Welcome to Litsy!

Read this back when it was longlisted for the 2017 Women‘s Prize. Interesting mystery that explores what it means to be a good mother in the eyes of society. Inspired by the true story of Alice Crimmins.

#Scandalous #MayMoms
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Ruth is a difficult woman to like; she comes across as cold & standoffish because she represses most of her emotions & this is expressed by her extreme control over her appearance. The author illustrates how women are judged by their appearance & their actions, especially sexual habits, more harshly than men are. It's an interesting angle, but unfortunately the writing style didn't appeal to me meaning the book was a slog to get through. 2⭐

1-19-21: My 8th finished book of 2021! It‘s the summer of 1965 in Queens, New York. Ruth Malone, a sexy cocktail waitress, discovers her 2 small children have gone missing. The story follows Ruth‘s perspective as she goes through the process of finding her children and the perspective of Pete, a newspaper reporter trying to save Ruth from prison. This was a tough one but very well done with a solid ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍🏼📖#️⃣8️⃣

Love this book!

I found this a really disturbing read. The story is a dual timeline exploration of the disappearance murder of Ruth Malone‘s 2 children in the 60s. However it‘s really a dark story of obsession and is ripe with double standards and overtly sexism. The Ending felt rushed and I really struggled with The journalists narrative and character progression

Another sweet surprise today!! You guys have made my day so much brighter!! Thank you Torie!! 😘❤️😘❤️

#LitsyLove

Loved this audio so much. Ruth Malone is being investigated for the deaths of her two children. But did Ruth commit this crime??? I also didn‘t realize that this story was inspired by a true crime case.

Decompressing 🍻 #beerandabook

A more of a slow burn, this mystery delves into the character of Ruth, whose children are murdered while on her watch. Based on a true crime case from the ‘60s, this book takes a hard look at the ensuing trial and condemnation of Ruth based purely on superficial reasons like her make up and lifestyle rather than hard evidence. While the real life case isn‘t definitively solved, the book does make a strong argument for a plausible suspect.

Not overly successful as a crime/thriller novel, but more so as a look as the judgement faced by women, particularly mothers, when they don‘t fit society‘s stereotype, particularly in the 1960s. I wanted more from the main character Ruth, in order to understand her, that I wasn‘t given. But then I suspect that was the point. I don‘t get to understand her, and I don‘t get to judge her. I enjoyed this.

Taking advantage of a quiet hour in the garden and starting this. We have a group of 11 year olds arriving shortly for a sleepover (😱) and I understand there‘s a big football match on soon too (🤷‍♀️) so it‘s going to be a crazy afternoon ahead. I secretly hope they‘ll forget about me and I can stay out here...

Started watching A Crime to Remember last night and after the first episode did a little research. Happen to find this book based on the Alice Crimmin's case. I want to read it now but of course I have a million other books I need to read first 😒 #tbr #thrillers #basedonatruestory

3 finals down, 1 to go. On track for GPA acknowledgment again. I just want to be done so I can read my book 😆

Book 23: We're not breaking any boundaries here, the ending is predictable and the characters reasonably template BUT, this is an easy and engaging read that will certainly keep you entertained with whispers on terraced street corners, glamorous housewives and their twitching curtains.

😒 I feel about this book how I feel about all eggnog.😝
It just doesn't work for me.
It's categorized as a mystery/thriller yet there was no thrill, be it suspense OR much enjoyment and frankly, there wasn't even much of a mystery @ least not the way the narrative's delivered.
I found myself either bored or annoyed with the characters most of the time either as a result of the poor character development or poor execution. What a let down.

🥞🥚🥓🎧📖 #CurrentListen #Audiobook #BooksOverBreakfast #BooksNCoffee #BooksNBrunch

Breakfast, oh how I love thee!😍😋

The beau had to work today so decided to treat myself to brunch at one of my favorite breakfast spots called 'Grumps Cafe.' 😁

Listening to my audiobook for the #DyingToRead GoodReads group while I dig into these jumbo blueberry pancakes with homemade cinnamon butter!😋❤😋

Happy #SundayFunday & happy reading Littens!🤓

Amazing! I couldn‘t put this book down, brilliant read and very suspenseful!

