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ellieb_reads 's review for:
Bright Young Women
by Jessica Knoll
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book was a phenomenal read. The stories are told from the perspectives of a witness to one attack and a victim of another, and the book never gives the killer a name, just calling him The Defendant. I loved that the book centered the stories of the women instead of sensationalizing the serial killer. The reader is repeatedly reminded that The Defendant is nothing special - he’s not that smart, he’s not that charming, he’s not that good-looking. This book very effectively demonstrates how the fanfare surrounding murderers like Ted Bundy as brilliant and lethal serves primarily to excuse the men in law enforcement who ignore the women asking for their help. The story was full of infuriating examples of this, and I found it equal parts thriller and heartbreaker. I thought the writing was excellent, the pacing was great, and the characters were well-developed and easy to get invested in. Highly recommend this one, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Jessica Knoll.