First of all a huge apology for how late my review is being posted. Life has just been more than a bit hectic this last couple of weeks and without going into too much details – I’m just finding it difficult to be my happy usual self. I’m still reading but every time I’ve tired to get any sort of words down I just can’t quite find my happy keyboard tappy, tap, tap self.
Anyway enough about me and more about this wonderful and darkly disturbing read…
I was hooked. Dog Rose Dirt was great. GREAT.
It got the full 5 out of 5 star rating from me. My only problem with it was that I couldn’t read it fast enough!
Book Blurb:
What if your mother had been writing to a serial killer?
A convicted murderer with a story to tell
Serial killer Michael Reave – known as The Red Wolf – has been locked in Belmarsh Prison for over 20 years for the brutal and ritualistic murders of countless women.
A grieving daughter with a secret to unearth
Ex-journalist Heather Evans returns to her childhood home after her mother’s inexplicable suicide and discovers something chilling – hundreds of letters between her mother and Reave, dating back decades.
A hunt for a killer ready to strike again
When the body of a woman is found decorated with flowers, just like his victims, Reave is the only person alive who could help. After years of silence, he will speak to Heather, and only Heather.
If she wants to unearth the truth and stop further bloodshed, she’ll have to confront a monster.
Great sounding blurb, right!?!?!
I loved the characters, I was attached to their bad decisions, their slow realisations of the situation they were in and I loved all the sleuthing. I may have silently screamed once or twice at the book because the main character Heather – runs up the stairs A LOT. And by up the stairs I mean figuratively, as in that moment when you are watching a horror film and the (usually a) damsel in distress runs up the stairs instead of out of the front door… Half the book would NOT have happened if Heather had asked for help and told the police or her friends what was going on – hence the SILENT but LOUD internal screaming. Dog Rose Dirt got under my skin.
The writing was good and the pacing suited to story – it was a slow burn start with a rather frantic ending. And I loved the flashbacks – I love dual timelines in my fiction and Jen Williams did a fantastic job at marrying the history of the characters with the present day serial killer situation.
Dog Rose Dirt was DARK. It was intense and it was gripping. I’ve read a few mixed reviews about it but I thought it delivered everything I want in a serial killer/crime fiction book. If you are on the fence about it or if you just like the sound of the synopsis then I suggest you pick it up for yourself.
Have you read it? Do you want too?
I received a copy of the book for review, which was all arranged by the blog tour organiser – thank you!
One More Word 
Hey, don’t worry about crafting a lengthy review. Jules, a couple of sentences from you is enough for me💜
LikeLiked by 1 person