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The Book Club Murders
When Izzy O’Brien flees the city centre apartment she shared with her controlling partner, she relocates to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, and the house she inherited from her aunt.
Isolated and insecure, Izzy is relieved to be embraced by a tightknit group of female neighbours, who invite her to join their book club.
However, the town is not as sleepy as she thinks.
And her ex-boyfriend is not ready to let her go.
A gripping mystery thriller set in Ireland, The Book Club Murders is perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay.
Isolated and insecure, Izzy is relieved to be embraced by a tightknit group of female neighbours, who invite her to join their book club.
However, the town is not as sleepy as she thinks.
And her ex-boyfriend is not ready to let her go.
A gripping mystery thriller set in Ireland, The Book Club Murders is perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 3, 2023
In a Nutshell: A fast-paced thriller set around the members of a book club. Murders and mayhem combined with complicated characters provide an entertaining ride.
Story Synopsis:
Bookish Yays:
🔥 The characters come from various backgrounds in terms of financial status and job status. Their personalities are also distinct, ranging from the busybody and the snooty to the trendy and the laidback. The book club contains only women members, but their spouses are an equally important part of the story. As such, we get a medley of backstories and secrets, with each character having a clear role to play in the proceedings.
🔥 The author knows his locational setting well, and it shows! The description of Dun Laoghaire, its culture, its small town vibe, the Gardai, the library – every tiny detail connected to the Irish town serves to add a layer of authenticity to the proceedings, no matter how wild the ride gets.
🔥 The chapters are short and snappy, with many of them ending on mini cliffhangers. Moreover, as the narrative shifts across various characters with every chapter, we see multiple arcs unfolding at once and through them, multiple suspenseful chapter-ends. The whole experience is complicated and yet so much fun!
🔥 The start is slightly perplexing, as there are too many character pairs to keep track of. But once you start recognising them, the going is very smooth as the author makes each person behave distinctly. Moreover, every character has an easily distinguishable name, so there’s no confusion over similar-sounding names.
🔥 I love how fast-paced the story is, despite the number of characters and subplots. It never relaxes its tempo, making sure that I stay invested throughout.
🔥 The final 25% is especially thrilling, delivering exactly as this genre should. I hate extended infodumps at the end of mysteries and thrillers, so it was nice to see the ending of this book use a combination of flashbacks plus character conversations to fill in the blanks. The flashbacks keeps the action direct, rather than making us learn everything retrospectively through the character’s narration.
🔥 I like how Adam also gets a voice. Usually, the abusive ex appears to us only through the eyes of the victim. But seeing Adam's thoughts and actions from his own perspective was creepy and added greatly to the experience.
🔥 The title already tells you that there will be multiple deaths at or related to the book club. So it's an interesting game to figure out which character is going to kick the bucket. I felt like I was making case notes and character studies throughout the start. Further, most of the characters aren’t likeable. As such, even guessing which one of them you want dead is a tricky business. 😄
🔥 While the main cast is white, there are some key Chinese-origin characters. Through some of the townspeople’s interactions with them, we get a glimpse of how racism is a part of life for anyone who looks or sounds different. As some of this is pretty offensive (and realistic too), it provides an indicator of the said characters’ narrow-mindedness. This is exactly how racism works in the actual world.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🎆 I had expected the book club to pay a greater role in the plotline. (A part of me had expected a closed-door mystery where the members of a book club are rounded up by a book-hating maniac, or maybe by someone who hated the book chosen for discussion. Wouldn’t that have been something!? 😄) However, there’s only one scene set during an actual book club meeting, which was entertaining, no doubt. The references to books are also limited only to the start. So what I got was good, but I wanted far more, considering the title.
🎆 One of the characters makes a gender transition announcement during the course of events. While I loved the way the complications associated with such a coming-out were incorporated in the plot, I also feel like the transition was (mostly) portrayed in too idealistic a way. Considering how many busy bodies there were in the group, there would have been far more gossip than portrayed. The other characters’ easy switchover to the new name was also unrealistic.
🎆 Izzy supposedly has Sjögren's syndrome, a disorder of the immune system. I had never heard of this disorder, and so I was curious to see how it fit into the plot. But for the most part, it was used only to interject timely bouts of coughing. I wish it had been focused upon more, especially considering how she was trying alternative non-allopathic treatments for it. At the same time, it was nice to learn about a new disorder. Awareness never hurts!
Bookish Nays:
💣 One woman character’s internal thoughts connected to her body left me wondering whether that content was written in sarcasm or as a joke or just as a silly way of letting us know her personality. One line in particular – “Armpit hair long enough to plait” – was too cringey for my liking. Luckily, there’s not too much of this in the plot.
💣 Some minor plot points, including the one about Izzy’s health, were left aside without sufficient closure.
All in all, this was quite an entertaining ride. It did have certain OTT elements, but those were quite limited, and such farfetched situations are anyway part and parcel of this genre nowadays. So I just kept my logical hat aside and enjoyed the journey, going with the flow merrily. I wanted a fun popcorn thriller, and the book delivered! Count me in to try more books by this author.
Recommended to all thriller fans.
4 stars.
Content triggers: Murders (Duh!), self-harm, transphobia, minor racism, gaslighting.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and author Alan Gorevan for a complimentary copy of “The Book Club Murders”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
When thirty-year-old Izzy ran away from her abusive partner and moved into her recently deceased aunt’s house in the little seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, she was hoping for a quieter and safer time, in which she could forget her past trauma and focus on herself and her future. When her aunt’s neighbour invites Izzy to join their local book club, Izzy feels like it would be a great way of getting a fresh start. However, not a single member of the book club, nor their spouses, comes without their share of baggage. Combine this with her ex, who is not ready to accept the end of their relationship, and Izzy’s fresh start might not be so imminent, after all.
