Serial Killer Games
by Kate Posey
CW (which are all spoilers): discussions of murders, family abuse, some death, terminal illness
I went into this book totally oblivious. I didn’t even know what genre it was. I had been drawn in by the slick cover and the vague blurb. This is 100% the way I recommend you approach this novel. If you’ve read a few of my reviews and you tend to like the books I like, I recommend stopping here. Leave this review for afterwards.
For those requiring a bit more information before embarking, read on!
Dolores dela Cruz is a corporate worker bee. She has a nice office in an unused part of a giant corporation’s share of a skyscraper and she’s obsessed with true crime. She is absolutely sure that the new temp, Jake Ripper (oh, how I wish his name were different – this is my only gripe) is a serial killer. They fall into conversation in the elevator one day and the spark is lit.
At the start, this is all you know about our two main characters. Hints are dropped and truths are revealed very gradually and the wait for answers is excruciating and wonderful. Is Jake a serial killer? Is Dolores? Are they going to kill people together? You just don’t know at this stage. And even once answers start appearing, you don’t know the full story until the last fifth of the book.
If I had done even the tiniest bit of checking, I would have seen this book tagged as a romance. It’s almost a pity that it is labelled in this way because it takes away a chunk of the suspense from Jake and Dolores’ connection. Right up until the midway point, I had no idea what the future held for our murder-obsessed couple.
By that point the suspense was so intense that I cracked and read the epilogue, which I deeply regret in hindsight. Had I been able to control myself, that suspense would have continued building until the ending, because I was entirely unsure how the story would live up to the genre labels.
Dolores and Jake peel back each other’s layers in the most visceral way and it’s exhilarating to read. Their morbid fascination with murder is the initial spark they share, but as that flame burns it illuminates so much more of their character and their points of connection. Their battle-worn souls sway ever closer to each other and oh my, the bravery it takes for both of them to send out those little tendrils of trust and hope.
There is absolutely a serial killer in this book: the Paper Pusher. They push corporate dickheads off buildings.
I’ve made this a Lightning Review because there is absolutely no way to discuss the book in more detail without ruining the reading experience. This book had me smiling and gasping and longing and holding my breath. A perfect reading experience for someone like me who needs rich emotional connections and cleverly constructed reveals in her books.
– Lara
What would you do if you thought your coworker was getting away with murder—literally?
Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field . . . including fields of unmarked graves.
The new office temp is definitely a serial killer.
Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn’t come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can’t help but wonder if, finally, he’s found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all.
Until Dolores asks Jake’s help to dispose of a body . . .
A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).
Contemporary Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Romance
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Thanks!
This looks fun!
Today I found a review for my book on my longtime favourite book blog. I can die complete.
I am so up for this! Thanks for the vague review with whole hearted rec.
I squee when authors comment 🙂
I also had a chance to read this one and agree wholeheartedly. This is a wonderful book, and you should go into it knowing absolutely nothing. I’m usually pretty good at seeing where things are headed, but in this case, I had absolutely no clue. Funny and heartfelt. Gem of a book!
I have this on hold at my library and am looking forward to it. Glad to see you liked it.
Wow, I already had this one on my list! (I dutifully quit reading the review about halfway down).
Just finished reading it. It’s a great book. Loved it so much. Can’t recommend it enough.
This was truly delightful, and I agree that knowing as little as possible makes the reading experience more fun. I loved the way Posey used ALL of the tropes but virtually none of them in cliched ways. Thanks for the rec!
I’ll add my voice to the “don’t read any reviews–go into this unspoiled!!” crowd. I loved this book–so far my best read of the year. Thanks for the recommendation!