Check out my thoughts on these 2 new releases below!
*eARCs provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. I am an Amazon and Bookshop.org affiliate so I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase through one of my links
By Kristen Perrin
Pub Date: March 26, 2024 (Dutton)
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
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▪️Synopsis:
It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.
My Thoughts:
Do you enjoy reading murder mysteries? Do you like mysteries set in the English countryside at a sprawling estate? Are you a fan of Knives Out or Agatha Christie? If so, I recommend reading How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin. This was an entertaining and cozy murder mystery. I think this would be a perfect book to read on a rainy day curled up on the couch with your cat (or your dog, or your hamster..you get what I’m saying).There are many interesting characters in this story. I thought Annie was a relatable character and I enjoyed following along with her as she tried to solve the mystery. I loved the English countryside setting and the Knives Out vibes of this book. This story features two timelines (present day with Annie and the mid 1960s with Frances) and I thought both timelines were interesting. There were some surprising twists that I thoroughly enjoyed. There were some slower parts in the story, but overall, I had a fun time reading this book. I think this is the first book in a series and I look forward to reading the next one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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By Sami Ellis
Pub Date: March 26, 2024 (Amulet Books)
Genre: YA Horror
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✍️This author is included in All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology
▪️Synopsis:
Temple Baker knows that evil runs in her blood. Her father is the North Point Killer, an infamous serial killer known for how he marked each of his victims with a brand. He was convicted for murdering 20 people and was the talk of countless true crime blogs for years. Some say he was possessed by a demon. Some say that they never found all his victims. Some say that even though he’s now behind bars, people are still dying in the woods. Despite everything though, Temple never believed that her dad killed her mom. But when he confesses to that crime while on death row, she has no choice but to return to his old hunting grounds to try see if she can find a body and prove it.
Turns out, the farm that was once her father’s hunting grounds and her home has been turned into an overnight camp for queer, horror-obsessed girls. So Temple poses as a camp counselor to go digging in the woods. While she’s not used to hanging out with girls her own age and feels ambivalent at best about these true crime enthusiasts, she tries her best to fit in and keep her true identity hidden.
But when a girl turns up dead in the woods, she fears that one of her father’s “fans” might be mimicking his crimes. As Temple tries to uncover the truth and keep the campers safe, she comes to realize that there may be something stranger and more sinister at work—and that her father may not have been the only monster in these woods.
My Thoughts:
Dead Girls Walking was a creepy, fear-inducing read that I really enjoyed. This story gave me all the Friday the 13th, teen summer camp horror vibes. I think this would be the perfect book to read during the summer. It felt like I was watching a horror movie while reading this book.Temple was a kick-ass main character who did not take crap from anyone. She knew how to defend herself from not only the mean girls, but also from the undead and her crazy family.
There’s some gore in this book, so be prepared for some disgusting imagery. I really liked the author’s descriptive writing.
This book is aimed at young adults, so there were was a lot of teen drama that I didn’t care for, but I still think adults will enjoy this story. If you love teen slashers or zombie flicks, definitely pick this one up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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Thanks For Reading!
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