Hannah is a young woman working for a nonprofit organization and having zero luck in the dating department. She becomes obsessed with the murders of several girls and tries to help find the killer along with the help of her true crime internet sleuths on her message board. William is a lawyer and is accused of the murders. While he sits in prison, Hannah starts writing him letters. They develop a relationship which leads Hannah to traveling to Atlanta where the trial will take place to see William and do some investigating of her own.

I found this book really enjoyable. I’m big into true crime and this was a fun book to read and try to figure out along with Hannah.

"Love Letters to a Serial Killer" by Tasha Coryell is a gripping debut that delves into dark romantic obsession. It follows Hannah, whose life spirals into chaos when she begins corresponding with William, an accused serial killer. As their relationship deepens, the narrative transforms from a romance into a chilling psychological thriller, revealing the unsettling depths of Hannah's delusion.

Coryell’s writing is compelling, seamlessly blending suspense with character exploration, even as the plot twists are somewhat predictable. The novel captivates with its intense portrayal of human relationships and the darker aspects of the human psyche, making it a standout read for thriller enthusiasts.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Welp. This book was a ride. The first half very much read like a romance, which was incredibly cringy. Once it became more clear that Hannah is deranged, it was a little easier to accept but this story still gave me all the ick. And yet, I couldn’t stop reading. It really was like watching a train wreck. Even though I wasn’t enjoying the story, I couldn’t stop reading. Ultimately this was too dark for me, but I have to appreciate the writing style that kept me hanging on.

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell

Thank you so much Berkley and NetGalley for the free eARC.

Blurb:
An aimless young woman starts writing to an accused serial killer while he awaits trial and then, once he’s acquitted, decides to move in with him and take the investigation into her own hands in this dark and irresistibly compelling debut thriller.

✨My thoughts:
I loved this book so much!! It was absolutely killer! Hannah Hannah Hannah, you delusional woman, you. I loved the crazy in toy and the way you fall in love. This story is ridiculously fun and fresh as hell. I’ve never read anything like this before but I need more! It’s books like this that have me begging to be part of Berkley’s influencer program or at least auto approved on NetGalley… I fly through their books like nobody’s business. The way I inhaled this story…there was no time to slow down. The who is easily figured out but it will not make you live this book any less. And with an ending like that?! Love Letters to a Serial Killer is a straight up banger and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy when it hits the shelves 6/25/24!!

Happy reading 📖

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

The main character in this story was unlikable and impossible to root for. The writing made me cringe. The character seemed far to desperate & definitely gave off the vibes of someone who would date someone in jail & tell everyone the justice system had gotten it wrong.

4.5 stars.

Wowee. What a wild ride!! From page one until the very end, this book had me in a chokehold. I couldn’t put it down. I was insanely fascinated and invested in the thought process Hannah went through. I kept thinking “I wonder if this is how Caroline Boone felt” throughout the entire story.

I felt so many things, anger, sorrow, frustration, empathy, and surprisingly related to her in a few ways. The way she talked about herself felt relatable and too real at times. That being said, the way she developed her relationship with William made me view the dating world and the desperation some people feel in today’s society.

I didn’t know whether I wanted to be friends with, or respectfully *slap* Hannah into reality. My only reason for not giving it a 5 star review is solely because of how predictable it was. At least, to me it was. I’m 100% recommending this to any thriller, true crime, unconventional romance book lovers!!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC! I was so excited for this one!

Side note. The Goodreads Blurb refers to William as Wesley. Clearly, that is incorrect.

I LOVED IT I LOVED IT I LOVED IT I LOVED IT!

I read this book in one sitting because I absolutely could not put it down! Hannah was cray cray and I was here for it! She was unapologetically herself even when herself was in love with a serial killer. I kind of figured everything out early on, but that didn’t stop me from completely devouring this book and that ending was EVERYTHING. All my true crime obsessed ladies/gents out there, this ones for you!

Title: Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
Publication Date- 06/25/24
Publisher- Berkley
Overall Rating- 6 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG. I loved this book. I’m not sure how to write a review for this. I loved it so much, not everyone will. Especially that ending, there are a lot of pieces of this story that people are not going to like and may even be upset with. I think if you take your time and you really listen to what the author is trying to say and represent then you will enjoy it. It’s an “if you know, you know” kind of situation. At least I took away some satire and humor and commentary on the romance industry and true crime culture.

The main character may end up being my favorite main character of the year. I found her humorous, relatable and just really fun. At the same time our main character is suffering from isolation and is pretty misunderstood by her family. Underneath all the humor in this novel is witty commentary like I said above. If you take it at face value, you may not like it.

