Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
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.
Recently ghosted and sick of watching her friends fade into the suburbs, thirty-something Hannah finds community in a true-crime forum that’s on a mission to solve the murders of four women in Atlanta. After William, a handsome lawyer, is arrested for the killings, Hannah begins writing him letters. It’s the perfect outlet for her pent-up frustration and rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first.
Until William writes back.
Hannah’s interest in the case goes from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. After she loses her job, she heads to Georgia to attend the trial and befriends other true-crime junkies like herself. When a fifth woman is discovered murdered, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty, and Hannah is the first person he calls upon his release. The two of them quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss.
Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…
Review:
I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The title alone is what made me request this book on NetGalley. For some reason, the cover made me think it would be a dark comedy, but that is not at all what I got (and I am totally okay with that). This book is pretty dark – as one would expect when serial killers are involved – and dives deep into people’s obsession with true crime and serial killers. This is Coryell’s first book, and I am already a fan!
The story follows Hannah, a bored and disillusioned young woman who doesn’t have a whole lot going for her. She lives in a small studio apartment in the Midwest and works a non-profit job that brings her little joy. Often bored at work, Hannah entertains herself on internet forums where armchair detectives try to solve crimes. Her latest obsession? A serial killer who is preying on women in Georgia. When William (the alleged killer) is caught, Hannah decides to write to him as he awaits his trial. She intends to tell him what a POS he is and be done with it, but when he writes her back, Hannah is shocked, a little nervous, and intrigued. So, she replies to his letter and thus begins her relationship with an accused serial killer. But what starts as a harmless outlet for her frustrations quickly spirals into an obsession as Hannah becomes more and more entangled in the case and more and more emotionally attached to William to the point that she begins to make some very questionable decisions that may cost her her life.
The character development in this book is exceptional. Hannah is a complex and flawed protagonist whose descent into obsession is both fascinating and terrifying to witness. At the same time, I have read many true-life stories of people who go down this path. It’s both disturbing and fascinating. Likewise, William (the accused) is a compelling and enigmatic character, keeping readers guessing about his true nature until the very end. Coryell delves deep into the psyche of her characters and explores the dark and unsettling nature of their relationship. The dynamic between these two characters creates a tense and suspenseful narrative that will keep readers turning the pages well past their bedtime.
The side characters are also very well-developed. From William’s influential lawyer father to his enigmatic brother and the other armchair detectives that Hannah befriends, each one serves a distinct purpose, and their time on the page is not wasted. As the stakes rise and the tension escalates, the book barrels to a satisfying conclusion, and while I wasn’t surprised by the twist at the end, it was still a satisfying read.
While not the dark comedy I expected, this book ended up being way more than I thought it would be. It’s a dark and riveting thriller full of well-drawn characters and a compelling plot that is as chilling as it is captivating. With a unique premise and a gripping narrative, this book is a must-read for fans of true crime and psychological thrillers.
