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Litani
The Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things and Bloodline explores the darkness at the heart of the rural Midwest in a novel inspired by a chilling true crime.
In the summer of ’84, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults.
When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what’s really going on in Litani. She’s not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters.
In the summer of ’84, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is shuttled off to Litani, Minnesota, to live with her estranged mother, a county prosecutor she barely knows. From the start, Frankie senses something uneasy going on in the small town. The locals whisper about The Game, and her mother warns her to stay out of the woods and away from adults.
When a bullying gang of girls invites Frankie to The Game, she accepts, determined to find out what’s really going on in Litani. She’s not the only one becoming paranoid. Hysteria burns through the community. Dark secrets emerge. And Frankie fears that, even in the bright light of day, she might be living among monsters.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2021
2060 people are currently reading
8282 people want to read
About the author
Jess Lourey
50 books4,414 followersMy name is Jess Lourey, and I write about secrets.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 707 reviews
December 22, 2021
That’s the creepiest, scariest, most disturbing thing I’ve read lately! I kept screaming while I was flipping my e-reader pages! I honestly don’t recommend you read it at the same time frame you watch Conjuring 3 like I did! So you don’t have to suffer from nightmares about satanic rituals just like I did, too!
Everything is blood freezing, shocking, jaw dropping about this story: an estranged mom who brutally tries to pull out her seven years old daughter’s teeth at her house kitchen and punishes her by ceasing contact for years after the little girl calls her father, screaming on the phone to take her back.
Yes, little Frankie’s story starts like that and 7 years later she returns back to Litani, Minnesota: the same house her mother acted like Little Shop of Horrors’ dentist Orin Scrivello! But this time her return is not temporary. She left her Pasadena / California home behind because her father is death and she might have killed her and gotten away with it! I know this little 14 years old nerd girl whose main interest is reading and learning about plants, carrying the Book( she mentions it with capital letters because she inherited this sacred book from her father) gives you the creeps. But there’s still a chance she may be unreliable narrator!
She is escorted by a police officer to her new home to live with her county prosecutor mother who is too focused on her job, forcing her teenage daughter to get the hell out of the house to play with children at the park at the first day of her arrival. Yes, don’t wait to read the entire book to give the woman: the mother of the year award!
Her new hometown Litani gives you the chilling vibes of Wayward Pines, Lakeside, Stepford with more satanic, evil worshipping rituals from the beginning ! ( this book is inspired from the real events which make things more frightening!)
Under aged little girls who knows lots about sex, smoking cigarettes, threatening to steal your things just like three ten years old girls did to Frankie as welcoming committee of the town! Thankfully she’s saved by Crane- a young man in her ages living in trailer park.
Before getting attacked, Frankie hears the girls’ mentioning to play THE GAME. When she asks Crane about it, he doesn’t want to talk about because he thinks she never believes but when Frankie insists he spills the beans : there are Satan worshippers in the town. They hurt kids. Some people say they murder them to use their virgin blood in rituals.
Yesss! And this is not the only thing disturbing about Frankie’s new life in town. When she tells her last name and talk about her father, people gives him scary looks. What her father got involved in when he was teenager like her? Why did he leave the town and never came back?
And Frankie summons the trouble in her life by accepting to play THE GAME to find out the ugly secrets of town! Oh girl! You just set free the monsters from their chains. Now they will chase in the daylight and you have nowhere to go and no one to trust!
What an intense, gory, scary, mind blowing story shake you to the core!
It’s well written, perfectly constructed, riveting book but it is not for everyone! Especially the one who cannot endure the disturbing violence: because there are graphic descriptions about child molestation which truly gives you stomach cramps and breaks your heart into tiny pieces!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas& Mercer for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Everything is blood freezing, shocking, jaw dropping about this story: an estranged mom who brutally tries to pull out her seven years old daughter’s teeth at her house kitchen and punishes her by ceasing contact for years after the little girl calls her father, screaming on the phone to take her back.
Yes, little Frankie’s story starts like that and 7 years later she returns back to Litani, Minnesota: the same house her mother acted like Little Shop of Horrors’ dentist Orin Scrivello! But this time her return is not temporary. She left her Pasadena / California home behind because her father is death and she might have killed her and gotten away with it! I know this little 14 years old nerd girl whose main interest is reading and learning about plants, carrying the Book( she mentions it with capital letters because she inherited this sacred book from her father) gives you the creeps. But there’s still a chance she may be unreliable narrator!
She is escorted by a police officer to her new home to live with her county prosecutor mother who is too focused on her job, forcing her teenage daughter to get the hell out of the house to play with children at the park at the first day of her arrival. Yes, don’t wait to read the entire book to give the woman: the mother of the year award!
Her new hometown Litani gives you the chilling vibes of Wayward Pines, Lakeside, Stepford with more satanic, evil worshipping rituals from the beginning ! ( this book is inspired from the real events which make things more frightening!)
Under aged little girls who knows lots about sex, smoking cigarettes, threatening to steal your things just like three ten years old girls did to Frankie as welcoming committee of the town! Thankfully she’s saved by Crane- a young man in her ages living in trailer park.
Before getting attacked, Frankie hears the girls’ mentioning to play THE GAME. When she asks Crane about it, he doesn’t want to talk about because he thinks she never believes but when Frankie insists he spills the beans : there are Satan worshippers in the town. They hurt kids. Some people say they murder them to use their virgin blood in rituals.
Yesss! And this is not the only thing disturbing about Frankie’s new life in town. When she tells her last name and talk about her father, people gives him scary looks. What her father got involved in when he was teenager like her? Why did he leave the town and never came back?
And Frankie summons the trouble in her life by accepting to play THE GAME to find out the ugly secrets of town! Oh girl! You just set free the monsters from their chains. Now they will chase in the daylight and you have nowhere to go and no one to trust!
What an intense, gory, scary, mind blowing story shake you to the core!
It’s well written, perfectly constructed, riveting book but it is not for everyone! Especially the one who cannot endure the disturbing violence: because there are graphic descriptions about child molestation which truly gives you stomach cramps and breaks your heart into tiny pieces!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas& Mercer for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
March 23, 2022
Now that I’ve written my review, I feel my rating of 2/5 was too harsh, so I’m upping it to 3.
