_missal3x's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Self harm, and Alcohol
bryelle's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Abandonment, Body horror, Gaslighting, Murder, Torture, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Moderate: Ableism and Self harm
jen1804's review against another edition
- 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
⚠️Significant content warnings⚠️
The difference between Cole and Shaw is made obvious to the reader. Shaw is more impulsive, more gruesome, more aggressive with his victims and leaves remains behind. Cole is more meticulous, more refined, more secretive and gives nothing away.
It was really interesting, and also chilling, to read a book through the perspective of a sociopath, Cole’s thought processes, his coldness towards everything, his lack of empathy.
The book starts at an art show where both Cole and Shaw are showcasing work, jumping straight in with Cole thinking about Shaw’s most recent murder making the headlines.
Cole notices Mara for the first time when someone spills red wine on her white dress but she takes herself to the bathroom, tie dyes the rest of the garment with more wine and manages to turn the spillage into something beautiful. Shaw notices Cole looking at her and naturally decides to kidnap her and “gift” her to Cole, bound and bleeding, leaving her dying and vulnerable not far from the cave where Cole disposes of his victims. (Yeah I know, pretty fucked up.) After Cole is done with his kill of the night he comes across Mara in his path. He knows it’s Shaw messing with him, offering the girl from the art show for him to kill. Cole has never killed a woman before and disturbingly he just stares at Mara for a while before simply stepping over her and walking away, leaving her to bleed out. But Mara is stronger than either Cole or Shaw thought because she uses her survival instincts to get out of the situation, find her way to a road and she somehow survives, albeit with some deep scars.
Thus ensues Cole’s obsession with Mara. He stalks her, breaks into her property, man handles her things. Rents the place next door so he can watch through her window. He sets it up so that Mara is offered studio space at his studio, something she’s elated about because she’s in desperate need of art space. But when they meet she recognises his face as the man who stood over her watching her die in the woods and then walked away. But Mara’s probably a little bit fucked up as well. I mean case and point she very easily returned to normal after said kidnapping. Whereas if that had been me I think I’d be a broken woman for a very long time. She’s had a traumatic childhood and every instinct which tells her to run and be afraid of Cole Blackwell, she ignores, obviously. She’s stubborn and we are rewarded with a tense back and forth between Mara and Cole, each trying to get under the other’s skin.
Ultimately they find themselves attracted to each other and Cole is confused about what’s happening when he starts experiencing jealousy whenever Mara has ‘interactions’ shall we say with other guys. What begins to unfold is some rare tender moments between them as well as a deep lust and Cole’s overprotective need to keep her safe from Shaw. There’s no fully fledged love yet but this book is part of a duet and I suspect their ‘relationship’ will develop in the second book, likely with Mara ending up a little murderous herself, and tbh I’m here for it.
There’s honestly a lot to love about this book. It’s fascinating and sometimes incredibly hot (yeah I probably need a therapist, whatever). But there’s also some scenes I could do without because they’re so dyer and so graphic (but hey this is a book about serial killers so what did I expect) and I’m also not in love with some of the smut either, sorry not sorry.
But overall yes a good read.
Satisfactory ending? Yes, a cliffhanger, onto book 2.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Murder, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Torture
gracereadseverything's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm so glad I finally decided to take the plunge tbh. She's kind of a badass. No, I take that back. She is a total badass. Sophie, I bow at your feet, girl. You managed to make me, a true crime junkie who can't stand when people romanticize killers, to somehow love a full-on serial killer??? Granted, he's a lot better than his competitor. Listen to me, defending a murderer. Sophie, babe, what have you done to me?
Anyway, check your trigger warnings on this one, people. While it is a masterpiece, it is NOT for the faint of heart by any means.
AND there is a sequel or part two or whatever you want to call it. So if you liked this one, make sure to check out its companion There is No Devil. I haven't read her just yet, but I'm on my way and very ready for more.
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Body horror, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Stalking, Violence, and Self harm
dkgreads's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Murder, Torture, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Self harm
shaipanda's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Gore, Violence, Body horror, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Torture
Minor: Cannibalism
hannahlee98's review
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
lizslazylibrary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Addiction, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
katelorette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Self harm, Torture, Murder, Violence, and Blood
kathrinellis's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Stalking, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit