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lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the distinct characters and the way there seemed to be more to the story than you could know at any given point.
alfsan's review against another edition
4.0
This was just a fantastic rollercoaster. Started reading and thought it was your run of the mill serial killer + troubled cop going through something unique story. And although on the baseline is that, it's also so much more. First of all the way the author embodies the characters, all unique and with a strong inner voice, is a game changer. The way the villain of the story is portrayed is also new. Not a madman, not an evil killer. Just something else. And I'm not referring to something as diverse as SK's The Outsider (don't want to spoil anything for you). I've never read about this author but ran into The Shining Girls cover and Broken Monsters was the one I could get my hands on. Will definitely continue reading Lauren Beukes and her style.
After all this brag and excitement, why don't I give it five stars? overall it was great, but it wasn't 5 star fiction literature great. My points of comparison in somewhat related genres would be 4th of july creek or swan song (if you're into fiction). And I rate it based on emotions produced. Those books, damn, made you happy, sad, cry, etc. Whatever the emotion was, it was hard and sucked you in deeply. And although Broken Monsters does entice a good laugh, and cheering, and also sympathy for stuff that happened to the characters, it still lacks a bit of depth in that emotion.
Till next book!
After all this brag and excitement, why don't I give it five stars? overall it was great, but it wasn't 5 star fiction literature great. My points of comparison in somewhat related genres would be 4th of july creek or swan song (if you're into fiction). And I rate it based on emotions produced. Those books, damn, made you happy, sad, cry, etc. Whatever the emotion was, it was hard and sucked you in deeply. And although Broken Monsters does entice a good laugh, and cheering, and also sympathy for stuff that happened to the characters, it still lacks a bit of depth in that emotion.
Till next book!
megadeathvsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This one just didn't capture me like her previous one, The Shining Girls. The pacing seemed off and all of the characters were apart too long before they became intertwined. This made the plot seem disjointed. Maybe it is purposely playing with the title and theme of being broken, but it resulted in a less enjoyable reading experience.
billymac1962's review against another edition
4.0
Well. I'm not sure where to begin with this one.
First, an anecdote of what it is to be me. This is the second consecutive book I have read to have a character with Ouija board letters tattooed on her stomach. This kind of stuff happens to me all the time. Really, really strange coincidences. So there's that. On to the review.
Lauren Beukes really impressed me last year when I read The Shining Girls. In it, she put her own bent slant onto the serial killer genre with a time-travelling psychopath. A lot of people had closure issues with that one, but I thought it was brilliant.
Now comes Broken Monsters. This, again a serial killer theme, but with...oh, I wish I could tell you...
Suffice it to to say that with two novels that are essentially crime thrillers with a weird turn to them, I think we can say at this point that this lady is a genre unto herself.
This book read like gangbusters.
(It's worth noting that our home office has completed renovations and I am once again working in the downtown core of Ottawa after 3 years in a temporary location. Within that time I have gotten married and moved to a new home and I have decided to give public transit another chance. I now love it. It's a quiet 50 minute commute and I now have 100 more minutes to read every weekday! Thus the ripping through this book.)
Where was I? Yes, the book read like gangbusters and man, towards the later part things seriously become unglued, in a holy shit, everything is happening kind of way. But while the main storyline was of course the main focus, my favourite aspects of the novel were around Layla and Cas, the detective's daughter and her friend, and their social media activity. Beukes is also making a statement on social media in the way it comes into play with the investigation.
Again, Beukes has top writing chops. Her prose is very good and dialogue is very authentic.
I'll listen to any story she has to tell. 3.5 stars rounded up.
First, an anecdote of what it is to be me. This is the second consecutive book I have read to have a character with Ouija board letters tattooed on her stomach. This kind of stuff happens to me all the time. Really, really strange coincidences. So there's that. On to the review.
Lauren Beukes really impressed me last year when I read The Shining Girls. In it, she put her own bent slant onto the serial killer genre with a time-travelling psychopath. A lot of people had closure issues with that one, but I thought it was brilliant.
Now comes Broken Monsters. This, again a serial killer theme, but with...oh, I wish I could tell you...
Suffice it to to say that with two novels that are essentially crime thrillers with a weird turn to them, I think we can say at this point that this lady is a genre unto herself.
This book read like gangbusters.
