Do you ever want a book just to end before you go around killing people just to do anything other than finish it? Prison time doesn't seem so bad as lDo you ever want a book just to end before you go around killing people just to do anything other than finish it? Prison time doesn't seem so bad as long as I can read something else between things like making toilet wine and a shank out of my toothbrush.
[image] hehe. Prisoner me is funny.
The thing is, the first book was awesome. Read that one and then stop. It was a brilliant "Silence of the Lambs" type of story that kept me on the edge of my seat. It devolved though. By the end I was on a three-legged stool with one short leg that was killing my ass and I couldn't get away fast enough.
[image] It went as expected.
What went wrong: This started as a wonderful cat-and-mouse story with a deranged serial killer and the cop chasing him. But, somewhere along the line it tried to become more of a psychological thriller with a gazillion twists. And, hey, I like twists as much as the next person. I eat pretzels. But, there is a point when they lose their impact. By the end of it I wouldn't have been surprised if it turned out I was the murderer. And, I didn't care.
[image] Or maybe I am too salty. Whatever.
The other problem was the constant movement of locations. Everything became so frantic that you could hardly keep up with who was where and why. It was annoying. And, again, by the end I didn't care anymore anyway.
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My last complaint: it was too fucking long. There were pages and pages of thoughts or someone describing a dark room or other equally unimportant things that should have been edited out so the story was more focused. It was just a hot mess. And, although I am a hot mess by this time in the pandemic, I am not a very patient hot mess. The last thing I want to do is read the rambling ravings of other hot messes.
[image] Except this. Whatever it is - i'm in!
If the books had stayed on track and kept the story of serial killer versus cop I would have loved it.
I'm just sayin' if you live in a small town in Maine, you should expect to be killed by some sort of paranormal fuckery. I don't make the rules.
[imageI'm just sayin' if you live in a small town in Maine, you should expect to be killed by some sort of paranormal fuckery. I don't make the rules.
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This one is set in Castle Rock which is near where Cujo guarded Shawshank Prison or whatever. They might even have a Dark Tower... or Tower Records. Same thing.
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So some old creepy guy opens a new store in downtown and everyone is just dying to see what's for sale. Literally dying.. .buwahaha!
Okay, not right away. The way Stephen King works is to invest you in all of the gazillion characters so that it hurts more when they die. He's such a sadist.
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Our most invested-in person is the sheriff, who of course has a horrible back-story of tragedy and loss. The sheriff doesn't get over to the new shop soon enough, so when things go waaaaay south, he realizes he forgot to buy an antique ventriloquist dummy that would have told him to kill everyone. Darn. Missed out on that fun!
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But, everyone else has their not-even-good-enough-for-ebay crap, I mean treasures that they must hold on to and never share with anyone ever!!!! And, if some son of a bitch even thinks about trying to get their grubby hands on it, they are perfectly within their rights to kill all the people, right?
[image] Daddy better sleep with one eye open tonight!
Anyway, I couldn't put this down. It was compelling and there was enough bloody killing to satisfy any sadistic fuck horror book lover.
Read this one! Oh, but keep in mind that it has pretty much ALL the triggers. So, maybe don't read this one. It's up to you. I'm not your mother....more
Wow, I blew through this book like a reading-monkey on crack. There are reading-monkeys, right?
[image] I don't feel like he's retaining much. Maybe sloWow, I blew through this book like a reading-monkey on crack. There are reading-monkeys, right?
[image] I don't feel like he's retaining much. Maybe slow it down, reading-monkey.
It was soooo suspenseful, just like the previous two books. Serial killer? Does he do a lotta killing?
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And, actually this killer is just killing the crap out of everyone. I mean, it's like he's a teenager playing Grand Theft Auto. Brutal.
[image] Actually, that looks kinda fun. I think I've been missing out on this whole video-game craze. I thought it was a fad.
So, our killer this time is a guy who thinks he's the darkness. I guess like a murdery Batman. And, like Batman probably did, he likes to kill parents but leaves the kids alive. You know, to become the next Batman. It's my theory, anyway.
[image] Hard to resist that call.
Caitlyn is the FBI profiler who is also our narrator. Let's just say she isn't exactly the model of mental stability herself. She can get a little cutty.
[image] She's both of these guys at the same time.
