Brogan Roach (referred to as Roach), is a bookseller working in a shop in Walthamstow. She’s seen as a bit of an odd ball, with her gothic type looks, lack of friends, and her infatuation with all things true crime.
On the run up to Christmas, the bookshop brings in some more staff, including Laura, a well-put together, cheerful and chatty ‘perfect’ bookseller who Roach instantly dislikes. But soon, Roach feels a connection with Laura and is constantly trying to pursue some sort of friendship. As Laura begins to reveal parts of a truly shocking and dark secret about her life, Roach’s obsession only deepens, which makes Laura sick to her stomach.

Oh my god…THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!! If you’re like me and have a bit of a thing for true crime then this book will absolutely 100% be for you!
Alice Slater, you are a little genius! This book has everything, it’s dark, it’s gory and grimy, it’s fast paced, and it’s also got that quintessential British humour and relatable-ness which I adore.
Surprisingly, for a book with such a high rating, neither Laura nor Roach are particularly likeable characters in the novel. I feel like you get such mixed feelings for both characters, feeling sorry for them whilst also disliking them for their actions. I also think that the ensemble of other characters really enhance the book, such as the rest of the bookselling team, Roach’s mum Jackie, and Roach’s love intrest Sam. The split POV’s are also such a good element, I think the story works so well from two perspectives.

Overall a truly fabulous book. I can definitely see myself coming back and reading this plenty more times. It was absolutely amazing and I loved every single second of it!

Whose lives are most interesting, the murderers or their victims? Roach is certainly on the murders side while Laura is on the other side of the equation. Opposites attract, so they say, but these two young women plainly don’t adhere to that aphorism. Roach is actually Brogan’s surname but to avoid a name clash earlier in her career at “Spines”, a failing bookshop branch in Walthamstow, means it is the name by which she is known. She’s early twenties, a loner, with an obsessive interest in serial killers, possibly because there had been one ‘operating’ in Walthamstow when she was a child. Her style tends towards murderer-fan T shirts, old denims and Doc Marten’s. Laura, 28, is part of a team sent in to rescue or close the branch. She is all sweetness and light, floral prints, matching beret and shoes, writes poetry that celebrates murder victims, loves everyone – except Roach! Roach, despite all signs to the contrary, believes they are kindred spirits and is stalking Laura, although she might not see it that way. These two characters are on course for a major collision, but of what kind and to what consequence?
The story is told alternatively by the two women, so there is an interesting stylistic style shift every few pages, which is skilfully done. Because it kicks off with Roach, the reader might find it a bit odd, but it is worth saying that you shouldn’t immediately feel put off. The contrast between these two main characters is what drives the plot and the language is an intrinsic part of that. Neither women is particularly likeable, nor, for that matter, are any of the other characters in the book, but that’s part of the tension holding it together. The description of the way bookshops work feels very authentic, as it should be since the author has worked in just such a shop. A good read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Dark, sinister and simmering. An unlikeable but compelling narrator that you can't stop yourself from reading. Suspenseful. Looks the ugly parts of life and death in the eye. Atmospheric writing style. A really interesting read!

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Publication Date: 27th April 2023
Genre : Mystery and Thrillers

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder for and Stoughton for the arc copy.
This is a dark tale with flawed characters. If you like true crime, this is the book for you.
It was a fun read. Neither character in this novel is particularly likeable, and both have significant flaws, but they felt so real that you were drawn into their worlds. A book about obsession, but also about friendship (or lack thereof) and how your beliefs and behaviors affect others. I don't want to give any spoilers because I believe you should approach this book with an open mind; you won't be disappointed. A dark slow burn that builds and builds, keeping you guessing.

#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #mysteryandthriller @Hodderbooks #deathofabookseller

This was different to my usual read but I really enjoyed it. It's the story of two book sellers who work in Spines in Walthamstow and you couldn't get more contrastingly different characters. Roach is a lonely goth who is obsessed with true life crime stories and Laura is what Roach would call a "normie" but she develops a fascination about her and wrongly believes they are connected in some way. Meanwhile Laura does her best to avoid Roach and also despises anyone who is morbid and likes true crime for very good reasons.

Roach is a bookseller, and obsessed with serial killers and true crime. Above all she is lonely and when a new person transfers into her branch she is completely convinced they should be best friends.
Laura is not in the market for a best friend and certainly not someone like Roach, whose obsessions' repulse her.

The characters in the book are fantastic- the creepy young woman, the over-the-top married with benefits mate of Laura's, the self obsessed Laura all play beautifully off each other and are all equally unlikeable.
You can feel the misguided desperation of Roach oozing off every page as she throws herself again and again into Laura's orbit only to be rebuffed and Laura's superiority complex really shines!
An interesting read told from both aspects.

Brogan is quite happy to spend her time scuttling around in the dark, working as a bookseller and avoiding the sun - much like her moniker, Roach. And until now, Roach hasn't wanted anything more than her life in the shadows with her pet snail and murder stories but now Laura has changed everything.

When she arrives in Roaches failing bookstore, tasked with bringing life into the dying business, she brings a sense of light with her that's unfamiliar but intriguing. But in that light, Roach sees a little glimmer of dark - something she can connect with and soon she is obsessed with finding the broken parts of Laura, making her realise they'd be best friends ... If only Laura would look at her.

"There's a lot to fear in this world, but when something goes bump in the night, it isn't ghosts that haunt me."

Sickeningly dark and twisted, this is a thrilling story about obsession, desperation and desire.

Our two characters are the catalysts, the driving force of this tale - both described so viscerally, total opposites but sides of the same coin; the victim and the murderer, the good and the bad, the blurry grey between the black and white. Laura is a model bookseller - efficient, warm, kind, creative - she smells like flowers and writes evocative poetry. Whereas Roach takes her name seriously, invoking a deep sense of discomfort, even revulsion at times. She made me feel watched, sent a sharp chill down my spine and we followed through her disturbing trains of thoughts. But despite her unhinged, unnerving behaviour, there was something undeniably curious and compelling about her - like a feral cat, you know she'll scratch your eyes out but you still want to reach out a hand regardless - and of course, much like the murderers and villains she can't get enough of.

We delve into the unsettling underbelly of society that's hidden behind the natural curiosity of the morbid - the people who take their obsessions with death, serial killers and monsters to the extremes - immortalising and idolising the worst parts of humanity. Slater incisively picks apart the differences between speaking out abut our bloody histories and remembering the victims and glorifying murderers and violence and blurring the line between innocent curiosity and compulsion; between a dark speculative fiction like this, and the way we turn peoples dark reality into our own fiction.

The London setting was masterful - capturing the bustle and dazzling lights of the big city, but also the dark and lonely corners that make everything feel suffocating and claustrophobic. This story is slow, anxious - there are no shock reveals and dramatic turns but instead a disquiet horror that ebbs and flows, letting the truth slowly seep through the pages exactly when they wanted it to. The intense, terrifying behaviour keeps increasing through every chapter until we reach a cinematic climax I didn't see coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is the debut from Alice Slater and what a debut it is! If you go into this book expecting a cosy murder story, you will be wrong! A story of obsession and how two lives intertwine, this will be perfect for true crime fans. Also, just look at that cover!! Dark with little bits of humour and a twist I did not see coming.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Roach has been a bookseller for 8 years and is obsessed with true crime and serial killers. She's a weirdo who takes pleasure in looking down on all of the other normal people. The bookshop is not making enough so the parent company assigned Laura to reform the shop. Laura is the complete opposite of Roach. In no time she becomes the favourite of the customers and her ability to sell books is unprecedented. Laura has a traumatic past and she writes poetry about it. Roach is obsessed with Laura and wants to know everything about her. Laura is more than uncomfortable with Roach's actions and obsessiveness. The entire story is about Roach's ugly obsession.

The story is entirely different from what I've read before. The starting was slow and it took me a few days to get into the world, after that it was hard to not read the book. Character development was so solid. All characters were grey or dark. Laura's character was not likeable in any sense, she had enough flaws. I just hate it when authors portray a character as alcoholic in mystery books so seems unreliable and it fuels the length of the story. While reading Roach's POV, I just felt so disgusted to even enter her mind. Her character made me so angry and her audacity was mind-blowing. I don't remember how many times I cursed her out loud. 

The ending was so open and I was desperately craving closure. I didn't read the entire book to get a cliffhanger. This was a dark and disturbing story. 

PS. I watch You and enjoy the character of Joe and he doesn't make me angry but this Cockroach just made my blood boil.

Death of a Bookseller is about two booksellers and the premise of this book was interesting but I was not expecting it to turn this dark. Both characters are polar opposites of each other. Roach is a true crime fan, likes to be alone, and wears all black meanwhile Laura likes to match her clothes to her accessories, can be friends with everyone, and hates true crime. When they first encounter Roach wants to be friends with Laura and throughout the book, we get to see her obsession with Laura keeps getting dangerous. Both characters were well-written and fleshed out. The story is really slow and descriptive but it had plenty of twists and you kept reading. I also had an audio arc too. That was one of the reasons I love this book. Both narrators did an excellent job. They bring both characters to life. Overall this was a debut thriller and a very good one. I can't wait to read the author's next projects.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This story centres around two bokosellers. Roach who is a true crime obsessive that spends most of her time alone and Laura who is a ray of sunshine. On paper these two could not be any more different if they tried. However, Roach initially thinks that Laura is a normal, pumpkin spice latte girly but then becomes intrigued by her and decides she wants to befriend Laura. She's got this hunch that her and Laura have somethings in common. The more Roach attempts to befriend Laura, the more Laura does not like her. Roach's hunch then takes a more darker, more obsessive turn. As you delve deeper into these two characters, you discover they're not as different as you're led to believe, in fact they have quite a few similarities.

