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A review by kandicez
The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr
3.0
Cora Bender just murdered a stranger, with a pairing knife, in the middle of the afternoon at a crowded beach. She is now being held in custody while questioned. What on earth would make this sweet, kind, soft-spoken young wife and mother do such a crazy thing? The leading detective senses that there’s more to the story that Cora is feeding him… This is a "why dunnit" as opposed to the more traditional "who dunnit."
Cora is a liar and untrustworthy, which makes this book tricky, considering 75% of the book is told from her POV, between past and present. There were times I wanted to shake her. Especially when you realize that some of the flashbacks to hold in her perspective are also elaborated.
But once you get to the meat of book, you start to understand that Cora’s version of the truth is severely distorted and damaged because of psychological trauma. It’s quite fascinating, actually. The human brain will go to no ends to protect itself, even if that includes creating an entirely made up version of reality.
Unfortunately, because of the television series, I knew why, so didn't care very much by the time I got almost halfway in the book. I just didn't like Cora, so had little sympathy.
Cora is a liar and untrustworthy, which makes this book tricky, considering 75% of the book is told from her POV, between past and present. There were times I wanted to shake her. Especially when you realize that some of the flashbacks to hold in her perspective are also elaborated.
But once you get to the meat of book, you start to understand that Cora’s version of the truth is severely distorted and damaged because of psychological trauma. It’s quite fascinating, actually. The human brain will go to no ends to protect itself, even if that includes creating an entirely made up version of reality.
Unfortunately, because of the television series, I knew why, so didn't care very much by the time I got almost halfway in the book. I just didn't like Cora, so had little sympathy.