Love in the Time of Serial Killers

by Alicia Thompson

[Kim Deister]

When I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I had to have it. The true-crime aspect just spoke to me, as a true-crime addict myself. I loved the idea of a PhD candidate using it as the basis of her dissertation, since it’s a genre that’s often denigrated by the masses as being “unworthy.” So I was intrigued by the idea of it being deemed academically worthy in the story. And if the blurb wasn’t enough… the cover! I’m not usually drawn in by graphic cover styles, but this one was the exception. It’s fun, it’s bright, and it’s eye-catching.

This is a book that is somehow both hilarious and deeply emotional, and I really loved that. Phoebe is truly obsessed with true crime, so immersed in it that has fully informed her thinking and how she views the world around her. Inevitably, that has affected how she deals with people around her. Which makes her meet-cute with Sam that much more hilarious. He offers to help her, and she immediately assumes he’s the newest Ted Bundy. As a true crime enthusiast, I understand this, even if I don’t do it myself! But there are darker moments, too. She’s dealing with the recent death of her father, from whom she was largely estranged. The situation has forced her to face some things she thought she’d dealt with long ago. But family dysfunction and emotional trauma has a way of coming back, and she’s struggling with that. And on top of it, she’s inexplicably struggling to complete her dissertation, a deadline looming.

On the surface, Phoebe might not be the most likable character. For much of the book, she’s emotionally closed off, which made her come off as overly prickly sometimes. Sometimes, she doesn’t know the line between appropriate and inappropriate sarcasm. But while I see that that could be off-putting, I felt it was in keeping with her character. There are reasons why she is the way she is, reasons we begin to understand as the story unfolds. So if anything, that made her more sympathetic to me. In contrast, Sam is far more easily likable, but that doesn’t make him a milquetoast character. He has hidden depths, and a deep compassion for the people around him. I truly loved him as a character. Together, their chemistry was beautiful and their banter so witty. I loved them as a romantic couple!