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alyssagb's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia
shelleyrae's review
4.0
Double Lives is an engaging contemporary crime novel from Western Australian author Kate McCaffrey.
Looking for a way to boost her radio station’s ratings as well as her own profile, ambitious journalist Amy Reinehart pitches a weekly drive-time true crime podcast, with a difference. The investigation will delve into a case that has already been resolved but about which questions remain, and the show will be broadcast live, encouraging audience contributions.
“Hi, I’m Amy Rhinehart and I’m the presenter of Strange Crime, a live broadcast and podcast on Radio Western every Wednesday at 5 p.m. Season One is called Double Lives and examines the Jonah Scott murder of Casey Williams.”
The case Amy settles on is one that has several elements that she’s sure will capture the interest of her audience. After the victim of a savage stabbing attack, later identified as Casey Williams, was found floating in a river, her nineteen year old boyfriend of ten months, Jonah Scott confessed to the murder. He subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The only explanation Jonah ever offered for the crime was that he snapped when he discovered, during an intimate moment, that Casey was transgender, but for Amy, both Jonah’s claim, and his refusal to mount a defence, doesn’t add up.
Amy, and her assistant Sarah, dig eagerly into the case, interviewing related principles including the case detective, the family and friends of Casey, Jonah, and his father, the leader of a small cult calling itself The Brethren of the Word. Though she’s sworn to present only the truth, Amy begins to believe Jonah could be innocent and her professional veneer slips, revealing a personal connection to the issues involved in the case.
“People are anthologies of stories, mosaics made up of minor events, small truths that constitute who we are, what we believe in, the way we live.”
Double Lives is a thoughtful and sensitive exploration of identity, advocating for acceptance and tolerance. The theme of duality is represented in Amy’s past and present, Casey’s gender dysphoria, Jonah’s crime, and the Brethren’s ideology. Truth, particularly our individual relationship to it, is also examined. The author also touches on issues such as media bias and journalistic ethics, especially as it intersects with criminal cases.
I thought the structure of the novel worked well, with the narrative shifting between prose and show transcripts. The pacing is good, though I felt the ending was perhaps a little abrupt, though that could be attributed to it being quite a short book.
Well written, Double Lives is an astute, interesting and absorbing novel.
Looking for a way to boost her radio station’s ratings as well as her own profile, ambitious journalist Amy Reinehart pitches a weekly drive-time true crime podcast, with a difference. The investigation will delve into a case that has already been resolved but about which questions remain, and the show will be broadcast live, encouraging audience contributions.
“Hi, I’m Amy Rhinehart and I’m the presenter of Strange Crime, a live broadcast and podcast on Radio Western every Wednesday at 5 p.m. Season One is called Double Lives and examines the Jonah Scott murder of Casey Williams.”
The case Amy settles on is one that has several elements that she’s sure will capture the interest of her audience. After the victim of a savage stabbing attack, later identified as Casey Williams, was found floating in a river, her nineteen year old boyfriend of ten months, Jonah Scott confessed to the murder. He subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The only explanation Jonah ever offered for the crime was that he snapped when he discovered, during an intimate moment, that Casey was transgender, but for Amy, both Jonah’s claim, and his refusal to mount a defence, doesn’t add up.
Amy, and her assistant Sarah, dig eagerly into the case, interviewing related principles including the case detective, the family and friends of Casey, Jonah, and his father, the leader of a small cult calling itself The Brethren of the Word. Though she’s sworn to present only the truth, Amy begins to believe Jonah could be innocent and her professional veneer slips, revealing a personal connection to the issues involved in the case.
“People are anthologies of stories, mosaics made up of minor events, small truths that constitute who we are, what we believe in, the way we live.”
Double Lives is a thoughtful and sensitive exploration of identity, advocating for acceptance and tolerance. The theme of duality is represented in Amy’s past and present, Casey’s gender dysphoria, Jonah’s crime, and the Brethren’s ideology. Truth, particularly our individual relationship to it, is also examined. The author also touches on issues such as media bias and journalistic ethics, especially as it intersects with criminal cases.
I thought the structure of the novel worked well, with the narrative shifting between prose and show transcripts. The pacing is good, though I felt the ending was perhaps a little abrupt, though that could be attributed to it being quite a short book.
Well written, Double Lives is an astute, interesting and absorbing novel.
indoorg1rl's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I flew through this book. The podcast format featuring the interview transcripts made for a lighter book (albeit the heavy topics), and it was very easy to follow.
Amy Rhinehart as an ambitious journalist was a likeable character. I got her drive and ambition, and I understood her determination to prove Jonah’s innocence because that was what she believed in and she always went in with a passion. I also really liked Sarah, the sidekick character, as she tried to follow in Amy’s footsteps in journalism. Her background story was a nice surprise to me.
The premise of this book was very intriguing. I’m not usually a fan of any story involving a cult, but I didn’t mind the inclusion of it in this book at all. I also really appreciated the gender identity storyline and social commentaries.
The only thing I wished for more was depth. I would’ve loved more chapters on Amy’s inner monologues, how she processed each information she received, and how they impacted her behaviour. The book was a bit too short for my liking, and I found the podcast episodes quite repetitive.
Having said that, as I got closer to the end, I got more sucked in and couldn’t stop turning the pages - I struggled to stop reading to do chores!
I’m going to finish this review with a quote from the author. When asked about the significance of the book title, McCaffrey said in Mrs B’s Book Reviews blog:
“I think it operates on many levels: Amy, the protagonist is living a double life, as is Jonah, where Casey was probably the only character living her authentic life. I think many people present a face to the world that is perhaps not reflective of the inner “them”. “
(Thanks to DMCPR Media and Echo Publishing for a #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
Amy Rhinehart as an ambitious journalist was a likeable character. I got her drive and ambition, and I understood her determination to prove Jonah’s innocence because that was what she believed in and she always went in with a passion. I also really liked Sarah, the sidekick character, as she tried to follow in Amy’s footsteps in journalism. Her background story was a nice surprise to me.
The premise of this book was very intriguing. I’m not usually a fan of any story involving a cult, but I didn’t mind the inclusion of it in this book at all. I also really appreciated the gender identity storyline and social commentaries.
The only thing I wished for more was depth. I would’ve loved more chapters on Amy’s inner monologues, how she processed each information she received, and how they impacted her behaviour. The book was a bit too short for my liking, and I found the podcast episodes quite repetitive.
Having said that, as I got closer to the end, I got more sucked in and couldn’t stop turning the pages - I struggled to stop reading to do chores!
I’m going to finish this review with a quote from the author. When asked about the significance of the book title, McCaffrey said in Mrs B’s Book Reviews blog:
“I think it operates on many levels: Amy, the protagonist is living a double life, as is Jonah, where Casey was probably the only character living her authentic life. I think many people present a face to the world that is perhaps not reflective of the inner “them”. “
(Thanks to DMCPR Media and Echo Publishing for a #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)