Rating: 3.75/5 ☀️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, which was given in exchange for an unbiased review.

This isn't the type of book I typically like, but once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I was flying through it, absolutely taken by Roach and Laura and the way Slater built up and tore down these characters. Both are subversions of the tropes they embody, with their imperfections and meanness, and they both have ideas of who they are, these images they project of themselves even though they both lack self-awareness, making them amazing foils. And Slater writes obsession perfectly, and the way we get into both the characters' heads and see how Roach normalizes it while Laura is constantly put-off and increasingly paranoid is so well done. The narrative builds with a feeling of thrill and creepiness that gets under your skin, and ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion.

In terms of weak points, I did find the book occasionally repetitive, or there would be long, droning paragraphs of details I found rather inconsequential and I would end up skimming them, eager to get back to the plot. There are also some vulgar descriptions (lots of vomit) that might be a bit much, but also, much of the story revolves around true crime, so I feel like it's kind of expected going in. And to that, I did really enjoy the way this novel dealt with the idea of true crime, representing both sides of it as a subject that enthralls in its taboo and darkness, but also one that shamelessly profits off victims.

DNF at 35%

I really wanted to like this book, it had all the makings of a book I'd love. Murder mystery, dual POVs, set in a bookshop, but it just fell flat. The first bit was good, learning about the character etc, but then it just turned into every POV chapter being more of the same. Laura being outright rude to Roach while nice to every other person, and for no real reason. Roach being obsessed with getting Laura to like her, and overly obsessed with true crime. Roach's constant dislike for the "normies" was off putting, she starts smoking so she can justify talking with Laura. But then every time she tries to connect about anything, Laura just shuts her down.

I think this book was trying to do something with the whole True Crime fandom is it right or is it wrong thing. Laura is the 'people who enjoy true crime are bad, horrible, and what's wrong with them' while Roach is the 'it's fine to read and enjoy true crime' party. It felt like this was being forced down your throat with every interaction the two had and with the way they are described and how they interact in the world.

I did jump to the end to read the epilogue and it didn't peak my interest enough to try and finish the book. It might be good for some but just not for me.

Thanks to Net Galley for the arc. And one note about the arc, that shouldn't sway those who are reading the finalized published version: there were so many formatting issues in the ARC that it made reading the book incredibly difficult. It was hard to follow, I wouldn't know who was talking at times, or what was going on. Hopefully that is all cleared up with the published version, but I think it added to my need to DNF.

This book is definitely a page turner. The plot is engaging and the pace is impecable. The characters are interesting and very well depicted, with very recognizable voices. Good writing and good structure. But it falls short. I wasn't expecting a chilling thriller by any means, you just have to take a look at the cover to realize that it's more on the lighter side. But I was expecting some kind of twist that never happened. My concept of the characters didn't change, throughout the entire narration. They are, in the end exactly as they were at the beginning and I was kind of expecting a change, a revelation.
The story is entertaining and quick but I'm not sure how much of it I will be able to remember in the near future.

I liked the writing style but I wasn't feeling the characters or the story especially Roach, our main character. I couldn't connect with her or the story so this isn't the book for me unfortunately.

In this "utterly unforgettable" debut (Catherine Ryan Howard), a disaffected, true crime-obsessed bookseller develops a dangerous obsession with a colleague.

I cannot pinpoint what it was about this slow burn of a book that intrigued me so much, but I found myself completely engrossed in it though it was dark and disturbing.

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

Roach would rather be listening to the latest episode of her favorite true crime podcast than assisting the boring and predictable customers at her local branch of the bookstore Spines, where she’s worked her entire adult life. A serious true crime junkie, Roach looks down her nose at the pumpkin-spice-latte-drinking casual fans who only became interested in the genre once it got trendy. But when Laura, a pretty and charismatic children’s bookseller, arrives to help rejuvenate the struggling bookstore branch, Roach recognizes in her an unexpected kindred spirit.

Despite their common interest in true crime, Laura keeps her distance from Roach, resisting the other woman’s overtures of friendship. Undeterred, Roach learns everything she can about her new colleague, eventually uncovering Laura’s traumatic family history. When Roach realizes that she may have come across her very own true crime story, interest swiftly blooms into a dangerous obsession.

Out on April 25

I DNFed this one at 25%. I hated the characters and didn’t feel like there was much mystery or thriller. I’m sure this will
be a favorite for some but just wasn’t the book for me.

I enjoyed reading Death of a Bookseller which contrasts the point of view of cute beret-wearing bookseller Laura with sinister true-crime enthusiast Roach. Both Laura and Roach work at Spines bookshop in Walthamstow, London and clash almost as soon as they meet. The book really allows you to get into the heads of both protagonists as the creepiness and obsession start to escalate.

A recommended read for lovers of true crime (or not) and also snail enthusiasts.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of death of a bookseller by Alice slater. I always go for anything that has book in the title. I don’t usually go for mystery but this was pretty good the formatting was off on my reading device for this one so I had trouble getting through but it isn’t the authors fault.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alice Slater for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death of a Bookseller coming out April 25, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Like most people in this day and age, Brogan Roach, who goes by Roach, is obsessed with true crime. She would rather be listening to murder podcasts than helping the predictable customers at her the bookstore Spines, where she’s worked her entire adult life. She deems herself a true crime junkie, unlike the casual fans who only became interested in the genre once it got popular.

Laura, a beautiful and charismatic children’s bookseller, arrives to help restart the struggling bookstore branch. Roach recognizes in her an unexpected, hopeful friend. Despite their common interest in true crime, Laura keeps her distance from Roach, resisting the other woman’s offer of friendship. Roach learns everything she can about her new colleague, eventually learning of Laura’s traumatic family story. When Roach discovers that she may have come across her very own true crime story, interest swiftly blossoms into a dangerous obsession.