(It's worth noting that our home office has completed renovations and I am once again working in the downtown core of Ottawa after 3 years in a temporary location. Within that time I have gotten married and moved to a new home and I have decided to give public transit another chance. I now love it. It's a quiet 50 minute commute and I now have 100 more minutes to read every weekday! Thus the ripping through this book.)
Where was I? Yes, the book read like gangbusters and man, towards the later part things seriously become unglued, in a holy shit, everything is happening kind of way. But while the main storyline was of course the main focus, my favourite aspects of the novel were around Layla and Cas, the detective's daughter and her friend, and their social media activity. Beukes is also making a statement on social media in the way it comes into play with the investigation.
Again, Beukes has top writing chops. Her prose is very good and dialogue is very authentic.
I'll listen to any story she has to tell. 3.5 stars rounded up.
kayleem93's review against another edition
1.0
Well that was just what i think the kids these days refer to as a "hot mess". I gave Shining Girls four stars. I will recommend it to others. I cannot believe this pile of crap came from the same person.
The characters were terrible one dimensional cliches, the story made zero sense by the last third of the book, people were making random jumps in logic and action that I still don't understand.
Most of all though it commited what I consider the cardinal sin for a book it was dull and way too long. Also I frankly disliked every person in this book, I hated the two teens the least but they acted like crazy people and did things in convinced no teenager would ever do. I kept getting the feeling it was trying to be some ironic social commentary which is confusing since I picked up a book about a serial killer...
Shall not be keeping, re-reading or recommending. This is just my opinion and I am entitled to it just like you are to yours, please be respectful.
The characters were terrible one dimensional cliches, the story made zero sense by the last third of the book, people were making random jumps in logic and action that I still don't understand.
Most of all though it commited what I consider the cardinal sin for a book it was dull and way too long. Also I frankly disliked every person in this book, I hated the two teens the least but they acted like crazy people and did things in convinced no teenager would ever do. I kept getting the feeling it was trying to be some ironic social commentary which is confusing since I picked up a book about a serial killer...
Shall not be keeping, re-reading or recommending. This is just my opinion and I am entitled to it just like you are to yours, please be respectful.
branwynnemay's review against another edition
4.25
Looking forward to reading more work by Beukes now! Solid, very scary and I really liked the characters.
sandygx260's review against another edition
3.0
After reading an interview with Lauren Beukes conducted by author Jeff Vandemeer, I grabbed “Broken Monsters” from the library. The storyline reminded me of one of my favorite Bowie albums, “Outside” which deals with investigating art murders.
The first chapter detailing the discovery of the child fawn art murder is a kicker. Unfortunately the storyline starts fragmenting, introducing many characters and POVs. I wanted to know more about the art murder, but Beukes teases me. The weird randomness to the initial plot is irritating.
Leading the main cast is Detective Gabi Versado, a harried divorcee working the horrific murder case while she worries about her daughter Layla, a too smart for her own good teenage trouble magnet. Jonno Haim is a failed writer who thinks the world of himself, seeking the fifteen minutes of fame he knows he deserves. Homeless man TK shot his mother’s murder when he was 14, but after a rough life abused by the “system” now he works with a church group. Marcus Brown, an eager young policeman, discovers the first art mutilation victim and ends up working with Detective Versado. Clayton Broom is a frustrated outsider artist who is about to experience a nasty creative epiphany. You know their storylines will converge.
Wait, the city of Detroit is also a pivotal main character. Beukes uses the decayed Motor City with great skill. I can’t imagine this story set anywhere else. It needs the city’s ruin porn backdrop.
Secondary characters pop in and out of the mix—some should wear red shirts ala “Star Trek” victims.
Around page 85, the plot stops wandering. The characters start developing solid personalities. I give the story high marks for the character development, although the ridiculous blogger Haim transforms from annoying to insufferable. The decline suits his narcissist nature.
The book turns into a cliché-page turner, delivering shocks and jolts as we follow the mentally unraveling Bloom down his twisted creative path. He splinters, cracks, dissolving into total insanity. Detective Versado suffers personal and professional trauma, unable to solve the case or give Layla the attention she needs. Emotions crumble exactly like the Detroit backdrop.
A scene involving Layla at something titled the Dream House art exhibit will spike your blood pressure. Beukes delivers nasty slaps to the brain, upping the tension in a fine fashion.
On page 374, a brief, nonsensical moment jars the reader. Surely this is just a blip, since the following scenes provide solid tension.
But on page 387, a serious what the fuck moment derails the story. The sad thing is once the story derails, it jumps the track and skids into the forest. Wait, Bloom isn’t a frustrated outsider artist turned deranged serial killer due to constant rejection in both the professional and personal realm? Instead he’s possessed by what, the spirit of abandonment ruling Detroit which craves social media attention to satisfy its overwhelming need to release broken dreams?
What the fuck? I will also say cop out. Why the sudden need to inject a dose of the paranormal into the already riveting story? Why? No lie, one scene in the factory made me laugh. Laughing during such a pivotal moment took me right out of the story.
It’s been a while since a novel’s ending has frustrated me this badly. The shame is the writing is top-notch. Each character has a distinctive voice. Descriptions and emotions are superb, but once our brave cast enters the factory, Beukes pulls a bait and switch act. The few chapters after the factory nonsense never recover.
Buekes’s writing skills convince me to try her other novels. I’ll chalk this one up to a failed experimental ending.
A pity.
The beginning I gave a two, the bulk of the book deserves a five, but those last pages are one star all the way.
The first chapter detailing the discovery of the child fawn art murder is a kicker. Unfortunately the storyline starts fragmenting, introducing many characters and POVs. I wanted to know more about the art murder, but Beukes teases me. The weird randomness to the initial plot is irritating.
Leading the main cast is Detective Gabi Versado, a harried divorcee working the horrific murder case while she worries about her daughter Layla, a too smart for her own good teenage trouble magnet. Jonno Haim is a failed writer who thinks the world of himself, seeking the fifteen minutes of fame he knows he deserves. Homeless man TK shot his mother’s murder when he was 14, but after a rough life abused by the “system” now he works with a church group. Marcus Brown, an eager young policeman, discovers the first art mutilation victim and ends up working with Detective Versado. Clayton Broom is a frustrated outsider artist who is about to experience a nasty creative epiphany. You know their storylines will converge.
Wait, the city of Detroit is also a pivotal main character. Beukes uses the decayed Motor City with great skill. I can’t imagine this story set anywhere else. It needs the city’s ruin porn backdrop.
Secondary characters pop in and out of the mix—some should wear red shirts ala “Star Trek” victims.
Around page 85, the plot stops wandering. The characters start developing solid personalities. I give the story high marks for the character development, although the ridiculous blogger Haim transforms from annoying to insufferable. The decline suits his narcissist nature.
The book turns into a cliché-page turner, delivering shocks and jolts as we follow the mentally unraveling Bloom down his twisted creative path. He splinters, cracks, dissolving into total insanity. Detective Versado suffers personal and professional trauma, unable to solve the case or give Layla the attention she needs. Emotions crumble exactly like the Detroit backdrop.
A scene involving Layla at something titled the Dream House art exhibit will spike your blood pressure. Beukes delivers nasty slaps to the brain, upping the tension in a fine fashion.
On page 374, a brief, nonsensical moment jars the reader. Surely this is just a blip, since the following scenes provide solid tension.
But on page 387, a serious what the fuck moment derails the story. The sad thing is once the story derails, it jumps the track and skids into the forest. Wait, Bloom isn’t a frustrated outsider artist turned deranged serial killer due to constant rejection in both the professional and personal realm? Instead he’s possessed by what, the spirit of abandonment ruling Detroit which craves social media attention to satisfy its overwhelming need to release broken dreams?
What the fuck? I will also say cop out. Why the sudden need to inject a dose of the paranormal into the already riveting story? Why? No lie, one scene in the factory made me laugh. Laughing during such a pivotal moment took me right out of the story.
It’s been a while since a novel’s ending has frustrated me this badly. The shame is the writing is top-notch. Each character has a distinctive voice. Descriptions and emotions are superb, but once our brave cast enters the factory, Beukes pulls a bait and switch act. The few chapters after the factory nonsense never recover.
Buekes’s writing skills convince me to try her other novels. I’ll chalk this one up to a failed experimental ending.
A pity.
The beginning I gave a two, the bulk of the book deserves a five, but those last pages are one star all the way.
lakinlindsey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ayykath's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This white author uses the N word while writing in the POV of a black man. And then AGAIN with a hard R as a racist man... I don't think white people should ever have a pass to say that word but after reading Goodreads reviews I seem to be the only one upset about it.