Book Slayers

Stacey Assu (00:01.142) We read four books between us this week.

Betty (00:05.768) and at least one of them made me want to commit a crime.

Stacey Assu (00:09.698) Not legally actionable, just emotional.

Betty (00:13.443) I was personally victimized by a plot twist.

Stacey Assu (00:17.464) This is Book Slayers and today we're interrogating...

Betty (00:21.918) Wolf Worm, Dear Debbie, A Novel Crime and Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Stacey Assu (00:29.576) We're talking unhinged characters.

Betty (00:33.267) unhinged writing choices.

Stacey Assu (00:36.088) And whether our stabby little star link, and whether our stabby little star ratings.

Betty (00:43.934) We're accurate.

We can't, we've got stuff.

Stacey Assu (00:46.99) Okay, let me do that again.

I had a pop-up come up and I read the pop-up instead.

Okay.

Betty (00:52.054) I think it's confusing because it's stabby star ratings, which still makes sense.

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (00:56.374) Yeah, it's so that people understand what we mean if they don't watch us normally.

And whether our stabby little star ratings...

Betty (01:04.82) were accurate or if we need to issue a full public apology.

Stacey Assu (01:11.124) One of these books deserved a five star.

Betty (01:14.246) One of them deserved jail time.

Stacey Assu (01:17.816) Guess which one made me say I support women's rights?

Betty (01:21.238) Women's wrongs.

He can just cut me back in after the big cough.

Okay.

Welcome back to Book Slayers, the podcast where we read the books so you don't have to.

Although you definitely will want to, no, I'm gonna completely start that again.

This might take a while.

Although you definitely will want to when we are, although you definitely will want to when we are finished.

Fucking is your outtakes right here.

Fuck sake.

Have another drink.

Only on Patreon.

Right.

This is the worst this has ever gone, but the funniest as well.

It's gonna wait for you to put the video in.

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (01:59.278) There's the grandma!

Stacey Assu (02:12.898) That'll be caught into clips.

Betty (02:17.602) Welcome back to book slayers, the podcast where we read the book so you don't have to, although you definitely will want to when we're finished.

We are your hosts, the resident chaos gremlins, professional overthinkers and full-time judge of fictional decisions.

And today's episode is a mini thriller book pods, which means yes, we put ourselves through four thrillers this week for your entertainment.

and for all sufferance.

Stacey Assu (02:49.485) welcome.

Betty (02:51.894) Fuck me, that was a tongue twister.

Yeah, that was a fucking tongue twister.

What you doing to me?

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (02:52.27) in my turn.

Stacey Assu (02:57.326) Is it my turn?

All right, I didn't put that on mine today.

No, I didn't.

I forgot to put a thingy.

Betty (03:02.824) What?

Hang on, what?

Stacey Assu (03:10.574) That's why I was like, she'll stop, Betty (03:11.483) I've done all of that then because I don't know if that sounded great because apparently I'm slurring as well.

Stacey Assu (03:16.814) That's all right, don't give a shit.

Okay, where were we?

Okay.

Today we are diving into Wolf Worm, Dear Debbie, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and A Novel Crime.

We will be breaking down what worked, what absolutely did not, and what made us stare at the wall and reconsider our life choices.

And of course, we'll be revisiting our official very scientific Stubby Star ratings.

Because sometimes we finish a book and think, Betty (03:18.868) separate hose.

Stacey Assu (03:45.56) Five stars, no notes.

And then 24 hours later, I'm like, who let me make that decision?

So grab your drink, lock your doors, and maybe don't trust anyone in these books because we've got some crimes to unpack.

Welcome back, book slayers.

Betty (04:03.594) Wow, what a beginning.

I'm excited.

Stacey Assu (04:04.11) Okay.

Stacey Assu (04:07.988) I am so excited.

Like we picked some really interestingly different books, I feel like this time around.

And I kind of regret not going along with you and reading Dungeon Crawler, Carl.

I do.

What book do you want to start with?

Betty (04:19.348) You should regret that.

Shall I go into Dungeon Crawler Go?

Stacey Assu (04:26.604) Yeah, let's do that!

Betty (04:28.882) So, hang on, just want to my nights down.

literally written something else as well I chat GPT'd this so this might be a bit of a waffle so Dungeon Crawler Coal full disclosure this is not my normal kind of book this is a thriller podcast we don't normally do this I'm definitely not into fantasy but this one did kind of get me a little bit so set the scene Aliens invade Earth, but instead of wiping us out they turn the whole planet into this massive like 18 level dungeon like some kind of twisted video game You follow this guy called Carl.

He gets dropped into the dungeons wearing boxer shorts and pink Crocs and His ex-girlfriend's cat who's called Princess Donut This is just it sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it's really fun The wild part is, it's all part of this like reality TV show, but for aliens.

So they're fighting like monsters.

They've got to like level up like you would in a video game.

They're trying to survive, but also they've got to do it in an entertaining way to like keep the aliens on board so they don't just vote them off and kill them.

Like I said, it sounds ridiculous, but it was actually quite funny.

There's some kind of weird dark humor in it.

