Dog Rose Dirt Book Review

Title: Dog Rose Dirt

Author: Jen Williams

ISBN: 9780008383817

Pages: 400

Source: Review Copy from NetGalley

What if your mother had been writing to a serial killer?

A convicted murderer with a story to tell

Serial killer Michael Reave – known as The Red Wolf – has been locked in Belmarsh Prison for over 20 years for the brutal and ritualistic murders of countless women.

A grieving daughter with a secret to unearth

Ex-journalist Heather Evans returns to her childhood home after her mother’s inexplicable suicide and discovers something chilling – hundreds of letters between her mother and Reave, dating back decades.

A hunt for a killer ready to strike again

When the body of a woman is found decorated with flowers, just like his victims, Reave is the only person alive who could help. After years of silence, he will speak to Heather and only Heather.

If she wants to unearth the truth and stop further bloodshed, she’ll have to confront a monster.

Official Summary

22 March 2022

I have been dying to read this book – so a huge thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for sending me a review copy. This is a fabulous read that looks at a young woman’s life as she discovers her family is not quite what she grew up believing. When her mother commits suicide she discovers things about her mom she never knew. This is a gripping read that will keep you glued to the pages with its fast pace and easy reading feel.

This was my first time reading Jen Williams and I was amazed to discover that this was her first book of this genre. She is a natural at bringing creepiness and an eerie uncertainty to her story. I found myself loving her style and I hope she continues writing thrillers. I will definitely add them to my TBR if she does.

Returning to her childhood home when her mother unexpectedly commits suicide, Heather feels unsettled. Her mother’s house leaves her uncomfortable and not able to sleep. She discovers strange notes and soon finds out her mother was not the woman she thought her to be. When she finds a dead bird, she has to leave the house, but she also needs to understand. Her need for closure sends her to a small town where her mom once lived in a commune. However, what awaits her out in the woods is more than she was hoping to find.

This is one of those books that will haunt me for a while. The story was gripping and unputdownable I loved it. I raced through this book in record time, eager to find the truth.

Michael Reaves was without a doubt the most unlikely serial killer which just added to his character. This guy was beautifully creepy. The author did a fantastic job with him. He keeps you guessing while you do not doubt that he is a monster. However, the more of Michael’s story that is revealed the more your heart breaks for this villain. I closed this book feeling sorry for this guy, wishing he could find a way out of prison – even if that would not be a good idea.

Heather is a confused young woman who sometimes seems to miss what is right in front of her. For an investigative journalist, she sure seemed a little too trusting, However, the truth that is waiting for her – will leave you understanding her better. This poor woman has no idea what is waiting for her.

I loved every second of this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough. You are guaranteed a late night or two when you reach for this title.

Thriller fans can expect to be pleasantly surprised when they pick up this pacy, creepy tale. It is a fantastic read, so if you haven’t yet, be sure to add this one to your TBR – I promise you will not be left disappointed.

About the Author

Author bio from the author’s site

Jen Williams lives in London with her partner and their small ridiculous cat. A fan of pirates and dark folklore from an early age, these days she writes horror-tinged crime thrillers with strong female leads as well as character-driven fantasy novels with plenty of banter and magic. In 2015 she was nominated for Best Newcomer in the British Fantasy Awards. She is represented by Juliet Mushens of Mushens Entertainment.

The Copper Cat trilogy consists of The Copper Promise, The Iron Ghost and The Silver Tide – all published by Headline in the UK – and the first two books in the trilogy are available in the US and Canada, published by Angry Robot. Both The Iron Ghost and The Silver Tide have also been nominated for British Fantasy Awards, and she is partly responsible for founding the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club, a social group that meets in London to celebrate a love of fantasy.

Her second fantasy series, the Winnowing Flame trilogy, kicked off with The Ninth Rain and The Bitter Twins and ended with The Poison Song in May 2019. The Ninth Rain and The Bitter Twins both went on to win the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel in their respective years. When not cursing herself for writing really long books, she can be found writing advertising copy or working in an independent bookshop.

Her latest novel, Dog Rose Dirt, was published in July 2021 in the UK by HarperCollins, and in the US by Crooked Lane under the title A Dark and Secret Place. This twisty crime thriller has also sold in Germany, Brazil, Poland and Spain. Interests outside of reading and writing include drawing witches, playing video games, and watching cartoons. She has a particular passion for animation and history and will bore you to death about either if she gets half a chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this review copy. This is a book I was dying to read after seeing everyone rave about it on social media. I am a little late to the party, but this book is worth it. If you haven’t yet, add this one to your TBR. If you have read this one, did you love it as much as I did? Leave a comment below.

As always thank you for stopping by, I trust you enjoyed the review and hope you will share it. Until next time…Happy Reading!