Welcome to Litsy!

When a true crime podcast comes to Paradise, West Virginia to talk about the Blind Spot Slasher, it stirs up trouble for the children of the man convicted of the killings. Fifteen-year-old Henry Lusher is sure his dad is innocent and his new friend Otis may be able to help him prove it. Very atmospheric and a fast-paced read, although the plot wobbles a bit toward the end. Bonus points for Mammaw; she was great.

Wow I really liked this book! The narration was really great, and I loved the characters. And I did not see it coming! Everytime I was sure I had it right, I was totally off. The ending was great and crazy! 5/5

3.5/5 It's an easy read, relatively fast-paced mystery novel, that I would classify more as young adult, as the main characters are teenagers. The description of the opioid crisis through the eyes of teenagers is quite interesting, especially with the character of Otis whose father relapses. Entertaining plot, even if I'm not convinced that it holds when it comes to the psychology behind the motives.

Overall Rating 3⭐ | Narration 😀=Good
While I usually love a good Grit-Lit novel, I sadly couldn‘t fully engage in this story & I tried. Nor did the characters speak to me, yet I really thought that they would have. But, that‘s not to say that they couldn‘t for someone else because it may have had potential that I missed out on by listening through the NetGalley‘s inferior player. Although, I‘m not sure if it was the actual writing or the player.

For the most part, I really really enjoyed this book. I enjoy Rob Rufus's writing style and his commitment to creating an engrossing world. If you're in the mood for a thriller or police procedural-esque novel that also raises awareness for the harm that drugs can have on a community, if you're into cults, or if you're really passionate about Appalachia in the media (like my fiancé is), then this may be the book for you.

Last year, WV was one of the few states that I missed in Reading The States- so I must admit, the setting first caught my eye here! This well-performed #audiobook follows two siblings reviled in their town for being the children of the serial killer dubbed “The Blindspot Slasher”. A new boy with troubles of his own moves to town and soon all three are looking for the truth. Meanwhile, Detective Garcia follows troubling new crimes… #AudioColoring

Paradise, WV captivated me from start to finish. There is a great mystery in all of this and despite the serious subject matter, the author didn‘t seem to take it all too seriously. There‘s a bit of a campy feel to the book, and while the story is pretty surface level and there is a mountain of stereotypes and cliches, it all seemed very intentional. This won‘t work in every story, but it was executed well here.

Full review link in comments.

🎧 I wasn‘t sure what to expect as I picked it based on the cover & genre (thriller).

Serial killer is caught & incarcerated.

Serial killer‘s 2 teenage kids have to live with this dark cloud over their heads.

A couple moves in with their teenage son, Otis. He‘s a genius & his dad also has a past.

Officer Garcia came to town 6 months ago with the promise of being fast tracked to detective, she‘s also having personal issues.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👇🏻