Some people are very like...

like it or hate it.

Some people are massively offended and I can't even, I'm like, good read some of it and some of what they're saying is there was like only a couple but it was like women saying like it's like they didn't use the word derogatory but I'm gonna use it derogatory to women and like does this guy hate women and I didn't get that at all so each to their own don't Betty (06:11.962) I'm not sure but if you're not into fantasy I would still give it a go because it was really fun and it's just a little bit mental and I have downloaded the second book.

Stacey Assu (06:24.782) It sounds really good.

Like I have been seeing the best people talk about online and they've been saying the best things about it.

But I can't remember what stabby rating you thought you were going to give it.

Do you remember what you said you thought you were going to give it?

Betty (06:38.402) I thought I'd go five because on Goodreads there is like, I'm gonna double check these figures, there's like, I'm gonna just preempt with 300,000 and it's like over four and a half.

It's ridiculous.

And the amount of five stars outweighs everything.

It is insane.

Stacey Assu (06:51.203) wow.

Betty (06:57.654) Yeah, 304,000 and it's got a 4.48.

Obviously a lot of them people are probably into either video games or like big fantasy people.

I'm not, I'm not.

I did Court of Fauna and Roses.

I read the first book, I tried to do the second one.

Not my bag, can't get on with fairies and shit.

But I don't know why this works for me, but it just did.

Did you like that?

Not down with the fairies.

Not down with the fairies, what?

No, I'm not down with it.

Stacey Assu (07:21.198) I'll get on with fairies.

Betty (07:28.21) This is funny.

This was like, it was like a video game.

You know the film Jumanji where you see their little string pop up and it's got like your levels and like your strength and like they have all these weird shit and they their inventory where they can like load shit up and he's in there with a fucking cat.

So if you like cats, the cat ends up talking.

The cat ends up talking, spoiler.

Stacey Assu (07:34.541) Yeah.

Stacey Assu (07:53.902) That is it from me.

This clip is going to be, if you like cats, read this book.

Betty (07:59.755) Yeah, she is a good character.

Honestly, you love it.

But I did check.

I did look at like, what's called Reddit.

Because I was like, what do other people say?

Like, I was wondering like, how much I go into what I talk about.

I didn't want to ruin a lot of it because I do hope people read it.

But one of the big things was that there's eight books.

And one of the things why I rated it down was because I thought the first book Stacey Assu (08:18.275) Yeah.

Betty (08:28.468) when they go in the dungeon, there's like 18 levels and I thought, there's more books because there's more dungeons.

like, it's not, it's a carry on.

The whole series, the whole eight books is the 18 dungeons.

So it does, it is a bit cliffhanger and I don't really like that.

But apparently the more you go on in the books, the more it becomes a more like horror.

So I was like, Ooh, maybe that's why I was intrigued.

It's going to move to like a horror.

Stacey Assu (08:52.59) Hmm Betty (08:57.426) vibe it's going to get a bit more gruesome rather than a funny video gamey type of fantasy book so i think that the books are actually going to get better as they go along so i have downloaded the second one i just don't know where i'm going to fit it all in because obviously we do this have to read all different books but have a holiday coming up so hopefully i'll get a few done there and the other thing that it said is that the new the Stacey Assu (09:04.067) Yeah.

Stacey Assu (09:12.046) Duh.

Betty (09:22.878) The newer books will take on different concepts that tackle things like morality, family dynamics, human struggle.

This is someone's Goodreads, by the way.

This is not me.

Theology, politics and the darker side of the human soul and the actions that can cause us to turn down a dark path.

Sounds thrilling.

Well, this is what's to come.

It made me want to read.

I was a little bit like, have I got time?

And then I read some of these Goodreads and I was like, I'll make the time.

Stacey Assu (09:40.952) Did you not agree?

Stacey Assu (09:45.303) Ooh!

Stacey Assu (09:52.138) I will make the fucking time.

Yeah, I really...

Betty (09:54.762) There's also two other TV series.

Stacey Assu (09:58.186) I really want to read it.

I really, really want to, but I want the audiobooks and Libby doesn't have them.

Betty (10:06.302) People say on Goodreads the audiobooks are like they're better than reading the book and I kind of believe it because you know sometimes it's not always as good as the book or you kind of miss bit like I think the audiobooks will be amazing, but I feel like they're an audio an audible staple Exclusive that's it not staple.

Maybe it's Stacey Assu (10:11.544) Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, maybe don't have it.

Stacey Assu (10:24.449) Exclusive.

Yeah.

Yeah, you never know.

No, they usually call them audible exclusive.

That might be why our library doesn't have them.

But my daughter Charlene is a class A asshole.

Yes, I don't mind saying that.

Can you just sign me up again for Amazon music?

So, and when I canceled it, it's like, you have to pay and keep the month.

So I'm like, fuck you.

I'm going to use a credit on, you know, audible.

But I'm wondering now if maybe I'll just keep it just so I can listen to one a month.

Betty (10:31.894) That's it.

Betty (10:40.03) Hahaha!

Betty (10:44.166) Ha ha ha!