It’s the summer of ’84. Frankie Jubilee’s Botanist father Paul is her whole world and her best friend, and she shares his love of all things plant and flowers. When he dies unexpectedly, the teenager is forced to move to small town Litani, MN, to live with a mother (Linda) she barely knows, and hasn’t seen in seven years. Her first day there, Frankie gets into a physical altercation with three girls from the local trailer park, who talk of ‘a game’ and dare her to play. Litani is a dying town, scarred and haunted by past satanic rituals taking place in the eerie abandoned old Brewery, and a 1970’s child abuse ring, and there are rumours that history is repeating itself. Frankie’s afraid, and with her mother working long hours as a county prosecutor, she has no one to turn to for both help and answers. And Frankie is also hiding something big – she killed her beloved father!
First, the good stuff. The layout of Litani was intricately detailed – I could definitely picture everything in my head. Any scenes where Frankie was babysitting were creepy with subtle foreshadowing, and the 1960’s tragedy, and how it connected to the present plot was well done. Compliments to Jess Lourey for making me feel as if I was right back in 1984 alongside Frankie. ‘The Book’ containing ‘Choose Your Own Plant Personalities’ sketched by Frankie which were a replica of the paperback covers of the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books was very cool. And, I was thrilled to find that the author was/is also a fan of V The Original Series and The Final Battle, and Marc Singer.
But, unfortunately the plot was kind of all over the place. In a nutshell, it was slow and predictable. I feel Frankie was the wrong choice for narrator as she was too far removed from the events, so everyone she encountered had that whole vague, speaking in riddles thing going on, a pet peeve of mine, especially when it goes on too long as it did here. Things quickly became boring and slow, and also it was abundantly obvious who the bad people were, eliminating any element of surprise. And why did Frankie’s mother fail to warn her fourteen-year-old daughter of the dark underbelly that existed in Litani, and both allowed and facilitated her to roam around town at all hours of the day and night, even though it’s clear from mother and daughter’s first scene that Linda was fully aware of the seriousness of the situation? Furthermore, there was a major plot hole that I really needed an answer to. I’ve re-read the relevant sections but I’m not satisfied. Finally, Frankie’s newfound friendships and her blind loyalty toward those who were practically strangers went from zero to hero in a heartbeat. The scenes and dialogue between her and another teenage character were particularly cringe-worthy.
For those concerned about the graphic content, you’ll be relieved to hear that the level of detail was minimal, since Frankie was on the outside looking in, and that this read more like YA than anything. Frankie also finds a cute stray kitten, and let me also reassure you – no harm comes to the cat.
This was Jess Lourey’s second book focusing on child sexual abuse and I think it was one too many. Unspeakable Things was as shocking as it was emotional, and Litani felt like both a repeat of that book, as well as an inferior version.
However, even though I wasn’t a fan of Litani, Jess Lourey’s writes well, and because I don’t usually have an issues with her dialogue, I will continue to read her books, as with the right material I reckon it’s only a matter of time before she blows me away again like she did with Unspeakable Things.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Jess Lourey for the e-ARC.
P.S: I read the ‘corrected proof’, but I would hope the author’s note was placed at the end of the book, rather than the beginning, in the published version, as it gave too much away.
It’s the summer of ’84. Frankie Jubilee’s Botanist father Paul is her whole world and her best friend, and she shares his love of all things plant and flowers. When he dies unexpectedly, the teenager is forced to move to small town Litani, MN, to live with a mother (Linda) she barely knows, and hasn’t seen in seven years. Her first day there, Frankie gets into a physical altercation with three girls from the local trailer park, who talk of ‘a game’ and dare her to play. Litani is a dying town, scarred and haunted by past satanic rituals taking place in the eerie abandoned old Brewery, and a 1970’s child abuse ring, and there are rumours that history is repeating itself. Frankie’s afraid, and with her mother working long hours as a county prosecutor, she has no one to turn to for both help and answers. And Frankie is also hiding something big – she killed her beloved father!
First, the good stuff. The layout of Litani was intricately detailed – I could definitely picture everything in my head. Any scenes where Frankie was babysitting were creepy with subtle foreshadowing, and the 1960’s tragedy, and how it connected to the present plot was well done. Compliments to Jess Lourey for making me feel as if I was right back in 1984 alongside Frankie. ‘The Book’ containing ‘Choose Your Own Plant Personalities’ sketched by Frankie which were a replica of the paperback covers of the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books was very cool. And, I was thrilled to find that the author was/is also a fan of V The Original Series and The Final Battle, and Marc Singer.
But, unfortunately the plot was kind of all over the place. In a nutshell, it was slow and predictable. I feel Frankie was the wrong choice for narrator as she was too far removed from the events, so everyone she encountered had that whole vague, speaking in riddles thing going on, a pet peeve of mine, especially when it goes on too long as it did here. Things quickly became boring and slow, and also it was abundantly obvious who the bad people were, eliminating any element of surprise. And why did Frankie’s mother fail to warn her fourteen-year-old daughter of the dark underbelly that existed in Litani, and both allowed and facilitated her to roam around town at all hours of the day and night, even though it’s clear from mother and daughter’s first scene that Linda was fully aware of the seriousness of the situation? Furthermore, there was a major plot hole that I really needed an answer to. I’ve re-read the relevant sections but I’m not satisfied. Finally, Frankie’s newfound friendships and her blind loyalty toward those who were practically strangers went from zero to hero in a heartbeat. The scenes and dialogue between her and another teenage character were particularly cringe-worthy.
For those concerned about the graphic content, you’ll be relieved to hear that the level of detail was minimal, since Frankie was on the outside looking in, and that this read more like YA than anything. Frankie also finds a cute stray kitten, and let me also reassure you – no harm comes to the cat.
This was Jess Lourey’s second book focusing on child sexual abuse and I think it was one too many. Unspeakable Things was as shocking as it was emotional, and Litani felt like both a repeat of that book, as well as an inferior version.
However, even though I wasn’t a fan of Litani, Jess Lourey’s writes well, and because I don’t usually have an issues with her dialogue, I will continue to read her books, as with the right material I reckon it’s only a matter of time before she blows me away again like she did with Unspeakable Things.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Jess Lourey for the e-ARC.
P.S: I read the ‘corrected proof’, but I would hope the author’s note was placed at the end of the book, rather than the beginning, in the published version, as it gave too much away.
October 20, 2021
What a dark, difficult read! It was more a drama than a mystery. Not really for me... Just didn't enjoy the atmosphere. I'm sorry to give only 2.5 stars.
I liked Unspeakable Things better (3.5 stars), but I'm sure this book, based on true events, will appeal to many readers. Lourey writes very well.
Triggers : a lot of talk about child abuse.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!
