Book Review: The Perfect Place to Die by Bryce Moore
The Perfect Place to Die
Author: Bryce Moore
Published: August 3, 2021
320 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
Zuretta never thought she’d encounter a monster—one of the world’s most notorious serial killers. She had resigned herself to a quiet life in Utah. But when her younger sister, Ruby, travels to Chicago during the World’s Fair, and disappears, Zuretta leaves home to find her.
But 1890s Chicago is more dangerous and chaotic than she imagined. She doesn’t know where to start until she learns of her sister’s last place of employment…a mysterious hotel known as The Castle.
Zuretta takes a job there hoping to learn more. And before long she realizes the hotel isn’t what it seems. Women disappear at an alarming rate, she hears crying from the walls, and terrifying whispers follow her at night. In the end, she finds herself up against one of the most infamous mass murderers in American history—and his custom-built death trap.
Kim’s Review:
This is simply a murder mystery with a tiny paranormal element. Unfortunately, it turns predictable relatively quickly. It’s also rather slow. I mostly enjoyed it so I’m glad I read it. But I’m not sure I can recommend it. However, that cover though. That cover almost pushed it up to 4 stars. Unfortunately, the “twist” which was actually obvious to everyone but the main character, brought it back down to 3. I just thought that Etta was so unrealistic. Too afraid to stand up to her abusive father, too scared to run away with her sister, too dumb to avoid the con woman her first day in Chicago, but then all of a sudden confident enough to stand up to Pinkertons, cops, the suspected killers … just not believable. So I can’t recommend it. I’m glad I read it, but the pros don’t outweigh the cons.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
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Book Review: The Therapist by B.A. Paris
The Therapist
Author: B.A. Paris
Published: July 13, 2021
Audiobook
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: August 25 -31, 2021
Jessica’s Rating: 2 stars
Book Description:
When Alice and Leo move into a newly renovated house in The Circle, a gated community of exclusive houses, it is everything they’ve dreamed of. But appearances can be deceptive…
As Alice is getting to know her neighbours, she discovers a devastating secret about her new home, and begins to feel a strong connection with Nina, the therapist who lived there before.
Alice becomes obsessed with trying to piece together what happened two years before. But no one wants to talk about it. Her neighbors are keeping secrets and things are not as perfect as they seem…
Jessica’s Review:
**Minor spoilers**
I am a B.A. Paris fan and have really enjoyed all her other books, until The Therapist. This one was just lackluster as it moved very slowly for me. I also did not connect with Alice and she just seemed too caught up in trying to figure out what really happened to the former resident Nina, who was murdered in the apartment. Once Alice found out about Nina’s murder after moving in, she stayed?!?!?! Leo didn’t bother to tell her when he bought the house!?!?! WHAT!?!?!? Yeah, they totally don’t have a good relationship.
Maybe it was that I listened to the audiobook on this one and have actually read the others. Sometimes audiobooks are hit or miss. I just had no feeling of suspense listening to The Therapist and by the time we got to the ending I wasn’t shocked or really cared with this one.
Since I have enjoyed all of her other novels, I will continue to read anything else she writes. I highly recommend her first novel: Behind Closed Doors. Read that one!
Purchase Links
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: Inspection by Josh Malerman
Inspection
Author: Josh Malerman
Published: March 19, 2019
383 Pages
Reviewed By: Kim
Kim’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
J is a student at a school deep in a forest far away from the rest of the world.
J is one of only twenty-six students, all of whom think of the school’s enigmatic founder as their father. J’s peers are the only family he has ever had. The students are being trained to be prodigies of art, science, and athletics, and their life at the school is all they know—and all they are allowed to know.
But J suspects that there is something out there, beyond the pines, that the founder does not want him to see, and he’s beginning to ask questions. What is the real purpose of this place? Why can the students never leave? And what secrets is their father hiding from them?
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, in a school very much like J’s, a girl named K is asking the same questions. J has never seen a girl, and K has never seen a boy. As K and J work to investigate the secrets of their two strange schools, they come to discover something even more mysterious: each other.
Kim’s Review:
Wow. This book definitely was a thinker! There was a lot of philosophizing and internal dialogue through the whole story. Thankfully, the ideas were fascinating enough that I was able to keep up fairly well. The main reason for the 4 stars is because I missed the action. I do like character driven plots but they do need to move along. This book was a little slow. However when the action did start, then it went fast! I liked the overall concept and even though many of the kids blurred together, I liked getting to know the characters. Overall, this was a fascinating read that scratched the dystopian itch, without actually being dystopian.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
