The Perfect Place to Die by Bryce Moore
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Web ID: 162924778 reviews
Just an Okay Read
I personally didn’t have a lot of knowledge about H. H. Holmes before I read this book but it definitely made me want to look more into actual events. But if you already know who H.H. Holmes is, you already know who is killing people so it's not really a mystery. To me, the story just kind of dragged on and it was kind of hard for me to get through. I didn’t think that too much happened until the very end of the book. I didn’t really connect to the characters too much and by the end just wanted it to be over. It did keep me reading to the very end though to see what would happen. It didn’t take me very long to read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
The Past Meets Fiction
Sisters, Zuretta and Ruby, have always dreamed of leaving their small town and making a name for themselves in the big city. It was always just a dream. Until one night, Ruby decides to leave and put her big dreams into motion. Zuretta remains content for a while, happy to receive Ruby’s letters of her big adventures in Chicago. When Ruby’s letters stop coming, however, Zuretta starts to worry. Convinced that something horrific has befallen her sister, Zuretta makes the journey from Utah to Chicago to find Ruby. However, Zuretta finds something much more sinister than first anticipated. Based on a real-life serial killer case, The Perfect Place to Die by Bryce Moore is a classic whodunit mystery. The mystery is afoot. While I adore reading murder mysteries to immerse myself in a developing mystery that reveals itself the more the story continues, this isn't really that. While Zuretta befalls some hardships, I couldn't help but think that most of the events of the novel were way too convenient. She barely had to walk several feet out her hotel and already a Pinkerton of the renowned detective agency wanted to help solve her case. She barely does any of the sleuthing at all before the mystery of her missing sister is placed before her on a platter. The story was quite predictable and I guessed whodunit long before it was officially revealed. Unfortunately, the writing was just not for me. I didn't connect as much to the story as I had hoped. The characters were quite flat. With Zuretta, there wasn't any connection between reader and protagonist. Zuretta seemed to just be going through the motions, without providing readers with any semblance of personality. While readers were meant to care about finding Ruby, it was difficult to care since every character was two-dimensional and sounded like the same person. The action sequences left much to be desired. To be honest, the flat characters coupled with the lackluster action made for a tediously slow story. The premise of the novel sounds riveting but the execution left something to be desired. It follows a fictional narrative of a real-life serial killer in Chicago. If you follow real-life serial killers in crime and thriller podcasts, you may enjoy this one. The way in which this was written seems like it was meant for those who already know the nonfictional case that it's based on. Unfortunately, I was not familiar with the case before going into this novel. The author’s note provided some insight into the real-life case. The fictional dramatization of the murders connected the past with fiction. Yet, the mix of fact and fiction did not seem to mesh well, leaving the plot a bit disjointed and flat. Despite the novel’s shortcomings, the ending was empowering. While I was not routing for any of the characters, the ending turned out to still be a satisfying one. With its real-life murder case and satisfying ending, The Perfect Place to Die by Bryce Moore is a thriller that fans of crime podcasts will definitely enjoy.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fiction Read for Those Interested in True Crime
In a world of true crime, this is the historical fiction for your patrons! Set in Chicago during the World's Fair, Zuretta leaves an abusive home in Utah to find her sister. Her search leads to "the castle" where serial killer, H.H. Holmes, murdered an unknown number of people. Each chapter begins with an epigraph from Holmes's own journal. which by the way are hugely disturbing. The book concludes with an author's note explaining what was real and what was fiction. Truly frightening. I was given an early release copy of this title from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Creepy, Excellent Story Based on a True Crime
This was an extremely creepy and well-written story set in Chicago during the World's Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) in 1893. I loved how the author took a well-known historical murder situation and personalized it through the fictional story of the sisters, Zuretta and Ruby. This book was a fast, engaging read! Highly recommended! * Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC for review. All opinions are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Chilling!
“The Perfect Place to Die” by Bryce Moore is a historical fiction novel about murder, crime, and a horrific castle that is unlike any other in the gothic genre. Inspired by the true story of H.H Holmes, this story is perfect for those who enjoy strong female leads, the paranormal, and an interest in a killer who slipped by unnoticed for years. When Etta’s sister runs away from an abusive household to make a life for herself in Chicago, Etta’s only contact with her is through a series of letters delivered once a week. When they mysteriously stop, Etta knows something has happened to her sister, and the only way to know for sure is to go to Chicago. Once there, Etta secures herself as a maid in the same hotel her sister worked at. What she discovers only confirms what she already knows, a series of maids have disappeared and her sister was one of them. Hoping she can find answers, Etta hires herself as a detective in the case of missing women who are more than likely dead. As someone who was unaware of H.H Holmes and his grizzly history, this novel was suspenseful and had me guessing until the very end. While the story was slow at parts, Etta’s means at solving the labyrinth-like layout of the castle and its employees’ disappearances were fascinating. She had a unique way of uncovering facts that were reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes’ sneaky ways of finding answers. Etta’s grit and determination to hunt down the person responsible for the disappearances of many were admirable of a girl her age and with as little means available. Though she was only seventeen, her desire to be a detective makes it clear she had all the tools and knowledge to her advantage in this case. Hopefully, there are more crimes for Etta to solve in the future! “The Perfect Place to Die” by Bryce Moore is expected to be published on August 3rd, 2021. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a free e-arc of this novel and the chance to share my honest opinion in this review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Historical fiction thriller--perfect!