I liked Unspeakable Things better (3.5 stars), but I'm sure this book, based on true events, will appeal to many readers. Lourey writes very well.
Triggers : a lot of talk about child abuse.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!
November 2, 2021
Yes, I know we’ve had a plethora of stories about child abuse rings and so on but this book was more about the victims - how they were affected, how it changed them. I think the book, along with the earlier Unspeakable Things (which I haven’t read yet) is based on true events that happened in the author’s hometown. And while I often remind myself when reading something dark - “it’s only fiction” - the truth, at times, can be stranger than fiction and it is a sad fact that events, as depicted in this book, do actually happen.
Francesca (Frankie) Jubilee, 14 years old is shipped off to her mother’s place in Litani, Minnesota, after her dad died. She had been living with her dad since her parents divorce when she was 3. Mum is the Carver County Prosecutor and a less maternal woman would be hard to find! She is hardly ever home, leaves for work before Frankie gets up and is often out working until very late, although she prepare a mean packed lunch!
On her first day in town Frankie gets beaten up by three younger girls and has her trainers stolen by them. She nearly loses her precious Book to them too except for the intervention of Crane a young but powerful man-boy who intrigues Frankie. The Book is something her dad and Frankie worked on - botanical notes and pictures. Already on that first day there are dark muttering about “the game”. Frankie has a feeling this is a not a game she wants to play.
Frankie is already carrying quite a load on her small shoulders as she thinks she is responsible for her father’s death but she has almost a pathological need to protect people. She is a very easy to like character and I thought her 14 year old ‘voice’ sounded pretty authentic. The kids of Litani are all scared to death and the more Frankie learns, the more disturbing it all becomes. The friendship between Frankie and Crane is beautifully depicted. His taciturn nature hides a well of pain that only a very are allowed to see. Crane has also been a victim.
Never fear, dear reader, there is no gratuitous descriptions of child abuse. But there is a subtle frisson in every interaction (are these guys safe?). There is an oily film of dirtiness, it is pervasive and quite menacing. The whole town seems to infected with some dark poison. And Frankie’s mum wants to drag it all out into the open. The mum was an interesting character, not at all maternal but underneath her gruff exterior she did care for Frankie and she has her own reasons for behaving the way she does. So, not a nice book, quite dark actually but also showing that abuse can be overcome. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Francesca (Frankie) Jubilee, 14 years old is shipped off to her mother’s place in Litani, Minnesota, after her dad died. She had been living with her dad since her parents divorce when she was 3. Mum is the Carver County Prosecutor and a less maternal woman would be hard to find! She is hardly ever home, leaves for work before Frankie gets up and is often out working until very late, although she prepare a mean packed lunch!
On her first day in town Frankie gets beaten up by three younger girls and has her trainers stolen by them. She nearly loses her precious Book to them too except for the intervention of Crane a young but powerful man-boy who intrigues Frankie. The Book is something her dad and Frankie worked on - botanical notes and pictures. Already on that first day there are dark muttering about “the game”. Frankie has a feeling this is a not a game she wants to play.
Frankie is already carrying quite a load on her small shoulders as she thinks she is responsible for her father’s death but she has almost a pathological need to protect people. She is a very easy to like character and I thought her 14 year old ‘voice’ sounded pretty authentic. The kids of Litani are all scared to death and the more Frankie learns, the more disturbing it all becomes. The friendship between Frankie and Crane is beautifully depicted. His taciturn nature hides a well of pain that only a very are allowed to see. Crane has also been a victim.
Never fear, dear reader, there is no gratuitous descriptions of child abuse. But there is a subtle frisson in every interaction (are these guys safe?). There is an oily film of dirtiness, it is pervasive and quite menacing. The whole town seems to infected with some dark poison. And Frankie’s mum wants to drag it all out into the open. The mum was an interesting character, not at all maternal but underneath her gruff exterior she did care for Frankie and she has her own reasons for behaving the way she does. So, not a nice book, quite dark actually but also showing that abuse can be overcome. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Read
March 8, 2022It's another DNF from me. Sorry, I just can't with this.
I have DNFed more books this year than in my entire life combined. It actually feels sort of good to let go.
It's been weeks since I last picked this one up and I just have zero interest in returning to the story. The writing style was weird for me, I hated all the characters and wasn't intrigued in the slightest.
For those of you who are interested, I am altering the dates read to 1996, so it will not count towards this year's reading challenge, as I didn't complete it.
Moving on. I feel like a weight has been lifted.
Original
Inspired by a true crime.
1984.
The Game.
The woods.
Paranoia.
I'm sold.
I have DNFed more books this year than in my entire life combined. It actually feels sort of good to let go.
It's been weeks since I last picked this one up and I just have zero interest in returning to the story. The writing style was weird for me, I hated all the characters and wasn't intrigued in the slightest.
For those of you who are interested, I am altering the dates read to 1996, so it will not count towards this year's reading challenge, as I didn't complete it.
Moving on. I feel like a weight has been lifted.
Original
Inspired by a true crime.
1984.
The Game.
The woods.
Paranoia.
I'm sold.
September 1, 2021
I became a major fan of Jess Lourey's writing after reading her last book, Bloodline, which will be in my top favorites of 2021. I still can't believe that book came out in 2021 as Lourey has another new thriller coming out soon. Jess Lourey shines on small town Minnesota thrillers and
Litani
is no different!
The story surrounds fourteen year old Frankie Jubilee in the early 1980s. Frankie is sent to live with her estranged mother after her father dies, uprooting the teenager to smalltown Litani, Minnesota. Her mother is a no-nonsense prosecutor and lacks the maternal instincts that Frankie so desperately needs at this time. As Frankie gets settled in her new surroundings, she starts to take notice about whisperings in this town, specifically about something called "The Game" that gets played in the woods. Frankie is skeptical about the residents in Litani and she is about to find out exactly what they're made of.
This book is very dark, readers. There's some sexual abuse content that may not be suitable for some readers, but the author handles it with care. Lourey does an excellent job in making the settings of her books into characters of their own, and Litani just further cements Lourey into this genre of its own. This book is heartbreaking, deeply engaging, dark, and wild. It just further proves to me that I will read ANYTHING that Jess Lourey writes!
The story surrounds fourteen year old Frankie Jubilee in the early 1980s. Frankie is sent to live with her estranged mother after her father dies, uprooting the teenager to smalltown Litani, Minnesota. Her mother is a no-nonsense prosecutor and lacks the maternal instincts that Frankie so desperately needs at this time. As Frankie gets settled in her new surroundings, she starts to take notice about whisperings in this town, specifically about something called "The Game" that gets played in the woods. Frankie is skeptical about the residents in Litani and she is about to find out exactly what they're made of.
