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bookishcori's review against another edition
Hearing an interview where Cosby shared how he chooses to write crime/thrillers that seamlessly weave in “issues” that folks may otherwise not engage with makes sense and he excels at this. It never feels forced - you know how some authors throw in random hot button topics and it is irrelevant? Not here, because he’s writing from a Southern Black man’s experience and this is reality.
But here’s the thing, I used to consume a lot of gory serial killer and police procedural media and I no longer like these storylines. This was…too much. Sociopaths, pedophilia, violence against children, flayed and tortured bodies. 🤢 The saving grace here was that all the other aspects of the story were compelling.
If you like law and order: svu, silence of the lambs, or that James Patterson book turned movie about kidnapped girls held in a basement dungeon, check this out. You’ll get more substance with the shock value.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
alireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m tired of the crazed serial killer story. If there were as many serial killers as serial killer novels, there would be a huge dip in our population. The weakest part of the story was about the fanaticism and insanity, the abuse to the victims, and the descriptions of the torture chamber.
A minor complaint: when the sheriff finds the old woman who knew of the young boy, she doesn’t say his name and he’s referred to as “the boy” thereafter. Why no name? It wouldn’t have given anything away.
The strongest parts deal with the racism embedded in the South (and indeed the whole US) and the way Black people are confronted with it every day. The topical issues of white supremacy and rabid Confederacy adherents show that the worst bits of the story are all too real, not fiction at all.
It’s a shame that Cosby is likely preaching to the choir - I can’t imagine any racist deciding to read to the end of this book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
louisekf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
blacksphinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
S.A. Cosby knows how to put words in front of each other, really painting a vivid image of this rural southern community and its conflicts. This is only enhanced by Adam Lazarre-White's incredible narration which brought each character to life. I found this book to really take its ideas and themes seriously and with the level of nuance they deserved, even if I felt some points could have been pushed farther or were fumbled. It hit more often than it missed.
I wouldn't say it's perfect? There's a question I wanted answered that didn't, there's a romantic plot line that I felt didn't really add anything, and sometimes I found the narration to be repetitive (yes there's a serial killer running around and you want to catch him, I've been reading the book I know this!). But when the book finished playing, I didn't think it detracted enough from my overall enjoyment and appreciation to give the book anything less than 5 stars. I am absolutely going to go and read the rest of S.A. Cosby's books now.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Pregnancy
There is a brief description of an unseen character dying from HIV/AIDS in the 80's.readingtomydogs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Racial slurs, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Minor: Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Alcohol
misspennreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide
madisonmila's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
rebel_rocketman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, and Religious bigotry