The pacing is fast, even though it is a police procedural. There are tons of chases, and more killings, and missed opportunities to catch the guy. It didn't exactly give a shining view of the police. Unlike real life. Ahem.
[image] A perfectly reasonable response.
I picked up the book to start it this afternoon, and after shooing the family off to bed I've been speed-reading. You know, like the monkey. It was awesome! And, a little scary, but not too bad. I can't wait for the next one of these. ...more
[image] The answer to that question is a resounding Yes!!! Stephen King has made an amazing career killing kids. It's his bread-n-butter. He kills the [image] The answer to that question is a resounding Yes!!! Stephen King has made an amazing career killing kids. It's his bread-n-butter. He kills the crap out of them. Then, he sprinkles in a few adult murders too, just to shake things up. But, it's the kid-killing that's the important part of his novels. Priorities, ya know.
[image] Some kid really pissed him off in the past.
So this book has two parts. The first half is kind of like a police procedural or mystery where we read interviews from witnesses and follow the cop as he works the case. I liked that part. It made sense and didn't creep me out. The crime was horrendous, but walking through the case was interesting.
Oh, but this is Stephen King. The guy who made twins creepy. The guy who started our clown phobias. The one who made perfectly nice pet cemeteries seem ominous. And, red balloons, and mist, and hedge mazes, and pie, and Saint Bernards, and high school proms, and the electric chair, and dead bodies in the woods... well, okay some of those things might have been a little creepy beforehand. Still...
[image] Corn? You are ruining corn? Someone needs to stop this madman.
Yeah, so the book starts getting all Kingish at the halfway mark. This ain't no detective novel, baby. This is a creepy, supernatural novel. And, yes, there is plenty of yuckiness. He's a take-a-stick-and-poke-it kind of author. It's not enough for someone to die. They have to have gross sores, swollen appendages, some pus, a rotted something, and definitely bodily fluids flowing as they go. Sometimes I wonder why I feel like I have to read his books. But, I've read them all my life. It's like a tradition. I can't stop now. I must torture my mind until I die a death that will hopefully never be worthy of one of his books. Unless it's being killed by a bunny. That sounds okay.
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I felt like there was a lot of the creepy-factor that King had in some of his older books. There were bad people as well as the supernatural baddie. And, there was the usual display of the ugliness of greed, ambition, jealousy, and prejudice. But, there was also those imperfect people who were striving to eliminate the evil, even at the risk of their own lives. The good guys. They are never too good in his books. They are human.
For a King fan, I think this book will be a lot of fun.
The hubs and I have been binge-watching Hannibal. You know, because I wanted to feel nausea every time I go to eat from now on. All of that eating witThe hubs and I have been binge-watching Hannibal. You know, because I wanted to feel nausea every time I go to eat from now on. All of that eating without feeling sick was getting old.
[image] No. You're making me sick, ya psycho! Get out of my head!
So, as usual, I go to read my smutty-bad-boys book after the hubs goes to bed - as a palate cleanser. But, NOOOOoo, this one has its own crazy psycho killer who wants to torture/kill/& maybe eat one of the heroes. I was not happy with this turn of events. I was as disappointed as when I had tried to microwave my first vegetarian meal earlier.
[image] Then I was nauseous and confused.
Thank God for chocolate! And alcohol! They give so much and ask so little.
But, even though there was some discomfort during the psycho's pages of the book, I still really enjoyed it because there was still great pacing, lots of action, and the couple's relationship is building. I am truly hoping the next book has more light moments though. My drunk, vegetarian ass needs a break, man....more
When I saw the reviews for this book around goodreads I thought it was a book version of that terrible movie with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence anWhen I saw the reviews for this book around goodreads I thought it was a book version of that terrible movie with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence and was like:
[image] The bear is right. Nobody wants to see that.
So, when I actually did the unthinkable and you know, read the reviews, I was like:
[image] Except with finger guns.
This book is totally crazy and I loved it. Driverless cars out of control? Evil hacker gonna kill lots of people? Yeah, baby! I'm all in!
The best part is when (almost) everyone turns out to be an asshole because we get to hear all their dirty little secrets. And the second best part is that the public gets to vote on which asshole dies first.
[image] No, really, I was this happy.
