BBNYA Blog Tour | TRIAL OF THE ALCHEMIST by Trevor Melanson

About the Book:

TRIAL OF THE ALCHEMIST
3rd Place Finalist, BBNYA 2024
BY TREVOR MELANSON | APRIL 4, 2023
GENRE: FANTASY, MYSTERY

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Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows.

Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets.

But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not.

He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night.

The Night Circus meets Inception in this mind-bending fantasy mystery. Ranked one of the 20 Best Completed stories on Royal Road and both a SPFBO and BBNYA semi-finalist, Trial of the Alchemist is "a beautifully written tale of memory and murder... that will keep readers glued to the pages until the final twist is revealed." (Before We Go Blog)

AMAZON | GOODREADS | THE STORY GRAPH

"I really enjoyed this story and am left with many questions I am going to enjoy thinking about for a while yet. Just as you should be by stories."
-Beth | Beth's Bookcase
"From the opening paragraphs to the closing pages, I was held enthralled as the mystery of who killed Everett Day was unraveled. "
-Melissa | Never enough books…

[BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.]

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About the Author:

Trevor Melanson is the author of four novels, including Trial of the Alchemist, a semi-finalist of both the SPFBO and BBNYA competitions and previously one of the twenty best-rated completed stories on Royal Road. A former journalist, Trevor now spends his workdays running communications at a think tank and advancing the transition to clean energy. He lives on the scenic Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and two cats, having gleefully abandoned the big city life that once beckoned him as a younger man.

*Content sent by @TheWriteReads for this blog's publication.
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Book Review | SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA by Lidija Hilje

SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA

BY LIDIJA HILJE | PUBLICATION: JULY 8, 2025
SIMON & SCHUSTER | GENRE: LITERARY FICTION
RATING: ★★★★✬

"This isn’t a book that shouts—it whispers, aches, and lingers."

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Spanning twenty years and one life-altering summer in Croatia, Slanting Towards the Sea is at once an unforgettable love story and a powerful exploration of what it means to come of age in a country younger than oneself.

Ivona divorced the love of her life, Vlaho, a decade ago. They met as students at the turn of the millennium, when newly democratic Croatia was alive with hope and promise. But the challenges of living in a burgeoning country extinguished Ivona’s dreams one after another—and a devastating secret forced her to set him free.

Now Vlaho is remarried and a proud father of two, while Ivona’s life has taken a downward turn. In her thirties, she has returned to her childhood home to care for her ailing father. Bewildered by life’s disappointments, she finds solace in reconnecting with Vlaho and is welcomed into his family by his spirited wife, Marina. But when a new man enters Ivona’s life, the carefully cultivated dynamic between the three is disrupted, forcing a reckoning for all involved.

Set against the mesmerizing Croatian coastline, Slanting Towards the Sea is a cinematic, emotionally searing debut about the fragile nature of potential and the transcendence of love.

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"A Quiet Storm of Emotion Beneath Still Waters"

SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA is a masterclass in subtle storytelling. On the surface, it’s a quiet novel—its pace gentle, its tone restrained—but beneath that stillness lies a powerful emotional current. The silence in this book isn’t empty; it’s charged with grief, longing, and the unspoken truths that shape our lives.

The story follows a woman returning to her coastal hometown, meant to take care of her ailing father. What begins as a simple act of "moving forward" becomes a profound reckoning with memory, identity, and the fragile threads of family. The sea, ever-present and symbolic, mirrors the protagonist’s inner world: calm on the surface, turbulent underneath.

Lidija Hilje’s prose is lyrical and hypnotic, weaving melancholy and memory with precision. It’s not just about lost love—it’s about the cost of silence, the weight of sacrifice, and the fragility of potential. Her eloquence almost acts as a counterpoint to the emotional repression her characters endure.

