I was in the mood for something different when I picked this up and hoped that a bookseller-themed thriller might fit the bill - and I'm pleased to report that it did! Alice Slater's debut plunged me right into the world of Spines bookshop in Walthamstow and into the mind of the true-crime obsessed protagonist, Roach, whose comfortable existence is rocked when new bookseller, Laura, joins the team. I won't reveal much more about the plot but will say that I found this to be a dark and fast-paced read which was the perfect fit for my reading mood when I picked it up.

Wow, what a fantastic debut! Death Of A Bookseller follows two booksellers, gloomy Roach and effervescent Laura, as the former becomes increasingly obsessed with the latter over the course of one fateful winter. Both characters are developed wonderfully and the plot was so gripping I simply could not put the book down. It also captures all the details of bookselling so well - both the wonderful bits and the absolutely horrible bits! Alice Slater is an author to watch and I'll be recommending this to readers who enjoyed books like Boy Parts and Night Shift,

I knew from the first page that Alice Slater's debut was going to be brilliant. It's a brutally sharp dissection of obsessive true crime fans and the damage caused by sticking our noses into other people's tragedies. But it's also a love song to books, booksellers and readers, set against the familiar backdrop of failing high streets and Amazon's retail monopoly. Smart, pacy and well written - I can't recommend it enough.

Roach works at Spines, a bookstore in Walthamstow. The shop isn't doing as great as it is expected to be so that's where our other main character, Laura comes in. Roach and Laura seem like polar opposites at first - Roach is a goth girl but Laura is a "normie" - but Roach recognises something within Laura as they have a shared interest in true crime (although for different reasons) but Laura is unresponsive to Roach's advances to becoming friends, which is when Roach's obsession starts.

I saw the blurb and thought that the book sounded really interesting, however I did not expect the book to turn into what it did when I started and then finished the book. Roach makes true crime her entire personality, which is all she thinks and talks about, which gets a bit tiring to read about. She is so desensitised to the effects of true crime that she fails to realise the impact that it has on the victim's families, which is evident by how she continues to want information about the murder of Laura's mother, despite numerous people telling her to leave it alone. I found Roach's obsession with Laura incredibly weird, as well as the lengths that she would go to in order to find information about the murder of Laura's mother.

On the topic of Laura, I couldn't stand her - I hated how different she treated Roach compared to the other booksellers and as a consequence, how the other booksellers began to treat Roach too. Laura's entire personality was complaining about Roach and how horrible true crime is and the fact that people profit off writing about it (which is understandable since her mother was killed by a serial killer), as well as doing things that she knew would upset Roach. However, I didn't like how I didn't like the victim within this story as she was made out to be crazy, when in actuality she was just extremely fearful of the world and honestly, rightfully so. However, that is one of the aspects that is well done within this book as the sense of Laura's fear is so strong against Roach's obsession, which makes for a nice contrast when reading both of their POVs, especially as Roach's chapter can be incredibly dark and hard to read.

There were a few things that happened in this book which I guessed as it felt quite predictable, hence why I was not surprised at the ending or the epilogues. I didn't connect nor like any of the characters introduced within this book - they were all awful in their own way. However, this book includes gay and lesbian characters, which I was happy to see. I also didn't like how it tells you about events that happen further on in the future before they even happen as it ruined the shock for when these events actually happen. Also, there is a lot of serial killers mentioned within this book, which comes across as Roach (and I guess Sam too) romanticising them, which was uncomfortable to read. It was hard to see any character development because it was hidden by Roach's obsession for Laura and true crime and Laura's by her hatred for Roach, which would have helped to drive the story forward especially as it's told from both of their POVs.

However, this book was an interesting debut and I did struggle to put it down - it was unlike any other book I have read. It did feel dragged out at times with quite a lot of repetition as the same kinds of things would constantly happen throughout the book. This book is definitely a slow burner but it gets interesting very fast. I really liked Alice Slater's writing style, as well as how descriptive this book was as it really helps to set the scene. This book also includes gay and lesbian characters, which I was happy to see.

⚠️ Content warning: profanity, vomiting, mentions real life serial killers and how they killed their victims, alcohol and drug use, alcoholism, strangulation, murder, mentions people with a drug problem, school shooters, guns, self harm, domestic abuse, Nazi reference, suicide and sex workers, grief, police officer as a murderer, Satanism, sleeping pills, blood, rape, sexism, misogyny, animal death, cheating and physical assault ⚠️

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book!

I have posted this review to my NetGalley and Goodreads accounts. I will also post a review on my Instagram and Tiktok a week before the publication date (27th April 2023). This book will be available as a hardback for £14.99 or an e-book for £6.99.

love psychological thrillers, but just didn’t really get on with this. Yes, it was good, but not in the compulsive page turning way I crave. It is dark and maybe just too dark for me. There is nothing wrong with it, just not for me.
Thank you to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.

