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Amy Gallup #3
Amy Among the Serial Killers
Jincy Willett's beloved characters return in Amy Among the Serial Killers , a wickedly smart and funny take on the thriller genre by one of our most acclaimed literary humorists.
Carla Karolak is doing just fine. Having escaped the clutches of her controlling mother and founded a successful writing retreat in which participants are confined to windowless cells until they hit their daily word count, she lives a comfortable, if solitary, existence. If only her therapist, Toonie, would stop going on about Carla's nonexistent love life and start addressing her writer’s block, she might be able to make some progress. But then Carla finds Toonie murdered, and suddenly her unfinished memoir is the least of her concerns. Without quite knowing why, she dials an old phone number.
Amy Gallup, retired after decades as a writing instructor, is surprised to hear from her former student Carla out of the blue, three years since they last spoke. She’s even more shocked when she finds out the reason for Carla's call. Suddenly, she finds herself swept up in a murder investigation that soon brings her old writing group back together. But they’ll need all the help they can get, as one murder leads to another, and suspicions of a serial killer mount across San Diego.
Full of Jincy Willett’s trademark dark humor, an unforgettable cast of characters, and two of the most endearingly imperfect protagonists who have ever attempted to solve a murder, Amy Among the Serial Killers shows us what can be gained when we begin to break down our own walls and let others inside…as long as they aren’t murderers.
Carla Karolak is doing just fine. Having escaped the clutches of her controlling mother and founded a successful writing retreat in which participants are confined to windowless cells until they hit their daily word count, she lives a comfortable, if solitary, existence. If only her therapist, Toonie, would stop going on about Carla's nonexistent love life and start addressing her writer’s block, she might be able to make some progress. But then Carla finds Toonie murdered, and suddenly her unfinished memoir is the least of her concerns. Without quite knowing why, she dials an old phone number.
Amy Gallup, retired after decades as a writing instructor, is surprised to hear from her former student Carla out of the blue, three years since they last spoke. She’s even more shocked when she finds out the reason for Carla's call. Suddenly, she finds herself swept up in a murder investigation that soon brings her old writing group back together. But they’ll need all the help they can get, as one murder leads to another, and suspicions of a serial killer mount across San Diego.
Full of Jincy Willett’s trademark dark humor, an unforgettable cast of characters, and two of the most endearingly imperfect protagonists who have ever attempted to solve a murder, Amy Among the Serial Killers shows us what can be gained when we begin to break down our own walls and let others inside…as long as they aren’t murderers.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 23, 2022
67 people are currently reading
7336 people want to read
About the author
Jincy Willett
11 books232 followersFrom the author's website: "An aging, bitter, unpleasant woman living in Escondido, California, who spends her days parsing the sentences of total strangers and her nights teaching and writing. Sometimes, late at night, in the dark, she laughs inappropriately." This is also the short bio on her character, Amy Gallup, on her blog in "The Writing Class."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
April 9, 2022
3.5⭐️
Thirty–five–year–old Carla Karolak runs a successful writing retreat, “Inspiration Point”, renting out “cells’” to aspiring writers so that they may work in solitude for a fixed number of hours per week. She is also a writer but has been suffering from writer's block for a long time for which she seeks help from Toonie Garabedian, her therapist who also rents a writer space (she is also working on a book) in exchange for her sessions with Carla. Carla finds Toonie murdered in her writing cell and the ensuing police investigation is complicated further when she gets to know of a string of murders in the area. A shocked Carla reaches out to her retired writing instructor Amy Gallup who she considers a friend and who has had similar experiences with a killer on the loose in the past. Carla's friends from her previous writing group and Amy who had been their instructor all offer to help Carla through the traumatic events. Carla, upset with the death of Toonie also fears that the publicity will affect her business adversely by instilling fear in her other residents. When more women are discovered murdered and butchered, the case attracts the attention of the unpleasant John X. Cousins who writes about and researches serial killers but also appears to have a hidden agenda involving Carla’s business. The police, Amy and Carla rush to figure out whether Carla and her writers’ retreat has any connection to the murders and when a series of events points to someone trying to frighten Carla in her own home, she begins to fear for her own life and the safety of her friends and fellow writers.
With dark humor, an interesting cast of characters, murder and serial killers, Amy Among the Serial Killers by Jincy Willett is an entertaining read. I enjoyed the mystery element of the novel though it was not completely unpredictable after a certain point. The novel does have its share of gruesome and thrilling moments without becoming too heavy or overwhelming. I enjoyed getting to know Amy and her canine companion Lottie. I found Amy to be a smart, straight-shooting, witty and well-rounded character and there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments in the narrative that are truly amusing. However, for a novel with the term “serial killers” in its title, the narrative is quite slow-paced and it took me a while to engage in the story. The narrative picks up at about the 40% mark which I feel is a bit too long to drag the reader through in order to establish the large cast of supporting characters. Much of the novel follows Carla and Amy in their daily lives and we learn quite a bit about their respective past and present lives. We also get to read segments from stories that are being written by a few of the characters. Perhaps fewer distractions from the main plot would have been better. Overall this was a pleasant read but not quite as gripping as I expected. I would, however, be interested in reading more stories featuring Amy Gallup.
(Please note that I have not read any of the previous books in the Amy Gallup series. Therefore, I have treated this as a standalone novel which was not too difficult to do because the story does give us a brief idea of the events that occurred before the events described in this novel.)
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Thirty–five–year–old Carla Karolak runs a successful writing retreat, “Inspiration Point”, renting out “cells’” to aspiring writers so that they may work in solitude for a fixed number of hours per week. She is also a writer but has been suffering from writer's block for a long time for which she seeks help from Toonie Garabedian, her therapist who also rents a writer space (she is also working on a book) in exchange for her sessions with Carla. Carla finds Toonie murdered in her writing cell and the ensuing police investigation is complicated further when she gets to know of a string of murders in the area. A shocked Carla reaches out to her retired writing instructor Amy Gallup who she considers a friend and who has had similar experiences with a killer on the loose in the past. Carla's friends from her previous writing group and Amy who had been their instructor all offer to help Carla through the traumatic events. Carla, upset with the death of Toonie also fears that the publicity will affect her business adversely by instilling fear in her other residents. When more women are discovered murdered and butchered, the case attracts the attention of the unpleasant John X. Cousins who writes about and researches serial killers but also appears to have a hidden agenda involving Carla’s business. The police, Amy and Carla rush to figure out whether Carla and her writers’ retreat has any connection to the murders and when a series of events points to someone trying to frighten Carla in her own home, she begins to fear for her own life and the safety of her friends and fellow writers.