What makes the novel so compelling is how Hilje uses language to illuminate absence—the things left unsaid, the moments swallowed by pride, fear, or shame. Ivona’s internal monologue is rich and expressive, yet her actual interactions are often clipped, restrained, or evasive. That tension between inner eloquence and outer silence is where the novel truly sings. Hilje seems to understand that language can be both bridge and barrier. Her prose is lush, but her characters are emotionally parched. That contradiction is what makes the novel so haunting.

The blurred line between sacrifice and surrender is one of the novel’s central heartbreaks. Ivona’s decision is framed as noble, but it’s steeped in fear—fear of inadequacy, of being a burden, of not living up to the imagined future she believes Vlaho deserves. Her refusal to speak her truth isn’t just restraint—it’s a kind of disappearance. She vanishes from the relationship without explanation.

It’s a story that challenges the idea that love is always selfless. Sometimes, true love demands vulnerability, not withdrawal. And Hilje seems to suggest that the most painful regrets come not from what we did, but from what we never dared to say.

There’s a profound question, and one that Slanting Towards the Sea never answers outright, but constantly circles. If our choices define us, then Ivona is a woman shaped by absence, by the things she didn’t say, didn’t do, didn’t fight for. And yet, she’s not passive. Her silence is deliberate. Her withdrawal is chosen. That makes her both tragic and powerful.

So how do we define her? Perhaps as a woman who chose dignity over desire, silence over vulnerability, and ended up haunted by both. She’s not a cautionary tale—she’s a reflection of how complex, and sometimes self-destructive, love can be when filtered through fear and pride.

This isn’t a book that shouts—it whispers, aches, and lingers. It’s for readers who appreciate introspective literary fiction, where the most powerful moments are often the quietest. Reading SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA feels like standing at the edge of something vast and unknowable. It’s introspective, poetic, and deeply human. If your book club is looking for a story that lingers, that invites reflection and conversation, this is the one.

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About the Author:

Lidija Hilje is a Croatian novelist and certified book coach. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and other outlets. After ten years of trying cases before Croatian courts, she obtained a book coaching certification and has been working professionally with writers ever since. She lives in Zadar, Croatia, with her husband and two daughters. Slanting Towards the Sea is her first novel.
Photograph © Suzy New Life Photography

*Simon & Schuster provided the eARC
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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Book Review | THE MIDWATCH INSTITUTE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS by Judith Rossell

THE MIDWATCH INSTITUTE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS

BY JUDITH ROSSELL | PUBLICATION: MAY 27, 2025
DIAL BOOKS | GENRE: MIDDLE-GRADE MYSTERY
RATING: ★★★★✬

"A must-read for middle-grade lovers and anyone who believes in the power of learning and compassion."

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For fans of The Swifts and A Series of Unfortunate Events comes the story of a young orphan at the edge of society who finds herself at the center of a city’s secrets.

Maggie Fishbone is not expecting much when she’s sent to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways, and Wayward Girls—the last resort after causing a ruckus at the orphanage where she was living. Except . . . the Institute isn’t some dreadful, dreary place like she thought.

Instead it’s full of curious girls training to solve mysteries, fight bad guys, and keep the city safe. In between fencing lessons and discovering all the shortcuts in the building, Maggie finds herself making friends at the Midwatch and finally feeling like she’s home. And when a woman goes missing, Maggie’s off on her first assignment, with each step leading her deeper into the secrets of the city.

With gorgeous black-and-white illustrations and pages of “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know” (like how send messages in morse code and how to shout extremely loudly), The Midwatch is a whimsical, adventure-filled mystery from internationally bestselling author-illustrator Judith Rossell.

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"Holy Mackerel!"

Judith Rossell’s THE MIDWATCH INSTITUTE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS is a delightful, whimsical mystery that wraps adventure, heart, and empowerment into one beautifully illustrated package. It follows Maggie Fishbone—a spirited orphan who finds herself at a school unlike any other.