Oh God I hated everyone in this book but I loved the book itself!
A story of obsession, grief, books! and the dangers of numbing your feelings with alcohol. Highly recommended!

OMG, I have never read a book like this!

This is now in my top 5 reads of 2022. A story like no other I've come across, exploring the obsessive and dark nature of true crime, set against the backdrop of the bookselling community, with fantastically nuanced and dark characters.

I loved the way the book is written from the two main characters perspectives, a brilliant way to get to know them both which really added a layer of nuance to the story. Complicated, broken women for different reasons who are both desperate for love and friendship.

The story explores the danger of our fascination with true crime and as a person who only really reads thrillers and listens to true crime Podcasts, it made me take a pause and think about whether I am too drawn to these areas and whether I need to explore other areas of interest.

I absolutely loved the ending, not expected and whilst following some wonderful twists and turns, it didn't follow a formulaic ending and the book was all the better for it.

Toxic relationship novels have really been at the forefront in 2022 and Death of a Bookseller looks as if it is a topic that is going to carry on well into 2023 – indeed, the publishers claim this is going to be the UMISSABLE debut thriller of 2023.
I found the book a quick, two session read and thought the title was intriguing and the basic premise interesting enough to request the book.
Plot wise: Long-time bookseller Roach views herself as an ‘outsider’ and despises ‘normies’. She’s obsessed with true crime podcasts and serial killers and self-identifies as an ‘expert’, I was left wondering whether the fact that her knowledge/ interest only seems to extend to the most well-known killers was deliberate comment on her by the author or not. This (potentially) satirical approach is one the author uses throughout the book with regard to cultural items including books, music, style, and attitudes.
Laura, pretty, apparently confident, and popular (all the things the book makes clear Roach is not) arrives to work at the store and an unhealthy obsession begins. Laura is a poet and unlike Roach loves ‘serious’ literature like JD Salinger and Sylvia Plath (again – I wasn’t clear on whether her references were meant as satirical takes or not: given the author’s background in the bookselling trade and the many booksellers I know, I have to assume the mainstream references are intended as deliberately humorous)
The tale is told from dual point of views, with no ‘favouritism’ given to either character; they’re both unlikable and broadly written. The promise from the opening of the book of a murder-to-come and the journey that gets to that point will, depending on the reader, be unexpected or misleading.
The reviews from readers so far are very positive about the book so it’s clearly a personal taste issue but it didn’t fully work for me. Without indulging in any spoilers there were too many moments (the ending in particular) that pulled me up thinking, ‘but that wouldn’t work’ or ‘well she would realise x’
As stated, judging by the number of positive reviews on Netgalley I am very much in the minority here and it may simply be that I have read a lot of ‘toxic’ narratives this year that stopped me from feeling this was as original as many others have found it, so as always, best to make your own mind up!
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.

Brogan Roach works in a chain bookstore, she's a true crime obsessive. Laura Bunting is one of the new staff members, and 'Roach' wants to be her friend.

Chapters are told from the perspectives of Laura and Roach. It's darkly humorous, some would say 'young and trendy'. There's lots of drinks after work and smoking rollups.

It's an unusual character story about obsessions, with the characters, writing style and humour the focus rather than a typical thriller plot.

I enjoyed it, there's some very nice writing and it's different enough to set it apart from all the others.

Recommended, especially if you are looking for something a bit different.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

Death of a Bookseller is a thriller set in a branch of a chain bookshop, as two very different women are brought together by a true crime case. Roach—real name Brogan—has worked at Spines for years and has her niche: she's the weird one who loves true crime and hates "normie" things like popular bestsellers. When some new booksellers arrive to try and revitalise the shop, Roach immediately dislikes Laura, who seems to stand for everything Roach hates, and also is nice to everyone except her. However, when Roach learns more about Laura, she thinks they have a lot in common, but Laura doesn't see it this way.

I'd heard a lot about this book, including seeing it compared to other books which deal with true crime elements, and I wasn't disappointed. Slater takes two unlikeable narrators, flawed characters who see each other as cartoonish stereotypes, and plays around with a narrative about obsession, perspective, and the nuances of true crime. By telling the story from both perspectives, you get a great contrast and also see the reflections of one in the other, even down to their respective issues with alcohol, love lives, and connections with other people. Both of their narrative voices can be difficult to read at times—Roach with her utter disdain for "normies" that puts you on edge and Laura's facade covering up her clear need for help as she spirals—and this makes the book more than a thriller about obsession, something that also delves into metanarrative about if people should seem 'nice' to be sympathised with.