Betty (10:52.008) You look beautiful.

Betty (10:56.426) How much does that cost though?

Amazon Music.

Stacey Assu (10:58.549) 11 bucks.

Betty (11:00.886) This is like a fiver.

They are free on KU, all of them, apart from the last one, which I did like, so I was like, because actually I went on Amazon.

Stacey Assu (11:10.04) We don't get audible.

Betty (11:12.95) Oh no, I didn't mean for audible, but I meant they're on KU.

So anyone listening, like all the books are on KU.

So they're all free.

that.

But, I forget what's going to say now.

Uh oh.

When I looked, so I was like, Oh, I wonder if you can buy the set.

Cause my kids, I just called them kids, they're 17.

They, they probably prefer books over a Kindle.

Betty (11:37.686) So I wondered if could buy this series.

thought they're more into fantasy than anything.

I thought they might quite like it.

Cannot find a package of the books and I looked it up.

The second book, the paperback, was like 25 pounds.

Stacey Assu (11:50.382) So he wrote them all as an indie author, Penguin has just picked him up.

That's why they're re-releasing everything.

Betty (11:52.086) Let's go.

Betty (11:58.64) Yeah, but 25 quid for one book.

Come on.

That's insane.

Stacey Assu (12:03.798) I pay 40 something for fucking hard coppers here.

Betty (12:07.03) Europe.

that's the other thing.

don't know.

No, I think it was a paper.

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (12:11.31) Oh, was it?

Okay, so I might have paid $50 for each one of these because they're sprayed and they were at foil.

Betty (12:21.288) but they're sprayed and they're so pretty.

Stacey Assu (12:24.654) But don't tell Mike I spent $150 on three books Betty (12:27.926) Everyone, don't tell Mike.

No one else can hear us.

Stacey Assu (12:30.35) He doesn't watch.

That was the Easter egg, okay?

He should be making a list of demands for everything horrible I've ever said and he ain't said shit, so it's his own fault.

Yeah, I definitely want to read that one.

Do you want to hear about the book I read that you didn't?

Betty (12:45.598) Yes, what was it?

Remind me.

Stacey Assu (12:47.702) I read, see it's doing the clicky thing again.

I read Wolf Worm by T.

Kingfisher.

Now this one was a different one for me because we don't usually read a lot of historical horror.

So I was intrigued.

I do quite like T.

Kingfisher.

I have enjoyed the books in the past, but I originally wanted to read this one because it had the reclusive scientist, creepy crawlers, blood thief and local legends.

And I wanted to see how this all unfolded.

And I really wanted to be grossed out.

And the story did really well.

Like it was a really well written story.

It just took a little bit going on.

Like Sonia, she's an illustrator.

This is back in the past.

And because she's a woman, she has to take whatever crappy job someone throws at her.

And she never gets, she never gets thanked for her contributions.

So he would just take the full credit for the book and her illustrations.

But she goes anyway, cause she needs the money and she needs a job.

And fucking the scientist guy is fucking weird.

Okay.

He's clearly up to something.

He's sketchy.

She's nosy as fuck, which I loved by the way.

She's like, Oh, what's he doing?

Why is he, why is he running off with chickens and then pretending he didn't run off with one of his own chickens?

Like it was like, she was like, what are you up to?

So she follows him into the forest and he's got a shed and he's there something locked in there.

And she's so like at that point, you know, something dangerous is going on.

because people are telling you not to go into the forest at night.

People have gone missing.

The wife's dead.

No one knows what happened.

And she wants to get in their shed so fucking bad, what she finds in there.

I was like, Betty (14:28.04) I need to know what's in the shed!

Stacey Assu (14:30.446) can't tell you because it's a massive spoiler, but it was so, so good.

And the funniest part is, this I will spoil, what's in the shed is nowhere near as terrifying as what that scientist gets up to.

yeah.

Betty (14:33.236) Yeah.

Okay.

Betty (14:48.586) This sounds double creepy.

Stacey Assu (14:50.734) It's fucking creepy.

The only problems I really had were the pacing was a touch slow.

Like I like my horror to move quickly, to build that anticipation and then scare the fucking bejesus out of me.

This story didn't really do that.

It was kind of a creepy, like, like it kind of crept up on you a little bit, a little bit, and you're like, oh, kind of like there was no like big crescendo and I really needed that.

It was fine, whatever.

But if you're going to drive tension, you really need to build the tension and it just kind of I don't know, I just kind of hopped along like, here's this piece of the information, here's that piece, here you go, here's that.

I liked how it ended though, I have to admit that was quite satisfying.

And I predicted I'd give it a four stabbies and I gave it a four stabbies.

So really it wasn't, it was exactly what I was hoping to get, but just, think it could have just been a, like, I think it could have been a five star.

Had the pacing just been like, ooh, and then go, ah, yeah.

Betty (15:47.126) Oh, I might have to put that on the old TBR.

Sounds good.

Stacey Assu (15:50.978) It was good.

really, I was, I was very impressed and I'm so impressed that I put it currently, like this is a thing I've got right now.