With dark humor, an interesting cast of characters, murder and serial killers, Amy Among the Serial Killers by Jincy Willett is an entertaining read. I enjoyed the mystery element of the novel though it was not completely unpredictable after a certain point. The novel does have its share of gruesome and thrilling moments without becoming too heavy or overwhelming. I enjoyed getting to know Amy and her canine companion Lottie. I found Amy to be a smart, straight-shooting, witty and well-rounded character and there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments in the narrative that are truly amusing. However, for a novel with the term “serial killers” in its title, the narrative is quite slow-paced and it took me a while to engage in the story. The narrative picks up at about the 40% mark which I feel is a bit too long to drag the reader through in order to establish the large cast of supporting characters. Much of the novel follows Carla and Amy in their daily lives and we learn quite a bit about their respective past and present lives. We also get to read segments from stories that are being written by a few of the characters. Perhaps fewer distractions from the main plot would have been better. Overall this was a pleasant read but not quite as gripping as I expected. I would, however, be interested in reading more stories featuring Amy Gallup.
(Please note that I have not read any of the previous books in the Amy Gallup series. Therefore, I have treated this as a standalone novel which was not too difficult to do because the story does give us a brief idea of the events that occurred before the events described in this novel.)
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the digital review copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2022
I read an advance digital galley, provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
In real life, nine years have passed since the second Amy Gallup book, but in book time it’s three years. Amy is still writing, having overcome her writer’s block, and even making enough with her writing that she doesn’t need to take on editing or teaching jobs anymore. She has gotten out of touch with her writing class members.
Carla, her most devoted student, has turned her estate house in La Jolla into a writer’s center. She turns the usual writer’s retreat pampering on its head: at Inspiration Point, writers are required to work in distraction-free “cells,” put in a mandated number of hours per week, and there are no yoga classes, massages, catering or social events. It turns out this business model is a hit. But all that crashes when Carla’s therapist and would-be writer is murdered in her cell. Other weird events follow and it even appears that this may be part of a serial killer spree.
The murder brings Amy and Carla back together, along with several other members of the writing class. The group tries to solve the case(s) before Carla’s business is ruined and anybody else gets the ax.
As with the first Amy novel, The Writing Class, this is far from a conventional murder mystery. Sure, the murder investigation drives the plot forward, but much of the novel is about writing and the emotional lives of Amy and Carla. For very different reasons, both have spent years closing themselves off from developing personal relationships. Throughout this series, and especially in this book, those barricades begin to fall.
Jincy Willett excels at portraying her characters’ interior lives, at lively descriptions of the writing process, and at deep dark humor. I definitely wish she had pulled back on the graphic descriptions of violence at the end of this book, but it wasn’t a deal killer.
In real life, nine years have passed since the second Amy Gallup book, but in book time it’s three years. Amy is still writing, having overcome her writer’s block, and even making enough with her writing that she doesn’t need to take on editing or teaching jobs anymore. She has gotten out of touch with her writing class members.
Carla, her most devoted student, has turned her estate house in La Jolla into a writer’s center. She turns the usual writer’s retreat pampering on its head: at Inspiration Point, writers are required to work in distraction-free “cells,” put in a mandated number of hours per week, and there are no yoga classes, massages, catering or social events. It turns out this business model is a hit. But all that crashes when Carla’s therapist and would-be writer is murdered in her cell. Other weird events follow and it even appears that this may be part of a serial killer spree.
The murder brings Amy and Carla back together, along with several other members of the writing class. The group tries to solve the case(s) before Carla’s business is ruined and anybody else gets the ax.
As with the first Amy novel, The Writing Class, this is far from a conventional murder mystery. Sure, the murder investigation drives the plot forward, but much of the novel is about writing and the emotional lives of Amy and Carla. For very different reasons, both have spent years closing themselves off from developing personal relationships. Throughout this series, and especially in this book, those barricades begin to fall.
Jincy Willett excels at portraying her characters’ interior lives, at lively descriptions of the writing process, and at deep dark humor. I definitely wish she had pulled back on the graphic descriptions of violence at the end of this book, but it wasn’t a deal killer.
September 6, 2022
Wow, now that’s a title! 👏
I didn’t know until I was finished with this one that it was part of a series but it definitely works as a standalone!
I enjoyed that this was kind of a comedic murder mystery and gave me simular vibes to a cozy mystery story. I found the characters to be quite interesting and I think Willett is a great writer and the creative writing concept was certainly amusing and intriguing!
It was a fun and entertaining read but just a bit slow and too long for my personal preference!
3.5 rounded to 4 stars for goodreads
I didn’t know until I was finished with this one that it was part of a series but it definitely works as a standalone!
I enjoyed that this was kind of a comedic murder mystery and gave me simular vibes to a cozy mystery story. I found the characters to be quite interesting and I think Willett is a great writer and the creative writing concept was certainly amusing and intriguing!
It was a fun and entertaining read but just a bit slow and too long for my personal preference!
3.5 rounded to 4 stars for goodreads
September 10, 2022
Audio-23% in and I don't get it or like any of the characters
September 21, 2022
This is a tough book to classify or describe, other than to say it was hard to see it end. I love spending time inside Amy Gallup's head, and hope she will return for a fourth book. Her point of view is insightfully entertaining. She can go off on a tangent, so if you're reading strictly for story, that may frustrate you. But her tangents are humorous, sometimes philosophical, and always interesting. The story has murders but it's difficult to place it in the mystery genre. It's more universal.
Many of the characters from The Writing Class reappear in this one with deeper insights into character. Carla Karolak is a large focus of the book with her past as a childhood star with the typical backstage mother.
All I can say is read it. You'll know quickly if it's a book for you.
Many of the characters from The Writing Class reappear in this one with deeper insights into character. Carla Karolak is a large focus of the book with her past as a childhood star with the typical backstage mother.