Sent to the Midwatch Institute after causing a stir at her previous orphanage, Maggie expects gloom and punishment. Instead, she discovers a vibrant world where girls are trained to solve mysteries, defend the city, and grow into their best selves. With fencing lessons, secret passages, and a missing person case to unravel, Maggie’s journey is one of friendship, courage, and self-discovery.

🌟 What Makes This Book Shine:

• A Joyful Adventure: The story is packed with excitement, warmth, and the thrill of discovery.

• Found Family: Maggie’s bond with the other girls is tender and uplifting—a reminder that belonging can be found in unexpected places.

• Gentle Wisdom: The Institute offers a safe space to make mistakes, learn, and be guided with compassion.

• Empowering Message: Knowledge is the greatest weapon—even the smallest, most frightened characters can rise when armed with understanding.

• Charming Extras: The “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know” pages are clever, practical, and full of charm.

• Gorgeous Illustrations: The cover and interior art add depth and whimsy to the reading experience.

This book is a celebration of curiosity, kindness, and courage. It’s a reminder that every child deserves a gentle hand and a safe place to grow. I finished it wanting more—more mysteries, more lessons, more Midwatch.

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About the Author:

Judith Rossell is the multi-award-winning author-illustrator of the bestselling Stella Montgomery series (Withering-by-Sea, Wormwood Mire and Wakestone Hall). Judith has written fifteen books and illustrated more than eighty, including the recent picture books Bogtrotter and Pink!, both written by Margaret Wild. Her work has been published in the US and UK, and translated into more than twenty languages. Before becoming an illustrator, Judith trained as a scientist, and worked for CSIRO, and for a cotton-spinning company. She lives in Melbourne.
Photo from PRH site. No infringement intended.

*Penguin Random House provided the eARC
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BBNYA Book Review | Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan

MADAME ELDRIDGE’S WAYWARD HOME FOR UNRULY BOYS

5th Place Finalist, BBNYA 2024
BY BENJAMIN RYAN | AUGUST 1, 2023
GENRE: YA FANTASY
RATING: ★★★★✬

“Every chapter pulses with energy, emotion, and intrigue.”

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Deep in the heart of Virginia’s dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridge’s watchful eye, three strict rules govern their behavior

1. What happens here stays here.
2. You must complete all eight steps—no exceptions allowed.
3. Forget your name; you’ll be known only by your problem.

But, there’s one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys' never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers.

When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridge’s whimsical—and often bizarre—challenges, only to learn magic always demands its price.

Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boy’s fate. But who will trust the words of a liar?

Bound by the house’s darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demons—and each other.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | THE STORY GRAPH

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Benjamin Ryan’s MADAME ELDRIDGE’S WAYWARD HOME FOR UNRULY BOYS is a masterfully woven tale that blends mystery, magic, and emotional growth into a story that’s as quirky as it is profound.

Set in a secluded summer boarding school deep in Virginia’s woods, the novel introduces readers to a cast of troubled boys—each stripped of their real names and renamed after their flaws. Through a series of whimsical and often bizarre challenges, they must confront their personal demons, forge unlikely friendships, and uncover the secrets hidden within the house’s haunted walls. What makes this story shine is its:

• 🌟 Brilliant pacing: Clues are revealed at just the right moments, keeping the mystery alive without ever feeling forced.
• 💫 Inventive magic system: Each enchanted object reflects the boys’ inner struggles, making their growth feel earned and meaningful.
• ❤️ Emotional depth: Themes of trust, friendship, and self-acceptance are explored with nuance and heart.
• 👗 Vivid descriptions: Madame Eldridge’s wardrobe alone deserves its own spotlight—every entrance she makes is unforgettable.
• 🔍 Compelling mystery: From the very first page, readers are invited to solve the puzzle alongside the boys, with satisfying answers and tantalizing new questions by the end.

There are no slow moments in this book. Every chapter pulses with energy, emotion, and intrigue. I was completely immersed in the world Benjamin Ryan created—and I’m already counting the days until the sequel.

