Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really torn between rating this a 4 or a 5 stars, but decided on four simply because it didn't leave me with the same "Wow" factor five star books often have. This book is about a serial killer, but we follow his life through his mother, sister in law and the investigator who caught him.
It does an incredible job at driving its point home regarding how serial killers are glorified, the death penalty and how the families are treated. It was a little difficult to get into the book but once I was a third in, I was hooked.
It does an incredible job at driving its point home regarding how serial killers are glorified, the death penalty and how the families are treated. It was a little difficult to get into the book but once I was a third in, I was hooked.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to the audiobook of this one after trying to read it physically, it was ok, not really sure it gelled with me properly or I got “it”
3.75/5
3.75/5
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood
Minor: Racism, Medical content, Death of parent
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holy moly. This book was like sprinting, taking a break, and sprinting again. In a surprisingly good way. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I really appreciated that Ansel is never ever given a full pity party in this novel. We see his manipulation, his charm, and how he twists himself to suit his target. A line early on in the book that sent chills down my spine and made me laugh at the same time was “he’s handsome like Ted Bundy”. Wild stuff. Something that I’ll probably take with me for the rest of my life is when Ansel is caught and Hazel points out ”everyone wants to talk about him, not the victims, even though they are the ones who we lost” . I am butchering that quote since I’m in a rush to get to the library. What a thrill this was to read.
This is really a story about an execution. It was well written, but such a sad story. Ansel came from such horrid conditions and ends up on death row. I can't say I liked this book, but didn't hate it either.
medium-paced