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A Dream to Die For: A Novel
In Riverton Falls, a small New England town, globe-trotting bartender Celeste Fortune stands in her kitchen puzzling over last night’s frightening dream― a woman at a window, lilacs blowing in the breeze, someone’s hands tight around her neck . Celeste is sure the dream belongs to someone else. Perhaps she has finally broken through to the collective dreams of Dreamland cult. Hoping her therapist and cult leader will help her untangle it, she heads off into the cold November morning to her final appointment with him―or so she hopes. Her estranged fiancé has delivered an Leave the cult of Dreamers, or end their relationship for good.
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria. But when the two women discover the power of the stolen dreams, they unwittingly become the killer’s next target.
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria. But when the two women discover the power of the stolen dreams, they unwittingly become the killer’s next target.
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2019
29 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Susan Z. Ritz
1 book34 followersSusan Ritz grew up in Minnesota, but she left home to become a wandering scholar; she lived, studied, and worked as a social worker in Kenya, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia in the 1970s. She worked as a human rights lobbyist in Washington, DC, during the Carter Administration before moving to Dachau, Germany, the setting for her memoir in progress, On the Edge of Dachau. For the past thirty years she has lived with her husband and three children in Montpelier, Vermont, where she has worked as a fund raiser, events coordinator, and philanthropic advisor for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, especially those promoting economic equality for women. Writing, however, has always been her passion, and after receiving an MFA in creative nonfiction from Goucher College, she began writing for local publications, teaching creative writing to adults and high school students, and writing her first novel, A Dream to Die For.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 12, 2019
Celeste Fortune has had another dream, a frightening one. Someone was trying to hurt her. She thinks the dream may have been intended for someone else.
Celeste belongs to the Dreamland cult, and her therapist is also her cult leader. Her fiancé has told her she has to leave the cult, and she’s hoping to meet with her therapist one last time.
When she goes to the meeting, her therapist has been seriously hurt, and the laptop, which has the dreams of the cult members, has disappeared. Of course, Celeste is a suspect because she found the therapist like this, and she seeks to clear her name. In doing so, she may become the next victim.
A Dream to Die For is a quick, absorbing read. It’s eccentric and original, one that will keep you guessing. I found the cult and dream aspects interesting.
Overall, A Dream to Die For is an engaging and suspenseful mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it for a change of pace.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Celeste belongs to the Dreamland cult, and her therapist is also her cult leader. Her fiancé has told her she has to leave the cult, and she’s hoping to meet with her therapist one last time.
When she goes to the meeting, her therapist has been seriously hurt, and the laptop, which has the dreams of the cult members, has disappeared. Of course, Celeste is a suspect because she found the therapist like this, and she seeks to clear her name. In doing so, she may become the next victim.
A Dream to Die For is a quick, absorbing read. It’s eccentric and original, one that will keep you guessing. I found the cult and dream aspects interesting.
Overall, A Dream to Die For is an engaging and suspenseful mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it for a change of pace.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
September 8, 2021
EXCERPT: Larry talked right over her. 'I'm serious here, Cel. If ya wanna keep working with me, then ya gotta keep up. How many times do I gotta say it? You go right back to the same old defensive patterns. Look at how you're sitting, all locked up around yourself, keeping that heart all suited up for battle, but afraid to make a move. Am I right?'
Celeste shook her head, staring down. She watched as a fat tear from each eye fell into her lap, and then she hugged herself tighter. How could he still have this much power over her? Do it, goddamn it, she yelled inside her head. Tell him!
'I'm not -'
'Feel the pain,' Pete squawked, drowning out her whispered words.
Larry wasn't listening to her, anyway. 'Like how you still got that ring on.'
Celeste protectively covered the engagement ring with her right hand. Jake had designed it for her before he'd even asked her to marry him - a sapphire, her birthstone, a sky blue Ceylon surrounded by diamond chips in an antique white gold setting - the most beautiful thing she'd ever owned, better than anything she'd ever imagined - though engagement rings had never been something she'd thought much about.
'Jesus, Cel, when are you ever going to let go and move on in your life? Don't you know it's over with Jake? We've gone around and around on this. Your dreams are crystal clear, even if you refuse to believe them. Jake's no good for you; he's holding you back, keeping you from surrendering to the Dreamscape, to Dreamland. Let go of him. The choice is clear. You can't keep living this double life.' Larry shook his head, puckering his lips as if he wanted to spit. 'Jeez, just make your mind up once and for all.'
Celeste felt her face flush red. 'Jake's none of your business, Larry. In fact, I'm . . . this is . . .' She drew in her breath, trying to summon her earlier resolve, but just as she was about to get the practiced words out, Larry exploded from his chair, arms outstretched, hands waving like signals in the air. He suddenly looked like a furious dwarf out of some Grimm's fairytale, bellowing and snorting at her as he shot out from behind his desk on his stumpy little legs.
'No, I'm just your therapist! Are you fucking kidding me? Everything's my business! When are you going to finally get that?'
ABOUT 'A DREAM TO DIE FOR': In Riverton Falls, a small New England town, globe-trotting bartender Celeste Fortune stands in her kitchen puzzling over last night’s frightening dream—a woman at a window, lilacs blowing in the breeze, someone’s hands tight around her neck. Celeste is sure the dream belongs to someone else. Perhaps she has finally broken through to the collective dreams of Dreamland cult. Hoping her therapist and cult leader will help her untangle it, she heads off into the cold November morning to her final appointment with him—or so she hopes. Her estranged fiancé has delivered an ultimatum: Leave the cult of Dreamers, or end their relationship for good.