This book is very dark, readers. There's some sexual abuse content that may not be suitable for some readers, but the author handles it with care. Lourey does an excellent job in making the settings of her books into characters of their own, and Litani just further cements Lourey into this genre of its own. This book is heartbreaking, deeply engaging, dark, and wild. It just further proves to me that I will read ANYTHING that Jess Lourey writes!
December 21, 2021
I enjoyed this book and it definitely kept my focus well. That being said it was not the thriller/mystery I expected but more of a coming of drama. I really liked the main character and loved her choose your own adventure as a plant side story. It was cute and sweet and really helped to make her a realistic character. I did want a little more mystery and didn’t find “the game” to be very hard to figure out (that could be a little bit me, I’m a child protective services worker so my mind is drawn to dark places). The authors note is really spoilery so skip that if you don’t want to be spoiled (I read it last, I don’t like to color what I’m about to read).
Frankie has lived with her father since her parents divorced when she was 5 until she’s 14 and he dies suddenly. She finds herself and her two suitcases going to her mother who is a stranger to her in Litani a small town in Minnesota. Frankie can tell pretty quickly something strange is going on. The children talk about “the game” and everyone seems to be acting weird. She’ll learn more about the town’s secrets than she wanted before the book is done.
Frankie has lived with her father since her parents divorced when she was 5 until she’s 14 and he dies suddenly. She finds herself and her two suitcases going to her mother who is a stranger to her in Litani a small town in Minnesota. Frankie can tell pretty quickly something strange is going on. The children talk about “the game” and everyone seems to be acting weird. She’ll learn more about the town’s secrets than she wanted before the book is done.
August 6, 2024
Darkest Part of Town
Francesca was fourteen years old and best friends with her father the gentle botany professor, and she took care of him as much as he took care of her. Then one day his weak heart gave out and Frankie was forced to leave California and move to Minnesota to live with the mother she barely knew.
Litani is a creepy town and Frankie got the sense that all wasn’t well almost as soon as she was driven into town by the police officer sent by her mother the town prosecutor. Nothing has changed and Frankie doesn’t exactly get a warm welcome from her mother, but she is warned to stay away from adults. Frankie’s first thought is to go to the welcoming forest the way her father would have, recognizing plants the way he did and carrying with her the book the two of them had put together. As Frankie watched the river flow by, three girls around the age of eight or ten attacked her while talking about “the game” and Satan worship and tried to take her book. One did take her tennis shoes, before a tall boy stopped them and ran them off.
This was a creepy book and Jess Lourey can set a mood like no one else, and but the end to this book was so abrupt. We got this awful build up, and of course the reality was awful, but boom it was over. That dropped it from what I thought was going to be a five star horror story to a three and a half star icky story.
Francesca was fourteen years old and best friends with her father the gentle botany professor, and she took care of him as much as he took care of her. Then one day his weak heart gave out and Frankie was forced to leave California and move to Minnesota to live with the mother she barely knew.
Litani is a creepy town and Frankie got the sense that all wasn’t well almost as soon as she was driven into town by the police officer sent by her mother the town prosecutor. Nothing has changed and Frankie doesn’t exactly get a warm welcome from her mother, but she is warned to stay away from adults. Frankie’s first thought is to go to the welcoming forest the way her father would have, recognizing plants the way he did and carrying with her the book the two of them had put together. As Frankie watched the river flow by, three girls around the age of eight or ten attacked her while talking about “the game” and Satan worship and tried to take her book. One did take her tennis shoes, before a tall boy stopped them and ran them off.
This was a creepy book and Jess Lourey can set a mood like no one else, and but the end to this book was so abrupt. We got this awful build up, and of course the reality was awful, but boom it was over. That dropped it from what I thought was going to be a five star horror story to a three and a half star icky story.
October 28, 2021
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired and on Bookstagram.
Another profound, well-written novel from Jess Lourey, the new queen of secrets. Litani is Jess' first novel based on a true crime, but like her other works it takes place in a small Minnesota town. Frankie, our narrator, is just 14 and she's experienced plenty in her life. She's thrust into her mother's home after her father's passing, but her mom doesn't hold her with warmth, rather she warns her of the adults. Only play with children, stay out of the woods, don't go near any adults. Except there are whispers in this town, stares, and a pack of children playing something called The Game that Frankie can't help but notice sounds more bad than good. A natural detective, Frankie resolves to find out just what's going on in Litani.
Jess Lourey writes Frankie with a proud, loud voice and the strength of Wonder Woman. She guides you through this book with incredible detail and feeling. There is no way to read Litani and not be impacted. This one is sad, it's dark, it's hard to read, but Frankie's voice is there with kindness and youth and a form of vulnerability that keeps the novel from sinking too deep into the bad stuff. She trudges through the hard stuff with you, fighting for the truth and looking for the good, willing to give chances to anyone, except maybe herself. It's a coming-of-age within a mystery in a town that darkness holds onto.
This is not a thriller and I wish I'd had some sort of warning going into the book that there would be things that affected me on a personal level. I have to admit I think this one is billed incorrectly. Litani is a dark drama, a book that holds a mystery and secrets that impacts every child within the pages. It's a sad story, but also a story of strength and a story based on true crime. For me, unfortunately, it's a story that I relate too much to and I had a really difficult time reading it. This one gave me nightmares and while I acknowledge it's written incredibly well, I went in for a thriller and that is not what I got.
Jess Lourey continues to show readers that she can really write, giving us not one, but two incredible novels in the span of a single year. Litani is not the thriller that Bloodline is, but it is a novel that will stay with you in a different way. I'm glad I pushed on through this one, I really did enjoy it, I just think it is one of those books were a warning might be necessary.
ARC provided.
Another profound, well-written novel from Jess Lourey, the new queen of secrets. Litani is Jess' first novel based on a true crime, but like her other works it takes place in a small Minnesota town. Frankie, our narrator, is just 14 and she's experienced plenty in her life. She's thrust into her mother's home after her father's passing, but her mom doesn't hold her with warmth, rather she warns her of the adults. Only play with children, stay out of the woods, don't go near any adults. Except there are whispers in this town, stares, and a pack of children playing something called The Game that Frankie can't help but notice sounds more bad than good. A natural detective, Frankie resolves to find out just what's going on in Litani.
