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#40 of 2025! Black Harbor No. 4!
Started: 11/9/25
Finished: 11/14/25
6 Days

Fast read … read less than week! Different kind of twist. 6/10

A friend told me her mom read this and just could not stop thinking about it…I had to try it!

This is gripping with lots of red herrings and a big surprise (at least for me). Verity‘s husband is found murdered in their home. Moving between her story and “the other woman,” the reader learns more about Verity, her husband and his behavior, and their marriage. Toxic, controlling characters. Some graphic content (description of the victim‘s body). ⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

2.5⭐
• mystery thriller suspense • isolated setting • unlikable MCs • alternating timelines • alternating POVs •
I should probably part ways with this author, but she utilizes some of my favorite narrators, so I keep giving her another chance. Her characters are so whiny and uninteresting that she makes even my favorite narrators sound off their game. Unfortunately, the character's shortcomings ruined the whole vibe for me.

•My Score 4.54/10•

When I say, I squealed…I mean, I SQUUEEAALLLEEDDD opening this first thing this morning!! Was I late for work? Yes. Do you think I cared? NO! The sweater that will become my permanent uniform going forward, is unbelievably accurate. The books, so deadly, the pins and pens and treats OH MY!! I‘m soo grateful to you @DinoMom 🖤 This is such a phenomenal #AHRS package, I feel so SPOILED 😭. I can‘t wait to read The Ruins, I‘m very intrigued ☠️

I‘m still emerging from my reading/posting slump. Leave it to graphic memoirs to help pull me out of it! Read it in a sitting, yet I found it to be impactful. The author‘s childhood innocence comes to an abrupt end when he arrives home one day to see his playmates outside next door. He goes in and is forever changed by what he witnesses inside. Lasting impacts of trauma. This set me off on a GN jag, so prepare for more upcoming reviews!

I was excited for this book because I love historic true crime, especially pre-1950s cases with their mystery and lack of forensics. I hoped for stories like the Axeman of New Orleans, but most of the book focused on the axe‘s history instead of axe murders. When the cases finally appeared, they felt random. The author‘s quippy tone and personal assertions distracted from the material and were annoying.

Exotic reptile shop metaphors aside, I really enjoyed this book. The twists were fun and I kept being like “whoa, what?“ with each plot addition. The last act and ending had me reeling! Good book 🙂

Forever behind and making up for lost time (or points lol), here are some spooky covers.

#HauntedShelf Cover #ScavengerHunt for #Eyes
Also felt appropriate for #HauntsAndHexes #Blood

#BlackCatCrew