All I can say is read it. You'll know quickly if it's a book for you.
October 16, 2022
I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, so that might be why I was a little confused in the beginning. The first half felt very slow moving and every three chapters something big might happen. But towards the end something big would happen at the end of each chapter making me want to read more. I recommend this book but definitely read the first two beforehand!
November 7, 2022
I just could not get in to this audiobook. I found the narrator pretty annoying, though it probably doesn't help I also found the characters super annoying. When they said they were meant to be in their 30s I was shocked. Overall not a fan. DNF @ 30%
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!!
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!!
August 24, 2022
Amy does it again -- wins our hearts with her calm demeanor and dry wit. It just seems she always has the right thing to say!
This time she is involved, along with her friends and colleagues at the Inspiration Point! writing center, in some deaths that are happening in the area. Is there a serial killer in their midst? Is it one of the members at the Point!?
Well, you'll just have to read it to find out, but in the end, as always, Amy wins the day. Along with several recurring characters and also some new ones, the group of friends and writers help the police to solve the mystery.
Though this topic is serial murder, Willett writes in her recognizable style adding in some lightness and humor along the way. This was a very enjoyable book, and definitely worth the nine year wait!
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Jincy Willett, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
This time she is involved, along with her friends and colleagues at the Inspiration Point! writing center, in some deaths that are happening in the area. Is there a serial killer in their midst? Is it one of the members at the Point!?
Well, you'll just have to read it to find out, but in the end, as always, Amy wins the day. Along with several recurring characters and also some new ones, the group of friends and writers help the police to solve the mystery.
Though this topic is serial murder, Willett writes in her recognizable style adding in some lightness and humor along the way. This was a very enjoyable book, and definitely worth the nine year wait!
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Jincy Willett, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
October 10, 2022
Read it as a stand alone. Wasn’t aware it was part of a series. It was just okay.
July 28, 2022
I love a good “who-done-it” murder mystery! Amy Among the Serial Killers had a great band of characters - but I couldn’t get into how Carla was written. It felt it was supposed to be a “New Girl” (tv show) vibe but just made me feel awkward. I loved the supporting characters and plot - but the MC just didn’t vibe for me. Some of the language used to describe the Neurodivergant community made me uncomfortable as well and that has played into my rating.
Side note: The narration was fantastic!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
Side note: The narration was fantastic!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 24, 2022
Clever and fun, I laughed out loud a lot. This murder mystery kept me guessing almost right to the end. The found family of writers and writer wannabes is absolutely delightful.
It kind of gives me the same cozy but not really "cozy murder" vibes as Only Murders in the Building. The fact that I have not yet read the first two books in the series did not at all hamper my enjoyment of this story. I will definitely be checking out the other stories in the series
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC
It kind of gives me the same cozy but not really "cozy murder" vibes as Only Murders in the Building. The fact that I have not yet read the first two books in the series did not at all hamper my enjoyment of this story. I will definitely be checking out the other stories in the series
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC
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September 11, 2022Thank you to the publishers for a free copy of this book.
I loved the summary and the premise, but I had to DNF at 30% so I won't rate it. I will say, this is the first book I've read in this series so maybe that has something to do with it, but wow was this wayyyy too slow. There is so much stream of consciousness, random all over the place thoughts that it was hard to follow at times while the progress of the story seemed stalled. I've seem others say it picks up a bit, but I just cannot commit myself to keep reading as I've barely been able to pay attention as is.
I loved the summary and the premise, but I had to DNF at 30% so I won't rate it. I will say, this is the first book I've read in this series so maybe that has something to do with it, but wow was this wayyyy too slow. There is so much stream of consciousness, random all over the place thoughts that it was hard to follow at times while the progress of the story seemed stalled. I've seem others say it picks up a bit, but I just cannot commit myself to keep reading as I've barely been able to pay attention as is.
September 17, 2022
If you like dark humor and quirky characters, this book is for you. A fun and fast read.
Thank you netgalley for the e-review edition of this book.
Thank you netgalley for the e-review edition of this book.
October 22, 2022
This suspenseful and puzzling mystery really spoke to me more like a literary Relationship novel with mystery overtones, and is an excellent introduction to this quirky author. I rarely read a series out of order (usually because I read for CH and that development is so important to my own enjoyment); however, I think Willett is the kind of writer that allows the reader to know what they need without FOMO from skipping the first two. I do plan on going back and reading The Writing Class (2008), the first to introduce Amy and the endearing CHs we meet in this novel. Amy is a loner, introspective, and intuitive thinker whose writing students hold in high regard, especially Carla, a very damaged middle-aged woman with a child actor past. The relationship between Amy and all the CHs is layered and all the CHs vibrate with authenticity. Amy is past 60, widowed, and suffering from writer’s block but it does not prevent her from giving excellent advice to her former students. The slow unveiling of the procedural details of the mystery murders, the evolving relationship between Amy and Carla, Carla and Chuck, and the other supporting cast: Harry B., Tiffany, and Police LT. Kowalcimi is compelling and often times hilarious. Great dialogue combined with La Jolla CA setting details and the ups and downs of the writing life are tremendous aides in building Tone and shaping the Plot of this poignant, funny, and sometimes, meditative (on the writing life and life in general) novel. Readers who enjoy Mameve Medwed, Elinor Lipman, and Richard Osman may want to try this or another of Willett’s novels or short stories.
April 2, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC: 3.5 rounded up. I am a huge Jincy Willett fan and have read all of the "Amy books"--this book was a lesser work from a very good writer. Amy is a unique and wonderful character, while Carla--her faithful student-- is the center of this book. I'm not sure if a reader hasn't read the previous books that this book will be easily understood. It's a book about a former child actress--Carla-- who establishes a writers' colony and while dealing with a serial killer, deals with grief, establishing a career, relationships and more. Amy is an older woman, a former writing teacher who is a delightful misanthrope with a skilled sense of humor and she is an ancillary character in this book--to its detriment. I'd advise readers to read the other books about Amy. This book was enjoyable, ultimately, but took quite some time to gain momentum and characterizations were lacking. Jincy Willett is a great writer, but this isn't her strongest work.
March 13, 2023
This book just was not for me. There were far to many characters and the writing felt scattered.
