Let the Right Book In

If you like your books to leave you full of absolute rage at the criminal justice system and sincerely concerned about how people can get locked away on pretty much zero evidence, look no further than Devil’s Knot. “This story is a children’s tragedy. The victims - and there were many - were all minors.” The case of the West Memphis Three is an incredibly popular one, and I think it resonates with a lot of my followers in particular, as quite a few of us like to wear black clothing or band tees and read Stephen King and have an interest in the occult. Does this suggest we are capable of murder? Well, the prosecutors of this case seem to think so. Bear in mind, this did take place almost 30 years ago in what has been described as a narrow-minded town, but that doesn’t lessen how absolutely fucking terrifying this case is. With her journalist background, Levitt has penned an incredibly consuming and immersive account of what happened over the course of this trial. Even if you...

Is there anything more frustrating for a bookworm than a book which starts out so strongly and with so much promise, and then simply goes a little flat in the second half? “I think we are just insects, we live a bit and then die and that’s the lot. There’s no mercy in things. There’s not even a Great Beyond. There’s nothing.” When a book is being lauded as some kind of bible for a number of murderers and serial killers, then of course it will attract my attention. The Collector follows a butterfly collector who diverts his obsession with collecting onto a beautiful stranger, an art student named Miranda. I was so sure The Collector would become a new favourite, the premise is deliciously dark and disturbing, a man obsessed with a woman, intent on kidnapping her and making her fall in love with him. However, it’s not as dark as it COULD be, in my opinion. I felt like I just wanted it to go further... but I guess that’s the horror fan in me. The first half is fantastic, ...

If you’re already trying to decide what to read over the festive period in 2020, I’ve got you covered. Spirits of the Season is a fantastically well-rounded collection of stories where things go bump in the night. “It is a genial, festive season, and we love to muse upon graves, and dead bodies, and murders, and blood.” Given that the collection is comprised of stories published between the years 1867-1940, I was surprised at how readable each and every story was, as sometimes I can struggle with older writing styles. I also love anthologies because they open me up to a range of authors that I want to explore in the future - I had always known that Algernon Blackwood was a huge inspiration for HP Lovecraft and now after reading The Kit-Bag I will be on the hunt for more of his work. Although the stories are set over the Christmas period, they are not necessarily festive - don’t expect stories brimming with Christmas trees and presents and Santa! (Although one story does rev...