A must-read for fans of magical realism, character-driven stories, and mysteries with heart. I can’t wait to return to the Wayward Home.

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[The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.]

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About the Author:

Once upon a time, there was a military brat named Benjamin Ryan, who traveled the world and embraced every unique experience he encountered. Being the new kid in town wasn’t always easy, and as he struggled with weight issues, he also had to deal with the hardships of teasing, male friendship, and acceptance. But, he was determined to find his place in the world and used his love for writing to create adventures that would transport him to a different world, where he could see things from a new perspective. Through his writing, Benjamin Ryan discovered his authentic self and found a way to inspire others. Armed with degrees in Art History, Education and World Religions, he became a New York City public Special Ed teacher, where he uses whimsy, creativity, and acceptance to inspire the youth of tomorrow. And thus, Benjamin Ryan was born—an author that embraces the power of storytelling to inspire and create change. With a deep understanding of the struggles that come with being different, Benjamin Ryan creates content that speaks to the heart and soul of their audience. He is active on twitter in the writing community (@BRClothwrites), hosting writing prompts, engaging with life’s unique perspectives, and inspiring others to create their truths.

*Book copy courtesy of the blog tour host, The Write Reads,
in exchange for this honest review.
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Book Review | HELEN'S JUDGEMENT by Susan C. Wilson

HELEN'S JUDGEMENT

BY SUSAN C. WILSON | PUBLICATION: MARCH 25, 2025
NEEM TREE PRESS | GENRE: ADULT FICTION
RATING: ★★★✬

“Lyrical and deliberate—a myth seen through
a modern lens.”

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She’s the most scapegoated heroine in Greek mythology, but there’s never just one side to any story. This new framing uncovers the complexities of Helen of Troy—a woman tormented by the blame placed on her by others, and tortured by her own guilt.

We all blamed Helen.

Haunted by her decision to leave her child behind when she fled her unhappy marriage, Helen seeks to build a new life in Troy with her lover, Paris. She yearns to recreate the childhood family she lost when she married Menelaus, but her outraged husband vows to regain her by force, at the head of a vast army.

Facing hostility from all sides, Helen must decide where her loyalty—and her safety—lies.-NTP

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Two Voices, One Reckoning: Rewriting the Myth of Helen
The House of Atreus #2

In HELEN'S JUDGEMENT, Susan C. Wilson offers a striking reimagining of Greek myth, casting Helen of Troy in a light rarely afforded to her—one of depth, complexity, and painful reckoning. Gone is the passive beauty; in her place stands a woman navigating guilt, desire, and the crushing weight of legacy.

Told through the alternating voices of Helen and Achilles, the novel brings dual insight into both Trojan and Achaean worlds. This dual perspective not only amplifies the emotional depth of each character but also reframes familiar mythological events through a lens of empathy and introspection. Achilles, often painted as the archetypal warrior, is here shown reckoning with legacy and vulnerability—echoing Helen’s own journey of self-definition.

Wilson explores several rich and emotionally charged themes that reframe the myth of Helen of Troy through a deeply human lens. Here are the key ones that stand out:

• Guilt and Blame: Helen is portrayed as the most scapegoated heroine in Greek mythology. The novel delves into how she internalizes the blame placed on her by others and wrestles with her own guilt over choices like leaving her child behind.
• Autonomy and Agency: Rather than being a passive figure, Helen is shown making difficult decisions about her future, her safety, and her loyalties. The story emphasizes her struggle to assert control over her life in a world that constantly tries to define her.
• Reputation and Heroic Shame: Drawing from classical concepts, the book explores how characters like Helen and Achilles are driven by the need to preserve their honor and reputation, even when it conflicts with personal happiness.
• Family and Loss: Helen’s yearning to recreate the family she lost—especially after her unhappy marriage to Menelaus—is a recurring emotional thread. Her relationship with Paris is shaped by this desire for belonging and healing.
• Dual Perspectives: Achilles’ narration offers a complementary layer, reframing war as not just a battle of men but a crucible of grief and reputation.
• War and Consequence: The backdrop of the Trojan War serves as a constant reminder of how personal choices can ripple outward into epic consequences. Helen’s story is not just about love or betrayal—it’s about the cost of being a symbol in someone else’s narrative.