There is a lot of deep stuff too, so don't think it's all fun and games. A lot of these assholes had good reasons for the horrible things they did. Still, Jilly just likes her bloodlust being sated occasionally and this one did that.
I'm not telling you anymore because I won't spoil all the fun for you. Just read it....more
There's a lot of bad people in this book - liars, cheaters, blackmailers, and murderers. But, the worst atrocity:
At a diner: Maria asked for cream aThere's a lot of bad people in this book - liars, cheaters, blackmailers, and murderers. But, the worst atrocity:
At a diner: Maria asked for cream and sugar, and it came a lot later than it should have. No tip for Sandy, thought Maria.
That's right. She's one of those people who look for any excuse not to tip. A monster. Not only that, but this is her car in the parking lot:
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Some people just deserve to be hit in the head with a hammer to knock some sense in them. No, that's not an overreaction, you saw the evidence.
Okay, so this book is marketed as having twists, and it does. The only negative I can say is that when you tell everyone to expect twists, they are reading looking for twists. I was never very surprised when something was revealed because I spent my whole time reading thinking about what twist would happen next. I was like a loser at the beach with a metal detector.
[image] Maybe if Maria had one of these she could tip like a decent human being.
I can't tell you too much about this book because the twisty thing. I don't want to spoil you. Of course, I have been known to spoil accidentally (and not accidentally) before so.... maybe I already have.
I got an arc from a publisher for this one and I agreed to be honest in my review. Sorry, but if you say "honest", you are going to get it.
This book wI got an arc from a publisher for this one and I agreed to be honest in my review. Sorry, but if you say "honest", you are going to get it.
This book was supposed to be a psychological thriller. A lady who is being sexually harassed at work gets the chance to have anyone she wants "disappear". I liked the idea. The problem was the heroine, Sarah. She had to be the biggest loser ever. I hated her enough that I would have liked to "disappear" her by the end of the thing.
[image] Well, almost. Except that I can spell vaccinate. Still.... I get the sentiment.
Sarah is a loser who whines continuously in her head about how much of a victim she is for 350 pages. Between the pages and pages of her pity-party, we get exciting moments of her dressing her children and taking them to school, and petty squabbles her kids have. You know, the boring monotony of life that we read to get away from.
[image] Yeah, this kind of thing. But less funny.
When she finally (162 pages in) does what we knew she would do the whole book, we then get to see her whine about having done it and act like a guilty toddler.
[image] convincing.
The situation she finds herself in with her boss is unfortunately possibly realistic, so I did feel sympathy for her. But, at the same time, I couldn't understand her actions. She did absolutely nothing to rectify the situation, but waited for someone else to save her. She didn't try to record him telling her that she had to have sex with him to keep her job. She never considered quitting, telling his wife, or filing charges against him. She even met a past victim of her boss and didn't think to get this lady's number so that they could find others and build a case. She did, however, consider sleeping with him to keep her job. So, basically this book is just being in this pathetic woman's head with her pathetic thoughts. If I liked her at all, or could relate to her in any way, I might have enjoyed it. But, I didn't. Not at all.
Now, for the legal crap: "I received a free ARC of 29 Seconds by T.M. Logan from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review."
You know what sounds like the best part of living out in the woods, off the grid? Nothing. Nothing about this sounds remotely attractive. Not the dirtYou know what sounds like the best part of living out in the woods, off the grid? Nothing. Nothing about this sounds remotely attractive. Not the dirt, wild animals, lack of electricity, lack of toilets, lack of internet, lack of cell phones, lack of grocery stores and restaurants and cars and Netflix.... again - nothing sounds fun about living in this environment. And, they are in the Yukon so it is also constantly snowing and they have that whole thing where it's sunny all the time half the year and dark all the time the other. I mean, if I had to live like this I would hope that I just immediately get killed by a bear. Because bears will kill ya. First chance they get.
[image] Consider it done. I'll just play dead until a bear finds me if I ever get stuck off the grid.
So this series is narrated by Casey, a homicide detective who ended up moving to this place in the Yukon that is a combination of Witness Protection and jail. They will keep you safe from the people who were trying to kill you in your old life, only to put you in danger from new people who may or may not want to kill you in your new one. You might be living next door to a mob snitch, or an abused wife, or a serial killer. It's like a game. Guess which neighbor will kill you and eat you if they get the chance? The answer might surprise you!