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria. But when the two women discover the power of the stolen dreams, they unwittingly become the killer’s next target.
MY THOUGHTS: A Dream to Die For is much more a story about the 'Dreamers' cult, than it is a murder mystery, which is one of the reasons I didn't like this. I felt very much like tossing this in at the ten percent mark, but figured that it must get better. And it did, briefly. But just before the fifty percent point, I could stand it no longer, and pushed the delete option.
Where do I start explaining why I didn't like this? The characters? They were all weird. Now I don't mind a bit of weird. I find weird quite entertaining. But not here. Celeste had no backbone. Why would a person who is probably on minimum wage and living off her tips pay $150 an hour to talk to this therapist, Larry, simply because 'everyone in town goes to him'? Especially when her friend Gloria, the reason she moved to Riverton Falls, has already warned her against him, as has her fiance Jake. Celeste is the sort of person who would consult her therapist, or a tarot card reader, before she blew her nose, or changed her underwear.
Larry, the therapist, is a totally unbelievable twit. The only thing about him that astounds me is how he lived so long. I don't know why someone didn't murder him earlier.
Jake, the fiance, has been married before to the woman who is Larry's right hand woman in the cult. I completely understand why he broke up with Celeste. But he does behave very strangely . . .
Gloria, Celeste's estranged friend, is an environmental lawyer, but is the only person she can think to call when she is taken into custody at the murder scene.
The supporting cast is made up of 'Adam', the tarot card reader in the park, and the 'Dreamers', Celeste's so called friends who turn on her when they believe she murdered Larry.
And if you're wondering who the Pete in the extract is, he's a parrot.
How can anyone believe that if they are able to dream each other's dreams, or all dream the same dream, it is going to elevate them to a higher plane of being? Puhlease!
I started listening with interest, which rapidly faded, peaked with Larry's murder, then plummeted again. This read is seriously Weird.
And the murder mystery isn't even much of a mystery. It's pretty obvious from very early on who killed Larry, but I did check with someone else who read and enjoyed A Dream to Die For, after I had abandoned it, just to make sure.
I would like to point out that the narrator, Rachel Perry, was excellent, and certainly had nothing to do with my abandoning this book.
I am well aware that I am very much on my own with my feelings on A Dream to Die For, and that it may well be a book that you enjoy, so please check out a selection of the many positive reviews.
⭐
#ADreamtoDieFor #NetGalley
I: @susanzritz @ orangeskyaudio
T: #SusanZRitz #OrangeSkyAudio
#audiobook #crime #cultfiction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Susan Ritz grew up in Minnesota, but she left home to become a wandering scholar; she lived, studied, and worked as a social worker in Kenya, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia in the 1970s. She worked as a human rights lobbyist in Washington, DC, during the Carter Administration before moving to Dachau, Germany, the setting for her memoir in progress, On the Edge of Dachau. For the past thirty years she has lived with her husband and three children in Montpelier, Vermont, where she has worked as a fund raiser, events coordinator, and philanthropic advisor for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, especially those promoting economic equality for women. Writing, however, has always been her passion, and after receiving an MFA in creative nonfiction from Goucher College, she began writing for local publications, teaching creative writing to adults and high school students, and writing her first novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Orange Sky Audio via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of A Dream to Die For, written by Susan Z. Ritz and narrated by Rachel Perry, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Celeste shook her head, staring down. She watched as a fat tear from each eye fell into her lap, and then she hugged herself tighter. How could he still have this much power over her? Do it, goddamn it, she yelled inside her head. Tell him!
'I'm not -'
'Feel the pain,' Pete squawked, drowning out her whispered words.
Larry wasn't listening to her, anyway. 'Like how you still got that ring on.'
Celeste protectively covered the engagement ring with her right hand. Jake had designed it for her before he'd even asked her to marry him - a sapphire, her birthstone, a sky blue Ceylon surrounded by diamond chips in an antique white gold setting - the most beautiful thing she'd ever owned, better than anything she'd ever imagined - though engagement rings had never been something she'd thought much about.
'Jesus, Cel, when are you ever going to let go and move on in your life? Don't you know it's over with Jake? We've gone around and around on this. Your dreams are crystal clear, even if you refuse to believe them. Jake's no good for you; he's holding you back, keeping you from surrendering to the Dreamscape, to Dreamland. Let go of him. The choice is clear. You can't keep living this double life.' Larry shook his head, puckering his lips as if he wanted to spit. 'Jeez, just make your mind up once and for all.'
Celeste felt her face flush red. 'Jake's none of your business, Larry. In fact, I'm . . . this is . . .' She drew in her breath, trying to summon her earlier resolve, but just as she was about to get the practiced words out, Larry exploded from his chair, arms outstretched, hands waving like signals in the air. He suddenly looked like a furious dwarf out of some Grimm's fairytale, bellowing and snorting at her as he shot out from behind his desk on his stumpy little legs.
'No, I'm just your therapist! Are you fucking kidding me? Everything's my business! When are you going to finally get that?'
ABOUT 'A DREAM TO DIE FOR': In Riverton Falls, a small New England town, globe-trotting bartender Celeste Fortune stands in her kitchen puzzling over last night’s frightening dream—a woman at a window, lilacs blowing in the breeze, someone’s hands tight around her neck. Celeste is sure the dream belongs to someone else. Perhaps she has finally broken through to the collective dreams of Dreamland cult. Hoping her therapist and cult leader will help her untangle it, she heads off into the cold November morning to her final appointment with him—or so she hopes. Her estranged fiancé has delivered an ultimatum: Leave the cult of Dreamers, or end their relationship for good.
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria. But when the two women discover the power of the stolen dreams, they unwittingly become the killer’s next target.
MY THOUGHTS: A Dream to Die For is much more a story about the 'Dreamers' cult, than it is a murder mystery, which is one of the reasons I didn't like this. I felt very much like tossing this in at the ten percent mark, but figured that it must get better. And it did, briefly. But just before the fifty percent point, I could stand it no longer, and pushed the delete option.
Where do I start explaining why I didn't like this? The characters? They were all weird. Now I don't mind a bit of weird. I find weird quite entertaining. But not here. Celeste had no backbone. Why would a person who is probably on minimum wage and living off her tips pay $150 an hour to talk to this therapist, Larry, simply because 'everyone in town goes to him'? Especially when her friend Gloria, the reason she moved to Riverton Falls, has already warned her against him, as has her fiance Jake. Celeste is the sort of person who would consult her therapist, or a tarot card reader, before she blew her nose, or changed her underwear.
Larry, the therapist, is a totally unbelievable twit. The only thing about him that astounds me is how he lived so long. I don't know why someone didn't murder him earlier.
Jake, the fiance, has been married before to the woman who is Larry's right hand woman in the cult. I completely understand why he broke up with Celeste. But he does behave very strangely . . .
Gloria, Celeste's estranged friend, is an environmental lawyer, but is the only person she can think to call when she is taken into custody at the murder scene.
The supporting cast is made up of 'Adam', the tarot card reader in the park, and the 'Dreamers', Celeste's so called friends who turn on her when they believe she murdered Larry.
And if you're wondering who the Pete in the extract is, he's a parrot.
How can anyone believe that if they are able to dream each other's dreams, or all dream the same dream, it is going to elevate them to a higher plane of being? Puhlease!
I started listening with interest, which rapidly faded, peaked with Larry's murder, then plummeted again. This read is seriously Weird.
And the murder mystery isn't even much of a mystery. It's pretty obvious from very early on who killed Larry, but I did check with someone else who read and enjoyed A Dream to Die For, after I had abandoned it, just to make sure.
I would like to point out that the narrator, Rachel Perry, was excellent, and certainly had nothing to do with my abandoning this book.
I am well aware that I am very much on my own with my feelings on A Dream to Die For, and that it may well be a book that you enjoy, so please check out a selection of the many positive reviews.
⭐
#ADreamtoDieFor #NetGalley
I: @susanzritz @ orangeskyaudio
T: #SusanZRitz #OrangeSkyAudio
#audiobook #crime #cultfiction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Susan Ritz grew up in Minnesota, but she left home to become a wandering scholar; she lived, studied, and worked as a social worker in Kenya, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia in the 1970s. She worked as a human rights lobbyist in Washington, DC, during the Carter Administration before moving to Dachau, Germany, the setting for her memoir in progress, On the Edge of Dachau. For the past thirty years she has lived with her husband and three children in Montpelier, Vermont, where she has worked as a fund raiser, events coordinator, and philanthropic advisor for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, especially those promoting economic equality for women. Writing, however, has always been her passion, and after receiving an MFA in creative nonfiction from Goucher College, she began writing for local publications, teaching creative writing to adults and high school students, and writing her first novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Orange Sky Audio via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of A Dream to Die For, written by Susan Z. Ritz and narrated by Rachel Perry, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 22, 2019
Susan Z. Ritz has written a riveting and unique story that will never have me looking at dreams the same way again. Have you ever woke from a dream and wondered why you dreamt that? Or what it meant? The Dreamland cult analyzes and records members dreams. Celeste is a cult member. So when she has a dream she believes belongs to somebody else she goes to talk to her therapist who is also the cult leader(Talk about a conflict of interest). When therapist/cult leader Larry is found dead and Celeste is the last person to have seen him alive, she is the prime suspect. Even more troubling the computer with all the towns dreams and secrets on it is missing. Celeste is determined to prove her innocence, but that gets harder to do when the town’s dreams begin to come true.
This was a compelling story that required me to stretch reality a little bit. I really got caught up in the story and wanted to know what had happened and what was really going on in this town. Celeste was a likable character who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This dream cult and its leader were all a bit nutty to me. This is the perfect book when you’re in the mood for a murder mystery with a new unique twist.
This was a compelling story that required me to stretch reality a little bit. I really got caught up in the story and wanted to know what had happened and what was really going on in this town. Celeste was a likable character who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This dream cult and its leader were all a bit nutty to me. This is the perfect book when you’re in the mood for a murder mystery with a new unique twist.
December 5, 2019
I still think of this book from time to time as one of the most disturbing thrillers I’ve read this year so I came back and added a rating. 4.5 stars.
June 12, 2019
Celeste Fortune is given an ultimatum by her fiance, leave the cult. Celeste suffers from dreams she doesn't understand and joined the cult of dreamers. Set in a small New England town,most of who are also in the cult of dreamers. When Celeste arrives at her therapist (cult leader) office she finds him murdered and his computer holding the the town's secrets is gone. With all signs pointing in her direction Celeste and her friend Gloria set out to find out who did it. This was a strange trip! A wickedly weird and unsual plot that kept me engaged trying to figure it out.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
September 16, 2022
There’s a mix of mysticism and crime mystery here to keep the reader engaged. Celeste is an interesting character, kinda quirky. She woke up to a horrible dream, but feels the dream belongs to someone else. Tension arises when members in her cult suspect Celeste to have murdered her therapist.
March 17, 2020
I kept waiting for this to get better and it just...never did.
