Tasha Coryell’s Love Letters to a Serial Killer: Review
I just finished reading Tasha Coryell’s debut novel LOVE LETTERS TO A SERIAL KILLER, by Berkley Press, and I’m going to enjoy this review a lot.
This is a fast-paced story about a woman in her thirties not quite sure where she fits in the world or her value due to a lot of factors. Bored with her life, she, as the title implies, writes letters to a suspected, but not-yet-convicted, serial killer. Her infatuation, either with the man himself or other draws, leads her to his trial in Georgia.
The trial and its outcome send her into a world she isn’t accustomed to, and the danger she seeks. There are several intriguing side characters, and the protagonist and narrator, Hannah is as impressive as they come. The story has nice twists to keep you off balance, and the reveal seems to land at just the right time. I think Coryell stuck the landing fine.
The thing that impressed me the most in this one is the above-mentioned Hannah. She’s an incredibly complicated protagonist and a terrific narrator. Her self-hatred and quick interpretations, at times, are enough to make her believable, and she’s hilarious. In a story like this, humor is a great tool to disarm some heavy topics. It opened a large playing field for the author, and she took full advantage.
The pacing in the book is somewhat fast, but it’s right, whatever you call it. It stops to look around when it needs to, but it’s mostly hectic to match the protagonist’s life. The writing has a good balance between handling some tough issues and sneaking in other jewels. The writing isn’t overly literary, and it isn’t anywhere near mass market. It seems to find the place it needs to be rather quickly and stay there.
Coryell explores the ideas of male violence, gender roles, societal expectations, social pressure, social media, violence and sex, and power. She blends it well together with a story that calling “true crime fiction” is selling short. It’s more than that. And I, for what it’s worth, think it’s definitely worth a read for anyone who likes good books.
Published by Berkley Press, June 2024.