Maddy's Reviews

As a half-British grim reaper and half-Japanese shinigami, Ren Scarborough understandably sees herself as an outsider as she roams London streets, collecting souls from the newly departed. After losing control of her shinigami abilities, she is forced to flee with her brother to Japan. Baker interweaves macabre mythology and Japanese folklore, grounding the story with a morally gray character. An excellent read for a dark autumn night, and the second book in this grimly enjoyable duology is due in October!  —MADDY

This fast-paced, thrilling debut by Alaina Urquhart, cohost of Morbid: A True Crime Podcast, is told from the dueling perspectives of Dr. Wren, a medical examiner who finds herself caught in a quickly escalating game of cat-and-mouse, and a serial killer who is leaving bodies in the streets of Louisiana. Urquhart provides a unique perspective as an autopsy technician and has extensive knowledge of everything true crime. If you’re a fan of the podcast or are just looking for a read-in-one-sitting type of book, this one’s for you!   
—MADDY
 

In this fresh and enthralling take on The Scarlet Letter, Hester is reimagined as Isobel Gamble, a Scottish seamstress with strange talents. The story opens with her 1829 arrival in Salem, Massachusetts. When her husband abandons her soon after, Isobel must navigate a new land on her own. Thrust into these uncertain circumstances, she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, who is beset by his own set of unfortunate circumstances. Laurie Lico Albanese’s twist on a classic tale is vivid and enchanting, immediately and easily immersive.   

—MADDY