The story comes to us from the third person perspective of Izzy and various other characters.
Bookish Yays:
🔥 The characters come from various backgrounds in terms of financial status and job status. Their personalities are also distinct, ranging from the busybody and the snooty to the trendy and the laidback. The book club contains only women members, but their spouses are an equally important part of the story. As such, we get a medley of backstories and secrets, with each character having a clear role to play in the proceedings.
🔥 The author knows his locational setting well, and it shows! The description of Dun Laoghaire, its culture, its small town vibe, the Gardai, the library – every tiny detail connected to the Irish town serves to add a layer of authenticity to the proceedings, no matter how wild the ride gets.
🔥 The chapters are short and snappy, with many of them ending on mini cliffhangers. Moreover, as the narrative shifts across various characters with every chapter, we see multiple arcs unfolding at once and through them, multiple suspenseful chapter-ends. The whole experience is complicated and yet so much fun!
🔥 The start is slightly perplexing, as there are too many character pairs to keep track of. But once you start recognising them, the going is very smooth as the author makes each person behave distinctly. Moreover, every character has an easily distinguishable name, so there’s no confusion over similar-sounding names.
🔥 I love how fast-paced the story is, despite the number of characters and subplots. It never relaxes its tempo, making sure that I stay invested throughout.
🔥 The final 25% is especially thrilling, delivering exactly as this genre should. I hate extended infodumps at the end of mysteries and thrillers, so it was nice to see the ending of this book use a combination of flashbacks plus character conversations to fill in the blanks. The flashbacks keeps the action direct, rather than making us learn everything retrospectively through the character’s narration.
🔥 I like how Adam also gets a voice. Usually, the abusive ex appears to us only through the eyes of the victim. But seeing Adam's thoughts and actions from his own perspective was creepy and added greatly to the experience.
🔥 The title already tells you that there will be multiple deaths at or related to the book club. So it's an interesting game to figure out which character is going to kick the bucket. I felt like I was making case notes and character studies throughout the start. Further, most of the characters aren’t likeable. As such, even guessing which one of them you want dead is a tricky business. 😄
🔥 While the main cast is white, there are some key Chinese-origin characters. Through some of the townspeople’s interactions with them, we get a glimpse of how racism is a part of life for anyone who looks or sounds different. As some of this is pretty offensive (and realistic too), it provides an indicator of the said characters’ narrow-mindedness. This is exactly how racism works in the actual world.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🎆 I had expected the book club to pay a greater role in the plotline. (A part of me had expected a closed-door mystery where the members of a book club are rounded up by a book-hating maniac, or maybe by someone who hated the book chosen for discussion. Wouldn’t that have been something!? 😄) However, there’s only one scene set during an actual book club meeting, which was entertaining, no doubt. The references to books are also limited only to the start. So what I got was good, but I wanted far more, considering the title.
🎆 One of the characters makes a gender transition announcement during the course of events. While I loved the way the complications associated with such a coming-out were incorporated in the plot, I also feel like the transition was (mostly) portrayed in too idealistic a way. Considering how many busy bodies there were in the group, there would have been far more gossip than portrayed. The other characters’ easy switchover to the new name was also unrealistic.
🎆 Izzy supposedly has Sjögren's syndrome, a disorder of the immune system. I had never heard of this disorder, and so I was curious to see how it fit into the plot. But for the most part, it was used only to interject timely bouts of coughing. I wish it had been focused upon more, especially considering how she was trying alternative non-allopathic treatments for it. At the same time, it was nice to learn about a new disorder. Awareness never hurts!
Bookish Nays:
💣 One woman character’s internal thoughts connected to her body left me wondering whether that content was written in sarcasm or as a joke or just as a silly way of letting us know her personality. One line in particular – “Armpit hair long enough to plait” – was too cringey for my liking. Luckily, there’s not too much of this in the plot.
💣 Some minor plot points, including the one about Izzy’s health, were left aside without sufficient closure.
All in all, this was quite an entertaining ride. It did have certain OTT elements, but those were quite limited, and such farfetched situations are anyway part and parcel of this genre nowadays. So I just kept my logical hat aside and enjoyed the journey, going with the flow merrily. I wanted a fun popcorn thriller, and the book delivered! Count me in to try more books by this author.
Recommended to all thriller fans.
4 stars.
Content triggers: Murders (Duh!), self-harm, transphobia, minor racism, gaslighting.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and author Alan Gorevan for a complimentary copy of “The Book Club Murders”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
October 6, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! The story is expertly crafted, with a captivating plot and relatable characters.
I can't believe I overlooked this author and haven't read any of his books before! Fleeing from her controlling boyfriend, Adam, Izzy finds refuge in her late aunt's house. Adam is hot on her tail and won’t leave her alone. Meeting more of her neighbours, she attends the local book club after being invited by Louise, her neighbour. The book club members are left wondering how Kate, a member, died. I was nervous about remembering all the characters because there were so many. Thankfully, I have the Kindle Scribe, allowing me to write my notes on the device. I adore that feature.
The characters were very much like your next-door neighbours, making them believable. It had plenty of dark and intense moments, making it an enjoyable psychological thriller. Certain moments made me wince slightly, but they didn't diminish the plot. I was hooked by the author's storytelling from beginning to end. Will defiantly check Alan's other works. I still can't believe this fantastic author went under the radar.
Many thanks to @AlanGorevan for writing this fantastic novel & @ZooloosBT for a spot on the tour.
