This book grabbed me from the start and never let up. First read with the author but won't be the last. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Cruel & Bitter Things by Joseph Souza was a action packed ride that kept me interested the entire book. Overall, I loved how Joseph was able to create such a deep story that flowed and did not have any plot holes. This was an easy read that had great pacing and intrigue which led me to give it a solid 4/5 rating. I will definitely look into other books by Joseph.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

I found the story really exciting at the beginning. It was easy to get into the story and the characters were very interesting too. I loved the dynamic between Gwynn and the detective.

But at some point her murders became too ridiculous and too "unrealistic" for me and for the story... you're waiting the whole time... but yeah... for what? For her next victim? The murders also happened too "quickly" for me. I needed a little more to it.

A nice and exciting thriller that I really enjoyed reading and couldn't put down. However, it didn't really catch me, it was way too over the top and won't stay in my head for very long.

my first read from #NetGalley, This book has very good plot and characters driven. It has started well but went flat towards the end. I just don’t like some characters (Ezra Kauffman specially so much annoying ) on this one as they acted so dumb. I read many police procedural novels but this one seems unrealistic and ain’t well written.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Cruel and Bitter Things. The story centers on Gwynn Denning. She is one tough woman who lives a double life. It’s not often you get a female lead in such situations like say serial killing. The author creates a detailed aspect to a woman who doesn’t seem to have a problem with murder. But does she…the line are blurry and as she leads a double life you wonder what makes her ‘tick’.
Truly an interesting novel that is thought provoking and scary as well.
Made me think about how one might operate in the world with a double standard of what is right and wrong
Thought provoking and not just an average novel. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley & Level best books for a chance to read this book..

and I really really tried to read this book, but unfortunately, it's a DNF for me around 50% of the book, I just kept waiting for something to happen to pick up the reading pace on this one and get me excited and it just didn't happen. I got halfway through and it was just a slow reading pace and I was quite literally bored and falling asleep during the book. None of the characters really felt likeable to me, honestly the most intriguing character for me was probably Jack

Joseph Souza’s *Cruel & Bitter Things* had the potential to be a captivating psychological thriller, but it missed the mark. The plot features Gwynn Denning, who decides to kill Sam Townsend, the man who date-raped her friend. Unfortunately, the characters are underdeveloped and passive. Joseph Souza's *Cruel & Bitter Things* had the potential to be a gripping psychological thriller, but it ultimately misses the mark. The story revolves around Gwynn Denning, who resolves to kill Sam Townsend, the man who date-raped her friend. However, the characters are poorly developed and largely passive.

I was left waiting for a twist to inject some excitement into the narrative, but it never materialized. While some may appreciate its slow pace, I found it to be a letdown. If you enjoy thrillers about an underdog fighting back, this book may resonate with you. However, those seeking sharp twists and engaging plot dynamics will likely be disappointed.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"Cruel & Bitter Things" is a raw, unflinching exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche, a descent into the abyss of despair and the corrosive power of guilt. Souza masterfully weaves a tapestry of morally ambiguous characters and morally gray choices.

Not really a book that is enjoyed or lightheaded.

The story unfolds with a relentless pace, each chapter peeling back another layer of the protagonists' complex and often contradictory motivations. Souza depicts the brutal realities of their actions and the devastating consequences that follow. The prose is stark and unforgiving, mirroring the bleakness of the characters' inner worlds.

This novel refused to offer easy answers or simplistic morality. There are no heroes or villains, only flawed individuals grappling with their own demons and the weight of their past choices. Souza forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the human condition, challenging our own assumptions about good and evil.

However:

* The bleakness can be overwhelming. This is not a book for the faint of heart. The constant exposure to darkness and despair may leave some readers feeling emotionally drained.

* The ending may feel ambiguous or unsatisfying. While the open-ended nature of the conclusion reflects the complexities of life, some readers might yearn for a more definitive resolution.

"Cruel & Bitter Things" is a powerful and unsettling read which is a testament to Souza's raw talent as a storyteller and a chilling reminder of the destructive power of human choices.

Great book full of surprises! Encouraged my friends to add it to their TBR list. I cannot wait to hear what they think!

Cruel & Bitter Things by Joseph Souza is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of guilt, vengeance, and self-deception. The story follows Gwynn Denning, a woman haunted by her past and driven to kill after discovering the man who harmed her friend, Sam Townsend, is still around. As she tries to maintain a facade of normalcy—balancing motherhood, her career, and therapy—her violent impulses and the consequences of her actions spiral out of control. The tension builds as Gwynn’s world unravels, forcing her to confront her own dark secrets and the painful truths about her family. Souza expertly weaves suspense with emotional depth, creating a gripping narrative about the blurred lines between justice and revenge. The novel explores not just crime, but the psychological toll of living a double life, making it a compelling read for fans of morally complex characters.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and it was fantastic!! I did not want this story to end!! I was addicted from the very first page! If you’re wanting a thriller with an interesting & twisted FMC who offs bad people then this is the story for you. Gwynn gets invited to an event, where a man from her college days, will be in attendance. This man assaulted her best friend and she told her friend if she had the chance she would kill him. Except that’s where the story takes an interesting twist and she starts to realize her perfect plan, wasn’t so perfect after all!

This was a super addicting story and I will recommend this to everyone now!! This is my first book I’ve ever read by this author, but it will not be the last!! I wish I could give this more stars because that’s how much I loved this story! Was it perfectly written or the best thing I’ve ever read? No…but that doesn’t even matter because I was so entertained, on the edge of my seat needing to know what was going to happen next and honestly felt like I was in a trance because I was just so focused on the story! I will say the ending did feel a tad bit rushed. I would have liked it to be a little bit longer and to answer some of my questions and also wish what was going on at the end would have been wrapped up with a bit of a better resolution. But other than the rushed ending this was a fantastic thriller & an addicting story!