July 16, 2019
This is a murder mystery unlike anything I’ve ever read. A small town setting, a cast of quirky characters, and a dead dream therapist all add up to an intriguing story. Celeste Fortune, haunted be her dreams, enlists the help of Larry and his Dreamland group-a cult-like group of dreamers. When she discover Larry’s bloody body, she becomes the prime suspect, and ends up in a living nightmare. Dreams are fascinating to us all, but in this twisty story, dreams take on a life of their own.
July 16, 2019
What is the craziest dream you've ever had?
Imagine that dream coming true. Or imagine someone stealing that dream.
Me? I imagine myself running like hell if that every happened!
Dreamscape is a cult type organization where it's members believe that every answer in life can be found in your dreams. Dreams are shared throughout the group to solve individual problems and even can be used to find your perfect soulmate - within the group, of course. It's lead by Celeste's therapist who analyzes and shares the dreams of the entire town. He thinks he is helping. The town idolizes him. To me - the guy seems like a total nutjob.
In Celeste's case... she seems to have HAD someone else's dream - and the therapist she's been seeing ends up gravely injured after she tells him about it. Celeste had been planning to stop seeing him that day for fear of losing her skeptical fiance. But now that the cult leader has fallen... the entire town is raising the pitchforks, and it seems that everyone is after Celeste.
Who can she trust? Are her dreams coming true? And will she find out what those dreams are trying to tell her before it's too late?
So, so unique. A really riveting read about the meaning of dreams, a suspenseful mystery, and the power of technology. I picked it up and was quickly absorbed into a really interesting and engaging story that I couldn't put down until it was finished!
Imagine that dream coming true. Or imagine someone stealing that dream.
Me? I imagine myself running like hell if that every happened!
Dreamscape is a cult type organization where it's members believe that every answer in life can be found in your dreams. Dreams are shared throughout the group to solve individual problems and even can be used to find your perfect soulmate - within the group, of course. It's lead by Celeste's therapist who analyzes and shares the dreams of the entire town. He thinks he is helping. The town idolizes him. To me - the guy seems like a total nutjob.
In Celeste's case... she seems to have HAD someone else's dream - and the therapist she's been seeing ends up gravely injured after she tells him about it. Celeste had been planning to stop seeing him that day for fear of losing her skeptical fiance. But now that the cult leader has fallen... the entire town is raising the pitchforks, and it seems that everyone is after Celeste.
Who can she trust? Are her dreams coming true? And will she find out what those dreams are trying to tell her before it's too late?
So, so unique. A really riveting read about the meaning of dreams, a suspenseful mystery, and the power of technology. I picked it up and was quickly absorbed into a really interesting and engaging story that I couldn't put down until it was finished!
September 3, 2021
Great Narration (I did audio) but I couldn't connect with the characters or the story at all.
May 31, 2019
Have you ever woken up by a dream that is so scary, that you have to catch your breath, and check surroundings to check if you are in reality? What is even worse, is that you remember this particular dream, and wonder if it will recur? Susan Z. Ritz, Author of "A Dream to Die For" writes about dreams in the day and nightmares. The Genres for this novel is Mystery, Suspense and Fiction. The story takes place in a charming, yet strange small New England Town. The timeline for this story is mostly in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. Susan Z. Ritz describes her characters as quirky, unique, dysfunctional and dramatic.
Celeste Fortune is a Bartender in this small town, and is in therapy with Larry, to improve her life by discussing her dreams. Many of the other neighbors also go to Larry to discuss their dreams as well. Larry seems to have a nice size clientele. Usually, nothing goes wrong in this small town, but Celeste finds Larry dead. Also gone is his computer, with all his client's information on it. Who could want Larry dead? Why would anyone want Larry dead?
There suddenly is a danger and another dead body. There seem to be some questionable characters. There are a mystical feel and magical essence in this story. At times it is difficult to tell reality from fantasy. I would recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy an unusual mystery.
Celeste Fortune is a Bartender in this small town, and is in therapy with Larry, to improve her life by discussing her dreams. Many of the other neighbors also go to Larry to discuss their dreams as well. Larry seems to have a nice size clientele. Usually, nothing goes wrong in this small town, but Celeste finds Larry dead. Also gone is his computer, with all his client's information on it. Who could want Larry dead? Why would anyone want Larry dead?
There suddenly is a danger and another dead body. There seem to be some questionable characters. There are a mystical feel and magical essence in this story. At times it is difficult to tell reality from fantasy. I would recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy an unusual mystery.
June 20, 2019
Holy moly, what did I just read? This one sure did hit that genre of murder mystery suspense right on the penny. This was a quirky and very unique take on nightmares and dreams. This story had me engaged the entire time as it was again, a very unique plot and didn’t want to put it down. I LOVE when the first page pulls you in immediately and remains to do that throughout the entirety of the book.
What we have is a story set in a small New England town and a girl name Celeste who suffers from dreams/nightmares she doesn’t understand. With the help from her therapist, Larry, who seems to be acting as a cult leader of "dreamers", a dream master if you will in which she discusses her dreams with and takes notes of her dreams to be able to help try to figure out what they mean. Her fiancé pretty much gives her an ultimatum to stop seeing this therapist as he thinks he isn’t a good man. As she goes to tell Larry she’s done seeing him, Celeste finds him dead and the computer with all of towns secrets is missing. Celeste and her friend set out to find out whodunnit before it is pinned on her.
August 30, 2021
This was such an interesting story. Once I started, I couldn't stop and ended up finishing the audiobook in just two days. I only stopped at all because I had other obligations.
This is a quick read and fast paced. The story itself is so detailed and unique. There are twists and turns along the way you won't see coming. Others, as with most stories weren't super hard to figure out, but kept me interested and didn't take away for the story at all.
The characters were interesting, and I really enjoyed there interactions no matter how short or detailed they were. The relationship that Larry has with the Dreamland members is interesting and intense and we see most of that through Celeste, who is our MC. I enjoyed how the author showed how much control Larry had over people with Celeste still hearing his voice and "teachings" in her mind even after he is found dead.
The Dream aspects and explanations that come later in the story were so very interesting and I hadven't really read another book like it. It was so refreshing and had my full attention, I didn't want to miss any of it.
The Audiobook was really well done and I think the narrator was just perfect for this story. There were distinct differences in each character vocal that made the story easy to follow and all the more enjoyable and enthrawling.
I can't believe this is the authors first published work! Ritz is definitely an author to keep your eye one, I'm dying to see what comes next.
Thank you to OrangeSky Audio and Netgalley for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review
This is a quick read and fast paced. The story itself is so detailed and unique. There are twists and turns along the way you won't see coming. Others, as with most stories weren't super hard to figure out, but kept me interested and didn't take away for the story at all.
The characters were interesting, and I really enjoyed there interactions no matter how short or detailed they were. The relationship that Larry has with the Dreamland members is interesting and intense and we see most of that through Celeste, who is our MC. I enjoyed how the author showed how much control Larry had over people with Celeste still hearing his voice and "teachings" in her mind even after he is found dead.
The Dream aspects and explanations that come later in the story were so very interesting and I hadven't really read another book like it. It was so refreshing and had my full attention, I didn't want to miss any of it.
The Audiobook was really well done and I think the narrator was just perfect for this story. There were distinct differences in each character vocal that made the story easy to follow and all the more enjoyable and enthrawling.
I can't believe this is the authors first published work! Ritz is definitely an author to keep your eye one, I'm dying to see what comes next.
Thank you to OrangeSky Audio and Netgalley for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review
September 13, 2022
Ritz does a brilliant job of making us care about what happens to her characters and is a master of detail. Impossible to put down!
September 12, 2021
First, I definitely enjoyed the audio of this story. It was a mystery for sure and though I don't know if new-age cozy mystery is a thing, that might best describe it.
Celest Fortune is in a New England community almost completely sucked in by the leader of a cult who claims to bring enlightenment through the analyzing of dreams. Unfortunately, Celest finds this leader dead just after she has a really vivid dream that disturbs this leader enough that he throws her out of the cult. She enlists the help of an old friend who happens to be a lawyer and not under the spell to get her out of this horrifying predicament as most see her as the obvious killer. Secrets are unearthed and danger grows as the truth, and new allies, emerge.
There were a lot of far-fetched aspects of this story for me. The name of the protagonist was the first. I struggled a bit with the level of naivete of Celeste and of her ridiculous decisions. Then I remembered this was a fiction with some far-fetched concepts (seeing past/future through dreams, etc.), and I let the reality aspect go. This helped me enjoy the story much more! I engaged with the murder mystery and the cultish suspenseful atmosphere. The who-done-it was well played and I didn't know who it was until I was meant to. Not a super twisty thriller, but a solid mystery for sure.
I never did quite like Celeste. I loved her friend, Gloria and the other strong female characters in the story. I just couldn't quite sympathize with Celeste. The ending was a bit lofty for me as well. I'm not into new-age crystals and future-telling, so that aspect didn't connect with me at all. This does not, however mean I didn't enjoy the mystery. I find it good to stretch myself and read things that I don't always connect to, and usually come away with some new insight. I do think I should develop more grace for those who, in a vulnerable state, have been taken advantage of and exploited instead of loftily looking down on them from my high perch. If that is my takeaway, bravo, Susan Ritz! An enjoyable rebuke for sure!
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is now available, and I recommend it for mystery fans!
Celest Fortune is in a New England community almost completely sucked in by the leader of a cult who claims to bring enlightenment through the analyzing of dreams. Unfortunately, Celest finds this leader dead just after she has a really vivid dream that disturbs this leader enough that he throws her out of the cult. She enlists the help of an old friend who happens to be a lawyer and not under the spell to get her out of this horrifying predicament as most see her as the obvious killer. Secrets are unearthed and danger grows as the truth, and new allies, emerge.
There were a lot of far-fetched aspects of this story for me. The name of the protagonist was the first. I struggled a bit with the level of naivete of Celeste and of her ridiculous decisions. Then I remembered this was a fiction with some far-fetched concepts (seeing past/future through dreams, etc.), and I let the reality aspect go. This helped me enjoy the story much more! I engaged with the murder mystery and the cultish suspenseful atmosphere. The who-done-it was well played and I didn't know who it was until I was meant to. Not a super twisty thriller, but a solid mystery for sure.
I never did quite like Celeste. I loved her friend, Gloria and the other strong female characters in the story. I just couldn't quite sympathize with Celeste. The ending was a bit lofty for me as well. I'm not into new-age crystals and future-telling, so that aspect didn't connect with me at all. This does not, however mean I didn't enjoy the mystery. I find it good to stretch myself and read things that I don't always connect to, and usually come away with some new insight. I do think I should develop more grace for those who, in a vulnerable state, have been taken advantage of and exploited instead of loftily looking down on them from my high perch. If that is my takeaway, bravo, Susan Ritz! An enjoyable rebuke for sure!
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is now available, and I recommend it for mystery fans!