[image] Oh, except for the bear neighbors. You don't need to guess where their heads are at.
This is why the town needed a homicide detective. Lots of murders for some reason. I mean, who'd have guessed that putting a bunch of victims and psychopaths together in a close environment without any comforts or basic distractions would result in killing?
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But, for Casey, this has been a good thing. She found her own mountain man husband and is living the good life. Well, as good as it could be considering. I mean, again, I can't emphasize enough how disgusting and boring their lives are. I mean, are they pooping in buckets? It's not mentioned, but there are no flushing toilets. Something is happening in the situation, and whatever it is is not good.
So in this one Casey finds a baby that is in the woods next to a dead woman's body. The woman has been murdered and the baby left to die. Oh, I should mention that she and her man were out further in the woods, camping, when they found the baby. Yeah. Camping in the snow. As a vacation from... what? All the distractions of no internet or cell phones? These people's only luxury in life is that they have a roof over their heads and they need to get away from all of that for a while?
Or, maybe they are just looking for bears. That would make more sense.
[image] It's better than their current entertainment. Which is nothing.
The book is spent looking for the murderer and the baby's family. It is complicated because although they live in a "town", there are many crazies ... no "crazies" is the right word... in the woods. It's teaming with them. Like a giant bear buffet. And, these crazies are not exactly... sane... as you can guess... so, tough witnesses.
[image] The craziness adds a little spice to the tacos.
Things move at a pretty slow pace sometimes in this book. Like when there are conversations or tasks being done that get a little boring. But, it's probably like a whirlwind to them. 'Wow, you're making coffee? Can I watch? Best reality show ever!"
There are other things that make up for that occasional slowness, though. This series is truly unique and so it's fun and unexpected most of the time. The H and h are also very likable characters. They are smart and sensible. (Wait, did I just say "smart and sensible" as good points? I should be a salesman. I'm missing my calling here.) The mystery unravels at a good pace and is twisty while being believable. Overall, I will read as many books as she puts out in this thing.
This book is a page-turner! When I finished it at 3 am, I felt like it had only been a few minutes. So, if you have time to kill, like you are [image]
This book is a page-turner! When I finished it at 3 am, I felt like it had only been a few minutes. So, if you have time to kill, like you are waiting for some important test results or for your kid to find their shoes so you can leave the house, this will make the time go by quickly.
The story is a first-person narration from a psychotherapist named Theo. We also get intermittent diary entries from his patient, Alicia to get her POV because she is "The Silent Patient" and therefore doesn't talk. (Love, Captain Obvious). So, Alicia killed her husband 6 years prior and was committed to a mental hospital. She has never spoken a word in that 6 years and this made Theo really intrigued by her case. He applies for a job in the facility where she is being held because he feels like he could help her. He wants to be the one who gets her to talk finally. But, when he gets there, he finds out that she is more than just quiet, she is also prone to attacking people and trying to kill them. You know, like a crazy murderer might do?
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Hmm, that's true. Those Low-Carb people will cut a bitch. If I were Theo, I would have brought a Snickers, cuz those things are like magic when someone is hangry.
As Theo is trying to unlock Alicia's story, we are getting his story and you begin to wonder a couple of things:
1. Is he crazy too? Is he on a low-carb diet? and 2. Is he in love with her or something? He seems a little TOO sympathetic to the crazy killer lady.
[image] Seriously. These two need a Cinnabun STAT!
But then comes "the twist".... dun dun dun... [image]
Yeah, it was worth the build-up. Besides, that monkey can play the Star Wars bar scene song like a boss.
Now, I admit that this book got me thinking a bit, and(view spoiler)[ not every single thing made perfect sense later. (hide spoiler)] But still, it was a lot of fun to read and it did surprise me. So, worth it....more
For those of us who felt like the Hunger Games, Battle Royale, and Lord of the Flies didn't have nearly enough killing and violence. People who are juFor those of us who felt like the Hunger Games, Battle Royale, and Lord of the Flies didn't have nearly enough killing and violence. People who are just jonesing for some teen-on-teen brutality and bloodshed: It's gonna satisfy your itch!