**A Dark and Mesmerizing Thriller That Will Leave You Breathless**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Joseph Souza’s *Cruel & Bitter Things* is an enthralling and gritty novel that delves into the darkest corners of human nature while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. This story is a masterful blend of psychological suspense, raw emotion, and shocking twists that make it impossible to put down.

From the very start, Souza pulls you into a world rife with tension and secrets. The protagonist’s journey is as gripping as it is harrowing, filled with moral dilemmas and personal struggles that add depth and complexity to the narrative. Souza’s ability to create such vivid, flawed, and relatable characters is truly remarkable.

The pacing is perfectly calibrated, with moments of quiet unease erupting into heart-pounding action. Just when you think you’ve uncovered the truth, Souza delivers a twist that upends everything, leaving you desperate to know what happens next.

The novel’s dark themes and richly atmospheric setting create an immersive experience that lingers long after the final page. Souza doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of guilt, redemption, and the lengths people will go to protect what they love.

*Cruel & Bitter Things* is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and dark suspense. Joseph Souza has crafted a story that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a novel that challenges the mind while quickening the pulse!

I was hooked with simply the need to see if my own questions were answered from blurb. So ma y moral dilemmas here.

I.cant imagine the anger and want for revenge when someone you love is attacked. Especially in current world where justice and repercussions are few and far between in both law and society.
The story follow different character point of view. I thought it was a really great way to show from all points. From the perpetrator right down to the detective trying to solve the case.
But Gwynn has problems in the present and past and there is so much going on for her to battle.
And is she guilty? But what of?
Add in a romance with the detective and you've got an emotional.and angst filled read.
complexity. The story follows Gwynn Denning, a group home director and mother, who leads a double life as a vigilante serial killer. While she sees herself as delivering justice, her actions, relationships and past create a protagonist both horrifying and fascinating.

I really loved the style of writing in this book. The story was intriguing and didn't spell out everything so left you wondering at parts which I really enjoyed. I am not sure what I was looking for in the ending but I was left a bit disappointed. I am not usually surprised but this one had exceptionally twists I did not see coming.

ARC review - thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

All I wanted for this book was to finally end. The plot was random and the characters literally unlikeable. The dialogue was robotic and felt artificial, I hated all of this. I feel terrible for rating an ARC so low but this needs much more editing in my opinion.
The plot in itself has a lot of potential but the execution is awful.
And especially the ending was a dumpster fire.

There are many things that mark out good thrillers, those special ingredients that have you sitting on the edge of your seat hanging on every word as you try to figure out what is happening and how the protagonists will worm their way out of their situations. When done well they’re exactly what they are called: thrilling. I would love to be able to tell you exactly what it takes to write a good thriller, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. What I know, is that some hit and some don’t. Unfortunately for Joseph Souza, his Cruel & Bitter Things does not hit. It is an interesting premise and a well designed story but somehow it just didn’t leave me desperate to keep reading. That’s not to say that it was not a good book! It was well written and Souza clearly knew the theory, it just wasn’t the best thing I’ve read so far this year.

Written from three perspectives, Cruel & Bitter Things is the story of Gwynn Denning who seeks vengeance on a successful business man for date raping her friend when they were at university. And by vengeance yes I do mean that she killed him. But murder tends to get messy and things spiral out of control as she seeks to control all of the variables in order to maintain custody of her son. Our other perspectives are Denning’s therapist and the detective solving the case, providing readers with a well rounded view of the situation. This does not mean to say that you are encouraged to draw your own opinions as to whether what Denning has done is right or wrong, we are merely lead to accept that she does what she does in the name of God and so as to protect her son. Righteousness is a central tenet to the character, who is quite successfully well drawn. All of the characters are three dimensional, even those who appear fleetingly.

Within the storytelling itself a few things stood out. Working from a proof copy, you are always bound to find the occasional typo; however, some of the phrasing gave me pause and left me to question whether the everyday idioms being used were actually misphrased. But this is a quibble and I won’t dwell on it. There were an array of instances in which unnecessary exposition was inserted, much of which was repeating information that the reader was aware of. It felt as though the author was concerned that his readers would not be able to follow the unfolding narrative, so to Souza I say have a little more faith! Otherwise, the language on the whole was a little jolting, fluctuating between formality, slang and old fashioned in an unexplained manner. Confusing but not entirely off-putting.

On the whole, this novel was a solid three star. It had the bones of a good story, well developed characters and an interesting premise. It just didn’t stand out. But that’s ok, not every novel has to be earth shatteringly tense and life altering, some can just be quiet explorations of a concept.

great book and I loved the action and the romance . I loved seeing the friends and family. I loved that they were able to figure things out. Overall a great book .

Absolutely amazing! I was somehow backing Gwynn even though she was absolutely psycho. Peters was also a suprise to me as I liked him too despite his mental issues as well. I felt like Tom was a bit hard done by at the beginning, but by the end I was thinking of how much of an awful person he was. It is rare that a book can make characters like these stand out so much as being relatable and likebale while doing the unthinkable.

Thank you for letting me read this ARC copy. It was an intriguing book. And an interesting plot. I do think some things were repeated to much. And I hated their was no ending.

If you like twisty turny stories, Cruel & Bitter Things by Joseph Souza needs to be on your tbr list. You won’t regret it.