The story centers on Carla an owner of a writing retreat and one of her writers Toonie ends up violently murdered. It unfolds from there where Carla summons up the help from Amy and Amy's group of writers to solve the mysterious deaths.
I found myself not being able to connect with the writing style, the plot or the characters. Even the audio could not keep my interest. Nothing against the author I just did not feel what I needed from Amy or any of her sleuths.
Maybe if I had read books 1 and 2 I could have been more invested in the story.
Thank you Net Gally for this advanced copy read/listen of this book. I was not influenced for my honest review.
The story centers on Carla an owner of a writing retreat and one of her writers Toonie ends up violently murdered. It unfolds from there where Carla summons up the help from Amy and Amy's group of writers to solve the mysterious deaths.
I found myself not being able to connect with the writing style, the plot or the characters. Even the audio could not keep my interest. Nothing against the author I just did not feel what I needed from Amy or any of her sleuths.
Maybe if I had read books 1 and 2 I could have been more invested in the story.
Thank you Net Gally for this advanced copy read/listen of this book. I was not influenced for my honest review.
March 12, 2023
Mostly fun!
September 23, 2024
I want to be Amy Gallup when I grow old.
October 22, 2022
If you want to be a writer, this book includes lots of thoughts and discussions about writing characters, setting scenes, and disciplines that might break writer’s block. They fill the spaces between murders but don’t necessarily advance the plot or reveal clues about the characters. My favorite characters were Amy and her dog Lottie. A pleasant story with interesting bits and some gruesome murders.
August 10, 2022
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this AUDIO book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on August 23rd, 2022.
Writing: 5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot: 4/5 Enjoyment: 5/5
Great title, right?
The titular “Amy” is a 70-something author and ex-writing coach — a bit of a hermit but with a soft spot for some of the members of her last workshops. Carla — an ex-child star is now the owner of “The Point” — a writer’s retreat in La Jolla. Carla is quite possibly Amy’s favorite ex-student (possibly because she saved Amy’s life in the first book — I won’t spoil any more of that as I haven’t read it yet either!). When one of the Point’s writers turns up dead, the cops wonder if the murder is connected with a spate of other local killings — hence the serial killers (note the plural!) in the title.
This is not your typical mystery. It is funny in an insightfully wry style. It is a book by and about writers and writing and is FULL of back stories, stories in progress, story planning, random story thoughts, etc. — creating a kind of fractal story universe that is somehow never confusing. I put this down to some high quality writing — excellent pacing and structure and a truly delightful use of vocabulary and phrasing. Because the characters (who are writers) are often thinking or talking about writing, there are even some lovely and humorous discussions of words themselves which I enjoyed thoroughly. The mystery aspect is good — I did figure it out a little before the characters did, but it was certainly a surprise. The story was nice and twisty and kept me well entertained. Some interesting character reflections as well, not usually present in genre books.
Audio books take more time (for me) than reading the print would, and often that means I get a little bored in parts because I can’t skim. This did not happen at all during this 13 hour audio book which is saying quite a lot.
So what didn’t I like? While the narrator does a fabulous job with all of the different voices and her pacing and speech clarity were perfect, I did not love her natural voice — or at least the one she uses as the narrator in addition to slightly modified versions for most of the younger characters. It’s what I call a Millennial version of the old Valley Girl speak: lots of mid word tonal shifts and a slightly whiny feel. I think I’m just showing my age here because this does seem to be a popular speech pattern for younger people in some TV shows. I got over it because it was just so entertaining, but it did irritate me for a bit.
Writing: 5/5 Characters: 4/5 Plot: 4/5 Enjoyment: 5/5
Great title, right?
The titular “Amy” is a 70-something author and ex-writing coach — a bit of a hermit but with a soft spot for some of the members of her last workshops. Carla — an ex-child star is now the owner of “The Point” — a writer’s retreat in La Jolla. Carla is quite possibly Amy’s favorite ex-student (possibly because she saved Amy’s life in the first book — I won’t spoil any more of that as I haven’t read it yet either!). When one of the Point’s writers turns up dead, the cops wonder if the murder is connected with a spate of other local killings — hence the serial killers (note the plural!) in the title.
This is not your typical mystery. It is funny in an insightfully wry style. It is a book by and about writers and writing and is FULL of back stories, stories in progress, story planning, random story thoughts, etc. — creating a kind of fractal story universe that is somehow never confusing. I put this down to some high quality writing — excellent pacing and structure and a truly delightful use of vocabulary and phrasing. Because the characters (who are writers) are often thinking or talking about writing, there are even some lovely and humorous discussions of words themselves which I enjoyed thoroughly. The mystery aspect is good — I did figure it out a little before the characters did, but it was certainly a surprise. The story was nice and twisty and kept me well entertained. Some interesting character reflections as well, not usually present in genre books.
Audio books take more time (for me) than reading the print would, and often that means I get a little bored in parts because I can’t skim. This did not happen at all during this 13 hour audio book which is saying quite a lot.
So what didn’t I like? While the narrator does a fabulous job with all of the different voices and her pacing and speech clarity were perfect, I did not love her natural voice — or at least the one she uses as the narrator in addition to slightly modified versions for most of the younger characters. It’s what I call a Millennial version of the old Valley Girl speak: lots of mid word tonal shifts and a slightly whiny feel. I think I’m just showing my age here because this does seem to be a popular speech pattern for younger people in some TV shows. I got over it because it was just so entertaining, but it did irritate me for a bit.
June 30, 2022
I have to agree with the rest of the low-starred reviews. The writing was not quite up to par to make this story work. A writing retreat becomes a target of a serial killer and the owner of the retreat area asks the help of a dear friend and writing instructor Amy to figure out what to do.
It's women's fiction so I wasn't expecting massive thrills, but maybe a little more introspection and interior investment in the protagonists' lives. There is some dark humor here but it fails to connect.
The culprit's personality and motives were not very interesting which makes the ending flat and nonsensical.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
It's women's fiction so I wasn't expecting massive thrills, but maybe a little more introspection and interior investment in the protagonists' lives. There is some dark humor here but it fails to connect.