July 13, 2019
In Riverton Falls, a small New England town, globe-trotting bartender Celeste Fortune stands in her kitchen puzzling over last night’s frightening dream—a woman at a window, lilacs blowing in the breeze, someone’s hands tight around her neck. Celeste is sure the dream belongs to someone else. Perhaps she has finally broken through to the collective dreams of Dreamland cult. Hoping her therapist and cult leader will help her untangle it, she heads off into the cold November morning to her final appointment with him—or so she hopes. Her estranged fiancé has delivered an ultimatum: Leave the cult of Dreamers, or end their relationship for good.
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria, and the two women set out to find the real culprit. But in the middle of their hunt, the stolen dreams seemingly come to life, terrifying the town—and Celeste and Gloria become the killer’s next target.
[ Review ]
Have you ever had a dream that you couldn’t shake? One where it comes back to you multiple times a day? This book follows Celeste and her dreams that she can’t shake. This was a fast paced read that kept me engaged! It was a wild ride that I was just trying to figure out what was going to happen! It was a different thriller than I’ve ever read! I enjoyed this one!
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria, and the two women set out to find the real culprit. But in the middle of their hunt, the stolen dreams seemingly come to life, terrifying the town—and Celeste and Gloria become the killer’s next target.
[ Review ]
Have you ever had a dream that you couldn’t shake? One where it comes back to you multiple times a day? This book follows Celeste and her dreams that she can’t shake. This was a fast paced read that kept me engaged! It was a wild ride that I was just trying to figure out what was going to happen! It was a different thriller than I’ve ever read! I enjoyed this one!
July 13, 2019
Strangley fascinating, A Dream To Die For is an wild mix of humor, murder, love, and friendship that kept me guessing until the end.
Her debut novel, Susan Z. Ritz’s characters are animated and intriguing leading us a mysterious adventure thru dreams & reality. This book was so much fun to read!
About The Book:
In Riverton Falls, a small New England town, globe-trotting bartender Celeste Fortune stands in her kitchen puzzling over last night’s frightening dream—a woman at a window, lilacs blowing in the breeze, someone’s hands tight around her neck. Celeste is sure the dream belongs to someone else. Perhaps she has finally broken through to the collective dreams of Dreamland cult. Hoping her therapist and cult leader will help her untangle it, she heads off into the cold November morning to her final appointment with him—or so she hopes. Her estranged fiancé has delivered an ultimatum: Leave the cult of Dreamers, or end their relationship for good.
Instead of help, however, Celeste discovers her therapist dying in a pool of blood, skull stove in by his own healing crystal. His computer, containing the intimate dreams and secrets of half the town, is gone. Suspicion immediately falls on Celeste, known to be a rebellious member of his cult. To clear her name, Celeste enlists the help of her old friend, Gloria, and the two women set out to find the real culprit. But in the middle of their hunt, the stolen dreams seemingly come to life, terrifying the town—and Celeste and Gloria become the killer’s next target.
July 11, 2019
This is Susan Z. Ritz debut book and it was a great murder mystery! Celeste Fortune who is a bartender is part of a cult of dreamers in a small New England town. She joined the cult because she suffers from very realistic dreams some that even scare her. She’s been seeing a therapist Larry who happens to also be the cult leader, she sits and discusses her dreams/ nightmare with him and he writes them all down and they try to figure out what they mean. Celeste’s fiancé gives her an ultimatum stop seeing this therapist or their done. Her fiancé feels like Larry is not a trustworthy person and doesn’t seem to be helping her. When Celeste decides to leave the cult since her suspicions of Larry have begun to grow.. she tells Larry her last dream he pretty much has a panic attack and tells her to leave. When Larry ends up dead and Celeste is the one who found his body and the computer that holds the cults dreams and secrets are missing the town turns on Celeste ,but she tells everyone it wasn’t her... then who did , and whose out there holding everyone’s secrets? With the help of her friend who had left the cult before hand they decide to investigate to prove Celeste’s innocence. This was definitely a different type of book for me but I enjoyed it! I give this four stars and huge thank you for having part of this book tour!
August 23, 2021
I'd like to thank NetGally and OrangeSky Audio for sending me this audiobook~ this is definitely not what I imagined the story would be, but my oh my, it was so much fun!
This is the most unique thriller that I've ever read. Usually thrillers follow similar patterns and have similar characters. But not this one, A Dream to Die for is something else entirely.
It follows the story of Celeste Fortune, or as people at the police station call her "Miss Fortune". So Miss Fortune, our protagonist is plagued by strange dreams. She enlists a Dream Cult, but she doesn't let her fiance know about it. When he finds out, he gives her an ultimatum - she must stop visiting Larry, or he will leave her. And he does. She's left alone, longing for her ex-fiance... But she can't escape the larger than life cult leader, Larry.
Then we get into a murder mystery. Our Miss Fortune is the suspect, but she isn't the one who did it. So who did?
Celeste doesn't know who she can trust and what she has gotten herself into when she joined Larry's Dreamscape.
Dreams are not all what they seem.
The writing style reminds me of a combination between Grady Hendrix and Elizabeth Hand. In other words, I loved it!
As far as the narrator goes, she was excellent. There wasn't a single technical difficulty or any other problem with the narration. The audiobook is flawless and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes surreal thrillers and twisted stories.
I'd love to read more by this author and listen to more audiobooks from OrangeSky Audio.
This is the most unique thriller that I've ever read. Usually thrillers follow similar patterns and have similar characters. But not this one, A Dream to Die for is something else entirely.
