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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Abortion, Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
The issues surrounding public fascination with murder, psychopaths and serial killers were interesting. I also found the discussion about how this plays into the psychology of murderers and their desire for fame was good and challenged our modern fascination with true crime. I also liked the exploration of dirty tricks of the press and their disregard for victims. I also appreciated the social history described of the 1950s.
However, I think Summerscale needed to make her aims more explicit. Unlike Rubenhold's The Five where the author's intentions are more obvious I found I was confused about what angle she wanted to take. In the end this was just another book about Christie with some interesting side issues which ironically still seems to fall into the true crime fascination and industry and did not do enough to stand aside from its desire to become fixated on the murderer and his motives.
However, I think Summerscale needed to make her aims more explicit. Unlike Rubenhold's The Five where the author's intentions are more obvious I found I was confused about what angle she wanted to take. In the end this was just another book about Christie with some interesting side issues which ironically still seems to fall into the true crime fascination and industry and did not do enough to stand aside from its desire to become fixated on the murderer and his motives.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
sad
medium-paced
dark
informative
slow-paced
Fascinating tale made even more so by the fact that it is true. It is definitely the case that truth sometimes appears stranger than fiction. Some of the elements to this case are strangely familiar as they bear similarities to other cases, such as a male perpetrator feeling inadequate or mocked by his victim’s demographic, in this case women. Other aspects are strangely unheard of and unique so overall the case certainly piques interest and makes you pay attention. The joint aspect of telling the story through the eyes of a contemporary journalist is definitely a great angle. There is a very immersive feeling of the opinions and social status of the time with difficult topics such as racism and homophobia broached and explained in the context of that time so as a piece of social history this is also very informative. A lot of people love to hate the methods of journalism yet the public are the force driving their very work which is food for thought. The topic of capital punishment is also represented well due to the uncertainties in this case and the possibility that it had not served well in this instance. This was presented very well and enlightened me from any preconceptions re journalism and crime and punishment in general. A thoroughly interesting and poignant read.
I read this book through the pigeonhole app, it was incredibly readable even though I usually struggle with non-fiction. "Enjoyed" is probably the wrong word but it was a fascinating read about crimes I had not heard of before. Really well researched, and a very matter of fact tone that still manages to portray a feminist point of view.