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ruthypoo2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This book felt like an odd construct for me. I struggled through the initial chapters that interrupted the flow of the crime story to introduce renowned authors Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer who have peripheral connections to the time and location where the murders took place. The story of their lives are interwoven throughout the book and while I get the author’s intention in including them, I can’t say it added to my enjoyment while reading the book since I often skimmed over the chapters dedicated mostly to Vonnegut and/or Mailer.
Otherwise, when the book was telling the story of the perpetrator of a series of horrible murders, it was interesting. While a lot of liberty is taken to fictionalize the dialogue and actions of many characters, the basics are faithful to real life events and historical record. I really didn’t mind that the author, Casey Sherman, “created” possible scenarios and dialogue between the killer, their victims, and others. As long as the reader understands this is something of a hybrid combining true crime and fictionalized actions and encounters, it does bring the story to life.
I liked that the layout is familiar: crime - discovery - police investigation - trial - outcome. These are the elements I enjoy learning about, as well as the incidents being set in the late 60s/early 70s in a part of the United States with its own unique identity.
Otherwise, when the book was telling the story of the perpetrator of a series of horrible murders, it was interesting. While a lot of liberty is taken to fictionalize the dialogue and actions of many characters, the basics are faithful to real life events and historical record. I really didn’t mind that the author, Casey Sherman, “created” possible scenarios and dialogue between the killer, their victims, and others. As long as the reader understands this is something of a hybrid combining true crime and fictionalized actions and encounters, it does bring the story to life.
I liked that the layout is familiar: crime - discovery - police investigation - trial - outcome. These are the elements I enjoy learning about, as well as the incidents being set in the late 60s/early 70s in a part of the United States with its own unique identity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Medical content, Gore, Car accident, Child abuse, and Confinement
ritaslilnook's review
3.0
As a person who doesn't usually read true-crime, I had high expectations for Helltown. It was the first book I read about a serial killer and I expected it to blow me away. However, the narrative of this book became difficult for me to empathize with due to the additional information the author added that was not real.
The research is definitely visible within the pages of the book, but the dialogues of the characters and the scenes where the imagination of the author shines through turn this book into a fictional story about a serial killer who happened to be real.
The description of the book promised something different. I guess I wasn't that into the way the author chose to portray the killer. But, that's on me.
The writing is good and so is the premise, but this was a three-star for me.
If you're already an avid true-crime reader, give this one a try. I'd love to read different opinions.
Thank you to Sourcebooks, Casey Sherman, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The research is definitely visible within the pages of the book, but the dialogues of the characters and the scenes where the imagination of the author shines through turn this book into a fictional story about a serial killer who happened to be real.
The description of the book promised something different. I guess I wasn't that into the way the author chose to portray the killer. But, that's on me.
The writing is good and so is the premise, but this was a three-star for me.
If you're already an avid true-crime reader, give this one a try. I'd love to read different opinions.
Thank you to Sourcebooks, Casey Sherman, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
rosska22's review
1.0
I didn't like this book. The blending of fact and "storytelling" to give you an inside view of the murders was not something I enjoyed. I like true crime, but this one started to fall into the category of "inspired by true events" rather than a factual recounting of the crimes.
I found myself skimming large sections and wishing for it to be over. Sorry Casey Sherman.
I received an ARC from the publisher on NetGalley.
I found myself skimming large sections and wishing for it to be over. Sorry Casey Sherman.
I received an ARC from the publisher on NetGalley.
literarycrushes's review against another edition
2.0
Helltown tells the story of Tony Costa, a 24-year-old serial killer in Ptown in the late 1960s. It’s part true crime and partly fictionalized accounts of Tony and his eight victims.
As someone who loves Provincetown & true crime, I was looking forward to reading this one. It was jarring to read about some of the restaurants and bars I’ve been to with a new, sinister lens as places Tony where met his victims rather than places where I embarrassed myself by singing bad karaoke. The investigative journalism was thorough and impressive, and Casey Sherman really places the reader into the scene, whether it was through witness statements or by describing the setting in excellent detail (like the creepy ancient cemetery where he disemboweled and buried many of his victims’ body parts).
But I didn’t love this one overall. Sherman weaves together the story of Tony with Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut, two of Ptown’s most famous authors who were said to be obsessed with this case (Vonnegut even wrote a story of it for Life Magazine), but the connection felt a little bit forced and random to me. The more fictionalized parts, dialogue especially, were often cringe-inducing, and to be honest, I felt like all the female victims were made to feel a little ditzy or outright dumb. Even so, I’m glad I read this one, and it was a good segue into the spookier reads I plan to read this fall!
As someone who loves Provincetown & true crime, I was looking forward to reading this one. It was jarring to read about some of the restaurants and bars I’ve been to with a new, sinister lens as places Tony where met his victims rather than places where I embarrassed myself by singing bad karaoke. The investigative journalism was thorough and impressive, and Casey Sherman really places the reader into the scene, whether it was through witness statements or by describing the setting in excellent detail (like the creepy ancient cemetery where he disemboweled and buried many of his victims’ body parts).
But I didn’t love this one overall. Sherman weaves together the story of Tony with Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut, two of Ptown’s most famous authors who were said to be obsessed with this case (Vonnegut even wrote a story of it for Life Magazine), but the connection felt a little bit forced and random to me. The more fictionalized parts, dialogue especially, were often cringe-inducing, and to be honest, I felt like all the female victims were made to feel a little ditzy or outright dumb. Even so, I’m glad I read this one, and it was a good segue into the spookier reads I plan to read this fall!
ladyleigh's review
I don’t care about the author storylines. Just give me the true crime ugh
loveisforthenerds's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
3.5
I had never heard of this case before. The case is fascinating, but there was too much background noise about authors, etc. for my (personal) liking.