The main genre for this is listed as “thriller,” I would add that it feels equally a mystery (not a thriller you’re not really on the edge of your seat, well maybe some, okay let’s divide this into threes). In thirds the genre’s represented here are thriller, mystery and romance. The author did a good job of balancing genres, and keeping you interested throughout the whole story.

I will be purchasing a copy for myself because I loved it so much and will reread it again in the future. I hope this author publishes more books in the future!

This book was a quick read and interesting in its premise, but it fell a bit flat for me. First, I'm not the biggest fan of the writing style, but it's just a personal preference. Also, the pacing was a bit off for me, it feels like the beginning and middle were okay, but the last few chapters occur quickly and almost out of left field. The twists also felt a bit juvenile and I was able to piece them together early on, so it ruined a bit of the read for me. Overall, it's a book with a great premise, but the execution is just off for me.

If you like your reads a little dark and twisty, you will absolutely devour Love Letters to a Serial Killer!

Hannah is living a boring life with a boring job when she becomes obsessed with a murder spree happening in Georgia, joining message boards, making social media graphics, and feeling like she is part of the investigation. She goes so far as to write a letter to the man who is eventually arrested for the killings, and the correspondence between she and William leads to a relationship with her very own (maybe) serial killer.

The premise of this one grabbed me and had me in a chokehold, and the flippant attitude of the main character had me captivated. It was like watching a wreck happen right in front of you and being unable to look away. Hannah has some issues and a very twisted little mind, and I was stunned by how oblivious she seemed to the danger she kept putting herself in.

William, our potential serial killer, is charming and well-spoken in his letters, and it made me think about the fact that this actually happens in real life, that women go courting dangerous men in jail for the thrill it brings them. What an intriguing story, with plenty of dark and twisted moments on the path to finding out the truth. I couldn't put this one down!

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

🔪 T H R I L L I N G T U E S D A Y 🔪 featuring “Love Letters to a Serial Killer” by Tasha Coryell!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Hannah is over her job, over her friends and over men (for now). She finds herself a part of an online forum community who is banding together to help solve the recent murders of 4 young women in Atlanta.

When a handsome lawyer named William is arrested for the killings, Hannah feels compelled to write this man a letter in prison. Hannah becomes obsessed with the case and the curiosity behind whether William could possibly be a serial killer begins to take over her life. The brutally honest conversations within these letters leads to Hannah falling in love with William and accepting his offer of becoming his girlfriend.

When a fifth woman is killed while William is on trial, he gets released and the first person he visits is Hannah. The two quickly begin to play house as Hannah continues to follow the investigation. But at the back of the mind she will always wonder if William will ever try to kill her?

This book is certainly twisted and spirals as Hannah’s obsession grows. If you are a fan of “Notes on an Execution”, this one has similar vibes!

Thank you kindly to @tashacoryell @berkleypub @netgalley loop for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This debut book releases on June 25, 2024!!

There were parts of this book that were great. I loved the premise and how creepy William was and not knowing if he was guilty or not. However, Hannah drove me absolutely crazy and after a while, I couldn’t justify her actions anymore. I began to dislike her and couldn’t come back from that.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It kept me entertained the entire time. But the main character was so obnoxiously stupid.

This book was fine - a quick but largely empty read. Not especially thrilling. The pacing felt totally off, especially during the last 10% or so, and then the concluding moments with Hannah's pregnancy were ridiculously contrived. Awkward, unbelievable sex scenes. Awkward, unbelievable dark humor that is neither dark nor humorous. This is a good stab (my gift: a pun) at a first novel and reads as such.

Love Letters to a Serial Killer is like nothing I have read before. This one is truly in a category all of its own, and the more I think about it, the more I think I enjoyed it!

This story follows Hannah, who in her 30s, finds herself in a rut. Her job is a bore, she feels disconnected from her soon-to-be-married best friend, and the guy she's been in love with has moved on to someone else. Hannah is lonely. She needs a change. When four women are killed in Atlanta, apparently by an active serial killer, Hannah discovers True Crime forums. She's immediately hooked into the energetic community of online sleuths. When a handsome lawyer, William, is arrested for the crimes, Hannah's interest quickly becomes obsession.

Captivated by the case, Hannah decides to write William a letter as a way to air all of her frustrations and anger. What harm could come of it? It feels like a great way to express herself, and no one else will ever know anything about it. Unexpectedly, William writes back. His letters are surprisingly charming and he seems so interested in her. It's hard to reconcile his beautiful letters with the horrible monster the world is claiming him to be.

As mentioned, this whole thing has become an obsession of sorts for Hannah. It takes over her life. After losing her job for poor performance, she decides to leave her life behind and head to Atlanta to attend William's trial.

