Scan barcode
kristinahreads's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Death of parent
annegrenier_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Loved the author’s creativity in the writing style. It contributed to make the story fast-paced as well as easily imaginable.
I must say that I was quite confused with all the characters at the beginning, since every "main" character were introduced at the same time, plus all the other people mentioned throughout. At first, I had to colour code the characters to remember who they were, which I normally do not do.
The cliffhangers were great and the ethical debate of it all was also quite interesting. However, I must admit that I had guessed who did what quite early in the book, and questioned why they didn’t. Of course, there are some things I was surprised with, but somehow, I am not surprised with the finale.
All in all, a good book.😊
I must say that I was quite confused with all the characters at the beginning, since every "main" character were introduced at the same time, plus all the other people mentioned throughout. At first, I had to colour code the characters to remember who they were, which I normally do not do.
The cliffhangers were great and the ethical debate of it all was also quite interesting. However, I must admit that I had guessed who did what quite early in the book, and questioned why they didn’t. Of course, there are some things I was surprised with, but somehow, I am not surprised with the finale.
All in all, a good book.😊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Racism
bea_reads_books's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Originally I expected to give this book three stars, because it seems to be trying to make a point about the way true crime media often re-traumatizes victims and crosses boundaries in the pursuit of sensationalism. However it did not do this well, and that aspect fell flat. I bumped off another half star about half way through because of the casual sprinklings of racism/copaganda and zionism throughout, but it was the last 15% of the book that really pissed me off and caused me to put it at 2 stars. The end of this book is so disgustingly ableist, makes absolutely no fucking sense, and heavily leans into the demonization of mental heath conditions/trauma. It reinforces the idea that trauma makes people violent to the point of senseless murder. I am so angry right now, the book had a really great ending all mapped out, a road it could’ve taken, and instead it did exactly the same nasty shit that true crime tv so often does (which is ironic considering the author seemed to be *trying* to make a point about that).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Blood, Dementia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Car accident
lizeylu's review against another edition
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
I felt like this book had so much potential to be super cool as the concept of “solving it before the experts” is a fun idea but wasn’t really applicable. There were so many plot twists which I can see is fun and keeps the story going but it’s impossible to predict as the twists are so far fetched.
Spoiler:
I felt like there wasn’t much information put into the actual story when we found out in the end so it ended up not feeling very solved. There were also so many loop holes and loose ends. The timings were also super confusing?? The show was recorded in May - July but broadcasted in October but somehow the audience was reacting to the story and somehow Ian Wilson was following the show in July even though it hadn’t been released yet?? Just not very clear and the mistakes really knock the fourth wall down. I also really disliked that all the experts were involved in some way, like I felt that a similar story could be really well done with unbiased experts. It just wasn’t necessary to the story to involve them imo.
Spoiler:
I felt like there wasn’t much information put into the actual story when we found out in the end so it ended up not feeling very solved. There were also so many loop holes and loose ends. The timings were also super confusing?? The show was recorded in May - July but broadcasted in October but somehow the audience was reacting to the story and somehow Ian Wilson was following the show in July even though it hadn’t been released yet?? Just not very clear and the mistakes really knock the fourth wall down. I also really disliked that all the experts were involved in some way, like I felt that a similar story could be really well done with unbiased experts. It just wasn’t necessary to the story to involve them imo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Suicide
whatmckennareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child abuse and Dementia
kirstenpod_'s review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Dementia, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Car accident, and Pregnancy
abigaelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
fengxin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
i adore books in an unusual formatting and this one delivered at every turn. the characterization was incredible and with a cast this wide it's a testament to the author's talent that they all managed to feel so real. i felt like i was watching an actual tv show, the way the forums and even spoiler free review articles were included made it even more so. the plot wasn't the greatest but the twists and the way they each were presented kept me absolutely hooked. i couldn't put this book down. the way the entire team was connected in some way to the story, i was losing my mind every time a new link was revealed. mitchell being a pedophile? god that one hurt i really liked him; and laila with the "did she love you?" pissed me off so bad. she was 15, he was 21, he should be in prison. as for the big reveal, i thought it was one of the sisters but for it to be guy? i was baffled. overall, a good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Mental illness, Racism, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Hate crime, and Car accident
monicalaurette's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This story intrigued me from the first time I heard the concept, following along with a true crime show and trying to find the killer first? I love it. I also love mix media books so it was a fun little read.
Following along with the case and all its turns almost gave me whiplash and I can safely say I was not able to find out the killer before the experts did...but then again they learned at the same time as me so they didn't really win either
I was so sure it was one of the sisters...never suspected it wasn't them once it was all coming to a close but it made so much sense
REBECCA NO lmao
Following along with the case and all its turns almost gave me whiplash and I can safely say I was not able to find out the killer before the experts did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship
kolee_c's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Rape, and Suicide