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yvo_about_books's review
3.0
Finished reading: August 3rd 2023
“I think the very fact he thinks he's going free, and the fact he thinks everybody is believing what he's saying, may just prove he really is completely insane.”
I really enjoyed the first book of this duology, and I decided to read the sequel while memories were still fresh. I have a weak spot for serial killer thrillers, and especially when it includes the killer's POV... This is exactly what Joe Victim offers, and it's a particularly fascinating and twisted serial killer at that. I've been looking forward to learn more about what happens after the events of the first book, but in the end I somehow ended up having mixed thoughts instead. First off a little warning: this is definitely a duology to read in order, because you won't understand the dynamics of the main characters otherwise, and the story simply won't have the same impact. It's hard to fully appreciate Joe in all his 'glory' without reading The Cleaner first... That said, I do think that the first book was a lot stronger than the second. There were things I liked in Joe Victim; especially the prison setting and the whole plan that Melissa is putting together. This sequel also has that same dark dark humor that the first book has, and I liked what it added to the plot. BUT. I also think that Joe Victim was way overlong; the plot could have been so much sharper without all those descriptions, minute details and repetitions. Seriously, I'm talking about at least 200 pages less to get the same message across, and in a much more impactful way. It took me surprisingly long to actually finish this story, mostly because there were a lot of parts that dragged considerably. Which is strange considering the story is about a serial killer locked up in prison, about to start his trial and someone is plotting to kill him... Joe Victim somehow didn't work as well as I hoped, but I'm still considering Paul Cleave as one of my favorite new discoveries so far this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Excrement, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Police brutality, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicide, Torture, and Sexual assault
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