This book is written as a series of interviews with the survivors from a massacre at an amusement park. There was a group of employees - like a couple hundred - who became stranded there without rescue after a hurricane for a month and all hell broke loose.
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The thing is, you would think that the complete breakdown of societal rules and civility would take longer than a couple of days, but that photo is of day 2. For all they knew, their rescuers would be showing up that day and the park would reopen in the morning. That's how fast they lost their shit.
They had been dressed up in princess and mouse costumes, posing for pictures with little children just the day before, and now they are stabbing each other with the props and hanging dead bodies as warnings to the other "tribes" off of teacup rides?
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Seriously, you had to wonder how long these young adults had been plotting imaginary murders in their heads, they took to it so quickly. They didn't even try to get along for a minute. They lose power and suddenly everyone joins a tribe and starts killing. They are putting heads on pikes within days of the storm! Is our society really so fragile? Are we all just a power outage away from becoming a bunch of Hannibal Lectors?
And then I remember that this book is set in Florida...
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All of my doubts about humanity were laid to rest. Everyone knows that Florida is home to the batshit crazies of the world.
[image] (In all seriousness, I could have flooded this review with Florida crazy memes... there was just so much material....)
So, read this book for the killyness and bloody fun, but then get on Google and check out the Florida crime memes. I promise you will be entertained!...more
Yeah, you're gonna wanna read this one if you liked Dexter and Gone Girl. But, the best part is that the ending doesn't suck like Dexter's ending. I mYeah, you're gonna wanna read this one if you liked Dexter and Gone Girl. But, the best part is that the ending doesn't suck like Dexter's ending. I mean, seriously, writers of the show, what were you thinking? First you teach us how to kill and dispose of a body and then you turn around and disappoint your entire viewing audience? Not smart, guys.
[image] But we aren't okay with this. Not. At. All.
Also, like Dexter, we have the man narrating what is going on throughout the story. You end up liking him, even if he is part of a serial killing team. He's a family man, really. Yes, he finds victims for his wife to torture and kill, but that's his way of telling her he loves her. It's like flowers and candies - psycho style.
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Plus, their planning and stalking of victims, while messing with the police gives them tons of opportunities for date nights. It doesn't matter what you do, it just matters if you spend time together as a couple. It's the key to a successful marriage. My hubs and I will go to dinner and a movie - they go out to drug and kill women. Toe-may-toe/Toe-mah-toe... it's all about preference.
[image] Young love is so sweet.
But, like a crappy knitting project or Bingo Night at the church - things are eventually unraveling and bodies are turning up. Now, they are working furiously to cover their asses. Plus, their kids are having problems for some reason. Strangely, the children aren't as well-adjusted as Mr. and Mrs. Killerson thought. I wonder why?
[image] They used to love this game when they were little. Weird.
Throughout this process, we get enough glimpses into their past and present to kind of wonder what such a great guy sees in his wife. I mean, sure, he cheats on her occasionally, and you know.. the killing stuff... but he's so nice and she's such a bitch. I didn't get why he stuck with her and let her push him around so much.
[image] Oh yeah. Mystery solved.
This book had a lot of tension because you were always wondering about the wife since you never really saw her point-of-view, and you were worried about them getting caught. There were no graphic scenes of any kind, though, so don't worry about that. No rape, no sex scenes (it was fade-to-black), and not even details on the murders. I still felt caught-up in the story. Nothing felt missing. I can see this becoming a movie someday. It was really good.
This book is written in a very otherworldy way. It is one of those books that you get a major book-hangover from because you have to clear your head wThis book is written in a very otherworldy way. It is one of those books that you get a major book-hangover from because you have to clear your head when you finish. I immediately dragged out my smut-romance book that I have been reading on and off. Nothing clears the cobwebs better than smut.
[image] Smut is magic.
So, you may see some reviews for this book being all poetic about the beauty of it and such, but then you will see some people say that by the end they got a little tired of all of the poetic descriptions. I imagine this is much like snow. You see, I've never lived in snow, and I never want to. I like warm. But, I imagine that first snowfall would be so beautiful that you would be out there spinning in the flurries with your arms out like in the Sound of Music, singing about the beauty of nature.
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Then, after months of cold, shoveling, slush, slipping, putting chains on tires, etc... this same guy will be found with a shotgun screaming "White Devils!" while shooting at the snowflakes. Sure, it's pretty, but it gets old.
