If you’ve ever wanted your romance to come with a side of ritualistic murder, Nietzschean philosophy, and a man who might be the devil incarnate, then congratulations: Trisha Wolfe’s Lovely Bad Things is your new obsession. This book doesn’t just flirt with darkness—it French kisses it in a graveyard while quoting existential dread.
Set in the eerie town of Hollow’s Row, Wolfe’s novel is a twisted, seductive, and psychologically rich ride through obsession, morality, and the kind of love that makes you question your sanity. It’s not for the faint of heart—but it’s absolutely for the morally flexible.
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🧠 Plot Summary: When the Devil Wears Philosophy
Halen St. James is a forensic psychologist with a reputation for solving the unsolvable. Six months ago, she helped lock away Kallum Locke—a philosophy professor with a penchant for Nietzsche, occult rituals, and a murder rap sheet that reads like a horror anthology. Now, a new crime scene has surfaced in Hollow’s Row, and it’s so grotesque, so ritualistic, that only one man can help her decode it.
Unfortunately, that man is Kallum.
Halen is forced to make a deal with the devil—literally. She re-enters the orbit of the man she once testified against, the man whose gaze makes her feel like prey and partner all at once. As they work together to unravel the mystery, the lines between hunter and hunted blur. Is Kallum truly the Harbinger killer? Or is something even darker lurking in the woods?
“They say eyes are the windows to the soul—but when he looks at me through hues of slate-green and flaring blue embers, I’m terrified of what’s watching me from behind his clashing gaze.”
This is not a whodunit. It’s a “should I run or kiss him while he’s quoting Nietzsche?” kind of story.
🧍 Character Summaries
🖤 Halen St. James
Halen is brilliant, haunted, and deeply conflicted. She’s the kind of heroine who can dissect a crime scene and her own emotional damage in the same breath. Her attraction to Kallum is visceral, terrifying, and layered with guilt and fascination. She’s not a damsel—she’s a detective with a death wish and a heart that keeps betraying her.
“I fear falling into Kallum Locke’s pitch-black soul.”
Her arc is less about solving a case and more about surviving her own unraveling.
🔥 Kallum Locke
Kallum is the kind of man who makes you want to Google “can I ethically date a suspected serial killer?” He’s seductive, cerebral, and terrifyingly self-aware. A master of manipulation and Nietzschean philosophy, he’s either the key to solving the murders—or the architect behind them.
“She’s desperate for the answer, and she’ll do anything to uncover it—even make a deal with me, dangling freedom like bait on a hook.”
He’s not just a love interest. He’s a walking ethical dilemma wrapped in a tailored coat and a smirk.
🧩 Tropes That Will Ruin You (In a Good Way)
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Enemies-to-Lovers: Halen literally put Kallum in an asylum. Now she’s working with him. The tension? Unholy.
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Morally Gray x Morally Grayer: Neither of these characters is safe. That’s the point.
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Deal with the Devil: Halen needs answers. Kallum wants her soul. Compromise is sexy.
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Dark Academia: Philosophy, murder, and candlelit interrogations. You’ll want to enroll.
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Obsession Romance: This isn’t love—it’s compulsion. And it’s delicious.
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Cat-and-Mouse Dynamic: Who’s chasing whom? Depends on the chapter.
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Psychological Thriller: The romance is twisted, but the mystery is just as sharp.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings
This book is unapologetically dark. Wolfe doesn’t pull punches, and the content reflects that. Here’s what to expect:
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Graphic depictions of murder and ritualistic violence
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Psychological manipulation and gaslighting
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References to childhood trauma and CSA (not depicted on-page)
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Mental illness and institutionalization
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Blood play and kink elements (consensual but intense)
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Power imbalance and emotional coercion
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Occult themes and philosophical nihilism
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Sexual content with dark undertones
If your idea of romance involves flowers and hand-holding, this book will feel like a crime scene. But if you like your love stories with teeth, you’re in for a feast.
💬 Favorite Quotes That Will Haunt You
Trisha Wolfe’s prose is lush, lyrical, and laced with menace. Here are a few standout lines:
“She’s far more tempting to sink my teeth into than any lure. And the pain will taste twice as sweet.”
“I wonder what little Halen St. James thinks of all the cryptic eyes watching her in the killing fields…”
“I fear falling into Kallum Locke’s pitch-black soul.”
These aren’t just quotes—they’re warnings. And invitations.
📚 Style and Structure
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Dual POV: We get both Halen and Kallum’s perspectives, which adds depth and dread in equal measure.
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Non-linear narrative: Flashbacks and psychological spirals keep the reader guessing.
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Atmospheric setting: Hollow’s Row is practically a character—foggy, haunted, and dripping with dread.
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Philosophical undertones: Nietzsche, the occult, and existentialism aren’t just flavor—they’re plot devices.
Wolfe’s writing is immersive and cinematic. You don’t read this book—you descend into it.
🧠 What Works
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Unrelenting tension: Every scene crackles with danger and desire.
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Complex characters: Halen and Kallum are beautifully broken and terrifyingly real.
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Philosophical depth: The Nietzschean themes elevate the story beyond standard dark romance.
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Atmosphere: Hollow’s Row is a masterclass in setting. You’ll feel the chill in your bones.
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Emotional stakes: This isn’t just about solving a murder—it’s about surviving obsession.
🤔 What Might Not Work
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Moral ambiguity: If you need your protagonists to be “good,” this book will test your limits.
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Graphic content: The violence and kink are intense. Not for the squeamish.
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Slow burn pacing: The romance simmers before it scorches. Impatient readers may struggle.
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Philosophical density: Nietzsche isn’t everyone’s idea of foreplay.
This book demands emotional stamina and a tolerance for darkness. But if you’re game, it rewards you with a story that lingers like a bruise.
🏁 Final Verdict: A Beautiful Nightmare
Lovely Bad Things is a seductive, cerebral, and deeply unsettling romance that dares you to fall in love with the villain—and question whether he’s really the worst thing in the room. Trisha Wolfe doesn’t just write dark romance; she crafts psychological labyrinths where love is a weapon and desire is a trap.
If you’re a fan of authors like Ana Huang, S.T. Abby, or Sierra Simone—but wish they’d add more murder and Nietzsche—this book is your twisted soulmate.
Just don’t read it alone. Or in the woods. Or near anyone with slate-green eyes and a philosophy degree.
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