Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

18 reviews

harpoonholly's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Audiobook. Brittany Pressley, Kirsten Potter, and Robert Petkoff were perfect. I wish there could be some consensus on how to pronounce "rifling"; there's "riffle-ing" or, the correct and better sounding way, "rifle-ing".
 
This is the second St. James horror I've listened to, the first being Sundown Motel, which I also enjoyed, but The Book of Cold Cases is more satisfying at the most important times, though the horror/plot of Sundown Motel is more compelling (to me).

Also, I get it, Beth Greer is beautiful, I didn't need to be convinced with repeated assertions. She was hot in her 20s and she was hot in her 60s, noted.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Sexism, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault

The mentions of the attempted sexual assault of a child are not graphic and only referenced (despite the 1st-person POV, the reader still isn't made aware of even passing details), but the trauma related to it is brought up regularly.

cassielaj's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

This story is CHILLING. Lots of twists, some interesting commentary on how women are viewed in relation to crime and the role media plays in sensationalizing crime stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape and Suicide

This book is not for the faint of heart.

haunting/ghost

jillianalice's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I loved the twists and turns in this book and how all the pieces fit together in the end. The character development was satisfying and written very realistically.

I didn’t like the paranormal aspects of the book and found that portion unbelievable. Otherwise, I love the author’s writing style and the atmosphere she creates. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexism, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death, Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Mental illness

Moderate: Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Sexual assault, Violence, Pedophilia, and Rape

spookysierra's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Sexual harassment, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Murder and Gun violence

Minor: Kidnapping and Sexual assault

targrhaegar's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Really intriguing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Mental illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexism, and Kidnapping

Minor: Sexual assault

jennyoli96's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I enjoyed the book but I'm getting tired of the "plot twist has something to do with a sibling" trope that has appeared in every book so far of this recent thriller marathon I'm on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Alcoholism, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Gaslighting, Gun violence, Cursing, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Police brutality

bookcheshirecat's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0

“Being a girl is the best,” she said, “because no one ever believes you’d do something bad. People think you’ll do nothing, which means you can do anything. I’ll show you.” 

➽ This is probably my favorite Simone St. James book so far! The Book of Cold Cases follows Shea Collins, a true crime blogger who gets the chance to interview a suspected killer. I loved that the protagonist runs a website and is passionate about true crime. Shea was almost abducted as a kid, so she's dealing with her trauma by analyzing cases in her free time. The opportunity to interview Beth Greer is something she can't pass up, even though something strange seems to be going on in her house.

➽ Beth is an intriguing figure and I liked seeing her dynamic with Shea. Beth was suspected of being the Lady Killer back in 1977, but because there was not enough evidence, she was never arrested. However, that doesn't mean that people have forgotten as many still think she is guilty. Ever since, Beth has been living as a recluse and Shea is the only person she's willing to talk to after all these years. I loved diving deeper into Beth's past, as she was a socialite from a wealthy, but tumultuous family with many secrets. Some of them still haunt her now. Shea finds herself caught in the case, as she can't let it go no matter how dangerous things get.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Mental illness, Death, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Kidnapping

shinypurplepants's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book offers: a ghost story, a true crime fan protagonist, and the elusive femme fatale. 

Not for me, reasons in spoilers just in case.

I was very turned off by the hyperfixation on female sexuality as a threat especially since it was about the "beautiful waif blonde" who no one could ever believe was dangerous!! *bats eyes*

As a black femme, I am often treated as a threat despite my femininity so all the proto-feminist "but women can murder toooo" made me really upset and the focus over and over and over on White Beauty was annoying at best and distracting fluff that took away from any building tension at worst.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Gun violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Panic attacks/disorders

ravenpuff's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Death, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, and Misogyny

local_hat's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Murder, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, and Child abuse

Moderate: Terminal illness, Violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape