Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

Death of a Bookseller

by Alice Slater

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER!
LONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2024

WOULD YOU KILL FOR A GOOD STORY?

'A confident, sassy, pitch-black debut' CAROLINE KEPNES
'Your new obsession' ERIN KELLY
'Savage, witty and all-consuming' ABIGAIL DEAN
'A dark masterpiece. It will work its way under your skin like a splinter' CATRIONA WARD

*****
Roach - bookseller, loner and true crime fanatic- is not interested in making friends. She has all the company she needs in her serial killer books, murder podcasts and her pet snail, Bleep.

That is, until Laura joins the bookshop.

With her cute literary tote bags and sunny smile, she's everyone's favourite bookseller. But beneath the shiny veneer, Roach senses a darkness within Laura, the same darkness Roach possesses.

And as curiosity blooms into morbid obsession, Roach becomes determined to be a part of Laura's story - whether Laura wants her in it or not.
*****

'A spectacularly creepy debut ... a tense and disturbing read' GUARDIAN
'Tense, addictive and sticky underfoot' JULIA ARMFIELD
'A sharp and creepy debut thriller' DAILY MAIL
'Utterly unforgettable' CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD
'Delightfully dark' COSMOPOLITAN, Best New Books
'Engrossing, atmospheric and deliciously dark' WILL DEAN
'Uncomfortable, claustrophobic, and you won't take your eyes off the pages' BELFAST TELEGRAPH
'Impossible to put down' ELIZA CLARK
'A sinister and tense debut that will chill you to the core' PLATINUM MAGAZINE
'Relentlessly creepy and deeply compulsive' HEATHER DARWENT

Reviewed by Terri M. LeBlanc on

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Yeah, this book didn't deliver. It was creepy and uncomfortable read which was fine. It reminded me of Gillian Flynn especially since neither of the characters were particularly likable. But the ending fell flat and it was as if all the creepiness and obsessions was for naught.

The one thing that the author got right was the day-to-day happenings in a bookstore. Those scenes and some of the discussions about genres were a few of the bright spots in the book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Reading updates

  • 24 December, 2023: Started reading
  • 30 December, 2023: Finished reading
  • 31 December, 2023: Reviewed