fairylightreads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Spoiler
As someone whose halls flat walls were made of one long crawlspace I'm very glad I didn't read it until 6 years after I moved out of halls
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
sarahmae531's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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 couldn’t put this book down! Between conflicting recounts and juicy teenage drama, I kept coming back for more.
The ending was set up perfectly. I was so sure I knew what was going to happen because it all seemed so obvious, but then I was proven SO wrong. The true ending was also well explained and you weren’t left wondering “how does that all add up??”
The book also did an amazing job of not breaking the fourth wall. Editor, publisher, and author notes included in the book are all fiction. There is a character in the book that’s shares the name and title of a debut novel as the author. Emails, photos, and even a Facebook post are included. It was very impressive.
I will say, check content warnings before reading, this has almost every traumatizing thing you can think of.
The ending was set up perfectly. I was so sure I knew what was going to happen because it all seemed so obvious, but then I was proven SO wrong. The true ending was also well explained and you weren’t left wondering “how does that all add up??”
The book also did an amazing job of not breaking the fourth wall. Editor, publisher, and author notes included in the book are all fiction. There is a character in the book that’s shares the name and title of a debut novel as the author. Emails, photos, and even a Facebook post are included. It was very impressive.
I will say, check content warnings before reading, this has almost every traumatizing thing you can think of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Death, Violence, Self harm, Stalking, Kidnapping, Murder, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy, Cancer, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
themomwithabook's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.5
Review of True Crime Story by Joseph Knox:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
On December 17, 2011, Manchester University student Zoe Nolan, walked out of a party and was never seen again. Seven years later, author Evelyn Mitchell begins interviewing those closest to Zoe. The interviews highlight some of the inconsistencies in everyones stories but also shed light on a secret life and a side of Zoe that not everyone knew. To help parse out her story, Evelyn reaches out to true crime writer Joseph Knox, in the hopes that he can help her make sense of all the material she has gathered and try to solve Zoe’s mysterious disappearance once and for all.
Ok first of all - if you’re going to read this book I suggest listening to it. It’s an unconventional narrative that worked and what an experience it was! Each character has a different narrator so that, mixed with the overlapping and contradicting interviews, make it feel like you’re listening to a podcast. The author even inserted himself into the actual story which had me questioning everything and it’s that right there, that was the true ingenuity of it all. I spent far too much time going down a rabbit hole that led to nowhere because Zoe Nolan doesn’t actually exist yet the book feels like she did. I’m still not entirely convinced that she doesn’t exist - that’s how authentic this book felt. Knox created a complex thriller that blends fact and fiction and tossed in a slew of suspicious, unreliable (and unlikeable) characters - I truly did not see the twist coming in the end. I was so absorbed in the story and so caught up with the realness of it all that I just couldn’t put it down; couldn’t even flesh out fact and fiction - that’s what’s most wild to me!
Albeit late in my review, thanks to @LibroFM [#partner] for gifting me with an advanced listeners copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Kidnapping
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
madimairee's review
dark
mysterious
slow-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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Cursing
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, and Suicide attempt
novabooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
soobooksalot's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.5
True Crime Story is written in the style it's title implies.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebook/Landmark for the eARC for review.
Author Joseph Knox creates a world resembling real life, with fictional author Evelyn Mitchell taking on the case of missing college co-ed Zoe Nolan. Evelyn's information-gathering is supplemented by Joseph's investigation notes, turning the author into a character. Editor and author notes, character photos and redacted correspondence are included throughout.
The story is presented as statements from acquaintances and family members of Zoe, as part of the investigation of her whereabouts.
The writing is solid and the format engaging. I did find the story became unfocused and ran long at times, but overall an interesting premise on the traditional missing person story.
Recommended for something different!
Released on Dec. 7.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebook/Landmark for the eARC for review.
Author Joseph Knox creates a world resembling real life, with fictional author Evelyn Mitchell taking on the case of missing college co-ed Zoe Nolan. Evelyn's information-gathering is supplemented by Joseph's investigation notes, turning the author into a character. Editor and author notes, character photos and redacted correspondence are included throughout.
The story is presented as statements from acquaintances and family members of Zoe, as part of the investigation of her whereabouts.
The writing is solid and the format engaging. I did find the story became unfocused and ran long at times, but overall an interesting premise on the traditional missing person story.
Recommended for something different!
Released on Dec. 7.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual content
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
amym84's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
In 2011, Zoe Nolan disappeared from her dormitory in Manchester. The case went cold, and now years later author Evelyn Mitchell has decided to pick up the story, trying to shed some new light on Zoe by interviewing friends, family, police. After hitting a seemingly dead end, Evelyn decides to send her progress to fellow author Joseph Knox in hopes that he'll be able to give some good angles on where she can go next with the story.
