comedy – Kat Pollock

The Hook:

Our favorite mystery writer Finlay is back again, getting into even more shenanigans in the seedy world of contract killers. This time, she must unearth the identity of the person who has taken out a hit on her ex-husband. Before long, she finds herself in a high stakes game of cat and mouse with the assassin stalking her ex, and she’ll have to dig deep to decide what to do about all the peril he’s in.

My Impressions:

I could literally talk for hours about the Finlay Donovan books, which are undoubtably some of my favorite books in the entire mystery genre. The protagonist is extremely likable and fun to root for, the side characters are all memorable and enjoyable to read about, and the suspense is balanced perfectly with humor. I laughed so hard at times while reading this that I’m told my shrieks could be easily heard from across the house.

In a time when so much media strives to be dark and broody and to “subvert audience expectations” by pulling out increasingly alienating plot twists and shocking character deaths, books like this are truly a breath of fresh air. Cosimano’s writing style feels welcoming, as if the book is meant to take the reader by the hand and lead them on a fun, suspenseful journey with beloved characters.

I honestly loved every minute of this book, and will be reading it again whenever I need a pick-me-up or a reminder of what excellent foreshadowing and tight plotting can accomplish. Every single delicious beat of this book is constructed with a love of the genre and a level of respect and affection for the readers that is in a league of it’s own.

If you’ve read this book already, feel free to leave a comment discussing it, as I’d love to hear what other readers liked most about the story.

Happy reading!

The Hook:

In this horror-comedy, mild mannered Annie moves to a small village in upstate New York after a heartbreak and finds herself swept away by a bold woman named Sophie. Sophie encourages her to live more unapologetically, and Annie is drawn deeper into Sophie’s life despite a nagging worry that the older woman is more than what she seems.

My Impressions:

Despite the cover of the book, I was surprised by how much screen time was dedicated to spiders. If you’re easily unnerved by detailed descriptions of eight-legged beasties, you may want to skim over some sections of this book.

Now that that warning is out of the way, this was a truly delightful book. It felt cozy and funny, while still featuring some truly hair-raising scares. If you’re looking for something that feels like a Hallmark movie slowly turning into a surreal nightmare more befitting of a Gaiman book, this is absolutely the read for you.

I laughed, I shuddered, this book gave me goosebumps. Also, not to veer too close to spoiling the ending, but this book managed to give me one of those excellent moments where just as I’m thinking the protagonist should stop being nice and just [REDACTED] that very thing immediately happens. Loved it, unabashedly.

If you’re looking for something with fall vibes to take your mind off the humid late spring weather this May, I highly recommend picking this book up. For those who have already read it, feel free to talk about it in the comments and share your thoughts.

Happy reading!

Tag: comedy

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Review of Cackle by Rachel Harrison