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daybreakreads's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
This is what I get for skimming reviews before reading…I was under the impression when I started the audiobook that the narrator is the killer because someone had used “serial killer” and “autobiography” in a review (it’s hard for me to keep names straight when I begin an audiobook, so I kept waiting for the big revelation that never was.)
No. The story is told from a fictionalized version of the author’s childhood, but in a way that feels like a true crime novel. The author is an innocent observer and bystander in his hometown during a summer where a (fictional) serial killer is attacking women in the night.
I must say, confusion aside, I enjoyed this. It has mixed reviews, but the storytelling was so compelling it was difficult to put down. I also appreciated that it wasn’t overly or unnecessarily graphic. The worst it gets is a brief description of some injuries (but as far as the SA stuff goes, it literally just said, “the body had been SA-ed” and nothing more). I was worried that it would be grotesque (I had to DNF “The Chestnut Man” by Soren Sveistrup and Stephen King’s “The Outsiders” for unnecessarily graphic descriptions of corpses) but thankfully that was not the case.
Eventually the killer is caught decades later, and the author includes the “interview” he has with him. Apparently the physical book has staged photos that were included — I think that would’ve added to the experience.
I’m tempted to reread it now that I know where my confusion was, but I rather enjoyed it regardless.
No. The story is told from a fictionalized version of the author’s childhood, but in a way that feels like a true crime novel. The author is an innocent observer and bystander in his hometown during a summer where a (fictional) serial killer is attacking women in the night.
I must say, confusion aside, I enjoyed this. It has mixed reviews, but the storytelling was so compelling it was difficult to put down. I also appreciated that it wasn’t overly or unnecessarily graphic. The worst it gets is a brief description of some injuries (but as far as the SA stuff goes, it literally just said, “the body had been SA-ed” and nothing more). I was worried that it would be grotesque (I had to DNF “The Chestnut Man” by Soren Sveistrup and Stephen King’s “The Outsiders” for unnecessarily graphic descriptions of corpses) but thankfully that was not the case.
Eventually the killer is caught decades later, and the author includes the “interview” he has with him. Apparently the physical book has staged photos that were included — I think that would’ve added to the experience.
I’m tempted to reread it now that I know where my confusion was, but I rather enjoyed it regardless.
Minor: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Suicide
madrog's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Suicide, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, and Death
nickcallebs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, Rape, and Grief
jjreads331's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The metafiction of this story is great, and it is what kept me going. The author clearly read into the genre and managed to create a story that confused at least half of my book group as to whether this was a real memoir or fiction. The issues that I had are with the pacing. There isn't really any denouement and I think the book needed that. One thing I really did love was the loving depictions of Maryland. I wanted to immediately go back to visit. Oh, one last nit: the pictures included were hilarious and an excellent addition, but like HELL are those girls with their perfect 2020s middle part hair from the 80s. insert *sure jan* meme here.
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Violence, Child death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual violence
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Suicide, Mental illness, Animal death, and Cancer
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