Thank you for the advance copy ! I'm very much looking forward to reading Cruel & Bitter Things by by Joseph Souza.

Joseph Souza’s Cruel & Bitter Things is a dark and gripping tale that masterfully blends psychological suspense with an exploration of moral 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.

The plot thickens as Gwynn becomes entangled with the detective investigating her murders, adding a layer of forbidden romance that ratchets up the tension. Souza’s ability to weave Gwynn’s dark deeds with her tender moments as a mother showcases the duality of human nature. Is her adopted father more connected to her past than she realizes? Why would her therapist lie to the detective about Gwynn leaving with Sam? These questions keep readers guessing, especially as Gwynn’s sessions with her therapist cast doubt on her reliability.

Though certain moments stretched plausibility, the steady pacing and complex characters made the story thoroughly enjoyable. The suspense is razor-sharp, the ending was satisfying without feeling rushed, though some loose ends left me hoping for a sequel to explore unanswered questions.

Overall, Cruel & Bitter Things is an addictive read that masterfully blurs the line between justice and madness.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars.

Thanks Netgalley for the free ARC! Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. The cover and title were enticing, although the description seemed hit or miss,. I gave it a shot and was unimpressed. The first few chapters were bland, unengaging, and a bit tacky. I could not continue reading.

4 stars

Cruel and Bitter Things by Joseph Souza is an atmospheric and eerie read that delves into dark family secrets and the haunting weight of the past. The story has a gripping premise, blending elements of psychological suspense with supernatural undertones, which creates an unsettling and intriguing tone throughout.

While the premise is strong, the execution felt uneven at times. The pacing was inconsistent, with parts of the story dragging while others felt rushed. Some of the twists were predictable, which took away a bit of the tension. However, Souza’s ability to create a creepy, immersive atmosphere kept me turning the pages.

The characters are flawed and complicated, which added depth to the story, though I struggled to connect with a few of them on a personal level. The ending was satisfying in some ways but left a few threads hanging, which may be intentional but felt unresolved.

Overall, this is a solid read for fans of dark, atmospheric suspense, even if it didn’t quite hit all the marks for me. It’s worth a read if you enjoy stories about buried secrets and the lengths people will go to protect them.

When Gwynn Denning sees Sam Townsend at an event in town, she knows she will kill him. Townsend date-raped her friend, Tift Ainsley, back in college. Or at least that’s what Tift told her after she came back to her dorm that night!! Great book! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, action, great characters, and some wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Joseph Souza's "Cruel and Bitter Things" offers a unique and chilling dive into the mind of a serial killer. The story really draws you in with its killer's perspective, making you feel a mix of wanting her to stop while also understanding where she's coming from—which is a pretty wild emotional mix.

Each impending kill kept me hoping she'd change her mind, I can't find myself to neither condamn or absolve her completely. Souza nails the pacing and the style, often jumping between the present and her internal thoughts with back and forth sentences.

That said, while I found it intriguing, I'd give it 3 stars because this genre isn't really my vibe. It wasn't a page-turner for me, even though I was curious to see what she'd do next and whether she'd get away with it, I often had to force myself to pick up the book. If you're into psychological thrillers and you often ask yourself "what brings a killer to kill, and how they manage the day-to-day life and guilt while doing so?", it's worth a read.

Cruel and Bitter Things is an unputdownable read, I did not expect to be suck in from the start.

Totally recommend to put on your TBR for 2025.

I absolutely loved this book. I always enjoy a good mystery/thriller and this hit the spot nicely. My favorite part is that it’s written in the killers POV and she is a female serial killer! So it was a nice new spin I very much enjoyed. 10/10 recommending to all my fellow mystery thriller lovers.