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spookysarahsays's reviews
305 reviews
Death Comes at Christmas by Marie O'Regan
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A good selection of stories for mystery fans who want to get into the holiday spirit.
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Charming and cozy, yet somewhat melancholy towards the end. Definitely brought tears to my eyes.
Hark! the Herald Angels Scream by Christopher Golden
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Started out strong but ends with mostly weaker stories. Worth reading once during the holiday season.
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Charming listen that’s well narrated by Alan Cumming. I enjoyed the light holiday theming as well as the ending. A nice way to spend 30ish minutes.
Hercule Poirot's Silent Night by Sophie Hannah
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Despite starting at the last of Sophie Hannah’s Poirot series I really enjoyed this one. She writes the character well. I definitely will go back to read the first 4.
Christmas Crimes at the Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a really fun read! I was pleasantly surprised by how consistent the stories were as well. My favorites were Here We Come A-Wassailing, A Christmas Puzzle, and End Game. This is definitely perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit.
You Like It Darker by Stephen King
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think my biggest issue with this book is that it’s not what I wanted. I hoped for horror short stories versus several novellas. This felt like King coming to terms with his mortality versus horror. It just wasn’t for me.
The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
More fantasy from Silvia Moreno-Garcia please!
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
informative
fast-paced
4.5
A good starting point for folks to understand what’s coming for us. A lot of eye opening points to consider as well.
The Autumnal: The Complete Series by Daniel Kraus
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Folk horror at its best. This needs to be a movie.