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skullheadface's review
4.0
I wasn’t sure what to really expect with this one, as I’d heard some reliable sources mention that it was a “toned down Lee”. I’d never heard of such a thing, and had to see what it was all about for myself.
I’m glad I did.
A “toned down Lee” just happens to make the story/gore/horror even more real than usual. No Bighead, or Balls, or Micah, or Satan. Nothing like that. This tale is totally believable, and it hits like a ton of bricks.
I dug the use of the legal terminology and jargon/lingo that the author(s) used, the name brands of actual surgical implements and tools, it was a nice finishing touch to have everything “official”.
And of course, a few nods to other books/stories that Mr. Lee has blessed us with. I love finding the easter eggs, the more of his books I read, the more they interact with each other. It’s fucking awesome.
And of course, how can you go wrong with brutal psychopathic horror? You can’t!
4/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️
I’m glad I did.
A “toned down Lee” just happens to make the story/gore/horror even more real than usual. No Bighead, or Balls, or Micah, or Satan. Nothing like that. This tale is totally believable, and it hits like a ton of bricks.
I dug the use of the legal terminology and jargon/lingo that the author(s) used, the name brands of actual surgical implements and tools, it was a nice finishing touch to have everything “official”.
And of course, a few nods to other books/stories that Mr. Lee has blessed us with. I love finding the easter eggs, the more of his books I read, the more they interact with each other. It’s fucking awesome.
And of course, how can you go wrong with brutal psychopathic horror? You can’t!
4/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️
kailynrisher's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Vile, disgusting, gruesome, and absolutely insane. I LOVED every second of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Incest, Drug use, Death, Child abuse, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, and Sexual content
valkri3's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Torture, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Incest, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Gore, Body horror, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Excrement
5hadow_girl's review
4.0
I think this one started a little slow for me.
I started reading it two different times before now, and set it down - accidentally forgetting about it.
Ok, maybe that's not quite right. It didn't start slow, necessarily. It didn't start off as Ed Lee. When you're in the mood for depravity, Lee usually just throws you in head-first - no chance to buckle up. [b:Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman|651941|Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman|Edward Lee|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356181982s/651941.jpg|638057] didn't do that, it eased you in.
I started over again yesterday, just finished it, and WOW! As a whole - Holy Shit!! When my brain started firing and putting things together, I wished I could read faster.
The depravity is there, buckets full of it! Mixed with gore, and painfully uncomfortable scenes of torture. It's all surrounded by a story that is as uncomfortable as the torture scenes!
A woman who could be described as a modern day, more feminist (I hate the term, but, roll with me here), version of Dear Abby, is contacted by a killer - a woman who describes her sessions in chilling detail, and adds a little 'proof' that she's not a phony. The detective on the case fucks with her relentlessly, and the wishy-washy love interest tries to be dominant, but someone from her past is the most dominating man in her head.
I'm very impressed with the story now, and I plan to look up Lee's co-author, Elisabeth Steffen.
I started reading it two different times before now, and set it down - accidentally forgetting about it.
Ok, maybe that's not quite right. It didn't start slow, necessarily. It didn't start off as Ed Lee. When you're in the mood for depravity, Lee usually just throws you in head-first - no chance to buckle up. [b:Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman|651941|Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman|Edward Lee|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356181982s/651941.jpg|638057] didn't do that, it eased you in.
I started over again yesterday, just finished it, and WOW! As a whole - Holy Shit!! When my brain started firing and putting things together, I wished I could read faster.
The depravity is there, buckets full of it! Mixed with gore, and painfully uncomfortable scenes of torture. It's all surrounded by a story that is as uncomfortable as the torture scenes!
A woman who could be described as a modern day, more feminist (I hate the term, but, roll with me here), version of Dear Abby, is contacted by a killer - a woman who describes her sessions in chilling detail, and adds a little 'proof' that she's not a phony. The detective on the case fucks with her relentlessly, and the wishy-washy love interest tries to be dominant, but someone from her past is the most dominating man in her head.
I'm very impressed with the story now, and I plan to look up Lee's co-author, Elisabeth Steffen.
mrslecter's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Gore, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Incest, Child abuse, Body horror, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mikekaz's review
4.0
This is a hardcore novel. Extremely brutal. There are enough torture scenes in this novel to give you at least one thing to cringe about. If you're like me, you'll find several. The new uses for power tools was one. The red pepper was another. If you get squeamish easily, pass on this book.
Kathleen Shade is a regular columnist for a feminist magazine when she starts getting stories from a serial killer. Not so much stories as descriptions of the torture inflicted on her victims. There are also glimpses into her childhood which is more depressing than the pain experienced by the men she kills. Detective Spence is the police officer assigned to investigate the killing spree but he can't quite find the connection between killer and columnist and is left a step behind as the victims pile up.
While a good read, Lee has done better. The torture is over the top at times and we don't usually find out too much about the victims. This leaves us not feeling much for them one way or another when they are killed. And there are even victims that we cheer the killer on with their torture. Without feeling for the victims, the book becomes more about the killer and those with who she chooses to communicate. We get a good view of these characters but for me, the feelings as to what might happen to them wasn't there. The novel is still kick ass and not one I would pass up but Lee has done better.
Kathleen Shade is a regular columnist for a feminist magazine when she starts getting stories from a serial killer. Not so much stories as descriptions of the torture inflicted on her victims. There are also glimpses into her childhood which is more depressing than the pain experienced by the men she kills. Detective Spence is the police officer assigned to investigate the killing spree but he can't quite find the connection between killer and columnist and is left a step behind as the victims pile up.
While a good read, Lee has done better. The torture is over the top at times and we don't usually find out too much about the victims. This leaves us not feeling much for them one way or another when they are killed. And there are even victims that we cheer the killer on with their torture. Without feeling for the victims, the book becomes more about the killer and those with who she chooses to communicate. We get a good view of these characters but for me, the feelings as to what might happen to them wasn't there. The novel is still kick ass and not one I would pass up but Lee has done better.
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