Member Reviews
I had high expectations going into this, so I was disappointed when it didn't hold up. The protagonist is super unrelatable, and because of that, I felt like I was unable to connect with anyone in the story.
This one was just wild. The FMC was actually insane and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s definitely a unique book and won’t be for everybody.
Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell is an irresistibly dark and twisted debut thriller with a refreshingly unique premise. The story follows Hannah, a disaffected young woman who, bored with her aimless life, starts writing letters to William, an accused serial killer awaiting trial. What begins as a cathartic outlet for her frustrations quickly spirals into obsession when William writes back, setting off a chain of events that leads to Hannah moving in with him after his acquittal. The novel delves into the complexities of Hannah's character—she's a deeply flawed, wonderfully weird protagonist, and her fixation with both William and the investigation makes for a compelling, if unsettling, narrative. Coryell does a fantastic job of exploring obsession, loneliness, and the blurred lines between fascination and complicity, all while keeping the suspense taut. Though Hannah's actions may leave readers questioning her sanity, her chaotic journey is hard to put down. Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a fresh, gripping take on the thriller genre, with a protagonist you can't help but root for—even as you’re unsure whether you should.
I was instantly enthralled by this book. The idea of falling in love with someone accused of murder and in jail is so different to me. The idea of falling in love only through messages is even more unrealistic to me.
I loved reading from Hannah’s point of view. She was super frustrating in the choices she made, but it made for a great story. I was oddly rooting for her and William the whole book.
I will for sure be reading more by this author. I loved their writing style and storytelling!
3.5 Stars - This was a fun read, but I feel like the author couldn't quite decide what she wanted the story to be. It started out light & quirky., got a bit bogged down in the middle, and tried to end all twisty-turny. Sadly, the twisty-turny wasn't all that suspenseful or surprising, and I was sad to lose the quirky. Still, it was a quick read that made a nice palate cleanser between heavier thrillers. I think this would make a fun beach read for people who don't like traditional summer romances.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy. Published June 25, 2024. Available now!
This was an intriguing premise. I loved the concept of this book and how different it was. Our FMC is unfulfilled with her life until she starts exchanging letters with a suspected serial killer. This book is slightly predictable but I think it is because I read a lot of thrillers.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you Berkley Books for the advanced reading copy!
What a bizarre and entertaining book! This book was so, so painful to read at times -- Hannah was a frustrating but gripping main character. I found myself tearing through this book because I was so appalled at her behavior and thought process. It's hard to believe that there are real people who write to and fall in love with serial killers! The overall plot and voice of this story were super unique and will definitely have you guessing. The plot twist was, overall, pretty solid. I predicted it like halfway through but kept going back and forth about what I thought, so it still kept me on my toes for sure! Fascinating story overall. Weird and twisted and so, so interesting.
'Love Letters to a Serial Killer' takes you on a wild ride through the mind of Hannah, an aimless thirty-something woman who channels her frustration and rage into writing letters to an accused serial killer. This premise is not just intriguing; it’s downright irresistible. Hannah is an overall unlikeable and extremely unrelatable protagonist, which only adds to her complexity. She does all the things we’re not meant to do—and maybe would want to do because of it. Her journey into the world of true crime and her unexpected connection with the handsome lawyer, William, creates a thrilling tension.
The book expertly navigates themes of obsession, isolation, and the lengths one might go to in search of connection. Hannah’s initial curiosity about William’s case spirals into a consuming obsession that feels almost understandable, especially in a world where social connections often feel shallow. The dynamic between them becomes increasingly complex as she moves in with him, all while trying to reconcile her growing feelings with the chilling reality of his past.
What I appreciated most is that the story doesn’t shy away from the impact of violence that often gets ignored in tales of serial killers. It forces you to confront the consequences of Hannah’s choices and the broader ramifications of the violence surrounding William’s case. While the pacing was strong, there were moments where I felt the plot teetered on the edge of predictability. However, the emotional depth of Hannah's character and her relationships, both with William and the other true-crime enthusiasts, brought a layer of richness to the narrative that kept me engaged.
