Pam

Bailey was a bit insufferable to begin with. Charlie wasn't much better. But as you learn more about them, the more you like them.

I found myself comparing this to When Harry Met Sally.

I have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect when reading Pick a Color. Yes, I read the synopsis, but I still wasn't sure what to expect. Especially when you realize the book covers a single day. More accurately, it's an 8-hour work shift. That's a lot to squeeze into a book this short.

So what did I find when I started reading Pick a Color? A book that examines the life of someone who others may consider invisible. Ning, like the rest of the Susans, is of South Asian descent. While the book never specifies which country they are from, the author is from Laos. Actually, there's not much discussion as to where the book is set, other than a big city.

The Susans are a group of women who work with and for Ning at her nail salon called Susan. Why did she do that? Because she thought it was cheaper and easier to have all the employees share a name. Besides, who other than them really cares?

While we spend the whole day with Ning, we never really get to know her. We learn what she did before working in a nail salon. But we know she's unhappy and untrusting of people. But why? What made her so distrustful of people and her own emotions?

Overall, Pick a Color is an interesting character study. What do we really know about those around us? Are we ever really open and honest, even with those we consider friends?

While this is a bit darker and moodier than I normally read in mysteries, it was a fantastic read! The characters are all flawed, some more so than others. My biggest issue was the sexualization of women. Most of the time, the size of their bust or bottom (or even both) was used to describe them. This was done not only in conversations between the police officers but also in the narrator's thoughts. I'm still looking forward to reading more in the series.

I want to thank Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Dead Weight. All opinions presented here are my own.

I requested the ARC for Dead Weight for two reasons. The first, because I’ve read a book by Knútsdóttir a couple of years ago, and found it interesting. The second is that Knútsdóttir is from Iceland. I suppose I have a weakness for Icelandic authors, even if their genre isn’t my normal.

Now, let’s talk about Dead Weight. This can be a quick read, as it’s around 160 pages. But you may find yourself taking it slowly with the first half or so. Well, after you get past the prologue and the first little bit of the first chapter. But once the ball starts rolling, it speeds to the finish line.

Yes, the events of the final few chapters are obvious from the beginning. But I wasn’t certain who it would be until a chapter or so before it happened. And just because you know what’s coming doesn’t mean it’s not worth the read.

Dead Weight is marketed as a horror; it’s more than that. Yes, there are horror elements, including some blood and gore. But it’s also a look at what happens when people get pushed to the edge. While none of the characters are what one would call good people, you will find yourself able to relate to Unnur’s thoughts and actions as the book progresses.

If you’re looking for a book with interesting pacing and story arc, you should give

Slow start, but it gets better as the story goes on.