Recent Reads: Lovely Bad Things by Trisha Wolfe

Lovely Bad Things by Trisha Wolfe

Series: Hollow Row #1
Publisher: Lock Key Press
Publication Date:  May 31, 2022

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

He's the devil. And she's his wicked game.

Halen:

They say eyes are the windows to the soul—but when he looks at me through hues of slate-green and flaring blue embers, I’m terrified of what’s watching me from behind his clashing gaze, something primal and feverish that threatens to melt me like fire in ice.

I fear falling into Kallum Locke’s pitch-black soul.

But after I’m called to a crime scene to investigate the most gruesome act of violence to descend on the legendary town of Hollow’s Row, I have no choice but to turn to Kallum, to the man I had locked away in an asylum for the criminally insane.

He’s the leading expert on all things Nietzsche and occult. And now, to get answers, I’m forced to make a deal with the devil himself.

Kallum:

Really, eyes are the windows to the soul? Then I wonder what little Halen St. James thinks of all the cryptic eyes watching her in the killing fields… I wonder if the hairs on her delicate nape lifted away, if a thrilling shiver raced over her soft skin. She’s desperate for the answer, and she’ll do anything to uncover it—even make a deal with me, dangling freedom like bait on a hook.

But she’s far more tempting to sink my teeth into than any lure.

And the pain will taste twice as sweet.

Trigger Warning: Mention of loss of loved ones, grief, violence and gore

Murder, crime scenes with detail, knifes, blood play , breath play, occult references and rituals 

Review: 

This book was not what I expected but it was brilliant in a lot of ways. The story follows Halen a profiler. She works on serial killer profiles for the FBI and recently she put away Professor Kallum Locke as the Harbinger murderer. Now she needs his help on a case becuase of his specialty, philiosophy.  Together, they are trying to save 33 missing people. 

This was a slow-ish burn romance of sorts, it took a while to get to the spicy bits for a spicy book. It was very dark and weird. The story is essentially a mystery/psychological thriller. Kallum is super awkward and some of the things are off-putting in not great ways, i.e. not him trying to be creepy or a creep. just more cringe. But his odd obsessive nature was a good driver in the plot and in the more romantic elements. Halen was so damaged, you could tell from the beginning that she is holding onto a lot of trauma and depression, but she tries so hard to pull herself out and push through. 

Overall I was find this an ok read... until the ending and a very big twist. I was in shock and it made sense but also I was thrown on my head. I am going to continue this series to see who the Harbinger is... if it is Kallum or not, and if she is really full on crazy just like him. If you should choose to read this one, please note, it is dark, review the triggers, and it is spicy.