Overall, this debut thriller brilliantly captures the obsession with true crime and the complexities of human relationships. It left me questioning the nature of love and the darkness we sometimes romanticize. Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a compelling read that pulls you in and keeps you guessing. Four stars!
TL;DR: Darkly captivating and unexpectedly poignant, Love Letters to a Serial Killer explores the fine line between obsession and love with a uniquely twisted narrative. A thrilling read that kept me hooked!
Overall, the book was well written, captured my attention and I did really enjoy it. Thank you for this advance copy!
Well...what in the heck did I just read.
Hannah is obsessed with true crime. Oh goodness...Hannah. She begins to write letters to William in prison who was convicted of murdering four people. She becomes wild and overly obsessive.
Honestly, I was really annoyed with Hannah. She was a little crazy!!! I kept putting the book down sadly and wasn't really that invested. The pacing was overly slow and nothing really happened until like 70 percent. I wasn't a fan unfortunately.
2/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.
3.5 stars rounded up. as the title says, this story is very similar to those true crime docs where the women fall in love with their serial killer penpal. the fmc , hannah, is the most unhinged character i’ve ever come across. i am a fan of true crime, so stories like this are never tiresome for me and i mostly enjoyed it! it was interesting to see it told in the point of view of the penpal in this case. i mostly enjoyed the first and third parts of the book. part two dragged a bit and that’s why i deducted half a star from my overall rating. the plot twist was not shocking at all, as there are hints sprinkled in here and there. with that being said, i wish there was more depth to the ending, after the plot twist. i wanted to see more of a reaction out of the main characters versus a “i guess that happened, so this is where we all end up” type of vibe. overall, i enjoyed this book and i would definitely read more from this author!
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was a really good book! I was immediately hooked from the beginning. I do think it slowed down towards the middle, but oh my god the twist at the end was wild! So worth the read.
Wherever you think this story is going, trust me, it’s not. With a title like that, I was fully expecting a deliciously dark story and was not disappointed! Hannah is a female character unlike any before. Please, do yourself a favor and check it out!
Despite an interesting premise and an intriguing unreliable narrator the story never progresses beyond its central conceit. While getting into the mind of a woman falling in love with a man entirely because he might be a serial killer is certainly a cool one Tasha Coryell never really takes things any further. Instead the reader is trapped with a whiny protoganist who can't get her act together and a series of increasingly bizarre circumstances that lead to an ultimately unfulfilling, not to mention unbelievable ending.
This was a really fun read that is nothing like I have ever read before. Hannah is a very naive narrator and is exactly one of "those girls" she claims not to be. I always wonder how people on the outside end up with people in prison and this gives you a peek inside this idea, even if it is made up. I really liked how this is told through Hannah's letters to William and also in real time. It made it more interesting for me that we got to meet more characters and have the first person POV rather than just hearing about them second hand. I did figure out the twist fairly early on but it was still enjoyable to read.
This one was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it was almost perfect! I love a mystery/thriller that has a little romance in it, so I had high hopes for this one. I was very surprised by how funny the book was though. The main character reminded me of Cher Horowitz lol I loved everything about this one, except for the ending. While I loved the shocking twist (even if I did guess it early on) I didn't like how one aspect of the story ended. Other than that it was such a fun read! I can't wait to read more from Tasha!
I wanted to like this book, but I did not. The cover made it look like a fun rom-com that happens to take place around jail and a serial killer, but the story inside didn't quite go that way. Plus the main character was incredibly annoying, and that's something I find it very hard to get past. Give me a boring MC any day over one that I literally want to scream at to shut up.
I had a hard time relating to the fmc, she wasn't my favorite. But! the plot of this book made up for a lot of that.
I loved this story. It was thrilling, and exciting. I'm such a sucker for a murder mystery! I thought this was a fun read, and if you don't mind hating an fmc, you might like this!
First off I want to thank Netgalley for this ARC! I didn’t finish the book but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Very unlikable characters and not an interesting plot.