Month: April 2018

Fave Five: Favourite Book Series

I’m an unabashed book series lover. If a book is the first in a series, as opposed to a standalone, I’m 80% more likely to read it (I just pulled that percentage out of my ass, but it’s probably accurate.)

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With that in mind, I have no idea how I’m going to whittle down my favourite series to just my top five, but at the very least an attempt will be made and I’m proud of myself for that.

This post is hosted by Sheri @ TV Addicted Bookworm. She seems nice, check her out.

Without further ado, and in no particular order…actually in a very specific order…here are my choices. Trust me when I say, this was agonizing in the most bookish way.

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Book Tag: Currently Reading Edition!

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I came across this Currently Reading book tag somewhere and it looked fun. I can’t remember where I saw it, and I’m too lazy to find out. I’m just being honest. Laziness is a terrible motivator that I am flush with. I don’t live in an apartment that smells of rich mahogany though…

Let’s play, shall we?!

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Booknerd Wednesday: “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark”, Michelle McNamara & The Golden State Killer

It’s officially that time of year again!

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CLASSIC.

Moving on.

Full disclosure, I have not read Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark….yet. Rest assured I am on the very long waiting list for the audiobook.

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Library copies: 1.

PSHHHHHH.

So, while I haven’t read the book, I have been following the story of her life, and those she left behind, since her untimely death at the age of 46. I knew a little bit about her because of my true crime interests, but I learned the most because of Patton Oswalt. I love him; love his comedy, love his political activism and his opinions. Just love him.

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True Crime Tuesday: The Weepy-Voiced Killer

It’s my favourite day of the week! That’s a lie. My favourite day of the week is Saturday. But “True Crime Saturday” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

So, True Crime Tuesday it is! And it’s my second favourite day of the week! Okay, no, I’m lying again. My second favourite day is Friday.

You know what? Forget about favourites.

It’s Tuesday. Fact.

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Listen, I started a detox diet yesterday and I’m fucking miserable. I have a little under 2 hours before I get to eat my lunch of salad and half a chicken breast. And even the thought of that makes me miserable still because it’s so goddamn boring. There’s really no guarantee that I’ll finish writing this post before I eat the keyboard.

Let’s see how I’m doing at the end of this.

This is not a killer I am familiar with, but I was immediately intrigued because he has decidedly the most ridiculous serial killer nickname ever. I needed to learn more. And so here we are. Presenting: The Weepy-Voiced Killer (seriously who came up with that?)

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Review: Brave by Rose McGowan

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★★★★

HarperOne | 2018

It doesn’t feel right “rating” an autobiography, especially one as intense and personal as this one, so consider my stars more of a decoration than a judgement.

Rose McGowan is an actress that had a significant presence in my formative years. (Favourite movie of all time: Scream. One of my favourite TV shows of all time: Charmed.) So, going into reading this, after the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, I felt a little bit of a connection to her. In some ways, I grew up with her. Perhaps that affects my opinion of this book, as opposed to someone that saw Death Proof once or remembers her from that time she walked the red carpet at the MTV VMAs essentially naked.

I know this is not the typical book review you might expect to find on a blog dedicated to mysteries and thrillers, but I believe this is an important one to read. For me personally, as a feminist and as a woman, but also just in general. All people should be reading this book. End of.

Whether you agree with her opinions or not, there is so much in this novel that will make you think, make you reconsider an opinion or give you a new perspective you might not have considered.

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Booknerd Wednesday: WWW Edition…Plus the “YOU” trailer!

Hey Booknerds! It’s halfway through my work week, so it’s time to celebrate…

And in fact, I do have a treat for you! Hands up if you read 2014’s You by Caroline Kepnes…

*Raises hand*

I read the sequel, too. And I’m going to be all over the third instalment if there ever is one. The series has its ups and downs for me in terms of pop culture diatribe, canon characterization and plot points, but Joe is a character that has left an indelible mark on my bookworm soul and I just can’t not be involved with him. Yay for double negatives!

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True Crime Tuesday: The Humboldt Broncos and an NYC Body

It feels like it’s been a minute since I’ve done a True Crime post. Maybe because I feel like I’ve been really busy, but also the days are just absolutely dragging at work. I wasn’t even totally sure I was going to do one this week until a creepy story broke on Monday night from New York…but we’ll get to that in a minute.

I want to start with something a little bit different that I know is not technically “true crime”, but I created this regular post to talk about crazy/interesting crimes talking place across the globe so we can be aware, but also to talk about the deaths of people who were victims, taken from this world before it seemed fair or just, before they had a chance to experience whatever they went for in life.

And so, with that in mind, the Humboldt Broncos fit that sentiment.

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Review: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

“Something’s happening to me, through me, something dangerous and new. It’s taken root, a poison tree; it’s grown, fanning out, vines winding round my gut, my lungs, my heart.”

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★★★★★

William Morrow | 2018

I went into this reading experience with full-blown anxiety triggered by a library return date breathing down my neck.

I assumed there was not enough time for me to get through this because my weekend included my in-laws staying over and a front hall closet renovation. I decided to try anyway, because I ain’t no quitter. I opened this Saturday night, so completely aware that I had a Monday morning deadline that I got a little high first to set my nerves.

And guess what bitches!? I blew through this baby so hard I gave myself TMJ.

(My TMJ is a true story, but it’s not the book I blew through that gave it to me.)

Look, the truth is that this is not a groundbreaking novel, or even particularly original in its overall concept. I see a lot of middle-of-the-road reviews from my friends who just didn’t get into it, who thought it was overhyped and underwhelming and I understand. I think those reviews had a “Lowered Expectations” effect on me, because I FUCKING LOVED THIS BOOK.

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Review: The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen

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★★★

Minotaur Books | 2017

This novel reads like the author really likes to watch the Hallmark Channel or Lifetime movies. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re into that.

Lort knows, I’ve binged all of the Aurora Teagarden movies like a fucking champ.

The Vanishing Season ticks off a lot of boxes on the “Cozy Lifetime Mystery Checklist.”

That’s a thing. Let’s go through it…

In a small town (✔️), Abigail Hathaway, who now goes by Ellery and escaped a serial killer as a teenager, (✔️) is now a cop herself (✔️). But no one knows about her dark past (✔️) and she intends to keep it that way. Ellery, with knowledge no one else has (✔️) connects three seemingly unrelated missing persons’ cases that she’s never worked on (✔️) and decides there must be a copycat killer in her tiny town (✔️), but no one believes her (✔️) and won’t, unless she outs her true identity (✔️). What this killer really wants is her (✔️)! The killer starts to leave her notes and packages to let her know he knows who she is, and is watching her (✔️).

Ellery calls for backup in the form of a disgraced FBI agent (✔️), who also happens to be the same agent that saved her from certain death all those years ago (✔️).

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Review: Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson, #8) by Darynda Jones

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★★

St. Martin’s Press | 2015

It physically hurts to say this, like I have bad gas, but I must tell the truth: I did not like this book.

I really do love this series and the characters have a special place in my heart, but WHAT IN THE HOLY-HELL IS GOING ON?

This can be my problem with long-running series: at some point, the author wants to take things to a new, unexpected level, but because the story has been going on for so long the only place left to take readers is right off the fucking rails.

And this is the book in Charley Davidson’s adventures that dropped off the tracks and decided to go careening off a bridge.

First of all, this book read more like a romance erotica novel than a true Charley Davidson instalment.

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