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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Firstly I want to say I did enjoy this novel. However I found both really good but also areas of improvement with this book.
Parts I liked:
I loved how Christopher Berry-Dee wrote about the cases without dehumanising anyone. He also mentioned resources to be able to learn more - when I say this, is if a theory came up like the XYY gene, he mentioned an article that discussed the topic. Thus, allowing you (if you want) to do more research on the gene and the affect it has, if desired. I also like how raw he kept the extracts from his interviews. Having the directly quoted word from word. This reduces any external influence that may attempt to evoke sympathy or anger towards the convict. As altering quotes can sometimes result in bias showing. I also found the cases done interesting. There were some where I had a bit of prior knowledge (only one however, which I knew the whole case on). And there were a few that I never heard of at all.
What I think could be improved on:
The book was mainly a telling of the cases with some sections being extracts from his interviews with them. I think it would be more interesting to have more of the interview moments in the novel. As it provides an unseen/unheard perspective from the convict. And by that I am referring the mentions of how they felt, if they remember their crimes or victims and if they truely believed they did something wrong. I still think keeping the cases in is crucial, and I would continue with that same amount of detail, as it wasn’t too little to not understand the case but also not too much that it was unsettling. I would just (as mentioned before) increase the amount of interview content.
Would I recommend? Yes and no, although it’s important to check the trigger warnings first before reading. Also, to know that the novel is mainly talking about the cases. So you don’t go in expecting something else (which I think a lot of people did). I think this book is best fitted for someone who is either getting into true crime is has no prior knowledge of the cases discussed.
Parts I liked:
I loved how Christopher Berry-Dee wrote about the cases without dehumanising anyone. He also mentioned resources to be able to learn more - when I say this, is if a theory came up like the XYY gene, he mentioned an article that discussed the topic. Thus, allowing you (if you want) to do more research on the gene and the affect it has, if desired. I also like how raw he kept the extracts from his interviews. Having the directly quoted word from word. This reduces any external influence that may attempt to evoke sympathy or anger towards the convict. As altering quotes can sometimes result in bias showing. I also found the cases done interesting. There were some where I had a bit of prior knowledge (only one however, which I knew the whole case on). And there were a few that I never heard of at all.
What I think could be improved on:
The book was mainly a telling of the cases with some sections being extracts from his interviews with them. I think it would be more interesting to have more of the interview moments in the novel. As it provides an unseen/unheard perspective from the convict. And by that I am referring the mentions of how they felt, if they remember their crimes or victims and if they truely believed they did something wrong. I still think keeping the cases in is crucial, and I would continue with that same amount of detail, as it wasn’t too little to not understand the case but also not too much that it was unsettling. I would just (as mentioned before) increase the amount of interview content.
Would I recommend? Yes and no, although it’s important to check the trigger warnings first before reading. Also, to know that the novel is mainly talking about the cases. So you don’t go in expecting something else (which I think a lot of people did). I think this book is best fitted for someone who is either getting into true crime is has no prior knowledge of the cases discussed.
dark
informative
medium-paced
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
This is a rather harrowing read looking at case study of some of the most awful serial killers to have existed. The interviews raise some important questions about whether these people are sane, how they came to commit this crimes and in some cases, whether they actually committed these crimes or did someone else do it and get away with it.
I thought that some of the descriptions of the crimes were unnecessarily graphic. I really didn't need all the gory details.
I thought that some of the descriptions of the crimes were unnecessarily graphic. I really didn't need all the gory details.
dark
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Drug use
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced