Author: John Marrs
Genre: Psychological Literary Fiction
Page Count: 391
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Hi friends. I'm back with another hot take on the latest books I've read. At this point, I think I just need to accept that as my permanent introduction. I haven't been able to find anything else that fits nearly as well. So, this book. *heavy sigh* this book here was a lot. Like beyond a lot. Almost too much. It took me a while to read it (a week) because I kept having to put it down and step away from it. I got this recommendation from A Girl with the Pink Ski Mask (view her instagram here ) after a quick conversation about books we had recently read. I don't want to ramble too much because there is a lot to get through. Hold on to your butts friend. This is a wild and nauseating ride.
Excerpt from Amazon
She’s a friendly voice on the phone. But can you trust her?
The people who call End of the Line need hope. They need reassurance that life is worth living. But some are unlucky enough to get through to Laura. Laura doesn’t want them to hope. She wants them to die.
Laura hasn’t had it easy: she’s survived sickness and a difficult marriage only to find herself heading for forty, unsettled and angry. She doesn’t love talking to people worse off than she is. She craves it.
But now someone’s on to her—Ryan, whose world falls apart when his pregnant wife ends her life, hand in hand with a stranger. Who was this man, and why did they choose to die together?
The sinister truth is within Ryan’s grasp, but he has no idea of the desperate lengths Laura will go to…
Because the best thing about being a Good Samaritan is that you can get away with murder.
*Deep deep DEEP sigh* Okay first thing's first: I despise Laura. I couldn't stand her from the first few pages in. It has been rare that I have hated a main character so much. Usually, the character is hateful at first but there are a few redeeming qualities that humanize them. In this case, even catching a glimpse into Laura's backstory didn't give her an ounce of humanity. This woman was manipulative and downright evil to her core the entire book. The way she spoke to people when they were in their lowest point hurt me so badly I had to put the book down and take breaks. Maybe because I used to work at a suicide hotline myself and I have heard first hand how desperate and hopeless people can become, but reading the hateful things she said to people in their lowest moments to push them over the edge was a bit too heavy to read at some points. The fact that it was all a game for her own satisfaction made me sick. Had to put it down, go outside, and touch grass for a second. Had to bring myself back to reality.
Whoa. This book was heavy. Which says a lot for me, because I have read some heavy books in my day. It's hard to say whether I loved or hated this book. The story itself was well written, but it wasn't a story I'd say I enjoyed. Don't get me wrong, it was written well, but it was written well about a topic that really isn't supposed to be easy to digest. I am still reeling from the weight of it. Let's dive a little deeper into what I liked and didn't like about this book and why I gave it the rating I did.
The Plot. First of all, it takes a person with a very sick mind to be able to write something as deeply disturbing at this book. There was very little gore, but the psychological torture was something serious. Laura found joy in people ending their life and that is DISTURBING. The small details in the story that didn't quite add up at first all came together eventually to paint a picture of an incredibly demented and evil human being. It is not lost on me the amount of planning it took to bring this story to life. So John Marrs, even though I am slightly scared of you, I give you props for that.
The Honesty. Like I said in the beginning, evil characters usually have some type of redeeming quality about them that makes them a little easier to understand and in some cases, sympathize with. This was not the case with Laura and it sheds light on the fact that sometimes, there are people who are too far gone to receive help. They don't want help because they don't see an issue in their ways. Not all of the evil characters turn good in the end.
Laura. Which is the point. We aren't supposed to like Laura. She manipulated and took advantage of weak and broken people on a daily basis. Everything had an ugly ulterior motive with her. Listening to the way she worked her daughter and her husband into doing her dirty work make me sick. She was the ultimate villain in this story.
The Ending. Blah. Wasn't the best ending. I had trouble believing that a woman as fiercely calculating and manipulative as Laura would be bested so easily by someone who was way less experienced. It felt almost as if the ending was rushed a little. Almost like: "Okay...this book is getting too long so figure out a way to wrap it up so we can go." This was why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. John Marrs had me shook all the way until that part and then it was more of a: "wait what?"
Hmm. That's a bit tricky. I'm not even going to do the usual "this book is booky babe approved" an all that because it doesn't really feel right in this moment. This book can be one big trigger for people who struggle with suicidal ideations or if someone they loved had those struggles. It was triggering for me in some moments and I don't have those ideations. But if you or someone you know and love does struggle with that, steer clear of this book. Don't even pick it up. Don't even LOOK at it. Treat it like a plague and stay far, far away. If that is not you, and you're curious about the manipulative hag that is Laura Morris, give it a go. You can purchase it on Amazon here:
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There you have it folks. This one was a heavy one and I just wanted to add: if you or any one you know struggles with depression and/or suicidal ideations please please PLEASE reach out for help. There are resources available to you here:
You don't have to struggle alone.
I'd love for you to come back and let me know your thoughts on this book. Did you hate Laura as much as I did? What did you think about the ending? Rushed or nah? Please share your thoughts on Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you.
Until then,
Happy Reading, babes! ❤