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The story is about a private investigator that specializes in finding missing children. She almost has a sixth sense and is very driven because she herself was a "found" child. She is trying to find a little girl that has been lost for three years. We go back and forth between her narrative, as she thinks about her own past and looks for the child, and the lost little girl's story. Through them, we really get to know the characters, but kind of slowly. It's sad and you keep holding out hope that things will be okay. I won't tell if they are or not. You have to read it yourself. Bwuahaha! Oh, I mean... No spoilers.
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Most likely, you will love this book, but there are tons of triggers inside. Obviously, missing children stories are tragic and often horrifying. So, stay away if you are sensitive....more
Sometimes I like to read about total nut-jobs. It makes me feel slightly more sane. Mike's the kinda guy who looks through newspapers to find hidden mSometimes I like to read about total nut-jobs. It makes me feel slightly more sane. Mike's the kinda guy who looks through newspapers to find hidden messages.
[image] Jeez, dude, I just asked where you want to go eat.
So, when he gets an invitation to his ex-girlfriend's wedding, he knows she is crying out for his help to stop it. It's part of a game they used to play, and she has simply taken it to the next level.
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Sometimes you really don't need to kick it up a notch. Just leave it be, man. Leave it be.
This book is all about being inside of Psycho-Mike's head. (I gave him that nickname. Clever, huh?) And, inside his head is very intense and delusional. So, it makes you wonder what the hell he's going to do next, which is fun. The only problem I had was that he didn't act out enough on his psychosis. If I'm going to read about a psycho, I want him to go full-out, not just think psycho-ie things, but DO them. After all, isn't that the most important part of being a psycho? *Sigh* Maybe it's just me. Plus, I really wanted a very specific thing to happen at the end and it didn't. Why don't authors automatically know what I want and do it?
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Anyway. The other part of this story, that was really interesting, was the feminist angle. Nobody is talking about that too much, but the author mentioned that this was what sparked her to write the book in the first place. Because nobody wants to spoil, and I won't either, we aren't telling you about a strong feminist message. So, without spoiling, I will tell you a major thing: there is a strong feminist message. You're welcome.
I need therapy after this book. Holy crap! Someone show me a puppy video, STAT! I may have nightmares tonight.
Okay, so the biggest thing that will fuckI need therapy after this book. Holy crap! Someone show me a puppy video, STAT! I may have nightmares tonight.
Okay, so the biggest thing that will fuck you up is that you know this book is based upon a true story. Yes, it gets strange and has a paranormal thing that comes in, but you also know that these are real people who ended up eating each other in real life. So, you know how absolutely fucked they were to get to that point. They had been traveling together for months. How desperate were they that cannibalism came into play? How do they look at another human being, whom they knew well, and see meat?
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So, going in, you know this story is going to be disturbing, even if it kept strictly to the facts that we know from history. But, nooooooo, that wasn't disturbing enough. Our beloved author took that fucked-up story from history and just went to town on making it so much darker that you will feel your heart blackening as you go. I seriously need to ride a unicorn or eat a rainbow to recover from this shit.
[image] Fucking cats. I really needed that shit.
We follow the Donner Party on their journey and get to know several of the characters up close and personal. Most of them are heading west to run away from their problems. Which I wholly approve of. It's really the only way I will do any running. Running from my problems is my cardio (hey, don't knock it til you've tried it. Yeah, Denial!). The thing to remind yourself is that the Donner Party story doesn't end on a happy note. I mean, how do we even know about these people? When you think "Donner Party", you aren't thinking about a fabulous vacation with food and love stories all around. So..... you know it's gonna suck.
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The story is so well-written that you can feel the desperation and isolation that builds as the story goes on. You feel like you are on this giant death-march but you are the only one who knows the outcome. You want to smack them when they make stupid decisions that you know what they will lead to. It's frustrating, depressing, and horrifying.
But, just a bunch of people who ended up eating each other wasn't enough. No. There are monsters out there. And, the secrets that I mentioned that many of them were running from? There are monsters in their party. Plus, the suffering, desperation, and isolation? There are monsters being created on the road. All together, a hell of a lot of monsters.
