Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community by Justin Ling

4 reviews

annamercado19's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Ling masterfully balances giving an honest, open account of what truly happened during these gruesome events while also honoring every victim and loved one he speaks about. Ling remains empathetic and genuine throughout the entire book, which is refreshing considering today's dark fascination with true crime. He cares passionately and openly. Ling rightfully calls for us to do better in the future: to work towards a true queer community, for the reform of law enforcement and the righting of systemic wrongs, and to build a bridge between us together.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Stalking, and Deportation

ruthlessreads's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

5.0

This is one of the best, most thoughtfully done true crime books I've ever read. Ling takes great care to represent the victims honestly and to include interviews and permissions from family members. He also discusses the exploitative nature of true crime, as a genre, and the ways in which telling the stories of crimes against & within marginalized communities is valuable. 

Using over 5 years of research, the author outlines how a serial killer hunted & killed members of Toronto's queer community, how that community responded, and the egregious mismanagement of these cases by local police. He also humanizes the victims, providing a window into their lives through the interviews of their family & friends. This account of loss, grief, and systemic discrimination against race, gender, and sexuality speaks to current societal issues while also highlighting the real human cost of failed policing & marginalization of personal identities.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Alcohol, Classism, and Deportation

librarymouse's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

This book was written with tact and empathy for the victims and their families. The author made sure to seek the help of those whose loved ones he was working to memorialize, to ensure that the attempt at enshrining them wasn't instead causing harm. Missing from the Village addresses issues of community, and the explores the amorphous idea that community exists inherently among people who share a marginalized identity. The book calls into question the organization and priorities of the Toronto police, and offers solutions to the issues inherent in how the current system treats cases outside of the purview of general policing, especially missing persons cases. These issues allowed a killer to slip away from punishment for decades. Despite living in an area of the United States that is close to Canada, I don't have much more than a cursory insight into Canadian social issues and politics, and I'm astounded by the policing, harassment, and profiling issues that still plague queer and other marginalized populations.
I'm glad to have read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Deportation

Minor: Gun violence

notthatlibrarian's review

dark emotional informative slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, and Stalking

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Forced institutionalization

Some of the victims were not out as queer at the time of their death and were outed during the investigation. Although many details of their lives are public record, it is still uncomfortable at times to read about, knowing they cannot give consent. Although the information related to the victims is handled sensitively, and the case is not sensationalized, it is difficult to read about certain events and details regarding the case without major discomfort.