Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

130 reviews

gabs_parr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book, a fictionalized account from the survivor’s and victim’s perspectives, changes the zeitgeist of how we think and discuss Ted Bundy and similar serial killers. It is natural to have a fascination with these killers. This novel shifts our attention from the serial killer to the women affected by him. 

Every reference to how handsome, charming, cunning, or promising “The Defendant” was made me feel just as sick to my stomach as it has in real life when I’ve seen the same true remarks made about Bundy. This novel did not shy away from how hard women had to fight to be believed and how inadequate the media and law enforcement truly was when dealing with this case. Rather than admit to their wrong-doings, the authorities would rather spin a tale that Bundy was a mastermind of some kind, though his school records would indicate that he’s anything but… with this kind of misogyny and idiocy abound, it’s really a miracle he was ever convicted at all. In relation to the media portrayal, the character of Carl was really well done. He really showed that even amongst men who were supposed to be helpful friends, these women still faced an uphill battle of perception. 

I loved the way Knoll knitted the two main female character together using the Tina character. It was a brilliant throughline. And the side drama of Ruth wrestling with her sexuality and family life was an excellent addition to the story. Sexuality changed everything for Ruth. It was because of the rejection of her family and her fight with Tina about her family that she went to her father’s ceremony solo, thus ending up at the lake alone on that fateful day. Pamela was an extremely strong and lovable character. She is relatable, smart, confident, and incredibly brave. 

Something that I was really reminded of while reading this book is that women do not need to be nice to men. We do not owe men our time, our smiles, our attention, our help, nothing. If that makes us “bitches”, then so be it. It’s better to be an alive bitch than a dead nice lady. Ted Bundy was able to lure so many of his victims away because he made them feel bad for him and made them feel like they owed him help. They didn’t. 

This book is a must read for all fans of true crime, thrillers, or mysteries. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping

cgay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

erinjeanette's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Death of parent

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

stella_petit's review against another edition

dark informative reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Kidnapping

srutiramesh's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Grief

izzy_v's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I devoured this book — it might be the first book I ever re-read (it was that good and there were a bunch of details I might pick up on better the second time). 
I’m not usually a thriller/scary book fan and there were definitely very dark parts of the book but it wasn’t so graphic and detailed or suspenseful that it kept me up at night. I really enjoyed the tone shift away from glorifying the killer, and instead empowering the women involved. Really phenomenal, would read again (which I never say). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal cruelty, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Incest, and Death of parent

daralexandria's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Blood

Moderate: Kidnapping and Murder

Minor: Homophobia

iamsuchawitch's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 This book reframes Ted Bundy's crimes and places the victims and their loved ones at the forefront of the narrative. It's what true crime should look like. Focusing on the victims and the effects rather than questioning if the killer's mommy didn't hold them enough (some how the woman is always to blame) or if their father beat on them. This rights all the wrongs of how true crime glorifies killers. I do not think i could give this book high enough praise for its approach. If you aren't going through a rollercoaster of emotions reading this, then you aren't reading between the lines. Though if you are a woman or have an understanding of what is to be a girl and a woman in society you may find this book boils your blood and triggers you. That burn of passion you feel about injustices. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

sas_lk's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

Woah, where to even start. This is such an important novel. 
I am so so proud of being a woman, but wow do we have to fight for ourselves daily. In every corner, patriarchy tries to control women, set them back, label them as unreliable; as insane. 
In this novel, Knoll discusses the "true crime craze" and how it's low-key so messed up, and that instead of remembering the victims names, it's the murderer, the evil monster that killed them. How many of us know Ted Bundy's name but not his victims names? 
Knoll discusses how the media portrays this man, this serial killer as brilliant, handsome, a genius, when all he was, was a sick human being. Why is he admired? 
This was a I love women, women are amazing book, and screw inferior men that kill those who shine brighter than them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Rape