jennabeck13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
About 375 pages
In the 1970s, a serial killer terrorized women across the United States. At first, it was all on the West Coast which was why the sorority sisters at Florida State University never felt at risk. As a result, they were shocked when he terrorized their house one night. He seriously injured two sisters and murdered two others. Crazy, right? What is crazier is that Pamela saw him as he escaped the house and lived to tell the tale. As a key witness in the case, she is getting a ton of attention from the police and the media which is how Tina finds her. Tina’s friend, Ruth, went missing years ago and she believes the same man is responsible. In an effort to take him down, Pamela and Tina team up to find the truth that everyone else seems to be glossing over.
Jessica Knoll’s writing style is chef’s kiss👌🏽 It pulls you in and I couldn’t put this book down. Though it was not as twisty as Luckiest Girl Alive, the characters made this story. I loved hearing from Ruth's (a victim) and Pamela’s (a survivor) perspectives, as well as how their lives intersected even though these two women never met. Both women were strong, fierce, and determined, which made me admire them throughout. I really liked how Knoll gave attention to and glorified the women affected by Ted Bundy rather than to Bundy himself, as the media has done for years. It was also interesting to hear the differences in the way media influenced a criminal case back in the 70s compared to today and how the media glorified Bundy in a way at the time.
Favorite Quote: “No one tells you that the truest stories are the messy, unwieldy ones, that you will be tempted to trim in the places that make people scratch their heads and pad the parts where they lean in closer. It takes fortitude to remain a true and constant witness, and I did.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence
jillwedemeier's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
On a Saturday night in 1978, a soon-to-be-infamous murderer descends upon a Florida sorority house, killing two young women and severely injuring two others. The lives of those who survive, including sorority president and key witness Pamela Schumacher, are forever changed. Across the country in Issaquah, Washington, Tina Cannon is convinced that her missing friend was murdered by the same person four years ago. Determined to find justice, the two women join forces as their search for answers leads to a final, shocking confrontation.
I went into this book blind, and WOW, I am so glad I did. I feel like it's wrong to say I loved this book, given the nature of it, but I did. The story is told from the points of view of Pamela, a key witness in the Florida murders, and Ruth, a victim in Washington, with dual timelines switching from the 1970s to present day. Although the characters are fictionalized, they are based on real victims and witnesses. In a world where serial killers are unfortunately sensationalized and idolized, I love that the author gave the women names and only referred to the perpetrator as "The Defendant." I knew who "The Defendant" was in the first chapter, but readers who aren't familiar with the case won't find out his name (and only his first name) until the end of the book. Just a brilliant and thought-provoking novel showcasing the tabloid fascination with killers and shining a light on the bright, young women whose names are often forgotten. I highly, highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element, S&S/Marysue Ricci Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
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