I've got four add-ons in my book of the month box because I'm waiting for April's choices.

And right now it's in there.

We're going to see if it gets bumped depending on what they push out for April.

Cause they only let you have four add-ons and that's probably about as much as my budget can handle, but I would happily like add more.

Betty (16:20.276) Yeah, I am into like, or like I want something a bit more creepy and something that's gonna make me more scared.

You know, when you say, when you're like checking what's behind me, I'd like to make a bit creepy.

Maybe for the future, because I've already picked my next couple of books for our next one.

I've picked the next ones, we'll do it later, but I have picked a couple, which are not creepy, but they are thrillers.

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (16:33.548) Yeah, I love books that make the hairs on your arms go up.

Or have you, really?

Nice.

Betty (16:49.044) rather than dungeon call the car which is not a thriller but you should still read it.

Stacey Assu (16:53.07) I found a load of books on Libby that were older thrillers that I hadn't read yet, so I grabbed a bunch of those.

I'm trying to be bit more mindful of not packing myself in with so many new books, but to reread some of the books that I've never read before.

And I picked a series to read.

I've decided that I'm going to read all the Sookie Stack houses because they're like, you never watch True Blood.

Betty (17:14.112) suppose I never did this.

No.

Stacey Assu (17:19.36) Okay, that's a book series.

It's a book series and I have the first four and there's 13 of them and I'm like, I'm to dedicate to one series that kind of fits our genre, which because they're kind of like horror, classic horror.

Betty (17:30.23) Oh, will you do one for the pot so I can see if it's my vibe?

Stacey Assu (17:36.406) Yeah, I'll do one for the pod.

I'll let you know when I've done book one.

have not started it yet, but it's on my list.

Okay.

Betty (17:45.686) I was gonna say, should we do Dear Debbie?

Stacey Assu (17:49.592) Sure!

Let's do it.

Yeah.

Betty (17:50.941) You've read this haven't you?

Yeah I'm very mixed reviews about this one it's a typical Frieda there's the typical twists which I feel like a lot of her books are the same twists people are not who they seem to be it's all that kind of stuff I really enjoyed so just if anyone hasn't read it dear Debbie she's a columnist she's Stacey Assu (18:08.888) Yeah.

Betty (18:17.992) a mum, her husband's like an accountant or something and I know or something he is an accountant I don't know what I did do or something just the way we English people speak yeah just normal life she loves her garden then right at the beginning she has a bit of a falling out with her neighbor I don't even know how apt this is to the story like doesn't really matter it just shows what sort of person she is so the the neighbor still so Stacey Assu (18:43.768) Yeah.

Betty (18:46.612) Dear Debbie is gonna get like home gardens or some magazine or something to come and photograph her garden and her neighbor steals them as they come to do it and then they do her garden.

And she's very vengeful and she's very, a bit unhinged for a female lead.

Definitely some feminine rage in there.

So she basically gets her back.

That's not the main bit of the story.

That's just how you get to know Dear Debbie.

So then.

Stacey Assu (18:59.289) yeah.

Betty (19:14.39) She loses her job, her husband loses his job.

You're led to believe all these different things are happening, which then, I don't know, are they happening, are they not?

Her daughters are going through some shit at school, and then you see all little bits of her taking revenge and seeking her own sort of justice.

for what's happening to her kids, what's happening to her husband.

And dear Debbie is fucking, she's a bit vile.

But in the best way, I was kind of rooting for her.

Stacey Assu (19:47.234) You know what?

I kind of liked, that was the only time I actually liked Debbie was when she was doing, it's funny because you called it a columnist and I called her an agony aunt.

And I think that's what they used to call it back in like the nineties, right?

Agony aunt.

Yeah, agony aunt.

And I'm like, my God, that's my British coming out right there.

That's me British.

Betty (20:09.115) yeah, no, that is not.

He calls it that in the book, but yeah, in England, Agony Aunt and her co- Stacey Assu (20:13.794) Yes, I can eon.

Betty (20:15.442) Some of her answers to her columns was like fucking funny as fuck.

It'd be like, my husband snores, it'd be a really long thing, I love my husband but there's this one thing I hate about him, what should I do if he snores?

She gives the normal advice like, you know, tell someone on their side or I don't know, there's probably bits you can buy to like hold your nose open or something weird.

And then she's like, if that doesn't work, just get a pillow and smother his face and he won't snore ever again.

And you're like, fucking hell.

Stacey Assu (20:42.688) I don't!

It's like- Betty (20:43.894) I it hilarious, they were my favourite bits, I would literally be laughing out loud to some of them.

Stacey Assu (20:52.31) I really enjoyed those parts.

That's probably the only really good parts of the book for me because Debbie on her day-to-day normal stuff, I don't know, she felt like every other Frieda character and I love Frieda, okay?

Frieda is my queen.

But I felt like it wasn't her best work.

Like Frieda really, I don't know.

It's almost like she's just selling books off of her own name now.

That's kind of how I felt.

It was a bit predictable.

It was a bit bland.

I don't know.

Like the twist was just like, yeah, didn't saw that coming.

