readingonfogo's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sanitakacuba's review against another edition
3.0
The book was not as thrilling as I hoped and I found the characters to be uninteresting for me. However, there is a dread that follows even after reading the book.
Overall - feels like Crime and Punishment but won't keep you on an edge.
Overall - feels like Crime and Punishment but won't keep you on an edge.
hannahsoothers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
joepyeweed's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book got in my head. I really felt the nonstop barrage of manipulation from Bruno. I think he could convince anyone to murder just by sheer persistence. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but I also couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Murder
acvwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
emcheym's review
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Murder
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
3.0
I really wavered between loving this book and being so bored with it. The start is marvelous, full of claustrophobic, grotesque energy. Every time we're in Bruno's head the prose sings - Highsmith seems to relish this gross and yet ridiculous, menacing yet naive character. Bruno is obviously meant to be gay and that is meant to be part of what makes him so loathsome (boy Highsmith had issues, I thought reading this, how strange and perhaps somewhat self-loathing). Bruno is horrifying good fun. Guy is in contrast quite tedious and as we increasingly spend time following Guy's exhausting and torturous twisting of logic and morality I got increasingly bored of Guy. This is a detective novel told from the perspective of the criminal, with Gerard the Columbo-esque figure orbiting in the second half.