Book Review: The Cellar by John Nicholl

4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ November 7, 2022
Page Count ~ 272
Audio length ~ 8 hours 26 minutes
Narrator ~ Jake Urry
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ serial killer, dark, violence, se*ual abuse, torture

My review:

Lucy wants to leave her abusive husband when she learns she’s pregnant. She has a job opportunity from a man who wants her to paint a mural in his basement. Perfect, this will help her get some loot to leave him.

Nothing great goes on in Marcus Gove’s basement though, since the reader already knows he’s serial killer. It’s as dark and disturbing as the blurb states.

We get other POV’s from: Myra ~ Lucy’s mom, Cerys ~ Lucy’s sister & the detectives Laura Kesey & Raymond Lewis, which helped the story flow along at a fast pace. I could feel Myra and Cerys’ pain when they didn’t know where Lucy was.

This author is an ex-police officer and social worker, and worked for child protection services. I could tell this experience helped give a realistic portrayal to this book as we know these sick things really do happen in our world. Breaks my heart. I’ll for sure read more of John’s work.

I was able to listen to an audio copy as well.
Narration notes ~ he did a fine job. He didn’t try too hard to alter his voice to a female and that was probably a good thing.

*Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Add to your never ending TBR  ~ goodreads

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.

Book blurb:

Dark, disturbing and gripping. This is not for the faint of heart.

Nurse. Protégé. Murderer.
Marcus Gove has been all these things. He’s reached the pinnacle of his art and now it’s time for him to take a protege. Lovely Lucy is perfect for the role, or she will be . . .

Artist. Teacher. Daughter.

Lucy Williams is just like everyone else. She’s had some success as an artist, not so much success in love, but she’s getting by. But soon she’s going to have to become something else if she wants to be a survivor.

Detective. Ex-husband. Underdog.

Ray Lewis’s career isn’t heading anywhere. But he’s a solid detective and he’s determined to find Lucy no matter what the upper brass throw at him.

Three people. Nineteen days. Who will live and who will die?

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