It follows the story of Celeste Fortune, or as people at the police station call her "Miss Fortune". So Miss Fortune, our protagonist is plagued by strange dreams. She enlists a Dream Cult, but she doesn't let her fiance know about it. When he finds out, he gives her an ultimatum - she must stop visiting Larry, or he will leave her. And he does. She's left alone, longing for her ex-fiance... But she can't escape the larger than life cult leader, Larry.
Then we get into a murder mystery. Our Miss Fortune is the suspect, but she isn't the one who did it. So who did?
Celeste doesn't know who she can trust and what she has gotten herself into when she joined Larry's Dreamscape.
Dreams are not all what they seem.
The writing style reminds me of a combination between Grady Hendrix and Elizabeth Hand. In other words, I loved it!
As far as the narrator goes, she was excellent. There wasn't a single technical difficulty or any other problem with the narration. The audiobook is flawless and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes surreal thrillers and twisted stories.
I'd love to read more by this author and listen to more audiobooks from OrangeSky Audio.
July 10, 2019
I received this arc for honest Review.
This is the first time reading anything by this author. I read this in 2 sitting!
What can I really say here but OMG what a thrill it is.
You ever read something that get you of your feet and start walking around like going on here. Well that how I felt about this book. It was so thrilled to read.
What is it to go to therapist for help but more about your dreams. You end up find the therapist dead. Omg I think I would run for my life. I would dream of this at all or maybe it just a dream within a dream.
Anyways this one right here is exactly what going on.
Know if you want to find out what going on here you need to dream and find out.
I love how it tell in the fall, the characters are well put together. The setting of the storyline I love so much.
I give this hands up for this book cus it left me wanting more.
I highly recommend if you looking for something new to read.
Dream Away Everybody!
This is the first time reading anything by this author. I read this in 2 sitting!
What can I really say here but OMG what a thrill it is.
You ever read something that get you of your feet and start walking around like going on here. Well that how I felt about this book. It was so thrilled to read.
What is it to go to therapist for help but more about your dreams. You end up find the therapist dead. Omg I think I would run for my life. I would dream of this at all or maybe it just a dream within a dream.
Anyways this one right here is exactly what going on.
Know if you want to find out what going on here you need to dream and find out.
I love how it tell in the fall, the characters are well put together. The setting of the storyline I love so much.
I give this hands up for this book cus it left me wanting more.
I highly recommend if you looking for something new to read.
Dream Away Everybody!
August 21, 2021
Celeste is a member of a strange cult, Dreamers. They really are shocking and amazing believers.
Suddenly, the leader was found dead. And Celeste was the one who was there and wanted something back. Her fiancé wants to leave the cult, but with some weird things happening for the cult as well, she wants Celeste to know what happened.
The story is really sad, but in the end I was pleased and happy with the turn and the end.
Thank you Netgalley and OrangeSky Audio for a listening copy.
Suddenly, the leader was found dead. And Celeste was the one who was there and wanted something back. Her fiancé wants to leave the cult, but with some weird things happening for the cult as well, she wants Celeste to know what happened.
The story is really sad, but in the end I was pleased and happy with the turn and the end.
Thank you Netgalley and OrangeSky Audio for a listening copy.
August 18, 2022
Dreams - how likely is it to create a really intriguing & stimulating novel about it? Can they truly be owned? A medium that drives the way you vision! How am I even going to doze peacefully after hearing this audiobook? Now, I feel there's a cult out there waiting for me to fall asleep asap & begin dreaming!
Honestly, it took me a bit to complete this one. Initially, it was because I couldn't actually grasp much of the tale, then it became a bummer for me. So the first 50% appeared like a waste of time. But after that, I concluded the story rather quickly.
The narrative is absolutely exceptional & riveting, yet, I sensed the initial uneventful pickup can cause somebody DNFing it. There are numerous slayings, so it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. Perhaps, reading the account physically / electronically might aid in achieving better appeal.
Across the board, this murder mystery is unlike what I have heard of hitherto, but I won't frankly choose it again.
Thanking NetGalley, the author & publisher, for giving me an e-ARC. I'm willingly leaving my review in exchange for the complimentary copy.
Honestly, it took me a bit to complete this one. Initially, it was because I couldn't actually grasp much of the tale, then it became a bummer for me. So the first 50% appeared like a waste of time. But after that, I concluded the story rather quickly.
The narrative is absolutely exceptional & riveting, yet, I sensed the initial uneventful pickup can cause somebody DNFing it. There are numerous slayings, so it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. Perhaps, reading the account physically / electronically might aid in achieving better appeal.
Across the board, this murder mystery is unlike what I have heard of hitherto, but I won't frankly choose it again.
Thanking NetGalley, the author & publisher, for giving me an e-ARC. I'm willingly leaving my review in exchange for the complimentary copy.
July 31, 2019
As a therapist, I was highly amused at the plot—a woman finds her therapist in his office, murdered. He was a talented manipulator— a powerful force in the community. I found the premise irresistible and I was compelled to read it rapidly to the end. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, the fantastic conceit that this group is linked by their dreams.
September 15, 2021
This was one of the worst books I've ever read. I even wanted to dnf it, but I was a lot of reviews claiming that it was interesting, so I stuck with it. I kept waiting and waiting, but it NEVER got better. What a waste of time!
It was more of a dream cult exploration than a murder mystery. The characters are all complete idiots. There is an idea that they should all dream forward, dream the same dream, or dream someone else's dream. That they should date a person just because they "saw" it in a dream and so on. There are holograms? Dreams coming to life? Lighthouses that show the unconscious???
I don't know, this was a mess, and I hated every second of it!
