Anyone who is a fan of true crime knows how A Perfect Place to Die must end and yet that did not keep me from being on the edge of my seat as I read, wondering if I could possibly have it wrong.

Knowing the end of the mystery before I started is actually what drew me to reading this because I wanted to know how Moore could make it his own and I wasn't disappointed.  I was impressed by how well the infamous Castle of Chicago was described and how suspenseful the mystery was! I loved that it was clearly well researched and that the chapters opened with the murderers real confessions.

Most of all I enjoyed the main character, Zuretta's grit. She made the book for me. Etta was a on a quest and nothing not even a madman was going to stop her from uncovering the truth!

E-arc provided from Sourcebooks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Review also posted on Goodreads.

I appreciate the innovation of blending real historical events with a thrilling fictional story, as is done in The Perfect Place to Die.

Zuretta and Ruby are two young sisters toiling on the family farm in Utah, and suffering under their abusive father. When Ruby runs away to Chicago, to seek a new life, Zuretta is left behind. But Ruby sends letters to Zuretta every week, describing the city, her job as a maid, and a man she has fallen for. When Ruby's letters suddenly stop coming, Zuretta is sure something terrible has happened. She knows no one else will look for Ruby like she will, so Etta makes the journey to Chicago, as well. The city, in the bustle of the 1893 World's Fair, is bewildering to the small town girl, but Etta has a job to do. She and Ruby have always admired the Pinkerton Detectives, and Etta decides to take a page from their book. She will go undercover at The Castle, where Ruby was working when she disappeared. But disappearing women aren't the only sinister happening at The Castle. Etta will need all her wits to solve the case, and make it out alive.

I've been a true crime addict for over 20 years, and I'm particularly well versed in serial killers. I knew who the adversary of the book was before I read it, just from the synopsis. But I'm not a fan of spoilers, no matter how obvious, so mum's the word. I think the intended audience is considerably younger than I am, though, and may not have the same level of familiarity. The book was very detailed, so you can tell it was well researched. I think because it was so thorough, the pace suffered. Also, the story was a little sanitized for the subject matter. I understand that this is YA, but when you write about certain subjects, you can't skip the blood and guts. Zuretta had the potential to be a great character. She was witty and quick, but I had no emotional connection with her. I didn't feel her anguish over Ruby being missing, or her terror in The Castle. Etta's emotional aspect was stiff and one dimensional. Her character was very intelligent, almost Holmes-ian, to the detriment of her development as a fully fleshed out young woman. Smart, but unsympathetic. So, although I was drawn in by the incredible premise, this book fell flat in execution. It missed the mark for me. I do think that YA readers who are just dabbling in true crime, and historical fiction lovers may enjoy reading this. Age 14+.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the chance to review this advance copy.

This historical fiction thriller was impossible to put down. I went into Bryce Moore's novel knowing exactly who the killer was because of my fascination with this bizarre serial killer during Chicago's World's Fair in 1893 (actually called the World's Columbian Exposition, which I didn't know before reading this book). I worried that knowing the killer might make this book predictable, but wow. Even knowing the truth, I still started to doubt myself! If you don't know the story of this period, let yourself read the book before researching. If you do, don't worry--it's still a gripping and thrilling read!

The Perfect Place to Die follows 17-year-old Zuretta Palmer in her search for her missing sister, Ruby. When Ruby's letters from Chicago to Zuretta in Utah stop arriving, Zuretta takes it upon herself to figure out what happened to her sister. She leaves the small town she's always known and heads for the big bustling city of Chicago, where she quickly learns there are very few people she can trust. Zuretta finds herself in the midst of a horror in Chicago, one in which young women are disappearing. Rather than running away as she is advised to do, she solves the mystery of Ruby's disappearance.

Bryce Moore weaves a fictionalized story with the factual reality of the 1893 fair so well that it feels as if the reader is there with Zuretta. I found myself on the edge of my seat several times! The story is fast-paced and never lags. Zuretta is a feminist heroine ahead of her time, and she doesn't allow the dismissive men around her to keep her from searching for the truth.

Amazing book. A quick read that will leave you ready to know more about the The Castle and the reality of events in Chicago in 1893.

Zuretta and her sister Ruby live a quiet life in Utah, but when Ruby leaves for Chicago, Zuretta's world opens up like never before. When Ruby disappears after finding work as a hotel maid during the World's Fair, Zuretta attempts to track her down, with disastrous consequences.

I like the premise of this book but it somewhat fell flat for me. I didn't connect with Zuretta as a main character. The writing was fine but I didn't get a lot of emotion from her. Her sister was missing and the fear I know she was feeling just didn't come across in the book.