Now neither of these characters are likeable at all which makes this story a lot more fascinating. The book is multiple point of view so we get a glimpse of what's going on in both characters heads. Neither of them are particularly stable. Being inside Roach's hard was definitely a lot more disturbing but as a True crime lover myself I didn't particularly enjoy the hatred Laura had for those that enjoy the genre. Granted she has her reason not to like it herself but her point of view is full of instances where she's trying to shame Roach for liking the it or trying to get other people to agree that those that like true crime are weird.

I enjoyed the short chapters in this. It started of slow but then it really takes off. If you are looking for a dark, twisted tale driven by obsession then you should definitely give this a go!

An interesting subject: women killed by male serial killers and how society seems to be more interested in (not to say fascinated by) the horror, not the wasted lives of these women. At the same time people working in the True Crime industry are making money that way.
And let me admit the ingenuity of the last chapter with her climbing the garden wall and ending up without her phone (without giving too much away).

However, I did not enjoy reading this book with all its misery. The mentioned delicate subject was lost in the second half, the story generally being a bit flat.
The two main characters living an isolated, lonely (empty?) life yet they were set in their ways and both unkind. I couldn't warm to either of them.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

I went into this thinking it was a cosy murder book, based on the cover and title, boy was I wrong. This is a dark story full of flawed characters. If you're into true crime then this is the book for you.
It was an enjoyable read but I found it very hard to care about either of the main characters and what happened to them as they were both so unlikeable in different ways.

I had seen some chat about Death of A Bookseller on social media recently so I was intrigued to see what it was like. Unfortunately for me, the books didn’t live up to the hype. I found it to be just another crime thriller, with quite a bit of bleakness thrown in for good measure. No doubt the author can write, but it definitely wasn’t for me.

⭐️Thank you NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for a early copy for me to review⭐️

I definitely feel conflicted about this one. While I enjoyed what the book had to say about true crime and life as a bookseller it was let down by extremely unlikeable characters, slow pacing and story.

Roach and Laura were so unlikable and insufferable to read about, I understand maybe why the author chose to do this but it made the overall story hard to read. If I don’t feel a connection of any sorts to these people how am I meant to follow a very character based story?

I think that’s where the book lagged… it was a character driven story. Maybe the characters needed more developing or maybe it was my experience reading but they just felt so flat, dull and unlikeable.

You can tell the author has a love for writing, reading and books, as so many books are name dropped throughout. I did appreciate this, but by the half way point I started to get annoyed by the constant book droping that she said nearly every chapter.

I think this book will appeal to people who enjoy unlikeable characters and following a very character based story, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

***Their was some formatting errors with my copy of the book as the authors name and book title where in random paragraphs of the novel.

I loved this read!! I really enjoyed how the two main characters stories were portrayed and intertwined. It was just the right pace and I did not expect what unfolded! A brilliant read!

Well this book was unexpected. It completely sucked me in from the start and kept me reading until the early hours. I was lucky enough to have both the ARC and the audiobook of this novel and whichever you choose you will not be disappointed. The narrators of the audiobook – Emma Noakes and Victoria Blunt – were superb and certainly bought both the characters of Roach and Laura to life. Neither character in this novel is likeable and both have major flaws, but they felt so real to life and you were drawn into their worlds. A book of obsession, but also friendship (or lack of it ), and how your actions and beliefs affect others . I don’t want to give any spoilers as I think you should go into this book blind– you won’t be disappointed. A dark slow burn that builds and builds and certainly keeps you guessing. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in return for an honest review I will certainly be recommending.

I really enjoyed this book, although it wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. Roach was a truly awful character with no redeeming features that I could see. Having said that, I also didn’t like Laura but I don’t need to like characters to enjoy a book so that wasn’t really an issue. As a former bookseller I did really enjoy all the very accurate work and customer interactions which was fairly nostalgic although luckily I never encountered anyone like Roach. This was a deliciously dark and disturbing story which I would recommend.

A slow start builds to a satisfying climax. Roach and Laura are two well drawn characters. The book chapters split between the two main characters giving both perspectives. A compelling read
I received this book from Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for a review.

This wasn’t was I expecting it took me longer to get in to the story then I wanted. Didn’t enjoy as much I thought I would.