Member Reviews
I'm not quite sure who was more obsessed, Hannah with her serial killer or me with this book. Unsure what to expect when I started, I soon became fascinated, like Hannah, and rattled my way through the chapters. It is a read that is as startling in places as it is in its insights into obsession.
I was drawn to this book just by the title, I love everything true crime and serial killers so knew i would love it. This book follows Hannah who has a awful ex boyfriend but finds comfort in writing to a serial killer to tell him how much she wants him to suffer for what he has done. She was shocked to then receive a letter back from the serial killer and they then go on to write more to each other. I really loved this book it was such an easy read! defiantly recommend.
A good read- the storyline had me hooked from the beginning, whats there not to love about a simple woman who tries to find a new outlet to her mundane life after recently being dumped by her boyfriend. She gets sucked into a serial killer forum after finding out about a recent spate of murders but then falls in love with said serial killer. She sends the serial killer a letter to highlight her disgust of what he has done. What could go wrong? Other than her fall in love with him.
The ending did drag a little but overall a good read and I really liked the idea.
I requested this book as I’ve heard for years about women who actually do fall in love with people in prison and wondered what on earth possessed them to do it, so I thought this book might help me understand.
It didn’t, I still don’t understand them…………..however…….I sort of enjoyed the book. I won’t précis it for you, you can get that from the book cover but suffice to say that Hannah is obsessed with an accused serial killer, William and writes to him while he is on remand.
I did spend a lot of the book simply thinking Hannah was just a bit bonkers and I still do and wondering why I still found myself turning the pages to find out if what I thought was the truth really was the truth (it was).
The twist almost at the end was, I thought, quite predictable, the twist after that not so much. Although it should have been! Can’t say more than that without big spoilers!
It was an unusual book for me as I just didn’t take to any of the characters at all. Maybe the author didn’t intend us to? It’s definitely a topic I’ve never read about before. I’ve given three stars because I did keep turning the pages, but only three stars because I can’ say I really enjoyed it!
You’ll have to make up your own mind!
My thanks go to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced e.copy of this book. The review, however, is entirely voluntary and is my honest opinion.
This was a really great plot line, I loved the characters and the way it played out! It left you questioning the whole way through, utter brilliance.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
You just have to keep reading this book as you are not sure who it will turn out and who is really the serial killer. Clues are given along the way but with misleading dead ends thrown in for good luck,
It’s a book were no one ends up the winner but keeps you gripped throughout,
3.5 Stars
When I read the premise of this book, I was hooked. It made me think: What kind of woman builds a life with a man that she (and the society) believes is a serial killer?
Meet Hannah, a lost young woman in her early thirties, dissatisfied with her dead-end job at nonprofit organizations, unable to secure promotions for no reason other than the fact that she seems to everything but work, and perpetually seeking her parents' approval. She goes through a bunch of men that she meets in apps, fall in love with them but then becomes self-deprecating after being dumped by them. Hannah feels like life is unfair: She is stuck with fluctuating body weight, a tiny apartment with second hand furniture and a former friend who abandoned her for a boyfriend. Of course, nothing is ever her fault and she always has an explanation for everything. Since nothing in her life goes right, Hannah finds solace in dedicating all of her time to a true crime forum aimed at solving the cases of three women found dead in a ravine. Eventually, charming, well-coifed, competitive lawyer, William Thompson is arrested for the crime and Hannah feels like her life loses her meaning, now that she is not trying to solve a murder, so she writes William a letter. The plot thickens when… hold and behold… he writes back.
From there onwards, a relationship develops. And Hannah’s life keeps going wrong: She is now fired from her job without any means of paying rent. So what does she do? Spend all of her savings going to where the trial is held.
Why is Hannah drawn to William? Is it her desire to actually find someone who appreciates her and treats her as a girlfriend? Is it a desire for the spotlight, even if she hates to be referenced as “one of those girls who is attracted to serial killers”? Is it just an attempt to tame the beast? Or is it something darker? This is a thought-provoking story that sheds some light in real-life topics. The characterization of Hannah is very interesting and it makes her feel real: There are Hannahs out there in the real world and I think the author was beyond amazing in portraying her. At times, I found myself questioning if Hannah wasn’t even more disturbed than the alleged serial killer.
In conclusion, the intriguing topic and the psychology behind it made this a very interesting read that I would rate at 3.5 stars. However, I think the book's synopsis might reveal way too much, I would have preferred to go in blind to what happens after the trial.
Thank you so much to Orion Publishing Group and NetGallery for providing me this ARC.
Thank you to Orion and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
Hannah, in her 30s and recently finding herself single, is stuck in a job she despises and feels a profound lack of motivation in life. Her world takes a sharp turn when she becomes engrossed with news reports of a series of murders targeting women. Driven by a mix of fear and fascination, Hannah joins an online community dedicated to solving these crimes, hoping to find some purpose.
Her involvement takes a darker path when she starts corresponding with the man accused of being the serial killer. As they exchange letters, a strange connection forms between them, revealing secrets they've never shared with anyone else. This bond pushes her obsession to new heights.
After losing her job, Hannah's fixation leads her to Georgia to attend the trial of the accused. With nothing left to lose, she dives headfirst into her own investigation, hoping to uncover the truth behind the murders.
When I first picked up this book, its cover led me to anticipate a light-hearted rom-com. However, the story veered into the realm of a psychological thriller with a compelling narrative. While the story held my interest, I struggled to connect with the main character, particularly due to her lack of empathy towards the murder victims. I found this lack of empathy strange considering she began the investigation with the intention of bringing them justice. However, the evolution of her moral compass throughout the book was a compelling aspect. Witnessing her thoughts gradually align with those she initially despised added a layer of complexity to her character.
