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A review by becandbooks
IM by Rick R. Reed
3.0
Trigger warnings:
Okay, first thing's first. This is a book in which many gay men die.
I know this is something that some LGBTQIA+ readers find upsetting, particularly as the sole plot device of the book. If so, this book isn't for you. I am unsure where my feeling exactly land in this dilemma. But as Reed is a predominantly LGBTQIA+ author, I see no harm from the outset personally.
This is all I will say on this discussion throughout this review.
I love messed up, gory, creepy characters. Or I love hating them at least. And this is where Reed got me hooked in this story.
Reed's development of Timothy Bright, our main creepo & serial killer, was a fascinating character. There are some pretty graphic scenes with him, so just a heads up if this isn't your thing. And while the character certainly wasn't fleshed out as much as I would have liked and there something a little thrown-together about his eventual backstory, I did enjoy him as a character.
Our other characters - namingly, our MC, Ed, and his love interest, Peter? Left me a little wanting. The relationship was very insta-romance, which didn't fit the story at all. And Eds entire career situation is riddled with plot holes.
The story itself, while mostly enjoyable, was fairly generic as far as a serial killer plot goes. I guessed the twist about a third of the way in and it wasn't anything special. IM is a quick to digest book but by the second half I was pretty underwhelmed.
If you want something quick to jump through and a creepy-as-all-heck antagonist - maybe you should check this out. Just don't be hoping for a gob-smacking plot ending to write home about.
Spoiler
murder, violence, body mutilation, pedophilia, sexual assault, necrophilia, child/domestic abuse & neglectOkay, first thing's first. This is a book in which many gay men die.
I know this is something that some LGBTQIA+ readers find upsetting, particularly as the sole plot device of the book. If so, this book isn't for you. I am unsure where my feeling exactly land in this dilemma. But as Reed is a predominantly LGBTQIA+ author, I see no harm from the outset personally.
This is all I will say on this discussion throughout this review.
I love messed up, gory, creepy characters. Or I love hating them at least. And this is where Reed got me hooked in this story.
Reed's development of Timothy Bright, our main creepo & serial killer, was a fascinating character. There are some pretty graphic scenes with him, so just a heads up if this isn't your thing. And while the character certainly wasn't fleshed out as much as I would have liked and there something a little thrown-together about his eventual backstory, I did enjoy him as a character.
Our other characters - namingly, our MC, Ed, and his love interest, Peter? Left me a little wanting. The relationship was very insta-romance, which didn't fit the story at all. And Eds entire career situation is riddled with plot holes.
The story itself, while mostly enjoyable, was fairly generic as far as a serial killer plot goes. I guessed the twist about a third of the way in and it wasn't anything special. IM is a quick to digest book but by the second half I was pretty underwhelmed.
If you want something quick to jump through and a creepy-as-all-heck antagonist - maybe you should check this out. Just don't be hoping for a gob-smacking plot ending to write home about.
Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.
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Happy reading! ❤