I can't believe I overlooked this author and haven't read any of his books before! Fleeing from her controlling boyfriend, Adam, Izzy finds refuge in her late aunt's house. Adam is hot on her tail and won’t leave her alone. Meeting more of her neighbours, she attends the local book club after being invited by Louise, her neighbour. The book club members are left wondering how Kate, a member, died. I was nervous about remembering all the characters because there were so many. Thankfully, I have the Kindle Scribe, allowing me to write my notes on the device. I adore that feature.
The characters were very much like your next-door neighbours, making them believable. It had plenty of dark and intense moments, making it an enjoyable psychological thriller. Certain moments made me wince slightly, but they didn't diminish the plot. I was hooked by the author's storytelling from beginning to end. Will defiantly check Alan's other works. I still can't believe this fantastic author went under the radar.
Many thanks to @AlanGorevan for writing this fantastic novel & @ZooloosBT for a spot on the tour.
October 9, 2023
A fast paced, can’t put down read with a ton of twists that will leave you breathless!
In this read you get to tag along with Izzy who moves into her Aunts house. She’s starting a new life to get away from her controlling boyfriend. Along this new journey navigating a life alone, she meets the ladies in a book club. While getting to know them the twists start coming and do not stop.
This book is well written with an awesome plot. The characters and details grab you and won’t get go until the very last word on the last page! Do yourself a favor and grab this one ASAP!!
In this read you get to tag along with Izzy who moves into her Aunts house. She’s starting a new life to get away from her controlling boyfriend. Along this new journey navigating a life alone, she meets the ladies in a book club. While getting to know them the twists start coming and do not stop.
This book is well written with an awesome plot. The characters and details grab you and won’t get go until the very last word on the last page! Do yourself a favor and grab this one ASAP!!
October 9, 2023
Wow!!! I am simply amazed by this book. I have never read this author before, but I will be sure to go through his catalogue! This book is full of suspenseful and tense moments. Gorevan builds up these moments with his brilliant writing. He keeps the pace moving so well that you cannot help to want to turn the next page and keep reading.
Gorevan keeps the mystery alive as to who whether or not there is more than one murderer and who they may be! I had a guess and I was wrong! The bodies start to add up, but why are all these people being murdered?
Lastly, Gorevan touches on a subject very delicately – transitioning from one gender to another. He touches on accepting of oneself, others’ acceptance, telling a spouse and family, and what it’s like in the real world.
I’m amazed by this author and I highly recommend this book.
Gorevan keeps the mystery alive as to who whether or not there is more than one murderer and who they may be! I had a guess and I was wrong! The bodies start to add up, but why are all these people being murdered?
Lastly, Gorevan touches on a subject very delicately – transitioning from one gender to another. He touches on accepting of oneself, others’ acceptance, telling a spouse and family, and what it’s like in the real world.
I’m amazed by this author and I highly recommend this book.
October 6, 2023
The book club murders by Alan Gorevan.
When Izzy O’Brien flees the city centre apartment she shared with her controlling partner, she relocates to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, and the house she inherited from her aunt.
I really enjoyed this book. Gripping read. Twists and turns. 4*.
When Izzy O’Brien flees the city centre apartment she shared with her controlling partner, she relocates to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, and the house she inherited from her aunt.
I really enjoyed this book. Gripping read. Twists and turns. 4*.
August 4, 2023
As a big fan of Alan Gorevan's thrillers, I was pleased to see him come out with a new book, and let me tell you... he does not disappoint. Tense and evocative with a compelling mystery at its heart, and peppered with his trademark humour, this is Gorevan at his very best as he delivers a corker that will have you turning the pages until you've devoured every last word and uncovered every last secret. Gorevan is quite simply one of the best Irish writers alive today! Unputdownable!
October 5, 2023
This is a book I was so anticipating. I knew I would enjoy it. Everything I have read by this author has never let me down. So I was expecting a fantastic read at the very least. The Book Club Murders was even better than that.
Set in Dun Laoghaire, In Ireland. We meet Lizzie, who has left her partner to live in the house she has inherited from her aunt. Her partner soon finds her, but luckily, help arrives in the form of Louise, her neighbour. From there she is invited to the book club Louise and her friends run. Lizzie feels safer with her circle of friends but doesn't realise she may have jumped from the frying pan and into the fire.
What a book! Every character is so well drawn and very real. The inclusion of a transgender character made it a book I connected with so deeply. I have a transgender 15 year old son, so I got so emotionally involved in Stephanie and how her coming out affected the people around her. Chapter 81 hit me. Her parents' reaction, Alan Gorevan, has written it perfectly. I understood the emotions and how parents can struggle to accept or understand. Especially when their child is so old.
I was almost holding my breath at certain points in this dark, twisty tale. Emotions about Stephanie aside, this is a tense and riveting thriller that I just couldn't put down. We even get to see Lizzie's ex, Adam's perspective. Now, that just increased the creepy factor! Especially as he started ramping up his abusive and cruel behaviour.
Fast-paced, with short chapters that kept me reading to find out what would happen next. It was definitely an addictive read. The pages flew by so fast that book that was over way too soon! If you haven't read anything by this author and love a dark, creepy, and tense thriller. Just pick this book up!
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours and Alan Gorevan for the copy of the book to write my honest review.
Set in Dun Laoghaire, In Ireland. We meet Lizzie, who has left her partner to live in the house she has inherited from her aunt. Her partner soon finds her, but luckily, help arrives in the form of Louise, her neighbour. From there she is invited to the book club Louise and her friends run. Lizzie feels safer with her circle of friends but doesn't realise she may have jumped from the frying pan and into the fire.