But as Joseph immerses himself within Zoe's story, the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur.
I really enjoyed the idea of breaking the fourth wall so to speak. Joseph Knox blurs the lines between truth and fiction and brings the reader along for the ride. It's really clever and drives the story forward. I think it's a perfect commentary on our near-obsession with true crime with the number of docuseries and podcasts around, almost anyone can reach the status of armchair detective. Joseph Knox plays upon this excellently.
I really like the oral history format of the story. It really enhances the idea of the supposed reality of the story. I've read other books that have utilized this technique and it's one that makes me want to listen to the audiobook as I feel like that's the closest way to really convey the idea of someone being interviewed.
The story itself unfolds at a languid pace. I liked how with all the different characters putting in their own version of events you don't know what, or who, to trust. Everyone has secrets and reasons for keeping or telling those secrets. It's just interesting to see the narrative changes as the various twists and turns are revealed. I think my only complaint is, at a certain point, I did feel like there were certain points where I felt like the information was being recycled over and over again without any forward momentum, but once we'd hit on a piece of information it would almost be like looking at the story again with a fresh set of eyes.
Without giving anything away, I also feel like Joseph Knox gives a satisfying ending. He clearly knows in True Crime Stories of any kind it's the resolution that people want to see, the answers. I don't think this one disappoints.
But as Joseph immerses himself within Zoe's story, the lines between fact and fiction begin to blur.
I really enjoyed the idea of breaking the fourth wall so to speak. Joseph Knox blurs the lines between truth and fiction and brings the reader along for the ride. It's really clever and drives the story forward. I think it's a perfect commentary on our near-obsession with true crime with the number of docuseries and podcasts around, almost anyone can reach the status of armchair detective. Joseph Knox plays upon this excellently.
I really like the oral history format of the story. It really enhances the idea of the supposed reality of the story. I've read other books that have utilized this technique and it's one that makes me want to listen to the audiobook as I feel like that's the closest way to really convey the idea of someone being interviewed.
The story itself unfolds at a languid pace. I liked how with all the different characters putting in their own version of events you don't know what, or who, to trust. Everyone has secrets and reasons for keeping or telling those secrets. It's just interesting to see the narrative changes as the various twists and turns are revealed. I think my only complaint is, at a certain point, I did feel like there were certain points where I felt like the information was being recycled over and over again without any forward momentum, but once we'd hit on a piece of information it would almost be like looking at the story again with a fresh set of eyes.
Without giving anything away, I also feel like Joseph Knox gives a satisfying ending. He clearly knows in True Crime Stories of any kind it's the resolution that people want to see, the answers. I don't think this one disappoints.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Kidnapping
travelseatsreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
First things first, after the initial few minutes of the book you're going to want to goggle it! Don't do it, just go with it and enjoy this ingenious masterpiece.
I don't want to say too much as a huge amount of the enjoyment of True Crime Story is trying to figure out what's actually going on. This need to know more persists from the first few lines to the final full stop.
Cleverly pieced together with interviews, emails and statements it kept my mind boggling right until the end. I listened to the audio version and it was hugely atmospheric. The interviews and statements even have that white noise and background interference you'd expect from tape recordings. I know some listeners found this irritating but it definitely added to the drama for me. I can also imagine this would work perfectly in text form and would love to dive into the snippets of emails and police statements so might even buy this for my shelf.
Murderinos, true crime fans and podcast fanatics, you will devour this and crime fiction fans equally will get trapped in it's twisty tangled web.
Read it or listen to it but you need to add it to your TBR pile now. I'm immediately adding Knox's other books to mine.
I don't want to say too much as a huge amount of the enjoyment of True Crime Story is trying to figure out what's actually going on. This need to know more persists from the first few lines to the final full stop.
Cleverly pieced together with interviews, emails and statements it kept my mind boggling right until the end. I listened to the audio version and it was hugely atmospheric. The interviews and statements even have that white noise and background interference you'd expect from tape recordings. I know some listeners found this irritating but it definitely added to the drama for me. I can also imagine this would work perfectly in text form and would love to dive into the snippets of emails and police statements so might even buy this for my shelf.
Murderinos, true crime fans and podcast fanatics, you will devour this and crime fiction fans equally will get trapped in it's twisty tangled web.
Read it or listen to it but you need to add it to your TBR pile now. I'm immediately adding Knox's other books to mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Trafficking, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Drug use
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