The culprit's personality and motives were not very interesting which makes the ending flat and nonsensical.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
March 22, 2025
I have been a Jincy Willett fan ever since I read her brilliant, scathing, hilarious book The Writing Class about an aging forgotten author quietly teaching creative writing to adult community college students when her writing class suddenly becomes a murder mystery. The Writing Class was a brilliant piece of writing in its own right, and Willett's facility in switching between writing styles to present excerpts from the students' work was one of the best parts of the book.
Apparently Willett grew to like her totally-not-a-self-insert protagonist Amy Gallup, because she wrote a sequel, Amy Falls Down, in which Amy, after getting a knock on the head, suddenly goes viral and gets her writing mojo back. And it was just as brilliant as the first book!
Now Amy's back for a third book. Amy Among the Serial Killers sees the return of several characters from the first and second book and is actually told from two POVs: Amy, and Carla Karolac, one of her original students in The Writing Class. Carla, a former child actor with a nightmarish stage mother, is now running a writer's retreat, when bodies start falling. When Amy gets involved, yup, it's another murder mystery, this time involving a serial killer even more sadistic than the one in the first book.
So, I liked this book. But... I didn't absolutely totally adore it like I did the previous two. I will absolutely keep reading Amy Gallup books as long as Jincy Willett keeps writing them. But this book seemed a little bit like a returning favorite protagonist forced into a reason for there to be another book involving her. Amy Gallup isn't quite Jessica Fletcher constantly stumbling into murder scenes, but Willett is going to have pull off something brilliant for the next book to be another murder.
Amy Among the Serial Killers is definitely still witty and clever and compelling human. Amy remains her loveable, crotchety, observant self who cannot be flapped even when literally threatened with being dismembered. And there is more writing, and writing excerpts from various writers all believably written by the book's writer in the fictional writer's style. I love this kind of meta (a term which Willett would probably make fun of me for using). But I think the fact that she had to split the POV between Amy and Carla reinforces my suspicion that she wanted to write another Amy Gallup book but wasn't quite sure Amy could carry another book by herself. Also, I guessed the killer way sooner than I did in The Writing Class.
But this is still a great, funny, and well-written ('natch) book and I think Willett could probably write fifteen Amy Gallup books and I'd still like them.
Apparently Willett grew to like her totally-not-a-self-insert protagonist Amy Gallup, because she wrote a sequel, Amy Falls Down, in which Amy, after getting a knock on the head, suddenly goes viral and gets her writing mojo back. And it was just as brilliant as the first book!
Now Amy's back for a third book. Amy Among the Serial Killers sees the return of several characters from the first and second book and is actually told from two POVs: Amy, and Carla Karolac, one of her original students in The Writing Class. Carla, a former child actor with a nightmarish stage mother, is now running a writer's retreat, when bodies start falling. When Amy gets involved, yup, it's another murder mystery, this time involving a serial killer even more sadistic than the one in the first book.
So, I liked this book. But... I didn't absolutely totally adore it like I did the previous two. I will absolutely keep reading Amy Gallup books as long as Jincy Willett keeps writing them. But this book seemed a little bit like a returning favorite protagonist forced into a reason for there to be another book involving her. Amy Gallup isn't quite Jessica Fletcher constantly stumbling into murder scenes, but Willett is going to have pull off something brilliant for the next book to be another murder.
Amy Among the Serial Killers is definitely still witty and clever and compelling human. Amy remains her loveable, crotchety, observant self who cannot be flapped even when literally threatened with being dismembered. And there is more writing, and writing excerpts from various writers all believably written by the book's writer in the fictional writer's style. I love this kind of meta (a term which Willett would probably make fun of me for using). But I think the fact that she had to split the POV between Amy and Carla reinforces my suspicion that she wanted to write another Amy Gallup book but wasn't quite sure Amy could carry another book by herself. Also, I guessed the killer way sooner than I did in The Writing Class.
But this is still a great, funny, and well-written ('natch) book and I think Willett could probably write fifteen Amy Gallup books and I'd still like them.
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November 10, 2022This is book three in the escapades of Amy Gallup, and definitely the one with the most dark humor and outrageous antics of the trio. Jincy Willett has definitely made Amy such a lovable character, who always goes out of her way to find answers no matter how troublesome or threatening they may be.
Amy is a retired writing teacher, who has inspired many students. One of those students Carla Karolak, is doing very well. Her life has always revolved around writing. Now after the death of her overbearing mother, she decides to expand her world, helping others by transforming her house into a place where writers can congregate and learn from one another.
While everything seems perfect for Carla, her world is turned upside down when a body unexpectedly turns up in one of the writing cells. Toonie is the victim, and Carla panics, worried that she will lose her writing clientele because of the horrific publicity about a murder in that location. Of course Carla has nowhere to go but to contact Amy, a woman who had all the answers in the writing world. Now she hopes she has answers in the world of murder.
Carla also enlists the aid of a co-worker Tiffany to find the killer. What makes the book work so well even amidst the darkness of the story are the characters. One of them is John X. Cousins who thinks he may be God’s gift to the writing world. He refers to himself as the “writing guru,” and exploits the serial killer angle, because it helps sell books and definitely gets the public’s attention. It seems that he his own hidden agenda, and may very well be part of the serial killings for his own gains.
The murders keep piling up, some of them rather macabre as it seems that body parts and dismemberment go hand in hand (pardon the pun). Amy is typically Amy, and with the help of her dog Lottie, she works very hard to get to the heart of the matter, and bring resolution to the murders, while fleshing out the murderer. But she finds herself in deeper than she expected, with her own life in danger.
The fact the book was kept on the lighter side as well, made it all the more entertaining and while dealing with grim moments, created a book that you could get lost in for long periods of time.
Amy is a retired writing teacher, who has inspired many students. One of those students Carla Karolak, is doing very well. Her life has always revolved around writing. Now after the death of her overbearing mother, she decides to expand her world, helping others by transforming her house into a place where writers can congregate and learn from one another.
While everything seems perfect for Carla, her world is turned upside down when a body unexpectedly turns up in one of the writing cells. Toonie is the victim, and Carla panics, worried that she will lose her writing clientele because of the horrific publicity about a murder in that location. Of course Carla has nowhere to go but to contact Amy, a woman who had all the answers in the writing world. Now she hopes she has answers in the world of murder.
