An inhaled in one full swoop 5 star brilliant book.

We meet Roache, a gothish girl obsessed with true crime, death and the macabre working as a book seller, she not impressed by much, not a love of the job, an indifference to her mother, and perhaps a love for her pet African snail. Enter Laura, a new bookseller who peaks the interest of Roache, completely opposite to her, with her matchy outfits, outgoing personality and love for her job. Yet something draws her in. Especially after attending an open mic poetry night where we discover Laura’s mother was murdered by a serial killer, and opposes entirely Roaches fixation with learning of the lives of the serial killers and never their victims.

To say the two do not run along nicely is a massive understatement, but read it, find yourself in the very same vice like grip of twist after fantastic twist of brilliant story with 2 protagonists that are not hard to dislike. Who will you root for?

Brilliant!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

This has to be one of THE BEST audiobooks I have listened to - and I implore everyone to download it. I was hooked from the opening chapter. Both narrators are perfectly cast as Roach and Laura and moments of the reading became so intense that I could feel my nerves on edge as I listened. The writing is sharp, the characters fierce, and references to various true crimes throughout add so much to the sense of danger that lurks beneath the surface from start to end - it's palpable! I can't wait for more people I know to read/listen to this so I can discuss it!!

Dark, fast paced, gloomy and tense - all great qualities for a great thriller.

As a book lover I adored the bookshop setting.

The narrator was fantastic. Engaging and able to do different voices for the different characters (without it feeling silly as it sometimes does).

3.5 stars.

Two booksellers working in a failing bookshop on Walthamstow High Street. - Roach, is obsessed with true crime and serial killers and revels in being "different", Laura is your typical literary lover who had her world ripped apart by a serial killer when she was a teenager. and abhors the true crime phenomenon. Roach develops a morbid obsession with Laura and will do anything to infiltrate her life.

Death of a Bookseller put the world's morbid curiosity and growing interest in true crime under the microscope and the morality of the never ending podcasts, documentaries, and books about serial killers. I think this is an interesting subject to explore, as someone who has listened to a lot of true crime podcasts in her day I think the greedy consumption with little boundaries or consideration of the victims and their families is something that should be challenged more frequently. However, this narrative lacked any nuance and didn't give the reader any chance to draw their own conclusions over Roach's interest, she was at the very extreme end and there was no real question over whether her interest crossed ethical boundaries, she leaped over the line and just kept running.

The story is told from both Laura's and Roach's POV, and while it was a well told story and it was definitely good to get the story from both sides as it unfolded, they are both deeply unlikable characters so it was a struggle to get through at times. I often enjoy books with unlikable protagonists, but Roach was just a caricature of a 'misfit' and every time she called someone a 'normie' I died inside a little. Laura was your typical spiralling mess of a person, and while I could sympathise with her at times, it was hard for me to really understand why her friends put up with half of her behaviour.

I'm a bit conflicted about the ending. I really liked how the last chapter closed, but the epilogues just felt very trite and it would have been much better without them.

I didn't hate this book, but I had really high expectations for it and it just didn't live up to them. Once I was able to get past how annoying the protagonists were it was an enjoyable read for the most part, and there were some very tense parts where I found myself holding my breath. And as a former Walthamstow resident it was fun to read a book set in such familiar surroundings!

I listened to the audiobook of this and it was narrated well, with distinct voices and styles for each POV which was great. My only complaint was that the narration is extremely slow and I had to listen at 1.75x speed (normally I listen about 1.25 speed).

This is more of a 3.25 star rating than a 3.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Whilst the premise of this book had promise, I feel like it was executed quite poorly. Throughout the entire book there were bursts of action but by the end, nothing had really happened or changed. The concept was interesting, and I enjoyed the whole bookshop theme and setting, but I just didn't get the pay off that I was wanting from this book.

I listened to this book on audio and I think the two distinct narration styles really helped to carry the story.

Death of a Bookseller follows Roach who is a true crime obsessed bookseller who enjoys her simple and solo life until seemingly perfect Laura arrives at the bookshop. What follows is an odd (and at many points unbelievable) story about obsession - both characters are so unlikeable (props to Slater for the writing) that it made it feel like a bit of a slog to get through.

If you enjoyed 'You' and don't mind very unlikeable characters (with no redeeming qualities) then this might be up your street.

This was a brilliantly dark novel! I loved the switching POV's and the differences between Roach and Laura. I was worried at first that the pop culture references would get to much as its not something I'm a fan of but instead I think it added a clever edge to the book. I loved the discussions of true crime and seeing it from different angles, especially how both characters decided to deal with that topic at the end.
It was sarcastic and gloomy. A wonderful debut!

I really enjoyed this fun, deliciously grubby read. The author has a brilliant sense of place and a genuinely unique, fresh voice. I'll be following what she does next.

Set in a bookshop, this novel follows 'Roach', a true-crime fanatic with a passion for serial killers, and 'Laura', the newest addition to the team of booksellers with who Roach believes has a hidden darkness within. Initially described as a Pumpkin Spice Latte Girl, Roach is desperate to uncover what hides behind Laura's extra cheery personality and what secrets are there to be found.