What a book! Every character is so well drawn and very real. The inclusion of a transgender character made it a book I connected with so deeply. I have a transgender 15 year old son, so I got so emotionally involved in Stephanie and how her coming out affected the people around her. Chapter 81 hit me. Her parents' reaction, Alan Gorevan, has written it perfectly. I understood the emotions and how parents can struggle to accept or understand. Especially when their child is so old.
I was almost holding my breath at certain points in this dark, twisty tale. Emotions about Stephanie aside, this is a tense and riveting thriller that I just couldn't put down. We even get to see Lizzie's ex, Adam's perspective. Now, that just increased the creepy factor! Especially as he started ramping up his abusive and cruel behaviour.
Fast-paced, with short chapters that kept me reading to find out what would happen next. It was definitely an addictive read. The pages flew by so fast that book that was over way too soon! If you haven't read anything by this author and love a dark, creepy, and tense thriller. Just pick this book up!
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours and Alan Gorevan for the copy of the book to write my honest review.
October 7, 2023
The Book Club Murders by Alan Gorevan
Tour date 10/8/23
#zooloo tours
#the book club murders
#Alan Gorevan
I really liked that this book kept you engaged
This book has lots of twists and turns and keeps you guessing what was next
Rating 4 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
https://instagram.com/sylv.iareads?ig...
Www.goodreads.com/dsamuel48samgmailcom
My review:
A collection of characters live in this neighborhood.
Tess wants to see if Gareth is cheating
Gareth had a gambling issue and has lost all of the savings
Hires Kate to flirt with him
Kate is married to Stephen, who has decided to identify himself as a woman
Izzy has left Adam
Adam needs Izzy to return, but he is a narcissist
Melanie and Tom are married
Louise runs the book club. Married to Robert
Izzy moves into the neighborhood after her aunt Elaine dies and leaves the house to her.
Izzy meets Louise, who runs the book club. They become fast friends. Something isn't quite right with Louise thou. Izzy just can't put her finger on it.
Soon, a member from the book club turns up dead. Everyone is stunned and shocked. Who could have done this and why?
Book synopsis:
When Izzy O’Brien flees the city center apartment she shared with her controlling partner, she relocates to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire and the house she inherited from her aunt.
Isolated and insecure, Izzy is relieved to be embraced by a tightknit group of female neighbours, who invite her to join their book club.
However, the town is not as sleepy as she thinks.
And her ex-boyfriend is not ready to let her go.
Tour date 10/8/23
#zooloo tours
#the book club murders
#Alan Gorevan
I really liked that this book kept you engaged
This book has lots of twists and turns and keeps you guessing what was next
Rating 4 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
https://instagram.com/sylv.iareads?ig...
Www.goodreads.com/dsamuel48samgmailcom
My review:
A collection of characters live in this neighborhood.
Tess wants to see if Gareth is cheating
Gareth had a gambling issue and has lost all of the savings
Hires Kate to flirt with him
Kate is married to Stephen, who has decided to identify himself as a woman
Izzy has left Adam
Adam needs Izzy to return, but he is a narcissist
Melanie and Tom are married
Louise runs the book club. Married to Robert
Izzy moves into the neighborhood after her aunt Elaine dies and leaves the house to her.
Izzy meets Louise, who runs the book club. They become fast friends. Something isn't quite right with Louise thou. Izzy just can't put her finger on it.
Soon, a member from the book club turns up dead. Everyone is stunned and shocked. Who could have done this and why?
Book synopsis:
When Izzy O’Brien flees the city center apartment she shared with her controlling partner, she relocates to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire and the house she inherited from her aunt.
Isolated and insecure, Izzy is relieved to be embraced by a tightknit group of female neighbours, who invite her to join their book club.
However, the town is not as sleepy as she thinks.
And her ex-boyfriend is not ready to let her go.
October 4, 2023
Izzy flees to her late Aunt Elaine’s house at the Irish Coast to escape from her abusive partner Adam but he’s hot on her heels and Izzy is terrified.
Izzy’s new neighbour Louise offers some help then invites her to The Book Club she runs that very evening.
OMG I didn’t put this book down all day, I had to read every last page.
Each chapter reads like a bestseller, the characters and the story are incredibly good.
I didn’t expect the story to go the way it did, it had lots of characters with different storylines but they all weaved together brilliantly and all connected near the end with the big twist.
Below are few things I really liked reading about in the book.
I loved the Book Club element and one of the characters was a Book Blogger too.
I enjoyed reading about the history of Dun Loaghaire which is where Izzy lives now she’s moved into her Aunty Elaine’s house, it seems like such a beautiful place.
The main character Izzy had a chronic illness that I appreciated being represented and one of the characters transitioned from male to female which I feel is underrepresented in books so it was lovely to have a character going through that.
I’m definitely going to read more by this author.
Izzy’s new neighbour Louise offers some help then invites her to The Book Club she runs that very evening.
OMG I didn’t put this book down all day, I had to read every last page.
Each chapter reads like a bestseller, the characters and the story are incredibly good.
I didn’t expect the story to go the way it did, it had lots of characters with different storylines but they all weaved together brilliantly and all connected near the end with the big twist.
Below are few things I really liked reading about in the book.
I loved the Book Club element and one of the characters was a Book Blogger too.
I enjoyed reading about the history of Dun Loaghaire which is where Izzy lives now she’s moved into her Aunty Elaine’s house, it seems like such a beautiful place.
