A Darling Obsession

By: S.R. Murray

Narrated by: Kayden Lukakis

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1899, an unspeakable crime was committed by a mob in the town of Guinevere Beach, Florida. Eighty or so years later, someone reopens a long-closed hotel on the site of the crime. The city, now called Sandy Beach, has a history of violence; some say it's a curse. But Detective Robert Justice begins to see a pattern when he connects horrifying deeds to the hotel. His investigation uncovers not just murders that span decades but the haunted source of the evil that visits Sandy Beach and its residents, leaving a trail of bodies and broken lives in its wake.

©2022 Samuel Murray (P)2022 Samuel Murray

A gritty tale

This was a surprisingly gritty police prosedural type story. A town founded around around a Murder. Now, years later a chain of violence is starting. First, a young boy is kidnapped by the school janitor. Detective Bobby Justice, with a trainee partner, are in charge of the investigation. They know who did it, but how to find them.
As the investigation grows cold, the family has lost hope and the older brother is acting out. Then the murders begin. Young women brutally killed. Are the legends of the local angry spirit's curse true? Violence seems to be on a 20 year cycle in this community. Or is it just the worst side of human nature building up to the surface, coincidentally on a 20 year schedule?

Really good but check trigger warnings!

I was gifted this audio book in exchange for my review.

The book is great. If you like books that make you uncomforatable, this one will do it for ya! Please please please look up trigger warnings before reading - they are there, and well, you will feel uncomfy for sure.

The writing sucks you in and the story seems to wiz by quickly. I would consider it more in the vein of a crime genre, as it leans that way with the storyline, although there is some supernatural sprinkled in and thriller vibes. Crimes are not a cake walk, they are gruesome and unforgiving, and not roses and poseys for sure. This book hits the nail on the head with gruesome with the subject matter within the storyline. Since it was based on true crimes, you can imagine!

I went into it blind other than knowing the outline of the story - i didn't look at reviews for triggers
or whatnot , and kept my commitment, but some of the triggers, I probably wouldn't have read this on my own.

That being said, would I pick up another S.R. Murray book? Yes, if I searched the triggers before hand and they were ones I can handle.

Amazing read, something for everyone!

I really enjoyed it so much I was reading along the audiobook with the physical book. it was really great experience the story with huge cast of characters and the author really well crafted awesome plot and incredible story line.