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A review by litwithleigh
The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard
5.0
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
THE PLOT
Eve Black was 12 years old when The Nothing Man popped up and murked her entire family. 17 odd years later, Black is back with a memoir-ish novel dedicated to finding this mystery man. Jim Doyle, The Nothing Man IRL, is reading along to see what Black remembers, and how close she gets to the truth.
MY OPINION
May the real Nothing Man please stand up? I love a book told from the POV of the bad guy, especially when it's as well done as Jim Doyle's character. His background, current life, behaviours (oh Canada spelling), and motives all make sense. It's not too far fetched; it's perfectly plausible that Jim's character could reflect a real life serial killer (hopefully not, though).
This is the first book I've read with a book within a book, and I actually enjoyed it. I can see how everyone might not enjoy Eve's writing style, but I liked how she recounted the other victim's stories. It was engaging, and the right amount of juicy juice to keep me interested. Also, major creep factor.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: creepy AF, well-paced, quick read.
Cons: TBH, it's not really a psychological thriller... You know who did it. The only question is, how will it end? So if you're looking for a mystery read that keeps you guessing the motives of the characters and how it all comes together, this isn't for you.
THE PLOT
Eve Black was 12 years old when The Nothing Man popped up and murked her entire family. 17 odd years later, Black is back with a memoir-ish novel dedicated to finding this mystery man. Jim Doyle, The Nothing Man IRL, is reading along to see what Black remembers, and how close she gets to the truth.
MY OPINION
May the real Nothing Man please stand up? I love a book told from the POV of the bad guy, especially when it's as well done as Jim Doyle's character. His background, current life, behaviours (oh Canada spelling), and motives all make sense. It's not too far fetched; it's perfectly plausible that Jim's character could reflect a real life serial killer (hopefully not, though).
This is the first book I've read with a book within a book, and I actually enjoyed it. I can see how everyone might not enjoy Eve's writing style, but I liked how she recounted the other victim's stories. It was engaging, and the right amount of juicy juice to keep me interested. Also, major creep factor.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: creepy AF, well-paced, quick read.
Cons: TBH, it's not really a psychological thriller... You know who did it. The only question is, how will it end? So if you're looking for a mystery read that keeps you guessing the motives of the characters and how it all comes together, this isn't for you.