The main character Izzy had a chronic illness that I appreciated being represented and one of the characters transitioned from male to female which I feel is underrepresented in books so it was lovely to have a character going through that.
I’m definitely going to read more by this author.
October 11, 2023
I absolutely love books like this one!
The cover totally draws you in - isolated, dark and a little bit creepy, but who else wants to wander along that walkway!? Just me? 🤔
When Izzy relocates from the city to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire to escape a controlling ex, she thinks she's found the perfect haven. The town welcome her and she's soon invited to the local book club - but the group is established and tight-knit and each has their own issues that drag Izzy down.
I loved how this starts off with a lovely, quiet, sleepy little seaside town, giving chilled cosy mystery vibes, but soon ramps up to being quite a dark and violent murder mystery.
The writing style really built the tension and kept the pace speeding along. With the strands of storyline weaving together nicely adding that extra suspense which had me on the edge of my seat.
I liked the various characters who all had their quirks and flaws and each felt relatable in this small town setting. I can totally see this is how book clubs always go, where everyone chats and gets invited into each others lives and issues.
I raced through this one and am keen to see what else this author has written. A great quick read.
The cover totally draws you in - isolated, dark and a little bit creepy, but who else wants to wander along that walkway!? Just me? 🤔
When Izzy relocates from the city to the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire to escape a controlling ex, she thinks she's found the perfect haven. The town welcome her and she's soon invited to the local book club - but the group is established and tight-knit and each has their own issues that drag Izzy down.
I loved how this starts off with a lovely, quiet, sleepy little seaside town, giving chilled cosy mystery vibes, but soon ramps up to being quite a dark and violent murder mystery.
The writing style really built the tension and kept the pace speeding along. With the strands of storyline weaving together nicely adding that extra suspense which had me on the edge of my seat.
I liked the various characters who all had their quirks and flaws and each felt relatable in this small town setting. I can totally see this is how book clubs always go, where everyone chats and gets invited into each others lives and issues.
I raced through this one and am keen to see what else this author has written. A great quick read.
October 8, 2023
First of all, I do have to wonder how I haven’t read any of this author’s books before! I read this book in one sitting, it was such a great story.
Izzy flees from her controlling boyfriend, Adam, and moves into her late aunt’s house. Adam is hot on her tail and won’t leave her alone.
Neighbour, Louise, invites her over for the local book club where she meets more of her neighbours.
When Kate, one of the members of the book club is found dead, they are all left wondering how she died.
There were a lot of characters and I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t remember who was who, but I worried unnecessarily, everyone was easy to remember due to their different ways etc. The characters were believable and very much like your next door neighbours.
This was an enjoyable psychological thriller with plenty of dark and intense moments, some bits did make me grimace a little but they didn’t detract from the plot. The author managed to hold my attention from the very start to the finish.
My thanks to the author and Zooloo’s Book Tours for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Izzy flees from her controlling boyfriend, Adam, and moves into her late aunt’s house. Adam is hot on her tail and won’t leave her alone.
Neighbour, Louise, invites her over for the local book club where she meets more of her neighbours.
When Kate, one of the members of the book club is found dead, they are all left wondering how she died.
There were a lot of characters and I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t remember who was who, but I worried unnecessarily, everyone was easy to remember due to their different ways etc. The characters were believable and very much like your next door neighbours.
This was an enjoyable psychological thriller with plenty of dark and intense moments, some bits did make me grimace a little but they didn’t detract from the plot. The author managed to hold my attention from the very start to the finish.
My thanks to the author and Zooloo’s Book Tours for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 3, 2023
This book started out with me thinking it was going to be cosy crime, even though Izzy O’Brien has fled to a small seaside town to escape her controlling partner Adam and swiftly welcomed into the local book club. But all that very quickly changed. With the mystery of her aunt’s death and many underlying grievances between the members of the club, it had me well and truly hooked. Apart from Izzy who I liked right from the start, I kept swaying in my opinion of the other women, and with Adam, I really wanted him to get his comeuppance. There’s also some great side characters and I loved Dylan’s family. There are some shocking moments in the book which only increased the tension I was feeling through the story and at times I could feel my heart racing.
I found The Book Club Murders to be an addictive read which I read at a breakneck pace and it’s definitely going to there as one of my favourite books of the year.
I found The Book Club Murders to be an addictive read which I read at a breakneck pace and it’s definitely going to there as one of my favourite books of the year.
October 7, 2023
Wow. So good and read in little over 24 hours. I even said to someone I’d probably recommend it when I was at 50%!
Some proper feisty characters in this one, and some lovely ones too. Each chapter concentrates on one and as we go, they all interact with each other and add substance to the story. Big twist about 80% I didn’t see coming and some interesting news from one character early on!
Bit odd the murder didn’t occur until around the 50% mark but what a build up to it. Definitely a one sitting book if you enjoy psychological thrillers. Will be looking out for more from this author for sure.
Some proper feisty characters in this one, and some lovely ones too. Each chapter concentrates on one and as we go, they all interact with each other and add substance to the story. Big twist about 80% I didn’t see coming and some interesting news from one character early on!
Bit odd the murder didn’t occur until around the 50% mark but what a build up to it. Definitely a one sitting book if you enjoy psychological thrillers. Will be looking out for more from this author for sure.
October 27, 2023
The Book Club Murders by Alan Gorevan
Who doesn’t love a book club? And who isn’t thrilled by the idea of a murder or three? If you also love the idea of murder among the book club members, then The Book Club Murders is the book for you.
