The cover art for "Lizzie" is captivating, instantly drawing readers in with its mysterious and slightly eerie vibe, setting high expectations for the story within. However, the writing leaves much to be desired. The way the author writes about women, reducing them to their physical characteristics and referring to them via a slew of misogynistic slurs (e.g., b*tch, sl*t, wh*re, etc.), feels as though he really hates women. Additionally, racial slurs are also included in this book, and that's just a hard no for me. It felt as if the author was trying to be "edgy" but completely missed the mark. Add to these the uneven pacing and unnecessary length, and there is little about this book that appeals to my taste as a reader. I'm sure there is an audience for this, but it is definitely not me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The description of this book had me hooked. The story fell flat and I just couldn't get through to the end. I tried multiple times to pick this back up but couldn't.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a mash of some of my favorite genres. Very interesting read!

An interesting story that weaves elements of horror, mystery, and family drama. The book occasionally feels drawn out and some sections need tighter editing. Overall a good read though.
Many thanks to BloodChuckles Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have been struggling with this review because everything about this book seemed right up my alley. However, nothing about this justified the length -- this book should have been 300 pages tops, not several hundred. I honestly think this could have been a great book, because when the author was really into the story, I enjoyed it, and there were some suspenseful parts. But there were such quick changes of scene and mood that it was hard to follow. I think I will read another book by this author, but I will check to see how long it is first.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Lizzie posed some challenges for me as a reader. But firmly believe that every book has its merits, so want to focus on the positive aspects of this thriller and mystery story, even though it didn't quite align with my personal preferences. First things first, the book's cover instantly grabbed my attention. It had this mysterious vibe and a touch of horror that really appealed to my taste. I have to admit, the cover alone intrigued me and drew me into the story. The synopsis of the book promised an intriguing and captivating plot, blending elements of thrill, mystery, and horror. As a fan of these genres, I was genuinely excited to dive in and uncover the secrets that lay within the pages.
One thing appreciated was Rand's attention to detail in their descriptions. While I do prefer a good balance between dialogue and descriptions, I understand that in a thriller, vivid descriptions play a crucial role in setting the atmosphere. Rand's dedication to creating a rich and immersive world through their words is definitely worth acknowledging.
Furthermore, the book showcased Rand's ability to portray the characters' actions and movements in great detail Admittedly at times these nuances felt a bit lengthy. However, they provided a comprehensive understanding of the characters' thoughts, motivations, and interactions with their surroundings. This level of detail allowed me to develop a deeper connection with the characters and better grasp their roles. Now, I have to be honest, the story didn't flow as seamlessly as I had hoped. The pacing felt a bit off for my liking. But understand different readers have different preferences when it comes to pacing. Some might appreciate the deliberate and methodical approach to storytelling, finding it more immersive and suspenseful. So, despite my personal experience, I want to acknowledge that there are readers out there who may thoroughly enjoy the book's unique narrative style. The captivating cover, intriguing synopsis, and the author's attention to detail all contribute to an overal reading experience that fans of the thriller, mystery, and horror genres can appreciate.

After moving to the countryside, a trip to a an ominous cemetery leads to a downward horrific spiral from two parents of a sweet innocent toddler that culminates in the abduction of the child. Then it becomes a race to save the tiny victim in a whirl wind of suspense that will have to chewing your nails to the fingers bones. It’s terrifying, a nightmare no parent should ever face. And a great read if you little to mentally torture yourself into worrying more than you already do about your kid’s safety. Either way, it’s a great horror novel and you should read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. An interesting read that had me gripped from the start. I know all too well the feeling of "if it's too good to be true, then something will go wrong," as well as feeling hopeless, when even the people that are supposed to help you aren't any good. A great read to get you through the weekend.

Lizzie is a gothic horror with interesting twists. The title of the book is misleading as the focus isn’t Lizzie. Dan is extremely unlikeable and it made me lose interest in the outcome of the story. The story was okay but way too long and wasn’t as scary as it could have been.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an ARC.

*I received this book as an arc from netgalley, however that does not affect my thoughts in any way* may contain spoilers

Lizzie did not quite align with my personal preferences in a book. However before talking about this I want to note some of the good things in the story.

The cover itself drew me into the story! Rand had a way of describing the scenes! I thought the description was great!

Now, for me the pacing threw me off, it felt choppy. I didn’t think it had a seamless flow to it.

Don’t get me wrong, while this book wasn’t for me there are people out there who would definitely enjoy it!

What a suspenseful scary book! Anyone looking for a good ghost book, this book is for you! I loved the plot and the characters .This kept me up long into the night. Was just the creepy scary read that I was looking for!

Dan and Beth move with their four-year-old daughter, Lizzie, to a large house in a rural area. They get the house for a steal, and the plan is that Dan, a real estate guy, will spruce up the house and then sell it for a profit.

All is well for the first seven months until one day when Dan finds himself lured to a deserted graveyard on a cycling trip on his birthday. This is the first time he sees Barron Cemetery. This seemingly harmless event invites their worst nightmare into their lives.

A series of unprovoked, bizarre and increasingly horrible incidents begin to plague them. They realise that the cops aren’t going to protect them, that the police are in fact in the employ of the criminals. What’s more, all their friends and neighbours might be involved too.

The book is divided into five parts: Book 1 – Animosity, Book 2 – The First Rule, Book 3 – Things That Should Not Be, Book 4 – Back to the Cemetery, Book 5 – The Binding and Book 6 – The Reaping. It is written in the third person past tense PoV of Dan and Beth.

The author did a good job with the description of the countryside, slowly building an aura of isolation and alarm. He also helps us understand character motivation through the internal monologue of other characters as much as through the dialogue and setting.

What I liked about the plot is that the action doesn’t let up, continuing long after one thinks that peace has been restored.

In the beginning, I didn’t like Beth much. Dan calling her a tigress once too often didn’t help matters much. It was only after the plot progressed further and they faced their biggest challenge yet that I began to warm towards them. Despite the anger they hold against each other, we get a sense of the deep love they have for each other. Both of them have had difficult pasts. Both have secrets they have hidden from each other and from us.

Dan and Beth are both richly layered characters. Both have meaty roles in this book. Both tend to act impulsively, and not always wisely,

Dan referring to Arabic as “the flowing script used by Al Jazeera whenever Al-Qaeda issued a proclamation in the name of their bloodthirsty god, usually after slaughtering a batch of innocent people,” was in bad taste. This issue is not as problematic when a minor character, with major prejudice, refers to “Muslim heathens” because then it fits her character.

There is a lot of swearing and bad language in the book, that I found distasteful. There were lots of descriptions of sex, written primarily like a male fantasy. “He couldn’t go any deeper. There wasn’t room” sounded puerile.

One error was when Abdulla was referred to as a Sikh. Abdulla is not a Sikh name. It is a Muslim name. Get your facts right before forcing diversity into your story.

It’s a long book, but also a long nightmare. Even so, the book could have been thinner. A lot of it was in the internal monologues of the two main characters, especially with both of them dancing around the main issue.

I liked the book, but was disappointed with the conclusion. The only way in which it might make sense is if the author were to announce a sequel. Also, what was the point in calling this book, Lizzie, when most of it was about Dan and Beth?

My first book by this author & I really enjoyed it! It had a good amount of spooky which kept me entertained throughout!

I wouldn't say I don't like this book, it's just that I tried very hard to get myself to want to pick it back up and I just haven't. It didn't leave me wanting more and I would put it down and not think about it for weeks at a time before I finally just never picked it up again to finish it.

This horror book was so twisty and turny. Be sure to read your trigger warnings beforehand. Every time I thought I had kind of figured it out, there was just so much more going on.  Dan was one of those characters that you just love to hate. His consistently poor decisions frustrated me to no end. There were times you could tell he meant well, but there was just no follow-through. On the other hand, Beth was a little bit more of a dynamic character. While Lizzie is the name of the book and revolves around Beth and Dan's child, her role is more low-key and is more about their ideal for Lizzie. Overall, it's a bit long but still an engaging read.

This unfortunately wasn't the book for me. After trying to read it multiple times I ended up just leaving it in my DNF graveyard. I hope at soke point I can try again. But I don't think that will be anytime soon.

This was not what I was expecting.

A chilling and suspenseful tale that drags you through heart pounding action and unimaginable horrors. It forces you to consider what lengths you would go to while also giving you a glimpse into some of the rawness of human nature. This story was fast paced, gripping and it completely swallows you while you’re in it.

This book was incredibly long and I felt like it didn't need to be. The story was a bit slower than I’m used to but I still enjoyed it. I think though that it could have been split into two or even three separate books. Overall a good book with a bit of craziness and those who are not who they seem. Some of the character development was over the top, whereas others felt rushed. This left me feeling very confused.

Creepy read. Starts off very graphically, but if you can get past that the rest is ok. Well written, a bit wordy at times but the pictures painted make you feel like you are there beside the characters. This book will have you jumping at the slightest noise and believing in things that should not be. Could have a possible sequel with how things were left, but I can if there isn’t one this book is good.

To be honest, Lizzie posed some challenges for me as a reader. But I firmly believe that every book has its merits, so I want to focus on the positive aspects of this thriller and mystery story, even though it didn't quite align with my personal preferences.

First things first, the book's cover instantly grabbed my attention. It had this mysterious vibe and a touch of horror that really appealed to my taste. I have to admit, the cover alone intrigued me and drew me into the story.

The synopsis of the book promised an intriguing and captivating plot, blending elements of thrill, mystery, and horror. As a fan of these genres, I was genuinely excited to dive in and uncover the secrets that lay within the pages.

One thing I appreciated was Rand's attention to detail in their descriptions. While I do prefer a good balance between dialogue and descriptions, I understand that in a thriller, vivid descriptions play a crucial role in setting the atmosphere. Rand's dedication to creating a rich and immersive world through their words is definitely worth acknowledging.

Furthermore, the book showcased Rand's ability to portray the characters' actions and movements in great detail. Admittedly, at times, these passages felt a bit lengthy. However, they provided a comprehensive understanding of the characters' thoughts, motivations, and interactions with their surroundings. This level of detail allowed me to develop a deeper connection with the characters and better grasp their roles.

Now, I have to be honest, the story didn't flow as seamlessly as I had hoped. The pacing felt a bit off for my liking. But I understand different readers have different preferences when it comes to pacing. Some might appreciate the deliberate and methodical approach to storytelling, finding it more immersive and suspenseful. So, despite my personal experience, I want to acknowledge that there are readers out there who may thoroughly enjoy the book's unique narrative style.

The captivating cover, intriguing synopsis, and the author's attention to detail all contribute to an overall reading experience that fans of the thriller, mystery, and horror genres can appreciate.