I did not finish this book. It never caught my interest. It jumped around in time too much. It might have been better in print instead of audio.

💭Thoughts:
I had really high hopes for this book, but sadly it fell short for me. I typically enjoy multiple timelines, but this story was confusing and didn’t mesh well together. I found myself quickly loosing interest too. It’s definitely a slow burn mystery.

The story had potential with a creepy atmosphere and odd characters, but I just never could connect to the characters.

The narrator did a great job narrating, but I think I book of this style might be better in physical form. I feel like that might have helped me follow better.

Overall, this book failed to grab my attention and keep me interested.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ALC.

This was a rough one for me. I usually love multiple timelines, but here, it was poorly executed.

There are three timelines. We spend far too much time in two of them, and not enough time in the third. The premise is fantastic, and the atmosphere was also well done. If the pacing had been ironed out, I think this would have been great. It's takes way too long for the story to come together. By the time we got there, I no longer cared.

I did listen via audio, and I liked the narrator. She does speak slowly, so I was able to up the speed quite a bit.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Games for Dead Girls was a pleasant surprise for me! Jen Williams did a wonderful job of pulling me in and dispersing little tidbits of information along the way to keep me wanting more. An interesting mystery told from several viewpoints, Games for Dead Girls is intriguing, spooky, and a really good read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for providing me with an audio ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
The story line was jumbled and it felt like different "scary" stories were being introduced just to be scary. The author needed to further develop their own story instead of relying on bloody mary and such. Maybe it would have played out and came together in the end, but it was so unenjoyable that I couldn't bring myself to finish this one.

GAMES FOR DEAD GIRLS
Jen Williams

Urban legends, folklore, and family secrets come to life in this recent thriller by Jen Williams. Out Now!

Charlotte and Emily are from the small seaside town of Hithechurch, England, where secrets run deeper than the sea. Years ago, Charlie and Emily summoned a monster called Stitch Face Sue and someone died, sending both girls to separate institutions.

Older now, Charlie returns to her hometown to investigate the disappearance of young girls who have gone missing in their hometown.

What does the disappearance of the girls have to do with Charlotte and Emily’s childhood secrets? What can be done to find the missing girls?

The reading experience for this book is mixed and chaotic. I am surprised by how disjointed it felt. It is part horror, part thriller and there is a mystery that runs throughout. All the elements for all three were there but I didn’t feel it was combined well.

The book lacked the feeling of a cohesive narrative. It didn’t feel like a whole book.

The characters are caricatures and lacked the depth I would have liked, especially given their seemingly nefarious nature. It would have been so exciting if there was an element of fear created by the legend of Stitch Face Sue, but her story wasn’t really highlighted, and it wasn’t about her.

Most of the story was about Emily’s father and traumatic long-held family secrets. The parts where Charlotte is investigating the mystery are interesting but ultimately it wasn’t enough to carry the whole book. There is a feeling throughout that a secret is about to be revealed. That feeling of anticipation was nice, but it never came to fruition.

For the book to be applicable to the three genres: thriller, mystery, and horror, it skimmed the surface of all three making it a weak contender in all areas. More is not always better.

This is my second two-star rating for a Jen Williams book and possibly my last. I don’t feel like her books are for me as a reader. Let me know your thoughts if you decide to pick this one up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy!

GAMES FOR DEAD GIRLS…⭐️⭐️

This was a slow burn suspense (I'd even say maybe YA suspense), and it was worth the wait. Of note, it starts branching slightly into paranormal, but it works with the storyline and didn't impact my enjoyment of the book.

Definitely more character-driven, this is written in three timelines. On a general note, the timelines work well together. There's one point in the middle where a big reveal from one timeline turns another timeline on its head. It happens again later in the book. And as the book progresses from that point, pieces start coming together in a methodical way. A few twists, none that are too crazy, but they're all important.

Pieces of the characters are revealed in small bits throughout the entire book. I loved getting to know all of them in this way. The town seems rinky dinky, like so many seaside towns...and it's one thing to suspect a town has a sinister underbelly...it's another one to discover it through firsthand experience.

Overall, a creepy, character-driven read that would be perfect to read on your next beach vacation to a creepy small beach town!! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Dreamscape Media for a review copy!

Thank you Dreamscape for Games for Dead Girls as a review copy. This is a case of a story that I wanted to like more than I did, the pacing and the back and forth timeline didn't work well on audiobook for me. That doesn't mean it wasn't a thoughtfully produced and well narrated audiobook, it is, but that the story itself didn't work for me in this format. It was too slow and also confusing to follow the related threads and the concluding pay off just didn't quite come together for me.

I really hate to do this, and I am extremely appreciative to have received this advanced copy, but I really did not enjoy this book.

I normally enjoy a multi timeline story but for me this one felt a little all over the place and hard to follow at times.
This could be because I was losing interest though. I found the ending a little confusing, and the characters hard to like.
My other major issue is with the narrator. I really think all audiobooks should have the option to sample first before requesting. With this book I could only read a section. Had I heard a sample, I most likely wouldn't have chosen this one.

** ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows multiple timelines and is about the disappearance of young girls and a spooky tragedy that happened in the 80s.
I quite enjoyed how the story unfolded and was definitely shocked and grossed out multiple times.
Some elements in the story were a bit unnecessary for me, that’s why I gave it just 4 stars.

Games for Dead Girls by Jen Williams

Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia, & the author, #JenWilliams for the opportunity to listen to this #advancedlistenercopy in exchange for my #honestreview. This is available for purchase now.

In the eerie seaside town of Hithechurch, England, young Charlotte meets quirky and secretive Emily and the two become fast companions. Charlotte has a secret of her own – she invented the monster that is Stitch Face Sue. The two girls conspire to rid Emily of her abusive father. Charlie and Emily perform dark ritual to try to resurrect urban legend Hithechurch girl, Stitch Face Sue, who was rumored to be killed by pirates and now haunts the inhabitants of the town for revenge. When it seems like the rituals they’re partaking in seem to be working, Emily becomes obsessed with the macabre game and the girls pull another girl into the rituals. But the game goes horribly wrong and the girl ends up dead and Emily and Charlie are sent off to a mental institution until adulthood. Fast forward to the future and Charlie returns to the area to research for a book she is writing on folklore of the area and its rumored hauntings. Emily is publishing a memoir on the tragic event from their younger years. Driven by equal parts rage and morbid pull, Charlie sets out to clear the record on what really happened all those years ago and who played what role. Will Charlie find the truth buried in Hithechurch or will she be spurned by her past?
 
Full disclosure – this is a really dark one! I really enjoyed the dual timelines and the colliding of the two for the books. I really love an urban legend tale and this one definitely delivered. I was definitely on my toes trying to figure this out and being prepared for what was around each corner. I definitely wanted to scream at Charlie more than once to not do final girl/horror movie bad decisions. Recommend for those who enjoy urban legends and macabre thrillers.
 
TW: gore, mutilation, kidnapping, domestic abuse, child victims, dark lore, rituals, macabre
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

✂️ A L C • R E V I E W ✂️
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Title: Games For Dead Girls
Author: Jen Williams
Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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When a book lives rent free in my head for a bit I know for a fact I loved it. Games For Dead Girls is one of those books. I not only flew through the ALC of this one but I cannot stop thinking about it. Mystery, thrills, chills, deceit mixed in with splash of horror and a whole lot of psychosis?! Hell to the yes.
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This one is has such a creepy atmosphere to it. It’s told in three different time periods, the now - through Charlies POV, in the 1980’s - as a flashback of Charlie’s childhood and in the 1940’s-1960’s following a man named Derek. I loved all of the POV’s and loved what each one of them brought to the story. The way that Williams eventually had each of the timelines converge and lead to the ending was absolutely everything I look for in books like these.
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I found myself drawn to this story that was so intertwined with so many details. This was disturbing, twisty, enticing, and everything my dark little heart wants in a thriller. Note of warning - this one is most definitely a slow burn, BUT all of the elements that I spoke of - made this story come together so perfectly.
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I listened to this one and had absolutely no problem following along, in fact I struggled to put this down. The narration by Mhairi Morrison was incredible. I easily was able to picture this entire book play out while listening. I finished this in just a few sittings and loved it!
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This was my first by Jen Williams, but it most certainly will not be my last!! Games For Dead Girls released last week, and I highly recommend to all psychological thriller lovers looking for that creepy/gothic vibe! Huge thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia and @jeneillusms for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!
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#netgalley #netgallyalc #alc #advancedlistdningcopy #fivestarread #livinginmyhead #bookhangover #threepointsofview #perfectmergingoftimelines #psychologicalthriller #horror #gothicvibes #psychosis#deceitandbetrayal #gamesfordeadgirls #jenwilliams

Games for Dead Girls follows Charlie as she returns to her hometown in the wake of girls disappearing. Thinking the disappearances are related to a spirit she conjured up with her friend Emily as a child, Charlie poses as a reporter in an attempt to get information out of the townspeople in the hopes of tracking down the girls and put an end to Stitch Face Sue once and for all.

For a while I was confused about what this book is trying to be. Is it horror? It a a mystery? Either way it really dragged. Also, I didn't really like, understand, or connect with Charlie. The ending felt super rushed and was pretty unsatisfying. Safe to say, this book wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. It's very rare that I dislike audiobook narrators. After all, this is their job, but I had a really had time listening to Mhairi Morrison. She literally paused after every other word, and it was quite jarring. In the end neither the book nor the audiobook was for me.

I found this book hard to follow and not very intriguing. I tried to do the audio and the ebook but even going back and forth I could not connect with the story. The characters weren’t likable and I just didn’t enjoy the story. I had high hopes after the beginning starting off so great but it fell flat for me.