You know what I mean?

Like it didn't.

Betty (21:22.022) Didn't I didn't see it coming but I at the same time I think when you know Frieda's formula you're just like Okay, it wasn't to me.

I gave it a three stabbies because I wasn't sad that I read it I wasn't like, why did I waste time?

But it also wasn't up there with I think her best ones was the housemaid The boyfriend I thought was really good and Never lie.

I think they're her best ones Stacey Assu (21:28.429) Yeah.

Yeah.

I don't know.

I like the teacher as well.

Like that one I thought was pretty good.

Betty (21:51.413) What?

Oh, that's a bit gross.

Yeah, the teacher was up there.

But yeah, I think she does seem to churn them out very fast as well.

It's like, are they too rushed?

Or is it just sticking to that formula?

Don't get me wrong.

I will still read Frieda's books.

I'll still read them.

I still, I call them like a palate cleanser sometimes.

It's like, I'll just be saying simple and easy to just get me.

Stacey Assu (22:04.215) Yeah Stacey Assu (22:10.007) me too.

It's- That's six.

It's thriller.

It's popcorn thriller.

But it's funny because I also gave it three stabbies, but I was a little disappointed.

So you gave it three stabbies, you're like, yeah, I was all right.

And I'm like, I gave it three stabbies and I was a little sad that this was probably one of the...

Betty (22:30.262) Oh, actually, I did 3.5 according to my notes.

I normally just do one, two, three, because I do good reads, but I did write on my notes 3.5.

I think because we've talked about how we rate stuff, and we seem to rate them, we seem to think that three stars is quite a different thing.

Whereas I think three stars, so let's talk about this.

So I think three stars is, it was okay, it was good, I enjoyed it, not life-changing.

Stacey Assu (22:35.119) there you go.

Yeah, I see.

Betty (22:59.476) That's it.

Whereas you think free styles is...

Stacey Assu (23:03.086) It's just, it was okay.

It was just kind of like meh.

Could taken it or left it.

Like I'm of the opinion that if it's three stars, that you're either gonna like it or you're not gonna like it.

And I think that's where the swinging linchpin is for me.

Like there are so many things in there that could have been better.

But there was a couple of elements that kept me reading, because otherwise I wouldn't have kept reading.

Betty (23:23.598) I liked the way that, because we were talking about this over text, and you said, if someone rated you three out of five, how would you feel?

And I went that they're wrong because I'm clearly a five.

I don't think so.

But when you said it like that, I was like, okay.

But I think out of five, two and a half is average.

So three to me is still above average.

That's where my brain goes.

Stacey Assu (23:42.253) Yeah Stacey Assu (23:50.766) you told me I was a 2.5 because I was average, I'd cry.

I would cry!

Betty (23:57.673) I'd punch them in the face personally.

Stacey Assu (24:02.738) but two and a half no give me a 3.5 okay I feel comfortable there I'm a four in Walmart Betty (24:04.47) Betty (24:09.302) I feel like that story come from when I was looking at writing it I was like okay 3.5 not just a 3.

We're trying to get on each other's wavelengths of like how we write books but yeah.

Stacey Assu (24:15.832) There you go.

Stacey Assu (24:21.838) It's just funny.

3.5 I'd read.

3.5 to me is basically a four anyway.

So 3.5, that's a book I'm probably gonna invest money in.

A three star, I will try and find it for free.

That's really where I'm at.

Like I don't wanna pay for a three star, but I'll pay for a 3.5.

Makes no fucking sense.

It doesn't.

There's no logic there.

There's no fucking logic there because people were putting Gone Girl at like four or five stars.

I've got three copies of this fucking book and I hate that.

Hate it.

Betty (24:49.462) You Stacey Assu (24:51.022) And somehow, like, Jacey's like, oh, I've got your copy of Verity.

I also have a copy of Verity here.

So I clearly had two of those.

So apparently I just spend money frivolously.

Betty (24:58.954) But you have so many books that you probably do not know even how to keep out of it.

Plus, you are very privileged, but not privileged, like obviously you work, you do work for these, you get a lot of sort of books to review and stuff that you get sent from publishers and you're in contact with them all the time.

So you are very, you're very lucky, but you work hard for that lucky.

Stacey Assu (25:10.817) I do.

Stacey Assu (25:18.574) I do.

It took me ages to get here.

I started off with eBooks.

Like it took me ages to get audio books because fuck me, the amount of times I requested audio books and I'd like, no, because I didn't review audio books on there.

But it's like, how the hell do you review an audio book if you won't fucking get me one?

Betty (25:33.622) Vicious circle.

Stacey Assu (25:35.326) It was.

So I did a bunch of free listen nows.

they were painful.

I can see why they will listen now.

Sorry, NetGalley.

Betty (25:43.822) great name and shame them ones.

Right talking about books that we may or may not like let's talk about the next one I'm gonna let you intro because this was your pick.

Stacey Assu (25:45.858) There.

Stacey Assu (25:56.34) Yeah, it was.

So I picked a novel crime by Debra Levinson because it was touted as a dark comedy crime fiction.

