Reviews

Agnes, Murderess by Sarah Leavitt

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helium's review

dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

If I could describe this comic in one word, it would be "strange."
Finding out that this was based on a true story of a woman who has allegedly murdered over 50 of her customers made this comic much more interesting. I really loved the inclusiveness and the variety of characters (same-sex relationships and the inclusion of different races as well as Indigenous people? wow) I enjoyed reading about Canadian history in the 1800s and it's always interesting to have a story with a very unlikeable main character. I'm often torn about whether I enjoy stories with unlikeable characters or not, and this comic is no exception. I cannot say I liked the story, but I also cannot say I disliked it. I found it entertaining and even silly at times, but that is about it. No strong feelings. The art is also very minimalistic and simple and I found the style very fitting for a story like this one.
This was still an entertaining and somewhat insightful read, but I guess I was just not that impressed by it.

szyca's review

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adventurous dark informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

christynhoover's review

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dark informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Sooooo creepy. Somehow I thought there would be some redeeming quality about Agnes' life (and Seamus' life) but there wasn't. It was an unrelenting tale of horror.

Content Warnings

careinthelibrary's review

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4.0

Easy, readable graphic novel about an enigmatic figure of Canadiana. Agnes McVee is rumoured to have been a murderess, but the facts are not at all conclusive and much exaggeration is suspected. Because of the fogginess around her life, Sarah Leavitt has ample space to develop an imagined back story and explanations for the horror stories coming out of Canada's North during the Gold Rush. This is not non-fiction. This is a story of mental illness, repressed womanhood, hauntings, and how extreme poverty leads to possessiveness. This creates the perfect storm for a simple Scottish girl raised by an abusive, cruel woman to 'escape' to Canada and become a gruesome legend.