I’m a big fan of Gorevan’s work. Normally short sharp shockers, but this one is meatier at over 300 pages. Once again short chapters, so easy to pick up and put down if you’re busy… or just keep reading as you get pulled deeper into the story. Once again doing it for Failte Ireland, and making me wish there was an Alan Gorevan Literary Tour so I could visit all the scenes of these fictitious crimes.
This one is set in Dun Laoghaire near Dublin (and thankfully the correct pronunciation is featured early on), and we join skinny and ill Izzy as she arrives at a house inherited from her aunt having just escaped a controlling relationship.
Or has she?
When your nasty ex is banging on the door and refusing to take no for the answer, a cosy book club in the home of a nice local woman seems like the ideal place to take a much needed breather. Members include the nice woman who also happens to be an unemployed architect… her husband is fond letting his dog shit in another book club member’s garden. There’s the failed actress whose husband is soon to be her wife, and the legal eagle whose husband is a bit of a dodo. Then there’s the hair stylist and social influencer with a hipster for a husband; they have plenty time for photo shoots but no time for each other. Finally there’s the local mother and daughter Olympic standard gossip team.
Circling the not so cosy book club is the psycho ex, several of the above husbands, a loan shark, and three generations of a Chinese family who provide healing herbs for Izzy’s medical issues as well as much needed support when things go pear shaped.
All these characters, each with their own backstories as well as their involvement in the plot, could easily have confused things. But the writing is clear and concise, leaving plenty of scope for the plot to develop. Murder, arson, jealousy, adultery and secrets discovered in old diaries; it all in here, and all set by the seaside. Great fun and a great read. Highly recommended.
Who doesn’t love a book club? And who isn’t thrilled by the idea of a murder or three? If you also love the idea of murder among the book club members, then The Book Club Murders is the book for you.
I’m a big fan of Gorevan’s work. Normally short sharp shockers, but this one is meatier at over 300 pages. Once again short chapters, so easy to pick up and put down if you’re busy… or just keep reading as you get pulled deeper into the story. Once again doing it for Failte Ireland, and making me wish there was an Alan Gorevan Literary Tour so I could visit all the scenes of these fictitious crimes.
This one is set in Dun Laoghaire near Dublin (and thankfully the correct pronunciation is featured early on), and we join skinny and ill Izzy as she arrives at a house inherited from her aunt having just escaped a controlling relationship.
Or has she?
When your nasty ex is banging on the door and refusing to take no for the answer, a cosy book club in the home of a nice local woman seems like the ideal place to take a much needed breather. Members include the nice woman who also happens to be an unemployed architect… her husband is fond letting his dog shit in another book club member’s garden. There’s the failed actress whose husband is soon to be her wife, and the legal eagle whose husband is a bit of a dodo. Then there’s the hair stylist and social influencer with a hipster for a husband; they have plenty time for photo shoots but no time for each other. Finally there’s the local mother and daughter Olympic standard gossip team.
Circling the not so cosy book club is the psycho ex, several of the above husbands, a loan shark, and three generations of a Chinese family who provide healing herbs for Izzy’s medical issues as well as much needed support when things go pear shaped.
All these characters, each with their own backstories as well as their involvement in the plot, could easily have confused things. But the writing is clear and concise, leaving plenty of scope for the plot to develop. Murder, arson, jealousy, adultery and secrets discovered in old diaries; it all in here, and all set by the seaside. Great fun and a great read. Highly recommended.
October 2, 2023
I’m so glad I’m not a member of this book club. I don’t think they ever get round to discussing the books. Too busy with the local gossip. And that’s before things get really serious. We only talk about crime novels and serial killer thrillers at any book club I belong to. We don’t act them out for real – thankfully. At least I don’t.
Izzy O’Brien has been forced to escape from her controlling fiance Adam. She’s fed up with his behaviour – he weighs her every day to check she’s exactly 100lbs. What? I haven’t weighed that since I was 12. He cuts her off from her family and friends. He’s jealous of everyone. Typical coercive control. Luckily she inherited her late Aunt Elaine’s house in the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, so that’s where she goes.
But as soon as she arrives, she knows Adam has followed her. He’s not going to let her go. She finds companionship over the road at Louise and Robert’s house, where the book club is meeting. Well, Louise is there – Robert has gone to the pub as usual to cause trouble. Then there’s Baxter the Labrador. The poor dog is not responsible for Robert’s behaviour.
However, the book isn’t called The Book Club Murders for nothing. There will be plenty of those to come and plenty of twists and turns along the way. Poor Izzy thought she was getting away to make a new start, but she seems to have gone from out of the frying pan into the fire.
Towards the end the book descends into total madness and mayhem – until then it wasn’t that funny – but all I can say at this point is ‘here’s Johnny?’
Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
Izzy O’Brien has been forced to escape from her controlling fiance Adam. She’s fed up with his behaviour – he weighs her every day to check she’s exactly 100lbs. What? I haven’t weighed that since I was 12. He cuts her off from her family and friends. He’s jealous of everyone. Typical coercive control. Luckily she inherited her late Aunt Elaine’s house in the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, so that’s where she goes.
But as soon as she arrives, she knows Adam has followed her. He’s not going to let her go. She finds companionship over the road at Louise and Robert’s house, where the book club is meeting. Well, Louise is there – Robert has gone to the pub as usual to cause trouble. Then there’s Baxter the Labrador. The poor dog is not responsible for Robert’s behaviour.
However, the book isn’t called The Book Club Murders for nothing. There will be plenty of those to come and plenty of twists and turns along the way. Poor Izzy thought she was getting away to make a new start, but she seems to have gone from out of the frying pan into the fire.
Towards the end the book descends into total madness and mayhem – until then it wasn’t that funny – but all I can say at this point is ‘here’s Johnny?’
Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
October 1, 2023
I loved this authors last book so was looking forward to this. Set in Ireland, Dun Laoghaire is a lovely town and harbour south of Dublin and generally a very peaceful place. However this all changes with Alan Gorevans tale! Izzy O’Brien has moved into her dead Aunt’s house in Dun Laoghaire having moved out of her controlling partners flat. This is a fast paced and exciting read, a real page turner, and I read it in an afternoon.
Briefly, Izzy’s first day in Dun Laoghaire and she meets a friendly neighbour who invites her to her book club that evening. It soon becomes apparent that each of the members and their husbands/ partners have issues to contend with which Izzy gets dragged into. Meanwhile Adam won’t accept her moving out and continues to harass her.
This starts out masquerading as a nice cosy read but it rapidly descends into a vortex of violence and murder. But who is the murderer and indeed is there more than one? The author has done a brilliant job of gradually building up the suspense to provide a climax of mayhem and bloodshed. An entertaining read with dark humour and a great plot, I didn’t guess whodunit! Excellent read.
Briefly, Izzy’s first day in Dun Laoghaire and she meets a friendly neighbour who invites her to her book club that evening. It soon becomes apparent that each of the members and their husbands/ partners have issues to contend with which Izzy gets dragged into. Meanwhile Adam won’t accept her moving out and continues to harass her.
This starts out masquerading as a nice cosy read but it rapidly descends into a vortex of violence and murder. But who is the murderer and indeed is there more than one? The author has done a brilliant job of gradually building up the suspense to provide a climax of mayhem and bloodshed. An entertaining read with dark humour and a great plot, I didn’t guess whodunit! Excellent read.
October 7, 2023
Lizzie has left her partner and is moving into the house she inherited from her aunt. She very soon meets her neighbour Louise who invites her to join the book club and from there the story progresses through to the unbelievable ending. This book is fast paced with short sharp chapters so you say I'll read just one more chapter and before you know it you have reached the conclusion. The author has created some down to earth characters and I loved how he explored the transgender and how it shows peoples emotions from the side of the family and friends and also the side of the transgender person. This book is the first I have read by this author because I heard positive feedback and now I can see why he is a favourite. The story held my attention throughout and I didn't want it to end. I highly recommend clearing your schedule before starting. A dark, addictive thriller with plenty of gameplay between the characters to keep you entertained and I could not get enough!
October 7, 2023
A Favorite Book of the Year
I have been a fan of Alan Gorevan from his very first book. I have bought and read them all and he just gets better with every one. This is my favorite. A Psychological thriller involving neighbors and what really goes on behind closed doors, is my kind of read. I've never said this before but I think Alan has topped Stephen King's new book this year. I'm talking about Fillers. You know the parts of a book that are dragging and you're thinking to yourself, Get back to the Plot already! Alan has always been Filler free. A huge gift he has as an author. This book was worth the wait.
Alan had to have researched Psychological disorders because almost every character has one. The pace was the best part, shorter chapters and each one ends with a mini cliffhanger. I know many readers who love that style!
This book is my New Definition of Unputdownable!
Alan, you held me captive and I loved every minute of it!
Highly Recommend! 5-stars!
I have been a fan of Alan Gorevan from his very first book. I have bought and read them all and he just gets better with every one. This is my favorite. A Psychological thriller involving neighbors and what really goes on behind closed doors, is my kind of read. I've never said this before but I think Alan has topped Stephen King's new book this year. I'm talking about Fillers. You know the parts of a book that are dragging and you're thinking to yourself, Get back to the Plot already! Alan has always been Filler free. A huge gift he has as an author. This book was worth the wait.
Alan had to have researched Psychological disorders because almost every character has one. The pace was the best part, shorter chapters and each one ends with a mini cliffhanger. I know many readers who love that style!
This book is my New Definition of Unputdownable!
Alan, you held me captive and I loved every minute of it!
Highly Recommend! 5-stars!
October 2, 2023
Well this book club is unlike any book club I have ever attended thank goodness. A brilliant, dark, psychological thriller by an author I have not come across before , although how I missed Alan Gorevan I do not know. We have a bit of everything here. The worst type of coercive control and abuse, a murder mystery or maybe two or three, maybe a budding romance, this was certainly a read in one sitting.
After Izzy, in a vain attempt to flee her abusive psychopathic boyfriend Adam, moves into her aunt’s old house the tension just builds and builds. As she gets to know her neighbours better she realises that nothing and no one is as they seem. It seems Izzy may just have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
The build up to the finale is heart stopping and I couldn’t wait to find out who was going to survive this action packed and violent ending.
After Izzy, in a vain attempt to flee her abusive psychopathic boyfriend Adam, moves into her aunt’s old house the tension just builds and builds. As she gets to know her neighbours better she realises that nothing and no one is as they seem. It seems Izzy may just have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
The build up to the finale is heart stopping and I couldn’t wait to find out who was going to survive this action packed and violent ending.
October 14, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. It drew me in with the title, especially being a book lover, and then I read the exciting and secretive blurb.
I really enjoyed getting to know the main character. I felt bad for her situation and the need to run, but was pleased she had the lucky chance to escape away to an inherited home, or so I thought. It was great to watch her start to recover and grow, as the locals welcomed her in, but then things started to kick off.
As the author threw us into the mix, the excitement ramped up and we had to try to guess what was going to happen and who was behind what did take place.
I really enjoyed the level of detail, in this book, and the pace with which the story flowed. It allowed for the book to build quite a lot of anticipation and excitement and I loved that. I also enjoyed the turns and the way the ending unfolded. Overall as brilliant read.