I admit that I don't read a lot of historical fiction so maybe this wasn't the book for me. It wasn't bad, just a bit slow.

This book was so chilling! I will certainly recommend this book to students who are reluctant readers and need a high interest book that will grab their attention--but only if they are fans of the macabre!

Though this book's premise sounded interesting and full of potential, it failed to win me over. The writing felt detached and lacked emotion to me and I wasn't nearly as invested in the characters as I would've liked to be. Overall, I think it's a missed chance. The concept was there, the execution just left a lot to be desired.

Another YA horror book which I was hoping to love but this book is highly forgettable.
Thanks to Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for a review.

3 for neutral, was too slow for me and I was unable to finish! Can’t give a poor reviews, when I didn’t read in entirety. Will update if able to finish later.

This historical serial killer mystery takes place in Chicago during the 1890’s.

Zuretta leaves her home in rural Utah to search for her sister, Ruby, who has gone missing after fleeing the family home to escape their abusive father. All Zuretta knows is what Ruby wrote to her in her weekly letters, until they stopped.

Ruby had found a job as a maid in a hotel in the city, and fallen in love with a mystery man. So Zuretta, who is obsessed with the Pilkington detectives, and wants to join this illustrious firm, scours the city until she finds where her sister worked - the mysterious hotel known as The Castle. From the start, Zuretta knows something wrong is going on here, but no one will believe her. Determined to solve the mystery of Ruby’s disappearance, she gets a job there too and is determined to unravel the secrets of the hotel and those that run it.

This is a fictional story based on a real serial killer (I won’t say the name because…. spoilers) from the era - one of America’s worst mass murderers.

The story is fast paced and a quick read and is certainly spooky and a little gruesome, with Zuretta suffering from nightmares of her (most likely dead) sister.

Zuretta is determined and resourceful. If, like me, you are not familiar with the history of this story, it is full of surprised and twists.

Suitable for older teen readers who love serial killer mysteries.


Thanks to NetGalley and SourceBooks Fire for the review copy of this book.

I personally didn’t have a lot of knowledge about H. H. Holmes before I read this book but it definitely made me want to look more into actual events. To me, the story just kind of dragged on and it was kind of hard for me to get through. I didn’t think that too much happened until the very end of the book. I didn’t really connect to the characters too much and by the end just wanted it to be over. It did keep me reading to the very end though to see what would happen. It didn’t take me very long to read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

What I loved most was the clear dedication to historical accuracy that Moore has. Etta was also an incredibly competent protagonist, which is unique! But the problem of setting a book in the 1890s and searching fruitlessly, is that it takes up a LOT of time and feels like it drags.

While a fascinating premise, The Perfect Place to Die has a slow plot and characters that are difficult to connect to. I tried very hard to get into and through this book, but the pages seemed to drag on without any plot progression. It relies heavily on the historic atmosphere to fill the pages, which while I enjoyed for the most part it did start to get monotonous after a while.

3.5

If you are knowledgeable about serial killers this story will feel extremely familiar. I personally don't have much knowledge of the history of murder in Chicago so I went in blind. I thought it had a great protagonist and good suspense. I do have to admit that I predicted the killer a few chapters in without the historical knowledge. One thing that I think would be a great addition would be to add a map of the hotel. Many of the realizations that something is wrong is related to the building. So having the map slowly filled out throughout the reading could guide the reader. I would have enjoyed a little more gore considering the cover art but I understand this is a YA novel. Overall, great characters, suspenseful, wonderful but predictable plot, and a map would help understand some aspects of the book.

Ps. I haven't read Jack the Ripper but there are many references throughout the book. So if you enjoy it this is one you might want to read this story.

Thank you, NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Bryce Moore for the arc.

I LOVED this book. If you know your serial killers then this story might be familiar to you, thankfully I am not well versed so I won't mention who it's based on (the name is the same in the book as in real life) in case it spoils the mystery for you 😂 I had no idea who the killer was, though once it was revealed I did think it seemed familiar.

This story is is very well paced, and the world building is just right. I was pulled into this book immediately and didn't want to put it down and I am usually quite a slow reader.

The story follow Zuretta a smalltown girl from Manti, Utah. Zuretta follows her sister to Chicago after her letters home abruptly stop. Zuretta then embodies her crime-solving idols, the Pinkerton Detectives and goes undercover in the mysteriously constructed hotel her sister was last known to work at close to the Chicago World Fair.

I couldn't get into this book. It just wasn't for me.
So I don't want to post a bad review on Goodreads or anything like that.

I loved everything this book was about. But it was too slow paced for me and I couldn't connect with the main girl. Still though I think it was more of a me problem.

