Love in the Time of Serial Killers

by Alicia Thompson

Read Dates: 5/8/25 to 5/10/25

Review

Once again, I totally judged a book by its cover—or in this case, its title—and went in with the completely wrong idea. I thought I was diving into a steamy thriller with serial killers lurking in the background, but turns out… not at all! Yes, there are references to true crime, but only because the main character is working on her dissertation about how true crime shows up in modern literature. The serial killer mentions are academic or metaphorical at best—more about her research and the way she relates those themes to the emotional ups and downs in her own life.

But honestly? Once I let go of my (very dramatic) expectations, I had a great time with this book. It’s really a story about healing, self-discovery, and learning to love again after some heavy family trauma. There’s a solid emotional core, a sweet and spicy romance, and just the right balance of wit and heart. The title may have led me astray, but the writing kept me hooked—and now I’m definitely planning to read more from this author!