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herecomes_anne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
hq_reads's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I had high hopes for this series as it’s been recommended to me by so many people but I just could not get past the outdated racist and homophobic narrative. Let me explain:
1. I found it strange that some of the characters were “clearly” black based on how their dialogue was written. But I thought “it was written in the 90s, based in Virginia, maybe the author just didn’t know better/it’s culturally relevant at the time..?” But it didn’t sit well with me. THEN it turns out that the author needed to emphasise that black people speak differently for the purpose of the plot. So she literally built her killer’s motives/actions around a racial stereotype
2. The character has a gay lab assistant and says he doesn’t “fit into the 5 types of gays” so she didn’t suspect his sexuality at first. HAD SHE SUSPECTED IT, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HIRED HIM…!! Then he’s secretly getting a sample tested in the lab and she assumes he’s testing himself for HIV… because he’s gay…!
3. Main character was hypocritical - always complaining about how her mum expects her to have kids and act like a lady. The literally judges her sister who is a single mother for not making home cooked Italian food for her daughter every night… she literally says her sister shouldn’t be a mother because of this!!
4. Disappointed in who the killer turned out to be. Very anti-climactic
1. I found it strange that some of the characters were “clearly” black based on how their dialogue was written. But I thought “it was written in the 90s, based in Virginia, maybe the author just didn’t know better/it’s culturally relevant at the time..?” But it didn’t sit well with me. THEN
2. The character has a gay lab assistant and says he doesn’t “fit into the 5 types of gays” so she didn’t suspect his sexuality at first. HAD SHE SUSPECTED IT, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HIRED HIM…!! Then he’s secretly getting a sample tested in the lab and she assumes he’s testing himself for HIV… because he’s gay…!
3. Main character was hypocritical - always complaining about how her mum expects her to have kids and act like a lady. The literally judges her sister who is a single mother for not making home cooked Italian food for her daughter every night… she literally says her sister shouldn’t be a mother because of this!!
4.
Graphic: Rape, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Transphobia
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