This just wasn’t my book I guess. I know there will be an audience for it, but it wasn’t me unfortunately.

Ever heard the phrase, too many cooks in the kitchen? By the end of this story, that was my primary thought on what I had just read. So much potential for an amazing book but there were too many storylines throwing in this seasoning or that, adding this ingredient, and mixing when it should’ve been left to stew.

This had so many things to pull you into the story from the get go: a small town with creepy stories that haunt the residents, girls gone missing, and too many secrets for a town to keep hidden. This story fell short but I can see the potential in this author and I would happily read another book.

**2.5-stars rounded up**

This audiobook was good. It will not stand out in my mind as one of the greatest productions ever, but it was well done. There was certainly nothing off-putting about it and I would definitely recommend that format for this story. My full review of the story can be found below:

Games for Dead Girls is the latest release from Jen Williams. This is the second novel I have read from Williams and unfortunately, I wasn't crazy about either one.

In this story, we are following multiple timelines. One is a past perspective when two girls, Charlie and Emily, become friends in the small Seaside town of Hithechurch, England. In an effort to try to rid Emily of her abusive father, the two girls perform a ritual to summon the spirit of a local legend, a girl killed by pirates, who Charlie dubs, Stitch Face Sue.

Even though they are unsuccessful, Emily becomes obsessed with the idea of Stitch Face Sue and of summoning her. When the two recruit another young girl into their friendship group, the end result is disastrous. The new girl is killed and Emily and Charlie get caught trying to hide her body, after which they're both sent to institutions for the remainder of their childhood.

Another perspective is Charlie in the present. Now an adult, Charlie has returned to Hithechurch under the guise of researching a book about the local folklore. That's not her only reason for being in town though. Emily has released a memoir regarding the incident that changed the course of their lives and she's laying all the blame at Charlie's feet. Charlie is determined to find the evidence she needs to prove that what Emily is saying is false.

Then there is a third, more mysterious perspective, of a man in Hithechurch decades before Charlie and Emily meet. Eventually, the three perspectives as one story starts to make sense. Unfortunately, for me, it lost some of the impact because it was such a slog getting to the conclusion.

In my opinion, I felt like the perspectives didn't flow well, one into the other. It felt jarring to me and also a bit confusing keeping track of what was going on amongst the different times. I feel like nothing was memorable enough to stand out, so it made it more difficult to follow.

I liked the idea behind this, the legends of a small seaside town influencing some local kids to do terrible things. I like that premise. I also think the reason behind Charlie coming back to town was kind of fun and made sense as far as motivation for her current actions.

This reminded me a lot, a lot, a lot of The Dead Girls Club. I personally enjoyed this one a little more, because at least I never rolled my eyes at anything the MC was doing. Unfortunately, neither one of them really delivered the dark atmosphere and engaging plot that I was hoping for.

At the end of the day, while I wasn't crazy about this one, I can see that there is a good story in here, somewhere. Hence the 2.5-stars rounded up. With this being said, this will probably be my last-go with this author. Just know, it's not her, it's me. I just don't seem to be the right fit for her style of writing, but I know there are many Readers out there who will be.

After all, as I always say, there's a Reader for every book and book for every Reader. If the synopsis sounds intriguing to you, absolutely give it a go. You could end up finding a new favorite book!

Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my feedback.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamworks publishing for the audio copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

“There are some things that are so bleak, so horrific that there is no sane response“

This book was fantastic, it was perfectly horrifying and I loved, loved the psychological twists that the book had. With an unreliable (and not innocent!) narrator the mystery was in more layers than the reader can peel.

I can’t say too much about this book without giving up the story so I’ll add snippets. Little girls believing in a ghost called Stitch-faced Sue. A Tupperware container buried deep in the caves that holds the truth of the murder. Missing girls with zero leads in their disappearance. A man who performs unreal surgery in his own home.

This mystery gets pretty wild in some places.
I was just blankly staring into the void multiple times.
It got its hooks in me though, I really wanted to know what was going to happen.
Did it surprise me in an overwhelming way? Not really.
Did it give me an uneasy feeling? Sometimes.
Did I at some point think the main character was making dumb decisions? Oh yes, but I have the feeling every mystery book copes with those kind of main characters lately.

This review sounded way more negative than I meant it to be. I still enjoyed the entire ride.
I would definitely recommend it.
(I would not fully recommend the audiobook though. The narrator sometimes had quite a robotic voice, as if Alexa or Siri were reading the book. Weird.)

This was a uniquely haunting and incredibly atmospheric read! It’s a psychological thriller with a side of horror and some gothic vibes.

This is a slow burn that’s told through three different timelines that eventually converge in a satisfying way. As a heads up, there’s a lot going on with this one so make sure to pay close attention!

Now this might not be for everyone as it’s definitely out there but I found it’s disturbing and twistedness quite intriguing!

3.5 rounded to 4 for goodreads