Mark Schiffer

Gorgeous, gossipy, and gratifying. I guess I read biographies now.

A truly phenomenal film bio.

Holy Snapple, so dang good. Nested diaries, confessions, and interview transcripts! Love it! Also ends EXACTLY when it needs to. Read it in like two sittings.

More of a “howtheydidit” than a “whodunnit,” super heady without getting in the way of its riveting and emotional narrative. Really loved this one, def gonna read more Higashino.

The pacing for this one really bumped it up a star for me. Read it in like a day, some intense assaulty moments but still super readable noiry thriller with some supernatural elements.

Maybe this is a “me” thing, but I found The Devil's Candy to be compulsively readable. I haven't seen The Bonfire of the Vanities but I'm a HUGE fan of Brian De Palma and film history in general so my familiarity with the various references may have helped. I could have listened to outlines of hair and makeup tests for Melanie Griffith and Kim Cattrall all day.

Lean n mean

I love a good genre study, and this was a great one.

Super powerful, engaging read. Beaton has always been an absolute BOSS and it's wonderful to see her creating such personal and fantastic work.

CW for assault and misogyny

Brideshead Revisited with a kidnapped baby.

God, Rendell is seriously becoming an insta-read for me. I'm loving these richly psychological character studies. Incredible stuff.

A dark but not fatalistic psychological drama. I couldn't put it down. My first Rendell, definitely not my last.

Pretty good riff on Bloody Mary/it follows type mythology, ending kinda fell apart for me

Super informative and fun, taught me a ton about a part of the horror world that I had completely written off.

Great character work and writing, but the story itself never took off for me. Still, I felt like I knew Jade very well by the end and I'm glad for that. Would definitely read the follow-up when it's out.

Extremely engaging and well constructed. Made me feel like I had learned something about the juvenile/adult justice system by the time I had finished. Would definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in true crime/the case itself.

I mean, I wouldn't say it is for EVERYBODY, but if reading that title made you want to read this book, you totally should. Personally, I love microhistories centered around the progression of creatives and their works. PROG ROCK, DUDE. Also, loved the shoutout to the Mark Prindle web review archive, I used to spend so much time there.

Didactic and enjoyable, though contained FAR too many Hrry Ptt*r references.

Somehow one of the most cinematic books I've read. Loved every page, even having seen the Craig movie (which I also really like honestly) before. Wasn't expecting to be this bowled over if I'm honest.

Not my favorite, only because the mystery itself never really grabbed me. Still, eliminating the dual timeline of the first part of the series to follow exclusively on post-WWII Iceland was a good choice and I'll def read the next one.

McCurdy is a solid writer and it's fabulous that she's actualizing that aspect of her creative life. I'm Glad My Mom Died is super readable, if emotionally exhausting. Hey, it's a trauma/personal growth memoir, feature-not-a-flaw and all that. Also important for its contribution to the continuing nightmarish accounts of Nickelodeon's production history from the 90s and 2000s. Top of the Millenial book club list at the moment, and rightfully so.

Picked this up to kill time while I wait for the second Young Erlunder reserve to come in, not expecting too much for some reason. I should have known better, Indridason never misses. Leaning into the historical element of the mysteries only improves the already strongly developed dual narrative. Only gave it four stars because I have the feeling that the sequels will be even better.

Man, this was good. Really sank into Reykjavik Nights like it was a warm bath. Wasn't sure if I'd be reading the prequels but I guess it's necessary. Sure wish the Bobby Fisher book was translated.

When I finished the Erlendur books I decided it might be worth going back to the beginning of Scandi noir. Roseanna was a blisteringly fast and fantastic read. It had just enough detail, and leaned into epistolary/transcript-based storytelling, which I LOVED. It didn't lack for poetry too, the city came alive (for better and for worse). Also, Beck always has a stomachache, which hey, I feel that. Definitely gonna read more of this series.

A dreamy, melancholy conclusion (for now) to what is my new favorite series. Absolutely fantastic, I'll be rereading these books soon. On to the prequels! If only the Bobby Fisher book was translated...