And it was likened to Finlay Donovan.

And Finlay Donovan is my queen.

I fucking love that character.

We were given unreliable narrator, alter ego, kidnapping gone wrong, and unhinged protagonist.

They were probably the highlights and that over describes it for me.

Betty (26:11.711) need to do this.

Stacey Assu (26:25.44) Alter ego, she was an author who changed her name to sound more authory.

That's not what I was envisioning with an alter ego.

I'm sorry it wasn't.

And yeah, the characters were supposed to be funny.

I thought they were kind of like, bleh, bleh.

Betty (26:42.314) I think you used the word cheesy.

Stacey Assu (26:45.164) Yes, I did use the word cheesy.

I wanted to like this book so much because I was like, yes, is there going to be a new book like Finlay while I'm waiting for the new Finlay?

Not realizing I actually already had it on my Kindle.

I don't remember downloading it, but whatever.

So I was really excited, but Marcy was a twat.

Francesca was a twat.

And...

The only thing I liked was like how antagonistic they were to each other, but they were exactly the same and they both thought that they were better than each other.

And I don't know, I was massively massively disappointed.

Betty (27:19.05) So.

Betty (27:22.642) Same, my, not even like, no, not gonna say that.

I was gonna say my saving grace, no it wasn't.

I liked the daughter that she got in there and stirred a bit of shit and like fed Marcy some shit and then the mum filled Marcy in and then the daughter is basically the most spoiled brat that you'll ever meet in your life but she could manipulate him a little bit.

That to me was the only interesting bit.

I thought.

Yeah.

That was the only interesting bit.

Betty (27:51.485) I thought the characters was just really boring.

I didn't think it was believable.

I thought that Marcy being able to manipulate Francesca, who's Francesca supposed to be like this author who's already really established like really high up in her career.

Like she's massive.

Marcy's woman who is trying to write a book.

Her book is obviously shit because even her book club don't give her any good feedback apart from, yeah, you wrote a page.

Yay.

She Stacey Assu (28:14.072) Yay!

Betty (28:19.41) And the way that it come about of how then she blackmailed her, Francesca thinks that Marcy's managed to snap a picture of her like in a not compromising position, which she didn't, she did see something that she shouldn't have.

But there was no like, where's your proof?

There was no question it made Francesca seem more dumb to me.

And Marcy, was almost like, I'm gonna blackback you.

I got away with it, Stacey Assu (28:29.059) Yeah.

Betty (28:42.838) And then she tried to become her friend and she like she's so delusional.

She was like I'm black man and this woman to rewrite my book for me because I'm shit.

Why wouldn't do a best seller because I want to impress my daughter.

But actually and then she was so delusional that she was like, oh, well, we talk all the time to with friends and I'm like, I cannot get on board with you at all.

just, I just don't, I don't, I'm not, I'm not gelling at all with the book.

Stacey Assu (28:55.981) Yeah Stacey Assu (29:07.414) No.

I thought that it was like, this is exactly what I wrote in my notes.

I'm like, this book is basically the T-MU version of Finlay Donovan.

Betty (29:19.733) put down.

Stacey Assu (29:20.198) When you order off Wish and you get that tiny couch thinking it's going to be full-sized, yeah, that's how I felt about it.

And I was really disappointed.

I was really disappointed.

I think that the only thing I really liked was how it ended.

Like everyone got their just desserts and that was probably the only thing that actually rescued me not like tanking the rate in really severely.

Betty (29:25.48) I said that video!

Yeah.

Oi!

Betty (29:37.524) Yeah.

Betty (29:43.317) I found that bit funny.

I think when it was trying to be funny, like I'm sure, I'm sure if you read the write-up, it sort of pits itself as like a dark comedy type vibe.

And I was like, there's no dark and there's no comedy.

I didn't get it.

Stacey Assu (29:56.578) Yeah!

Stacey Assu (30:01.494) There was funny moments.

It was funny moments I really didn't see.

She's talked herself into it.

I'm just going to explain the kidnapping bit because it's a trope.

She literally has talked herself into believing that that's what Francesca wanted was for her to kidnap her.

I'm just like, what?

And Francesca, know that at the end when we find out about the daughter, you're supposed to kind of vindicate Francesca almost.

She's still a muppet.

I'm sorry, she was a fucking twat rocket.

Betty (30:28.758) you They're all idiots.

It's all silly.

It wasn't my kind of vibe.

I mean, it may be other people's kind of vibe.

If you like, is it Deborah Levinson?

The author's name.

I think we're recording early, but I'm pretty sure the book is out the day that this podcast goes out.

So if you are a fan, you may love it.

It's out today.

Go and get it.

Not my vibe.

I too stabbed it.

Stacey Assu (30:33.718) Yeah, I don't know.

Stacey Assu (30:43.276) Yeah, Levenson.

Stacey Assu (30:52.238) Grab it.

Stacey Assu (30:59.67) Yeah, I only, I actually 3.5 stabbed it and I think I was kind of, yeah, just because, just because I felt like it was well paced, like the pacing was, was decent.

The story moved.