Wilson’s prose is lyrical and deliberate, mirroring classical storytelling while diving deep into psychological terrain. The pacing, though measured, suits the reflective nature of both narrators and encourages thoughtful engagement rather than hurried consumption.

This isn’t just a myth retelling—it’s a philosophical inquiry into who gets to tell their story and at what cost. By giving Helen and Achilles a voice, Wilson redefines how we see their legacies. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction, feminist perspectives, and myth seen through a modern lens.

CLYTEMNESTRA'S BIND
The House of Atreus #1

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About the Author:

Susan C Wilson has a degree in journalism from Napier University and a diploma in classical studies from the Open University. She has worked in such environments as the Scottish Courts and the Scottish Parliament. As a writer she loves to explore what makes us human: the eternal motivations, desires and instincts that cross time and place. She also aims to make ancient stories resonate with a modern audience, through historical fiction and contemporary retellings. Her debut novel, The House of Atreus: Clytemnestra’s Bind was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition 2019 and  published by Neem Tree Press in June 2023. This is the first of an epic trilogy and explores the Greek myth of Queen Clytemnestra from a feminist perspective.
Photo from NTP site, no infringement intended.

*Neem Tree Press provided the eARC, via Netgalley,
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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Book Review | THE OTHERWHERE POST by Emily J. Taylor

THE OTHERWHERE POST

BY EMILY J. TAYLOR | PUBLICATION: February 25, 2025
G.P. PUTNAM'S SON | GENRE: YA FANTASY
RATING: ★★★★

"Deliver this book to anyone who loves magic with bite, a heroine with scars, and romance that ignites through ink."

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A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick

The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with another glittering dark fantasy about a deadly mystery that spans worlds and a teenage girl who must risk everything to uncover the truth.

Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.

Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words Your father was innocent.

To uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned.

Her secretive, infuriatingly handsome mentor knows she’s lying about her identity, and time is running out to convince him to trust her. Worse, she begins to receive threatening letters, warning her to drop her investigation—or else. For Maeve to unravel the mystery of what happened seven years ago, she may have to forfeit her life.- PRH

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Deliveries. Lies. Magic. Love.

Emily J. Taylor's THE OTHERWHERE POST brings a masterfully layered story that deserves far more hype—and it's not too late to shout about it.

🌌 Worldbuilding & Magic

• Taylor conjures a universe brimming with intrigue: courier doors to other worlds, scribing magic that pulses with ash and intent, and letters that carry as much danger as they do hope.


• The magic system isn’t entirely new—but it’s brilliantly twisted. Between poisoned Aldervine vines and ink-infused portals, Taylor redefines arcane craft with delicious creativity.

💔 Maeve: A Hero Who Never Pretended

• Maeve’s journey is far from idealized. She’s carved from hardship, not heroism. She's not the chosen one wrapped in prophecy; she’s the one who fights despite trembling fingers and an empty pocket. A girl with nothing but scraps, secrets, and that relentless spark that refuses to go out.


• She lies. She schemes. She nearly dies—more than once. But what makes her unforgettable is her fierce heart. Her loyalty to the few who earn it is absolute.


• Her vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s defiance. She feels deeply and still charges forward.

❤️ Romance & Relationships

• Enter Tristan—the dream boyfriend with ink-stained fingers and a soul full of warmth. Smart, tender, just the right amount of steamy. Their slow burn simmers beneath danger and decoding, until it explodes with emotional and magical resonance.


• The side characters sparkle with depth and wit, giving Maeve reasons to fight beyond herself—and proving that chosen family may be the most powerful spell of all.

