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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When a young student, Sara, is killed by her boyfriend, Blake, many of those connected to the two characters seek to find justice or the “real” truth. The idea of having every chapter be a different character had it’s strengths and weaknesses. I enjoyed that we found a new perspective in each chapter and we found a new link to Sara or Blake. However, it did feel as though each chapter was it’s own mini story which didn’t get to develop. I would have liked for some characters to have come back again. The plot was very different to anything I’ve read before - we already knew the victim and who did it when starting the first page. There was no mystery but the book focused more on how each individual person in your life no matter how small a role they have, matters. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t really recommend this book to those who like the crime genre simply because there are other books out there that are better.
Usually, when you hear that a book is based around the murder of a teenage girl, you'd probably start imaging the usual sort of crime thrillers. The kind of dark books that enjoy nothing more than putting an innocent woman through horrible torture or pain at the hands of a random man in her life. Usually, there'll be some sort of sexual element because publishers know what they want and what they want is for all female characters to suffer as much as possible. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Nothing Can Hurt You would be another in a long long line of these psychological crime thrillers. However, Nicola Maye Goldberg has turned the tables on this tired trope and has challenged tradition. It's exciting and original. It is also, in my opinion, way more unsettling that the likes of Girl on the Train.
The murder at the heart of the book is that of Sara Morgan, a student at an arts college. Sara's body is found in the woods by a housewife and her boyfriend quickly confesses to the murder. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Blake, claims to have accidentally killed Sara after the pair took acid. So, from the start, there's no real mystery to this murder mystery. Instead, each chapter is dedicated to a character who is connected to the murder in some way : the victim's mother; her college friend; the local reporter covering the trial; the girl she used to babysit; the woman who went on to marry Blake, and more. The different chapters are told in either the first or third person and give us a glimpse into these characters' lives.
Each of the chapters is a little vignette that acts as a character study. The link to Sara isn't always explicit but there is always something that ties back to her. The individual stories show us people that have been affected by tragedy at some point in their lives. It deals with people experiencing addiction, difficult marriages, mental health issues, job dissatisfaction, and trouble relationships with their siblings. A theme that runs throughout the book is gender-based violence. This is a book that faces up to the issues of being a woman in modern society and the different dangers that might await them. This is what makes the book so unsettling. Unlike normal thrillers, this book doesn't feel over-the-top or sensationalised. It is full of real threats and, in its own way, that's terrifying.
It helps that there is an added layer to these familiar topics thanks to the butterfly effect of Sara's murder. What adds an extra depth to these chapters is the haunting figure that sits just out of sight. It gives the books more of a dark and sombre atmosphere. There is something quite gothic about seemingly everyday tales when they are told in the wake of a young girl's body being found. You expect the story to go in a specific direction so I found I was on edge for quite a lot of the book. It's a very clever concept and a very refreshing take on this type of book. It also manages to bring some dark humour to proceedings and takes a certain delight in these odd comical moments.
This is the kind of book that every reader longs for. It is both very readable, well-written, and exciting. It brings something new and captures your attention from the start. Admittedly, some of the vignettes are more successful than others but that's the same with any anthology I suppose. In terms of pace, this is a quick read but it's impactful. I read the majority of it in one night and it was both an enjoyable and haunting experience. I loved every second of it.
The murder at the heart of the book is that of Sara Morgan, a student at an arts college. Sara's body is found in the woods by a housewife and her boyfriend quickly confesses to the murder. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Blake, claims to have accidentally killed Sara after the pair took acid. So, from the start, there's no real mystery to this murder mystery. Instead, each chapter is dedicated to a character who is connected to the murder in some way : the victim's mother; her college friend; the local reporter covering the trial; the girl she used to babysit; the woman who went on to marry Blake, and more. The different chapters are told in either the first or third person and give us a glimpse into these characters' lives.
Each of the chapters is a little vignette that acts as a character study. The link to Sara isn't always explicit but there is always something that ties back to her. The individual stories show us people that have been affected by tragedy at some point in their lives. It deals with people experiencing addiction, difficult marriages, mental health issues, job dissatisfaction, and trouble relationships with their siblings. A theme that runs throughout the book is gender-based violence. This is a book that faces up to the issues of being a woman in modern society and the different dangers that might await them. This is what makes the book so unsettling. Unlike normal thrillers, this book doesn't feel over-the-top or sensationalised. It is full of real threats and, in its own way, that's terrifying.
It helps that there is an added layer to these familiar topics thanks to the butterfly effect of Sara's murder. What adds an extra depth to these chapters is the haunting figure that sits just out of sight. It gives the books more of a dark and sombre atmosphere. There is something quite gothic about seemingly everyday tales when they are told in the wake of a young girl's body being found. You expect the story to go in a specific direction so I found I was on edge for quite a lot of the book. It's a very clever concept and a very refreshing take on this type of book. It also manages to bring some dark humour to proceedings and takes a certain delight in these odd comical moments.
