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debra_reads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You were definitely not a book I would have picked up on my own. I was intrigued about the thriller aspect of your whole story, but all of the communism and Red Scare aspects were a bit of a turn off for me. You were very political, and sometimes really confusing. It also took a long time, and a lot of exposition for the serial killer aspects and more thriller driven parts of the story to begin. I didn't love (or even like) most of your characters, which made it extremely hard to to sympathize with any of their struggles. While I didn't hate you as a story, I struggled with a lot of aspects, including the fake pregnancy that happened early in your story.
gadicohen93's review against another edition
4.0
But I remember only a few scenes, namely:
-A little boy in famined Ukraine, a cat someone ate, a kidnapped brother, eaten.
-Train tracks.
-Some really nasty murder stories.
-Something about a prison, or about torture, and about Leo not seeing his wife for a long long time.
That's it.
So, not very memorable, and I guess I also remember the ending was a little too... well-rehearsed? I don't know. It's a perfect example of a 3.5 star book, one that feeds your need for speed, that immerses you in things that make you passionate, in history... but a book you're not going to even remember that you read until you read something about a Russian serial killer and then you're like, "Woah what!? I think I read something about a Russian serial killer. Woah."
So yeah.
whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
4.0
emsavors's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Confinement, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, Violence, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Body horror, Blood, Classism, Infertility, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Animal death, Child abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Animal cruelty, and Toxic relationship
smusie's review against another edition
4.0
cottsy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rebeccajc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jackie_fitzgetald'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? It's complicated
5.0
sinimini'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jgraydee's review against another edition
5.0
Note: Child 44 is the first book of a trilogy by Tom Rob Smith; Child 44 is based on the crimes of a Ukrainian serial killer, known as the Rostov Ripper, who was convicted of and executed for 52 murders in the Soviet Union.