I didn't want to DNF it at any point.

So that, that I kept going for that reason.

But I also found that I could see that the author was a very, was the writing was good.

Like she, you can see she's talented, but Betty (31:03.444) What?

What?

Betty (31:16.525) it was a good night.

Betty (31:26.964) Yeah.

Stacey Assu (31:27.766) I was in the mindset of Finlay Donovan and I couldn't see outside of that.

So every time it was like not as good, was like, I was comparing it.

And I feel like my rating reflects the fact that I might not necessarily be reviewing the book for its merits, but against something that I found much better.

And I didn't really want to tank her because it should have been a 4.5.

That's what I, what I originally said.

Yeah, I was really fucking excited.

Betty (31:48.627) Really?

I went into it thinking it sounded interesting.

I will say that at no point I didn't want to DNF it either.

I did want to see what was going on.

I just, it just wasn't completely clicking, but I must have wanted to see how it would pan out.

And to be honest, if you're sort of looking at a book and thinking that you can see what's going to happen in the end, you can't see the end.

Stacey Assu (32:12.418) No.

No.

Betty (32:12.662) You wouldn't guess it.

I think maybe a two is a bit harsh, maybe a 2.5.

Cause to me a two is normally like, I regret reading it.

Oh, it's an idea.

I don't regret reading it.

I think I regret the mindset I went in with.

And this was something I was trying to explain to somebody else.

If your mind is already set on how you want this book to be and it doesn't fit that map, you're not going to enjoy it.

That's why I try and go in blind because I really don't like being, I don't like the preconceived notions that I have sometimes of books because that really fucks me up, which is why I only read the title and go, yes.

Betty (32:25.291) No, I didn't.

Stacey Assu (32:47.0) But that one, for some reason I knew it was supposed to be Finlay Donovan vibes and it just, it missed the mark.

And I really don't want the author to feel like I'm unfairly judging her book because if I'd have gone in blind, I may well have rated it higher.

You know what I mean?

So I think 3.5 was pretty much where I had to sit to be authentic to how I felt about it, but also knowing that I did have preconceived notions and that wasn't cool.

Betty (33:11.926) Yeah, I'm going to stick with my 2.5 rather than a 2 because I think talking about it, if I could have not read it, I probably wouldn't have read it.

There was some good stuff in there.

Yeah.

You know what?

I kind of wish that I could wipe it from my memory and then later on find it and just read it on its own basis.

This is one of the things I hate.

Like, I'm going to quickly nudge where we're going next, but we have picked like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

And I already have read it.

So I already have preconceived notions of how I feel about that book.

And I've spent a week trying to clear my mind of what I already remember so that I can go in with fresh eyes.

Because I gave it two stars before, two stabbies, and I'm hoping that I can bring it up to a three based on a new experience where that.

Betty (33:56.136) Yeah.

Betty (34:05.492) and I've never read it, so I'm quite excited.

Although the only other reference that I have, I know you didn't get on with it.

I know a lot of people like it.

Like I think it's quite a popular book, but I feel like someone in old, in my book club at, well, outside of work now, I feel like someone there was like not as good as what I thought it was gonna be, bearing in mind how popular it is.

So I'm going in with a little bit of a, but I actually don't know what the story is.

Stacey Assu (34:32.91) Yeah, well, I'm not going to tell you anything.

I'm not going to spoil nothing.

But my biggest problem was that by the time I hit chapter four, I knew pretty much exactly what was going to happen.

Now I didn't know the, yeah, I didn't know the exact dynamic of what happens when it all unfolds at the end, but I had a pretty clear idea of what was going to happen and why this was all unfolding that way.

And that really bothered me.

Betty (34:35.894) So I'm going to start on Monday.

Betty (34:46.026) Really?

Betty (35:02.294) I wonder if I'll get that.

I wonder if I'll know.

I don't know, I'll keep posting it.

I will.

Stacey Assu (35:05.378) So it's chapter four.

When you get to chapter four, see if you have any thoughts and write them down.

Betty (35:12.636) Yeah, I was going to say that's exactly what I should do.

should read the first four or read three and then do it.

Stacey Assu (35:19.218) It's during chapter four, so there's something that happens in chapter four and you're gonna go, you're either gonna say, no, I don't know what you're on about, or you're gonna go, huh, and there's gonna be a little click and click light bulb moment.

Betty (35:27.872) So read all of chapter four and then write down what I think the story's gonna be.

That'll be quite interesting, so I never do that.

Stacey Assu (35:34.222) Yeah, yeah, I just, I'm curious to see where you go with that.

Most people didn't get it.

Most people didn't see it, but because I already know and I know where it is, not gonna lie, I've already finished it this time around, already finished.

So I realized again, but I also forgot how it actually ended.

Yeah, like there was, there's a piece there and you're gonna catch it or you're not gonna catch it.

Betty (35:38.134) Yeah, I'm wondering if I can get it.

Betty (35:55.026) Yeah.

Betty (36:01.714) It's like we've gone go, isn't it?