This book took the concept of 'booksellers judging other people's personalities based on the books they read' to a whole other level. With conversations about the morality of 'true crime' media to the inner bookshop politics, the setting really made this book a great read. It reads very much like a mystery told in reverse, and I liked that about it. I also think this book deals with non-likeable characters, though for very different reasons, and the inner monologue of each is so different it really helps you engage with the story in a meaningful way.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I also think the voice brought to each character by the narrator really brought each character to life in a way I don't think I would have gotten had I read this book in text form. Laura is essentially a posh girl who loves reading literary fiction and is genuinely passionate about books. Roach is a somewhat emo girl who hates her job but likes having access to books about serial killers and murderers, only reading true crime. The obsession displayed by both characters in different circumstances is also quite interesting to see, and both characters make for FASCINATING main characters. You don't have to love them to find their stories interesting and that is exactly why this book was so interesting.

<i>Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the complimentary copy of the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, which I leave voluntarily</i>

This is a slow burn, dark psychological thriller. Although this is very weird in parts, it is so uniquely interesting that you can't stop listening. Both characters could not be more different yet they each have their own darkness and are, equally unlikable and neither Roach nor Laura are a good person; however you find themselves drawn into their lives and their motivations towards doing things and almost begin to sympathise for them, especially Roach. I found this so intriguing because in the beginning of the book I wasn't sure this was for me but as I learnt more about the characters I also began to get more absorbed into the book too. This was unlike anything I have ever read before and it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the penny to drop as you know something is going to happen - there is this overarching darkness in the entire book, telling you there something bad will happen. I also loved that, as an audiobook, they had two different narrators for Roach and Laura so it was explicitly clear which chapter was from which characters POV, this made it a lot easier to listen to than most audiobooks.
I really recommend this, I just suggest getting through the first few chapters and allowing the plot and characters to build up as it does start slow and (very) strange.

Listened to the audio version of this. This is a slow burner and is basically a character study of two different individuals. Both of them are unlikable, and while I appreciate the skill of the author, it made it hard to stick with the story and feel invested. The pacing was just a bit too slow for me and I didn’t love the ending. I think my expectations were for something a bit more twisty with faster pacing. Lots of good reviews for this book so it’s obviously me, and I would try this author again.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Death of a Bookseller. The narratives of Roach and Laura had me on the edge of my seat - literally at times! Both protagonists tell their own story about the same events interwoven in their working lives at spines bookshop. A tale of serial killers, jealousy and books - what’s not to love?

An eerie and dark debut. Roach is a but of a loner, addicted to true crime and serial killers. She works at a bookstore and is drawn to her new colleague, Laura. Her unhealthy interest becomes obsessive and creepy. Meanwhile, Laura behaves abysmally in response to Roach's ardour. Her behaviour is vindictive and mean. The POVs of both are brilliantly portrayed by two separate narrators on the audiobook version. This book is primarily character driven, and it also beautifully portrays the mundane , everyday activities of a bookseller. The setting and day to day goings on are on point. This gave me all the vibes of Netflix' thriller You, crossed with Mean Girls. It just unsettled me! I love it when a book has the power to physically affect me! #deathofabookseller #aliceslater #thrilleraudiobook #thriller #psychological #obsession #stalker #truecrime #serialkillers #vindictive #bookseller #bookstore #debutnovel #audiobook #netgalley

Twisted psychological thriller .

To start both characters are likeable but different. As their characters develop and you really get to know them, both begin to spiral into unlikeable people, spurred on by their passion (obsession and hate) towards each other. Hard to put down, I listened to this sped up slightly as one of the character is a very slow deliberate speaker. The quicker pace really suits the story line.

I love the whole concept of this book, how morbid fascination in true crime can turn someone into a killer. Or maybe it was already inside them which is where the obsession stems from?

TW for stalking!

2.5*

I picked this title from Netgalley and given the colour combination on the cover, it certainly caught my eye; and besides, which book-loving person could resister a novel with “bookseller’ in the title? It is clear that the author is familiar with the workings of a bookshop environment, so that was a pleasure to glean snippets of daily life in a bookshop.

I listened to this as an audiobook and there were two distinctive voices for the each character (narrated by Emma Noakes and Victoria Blunt), who have alternate chapters dedicated to them. These are two very disparate characters, each from different social backgrounds: Roach and Laura both work in a small bookshop called Spines in Walthamstow. Roach is a curious young woman, with a pet snail (if you needed any convincing that she was an unusual person), who also has a great penchant for true crime and likes to attend events and amass memorabilia. She clearly has her own issues which become clear as the novel moves along.

Laura, in contrast to Roach’s East London accent, has a dedicated posh voice, whose inflection rises at the end of her utterances. She is not only a bookseller but also writes and reads poetry. She spots that Roach has ingrained and questionable issues and, as the days pass, Roach’s beady eyes fall on Laura. Laura spurns Roach’s attempts to befriend her, at which point the latter starts to obsess, follow and stalk Laura. Given Laura’s specific background (she lost her mother in a terrible way), it is no surprise that she tries to steer well clear of her.