The trial is a media frenzy, but in spite of the chaos, Hannah attends each and every day. She ends up befriending some other attendees and eventually begins to feel more at home there than she ever did in her old life. When a 5th-woman is murderer while the trial is underway, it throws everything into question. How can William be the guilty party, if women are still being murdered the same way while he's locked up?

With this huge development, and the prosecution having nothing more than circumstantial evidence against him, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty. Guess who he calls upon after?

That's right. Hannah. The two move in together and officially become a couple. Everything is great. William is so supportive of her, she doesn't even have to get a new job. All the more time for investigating him, because Hannah still suspects William could be a serial killer, acquittal or not.

Honestly, Love Letters to a Serial Killer is an odd little story. Even though I didn't like Hannah, or her bonkers choices, I still found it to be ridiculously compelling. I could not stop reading! I feel like this one is going to garner some strong opinions upon its release, and I'm definitely interested to read them all. I found it to be completely original and wickedly fun, but it definitely tackles some taboo topics.

It did take me a minute to commit to the story. Hannah seems so desperate in the beginning. It annoyed me. I thought to myself, no wonder she is going to fall for a serial killer. She was just looking for any attention AT ALL. Once it got to the point where she discovered the forums though, I was hooked. Then there was the letters! Was she nuts? He hadn't even gone to trial yet. She was thinking he'd be locked up forever, but that's never guaranteed. Her choices were just a string of, 'WTF, Hannah?!?', moments, and I was eating it up.

As it goes along, it gets more and more wild. The family gets involved, other people, and then their relationship. OMG, I just, I'm not really sure how to sum up my thoughts on it. It's sick, it's twisted, it's slightly deranged, but I liked it. Hannah is like the Carole Ann Boone of the Romantic Thriller genre.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This is an incredibly memorable one for me and I can't wait to get more from this author!

Love Letters to a Serial Killer is like a Lifetime movie in print. It was compulsively readable and the main character's actions made me cringe nearly every page.

If you are a true crime junkie and love thrillers, this book is for you! I enjoyed it so much and read it in one day - unputdownable! Hannah is in her late 30s, and her life seems to be falling apart at every turn. Whether it’s dating, friendships, family, or work, she feels unvalued and unsatisfied. She finds a forum dedicated to solving a string of murders, becomes obsessed, and begins writing the man on trial for the murders. To her surprise, he writes her back, and a long-distance relationship of sorts begins. And it just keeps getting crazier from there!

This book is told in the first person, which was really helpful for me to connect with the main character, because otherwise I think I would have written her off as a psycho (which… accurate) and had a very different mentality through the book. Instead, reading through her point of view cast her as a sympathetic every-girl character in my eyes, which made the craziness all that more bizarre and entertaining to read! Her choices made me sad, and yet I was so entertained that I could not put the book down, which made me think… isn’t that what she was doing with her murder fascination?! However, the FMC gets crazier and crazier as the book goes on, and you begin to realize that her external problems are nothing to her internal issues. Even though I thought I saw the twist coming a mile away, there were still more surprises, and I audibly gasped at the end. I love books that end like that!

This story has a lot to say on the fascination of true crime, the danger of being a woman in society, and the stories we create about the people we think we know. While Hannah is more than a little questionable as a person, I felt that the narration was pretty honest about her shortcomings, which made her a little more palatable to me. This book was very entertaining and easy to read - perfect for a day by the pool when you want a dash of crazy and murder!

I ADORED this book and can't wait for Coryell to have another out! I went into not quite sure what to expect, but found it to be part mystery, part ode to women and feminism, and also a nod to true crime junkies everywhere. Hannah writes letter to Wesley, who's about to go on trial for murdering multiple women. She's angry and tells him all about it--to her surprise, she receives an actual response. They begin a correspondence, and even though she knows she know better, Hannah finds herself falling for him. Before she knows it, he's acquitted, and THEY ARE LIVING TOGETHER. Whoa! She is secretly pretty sure he really is a killer, and while she's a bit fearful, she also is high off the danger aspect (and also turned on). This author has a strong command of language and anyone who likes literarly-leaning books will appreciate that.

Hannah, felt like nothing was going her way - her career, her love life, and herself. She began to have an identity crisis. To pass time and feel like someone again she became obsessed with a criminal investigation. Where she eventually started sending letters to the killer. Eventually she became obsessed and wanted attention.

Hannah was a confusing character. Was she normal? Did she lose her sense of identity? Or was she just as psycho as the serial killer she fell in love with? It was a roller coaster. I did not expect the ending.