Carla also enlists the aid of a co-worker Tiffany to find the killer. What makes the book work so well even amidst the darkness of the story are the characters. One of them is John X. Cousins who thinks he may be God’s gift to the writing world. He refers to himself as the “writing guru,” and exploits the serial killer angle, because it helps sell books and definitely gets the public’s attention. It seems that he his own hidden agenda, and may very well be part of the serial killings for his own gains.
The murders keep piling up, some of them rather macabre as it seems that body parts and dismemberment go hand in hand (pardon the pun). Amy is typically Amy, and with the help of her dog Lottie, she works very hard to get to the heart of the matter, and bring resolution to the murders, while fleshing out the murderer. But she finds herself in deeper than she expected, with her own life in danger.
The fact the book was kept on the lighter side as well, made it all the more entertaining and while dealing with grim moments, created a book that you could get lost in for long periods of time.
April 5, 2022
“Amy Among the Serial Killers” by Jincy Willet is a humorous murder mystery in which a group of writers teams up to solve the mystery. What ensues is all the proof one needs that an imaginative and highly creative group of people trying to solve a murder is either the greatest idea ever or one of the dumbest.
Carla owns a successful writer’s retreat in which people can rent a windowless room and confine themselves away from distractions to finish their stories. Meanwhile, Carla is struggling to write her own. By seeking help from her therapist Toonie, Carla hopes to overcome her writer’s block and finally write her memoir. Except, Toonie seems more concerned with Carla’s lack of love life than anything else. When she discovers Toonie dead, Carla panics and calls someone she hasn’t spoken to in years.
Amy is a retired creative writing instructor who spent her time in quiet solitude until she receives a phone call from a previous student. Life turns chaotic when Amy gets swept up in a murder investigation led by her previous writing students. As more deaths begin cropping up, there’s talk about a serial killer on the loose, and Carla’s band of writers are determined to find out who is responsible.
This quirky, humorous novel will easily draw readers into the drama and strange events that occur as this ragtag group of writers try to uncover a mystery. There’s a lot to enjoy in this story, starting with the wildly unpredictable killer who leaves behind a string of grizzly bodies to the laugh-out-loud moments and the detestable and loveable characters.
Comedic stories aren’t my specialty, and some of this humour went over my head, but I thoroughly enjoyed the realistic aspect of a group of writers trying to bring a killer to justice. As one can imagine, having a bunch of imaginative and talented writers come up with theories as to who this killer could be and ideas on how to bait them into giving up their identity can result in a lot of crazy.
The only trouble I had was that I didn’t care much for the characters. Carla started off pretty intolerable. There were a lot of complexities about Carla that kept me intrigued, but there were a few aspects about her that grated on me. As the book went on, though, she underwent a lot of growth that had me rooting for her and hoping for a happy ending. Amy was probably one of my favourite characters. She had a wicked sense of humour, and her mild annoyance at having to put up with her former students was relatable as everyone has someone (or a group of people) they would rather not deal with.
Readers who enjoy Willet’s work or have a thrill for darkly humoured mystery novels must give this one a read when it hits shelves on August 23rd, 2022!
A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
Carla owns a successful writer’s retreat in which people can rent a windowless room and confine themselves away from distractions to finish their stories. Meanwhile, Carla is struggling to write her own. By seeking help from her therapist Toonie, Carla hopes to overcome her writer’s block and finally write her memoir. Except, Toonie seems more concerned with Carla’s lack of love life than anything else. When she discovers Toonie dead, Carla panics and calls someone she hasn’t spoken to in years.
Amy is a retired creative writing instructor who spent her time in quiet solitude until she receives a phone call from a previous student. Life turns chaotic when Amy gets swept up in a murder investigation led by her previous writing students. As more deaths begin cropping up, there’s talk about a serial killer on the loose, and Carla’s band of writers are determined to find out who is responsible.
This quirky, humorous novel will easily draw readers into the drama and strange events that occur as this ragtag group of writers try to uncover a mystery. There’s a lot to enjoy in this story, starting with the wildly unpredictable killer who leaves behind a string of grizzly bodies to the laugh-out-loud moments and the detestable and loveable characters.
Comedic stories aren’t my specialty, and some of this humour went over my head, but I thoroughly enjoyed the realistic aspect of a group of writers trying to bring a killer to justice. As one can imagine, having a bunch of imaginative and talented writers come up with theories as to who this killer could be and ideas on how to bait them into giving up their identity can result in a lot of crazy.
The only trouble I had was that I didn’t care much for the characters. Carla started off pretty intolerable. There were a lot of complexities about Carla that kept me intrigued, but there were a few aspects about her that grated on me. As the book went on, though, she underwent a lot of growth that had me rooting for her and hoping for a happy ending. Amy was probably one of my favourite characters. She had a wicked sense of humour, and her mild annoyance at having to put up with her former students was relatable as everyone has someone (or a group of people) they would rather not deal with.
Readers who enjoy Willet’s work or have a thrill for darkly humoured mystery novels must give this one a read when it hits shelves on August 23rd, 2022!
A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-arc and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
March 10, 2023
I didn't realize until I was well into the book that it's actually the third in a series, and that probably would have made some difference in my enjoyment of the story. But it works ok as a stand-alone. I'd say the murder mystery plot itself works totally fine, it's the character development that suffers when you don't read the first two. For example, the title character Amy... it seemed like she was supposed to be lovable in her kooky ways, but I just found her annoying and prickly. I bet the first two books set it up so that it makes more sense why the reader should like her!
Anyway, this is a perfectly fine murder mystery, with an excellent title. Despite the fact that Amy is the title character, it's really a book about Carla, an aspiring writer, and owner of a successful writing retreat called Inspiration Point. Writers rent space in the building and are required to work there a certain number of hours per week, or risk losing the room (or "cell," as it's called). When Carla finds Toonie, one of the writers, who also happens to be her therapist, dead in her cell it sets off an investigation that ties the murder to a string of other grizzly dismemberments in the area. Carla and her one-time writing teacher, Amy, along with other friends from their previous writing class, all band together to support each other and help investigate the crimes.