A darkly funny suspense novel, Death of a Bookseller raises ethical questions about the fervor for true crime and how we handle stories that don’t belong to us.

I forgot everything about the summary when I started reading this. So this book definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. Once I started reading, I was really excited to find out what was going to happen. It took me 2 days to read it. I wouldn’t say the characters are necessarily likable, but I love that this book was super crazy! There was just so much going on and I thought the plot was fast paced. It does raise a lot of interesting questions about people’s obsession with serial killers and true crime. There are certain lines and sometimes people cross those lines of what’s appropriate or ethical. Sometimes people don’t think about the victims’ families when they discuss different cases, forgetting that they’re real people. I think this book will help people stop to think. I loved that it was centered around a bookstore. There were a couple parts I didn’t care for, but I still think it’s a 5 star book!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys true crime and bookstores!

I do like a book about books and/or bookshops or libraries. This was a very engrossing story set in a bookshop about a woman and her obsession with true crime and her colleague. A brilliant mystery that I whizzed through in no time, even though I didn't really like any of the characters. Ha! Recommended reading.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for this ARC.

Roach and Laura were both unlikable so I had some problems getting invested in the story. While this was obviously on purpose, it was a tad offputting. However, the writing was well done and it succeeded with its morbid and ethically grey narrative. I give this book 3/5 stars. It would have been higher if I had been able to actually like anyone in the story.

Death of a Bookseller is a fun, unsettling, immersive and captivating story of two booksellers and their obsessive relationship.

This was a deliciously dark crime novel intertwining true crime with bookselling. I personally think that this executed bookselling PERFECTLY and it was such a joy to read a book that spoke about it so well and accurately, as well as hilariously. Along side this, the discussions of true crime and the obsessiveness of some that consume it was incredibly fascinating and seeing how it completely took a tole on Roach and every aspect of her career and life, was something I had never read before and would now, be intrigued to branch more into.

Alice Slater also does such an incredible job at balancing the serious and imperative with the humorous commentary. The book in its entirety is both unsettling, focusing on true crime, real cases, statistics and conversations on Roach's fascination with serial killers, as-well as hilarious and full of bookselling jokes and knowledge. It made for both a deeply humorous yet deeply compelling read! The PERFECT amount of fun!

The fact that this is also a debut!!! Makes me so excited to see what Alice Slater does next! I would highly highly recommend!

I highly recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! The storyline was very interesting, it sucked me in and had me glued to my Kindle! Definitely don't miss out on this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

3 stars - I liked it.

The story is told form 2 POV, Roach who is obsessed with everything true crime while Laura is connected to true crime with her own personal tragedy. This is a mystery/thriller, a slow burn filled with obsession, crime, loathsomeness, and malice.

overall, this was a fun read. it was morbid, tense, and unsettling. Alices writing was fantastic.

In theory I should have maybe loved this book a lot more but there was a few things that missed the mark. I hated both of the main characters, while I do admit that some of it was intentional but at times it just didn't do it for me, maybe I'm missing something? The other characters were a little dull and the receptiveness of the going out drinking, getting drunk, and having somewhat irrelevant conversations did make me skim the pages more than once. Also, the amount of times "normie/normies" was used drove me mad.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penzler Publishers, and Alice Slater for sharing the digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my authentic review.

Some good books are great, others are brilliant. Death of a Bookseller is brilliant.
While I initially believed that this was a
mystery novel, in actuality, this is a book centered around an obsessive, female friendship. The friendship in question being completely one sided.
Roach is a true crime fanatic, to a morbid degree. Laura is repulsed by it. When Laura is transferred to Roach’s bookstore, an obsession begins.
Like a snake eating its own tail, the more they each begin to unravel, they are equally one another’s complete undoing. I saw nothing coming.
This is a grubby, delicious, absolutely absorbing book that everyone should be talking about.

I really didn't care much for any of the characters in the book. The ending felt unfinished and rushed. I didn't hate it didn't love it.

I thought this was going to be a cozy read and boy was I wrong on that. Also if you are expecting a serial killer type read where the victim is stalked and becomes a survivor this book is not that either. I really don’t know how to explain it.

I like the bookstore but that’s about it.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARc. Opinion in this review is my own.

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater is a dark read with an unreliable narrator that will definitely keep the reader turning pages. Set in a faltering bookshop, the book tells the story of Roach , a true crime devotee who has little time or patience for dealing with customers, especially since she could be listening to a murder podcast or scouring the trade catalogues for new true crime books to order, just so she can read them since they are unlikely to ever sell in store. When head office dispatches Laura to try to get the struggling store back on track, her cheerful and sunny demeanour initially rubs Roach the long way. Unlikely though it may seem, Laura also has an interest in true crime , especially the victims , though her reasons are far more personal than she would care to admit, her mother was one of the victims of a serial killer active in the area in the 1970s. Once Roach discovers this she becomes obsessed and takes her quest for Laura's friendship to the extreme.
It is fun to read a book now and then with a character so truly unlikeable as Roach is, she made my skin crawl in the best possible way and seeing her obsession grow more extreme with every turn of the page kept me intrigued to see just how far she would go. If you need to like the main character of the book you are reading, this may not be for you, but if you are prepared to go along for the ride, you'll find yourself on a deliciously dark adventure.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own .

"Death of a Bookseller" by Alice Slater is a new novel, set in a modern-day London bookshop. One of the employees is super obsessed with true crime, but is she capable of murder? It’s an enticing read.