Jess Lourey writes Frankie with a proud, loud voice and the strength of Wonder Woman. She guides you through this book with incredible detail and feeling. There is no way to read Litani and not be impacted. This one is sad, it's dark, it's hard to read, but Frankie's voice is there with kindness and youth and a form of vulnerability that keeps the novel from sinking too deep into the bad stuff. She trudges through the hard stuff with you, fighting for the truth and looking for the good, willing to give chances to anyone, except maybe herself. It's a coming-of-age within a mystery in a town that darkness holds onto.
This is not a thriller and I wish I'd had some sort of warning going into the book that there would be things that affected me on a personal level. I have to admit I think this one is billed incorrectly. Litani is a dark drama, a book that holds a mystery and secrets that impacts every child within the pages. It's a sad story, but also a story of strength and a story based on true crime. For me, unfortunately, it's a story that I relate too much to and I had a really difficult time reading it. This one gave me nightmares and while I acknowledge it's written incredibly well, I went in for a thriller and that is not what I got.
Jess Lourey continues to show readers that she can really write, giving us not one, but two incredible novels in the span of a single year. Litani is not the thriller that Bloodline is, but it is a novel that will stay with you in a different way. I'm glad I pushed on through this one, I really did enjoy it, I just think it is one of those books were a warning might be necessary.
ARC provided.
June 11, 2021
Frankie is a feisty 14 year old in 1984 who just lost her dear father and has to go and live with her estranged mother in a small town, at a time when there are rumors of satanic rituals involving child sacrifices, which her mother investigates as she is the local prosecutor.
All through the book I rooted for Frankie as she had some much going against her in a world with no friends nor family, expected to root in a hostile environment where crazyness happens. A true pagetuner, I've read this book in a few days staying up late because I wanted to know what was happening, although we get the gist early on. The only letdown for me were the last few chapters were everything was explained to a tee and one of the main character even changed completely. Nice in a book, but that is not how life works.
All in all, very good writing even if the main theme is very disturbing, it is described in a controlled and balanced matter.
All through the book I rooted for Frankie as she had some much going against her in a world with no friends nor family, expected to root in a hostile environment where crazyness happens. A true pagetuner, I've read this book in a few days staying up late because I wanted to know what was happening, although we get the gist early on. The only letdown for me were the last few chapters were everything was explained to a tee and one of the main character even changed completely. Nice in a book, but that is not how life works.
All in all, very good writing even if the main theme is very disturbing, it is described in a controlled and balanced matter.
March 18, 2023
Well-Written and Captivating Page-Turner!
☆☆☆☆.5
This riveting psychological thriller is filled with suspense surrounding the town of Litani and its bizarre and horrific secrets…satanic cults, child molesters, The Game, and more! I was drawn in immediately and had a hard time putting this book down. This is my first book by the author and she did a wonderful job of keeping the tension at a high pace.
“In Litani, the devil lived right out in the open, and there was no one to save you. It didn’t matter if you were a kid. In fact, they preferred it that way.”— Litani by Jess Lourey
When Frankie’s father dies, she is forced to leave the only home she’s known. She grew up in Pasadena with her father, a botanist. They spent weekends walking through the woods and identifying plants. She played outside with friends and had sleepovers. Her father was patient and incredible. She loved her life.
Her estranged mother is distant and cold. She’s a prosecutor who works long hours so Frankie is left alone with no friends. Kids don’t play outside and she’s told never to go into the woods. But that’s where she feels safe and the closest to her father so defies her mother’s orders. Her first outing proves disastrous. She runs into a gang of girls who beat her up and take her shoes. Some boys help her out of the jam and she has her first friend—Crane.
I fell in love with Frankie! I wanted to pull her out of the pages and hug her and bring her home with me. Her life hasn’t been terrible but she’s had to deal with more than any 14-year-old girl should. She’s embraced the challenges and become stronger.
I’ll be reading more of the author’s work!
☆☆☆☆.5
This riveting psychological thriller is filled with suspense surrounding the town of Litani and its bizarre and horrific secrets…satanic cults, child molesters, The Game, and more! I was drawn in immediately and had a hard time putting this book down. This is my first book by the author and she did a wonderful job of keeping the tension at a high pace.
“In Litani, the devil lived right out in the open, and there was no one to save you. It didn’t matter if you were a kid. In fact, they preferred it that way.”— Litani by Jess Lourey
When Frankie’s father dies, she is forced to leave the only home she’s known. She grew up in Pasadena with her father, a botanist. They spent weekends walking through the woods and identifying plants. She played outside with friends and had sleepovers. Her father was patient and incredible. She loved her life.
Her estranged mother is distant and cold. She’s a prosecutor who works long hours so Frankie is left alone with no friends. Kids don’t play outside and she’s told never to go into the woods. But that’s where she feels safe and the closest to her father so defies her mother’s orders. Her first outing proves disastrous. She runs into a gang of girls who beat her up and take her shoes. Some boys help her out of the jam and she has her first friend—Crane.
I fell in love with Frankie! I wanted to pull her out of the pages and hug her and bring her home with me. Her life hasn’t been terrible but she’s had to deal with more than any 14-year-old girl should. She’s embraced the challenges and become stronger.
I’ll be reading more of the author’s work!
March 10, 2023
Do you live in or visit the United States? Do you prefer a small town or a large city?
Litani
by Jess Lourey
Pub Date 19 Oct 2021
Thomas & Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating 4.5/5
Litani, a small town in Minnesota's suburbs, has disturbing secrets that are closely guarded. When Frankie's father dies, she must move to Litani to live with her mother, who is the local prosecutor. Frankie encounters many strange occurrences that make no sense to her. Her life is thrust into grave danger as she pieces together answers to her terrifying questions.
Jess Lourey's writing is excellent in this spine-tingling book loosely based on a true story. In spite of Litani's grim subject matter, Frankie responds with intelligence, maturity, and perseverance beyond her years. It represents the dark sad truth of abused children in the 1980s.
In keeping with the theme, this book is beautifully illustrated with "plant personality" art throughout. The drawings are amazing and add a special touch to the pages. I love Jess Lourey's work and can't wait to read her next book.
#Litani #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
Litani
by Jess Lourey
Pub Date 19 Oct 2021
Thomas & Mercer
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating 4.5/5
Litani, a small town in Minnesota's suburbs, has disturbing secrets that are closely guarded. When Frankie's father dies, she must move to Litani to live with her mother, who is the local prosecutor. Frankie encounters many strange occurrences that make no sense to her. Her life is thrust into grave danger as she pieces together answers to her terrifying questions.