The construct is unusual, as each character delivers her point of view in different tenses. Perhaps Roach already knows what the outcome will be and therefore adopts the past tense; Laura is very much in the present, observing, trying to get on with her life. It felt, though, that this was a bit of an odd, perhaps forced way to tell a story.

Neither character is particularly likeable, there are often mentions of bodily smells which was a strong turn off for me. Coming alongside, as a reader, could at times be a challenge. Repetition became the byword as the story progressed, which made the narrative at times feel laboured.

I had a sense that this story was perhaps written for a younger demographic – both thematically and in writing style – and wonder if that is why I really struggled with this novel. Simply describing why one character examines the other’s lunch box, and then goes on later in the day in the supermarket, to try and deduce which type of salad leaf she had spied in the container, isn’t strong storytelling – there needed to be more of a psychological slant to mitigate the whining nature of both characters. The storytelling felt so often merely descriptive rather than insightful – by this stage we know that Roach is ramping up her need to penetrate multiple parts of Laura’s life.

I found it hard to get a sense of either character as, I felt, they both needed more depth. For me the novel never really delivered and just kept spinning, sucking in important themes, then launching them into the story without offering any real insight or connectivity.

As far as setting goes, the characters make their way around this part of East London and it will be recognisable to anyone familiar with the area.

Ultimately, this book was not for me. There are many early positive reviews for this book so I will leave you to make up your own mind on this one.

Okay that was a weird experience ! The two main characters are so strong with their opinions ! It did feel a bit like YOU which was giving very strong creepy vibes! I did expect certain scenes to happen but overall a good book!

"I should have called in sick...I should have called in dead"

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: Psychological Thriller
ℙ𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕤: 384

** ʀᴏᴀᴄʜ - ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱᴇʟʟᴇʀ, ʟᴏɴᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ - ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇꜱᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ. ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ꜱʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴇʀɪᴀʟ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ, ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴘᴏᴅᴄᴀꜱᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴛ ꜱɴᴀɪʟ, ʙʟᴇᴇᴘ.

ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ, ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʟᴀᴜʀᴀ ᴊᴏɪɴꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱʜᴏᴘ.**

This book was messed up!
Our MC's Roach and Laura are honestly both the WORST!!!

Roach is a true crime obsessive who's only friend is her pet snail. Her clothing is drab, she's unclean, unstable, unhinged and yet, she makes sense?!?!
Her internal monologue had me simultaneously laughing and shouting "wtf Roach!?!? Leave her alone!"

Somehow, Slater manages to get us to empathise with her psychosis and I don't know if I find this genius or unsettling.

Laura is popular with her effortlessly cute outfits and tragic back story; mother was murdered by a serial killer when she was a teenager.
We feel sympathy for as she slowly loses her mind, because we know why!

We have way more insight to what is actually going on in her life than she does which completely elevates the writing because we STILL don't like her even though we know why she is becoming increasingly snappy (perhaps the issue is that she didn't quite start off as a 'nice' person?)

Together, these women created such a great dynamic, especially since a majority of the action only takes place in the shop or at Laura's house IYKYK!
If you are looking for a fast paced book with highly unlikely characters who both feel entitled in their own ways, than this is the book for you.
I know that might not be a great selling point, but a huge part of my enjoyment of this one was just how much I couldn't stand either of them!

OUT APRIL 2023!

3.5 stars.

This book ended up being a little different from what I initially expected, however still a good read/listen

It started slow but once it was into it I was really invested. I love how uncomfortable Roach made me feel and how much I disliked Laura. I usually find books difficult when I don’t like the protagonist’s but it was clearly intentional with this book and very well done.

I really enjoyed the darkness to the book and Roach’s obsession with true crime, however Laura’s attitude and opinions on this really made me consider true crime in a way I haven’t before. I love the concept of highlighting the victims and not the killer.

I was really unsure which direction the book was going to take the further in I got, and it is difficult to review the ending without spoiling it for others. I didn’t love the ending and would have preferred a different one however this hasn’t changed my opinion of the book as a whole, as that’s just a personal preference.

This is something a bit different and I am glad I had the opportunity to listen to this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy

A dark story of loneliness and obsession told from the dual povs of Laura, the Insta-ready ‘good girl’ and Roach, the emo ‘bad girl’.

The lives of the two protagonists intersect in a failing branch of a London bookstore where they both work but all is not as it seems in the life of either woman. Soon their two very different lives are set on a collision course through which the author explores themes of grief, sense of self, addiction, isolation and violence against women. And asks what the modern addiction to true crime says about us as a society? If monsters are the focus of our interest, what of the victims?

A chilling and thought-provoking read, well narrated.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton Audio for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Not going to lie, I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. First of all of course the subject is VERY close to home. I could relate to every single detail of bookselling: working with customers, writing recommend cards, the madness of Christmas. I recognised nearly all '"archetypes" of booksellers in this fictional branch - we all have a Roach and a Laura in every shop.
The story worked really well with 2 alternating narrators, and the audiobook made them especially distinct.
I found the cast extremely believable and relatable, which made it such a fun and easy read.
Nice, clever ending too, so no complains here. Overall I wish I could write something like this!