There's also a lot of bookshop content—surely there's also a metanarrative about whether booksellers will need to push this book to customers—and this brings a lot of the satirical side, alongside the exaggerated lives of Roach and Laura, which means I could understand comparisons with something like Boy Parts. The book is full of modern bookish culture and presents two extreme views of true crime which does reflect the polarity at the heart of a lot of debates about books (something I'm sure this book won't be immune to). It's a tense story, but probably particularly aimed at people who understand this context of some of the modern kinds of readers and book discourse.

From the title, I expected a murder mystery, and that's clearly intentional, but Death of a Bookseller is not one. It's a twisted thriller exploring extremes of character, different perspectives, and modern corporate book culture.

I thought this was so clever and a really enjoyable read. Both main characters were fully formed and you felt yourself empathising with both and equally wanting to shake them at times!
It was a great slow burn thriller and I desperately wanted to find out what happened next! The true crime references were really well done and you can tell the author has worked in bookselling, it was all too true! Lovely writing too, more literary than your average thriller. Loved it, can’t wait to see what Alice writes next!

I was so pleased to read an Arc of this book as I listen to Alice Slater's excellent podcast What page are you on? Some of the books she has talked about even make it into the book as Laura's favourites.
It did not disappoint a horrible little book indeed with the two protagonists Laura and Roach both booksellers in a back street chain bookstore one a true crime obsessive the other the daughter of a victim of a serial.killer. Roach becomes obsessed with Laura and her story, trying to be her friend and imitate her life.
I loved as the story took us through the exhausting period of Christmas in retail, anyone who has lived through a Christmas working in a London store knows the slog of the pre Christmas run up, all the staff becoming more and more run down with pallid faces and bags under their eyes existing on Berocca and cheap red wine, reaching for the eucalyptus shower gel each day in a vain attempt to wake up. It's all so familiar to anyone who has done it.
I was very sorry to finish the book and say goodbye to Roach our perfect anti hero. Looking forward to whatever Alice writes next.

Oh, this book was horribly, brilliantly, addicting! It’s not often that a book keeps me up until 3am, because I just have to know what happens next, but this book had me in it’s clutches, reading on with mounting horror as the story unravelled.

There were times where I actually recoiled slightly in revulsion - Slater brings both her main characters to life so well, and I found both POV’s equally interesting, if horrifying. I found the author really knew how to set a scene too - I felt like I was walking along rain soaked London streets, lit up by a bookshop window, I was in a mildew ridden flat, a bookshops staff room, a grimy unkept bedroom.

This book is deliciously dark, a tale of crime, and obsession, all wrapped up within a bookshop setting. I loved it.

A much hyped 2023 debut that delivers on the hype and then some, DEATH OF A BOOKSELLER is a must-read. Creepy, tense and page-turning, I quite literally could not put this one down. The dynamic between Roach and Laura left me breathless, I was constantly on-the-edge of my seat as the story hurtled forward. A properly brilliant book, bravo Alice Slater! Can’t wait to read whatever comes next.

I loved this! Imagine Paradise Rot, Nightshift and Boy Parts had a gross little baby. The true crime references didn’t feel forced or disingenuous like I’ve found in other novels that have a true crime element. I never found it predictable and some of the descriptions were so visceral I felt like they were actually happening to me.

I really really enjoyed this. it was super creepy, beautifully written and the POVs were both spectacular. This will be huge I think.

I just CAN'T describe how wonderful this grotty, dank, rancid little story was. Such a gripping and modern story of obsession, work relationships, true crime, bookshops, drinking, problematic attitudes....urgh! I really couldn't put this down.

The characters of Roach and Laura are both unlikable in disparate ways, and their intertwining issues are so dark. The setting and references are so vivid and I found myself able to picture every aspect of this story. I hated how I related so much to both characters, and started worrying that I might have ever been treated like Laura. I can't wait to read more from Alice Slater, she is such a modern and interesting writer.

Deliciously Dark..
Meet Roach - bookseller and true crime aficionado. She also owns a giant snail named Bleep. Roach is settled enough, she has all she needs. When Laura joins the bookshop along with her posse and her secrets, things are about to change and an obsession is about to begin. With a credible and well crafted cast of characters- most of whom are, quite deliberately, wholly unlikeable - and a tantalisingly immersive and compelling narrative, this is quite impossible to put down from the first page onwards. Fabulously and deliciously dark, often bleakly amusing,

A delicious, intense slow-burn of a thriller. Death of a Bookseller alternates between the distinctive, punchy voices of Laura and Roach, both booksellers, one pumpkin-spice Instagram cool and the other a true-crime loving goth kid. Their voices are so clear and precisely drawn that they feel free, referencing pop culture, and particularly the trends of the book world. You can tell Alice Slater is a former bookseller because her depiction of the bookshop world, in all its routine, monotony and enjoyment, is an authentic and vividly drawn backdrop for this growing paranoia and tension between Laura and Roach. A great literary thriller with shades of Nightshift by Kiare Ladner and a very satisfying ending.