It was more of a dream cult exploration than a murder mystery. The characters are all complete idiots. There is an idea that they should all dream forward, dream the same dream, or dream someone else's dream. That they should date a person just because they "saw" it in a dream and so on. There are holograms? Dreams coming to life? Lighthouses that show the unconscious???
I don't know, this was a mess, and I hated every second of it!
July 24, 2019
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book, and it didn’t disappoint. A very different and imaginative mystery set in a small town in Vermont. The characters were well developed, real, and interesting. The “who done it” was a surprise til the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery.
July 3, 2019
3.5 Stars
A Dream to Die For is a book all about dreams. What would you do if you had a dream that seemed so realistic, but yet it felt like someone else’s? That is what happens to Celeste. She seems to have found herself so caught up in this cult where the leader Larry collects everyone’s dreams. Her fiancé has left her because she won’t leave the cult and her longest friend has cut ties. Finally Celeste decides to leave The Dreamers, but tells Larry her last dream. He freaks out, kicks her out and then ends up dead. The town blames Celeste, but she swears she didn’t do it, but who did?
Overall this was a good thriller with a lot of bumps in the road, but the dreams almost made it a little to sci-fi for me. Still enjoyed the storyline and would recommend this to someone who likes suspense and doesn’t mind some sci-fi!
A Dream to Die For is a book all about dreams. What would you do if you had a dream that seemed so realistic, but yet it felt like someone else’s? That is what happens to Celeste. She seems to have found herself so caught up in this cult where the leader Larry collects everyone’s dreams. Her fiancé has left her because she won’t leave the cult and her longest friend has cut ties. Finally Celeste decides to leave The Dreamers, but tells Larry her last dream. He freaks out, kicks her out and then ends up dead. The town blames Celeste, but she swears she didn’t do it, but who did?
Overall this was a good thriller with a lot of bumps in the road, but the dreams almost made it a little to sci-fi for me. Still enjoyed the storyline and would recommend this to someone who likes suspense and doesn’t mind some sci-fi!
July 16, 2019
Wonderful read full of interesting characters and plot twists!
July 2, 2019
*I was given a copy of this book by the author for my fair and honest review.*
Susan Z. Fitz's debut novel is a spellbinding murder mystery that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat!
You say the word cult and I'm in! It's been a topic that has always fascinated me and this one is no exception! The idea of tapping into someone else's dreams isn't exactly far off as technology becomes more advanced. And that is exactly what the cultish organization Dreamscape and it's Dreamers are trying to do. But when they're dreams essentially get stolen in the form of taped recordings on a computer, suspicion lands on our MC Celeste. Celeste is leaving the organization as her suspicions of the leader, Larry Blatsky grow. And seeing as she found his dead body, she makes for an easy target.
What I really liked about this story is that it really toes the line with the supernatural. There is an air of mysticism that hovers over this story like a light mist. Is it really there? A question that will stick with you through the book. I loved that all the characters were morally grey. Even our MC Celeste. This ups the stakes of the suspense as you never know who you can trust and keeps the reader on their toes.
A Dream to Die For is an original suspense novel full of intrigue and Fritz's well timed humor. It's comprised of a quirky cast of characters and an empowered main character, though flawed, is believable, likeable, intelligent, and one you will be rooting for till the very end!
Susan Z. Fitz's debut novel is a spellbinding murder mystery that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat!
You say the word cult and I'm in! It's been a topic that has always fascinated me and this one is no exception! The idea of tapping into someone else's dreams isn't exactly far off as technology becomes more advanced. And that is exactly what the cultish organization Dreamscape and it's Dreamers are trying to do. But when they're dreams essentially get stolen in the form of taped recordings on a computer, suspicion lands on our MC Celeste. Celeste is leaving the organization as her suspicions of the leader, Larry Blatsky grow. And seeing as she found his dead body, she makes for an easy target.
What I really liked about this story is that it really toes the line with the supernatural. There is an air of mysticism that hovers over this story like a light mist. Is it really there? A question that will stick with you through the book. I loved that all the characters were morally grey. Even our MC Celeste. This ups the stakes of the suspense as you never know who you can trust and keeps the reader on their toes.
A Dream to Die For is an original suspense novel full of intrigue and Fritz's well timed humor. It's comprised of a quirky cast of characters and an empowered main character, though flawed, is believable, likeable, intelligent, and one you will be rooting for till the very end!
September 27, 2021
This book follows Celeste a chronic roamer who finds herself settling into the perfect town with a less then perfect relationship that’s complicated by her therapist Larry and his weird cult of Dreamers. Celeste is ready to break free from Larry who has an abusive hold over her so she can marry Jake , but when she finds Larry dying and calls 911 she becomes suspect number one as Larry implicates her with his dying breathe and the dreamers are angry.
Celeste is the type of main character that leaves you with an intense urge to scream “Why are you so stupid” over and over at the book. Despite this woman’s every idiotic thought and decision I kind of like her and want her to figure out the truth behind what really happened to Larry. There’s a mix of psychological and sci fi elements when dealing with her dreams, the dreamscape and the dreamers.
But I feel it tried to be a little bit of to many things so that it’s all a bit unsatisfying and you are left wishing you could have learned more about the dreams then about all the dozens of people involved by the end. I did enjoy it as it was an easy read with decent pacing so I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review, thank you @NetGalley and @orangeskyaudio
July 16, 2019
With twists and turns, this highly unusual mystery will lure you into the mind-set of a woman under the influence of a devious cult-leader whose skills in dream interpretation keep his followers tied to him in a vividly depicted, small New England town. An engaging page-turner with well-drawn characters, this unpredictable story is intelligently crafted and will appeal to those who embrace the challenge of a well-wrought mystery.
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