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jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
jsoakes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This is a story that could have been great. All the stuff about living with and overcoming addiction (or not) was really interesting. The familial interactions felt realistic and were engaging, especially the relationship of the sisters. But all the cop stuff was just..... Really bad?
Also, this could just be a personal gripe, but I really hate it when a character insists that she isn't dumb using her excellence in schooling as proof and then proceeds to be absolutely idiotic in every situation possible.
I also realize that there are tons of issues with abuse of power in the police force, but this representation felt weak. It felt like the author was trying to make a point about corruption, but at the same time was sort of copping out with her chosen villains (which were painfully obvious from the very beginning).It's easy to see a literal serial killer as evil, but literal serial killers are not very common in the real world where police brutality and abuse actually occurs. This book obviously touches on that with the members of the force protecting each other and not taking claims against them seriously, but it also goes too far and pushes it away from reality. This could have been so much more satisfying if the story was just about a cop coercing sex from vulnerable women and actually getting caught.
There was one twist I didn't anticipate that was well done(I did not guess that Thomas was Kacey's son) , but there were a few that were..... Just dumb. The killer OBVIOUSLY wasn't Truman, and it was so obviously Laherty from the very first page. Clear was very obviously a creepy grooming asshole and their father was very obviously alive. I felt like all of these were supposed to be shocking twists that just did not land.
It wasn't a bad story, I just think it could have been great if the protagonist wasn't so bad at her job and actually made a few good decisions, or if "the bad guys" were fleshed out a bit more...
Also, this could just be a personal gripe, but I really hate it when a character insists that she isn't dumb using her excellence in schooling as proof and then proceeds to be absolutely idiotic in every situation possible.
I also realize that there are tons of issues with abuse of power in the police force, but this representation felt weak. It felt like the author was trying to make a point about corruption, but at the same time was sort of copping out with her chosen villains (which were painfully obvious from the very beginning).
There was one twist I didn't anticipate that was well done
It wasn't a bad story, I just think it could have been great if the protagonist wasn't so bad at her job and actually made a few good decisions, or if "the bad guys" were fleshed out a bit more...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, and Toxic relationship
christiereads23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
This was a story about two sisters who have been affected by drug addiction their whole lives. One sister Mickey becomes a cop and works in Kensington in Philadelphia, an area notorious for drug addiction, while the other sister Kacey who is struggling with drug addiction has not been seen for over a month. As a serious of murders happen, Mickey is desperate to find her sister before she becomes the next victim.
Anyone who has any experience with a loved one suffering through drug addiction will recognize the struggles that both sisters go through in this book. While there is a murder mystery going on as the main plot point of the novel, the major focus is on the two sisters' relationship and how it has been impacted by drugs. Both Kacey and Mickey felt real, and neither were perfect. They both have done things that they are ashamed of and that impact them daily. The murder mystery, however, was expertly plotted. I want to re-read this novel to see all the clues that led us to our killer. Finally, as someone who was born and raised in Philadelphia, Moore captures the neighborhoods and locations of Philly perfectly.
Anyone who has any experience with a loved one suffering through drug addiction will recognize the struggles that both sisters go through in this book. While there is a murder mystery going on as the main plot point of the novel, the major focus is on the two sisters' relationship and how it has been impacted by drugs. Both Kacey and Mickey felt real, and neither were perfect. They both have done things that they are ashamed of and that impact them daily. The murder mystery, however, was expertly plotted. I want to re-read this novel to see all the clues that led us to our killer. Finally, as someone who was born and raised in Philadelphia, Moore captures the neighborhoods and locations of Philly perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pedophilia and Police brutality
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