This stone cold chiller of a book fucked me up so thoroughly I did not sleep after finishing it last night (complimentary). I am begging you on my knees to read it 😭

I do not want to give too much away because (if you have not listened to the associated podcast, Within the Wires, already - I have not but am planning to check it out!) I do really feel like it is good to go into it without a lot of expectations, but I will say a few things.

This book is an extremely insidious alternate history dystopian presented in a super unique way, as an autobiography of a now-deceased psychologist within The New Society that is being published (and with light editing, commentary, clarifications, etc.) provided by an academic publishing press. This format is very engaging, and the audiobook is great - the two narrators are quite distinct so it is easy to track.

I bemoan all the time that people do not recognize patterns from history. But something very alarming about this book is how it highlights for us how attempts to “learn from the past” can result in black-and-white generalizations that are used to enforce authoritarianism “for the greater good.” This is used to great effect in this novel, because while The New Society is crystal clear on where it stands, the narrative itself leaves so much up to your interpretation. It is almost funny, for someone who loves nuance but deeply, deeply struggles with uncertainty and unknowns, how much I adore a story that does not really intimate an objective reality at any point or spell everything out, forcing me to think through the possibilities, motivations, and unanswered questions for hours on end.

I think this book is a deeply compelling one, and if you are at all interested in any of the following, I hope that you will pick it up (and talk to me about it, I desperately need people to discuss it with).

• dystopian lit (duh)
• psychology, memory, scientific research, their implications on policy
• utopia, world peace, etc.
• nationalism, tribalism, etc.
• unreliable narrative to the exxxtreme
• family bonds and trauma

I’m fully in my cozy crime vampire era (didn't know this genre exist either until this book) and honestly, what more could you want than a gay elderly sleuth vampire couple who become cat parents?

Arthur and Salvatore find themselves unexpectedly caught up in a murder case during the opening of their bed and breakfast, in a small town that’s divided when it comes to the paranormal. It’s a light and easy read featuring a truly lovable married couple who balance each other perfectly while bickering on their way to solve the case.

The mystery itself was, in my opinion, pretty predictable, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. Yes, it’s cheesy and delightfully punny, but that’s part of the charm.

I can’t wait to pick up the next installment and desperately want to visit the Dead & Breakfast.

I’m fully in my cozy crime vampire era (didn't know this genre exist either until this book) and honestly, what more could you want than a gay elderly sleuth vampire couple who become cat parents?

Arthur and Salvatore find themselves unexpectedly caught up in a murder case during the opening of their bed and breakfast, in a small town that’s divided when it comes to the paranormal. It’s a light and easy read featuring a truly lovable married couple who balance each other perfectly while bickering on their way to solve the case.

The mystery itself was, in my opinion, pretty predictable, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. Yes, it’s cheesy and delightfully punny, but that’s part of the charm.

I can’t wait to pick up the next installment and desperately want to visit the Dead & Breakfast.