W.O.W. What a book! I don't think I knew what to expect when I first started reading this book. But let's just say I was absolutely hooked, I, like the main character, was desperate to know, did William do it? There were so many twists and turns throughout this book, and without spoiling the ending, THE PLOT TWIST!!!!
For more book reviews, please check out my book account @blondesbooknook
Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a fun, sassy, confident and completely original debut. If you like your psychological thrillers with bite - or even if you don't typically read crime or thrillers at all - I'd thoroughly recommend this one. A main character I won't forget quickly
I have mixed feelings about this book. The narrator is very self absorbed and as such irritating . Her obsessions with herself and the (alleged) murderer mean that there is a lot of repetition in the majority of this book. In part 3 the pace picks up and there are a couple of twists, which I had pretty much guessed, which I enjoyed much better. The main character, Hannah, definately has "ïssues" demonstrated by her dating history as well as her preoccupation with the serial killer, William. I felt little sympathy nor understanding for her decisions and actions and would also give her a wide berth (she has few social contacts) . The book is perhaps a little too long, the plot holds up reasonably well and the alleged serial killer is the most normal person in the whole book, which when reading about relationships with his immediate family, is a miracle.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I loved and hated it at the same time! The main character is not likeable, I think she’s hard work. But the twists and turns are great and I’d read it again and probably notice something else. A good holiday read!
A good entertaining story, with a dark humour tone throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley, the editor and the author for the opportunity to access this copy.
Hannah is socially awkward; she is unhappy with her job, her friendships and her love-life but all of that changes when she joins a forum discussing the local serial killings. When the killer is caught, she begins to write to him and finds herself drawn ito a relationship which feeds her fantasy. But then the killer is released ...
This was a great read; intriguing, exciting and full of twists. Perfect to pack for a holiday!
Hannah is totally fed up, her boyfriend won't label it as a relationship and they break up. Her job is getting her down and she misses out on a promotion. When she reads about four murders of women in Atlanta she feels she can solve the murders and help the good looking William walk free. Hannah starts to write to him in prison and soon he is writing back. Will Hannah fall for William and will she get her happy ever after?
Total rating 3 1/2 stars
It has been such a long time since I found a book I could not put down, but thid was 9ne of them. It was like a breath of fresh air. A new twist on the thriller.
Hannah is a woman who has been unlucky in love, (maybe due to her clingness!) And becomes obsessed with recent murders happening in her town. She begins writing to the suspect not expecting a response.
I see many others guessed the twist too, but so what? It was still such a good story and I liked the twist, particularly the ending which could potentially lead to a sequel?
I liked Hannah, I could sympathise with her. My younger naive self was probably a bit similar unfortunately lacking self respect.
A really good, easy to read book.
Amazing book loved every minute of it!!!! Would read more and more of them ..... good few twists....thank u for an awesome book
I was scrolling through books on NetGalley when this book's cover caught my eye. All I could do was add it to my wish list. I was very excited when I received an email titled “Wishes Do Come True!” and this book jumped straight to the top of my TBR.
This book is a dark and captivating exploration of obsession, feminist rage and the blurred lines between fascination and danger. The novel delves into the mind of recently ghosted, thirty-something Hannah, who channels her frustration and feminist fury into writing letters to a handsome lawyer named Wesley, arrested for a series of murders.
The premise of Hannah’s letter as an outlet for her emotions sets the stage for a unique and intriguing narrative. The author portrays Hannah’s journey from initial curiosity about the case to a full-blown obsession as her life unravels around her. The author effectively captures the complex emotions that come with the intersection of personal turmoil and the allure of a notorious criminal. The narrative takes a dark turn when Wesley responds to Hannah’s letters, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. The exploration of their correspondence adds layers of psychological tension, making you question the sanity of both characters. Hannah’s descent into obsession with the serial killer is both disturbing and compelling, highlighting the novel’s strength in exploring the intricacies of the human psyche.
The author navigates the delicate balance between suspense and psychological exploration, creating a gripping atmosphere that keeps you hooked. The story twists and turns with a sinister undertone as the tension between the characters and the dark secrets they both harbour add depth to the storyline. (I almost included a bit of a spoiler there.) While this novel is undeniably engaging, there were moments when the pacing felt slightly uneven and some plot development rushed. However, the overall impact of “Love Letter to a Serial Killer” lies in its ability to immerse you in the twisted psyche of its characters and explore the consequences of unchecked obsession.
This book is a gripping psychological thriller that digs into the complexities of obsession and the fine line between attraction and danger. While this offers a darkly compelling narrative, well-drawn characters and the exploration of psychological turmoil, it also manages to feel like a light read, with a touch of humour when you look a little deeper.
This was a brilliant read!
The main character Hannah is mid thirties, unlucky in love and hanging on to her job by a thread. She's desperate to settle down and find a man to love her and make her feel better about herself. When a spate of murders of young women happens in the area, Hannah latches on to an online community of true crime junkies and through them she finds the attention and validation she's been searching for.
When William is arrested and charged with the murder of the women, Hannahs attention switches to him and she starts writing to him in prison. This begins a back and forth between them which gives Hannah the excitement and frisson her life has been missing. The letters quickly become romantic and as Hannah becomes more obsessed with William she loses her job and home and finds herself sitting front and centre at his trial...
I just loved the story and the character of Hannah. I read the book so quickly I really couldn't put it down. Ithad the right mix of humour, drama and some unforeseen twists and turns. I would definitely highly recommend.
Thanks to Orion, Tasha Coryell and NetGalley for the ARC.
Such a great book! Really enjoyed the characters, especially Hannah. I didn't guess the ending either and that's always a plus. Absolutely brilliant