I’m on the road both today and tomorrow. Since I’m driving, I won’t have access to my computer. Fortunately, for all of us, Sandie Herron reviewed two current books, one for each day. I hope you enjoy “hearing” another viewpoint once in a while. I know I appreciate it when Sandie steps in. Thank you, Sandie.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers
Written by Alicia Thompson
Kindle Edition
Publisher: Berkley (August 16, 2022)
Pages: 348
ASIN: B09M2YWQYX
Phoebe Walsh is deep in the throes of writing her dissertation on true crime in literature. So it may come as no surprise that she sees everything as a conspiracy of a mass murderer or some relation to the killers or the authors who wrote about them. We meet her in the wee morning hours after pulling in to her father’s house, recently left vacant by his death, with a large writing desk on the roof of her car. Debating how to handle this situation alone, suddenly a disheveled man appears in her driveway offering to help. Certain he is out to get her, she refuses and says she doesn’t live there.
As Phoebe later discovers this was her neighbor Ben, she manages to relate all her activities to scenes from the lives of serial killers. It almost becomes tedious until Phoebe’s brother Conner begins a bigger role in the story. He lives nearby with his soon to be fiance and is supposed to help Phoebe clean up their father’s place and prepare it for sale. Phoebe is also supposed to be writing her dissertation, but her thoughts keep wandering back to Ben, the wholesome elementary school music teacher living next door.
Phoebe’s love of true crime began as a young teen, something she shared with her girlfriend Alison who is now the town’s librarian. Phoebe’s parents never got along, divorcing when she was 13 and Conner was 7, and forcing the children to decide which parent got which child. Phoebe has plenty to be bitter about, quite the opposite of Ben, one of six siblings who had a normal and happy childhood. Yet the two feel a spark between them. But is a relationship even possible with Phoebe needing to leave town to finish her doctorate in the fall besides having so many trust issues?
The numerous references to specific books, authors, video games, music, and food flow freely. Even after the two neighbors realize their attraction for each other and stop testing each other for serial killer tendencies, the topic stays fresh as Phoebe tackles her dissertation and questions on where her life is headed post doctorate.
I enjoyed this book despite so many references going over my head. Ultimately I knew the basic topic so the specifics did not really matter. What mattered was Phoebe getting it straight and working through the issues in her life to free her from them. Ben and Conner and Alison are all willing to help her along the way, making for a satisfying conclusion.