I really enjoyed getting to know the main character. I felt bad for her situation and the need to run, but was pleased she had the lucky chance to escape away to an inherited home, or so I thought. It was great to watch her start to recover and grow, as the locals welcomed her in, but then things started to kick off.
As the author threw us into the mix, the excitement ramped up and we had to try to guess what was going to happen and who was behind what did take place.
I really enjoyed the level of detail, in this book, and the pace with which the story flowed. It allowed for the book to build quite a lot of anticipation and excitement and I loved that. I also enjoyed the turns and the way the ending unfolded. Overall as brilliant read.
January 28, 2025
Wow! A great fast paced thriller mystery story. The title is what pulled me in at first. I have been part of a book club/group for many years and was intrigued by book club members being targets of this murder mystery. Author pulled me into their world as I pictured this chatty bunch at book night, but then their world changes and yet they lean on one another for support. Loved the short chapters and the twists that came as I tried to solve the mystery along with the characters. I was pulled in from the beginning and did not want to put it down. A perfect read for a cold January day bundled inside.
October 8, 2023
This book is absolutely fantastic. It is well written with a compelling story line and well developed characters that were both real and relatable.
The pacing of the book was absolutely spot on, at no point did it lull causing my interest to drop, it was just constantly on point. It was atmospheric and creepy, a feeling that for me, started with the front cover and kept at a steady pace all the way through the book. I mean can we just talk about that front cover for a hot second - a walkway that is dark at the bottom and seems to go on forever - at this point I'm walking down it and don't care if there are killer clowns at the bottom of it - I mean that's a slight lie but my enthusiasm to walk down it is real.
The twists were great and kept me guessing all the way through too. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait to read more by the author
The pacing of the book was absolutely spot on, at no point did it lull causing my interest to drop, it was just constantly on point. It was atmospheric and creepy, a feeling that for me, started with the front cover and kept at a steady pace all the way through the book. I mean can we just talk about that front cover for a hot second - a walkway that is dark at the bottom and seems to go on forever - at this point I'm walking down it and don't care if there are killer clowns at the bottom of it - I mean that's a slight lie but my enthusiasm to walk down it is real.
The twists were great and kept me guessing all the way through too. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait to read more by the author
October 14, 2023
Not a sleepy Irish town indeed!
This book was entertaining 😄. It’s not the usual dark and somber mystery/suspense that I’m used to, but interesting nonetheless (with humorous parts). I could actually see this book being adapted into a film.
The description of the town made me feel like I was right there. The parallel storylines kept me involved not only in Izzy’s plot but the others & the characters had distinct personalities.
I kept trying to figure out who the killer (or killers) was throughout.
And the last 150 pages or so…whoa!
This book was entertaining 😄. It’s not the usual dark and somber mystery/suspense that I’m used to, but interesting nonetheless (with humorous parts). I could actually see this book being adapted into a film.
The description of the town made me feel like I was right there. The parallel storylines kept me involved not only in Izzy’s plot but the others & the characters had distinct personalities.
I kept trying to figure out who the killer (or killers) was throughout.
And the last 150 pages or so…whoa!
December 5, 2023
Izzy escapes her abusive partner, Adam, by moving to her late aunts house on the Irish coast. But her partner Adam isn't far behind.
Her new neighbour Louise helps her and during a conversation, Louise invites Izzy to join her bookclub, and thinking safety in numbers, but it isn't what she expects.
I absolutely loved this book, I read it in one sitting, I was totally gripped. It's full of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Full of violence and murder as title suggests.
A fantastic plot with equally fantastic characters. A must read. Alan Gorevan is one to watch!
Her new neighbour Louise helps her and during a conversation, Louise invites Izzy to join her bookclub, and thinking safety in numbers, but it isn't what she expects.
I absolutely loved this book, I read it in one sitting, I was totally gripped. It's full of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Full of violence and murder as title suggests.
A fantastic plot with equally fantastic characters. A must read. Alan Gorevan is one to watch!
January 31, 2025
I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this book and the cut-scene POV shifts, which built tension effectively and kept the momentum strong. However, I struggled to connect with the characters, which made it harder to feel fully invested in their journeys.
While the twist wasn’t particularly shocking, it was still engaging, though the ending left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. That said, the book successfully pulled me out of a reading slump, and I’d be interested in reading more from this author.
While the twist wasn’t particularly shocking, it was still engaging, though the ending left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. That said, the book successfully pulled me out of a reading slump, and I’d be interested in reading more from this author.
October 12, 2023
Fast paced murders and mayhem set in Ireland. Nice break from lengthy novels,
I enjoyed trying to figure out who was going to be killed next, how & why!
There were a couple of things I could have done without, considering
the topic felt forced, but overall, it’s a good book.
I enjoyed trying to figure out who was going to be killed next, how & why!
There were a couple of things I could have done without, considering
the topic felt forced, but overall, it’s a good book.
December 1, 2023
The Book Club Murders was a sweet cozy mystery about a young woman who inherits a house and with it, the neighborhood of mainly women whom she joins in a book club. Needless to say, there are murders to investigate and the question is “Who can I really trust?” A great read.
March 10, 2024
What a wonderful and thrilling read! Piecing the clues together was so much fun. When Kate is found dead, and so many potential suspects, the reader is in for a treat. With twists and turns, this book is one to add to your shelf!
December 1, 2023
What a fantastic read
January 13, 2024
Bardzo dobrze się zapowiadało, ale w gruncie rzeczy, strata czasu. Trzy gwiazdki z uprzejmości dla autora...
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