Jess Lourey's writing is excellent in this spine-tingling book loosely based on a true story. In spite of Litani's grim subject matter, Frankie responds with intelligence, maturity, and perseverance beyond her years. It represents the dark sad truth of abused children in the 1980s.
In keeping with the theme, this book is beautifully illustrated with "plant personality" art throughout. The drawings are amazing and add a special touch to the pages. I love Jess Lourey's work and can't wait to read her next book.
#Litani #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #blogtour #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #Audible #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #Bookishcom #trending #bestsellingbooks #b
December 7, 2022
Lots of strange things happen in this very small town. I would move if I lived there especially if I had children.
December 19, 2021
TITLE: LITANI
AUTHOR: Jess Lourey
PUB DATE:
Sinister
Disturbing
Terrifying
What is it about small town atmospheric read that gives me the heebiejeebies. I really loved the Bloodline so this was the anticipated read for me. Lourey executed this with a sharp and addictive prose I had to turn those pages to meet a satisfying and disturbing ending.
Frankie moves from Pasadena to Litani, Minnesota after her father’s death back to her estranged and strange county prosecutor mother - Frankie gets caught up in THE GAME and what happens next is a well written and very dark thriller not for the weak heart.
Perfect read for these cold winter nights!
AUTHOR: Jess Lourey
PUB DATE:
Sinister
Disturbing
Terrifying
What is it about small town atmospheric read that gives me the heebiejeebies. I really loved the Bloodline so this was the anticipated read for me. Lourey executed this with a sharp and addictive prose I had to turn those pages to meet a satisfying and disturbing ending.
Frankie moves from Pasadena to Litani, Minnesota after her father’s death back to her estranged and strange county prosecutor mother - Frankie gets caught up in THE GAME and what happens next is a well written and very dark thriller not for the weak heart.
Perfect read for these cold winter nights!
April 18, 2025
Litani is another book that I started, set aside and came back to because I love the author and knew better than let this one go past me. I was right - I was just in a mood because Litani is a fabulous book, wonderfully written and an enlightening read!
Litani is a small northern Midwest town caught up in the hyper frenzy of a cult based witch hunt against child molesters/kidnappers/ satanists. Based loosely on truth and compilation of stories from the author's past, Litani is the tale of one young girl's summer in a town where children are and have been molested but those children often are not believed, or, conversely, the gossip is convoluted in order to hide the far more frightening truth. What is the truth, where do the lies stop and the truth begins and who is actually abusing the children of Litani. Will anyone ever be brave enough, self-less enough to discover the truth before it's too late.
Great story and one I highly recommend! In fact, I love all of Jess Lourey's book and even enjoy her newsletters. She's a top-notch writer, to say the very least!
Litani is a small northern Midwest town caught up in the hyper frenzy of a cult based witch hunt against child molesters/kidnappers/ satanists. Based loosely on truth and compilation of stories from the author's past, Litani is the tale of one young girl's summer in a town where children are and have been molested but those children often are not believed, or, conversely, the gossip is convoluted in order to hide the far more frightening truth. What is the truth, where do the lies stop and the truth begins and who is actually abusing the children of Litani. Will anyone ever be brave enough, self-less enough to discover the truth before it's too late.
Great story and one I highly recommend! In fact, I love all of Jess Lourey's book and even enjoy her newsletters. She's a top-notch writer, to say the very least!
January 25, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was just a fantastic book. I feel odd saying that since the subject deals with childhood sexual abuse, but the book was just so well written. The plot is heartbreaking and disturbing (and based on true events). The characters are well developed and interesting. The setting (the late 80s small town) felt realistic. I'll be thinking about this book for a while to come.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This was just a fantastic book. I feel odd saying that since the subject deals with childhood sexual abuse, but the book was just so well written. The plot is heartbreaking and disturbing (and based on true events). The characters are well developed and interesting. The setting (the late 80s small town) felt realistic. I'll be thinking about this book for a while to come.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
July 26, 2022
I put off reading this book for the longest time but what a mistake because I really ENJOYED reading this book! Jess Lourey is FABULOUS with Litani just as she was with Bloodline!
The plot was tense and had such a menacing atmosphere associated with it. I'm so bloody glad there were no graphic scenes of abuse because that'd be such a shame. Despite the absence of unecesarry 'violence' the theme feels like a threat looming at all times. And I love tgat feeling its what keeps me going. Jess masterfully created such amazing characters that were so very compelling. And don't forget the quirky touch of those pictures. Yes this book has pictures and I quite enjoyed them all. This book was very different from the usual thrillers but still so fricking good. I highly recommend this book and works of this author. This book is everything I look for in a suspense/thriller and then some!
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and Jess Lourey for the arc!
The plot was tense and had such a menacing atmosphere associated with it. I'm so bloody glad there were no graphic scenes of abuse because that'd be such a shame. Despite the absence of unecesarry 'violence' the theme feels like a threat looming at all times. And I love tgat feeling its what keeps me going. Jess masterfully created such amazing characters that were so very compelling. And don't forget the quirky touch of those pictures. Yes this book has pictures and I quite enjoyed them all. This book was very different from the usual thrillers but still so fricking good. I highly recommend this book and works of this author. This book is everything I look for in a suspense/thriller and then some!
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and Jess Lourey for the arc!
December 28, 2021
Based on true events this book is well written but it was at the same time quite disturbing to read. The kind of evil described here that still exists even today is just baffling and heartrenching 💔!
This is the first book I have read by Jess Lourey. The topic and story in itself isn't an easy one to write about in general and it takes courage to tackle such a the topic especially when the book is based on true events that occurred in the author's own hometown.
I received an e-Arc of the book by the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author Jess Lourey via NetGalley.
This is the first book I have read by Jess Lourey. The topic and story in itself isn't an easy one to write about in general and it takes courage to tackle such a the topic especially when the book is based on true events that occurred in the author's own hometown.
I received an e-Arc of the book by the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author Jess Lourey via NetGalley.
December 31, 2024
After years of living with her dad, a teenage girl returns to her hometown of Litani - a small town with a dark past - and a present that could be just as dark… dun dun dunnn
Although it moved at a quick pace, the writing just wasn’t for me. I would’ve given up on it very early on if it wasn’t for one question that I needed an answer for. In the end it just ended up being a bit of a disappointment..