When we first started reading that, I was like, I don't really remember all of this, but as I was reading it, I was like, yeah, I remember it as I was going through, which I still enjoyed reading it, you didn't.

If you've missed it, check out the last episode because we covered that a couple of weeks ago.

So have you got any plans for our next mini pod?

Obviously Silent Patient will be next.

That'll be next week's episode.

The week after that, we always try and pre-plan.

So we've got a bit of time.

What have we got coming up?

Stacey Assu (36:06.797) Nah.

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (36:23.949) Yes.

Yes, we do.

Okay, I did pull.

Betty (36:30.974) Also, this is a plan guys, like we do try and stick to the plan, but if the books are really not great or not on point or if we move on, we'll change, but this is just the plan.

Stacey Assu (36:36.014) Sometimes shit happens.

Stacey Assu (36:40.814) So I actually have a, there was a Darcy Coates book that I downloaded.

It's called Where He Can't Find You, because I keep hearing about this bloody book.

Was it good?

Betty (36:49.64) sounds good.

No, I'm saying it sounds good.

That sounds like my kind of vibe just from time.

Stacey Assu (36:56.074) Yeah, I'm not gonna lie.

Like they were talking about it online.

I got the new Stacey Assu (37:07.956) there it is.

Okay.

So there is a book out by Luke Dumas and it's called Nothing Tastes as Good.

That's a horror.

Yeah.

No, it's not.

It's a horror.

They were talking about it being a book of the month pick.

I don't know if it's going to be a book of the month pick.

I had an art copy of that one and I had one more but I can't remember what it was.

that's because I haven't got it yet.

It's coming.

Betty (37:16.128) Sounds dirty.

Not dirty.

I think taste is good.

Betty (37:36.287) I we were just gonna do two, mind you, you can do what you want.

Normally, yeah, I've only written down two.

I have other ones, but I don't always have time.

I don't always have time to read them.

I'm having to find audio books.

However, because I think the next time that we film, we're have to do it a little bit early because of pre-arranged.

Stacey Assu (37:40.93) Well, no, I'm just, because I might change my mind yet.

Betty (38:05.588) What's the word?

Pre-arranged, not requirements.

Pre-arranged...

What is it when you've got something planned?

Cut this out, obviously.

Stacey Assu (38:13.806) plans?

Pre-arranged plans?

Betty (38:17.94) have plans so we're gonna have to film early next time.

So I've tried to pick a couple of audio and stick to audio books so I've picked the couple next door.

Don't know how to say this name so I'm just gonna guess Sheree Labina?

Sharia, thank you.

Apologies for the shit pronounced.

But I feel like you've either read it or...

Stacey Assu (38:22.936) So far there.

Yeah.

Stacey Assu (38:29.858) Mm-hmm.

Stacey Assu (38:33.656) Sharia Sharia Le Penna Sharia Le Penna That's what I do know.

Betty (38:44.584) you wanted to read it so I feel like that could be one that we could discuss and also gone completely kind of different but also an author that I've never read but watched a lot of TV series about.

I've picked Missing You, Harlan Cobham.

Stacey Assu (38:48.046) I've done it.

Stacey Assu (39:02.446) I Holland Coben I love those shows.

I love his books.

Betty (39:04.854) I've actually watched this TV series, but it was quite a while ago.

So all I've got is mental pictures in my head.

I don't actually know the story.

So I'm excited to do that one.

But yeah, I'm audio booking both of them.

Just ready.

Stacey Assu (39:19.988) I love Harlan Cobain.

I've done a couple of his arcs.

They're good.

They're really good.

I want the one he's done with Reese Weberspoon.

That one's on my list.

Betty (39:25.547) Nice.

Nice.

Yes, we've actually spoke about this.

I don't know about we spoke about in the pod, but we spoke about this one ages ago, but it was still in its era of, I'm very expensive.

Stacey Assu (39:41.856) Yes, it is.

Actually, I think it was cheap on Kindle.

I don't know.

Betty (39:43.958) I'm cheap, I'm on Kindle Unlimited, I do try and stick to that.

But just to note, Silent Patient, if you haven't read it, it's on 99p on Amazon at the minute.

So get that and then you'll be ready to listen to the Silent Patient with us next week.

Stacey Assu (40:02.792) Indeed.

I am excited to talk about it.

I've made a lot of notes.

You're going to hate me.

Betty (40:07.91) me too.

Also before I forget if you enjoy the chaos that you listen to, you love hearing us shit talking about books, don't forget to follow and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcast so that you are the first person to see us when we drop on Tuesdays.

Stacey Assu (40:22.954) Absolutely, and don't forget the most unhinged content ends up on our Patreon and Substack for podcasts.

You wanna wrap up?

Yeah, you wanna wrap up?

Yeah?

We hope that you have enjoyed this episode of our mini pod.

Let us know in the comments if you have read any of the books that we covered today and what you thought about them and maybe we can start a little conversation.

We hope that you have the reading week you deserve readers and we will catch you next week.

Betty (40:31.702) It's really...

You do.

Betty (40:50.794) See you next week, guys.

Stacey Assu (40:52.546) Take care, Slayers.

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