Scribbled in ink, sealed with love—THE OTHERWHERE POST delivers danger, desire, and devotion on every page.

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About the Author:

Emily J. Taylor was born and raised in California and has since refused to stay put. She’s lived in four states and on two continents, all of which have conveniently given her an endless amount of story fodder. She currently works as a creative director in Minneapolis, where she spends the long winters dreaming up glittering worlds to spin into dark tales. Follow her @emilycanwrite, or find her at emilyjtaylorauthor.com.
Photo from PRH site, no infringement intended.

*Penguin Random House provided the eARC
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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Book Review | I BET YOU’D LOOK GOOD IN A COFFIN by Katy Brent

I BET YOU’D LOOK GOOD IN A COFFIN

BY KATY BRENT | PUBLICATION: APRIL 29, 2025
HQ DIGITAL | GENRE: WOMEN FICTION
RATING: ★★★★

“A family that slays together, stays together”
—that’s not just a line. It’s a vibe.

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Our favourite anti-heroine, Kitty Collins, is back! Expect more wit, sass, and, of course, murder…

My name is Kitty Collins and I'm a serial killer.

I don't want to kill. It's just so hard to resist. Some men really, really deserve it.

Men like Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny online. He's making it very hard for me to control my murderous urges.

Meanwhile I'm in the South of France to watch my mother marry a man I've never met. I should be drinking cocktails and focusing on my tan, not plotting a murder.

But a woman's work is never done. Surely one more teensy little kill wouldn't hurt, would it?

Fans of How to Kill Your Family and Bad Sisters will love this wickedly witty novel from the author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It and The Murder After the Night Before.

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Justice Served Cold (and in Couture)
Kitty Collins, Book 2

Let me start with this: murder-sobriety is apparently a thing. And somehow, in Katy Brent’s fierce, blood-splashed world, it makes perfect, razor-sharp sense.

Book two in the Kitty Collins series doesn’t just raise the stakes—it arms them with stilettos and sends them marching into the night. Kitty joins Angry Women Anonymous, a group of rage-fueled, justice-starved women who’ve been victimized and are sick of turning the other cheek. It’s not therapy. It’s a powder keg. And Kitty? She’s the match.

The plot is absurd in all the right ways—think Fleabag meets Dexter on a very bad hair day. It’s British dark humor at its finest: twisted, fast-paced, and just grounded enough to make you squirm. It’s like if Batman was an influencer with a killer wardrobe and a moral compass that spins like a lazy Susan. Think vigilante justice, but make it fashion.

What really hit me is how this book flips the murder-mystery genre on its head. As someone who adores traditional mysteries (hi, Alex Cross, Sebastian St. Cyr), Kitty is everything I’m not supposed to root for—and yet I do. Wildly. She’s not your polished detective. She’s your revenge fantasy in designer boots. She’s chaotic, unapologetic, and terrifyingly effective. She doesn’t solve crimes. She finishes them.

The murders? Unapologetically graphic. Weirdly satisfying. And somehow laced with the kind of warped empowerment that makes you question your own moral compass. Which is… unsettling. And brilliant.

Katy Brent’s writing is unrelenting in the best way. Her pacing is surgical, her dialogue could cut diamonds, and her sense of justice is as warped as it is strangely cathartic. You’re not just reading a thriller—you’re reading a manifesto in lip gloss and blood splatter.

And when the laughter fades and the blood dries, the true wound is somewhere quieter—where love meets consequence, and neither walks away unscathed.

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About the Author:
KATY BRENT is a freelance journalist and has been in the industry for over fifteen years. She started work in women’s magazines back in 2005. In 2006, Katy won a PTA award for New Journalist of the Year. More recently she has focused on television journalism. Writing a book has always been her dream and lockdown finally gave the time she kept using as an excuse for not doing it.

*HarperCollinsCA provided the ARC
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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