3 ⭐️
Although it moved at a quick pace, the writing just wasn’t for me. I would’ve given up on it very early on if it wasn’t for one question that I needed an answer for. In the end it just ended up being a bit of a disappointment..
3 ⭐️
October 27, 2021
Litani was high on my list of fall books to be excited about. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
Pacing is slow, with lots of young teen drama that feels juvenile for the ages and situation.
Frankie (Francesca), our MC, is an incredibly naive, immature 14 year old. Her behavior is unrealistic for her age, especially considering her independence and earlier role taking care of her father. Her character lacks believability and the spark of personality.
Frankie’s mother is over-the-top unlikable with a side of crazy. The little explanation we get doesn’t come close to satisfactorily explaining her behavior.
I felt like we circled the plot, rather than experienced it. Frankie hears things, and we’re told things, but it’s all on the periphery as she stomps around this unfamiliar town, where kids are disappearing, while she’s allowed to roam free, completely alone.
Though I appreciate the author’s intent and I loved her earlier work, I found the whole story implausible.
*I received an eARC from the publisher, via NetGalley.*
Pacing is slow, with lots of young teen drama that feels juvenile for the ages and situation.
Frankie (Francesca), our MC, is an incredibly naive, immature 14 year old. Her behavior is unrealistic for her age, especially considering her independence and earlier role taking care of her father. Her character lacks believability and the spark of personality.
Frankie’s mother is over-the-top unlikable with a side of crazy. The little explanation we get doesn’t come close to satisfactorily explaining her behavior.
I felt like we circled the plot, rather than experienced it. Frankie hears things, and we’re told things, but it’s all on the periphery as she stomps around this unfamiliar town, where kids are disappearing, while she’s allowed to roam free, completely alone.
Though I appreciate the author’s intent and I loved her earlier work, I found the whole story implausible.
*I received an eARC from the publisher, via NetGalley.*
December 17, 2021
This is kind of an odd book for me to rate. I expected a pulse-pounding thriller, and this wasn't quite it. To me it read more like a dark coming-of-age story. The writing was a little awkward, but at the same time the perspective of a 14-year-old in the 80s felt realistic. Still, this was very readable and interesting. I thought the ending was satisfying, albeit cheesy. All the info about plants was fun.
If you haven't read this yet, do yourself a favor and DO NOT read the Author's Note in the beginning. I felt the story was pretty predictable already, but the Author's Note basically gives the entire thing away. Without it, at least you can have fun guessing.
If you haven't read this yet, do yourself a favor and DO NOT read the Author's Note in the beginning. I felt the story was pretty predictable already, but the Author's Note basically gives the entire thing away. Without it, at least you can have fun guessing.
January 2, 2022
QUICK TAKE: I was a big fan of Jess Lourey’s previous book, BLOODLINE, a dark and twisty small town mystery, and Lourey is back again with a similar story, this time set against the backdrop of the satanic panic controversy of the 1980s. The book follows a young woman who is forced to move back in with her estranged mother after the death of her father, and finds herself caught in the middle of a dark and disturbing game that may or may not involve devil worship, and perhaps something even more sinister (😈).
There’s a lot to like about #Litani, in particular the setting and themes explored. The mystery kept me engaged and I thought Lourey did a nice job focusing on characters and relationships, in particular the relationship between Frankie and her mother. Did I like it as much as Bloodline? No, but the time period and twist in that book felt a little bit more unique. However, I think if you’re looking for a recommendation in the genre, this one is definitely a really solid choice!
There’s a lot to like about #Litani, in particular the setting and themes explored. The mystery kept me engaged and I thought Lourey did a nice job focusing on characters and relationships, in particular the relationship between Frankie and her mother. Did I like it as much as Bloodline? No, but the time period and twist in that book felt a little bit more unique. However, I think if you’re looking for a recommendation in the genre, this one is definitely a really solid choice!
March 31, 2025
3.5 stars. After Frankie’s father dies she returns to the small town of Litani to live with her estranged mother. Frankie is fourteen and it’s a difficult age to start over. Besides, her mother seems more interested in her job as county prosecutor than her own daughter. But as Frankie gets to know this small town she starts to realise that there’s something dark and menacing here. With kids going missing and hints and rumours flying all over the place, Frankie wonders if she’s being paranoid or learning terrible truths.
I had high hopes for this one, i love a small town tale. While the writing was excellent I felt the plot had a few too many holes in it. There were a few crazy decisions, like letting Frankie go canvassing door to door on her own - while kids were going missing. Really? But I did love Frankie as a character so there was definitely still a lot to like here, I just think there could have been a tiny bit more.
I had high hopes for this one, i love a small town tale. While the writing was excellent I felt the plot had a few too many holes in it. There were a few crazy decisions, like letting Frankie go canvassing door to door on her own - while kids were going missing. Really? But I did love Frankie as a character so there was definitely still a lot to like here, I just think there could have been a tiny bit more.
December 21, 2021
Set in the early 1980s, a teen moves the small town of Litani to live in with her estranged mother. Frankie is fourteen-years-old, recently lost her father, and is not happy to be living in Litani. Her mother is a busy prosecutor, and Frankie has time on her own to learn about her new town. She soon realizes something is off about Litani.
Frankie is a smart girl. She’s a young teen, with a lot going against her, but she knows to listen to her gut. As she learns more about the people in Litani, Frankie knows things are not right. As Frankie meets other teens, she soon learns exactly how disturbing things are in the small community.
An intense story about a satanic cult preying on children. A dark and atmospheric novel inspired by true events.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Frankie is a smart girl. She’s a young teen, with a lot going against her, but she knows to listen to her gut. As she learns more about the people in Litani, Frankie knows things are not right. As Frankie meets other teens, she soon learns exactly how disturbing things are in the small community.
An intense story about a satanic cult preying on children. A dark and atmospheric novel inspired by true events.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2022
Ooooh, I'm so bummed. I was hoping to feel the satanic panic in this read. I thought it would feel the confusion, the fear and outrage. Instead, it was an interesting tale about a young girl, her guilt over losing her dad and the confusion of an absentee mother.
Oh sure, there was a lot of weird stuff going on in the town, but I just didn't feel it. The first fight scene was interesting but still, she spent so much of her time confused so I did too. I wish I'd liked it more.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Oh sure, there was a lot of weird stuff going on in the town, but I just didn't feel it. The first fight scene was interesting but still, she spent so much of her time confused so I did too. I wish I'd liked it more.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 30, 2021
This was my first read by Jess Lourey and I absolutely loved it. It was an amazing thriller that was not what I expected, but it turned out to be quite a story that I read in one sitting. Frankie Jubilee has come to Litani, MN to live with her estranged mother, and they do not reunite as one might think. Combine that with the weird stuff that is going on with the town itself, and Frankie is wondering what in the world she has gotten herself into. Then a group of girls try to bully her into playing The Game, but won’t tell her what it is unless she plays. Determined to figure out what the heck is going on with this town, she agrees, and very dark secrets start to come out.
