reading2escape's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
5.0
jackiesreadingjourney's review against another edition
5.0
“I don’t get how we can almost unanimously agree that Murder is wrong, yet when it comes to rape some people still see shades of grey.”
1 in every 6 American women have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted. This isn’t fiction, this is reality and the way this author wrote about this topic was powerful.
This book dives deep into the chilling realities of sexual assault, drawing inspiration from the infamous Brock Turner case. There's a parallel narrative featuring two rape victims—one from the past, and the other at a current trial attended by our main character, Rachel.
Rachel hosts a popular podcast where she lets her listeners decide guilt or innocence. As she arrives in a small town to cover the trial, strange occurrences start to connect the present case to an older one. I couldn't help but be reminded of Pip from "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder." Listening to the audiobook was a treat, with extra sound effects adding to the suspense.
Overall, this dark story is a powerful reflection of how rape is handled in America. Megan Goldin seamlessly incorporates her own commentary on trials and the re-traumatization of rape victims on the stand. It's not just an opinion; she taps into the shared feelings of many American women.
While fiction, this book easily could have been real, drawing disturbing parallels to the Brock Turner case. It raises crucial questions about our justice system, where victims often have to prove their own truth. Trials retraumatize survivors, all for the sake of clearing the accused. No wonder many victims don't report or go through with trials.
The narrative hits close to home, reminding us of the discomfort, fear, and worse that countless women face daily. It left me upset, infuriated, and haunted by its relatability. Let's keep wishing for a justice system that supports survivors and a world where everyone unequivocally condemns rape.
With all that said, this book deserves a solid 5 stars. The writing is fantastic, and the plot twists genuinely shocked me. If you can handle it, I highly recommend experiencing it through the gripping audiobook.
1 in every 6 American women have been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted. This isn’t fiction, this is reality and the way this author wrote about this topic was powerful.
This book dives deep into the chilling realities of sexual assault, drawing inspiration from the infamous Brock Turner case. There's a parallel narrative featuring two rape victims—one from the past, and the other at a current trial attended by our main character, Rachel.
Rachel hosts a popular podcast where she lets her listeners decide guilt or innocence. As she arrives in a small town to cover the trial, strange occurrences start to connect the present case to an older one. I couldn't help but be reminded of Pip from "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder." Listening to the audiobook was a treat, with extra sound effects adding to the suspense.
Overall, this dark story is a powerful reflection of how rape is handled in America. Megan Goldin seamlessly incorporates her own commentary on trials and the re-traumatization of rape victims on the stand. It's not just an opinion; she taps into the shared feelings of many American women.
While fiction, this book easily could have been real, drawing disturbing parallels to the Brock Turner case. It raises crucial questions about our justice system, where victims often have to prove their own truth. Trials retraumatize survivors, all for the sake of clearing the accused. No wonder many victims don't report or go through with trials.
The narrative hits close to home, reminding us of the discomfort, fear, and worse that countless women face daily. It left me upset, infuriated, and haunted by its relatability. Let's keep wishing for a justice system that supports survivors and a world where everyone unequivocally condemns rape.
With all that said, this book deserves a solid 5 stars. The writing is fantastic, and the plot twists genuinely shocked me. If you can handle it, I highly recommend experiencing it through the gripping audiobook.
emilyrosemoss's review against another edition
4.0
So good! Entertaining while also highlighting the traumas of a rape trial. Brings awareness without feeling contrived or preachy.
jordieboom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kappareads's review against another edition
DNF @ 14%
I tried, I really did. I wanted to enjoy what wouldve been one of my first adult non-domestic thriller, but I couldn't. So much dialogue didn't sound like a person would say it; it was just off enugh to irk me. The three narrators confused me too, considering one of them is the murdered victims sister, one is the podcast host, and one is the podcast. Why would you need a different voice for podcast and podcast host?? Plus these letters from the victim's sister don't make sense in context. As prose theyre fine but as an argument to take on the case? Absolute bull
I tried, I really did. I wanted to enjoy what wouldve been one of my first adult non-domestic thriller, but I couldn't. So much dialogue didn't sound like a person would say it; it was just off enugh to irk me. The three narrators confused me too, considering one of them is the murdered victims sister, one is the podcast host, and one is the podcast. Why would you need a different voice for podcast and podcast host?? Plus these letters from the victim's sister don't make sense in context. As prose theyre fine but as an argument to take on the case? Absolute bull
kylanatale's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely incredible! I listened to this on audio and was immediately sucked into the story! I love the addition of the podcast and how it sounds like a true crime podcast. This story was heartbreaking, raw, and I highly recommend looking up trigger warnings first as this book covers a lot of topics like rape & sexual assault. That aside I really enjoyed this especially because it felt so real. My only fault is that there were a lot of characters as we are unpacking 2 cases at once. I felt like I needed a white board and red string to connect it all at the end.
ggould5's review against another edition
4.0
This book was interesting and suspenseful but it made me extremely sad. That’s a testament to the quality of writing to evoke such strong emotions. Worth the read, but definitely more of a drama than a thriller. The thriller part kind of loses its wind midway through. The book tried to do a couple too many things at once. I do recommend, but look up the trigger warnings and don’t read this when it’s just not a good time to be sad.
lisabooksit's review against another edition
4.0
Great read! Only thing that kept it from the 5 is that I didn't see how the bad guy was appropriately tied to it and little kid Hannah was a huge brat that led to some horrific things happening. Other than that, great thriller with 2 crimes to follow!
dadu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Rachel Krall is headed to Neapolis, a small town on the coast where a headline-grabbing trial is about to take place. A local golden boy, a swimmer, stands accused of raping a young girl following a party. Rachel is the brains behind a true crime podcast which has been very popular in its first two seasons & she needs a new format for the third season: a live trial. Rachel will be at the court so her listeners can follow the case in real time & decide for themselves: guilty or not guilty. At a rest stop on the way there, Rachel returns to her car to find a note on the windscreen asking for her help. The note is from Hannah & she wants Rachel to help her find out what really happened to her sister twenty five years earlier.
This was a difficult book to read. Not because it's badly written but I found the subject matter harrowing. The narrative is told from Rachel's point of view but we also get Hannah's view of what happened all those years ago in the form of letters to Rachel. Both storylines look at the price that women & girls pay when it comes to sexual assault. Rachel asks a pertinent question about why murder & rape are viewed so differently - people tend not to argue a murder victim "asked for it" but the same doesn't apply to sexual assault. Why? Does a victim have to be dead before they can get justice? With conviction rates at an all time low this is a well-written, timely read but a difficult one.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
This was a difficult book to read. Not because it's badly written but I found the subject matter harrowing. The narrative is told from Rachel's point of view but we also get Hannah's view of what happened all those years ago in the form of letters to Rachel. Both storylines look at the price that women & girls pay when it comes to sexual assault. Rachel asks a pertinent question about why murder & rape are viewed so differently - people tend not to argue a murder victim "asked for it" but the same doesn't apply to sexual assault. Why? Does a victim have to be dead before they can get justice? With conviction rates at an all time low this is a well-written, timely read but a difficult one.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Canelo, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide