Brynne Weaver returns with Tourist Season, the first installment in The Seasons of Carnage Trilogy, and delivers a masterfully twisted tale that proves love can bloom even in the most blood-soaked soil. This darkly comedic romance plants readers firmly in Cape Carnage, a picturesque seaside town where the body count rivals the tourist count, and where Harper Starling tends her award-winning gardens with a secret ingredient that would make any gardener green with envy—literally decomposed tourists.
Building upon the success of her Ruinous Love Trilogy (Butcher & Blackbird, Leather & Lark, and Scythe & Sparrow), Weaver continues to carve out her distinctive niche in the dark romance landscape, blending irreverent humor with genuine emotional depth in ways that few authors dare attempt, much less execute with such finesse.
A Town Worth Killing For
Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver introduces us to Harper Starling, a woman whose green thumb extends beyond horticulture into more permanent solutions for problematic visitors. Harper isn’t your typical serial killer protagonist—she’s fiercely protective of her adopted home and her aging mentor Arthur Lancaster, whose battle with early Alzheimer’s adds a poignant layer to the narrative that elevates it beyond simple dark comedy.
The town of Cape Carnage itself becomes a character, painted in vibrant Victorian colors that mask the shadows lurking beneath. Weaver’s world-building is exceptional, creating a community that feels both whimsical and sinister, where the Carnival of Carnage Festival celebrates the town’s macabre tourism industry with genuine small-town charm.
What sets Harper apart from other morally ambiguous protagonists is her motivation—she doesn’t kill for pleasure or power, but from a deep-seated need to protect what she considers sacred. This distinction makes her simultaneously terrifying and sympathetic, a balance Weaver maintains throughout the novel with impressive skill.
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
Enter Nolan Rhodes, a man driven by vengeance who arrives in Cape Carnage with one goal: to kill Harper Starling. But Weaver subverts expectations immediately—this isn’t a simple cat-and-mouse thriller. Nolan’s backstory unfolds through his meticulously crafted scrapbook of revenge, revealing a man destroyed by a hit-and-run accident that claimed his beloved brother Billy and left him fighting for his own life.
The revelation that Harper was the driver in that fatal accident creates a moral complexity that refuses easy answers. Weaver doesn’t shy away from the weight of Harper’s past actions, nor does she offer simple redemption. Instead, she crafts a narrative where both characters must confront the ways trauma has shaped them into the people they’ve become.
Nolan’s character development is particularly compelling. He arrives as a calculated killer but gradually reveals layers of vulnerability beneath his predatory exterior. His growing attraction to Harper—the very woman he came to destroy—creates a tension that crackles on every page.
Where Enemies-to-Lovers Meets True Crime
The romance between Harper and Nolan is a slow burn that defies conventional romance tropes. Their relationship builds not despite their murderous natures, but because of them. They recognize kindred spirits in each other—two people shaped by violence who’ve found purpose in darkness.
Weaver excels at creating authentic chemistry between characters who should, by all logic, be incompatible. The sexual tension is palpable, but it’s grounded in emotional recognition rather than simple physical attraction. Their banter crackles with wit and danger, each conversation a verbal duel that could end in either a kiss or a knife wound.
The addition of Sam Porter, an amateur true crime investigator whose presence threatens to expose both Harper and Arthur, adds urgency to their unlikely alliance. This external threat forces Harper and Nolan to work together, creating opportunities for their relationship to evolve naturally rather than feeling forced.
Literary Craftsmanship in the Garden of Good and Evil
Weaver’s prose strikes the perfect balance between literary sophistication and accessibility. Her writing is atmospheric without being overwrought, humorous without undermining the genuine emotional stakes. The dialogue feels natural and contemporary while maintaining the slightly heightened tone that dark comedy demands.
The author demonstrates particular skill in her handling of Arthur’s decline. The portrayal of his mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s is both respectful and heartbreaking, avoiding stereotypes while honestly depicting the fear and confusion that accompany memory loss. Arthur’s relationship with Harper provides some of the novel’s most touching moments, grounding the more outrageous elements in genuine human emotion.
Key Strengths:
- Masterful character development that makes morally ambiguous protagonists sympathetic
- Exceptional world-building that creates a vivid, memorable setting
- Perfect tonal balance between dark comedy and genuine emotional depth
- Authentic chemistry between leads that develops organically
- Respectful portrayal of cognitive decline and caregiving
- Tight pacing that maintains tension throughout
- Original premise that breathes fresh air into familiar tropes
Minor Criticisms in Paradise
While Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver succeeds brilliantly in most areas, it’s not without minor flaws. The middle section occasionally slows as Weaver builds the relationship between Harper and Nolan, though this deliberate pacing ultimately serves the story well. Some readers might find the extensive content warnings off-putting, though they accurately reflect the book’s content.
The resolution of certain plot threads feels slightly rushed compared to the careful development of the central relationship, and a few secondary characters could benefit from additional development. However, these are minor quibbles with what is otherwise a remarkably accomplished novel.
The Verdict: A Love Letter Written in Blood
Tourist Season is a triumph of dark romance that proves Brynne Weaver is operating at the height of her considerable powers. This is a novel that trusts its readers to embrace complexity, to find beauty in darkness, and to understand that sometimes love grows best in the most unlikely soil.
Weaver has created something special here—a book that works simultaneously as a romance, a thriller, and a meditation on trauma, grief, and the ways we build new identities from the ashes of our former selves. It’s funny without being frivolous, dark without being nihilistic, and romantic without being naive about the cost of love.
For readers who enjoyed Brynne Weaver’s previous work, Tourist Season represents a natural evolution of her voice and themes. For newcomers to her work, this serves as an excellent entry point that showcases everything that makes her writing so compelling.
Similar Reads for Fellow Travelers
If Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver has left you craving more darkly romantic tales, consider these recommendations:
For Dark Romance Enthusiasts:
- Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (obviously)
- Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
- The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
For Small Town Gothic Atmosphere:
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
And for Morally Complex Characters:
- You by Caroline Kepnes
- My Education by Susan Choi
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Final Thoughts: Check In, But You May Never Check Out
Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver is that rare book that delivers exactly what it promises while surprising readers with depths they didn’t expect to find. Weaver has crafted a love story that acknowledges the darkness within us all while arguing that connection—even between killers—remains our greatest salvation.
This is essential reading for fans of dark romance who aren’t afraid to explore the shadows of the human heart. Cape Carnage may be fictional, but the emotions Weaver excavates are startlingly real. Just remember—in this town, visitors are always welcome. Some of them just become permanent residents in ways they never expected.
With Tourist Season, Brynne Weaver has planted the seeds for what promises to be an unforgettable trilogy. Consider this your invitation to visit Cape Carnage—just don’t expect to leave unchanged.