The beginning is a slow burn, and there were other points in the book where I thought I might give up. But just then some exciting twist would happen and I'd have to keep reading. I think this book might be more interesting to a struggling writer, because there's a lot of descriptions of the writing process, how to get yourself going with writing, etc. There is also a lot of long-winded supposition which I got tired of. And the ending, while satisfying, went on for too long. So, overall... it was fine. Not amazing, not terrible. I assume it's better if you've read the first two books.
Read full reviews at www.NewYorkTate.com
Anyway, this is a perfectly fine murder mystery, with an excellent title. Despite the fact that Amy is the title character, it's really a book about Carla, an aspiring writer, and owner of a successful writing retreat called Inspiration Point. Writers rent space in the building and are required to work there a certain number of hours per week, or risk losing the room (or "cell," as it's called). When Carla finds Toonie, one of the writers, who also happens to be her therapist, dead in her cell it sets off an investigation that ties the murder to a string of other grizzly dismemberments in the area. Carla and her one-time writing teacher, Amy, along with other friends from their previous writing class, all band together to support each other and help investigate the crimes.
The beginning is a slow burn, and there were other points in the book where I thought I might give up. But just then some exciting twist would happen and I'd have to keep reading. I think this book might be more interesting to a struggling writer, because there's a lot of descriptions of the writing process, how to get yourself going with writing, etc. There is also a lot of long-winded supposition which I got tired of. And the ending, while satisfying, went on for too long. So, overall... it was fine. Not amazing, not terrible. I assume it's better if you've read the first two books.
Read full reviews at www.NewYorkTate.com
November 15, 2022
There is a “situation” at a writers’ retreat
“Amy Among the Serial Killers” is the third book in the Amy Gallup series, but new readers will easily follow events and people; quick background comments within the context of the storyline fill in any needed information.
Readers immediately get a sense of chaos, but it is really “No big deal because everybody has problems” correct? However, it is never good when a phone call announces, “We have a situation.” Readers are hooked. The stimulating and idyllic writers’ retreat “Inspiration Point!” (Always with punctuation) has a problem, and it is complex and very problematic. Writers can be creative, but sometimes the space in their heads is taken up by so much fiction, that the truth is nowhere to be found. This “situation” turns out to be something almost ripped from the pages of a thriller. However, this is not just a book that one of the writers cranks out while trying to create something more “literary;” this is a serial killer in San Diego, in a writers’ sanctuary. It must be just some misinterpretation; it cannot be actually happening, but it just seems that it just might be real.
The action is conversation driven, and readers get to know the characters through alternating chapters from several points of view. The writing group members are frantic and distracted. They are just trying to write the next bestseller. This “situation” transforms them into Scooby-Doo and Friends, off on an exciting mystery adventure. Along the way they share funny stories, vignettes, and book ideas with readers.
In the end, writers write; readers read, and we all love our roles. I received a review copy of “Amy Among the Serial Killers” from Jincy Willett and St. Martin's Press. I love reading about writers, and especially when one of them dies!
Writers become victims and detectives
#WritersRetreat #WhoDoneIt #MysteryAdventure#
“Amy Among the Serial Killers” is the third book in the Amy Gallup series, but new readers will easily follow events and people; quick background comments within the context of the storyline fill in any needed information.
Readers immediately get a sense of chaos, but it is really “No big deal because everybody has problems” correct? However, it is never good when a phone call announces, “We have a situation.” Readers are hooked. The stimulating and idyllic writers’ retreat “Inspiration Point!” (Always with punctuation) has a problem, and it is complex and very problematic. Writers can be creative, but sometimes the space in their heads is taken up by so much fiction, that the truth is nowhere to be found. This “situation” turns out to be something almost ripped from the pages of a thriller. However, this is not just a book that one of the writers cranks out while trying to create something more “literary;” this is a serial killer in San Diego, in a writers’ sanctuary. It must be just some misinterpretation; it cannot be actually happening, but it just seems that it just might be real.
The action is conversation driven, and readers get to know the characters through alternating chapters from several points of view. The writing group members are frantic and distracted. They are just trying to write the next bestseller. This “situation” transforms them into Scooby-Doo and Friends, off on an exciting mystery adventure. Along the way they share funny stories, vignettes, and book ideas with readers.
In the end, writers write; readers read, and we all love our roles. I received a review copy of “Amy Among the Serial Killers” from Jincy Willett and St. Martin's Press. I love reading about writers, and especially when one of them dies!
Writers become victims and detectives
#WritersRetreat #WhoDoneIt #MysteryAdventure#
November 12, 2024
I typically find mystery novels to be formulaic. I read them because I run a mystery book club for work. I have to say, though, that this one was pretty good. Mystery novelists have a difficult time balancing plot and character. Either the plot is excellent and twisty with very flat characters, or the plot is entirely predictable with sorta flat characters. I really appreciated the depth that Jincy Willett brought to the characters in the most recent book of this series. It makes me curious to read the first 2...are the characters just as well-developed in those? Does she work on developing other characters as deeply as she does Carla? When her 4th one comes out, will the new characters, like Doppler, stay? Also, audio book: DELIGHTFUL.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot-wise, I loved how it twisted and turned away from the initial murder. That the murder of the psychiatrist functioned mostly as a catalyst to propel Carla and Amy together again and to propel Carla into exploring her relationship with her mother. However, it was almost as if the writer forgot about it until an editor said "uhh...and the psychiatrist??" Several reviews have critiqued the ending for being on the gory side. Compared to what? This was nowhere on the level of Stephen King, the movie Seven, or even whatever was on after the football game on CBS the other night. I've read worse in books that don't involve a serial killer. My only other critique is that Gillette followed the trope of making the murderer a late-drop-in, minor character. I'd love to read a mystery for once where the murder is a major character, or someone hiding in plain sight for the whole novel. Not someone who either gets brought into the background in chapter 2 and forgotten til chapter 45 OR someone who gets dropped into chapter 45 only to be revealed as the killer in chapter 50. (BTW: do all mysteries have so many chapters? )
SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot-wise, I loved how it twisted and turned away from the initial murder. That the murder of the psychiatrist functioned mostly as a catalyst to propel Carla and Amy together again and to propel Carla into exploring her relationship with her mother. However, it was almost as if the writer forgot about it until an editor said "uhh...and the psychiatrist??" Several reviews have critiqued the ending for being on the gory side. Compared to what? This was nowhere on the level of Stephen King, the movie Seven, or even whatever was on after the football game on CBS the other night. I've read worse in books that don't involve a serial killer. My only other critique is that Gillette followed the trope of making the murderer a late-drop-in, minor character. I'd love to read a mystery for once where the murder is a major character, or someone hiding in plain sight for the whole novel. Not someone who either gets brought into the background in chapter 2 and forgotten til chapter 45 OR someone who gets dropped into chapter 45 only to be revealed as the killer in chapter 50. (BTW: do all mysteries have so many chapters? )
February 23, 2022
You could classify Amy Among the Serial Killers as a murder mystery, but it is much more of an in-depth character study. And unlike the author's two earlier books featuring writer/instructor Amy (2009 and 2013), this one focuses more on Carla, one of Amy's previous writing students.