The Perfect Place to Die is full of horror and mystery. I enjoyed the writing style and character development, and the story was entertaining. The pacing had a few hiccups, and I would have liked more involvement from Thomas. I had hoped for a bigger plot twist but I was not aware the story was founded from fact until I read the Author's Note at the end. Interesting, indeed. Thank you to NetGalley for offering an e-ARC.

“The Perfect Place to Die” by Bryce Moore is a historical fiction novel about murder, crime, and a horrific castle that is unlike any other in the gothic genre. Inspired by the true story of H.H Holmes, this story is perfect for those who enjoy strong female leads, the paranormal, and an interest in a killer who slipped by unnoticed for years.

When Etta’s sister runs away from an abusive household to make a life for herself in Chicago, Etta’s only contact with her is through a series of letters delivered once a week. When they mysteriously stop, Etta knows something has happened to her sister, and the only way to know for sure is to go to Chicago.

Once there, Etta secures herself as a maid in the same hotel her sister worked at. What she discovers only confirms what she already knows, a series of maids have disappeared and her sister was one of them. Hoping she can find answers, Etta hires herself as a detective in the case of missing women who are more than likely dead.

As someone who was unaware of H.H Holmes and his grizzly history, this novel was suspenseful and had me guessing until the very end. While the story was slow at parts, Etta’s means at solving the labyrinth-like layout of the castle and its employees’ disappearances were fascinating. She had a unique way of uncovering facts that were reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes’ sneaky ways of finding answers.

Etta’s grit and determination to hunt down the person responsible for the disappearances of many were admirable of a girl her age and with as little means available. Though she was only seventeen, her desire to be a detective makes it clear she had all the tools and knowledge to her advantage in this case. Hopefully, there are more crimes for Etta to solve in the future!

“The Perfect Place to Die” by Bryce Moore is expected to be published on August 3rd, 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the chance to share my honest opinion in this review.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC fore review!

Zuretta's not worried when her sister Ruby runs away from their abusive home. She knows Ruby will be much happier in Chicago, and away from their abusive home. But when Ruby's letters - which, up until then, had been coming reliably every Tuesday - suddenly stop, Zuretta knows something is wrong. So she catches a train to Chicago in the hopes of finding her sister. And this search leads her to the doorsteps of the World's Fair Hotel. Or, as it's more commonly known - The Castle.

If you know the history of Chicago in the late 1800s, and are familiar with the string of grisly murders there, then the Big Bad won't come as a shock to you. I unfortunately read a few reviews before diving into this and had it spoiled for me since I was NOT too familiar with the specifics of the real case, but even so, I enjoyed this book immensely. I am not usually a fan of period dramas, but Moore so wonderfully describes the streets of Chicago, the hotel, and Zuretta's wonder at everything, that I very much enjoyed the setting!

Honestly, even knowing that all the red herrings were just that, I still found myself on the edge of my seat. The suspense of Zuretta trying to investigate the hotel without getting caught, of the secrets she finds, of her tense run-ins with all the suspects - it was all so clear in my head that I didn't even mind that I knew where the story was going. It was still gory. It was still heart-racing. It was still a tense game of cat-and-mouse as you BEGGED Zuretta to see what was really going on.

My only note is that Zuretta wasn't really written like a 17 year old, though I'm okay chalking that up to the fact that people, especially women, had to grow up so much faster during that time. She made one hell of a final girl, regardless of how unrealistic some things were. The way she found her strength through her memory of her sister, the way she went headfirst in to danger even when she was scared, was admirable. Yes, it was a bit mary-sue-ish, but the story kept me so engaged that it really didn't bother me. I enjoyed Zuretta's shift in character. It made me want to root for her.

I loved the real confessions from the killer at the beginning of every chapter, too! It was riveting to connect the names from history to the names in the story. Moore blends the two seamlessly.

Overall, a really quick thriller about one of the most prolific serial killers in American History!

3.75 stars.

Book Review for The Perfect Place to Die
Full feature for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

SPOILERS BELOW

The Perfect Place to Die is an adequate novel. Bryce Moore commits to telling Zuretta's story, even if some parts are a bit too outrageous to believe. Zuretta reads like a historic fiction version of the manic pixie dream girl, starting out shy and awkward, unable to stand up for herself, and ending the novel as a detective so perfect that the Pinkertons are basically begging her to join their agency., and her development feels forced and artificial. I didn't feel personally connected to any of the characters, and I wish I could've seen more of Zuretta's relationship with her sister. There was so little background between the two of them that Zuretta's stubborn passion to find her didn't make sense.

Overall, I had a decent time reading this. I wouldn't read it again, but I didn't hate it.