This is the kind of book that every reader longs for. It is both very readable, well-written, and exciting. It brings something new and captures your attention from the start. Admittedly, some of the vignettes are more successful than others but that's the same with any anthology I suppose. In terms of pace, this is a quick read but it's impactful. I read the majority of it in one night and it was both an enjoyable and haunting experience. I loved every second of it.
When I first started reading this book I thought I would love it. Serial killers and murders peak my interest, and usually have me fully engaged. Although I finished this quickly, the plot had so many loop holes, lack of character development, and missing details that I can’t say I even enjoyed it.
Maybe it’s for you, but definitely not for me.
Maybe it’s for you, but definitely not for me.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I started this book and didn't put it down until I finished it five hours later.
I'm not the biggest thriller fan and as I stumbled through the first chapter, I thought I wouldn't last the entire book but the second chapter changed that and it only got better from then onward.
What I liked the most about this book was that it was not obvious, it was not another "who killed the poor white girl" mystery, instead, each chapter is told by a different character, in no chronological order and examines how a single person life and death makes a difference in everyone's existence, no matter how little they knew them.
This entire book is an analysis of how sexism influences every aspect of women's lives and how a single person can touch dozens of lives no matter how little they knew each other.
I was confused by the borderline supernatural dreams half of the characters seemed to have and ended up having no purpose but other than that I really can't find any faults in this story. I loved how race and gender were considered throughout and how much alcohol and pills prevailed in American suburbia but most of all I loved the ending and all that was answered and not answered by it.
I would love to see this adapted someday.
Thank you to Raven Books and Bloomsbury for sending me this book proof.
I'm not the biggest thriller fan and as I stumbled through the first chapter, I thought I wouldn't last the entire book but the second chapter changed that and it only got better from then onward.
What I liked the most about this book was that it was not obvious, it was not another "who killed the poor white girl" mystery, instead, each chapter is told by a different character, in no chronological order and examines how a single person life and death makes a difference in everyone's existence, no matter how little they knew them.
This entire book is an analysis of how sexism influences every aspect of women's lives and how a single person can touch dozens of lives no matter how little they knew each other.
I was confused by the borderline supernatural dreams half of the characters seemed to have and ended up having no purpose but other than that I really can't find any faults in this story. I loved how race and gender were considered throughout and how much alcohol and pills prevailed in American suburbia but most of all I loved the ending and all that was answered and not answered by it.
I would love to see this adapted someday.
Thank you to Raven Books and Bloomsbury for sending me this book proof.
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book #54 read in 2020
OᐯᗴᖇᐯIᗴᗯ: Sara Morgan was killed in 1997 by her boyfriend, Blake Campbell. He confessed and was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Many people in the community were impacted by his acquittal and this book looks at how people handled it differently.
ᗰY TᕼOᑌᘜᕼTᔕ: Inspired by a true story and being interested in true crime, I was very excited to read this. I was disappointed as each new set of characters showed up, it felt like its own short story. Often it was not clear how the characters were connected to the crime, which made it difficult to become invested. Unfortunately this was a miss for me given the potential in the idea.
ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ: ★★
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
OᐯᗴᖇᐯIᗴᗯ: Sara Morgan was killed in 1997 by her boyfriend, Blake Campbell. He confessed and was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Many people in the community were impacted by his acquittal and this book looks at how people handled it differently.
ᗰY TᕼOᑌᘜᕼTᔕ: Inspired by a true story and being interested in true crime, I was very excited to read this. I was disappointed as each new set of characters showed up, it felt like its own short story. Often it was not clear how the characters were connected to the crime, which made it difficult to become invested. Unfortunately this was a miss for me given the potential in the idea.
ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ: ★★
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of a small town murder and the many different people who are affected by it. The story is told in several different points of view. never the same person twice. It touches on our fascination with death and the macabre and at times reads like a true crime novel.
I really wanted to love this book. I requested it immediately after reading the synopsis and then crossed my fingers in hope and anticipation. I was approved and couldn't wait to get to it on my TBR, I read it very quickly as the writing was simple and the story seemed to flow from one point of view to the next. However the ending felt very abrupt and left a lot to be desired in my opinion. I think sometimes books are supposed to leave us with a lot of questions but in a satisfying and reflective sort of way. This one just missed the mark for me. However, if you are looking for a palate cleanser this is a very quick read that should do the trick.
I really wanted to love this book. I requested it immediately after reading the synopsis and then crossed my fingers in hope and anticipation. I was approved and couldn't wait to get to it on my TBR, I read it very quickly as the writing was simple and the story seemed to flow from one point of view to the next. However the ending felt very abrupt and left a lot to be desired in my opinion. I think sometimes books are supposed to leave us with a lot of questions but in a satisfying and reflective sort of way. This one just missed the mark for me. However, if you are looking for a palate cleanser this is a very quick read that should do the trick.
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes