para mí para resultar larga-de-más a partir de su segundo tercio.
Recomiendo para feministas amantes del true crime y el misterio que estén dispuestas a enfrentarse a perspectivas que incomodan porque nos hacen ver, en los personajes, lo que a veces no queremos ver de nosotras mismas. Siempre y cuando estén también abiertas a encontrarse con una historia a la que le sobran un par de páginas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
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
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
libreadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Suicide and Vomit
jennifermreads'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"By Christmas, Laura Bunting was gone. And it was my fault."
I picked up Death of a Bookseller during Indie Bookstore Day 2024. This definitely was a “title buy” with the words “death” and “bookseller” screaming from the cover! And, with the bookstore setting, there are a plethora of book titles sprinkled within the context of the story. If you are not careful, your TBR will grow exponentially.
I picked up Death of a Bookseller during Indie Bookstore Day 2024. This definitely was a “title buy” with the words “death” and “bookseller” screaming from the cover! And, with the bookstore setting, there are a plethora of book titles sprinkled within the context of the story. If you are not careful, your TBR will grow exponentially.
The dual perspective novel will have you rethinking every true crime podcast, novel, and TV show you have ever consumed. With one character obsessed with serial killers and one character begging us to remember the victims, readers are pulled back and forth, teetering on the edge of sense and sanity. I love when I find myself questioning the reliability of a narrator. I also found myself jumping between “I know what is going to happen” and “whoa…maybe I don’t.”
An enjoyable diversion with a unique twist on serial killer storylines.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
Several of the instances of vomiting could be eating disorder related. I do not have personal experience with eating disorders and had trouble identifying if it was grief, alcohol, or disorder leading to episodes of vomit.