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There are tons of triggers in this story, so only read it if you want to be mind-fucked. I am literally nauseous right now as I smell my husband cooking. So, that's the cannibalism. There is also lots of death, obviously, and the sexual abuse of children. Incest and spousal abuse are indicated too.
Still, if you can stomach it, you will love/hate this book.
(Warning - slight spoiler from the first book ahead)
First thing: You HAVE to read the first book to understand this one, and if you read it a while ba(Warning - slight spoiler from the first book ahead)
First thing: You HAVE to read the first book to understand this one, and if you read it a while back, do yourself a favor and reread the diary part of it before starting this. There is barely a touch of re-capping and you will miss a lot unless the diary is pretty fresh. Plus, it's a creepy killer's diary. What's not to love?
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The diaries of monsters are so entertaining!
This book wasn't as good as the first one - for a while. It took a few more pages until I was glued to it, but don't worry, by the end I was giving it a standing ovation. In my head. You know, sitting there expressionless. That's how I roll.
[image] I never seem to give the correct reaction to things.
We get to follow around the cop friends we made in the first book, but our main guy is kinda in trouble for letting the serial killer escape in that one. Sheesh! Picky, picky!
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It's in the FBI's capable hands now. They will totally catch the guy. But, that's okay because our team has their own case to solve. And, it's totally not related. At all. Back off, FBI!
[image] I said BACK OFF. You didn't see anything. Good day, sir!
Now, you might think from my happy little silly jokey review that this book is all fun and sunshine and unicorns. You would be wrong. It's dark. Really dark. There are horrible things happening, so don't read it if you don't like murder, death, evil, and mayhem.
[image] Luckily, it's not in cursive, so go for it, Millennials!...more
When you think to yourself, "you know, I really am way too well-adjusted. I don't need therapy at all. I should really change that." This is the book When you think to yourself, "you know, I really am way too well-adjusted. I don't need therapy at all. I should really change that." This is the book for you.
Let me start out with a warning. This book has more triggers than a..... well... thinking here... a gun with a lot of triggers? Look, I never said I could come up with a good metaphor. Let me know if you have a better one, Ms. Smartypants.
[image] It's a giant trigger!
Whew, made that work, huh?
Okay, so this story starts with a trial and our heroine is testifying against her high school boyfriend for the murder of her best friend. She was complicit, so she is serving 5 years in prison as part of her plea bargain. So, about half the book is her in prison, and let's just say that it seems about as much fun as we would expect it to be.
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The second half of the book is when she gets out and is trying to rebuild her life. The problem is that murders resembling her bestie's murder are happening in her town. And, it gets really dark and really complicated.
Throughout the book, we are getting flashbacks on her relationship with her high school boyfriend and the night of the murder. It slowly unravels. And, you really wish it would ravel back up again.
[image] Aaaack! Get back in there, roly poly! You are cuter as a ball.
While this is going on, we have the alternating story of the cop who arrested her. This is because he was also her BFF during high school and had a tough time dealing with the "disappearance" of their third friend. (This is all taking place like 10 years later, when the body was finally found.) Right off the bat, we have him in an affair with a married woman, so I guess his life is successful, right? He's got a job, got a girl... Yeah, not really.
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He's trying to solve the latest murder-spree case and is sure that she has info that can help. She's not exactly down with that, but he won't relent.
[image] Okay, maybe I don't floss three times a day. Calm the fuck down, dude.
This book is compelling. I really couldn't put it down. But, it is also very dark and has many disturbing elements. I felt like I needed a silly rom-com afterwards as a palate cleanser. So, read it, but be in the right mood.
I'll put all of the triggers in a spoiler tag: (view spoiler)[ physical abuse, multiple murders, multiple rapes and attempted rapes including prison rape and attempted incest rape, child murders, dismemberment. (hide spoiler)]...more
Well, I can't be a smartass for this review. It was just too close to home to joke about. This story is really timely because it is about a mass shootWell, I can't be a smartass for this review. It was just too close to home to joke about. This story is really timely because it is about a mass shooting. It really gets in-depth with what happens with those who survived and how their lives were changed.
So, the book is divided into sections.
The first part is the shooting itself. How it went down, how different people reacted, what the survivors experienced. It was sad and horrible.
The second part of the book goes through a lot of years telling us about several different characters and their lives after the shootings. That part was my least favorite because it really jumped around for a long period of time. But, I know it was important to bring us to the third part of the story.