This historical fiction thriller was impossible to put down. I went into Bryce Moore's novel knowing exactly who the killer was because of my fascination with this bizarre serial killer during Chicago's World's Fair in 1893 (actually called the World's Columbian Exposition, which I didn't know before reading this book). I worried that knowing the killer might make this book predictable, but wow. Even knowing the truth, I still started to doubt myself! If you don't know the story of this period, let yourself read the book before researching. If you do, don't worry--it's still a gripping and thrilling read! The Perfect Place to Die follows 17-year-old Zuretta Palmer in her search for her missing sister, Ruby. When Ruby's letters from Chicago to Zuretta in Utah stop arriving, Zuretta takes it upon herself to figure out what happened to her sister. She leaves the small town she's always known and heads for the big bustling city of Chicago, where she quickly learns there are very few people she can trust. Zuretta finds herself in the midst of a horror in Chicago, one in which young women are disappearing. Rather than running away as she is advised to do, she solves the mystery of Ruby's disappearance. Bryce Moore weaves a fictionalized story with the factual reality of the 1893 fair so well that it feels as if the reader is there with Zuretta. I found myself on the edge of my seat several times! The story is fast-paced and never lags. Zuretta is a feminist heroine ahead of her time, and she doesn't allow the dismissive men around her to keep her from searching for the truth. Amazing book. A quick read that will leave you ready to know more about the The Castle and the reality of events in Chicago in 1893.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A fun take on a Notorious American Killer!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC fore review! Zuretta's not worried when her sister Ruby runs away from their abusive home. She knows Ruby will be much happier in Chicago, and away from their abusive home. But when Ruby's letters - which, up until then, had been coming reliably every Tuesday - suddenly stop, Zuretta knows something is wrong. So she catches a train to Chicago in the hopes of finding her sister. And this search leads her to the doorsteps of the World's Fair Hotel. Or, as it's more commonly known - The Castle. If you know the history of Chicago in the late 1800s, and are familiar with the string of grisly murders there, then the Big Bad won't come as a shock to you. I unfortunately read a few reviews before diving into this and had it spoiled for me since I was NOT too familiar with the specifics of the real case, but even so, I enjoyed this book immensely. I am not usually a fan of period dramas, but Moore so wonderfully describes the streets of Chicago, the hotel, and Zuretta's wonder at everything, that I very much enjoyed the setting! Honestly, even knowing that all the red herrings were just that, I still found myself on the edge of my seat. The suspense of Zuretta trying to investigate the hotel without getting caught, of the secrets she finds, of her tense run-ins with all the suspects - it was all so clear in my head that I didn't even mind that I knew where the story was going. It was still gory. It was still heart-racing. It was still a tense game of cat-and-mouse as you BEGGED Zuretta to see what was really going on. My only note is that Zuretta wasn't really written like a 17 year old, though I'm okay chalking that up to the fact that people, especially women, had to grow up so much faster during that time. She made one heck of a final girl, regardless of how unrealistic some things were. The way she found her strength through her memory of her sister, the way she went headfirst in to danger even when she was scared, was admirable. Yes, it was a bit mary-sue-ish, but the story kept me so engaged that it really didn't bother me. I enjoyed Zuretta's shift in character. It made me want to root for her. I loved the real confessions from the killer at the beginning of every chapter, too! It was riveting to connect the names from history to the names in the story. Moore blends the two seamlessly. Overall, a really quick thriller about one of the most prolific serial killers in American History! 3.75 stars.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Inventive premise
I appreciate the innovation of blending real historical events with a thrilling fictional story, as is done in The Perfect Place to Die. Zuretta and Ruby are two young sisters toiling on the family farm in Utah, and suffering under their abusive father. When Ruby runs away to Chicago, to seek a new life, Zuretta is left behind. But Ruby sends letters to Zuretta every week, describing the city, her job as a maid, and a man she has fallen for. When Ruby's letters suddenly stop coming, Zuretta is sure something terrible has happened. She knows no one else will look for Ruby like she will, so Etta makes the journey to Chicago, as well. The city, in the bustle of the 1893 World's Fair, is bewildering to the small town girl, but Etta has a job to do. She and Ruby have always admired the Pinkerton Detectives, and Etta decides to take a page from their book. She will go undercover at The Castle, where Ruby was working when she disappeared. But disappearing women aren't the only sinister happening at The Castle. Etta will need all her wits to solve the case, and make it out alive. I've been a true crime addict for over 20 years, and I'm particularly well versed in serial killers. I knew who the adversary of the book was before I read it, just from the synopsis. But I'm not a fan of spoilers, no matter how obvious, so mum's the word. I think the intended audience is considerably younger than I am, though, and may not have the same level of familiarity. The book was very detailed, so you can tell it was well researched. I think because it was so thorough, the pace suffered. Also, the story was a little sanitized for the subject matter. I understand that this is YA, but when you write about certain subjects, you can't skip the blood and guts. Zuretta had the potential to be a great character. She was witty and quick, but I had no emotional connection with her. I didn't feel her anguish over Ruby being missing, or her terror in The Castle. Etta's emotional aspect was stiff and one dimensional. Her character was very intelligent, almost Holmes-ian, to the detriment of her development as a fully fleshed out young woman. Smart, but unsympathetic. So, although I was drawn in by the incredible premise, this book fell flat in execution. It missed the mark for me. I do think that YA readers who are just dabbling in true crime, and historical fiction lovers may enjoy reading this. Age 14+. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the chance to review this advance copy.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com