Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book for a fair and honest review!

Love Letters to a Serial Killer threw me for a loop– like, ten loops until I was dizzy and too baffled to do anything but just read on. I want to start off by saying the format of this novel was done perfectly. Each letter from Hannah and William revealed so much about themselves and the plot, and felt selfish yet seductive at the same time.

The part where Hannah was writing her letter to William like normal with striked out bits of truly sociopathic text was so cool. I’ve read a lot of reviews saying the novel was ruined by how nonsensical and cruel Hannah seemed, but honestly? She made it for me.

Hannah is a sociopath. She relies heavily on male validation, is envious of every woman, sees sex as a leverage and yet also a way to show love, she isn’t passionate about anything except that which lets her dangle over a dangerous edge. Obviously I don’t relate to or excuse her actions, but that’s what makes thrillers thrilling! To be given a narrator who’s just as if not more unhinged than the serial killer was so fun to read.

Speaking of thrillers, this book was a touch predictable, but honestly Hannah was just doing the most (pardon my french) batshit things at every turn– I wouldn't have cared if we knew who the killer was on page one. She was what made this book so enjoyable for me.

If anything, one can argue this book is a parody or mockery of true crime diehards, like with Lauren and Dotty. Again, I’m in no way supporting Hannah or the events of this book– just saying I think it’s good novel writing. An immoral, unreliable narrator is always an interesting read, especially with that sucker punch of a last paragraph.

I loved this book. The main character was interesting from the beginning. She got more complex and interesting as the book went on and I loved that. Great character development. It was not a typical thriller, but still had twists and turns and kept you guessing. The ending was a little rushed for me, but I did love the final twist.

This was nothing like anything I’ve read before and I enjoyed it for the most part. Very suspenseful and a few times I said “WHAT???” out loud. However, it did drag every now and then so it wasn’t a consistent pace for me. I am interested in reading more from this author!

Thank you so much @BerkleyPub for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 25 June 2024)

SYNOPSIS | Hannah becomes obsessed with an active true crime case, joining online forums and even writing letters to the accused murderer (William). She is surprised when he writes her back and even more surprised when he seems perfectly normal.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the fact that Hannah made copious truly terrible decisions (it made for very bingeable reading)
- the vibes were very much like a wreck that you can't help yourself from gawking at
- the subject matter itself is fascinating and yet unsettling

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- it started off really strong but then the tension was all over the place
- at times the dialogue comes across super cringey
- the ending was strange and unsatisfying yet oddly fitting
- the synopsis gives away far too much of the plot
- was it a page turner? absolutely. did I enjoy myself? I can't say that I did.

A woman writes letters to an accused serial killer. After he is acquitted, she moves in with him and starts investigating the murders.

An intriguing mystery about a woman obsessed with true crime and a serial killer. She is consumed with the mystery, and driven to solve it.

Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a slow burning mystery. A compelling debut novel.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing was honestly not the greatest here but the plot was this wonderful clusterfuck of a train crash you can’t look away from. The twists were occasionally predictable but this dark and twisty thriller had a pretty good ending.

The main character is a little bonkers for my liking. Hannah is writing letters to some man in prison and even had the audacity of moving in after his acquittal. This story is chaotic and maybe a touch unbelievable but overall, kept my attention.

I really loved the plotline this book followed, but the writing quality wasn’t quite there and so this book truly suffered as a result.

With insipid characters, the writing is pedestrian and predictable.
I disliked the female main character, her thoughts, and her actions are just unconscionable.
There is no reason to care about the FMC, which makes this book unenjoyable.

I requested this book because it gave me mean girls vibes with the cover. I really loved the cover and the colors. The title was also pretty interesting, that was one of the things that caught my eye.
This book had me on my toes the whole time, it was SO interesting. It was twisted and it was creepy. I think this is how a thriller should be.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this !! <3

This book was such a cluster fuck. Like what the heck. This was like watching a car crash in slow motion but not being able to look away. Honestly. I guessed the big twist. Now the ending twist? Did not see that coming. But wtf did I just read. 😂 eating this higher because I know this is one that’ll stick with me but what the heck?! lol

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.