Carla was once a successful child star, propelled but not protected by her now-deceased stage mother. She wants to write a memoir, but she is much better at launching other writers' careers by renting them "cells" in the part of her huge house in La Jolla that she calls "Inspiration Point!" One of them is Toonie, who is also her therapist, and whom Carla finds strangled in her writing "cell." When it seems that Toonie's death may be connected with other recent murders in the San Diego area, an explosive investigation is initiated, and Amy (who has herself been threatened by a serial murderer in the past) find herself involved once more.
There are many fascinating characters to savor here in addition to Carla and Amy, among them a mysterious and overbearing man who writes about serial killers, charms women easily, and wants to turn Carla's house (and her fantastic 3-story dollhouse) into a public attraction. Elaborate descriptions and musings can be found throughout the book, some of them in unnecessarily long paragraphs, which I believe could have been eliminated without hurting the plot. But there is also a lot of dark humor to enjoy. One of my favorite running gags is the way Amy responds to unwanted telephone callers, including one who insists he is her grandson and needs money.
If you are looking for quirky characters, a satisfying mystery plot, and a seasoned (albeit sometimes over the top) writing style, look no further.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
Carla was once a successful child star, propelled but not protected by her now-deceased stage mother. She wants to write a memoir, but she is much better at launching other writers' careers by renting them "cells" in the part of her huge house in La Jolla that she calls "Inspiration Point!" One of them is Toonie, who is also her therapist, and whom Carla finds strangled in her writing "cell." When it seems that Toonie's death may be connected with other recent murders in the San Diego area, an explosive investigation is initiated, and Amy (who has herself been threatened by a serial murderer in the past) find herself involved once more.
There are many fascinating characters to savor here in addition to Carla and Amy, among them a mysterious and overbearing man who writes about serial killers, charms women easily, and wants to turn Carla's house (and her fantastic 3-story dollhouse) into a public attraction. Elaborate descriptions and musings can be found throughout the book, some of them in unnecessarily long paragraphs, which I believe could have been eliminated without hurting the plot. But there is also a lot of dark humor to enjoy. One of my favorite running gags is the way Amy responds to unwanted telephone callers, including one who insists he is her grandson and needs money.
If you are looking for quirky characters, a satisfying mystery plot, and a seasoned (albeit sometimes over the top) writing style, look no further.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
August 5, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I have never read a book like Amy Among the Serial Killers and I loved every minute of this book! This is technically the third book following one of the main characters, but I didn’t feel that they were a requirement to follow along. The Narrator was great, the story line unique, the plot was twisty and it was funny to read with hints of real life complicated emotions buried underneath. This book is technically a murder mystery but it feels like so much more than that.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a rotating narrative between Carla— a 35 year old who runs Inspiration Point. A place for writers to come together, rent a “cell”, and get their work done without distractions. Amy is in her 70’s and is an established author who is suffering from writer’s block and doesn’t really enjoy peoples company, except for Carla of course. Carla has trauma and a complicated past and is seeing a therapist who surprisingly turns up murdered in Inspiration Point and Carla is the one to find the body.
Is there a serial killer loose? Is there more than one? Do they know this person? Is this killer a writer?
The renters at Inspiration Point are worried they might be next and it’s up to Carla, the local police, Amy and their friends to maneuver through the wake of the shocking news and save Inspiration Point at the same time.
Definitely recommend reading Jinny Willett, I will be reading more!
I have never read a book like Amy Among the Serial Killers and I loved every minute of this book! This is technically the third book following one of the main characters, but I didn’t feel that they were a requirement to follow along. The Narrator was great, the story line unique, the plot was twisty and it was funny to read with hints of real life complicated emotions buried underneath. This book is technically a murder mystery but it feels like so much more than that.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a rotating narrative between Carla— a 35 year old who runs Inspiration Point. A place for writers to come together, rent a “cell”, and get their work done without distractions. Amy is in her 70’s and is an established author who is suffering from writer’s block and doesn’t really enjoy peoples company, except for Carla of course. Carla has trauma and a complicated past and is seeing a therapist who surprisingly turns up murdered in Inspiration Point and Carla is the one to find the body.
Is there a serial killer loose? Is there more than one? Do they know this person? Is this killer a writer?
The renters at Inspiration Point are worried they might be next and it’s up to Carla, the local police, Amy and their friends to maneuver through the wake of the shocking news and save Inspiration Point at the same time.
Definitely recommend reading Jinny Willett, I will be reading more!
August 26, 2022
This was an amazing book! I must admit that I was a bit hesitant at the beginning, because there is a very large cast of characters—writers with “cells” at Carla’s writing center, Inspiration Point, and writers from Amy’s old writing workshops—and it was hard to keep them all straight. I was unaware that the author had written two previous books in the “Amy Gallup” series, and although I don’t think it is necessary to have read them to enjoy “Amy Among the Serial Killers,” it might have felt less like a barrage of characters if many of them were already familiar. Nevertheless, the plot of this book is highly original and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Most of the characters are quirky, to say the least, and while the humor is often quite dark, it is very funny. Amy has a line towards the end of the book that was so perfectly outstanding that I probably would give the book five stars even if the rest of it was terrible, it was that good (but including it in this review would give away way too much). I loved the constant talk about writing—good and bad, fiction and non-fiction, writer’s block, publishing, writing exercises and workshops, and much more—and it provides a wonderful backdrop to the murders that take place, and developing talk about serial killers. I also loved the narrator, Amy McFadden, and would highly recommend this book! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.
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