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beate251's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"I can't feel unless I'm killing. Then I feel everything."
This is book 2 in the 5 book Sweetpea series about serial killer and survivor of Priory Gardens crèche massacre Rhiannon Lewis. In the first book she killed and cut up her lover AJ, father of her unborn baby (amongst other people), and managed to frame her cheating boyfriend Craig for it.
Craig's parents Jim and Elaine take her and chihuahua Tink in as they think she's carrying their grandchild, and want to protect her from the reporters who hang around trying to get a good story from the girlfriend of a serial killer.
She still has a daily kill list of people who have annoyed her but it feels half-hearted. Truth is, Rhiannon is kind of subdued by being pregnant and her foetus talking to her, imploring her not to kill. Therefore she only manages a total of four kills, plus an assisted suicide.
So she tries to make friends with other Mums and soon-to-be Mums but apart from
Marnie she thinks they're all awful. Marnie's husband is a coercive controlling gaslighter and she tries to get her away from him to no avail.
You need a strong stomach for this book - the gory stuff often comes out of nowhere. She also swears like a whole ship full of sailors.
There is a good amount of dark humour in it like when Rhiannon complains how good murderers had it in the olden times and how difficult all the dismembering and fingerprint-hiding is.
While I still appreciate the narrative, this book was too pregnancy-centered for me. Rhiannon doesn't have a good pregnancy and we hear all about it. The little blighter doesn't even let her kill - every time I thought she was going to, she was threatened by her foetus. It was very frustrating and it's a miracle she got anything done.
Nevertheless, it's brilliantly written and I am starting book 3 right away to see what is next for our unhinged murderer. That's one drawback - none of the books in this series work well as a standalone so do me a favour and read them in order because they will start where the last book ended, with no time for a summary.
This is book 2 in the 5 book Sweetpea series about serial killer and survivor of Priory Gardens crèche massacre Rhiannon Lewis. In the first book she killed and cut up her lover AJ, father of her unborn baby (amongst other people), and managed to frame her cheating boyfriend Craig for it.
Craig's parents Jim and Elaine take her and chihuahua Tink in as they think she's carrying their grandchild, and want to protect her from the reporters who hang around trying to get a good story from the girlfriend of a serial killer.
She still has a daily kill list of people who have annoyed her but it feels half-hearted. Truth is, Rhiannon is kind of subdued by being pregnant and her foetus talking to her, imploring her not to kill. Therefore she only manages a total of four kills, plus an assisted suicide.
So she tries to make friends with other Mums and soon-to-be Mums but apart from
Marnie she thinks they're all awful. Marnie's husband is a coercive controlling gaslighter and she tries to get her away from him to no avail.
You need a strong stomach for this book - the gory stuff often comes out of nowhere. She also swears like a whole ship full of sailors.
There is a good amount of dark humour in it like when Rhiannon complains how good murderers had it in the olden times and how difficult all the dismembering and fingerprint-hiding is.
While I still appreciate the narrative, this book was too pregnancy-centered for me. Rhiannon doesn't have a good pregnancy and we hear all about it. The little blighter doesn't even let her kill - every time I thought she was going to, she was threatened by her foetus. It was very frustrating and it's a miracle she got anything done.
Nevertheless, it's brilliantly written and I am starting book 3 right away to see what is next for our unhinged murderer. That's one drawback - none of the books in this series work well as a standalone so do me a favour and read them in order because they will start where the last book ended, with no time for a summary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Grief
nicoleanaisx's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very unhinged. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
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