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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Good Read . Glad I spent the credit !!!
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Appears in my Readers' Shelf Column in the October 2020 issue of Library Journal: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=scary-reads-horror-that-is-sure-to-please
Ironically, TRUE CRIME by Samantha Kolesnik, is centered around a fictional crime spree, but one that is so realistically portrayed that the graphic horror is palpable with all of the readers’ senses. Suzy and Lim, siblings who have been terribly abused at home, escape, killing their mother and strike out on their own, leaving a trail of murder in their wake. The narrative told mostly from Suzy’s point of view, forces the reader to reckon with the physical and emotional damage of abuse with Suzy, in real time, as she struggles to live fully for the first time in her horrible life. It’s a eerily enchanting tale, sucking the reader in despite the horrors, short and fast paced, visceral and psychologically intense, yet also beautiful and hopeful at the same time. An honest tale about human monsters, and the truth that hides behind the headlines, one that will force readers to look deeply into their own souls. Read-alike: For another critically acclaimed short, visceral, and thought provoking horror-crime hybrid try ZERO SAINTS by Gabino Iglesias.
Ironically, TRUE CRIME by Samantha Kolesnik, is centered around a fictional crime spree, but one that is so realistically portrayed that the graphic horror is palpable with all of the readers’ senses. Suzy and Lim, siblings who have been terribly abused at home, escape, killing their mother and strike out on their own, leaving a trail of murder in their wake. The narrative told mostly from Suzy’s point of view, forces the reader to reckon with the physical and emotional damage of abuse with Suzy, in real time, as she struggles to live fully for the first time in her horrible life. It’s a eerily enchanting tale, sucking the reader in despite the horrors, short and fast paced, visceral and psychologically intense, yet also beautiful and hopeful at the same time. An honest tale about human monsters, and the truth that hides behind the headlines, one that will force readers to look deeply into their own souls. Read-alike: For another critically acclaimed short, visceral, and thought provoking horror-crime hybrid try ZERO SAINTS by Gabino Iglesias.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story is raw and grotesque, but I couldn't look away.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this book tried to explore some interesting themes (power, femininity, what I means to be good/bad), but it spent more time trying to be graphic and upsetting than actually saying anything interesting. You can explore these themes without being incredibly exploitative just for shock value. I love a gruesom tale, but its gotta have more of a point than this. I'm certainly not gonna forget it, but not in a good way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder
*"Killer Is Me" by Alice In Chains plays in the backround*
Badlands, The Killer Inside Me, Natural Born Killers.
If True Crime were a movie (and it already feels like one) it would sit comfortably amongst those great "thrill kill/mind of a killer" films.
But True Crime has more on its mind than just murder and violence.
The decay of society, the facade that mankind wears to fool the weak, the cycle of abuse, and the unfettered mind of a sociopath. Kolesnik is not afraid to go where you're most uncomfortable. Where you are loathe to exist, lest you see humanity for what it truly is.
A masterpiece of southern gothic crime fiction, True Crime is dark, fucked up, sad, terrifying, dreamlike, and even lyrically beautiful in its own twisted, perverted way.
One of the best books of 2020.
Badlands, The Killer Inside Me, Natural Born Killers.
If True Crime were a movie (and it already feels like one) it would sit comfortably amongst those great "thrill kill/mind of a killer" films.
But True Crime has more on its mind than just murder and violence.
The decay of society, the facade that mankind wears to fool the weak, the cycle of abuse, and the unfettered mind of a sociopath. Kolesnik is not afraid to go where you're most uncomfortable. Where you are loathe to exist, lest you see humanity for what it truly is.
A masterpiece of southern gothic crime fiction, True Crime is dark, fucked up, sad, terrifying, dreamlike, and even lyrically beautiful in its own twisted, perverted way.
One of the best books of 2020.
Might have broken my heart a little. The author does a spectacular job of telling the story of Suzy. A teen who has been abused her whole life. This book is disturbing, dark and brutal.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved this book so much. I found myself relating to some of the concepts that were mentioned when it comes to being a woman and it made me so emotional lol. This author writes very very well, and this is her first book? I'm amazed and so impressed. Would 100% read more books by this author. This was such a good book, definitely recommend anyone to read it. (If you're into this genre)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
This was so much more than I expected. I like to enter stories completely blind with as little knowledge about the book as possible. True crime books don’t interest me so I almost didn’t bother with this. That would have been my loss. It was crazy following Suzy and Lim on their spree and to see how it affects Suzy.