This month I read 4 books, but as two of them were re reads that I also read earlier in the year I am not counting them on my goodreads challenge.
Manhunt: How I Brought Serial Killer Levi Bellfeild To Justice - Colin Sutton
I’ve been into true crime for as long as I can remember and the Levi Bellfeild case is one that I properly remember seeing in the news. Mainly the Milly Dowler part of it along with Amalie Delagrange I’ve always loved watching true crime documentaries and Crimewatch UK. It’s gone into podcasts and now books.
Marshmallows For Breakfast
One of my all time favourite books. I think I’ve read it every year for years.
My Best Friends Girl
Apparently I read the book back in January. This month I’m in such a rut with reading.
Tell Me Your Secret
How I Felt This Month
This month I’ve felt a little flat. I want new books to read. Because I can’t afford most books from the main bookstore I love, thrift stores are my way. But with everything still going on, I just don’t want to go to the store and put myself at risk.
Recently I was looking for newish tags to do, and came across this one. It’s completely different than any other book tag I’ve seen
1. MY JAM - a song you MUST listen to every time it comes on, no matter how old or how many times you’ve listened to it / a book you’ll never get sick of
- As You Are, by Rag n Bone Man. I love the song.
- Anything I’ve read by Dorothy Koomson, I can re read her books and never get sick of it.
2. THROWBACK - a song that reminds you of the cringest time of your life / a book that also reminds you of this time (or just something you wouldn’t like as much if you picked it up for the first time now)
- Song: Barbie Girl. I mean it’s the cringest song of all time especially of my generation
- Book: Belle De Jour, it’s not from the same time as the song, but it’s a book that I don’t think I’d pick up anymore.
3. REPLAY - a recent song you have on repeat right now / a recent favorite book
- Song: Can’t Stop The Beat. I can’t stop listening to it right now
- Book: Tell Me Your Secret by Dorothy Koomson.
4. GETS ME - this song IS ME / this book is me in book form
- Song: Sovereign Light Cafe by Keane. This song, and the video, is set in the place I lived for five years. I basically became me when I lived there. I was only there for five years but I made friends and it formed me as a person. I don’t know if it’s because I lived most of my teen years there but that song is me.
- Book: The Brighton Mermaid. It’s set in Brighton (obviously) but when I was younger and still living in England I lived not to far from Brighton, and occasionally my friend and I would go to Brighton.
5. WUT - weird but I like it? – a unique book that stuck out to you for whatever reason
- Song: I Want To Break Free by Queen. But more for the video than the actual song.
- Book: Matched. I don’t know why it stuck out to me so much.
6. LET’S GO - best pump up song (for workouts or just life) – a book that inspired you
- Song: Bonkers by Dizzie Rascal. I mean that song is amazing. Even some of the remixes are so catchy.
- Book: The Ice Cream Girls. It’s a book where there are a lot of secrets and lies with the characters, but when everything changes and the truth comes out, when they are younger and as adults and when the killer is revealed.
7. CHILL - fav chill, relaxing song / a book you’d curl up with and read on a rainy day
- Song: I don’t have a song that I can think of that’s my favourite chill song.
- Book: My rainy day read has always been The Devil Wears Prada. It’s such a cheesy chick lit book but I love it
8. ADDICTING - guilty pleasure song – one that’s catchy and addicting but not a whole lot of substance / guilty pleasure/trashy/fast/light read
- Song: Cha-Ching by Hedley. It’s possibly the most ridiculous song ever but I love it.
- Book; It’s not a guilty pleasure book, but Im absolutely addicted to reading The Harry Potter books.
9. NOSTALGIA - throwback you look back on fondly / a book you read forever ago that you look back on fondly or reminds you of a happy childhood time
- Song; Don’t Stop Movin by S Club 7, I remember when the song first came out and it was on the radio while my mum was driving me and our neighbours kids somewhere and we turned the radio up and starting singing it out the windows as my mum was driving.
- Book: The Illustrated Mum. I remember going to get this book because it was the latest book out by Jacqueline Wilson, and she was in the city I lived in at the time doing a book signing.
Book: Manhunt: How I Brought Serial Killer Levi Bellfield To Justice
Author: Colin Sutton
Pages: 313
Publish Date: April 10th 2019
Start Reading Date: July 1st 2020
End Reading Date: July 6th 2020
My Goodreads Rating: 5*
First Thoughts
I’ve always been a fan of true crime and police dramas and tv shows. I remember as a kid at about 11/12 years old and watching Crimewatch and The Bill.
Fun fact about me, for a good 7+ years from like age 9-16 I wanted to be a police officer. But then I realized that probably wouldn’t be the best job for me.
I remember seeing the news about Milly Dowler as a kid, because she was about a year older then me. I also remember seeing the Murders of Kate and Amelie on tv all the time. I have a clear image of reading about Amelie’s case while in France one year.
I don’t know why but it this case is one that has always stuck with me.
Even though I know the outcome of the trial, I had this overwhelming feeling that Levi would get off. I don’t know why, and I know he didn’t.
While Reading
I like how in the book Colin has used the different text style for the reports
I really feel for the victims of Levi and their families because he’s such a monster. I even feel for his own kids and ex girlfriends.
Conclusion
I think Colin is a hero. He saved so many young women’s lives just by being a cop. He saved those who Levi would’ve gone on to abuse or murder. There really should be more people like him in the police.
With Levi I always wonder how much more he would’ve done if he hadn’t been caught. Because I find him terrifying. He was involved in so many different and illegal things it was only a matter of time in my opinion that he was caught for something.
It was a really hard book to do a review on because it’s a true account of what happened from Colin’s point of view.
Through out the book it shows just how much hard work police have to do. I know with all that’s happening right now how hard it is to truly trust police officers but there is something about Colin that you can tell he was dedicated to getting justice for all those involved.
I feel that June absolutely flew by. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been watching a lot of football again because of Project Restart.
The Brighton Mermaid
Ok so I read most of the book in May bit I finished it in June so it’s being put in my June wrap ups.
The Chocolate Run
I’ve not read The Chocolate Run in absolutely forever. One of the things I was thinking after I posted my review of the book was ‘Would I or could I forgive a friend who’d been that mean to me or treated me differently than I treated them’ and honestly I don’t think I can
The Help
The Help is one of my favourite books of all time.
How I Felt This Month
I felt really good about reading this month. I didn’t have to force any of it and I enjoyed all the books I read.