This book was so good! I read 90% of it in one sitting (then I had to go to bed). Still without power, but was too busy yesterday to finish this book for my October count. 🎃 I did not see the ending coming!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5 🌟

Lost power Sunday night. Spend Monday without power devouring this book! (Also had no cell service or internet). I have 60 pages left and I can‘t wait to pick it up again. Not expecting power back until Wednesday morning!

Just a couple days left of @thereadingwomen‘s month about #MysteriousWomen!! This month we discussed LITTLE DEATHS and THE CUTTING SEASON; both books are so, SO good. 😭😻 Have a listen to our discussion wherever you get your podcasts.
#thereadingwomen

I was trying to not take books out from the library and read the books I owned. I lasted about a week, then a hold came in and I went searching for more mysteries!! #bookhaul

I couldn't really get into this one. I suffered through the boring characters and the mundane storyline. I was bored.

I enjoyed the different perspectives of what happened. I loved that the reader gets to actually know the outcome rather than having to guess like so many other books.

Very well written - transports you to 1960s New York and becomes an all encompassing read. Very thought provoking as it raises questions in legal systems and justice. Incredibly moving as based upon real events.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#emmaflint #littledeaths #picadorbooks #summerreads #mustread #bookstoread

SO GOOD. I could not put it down. Emma did a great job of making you feel each character's perspective, so your suspicion changes as you learn more and more. The ending had me biting my nails and staying up way past bedtime!

I heard the author talk about this book at BEA last year and snagged a copy because it sounded interesting. I haven't read it yet because crime fiction isn't my favorite genre but I keep thinking I will get to it each month 😂

Have Amy of you read it?

#rockinmay #mysterious ways

Started this last night. Actually hard to put down.

Oh, do read this one, it's excellent. As I was getting closer to the end I became concerned that I wouldn't find out the truth of what happened, but, the truth of the little deaths was completely revealed. And, by the way, loved the "take this job and shove it" final paragraph of the acknowledgements. Does anyone else read acknowledgements? I always do and this one made me LOL?

LITTLE DEATHS made me very uncomfortable, and I realized I felt the same way watching the television series MAD MEN—the blatant sexism makes you feel physically ill. All of the men in this novel feel entitled to Ruth's body and/or want to punish her when she doesn't behave like THEY think she should. It's all very disgusting, but that's the patriarchy. Everything I didn't like about the book was the men's behavior. But that's the point, right?

This one is good, I was drawn in from the first sentence ...

Getting some reading done today! One #BaileysLongList and the runner-up of #tob17 plus some poetry and some needed catch-up on the great Louise Erdrich.

This was such a thrilling read. Based on a true story, Little Deaths follows the case where the police are hellbent on convicting a woman for her kids' murder because of their sexist beliefs. Must read!

I found this crime fiction story set in the mid-sixties to be just ok. I couldn't really get into this because the characters were all boring. The children were the most interesting and didn't have the opportunity to grow up. Moving on.

Gotta love Kindle deals!!

Just not feeling this one. I probably could have given it a longer amount of time, but I'm just not feeling it.

Started this today and already loving it! Such an intimate characterization ❤️

Hasn't gotten great reviews but going to give it a shot since it takes place 5 miles away from where I live..

I thought I was just going to read a quick and easy thriller - but I've been left annoyed by the stereotyping of the woman who must be guilty because she's good looking, likes a drink and having sex......stereotyping by media, society etc. It's set in the 60s, but still feels like we're fighting the same fight.
I've read now its based on a real case from the time, but it wasn't one I'd heard of.

I loved the audiobook narration and the depiction of antiquated gender roles. Like others, I felt the Pete section in the middle was weak - but the narrator sounded so much like the narrator in Stand By Me that I loved it anyway. And the ending broke my heart.

This photo was taken #outside earlier this week on an #audiobookwalk I love how the narrator adds to the experience by evoking the time period so clearly. #riotgram

Could have been so much better -weak male characters and poor structure which didn't build tension and had more happening in last few pages than whole middle section. Disappointing

#May and I reach an uneasy truce: audiobooks are fine, paper not so much.

Careful walk to work and a new audiobook

This book isn't bad, but this book isn't anything to write home about. I don't really get it as a thriller but I guess it works? Either way it was an easy and fast read and I'm grateful to Hatchette for the review copy!