Two Sentence Reviews

Currently Reading: Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. BriteWearing: Nightflyer by Olympic Orchids Perfume. We’re dealing with a number of corpses this week, and this smells like the “good” dirt after a rainy day: primal, freshly turned, and— just shy of sickly— sweet and floral. It fades into more of the mineral notes, a little salty and musky. I don’t know if I would wear it out and about unless I waited until the initial sweetness faded or layered it something to turn that note a little less… fecund. Still, I love smelling like a bog witch getting a good burial done, and it’s perfect for a fall or spring day layered in-between skin, sweaters, and blankets while reading some PNW murder mystery.

The Return by Rachel Harrison: 3. Elise’s best friend disappears during a hiking trip, and she spends two years wishing for her back; when Julie finally makes her return, something wrong has happened to her, and it’s only exacerbated by the getaway the group of friends has to celebrate the miracle of her survival. I think I would get the hell out of dodge after the first couple of issues, as the book is red flag central and Elise being all “Nah, fam, I got this.” She did not have this.

Bones in the Basement by Joni Mayhan: 3ish. A first hand account of the hauntings at the S.K. Pierce mansion from previous home owners. I’m not even sure how you rate books like these: the writing wasn’t a complete mess, and it’s a decent resource book for writing things that go bump in the night.

An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James**: 3. A young woman leaves her privileged women’s college and travels to the small town her uncle died in to handle his affairs, chase ghosts and nazis, and bone down detectives. It’s very typical, which means it wasn’t not enjoyable, but it wasn’t anything I would get excited and nerd dump about.

**From what I’ve read of Simone St. James, she blends the beats of crime mystery with a supernatural force in every book. Best of both worlds if you’re a true crime lover who just wants a ghost to pop up and testify now and then.