In the author's note, Alice Slater describes her debut as "a horrible little book", a description that's bang on the money. Death of a Bookseller is a horrible little book….in a good way.
It's a story about obsession that leaves readers on edge.
From the back….
Roach - bookseller, loner and true crime fanatic- is not interested in making friends. She has all the company she needs in her serial killer books, murder podcasts and her pet snail, Bleep.
That is, until Laura joins the bookshop.
With her cute literary tote bags and sunny smile, she's everyone's favourite bookseller. But beneath the shiny veneer, Roach senses a darkness within Laura, the same darkness Roach possesses.
And as curiosity blooms into morbid obsession, Roach becomes determined to be a part of Laura's story - whether Laura wants her in it or not.
Where to start with Death of a Bookseller.
Have you ever read a book where the characters are utterly compelling despite being bloody awful?
Have you ever read a book that gives you anxiety induced back ache?
Have you ever read a book that makes you feel so uncomfortable, you want to stop reading but for some reason can't put the damn thing down?
Well, Death of a Bookseller manages to do all of that.
If you're looking for relaxing, easy read….then step away from this devilishly bright book (I love the cover) because this is not for the faint hearted.
When Roach is first introduced, it's easy to feel a little bit sorry for her. She's more than a bit odd, she's no friends and people call her Roach rather than Brogan for Christ's sake – it hardly screams 'young woman winning at life'.
Don't be fooled though. What I first thought of as "odd" behaviour very quickly gave way creepy – though I'm not sure creepy is a strong enough word to describe Roach.
Her obsession with true crime (I'll come back to this later) is unhinged, but that is soon eclipsed by her obsession with Laura which very quickly spirals out of control. I mean, it's completely off the wall.
And then there's Laura.
Laura who's carefully curated her own image with her cute totes, expertly accessorised outfits and perfectly applied lipstick. Laura with her sunny personality and superb sales patter.
Laura who has her own obsession with her colleague and friend Eli. Laura who's actually got a whole load of issues she's dealing with, including borderline alcoholism and a clear case of depression.
She's a little easier to feel for than Roach but she's still not likeable.
The two are on a collision course immediately. Roach thinks she and Laura have a deep, dark connection while Laura is on her guard. Roach makes her feel instantly uncomfortable. It soon transpires that Laura's mother was murdered by a serial killer and, unsurprisingly, as a result she has an intense hatred of true crime……you can see where the conflict is coming from.
Slater raises some interesting points around the true crime genre. Roach seems to hold serial killers in high regard, it's like she mythologises them. It's weird but true to life. Think about how many podcasts, documentaries and books are devoured every year.
Laura argues that the genre ignores victims, it traumatises the loved ones of those killed and reduces the lives of victims to being a footnote in someone else's story. She makes a valid point, one that's very difficult to argue with.
This story is told from both Laura and Roach's perspectives. Each alternating chapter shows Roach's obsession growing, she keeps taking it a step further it's disconcerting and gripping at the same time – it's like seeing a fight on the street, you want to look away but can't stop staring. As Roach's obsession grows, Laura's shiny veneer starts to crack as she loses her grip on control. It's a really effective way of unravelling the tale of these women.
Slater's descriptions are so vivid that you can almost smell what it is she's writing about, it feels as though you're a fly on the wall of the bookstore watching everything unfold. Her style is incredibly witty, and the dark humour balances out the tension perfectly.
Death of a Bookseller is unlike anything I've read before. The characters are superb but awful. The plot keeps you turning the pages late into the night, even when you want to look away. It's a book that constantly leaves you conflicted, in short, I can't recommend this horrible little book enough.
Thanks for reading!
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