Secrets Unbound: Death of a Bookseller Review

The review

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater is set within Walthamstow in London, in a failing bookstore branch of Spines, in which one of our main characters, Roach, works. A loner and an avid collector of true crime books and novelties, Roach's world is filled with murder podcasts and her own disdain for her 'normie' customers. Her existence is upended by the arrival of Laura, a newcomer with curated outfits, literary tote bags, beautiful poetry, and a seemingly unending kindness, at least to the other characters of the story; bringing an unprecedented change to Roach's routine.

Brogan Roach is a character with an unending fascination for death, obsessed with reading and researching true crime stories and cases – relishing in the the gruesome details that others often shy away from. Roach's interest is piqued when Laura joins the bookstore, during a revival of Walthamstow branch of Spines, a woman whose initial dislike for Roach gives way to an uncanny connection. A connection that Roach believes exists due to the darkness she sees in Laura and her poetry - a darkness that she believes mirrors her own. Roach's obsession with Laura grows as she uncovers Laura's tragic past, Laura's mother was the final victim of the Stow Strangler, a serial killer which once threatened the streets of Walthamstow. This discovery cements Roach's limitless determination to become a part of Laura's life.

Laura, the new employee at the bookstore, is a complex character herself. Where Roach is dark and quiet, Laura is outgoing and bubbly, with a relentless drive to have a “perfect” exterior. She is an avid writer of poetry from the perspective of victims, in an attempt to level the “trend” of true crime not to that of serial killers, but to the effects these crimes have on victims and their families. Laura's bright exterior, however, belies her struggles with her tragic past and attempts to connect to her mother, having been only a teenager when she was murdered, in addition to overcoming her tendency towards excessive drinking. Roach, misunderstanding Laura's poetry as a common ground, attempts to befriend her, not realizing that Laura's expression is a coping mechanism, rather than a shared fascination with crime.

Roach's distinct character is characterized by her obsession with death, serial killers, and an aversion to the 'normies' around her. She is eccentric and uninterested in fitting into societal norms. Her obsession extends to Laura when she learns about Laura's traumatic past, and she is relentless in her attempts to infiltrate Laura's life. Her persistence and refusal to respect Laura's boundaries hint at her eccentricity, while her immersion in the world of true crime and her disdain for those who do not share her interests paint her as a character that might be perceived as unnerving. These traits, coupled with her intrusive pursuit of a relationship with Laura, deepen the sense of Roach's character as eccentric and unsettling.

Personal thoughts

Alice Slater is clearly an excellent storyteller, and her development of characters almost brings them to life. The low rating largely comes from my own disdain for true crime and discomfort towards Roach’s character; I had a difficult time continuing to read this story because of her character. I often felt discomfort towards Roach's character due to her obsession with death and true crime, an interest that extends to gruesome details that were unsettling (particularly when Roach’s character finds them ‘fascinating’ rather than upsetting). Furthermore, her persistent intrusion into Laura's life, despite Laura's clear desire for distance, is a clear violation of personal boundaries. Roach's disdain for 'normies'—those who do not share her morbid interests—also creates a sense of alienation and judgement, which further led to my dislike of her character and an inability to ‘connect’ with her. Others may really enjoy this story; it brings about many excellent underlying points of how problematic true crime as a genre can be, however my original assumption of this book upon reading the summary, was that it would be a cozy murder mystery – which it clearly was not, thus not really falling into my typical genres of interest.

Book details

Author: Alice Slater

Genre: Mystery

Length: 368 pages

Series: Standalone

Tropes: True crime

Rating: 💡💡

Spice rating: N/A

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