Because I went into this blind I did not realize this was inspired by a true crime and thought it was going to be about teenaged shenanigans, so as you can imagine, I was very clearly wrong. I also want to note given all of this, it can be very intense at times with the topics of satanic cults and sexual abuse of children. I thought this was very well done, the pacing was just right, and the ending was excellent as there were alliances I didn’t see coming but I was glad to see them exist. Frankie is a great protagonist as well, she is very smart for her young years.
Because I went into this blind I did not realize this was inspired by a true crime and thought it was going to be about teenaged shenanigans, so as you can imagine, I was very clearly wrong. I also want to note given all of this, it can be very intense at times with the topics of satanic cults and sexual abuse of children. I thought this was very well done, the pacing was just right, and the ending was excellent as there were alliances I didn’t see coming but I was glad to see them exist. Frankie is a great protagonist as well, she is very smart for her young years.
November 8, 2021
Jess Lourey is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. Very much in the vein of Karin Slaughter, Lourey doesn’t shy away from telling stories about dark, gritty, and ugly crimes. Her previous book, Bloodline, was a wild ride with a big unexpected turn - this one wasn’t quite on that level for me but it was still fantastically told. She does a great job at building characters and making you care about their stories.
June 3, 2021
Definitely not an easy story to read, but one that will leave a lasting impression. Frankie is a 14 year old girl who moves back to Litani, Minnesota, to be with her mother after her father passed away. She has been living with him in California for the past 9 years since they were divorced. After a disastrous first visit when she was seven, she hasn't been back. She barely knows her mother and is hoping that somehow they can develop the warm and loving relationship she has always wanted - but she's not too optimistic.
Once she arrives, it's clear her mother time will be consumed by her work, so Frankie sets out to explore what little there is around town. She quickly becomes ill at ease after encountering the locals. Something just feels...off. Very few kids are out and about and those that are appear too rough and weary for their young age. She's asked by one young girl to play "The Game" but gets no further explanation as to what it is. As she was warned off playing with any adults, she gets a suspicion that this is no typical playground game.
She makes one friend named Crane - a standoffish boy a few years older who tells her to stay away from certain neighbors. He won't elaborate, but she hears the adults reference Satan worshipping and missing children. Is this related to The Game? Or is it a bunch of hysteria created by bored people in a small town craving drama? She wants to investigate but fears the more she learns, the more danger she will be in. And at this point, is anyone safe?
They story is based off of events that occurred in the 1980s, when this book is set. Child molestation and abuse is hard to read about, but you know what you're in for, as the events are summarized in the author's note at the beginning. There's not too much graphic detail, but it's heartbreaking envisioning the innocent children that were involved. The author does an amazing job portraying their point of view. At least the story gives them the justice and promise of hope the real victims were cheated out of.
Once she arrives, it's clear her mother time will be consumed by her work, so Frankie sets out to explore what little there is around town. She quickly becomes ill at ease after encountering the locals. Something just feels...off. Very few kids are out and about and those that are appear too rough and weary for their young age. She's asked by one young girl to play "The Game" but gets no further explanation as to what it is. As she was warned off playing with any adults, she gets a suspicion that this is no typical playground game.
She makes one friend named Crane - a standoffish boy a few years older who tells her to stay away from certain neighbors. He won't elaborate, but she hears the adults reference Satan worshipping and missing children. Is this related to The Game? Or is it a bunch of hysteria created by bored people in a small town craving drama? She wants to investigate but fears the more she learns, the more danger she will be in. And at this point, is anyone safe?
They story is based off of events that occurred in the 1980s, when this book is set. Child molestation and abuse is hard to read about, but you know what you're in for, as the events are summarized in the author's note at the beginning. There's not too much graphic detail, but it's heartbreaking envisioning the innocent children that were involved. The author does an amazing job portraying their point of view. At least the story gives them the justice and promise of hope the real victims were cheated out of.
September 16, 2021
After reading and loving the heck out of Bloodline I knew I needed to read Litani and could not wait! Thank you to @netgalley for my advance copy !
Set in the rural Midwest in 1984, Litani is inspired by a true crime. First a warning-this book is extremely dark. It has child abuse/ and sexual abuse content that may make you feel uncomfortable and remember how I said it was based on a true crime-YIKES! I am drawn to books about cults and satanic rituals so I knew that this would be to my likely and I was right. Our main character Frankie is so loveable and easy to relate to. Her feels of loss and grief broke my heart. While riveting and atmospheric this story is also fast paced and a bit of a mystery until the end.
I don’t want to give anything away, I just know that Jess Lourey is now an auto buy author for me and if you do pick this up (which you should) you will be missing sleep because you will not be able to put it down!
Set in the rural Midwest in 1984, Litani is inspired by a true crime. First a warning-this book is extremely dark. It has child abuse/ and sexual abuse content that may make you feel uncomfortable and remember how I said it was based on a true crime-YIKES! I am drawn to books about cults and satanic rituals so I knew that this would be to my likely and I was right. Our main character Frankie is so loveable and easy to relate to. Her feels of loss and grief broke my heart. While riveting and atmospheric this story is also fast paced and a bit of a mystery until the end.
I don’t want to give anything away, I just know that Jess Lourey is now an auto buy author for me and if you do pick this up (which you should) you will be missing sleep because you will not be able to put it down!
October 24, 2021
Satanic cult? Inspired by a chilling true crime?! SIGN ME UP!
As soon as I read Lourey’s author note in the beginning, I was immediately intrigued and hooked! While incredibly dark and disturbing, I was truly fascinated from start to finish. The main topic of child sexual abuse can be a little heavy at times but definitely worth sticking it out!
I found it to be very well paced and the intensity of it made it hard to put down! I can’t wait to read more from her!
As soon as I read Lourey’s author note in the beginning, I was immediately intrigued and hooked! While incredibly dark and disturbing, I was truly fascinated from start to finish. The main topic of child sexual abuse can be a little heavy at times but definitely worth sticking it out!
I found it to be very well paced and the intensity of it made it hard to put down! I can’t wait to read more from her!
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