TBR & Tangents by Rachel

I appreciated that even though this was a series book it easily reads as a standalone. Sometimes I don’t have the time or honestly the mental energy to start yet another series. This gives enough of a background to tie in the previous story but it’s not overwhelming or makes you feel like you’re missing out. To be honest; after finishing this book I feel way more inclined to read the others.

This entire group of characters was exceptionally diverse and unique. It didn’t feel like your standard run-of-the-mill male cop protagonist, and rookie women partner which I really, really enjoyed. Their individual backstories felt very natural, and the progression of their partnership felt like a good pace. Honestly, all of the interactions between all characters, major and minor never felt forced, or awkward and in fact very realistic.

I will say something that continuously caught my attention was how immersive it felt. No matter what the environment, it truly felt like I was in the midst the entire time. Which was good of course, but in this instance it absolutely upped the creep factor significantly.

You can tell easily that the author took a lot of time into doing research about all the aspects, especially the occult and the history of Salem. A lot of the time I found myself wondering, “is this really all fiction or is there some facts in here?” Which I think is so awesome!! Being able to keep your reader guessing through the entire story requires some serious talent.

The plot twists though? Insane. I can’t even explain- and won’t because, spoilers. It’s pretty slow start, and honestly the middle too but I just take into account that it’s a pretty realistic timeframe. But trust me if you think you have it figured out; you don’t and that’s okay. I promise everything gets tied up nicely, but it’s not without a few moments of panic, especially near the end.

I say absolutely grab a copy if you like your murder thrillers to have a very, very healthy dose of supernatural themes. Also, if your vibe is anything like Midnight Mass, I promise you’re going to love this just like I did.