I requested this title back before my blogging break. I have ended up with a number of titles that are overwhelming to catch up on now I am back from my blogging break. I am regretfully not going to be reading and reviewing this title, but now I am back from my blogging break, I am looking forward to reading and reviewing some of your future titles. Thank you so much for the opportunity and apologies.

Very many apologies that in this instance I was unable to read and feedback on this title in a timely manner.

I didn’t know what to expect from Monsters when I started it. I’ve had it on my review pile for a while.

I loved the setting of Fowey. I imagined the quintessential seaside town with the little independent boutique shops and local museums. I loved the idea of Mr Queen’s sweetshop, I could feel my poor teeth rotting at the thought of it! 🍬🍭🍫 But this little unassuming coastal town is packed with rather interesting characters from the mayor down to the local business people and beyond.

The main character is slightly disturbing, an unusual outlook on life. Even from an early age, she perturbed me, whether this is her actual nature or her way of getting her parents’ attention.

“Everyone is always describing me as ‘peculiar’”

I was intrigued who was the killer but this isn’t really about the investigation, it’s about how murders in a seaside town affects the town and our protagonist. And it’s about this odd young lady finding possibly the one person her age who gets her. Many of the characters are shocked how interested the children are in the murders but I wasn’t much older when I developed my fascination for true crime which has dwindled over the years and my love for adult crime fiction has grown.

I wasn’t entirely sure who this book is aimed at. The main characters are two 12/13 year olds but the writing isn’t what I’d expect for a book aimed at that age or possibly even as a YA book. It’s a strange book. There isn’t a pace to this tale, there isn’t blood and gore but that didn’t seem to matter, I kept clicking through the pages to the end.

This is a murder mystery from the pov of someone who likely behind a murder mystery when they grow up.


I found the writing style in the opening to be off-putting as it read "special needs" (fake) that a certain book I hate wrote in completely. The style gets better as it goes on, I don't know if changes or I got used to it. The book is completely from the point of view of the girl, with her dead parents and neglectful at best aunt and uncle.


This deals with a lot of things common to Serial Killers, I didn't enjoy of how much of a follower the girl was, as I don't buy that narrative that female serial killers need a male counter-part to wake the killer. It seems more sexist than fact, a way to get less time when you're caught and is why female serial killers are likely to get away with it as we speak.


The resolution was okay, it was set up fine, There was a part I just didn't buy. The journey was better than the end.

Overall, I give this 4/5 stars for obvious deads. This was an interesting book that plays with clichés and does a decent job of it. If you have a fascination with death and serial killers, then this is worth your time.

My friend recommended this to me so when I saw it on NetGalley I was super happy. This was a great mystery and I really enjoyed reading it :)