The third section of the book is a romance that develops between two of the characters, along with a murder-mystery of sorts. We know who did it the whole time, and we see that person's viewpoint too, it was just a matter of them being caught. This final part read more like Nora's regular romance-mystery type of stories. The female is artsy and a commitment-phobic girl. The male is a great guy who is trying to win her over.
Overall, it was a great book, but there were tough moments. I think Nora did a good job imagining how living through an experience like that would affect the rest of the person's life. I hate knowing that we have all of these teens and others who are growing up with this reality. But, honestly? I don't think we have seen the last of these events. Unfortunately, we are just getting used to it....more
Look, we all know that I don't like things that make me feel emotions. I'm a good-time girl. I want happy, funny, sarcastic snarkiness at all t[image]
Look, we all know that I don't like things that make me feel emotions. I'm a good-time girl. I want happy, funny, sarcastic snarkiness at all times. And, I don't mean like those bubbly people who are eternal optimists and are spouting glittery rainbows out of their mouths all day. I want the pessimistic, cynical, jaded, but funny-as-hell people with a raspy voice because they are smoking and drinking too much.
[image] My spirit animal.
Well, this book brought the jaded pessimism that I love, but it also brought sadness. And, I don't like sadness. Books are supposed to be a break from the relenting sorrow of inching ever closer to our deaths each day.
[image] You can try to fight it, but you are going off that cliff.
Luckily, the book had so many other things going on that I was able to handle the sad. Also, there were some really cool reveals in there.
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But, let me warn everyone: This is NOT a book for anyone who is sensitive to .... pretty much anything. There are horrible things that happen. Really horrible.
The writing is amazing. The story is complicated. If you can handle some very sensitive issues, you will love it....more
I know I'm late to the You party. Better late than never.
So, I am thinking that I want the stalker sociopath, Joe, to join my book-boyfriend club and I know I'm late to the You party. Better late than never.
So, I am thinking that I want the stalker sociopath, Joe, to join my book-boyfriend club and live at Magic Peen Ranch with the rest of them. Considering that there are members like Eric Northman, Jericho Barons, Acheron, and Mad Rogan, you would think it would be safe enough, right? Those are some supernatural, powerful dudes. But, no. I know that if I let Joe in, I will come to visit the next time and find this:
[image] Dammit Joe! People notice this shit!
Joe works at a bookstore and is narrating our story as if he is writing a letter to his obsession-girl, Beck. She comes in and buys some books, talks like an affected asshole, and he falls. He does the perfectly normal thing to do when a guy is interested in a girl. No, no. Not ask her out. He stalks her. He finds out where she lives and watches her at night.
[image] She's such an asshole that she never invites him in.
Of course, Joe also thinks that his behavior is romantic. He reads her email, follows her around, and almost gets caught when he is in her apartment.
Sometimes you have to play around with the facts to get the girl. I have seen enough romantic comedies to know that romantic guys like me are always getting into jams like this.
Joe does a lot of things to ensure that he and Beck meet again, and that he gets to date her. He doesn't understand that pathetic guys that are TOO easy don't always appeal to us girls. We all have that guy who we wish we could have loved. You know - the loser who loved you soooo much and would do anything for you that you put in the friend zone so fast your hair blew? That guy. Sure, he would have been good for you, but you want the guy who is just a little bit of a challenge. And, Beck is more of an asshole than most girls, so she strings Joe along and has him assembling her furniture and taking her to lunch. Lunch! Guys, if a girl will only meet you for lunch, not dinner, you are a girlfriend. We don't fuck our lunch dates. We eat salad with them and bitch about Pam in Accounting because she keeps leaving passive-aggressive notes in the break room.
[image] I think his testicles are in her backpack.
The best thing about this book is how much fun it is to be in Joe's head. He romanticizes everything Beck does until she displeases him and then he goes to town on how horrible she is. You just really want to get him a giant Thorazine and maybe a straight jacket, but then he wouldn't be crazy anymore and the crazy is awesome.
[image] If you do, you will enjoy this book.
Overall, I found this story to be very engrossing. It was dark, the characters were horrible people, and don't expect an HEA. But, if you are in the right mood, you will probably love being in this psycho's head as much as I did.
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