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sophiemoony's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
princessxnicole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
margrethe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder
memydogandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
SYNOPSIS:
"An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can."
MY THOUGHTS:
🧍🏻♂️ From the very beginning this starts with the brutal discovery of a murdered boy, which is dark and graphic (and thus not for everyone) from the outset. But it gripped me as I am a HUGE fan of dark dark thrillers.
🧍🏻♂️ The first part of this book feels like a disturbing crime thriller and then in true King style takes a twist you may/may not expect pending if you've ever read King before. I mean I never expected the twist per se but the kinda twist wasn't a surprise.
🧍🏻♂️ I LOVED the two main characters Holly* (from Mr. Mercedes/Bill Hodges Trilogy) and the investigating officer, Ralph, they made a great duo in this thriller.
🧍🏻♂️King's writing, I LOVE it, love it, love it. He has an outstanding ability to write about human nature that I connect with whilst often always having social commentary. As well as just his ability to write about normal day-to-day life in a captivating way.
🧍🏻♂️ In this book the social commentary is very much about our quick-to-judge society, and to believe the unbelievable as it's even more believable than... (well I cannot say! that would be a spoiler).
🧍🏻♂️ This book is dark, unsettling, disturbing, and horrifying but utterly gripping, poignant, with amazing characters and I could not put it down.
I highly recommend this book if you love dark thrillers (like Karin Slaughter's dark) but with a twist and have enjoyed books/movies like IT.
I also highly recommend the HBO tv adaptation of this, it's brilliant.
*This book contains spoilers to the Bill Hodges Trilogy due to the fact one of the key characters in this series (Holly) features. Also sooooo excited to know that King's new book this year is all about Holly as she is an awesome character.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Murder
ccpetrikas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Murder
bartlebies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
mswarning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Cannibalism
our_bookish_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
occultmorning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Torture
soshereads_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Mental illness, Vomit, and Dementia