This was an okay read! The concept was good and hence I expected a lot from the story. There were a few funny parts that did make me smile and hence the 3 stars.

When I requested this book, I thought it would be amazing. It sounded promising enough and I love books from the perspective of serial killers. If they fall in love with each other, especially if they're both serial killers, it's even better.
So, I had great expectations for this one. Plus, it said it was humerous, so that was another factor that should put the book in my favour.
But - it horribly failed to deliver in every single point. Except the killings, though, which were mostly interesting to read about.
Let's start with the technically issue I had: If you read the blurb of the book, you already know everything that's happening in the book. Seriously. The book gives you an entire summary of itself at the back. No surprises, no guessing - you get exactly what the book says. From the beginning from the end.
Why is that an issue? Because it took a lot of FUN out of the book! I was expecting Bernie and Bertie trying to kill each other over the course of the book and they would try it in hilarious ways and keeping each other on their feet. But I was horribly dissapointed on that.
The book itself is actually much less funny than I anticipated it to be. I usually have a very black sense of humour but I never even smiled during this read. I was just horribly bored and hoped it would evetually turn out the big guns - but there was nothing. Literally nothing.
Also, can we talk about the representation on mental illness on this book?! As a person who has been diagnosed with a mental illness, I consider this book to be extremley offensive. You do NOT, I repeat NOT turn serial killer because you have depressions! You do not! Having to people in therapy who are portrayed as serial killers does nothing to break that disgusting stigma of mental health issues. And no, claiming that the book is supposed to be humerous is no excuse.
I was horribly dissapointed. I was expecting a funny, amusing book, centering a couple of serial killers. What I got was an already told story with offenses towards mental illnesses and flat, boring characters which held no interest at all because I already knew what happened. The only good thing about this book was the end. Not because I was glad to have finished it, but because the end was actually well done.

I received a free copy by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What's this? A humoresque thriller? A gory comedy? A psychological novel about the reasons why someone would become a serial killer and about life-changing effects of love, gardening and church community? It's all of the above, black humor in it's purest form.

My problem? I can't really laugh with written stories, especially not when they are so cruel, and I would have liked a different ending.

Thanks to Wildrose Press and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy.
Wow Bernie and Bertie, two halves of a coin. He uses his ax when provoked and she uses her ice pick to administer punishment. They have a chance meeting and all is bliss in their world. But things are about to change when each of them take different paths. Funny and gory all at the same time. One of the most unique reads in a long time.

I’m not sure if it was the author’s intention to cleverly capture the desensitisation of our society to things like murder. By making murder almost part of the furniture, the reader is simultaneously shocked and entertained, I loved the comedic aspects of the relationship between the lead characters amd their dialogue was amazing. Quite a quick read - recommended for those wanting a mystery with a difference.

I'm going to talk first about the things that I love in this book; when they say that this is a dark comedy, it is really a dark comedy. This book is so funny in a very disturbing way. I really don't know how to explain it, but the thing that this book does is talking about grim topics in a very funny manner and I can't help laughing with it. I actually feel bad for laughing along with the "puns" or "jokes". But hey, like what it said, it's a dark comedy.

The narrator also has a habit of telling murders from this book like it's not a really big deal. But again, hey, they're serial killers, so I guess talking about murder was just like talking about buying toothpaste. This is a light-hearted read for me and I know it's a weird thing to say. But after I've read some "serious" or heavy thrillers this became a perfect book for me to lighten things up. I am also amazed how the author make me sympathize with Bernie and Bertie, I don't want anything bad happen to them. Like, they have some serious homicidal tendencies and their always solution to their problems is just kill the person who cause that problem. And I was like "yeah. That's reasonable. Murder is the only way". Lol.

As what I observed with the characters, I find the personality of Bernie to be a manipulative but not in an obvious way. He clearly knows how to deceive people by giving them what they expected and use it to get what he actually wants. As for Bertie, I love her personality. She is so bubbly and it gives me an "airheaded" character vibe (and I love those kind of characters). Although she is this happy and chill one in the pair, she's more calculating than Bernie. She plans her killings and do background research, in short she surpassed Bernie in the planned and manipulative killing department. I just wished that the author let the readers have a more bigger glimpse on the background of Bertie.

Now, for the things that I am not impressed with this book; everything are so convenient for the main characters. Yes, there are some problems in the characters' life but it didn't help to progress the plot (atleast that's what I think). I just wished some things has a more detailed explanation because the lack of it is just making the situation more unrealistically convenient for the characters. And it makes the book bland when it comes to plot department.

All in all, I rated this 3 out of 5 stars. It has problems but I still find it quiet interesting to read. Check this book out maybe you'll enjoy it much more than I do.

Also posted from my site: https://inkdrinkerhana.wordpress.com/2020/11/12/bernie-and-bertie-book-review/

There’s a book I read awhile back called “Hope: A Tragedy”. The premise is that a Jewish couple buys a house in the country and when they move in they discover that Anne Frank lives in their attic and is writing her follow up book. Anne Frank had turned into an angry, mean old lady and the family just wants to get rid of her.

It’s a great premise. It’s a mediocre book, at best.

Bernie & Bertie is the same - really good premise (two serial killers fall in love and become soul mates), but lackluster in the story.

I was told it’s a comedy - a dark comedy, actually. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the book is comedy as much as the premise is. In fact, if there were only a few laugh out loud moments I’d probably like it more. Heck, even a chuckle moment. I’d settle for a smile moment.

The book was good enough for me to finish (ending was not a surprise), I just wish it got punched up a little in editing.

Great. Fast quick read!
This was a very interesting book.
I loved the characters in this novel.
The writing by Mike was amazing.

Thank you NetGalley publisher and author for this copy!