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abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Bullying, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Lesbophobia, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Medical content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Sexism
david_slack110507's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think having Ruth's story be something completely detached from the Ted Bundy-inspired serial killer plotline of Pamela's story made Ruth's ending all the more effective as it showcased what could happen at any moment, especially when your life is beginning to get better, but I also just really liked Ruth's story due to its focus on the acceptance of who you are and freeing yourself from the judgement of others as shown in Ruth's discovery of her sexuality when she meets and eventually falls in love with Tina. However, as much as I like Ruth's story, I think I was more invested in Pamela's search for justice against the man that had wronged her sorority house, as not only was it what the premise of the book but also because it just intrigued me more seeing the situation unfold and how that can be compared in many similar and different ways to now.
Both storylines help present the theme of needing to put women's stories and experiences to the forefront of situations like the one in this book and its aforementioned inspiration rather than putting all the attention and sadly oftentimes subsequent idolisation on the perpetrator of horrible and sickening crimes. Keeping the perpetrator's name hidden under the nickname 'The Defendant' not only avoided giving power to the serial killer that it was based on but also allowed for it to be unilateral in not giving power to all those who have committed terrible acts of violence and violation and instead keeping the women in the spotlight when they are so often ignored even when they are front and centre like with Pamela as a witness or The Defendant's female attorney being the smartest on his team.
I feel like this is just a really important book to read that has many important messages just beyond the criminal and legal aspects mentioned in this review and in the book, such as social issues like the way that lesbians and queer people were seen around that time, the lack of faith in women and their stories/beliefs, and I also liked how it commented on the seemingly necessary need to characterise every man that avoided the legal system due to said lack of faith in women and/or their privilege as being 'smart', essentially acting as an excuse to cover up the incompetence in the police and justice systems for letting it go on for so long.
Overall, this raises many important questions and focuses on many necessary themes that should be discussed in more detail as well as striking a careful balance between not making it too explicit without making it seem watered down to make it easier to digest. It does not shy away from the explicit nature of the case but is not defined by having it as part of the plot.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Sexual violence, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Dementia, Medical content, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Pedophilia
sydneylmeyer7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Blood, Sexual violence, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Eating disorder
booklvrkat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Violence, and Sexism
r_o_s_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Gun violence, Eating disorder, Medical content, and Outing
missmakaela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Stalking
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Murder, Sexual violence, Torture, Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Stalking, Violence, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault
sellnow_hannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Rape, and Homophobia
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I did like the feminist telling of it. We do need true crime stories to be told more from the victim's angle than the perpetrators'.
Narrator's Rating: 4 stars
The narrators were great! They did a great job with tonal shifts for different characters.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 5/5 Helpful -NA Horror -05/5 Inspiration -NA Love aka Romance- 3/5 Mystery -2/5 Predictability -3/5 Spice-1/5 Suspense - NA Tear- 4/5 Thrill -3/5 Humor-0/5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Homophobia
Minor: Gore and Gun violence
honeybeewitched87's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Misogyny, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Bullying, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Cursing, Death, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape