silkyyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Mass/school shootings, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Drug use, Animal cruelty, and Drug abuse
Minor: Vomit
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Torture, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Racism, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I’m tired of the crazed serial killer story. If there were as many serial killers as serial killer novels, there would be a huge dip in our population. The weakest part of the story was about the fanaticism and insanity, the abuse to the victims, and the descriptions of the torture chamber.
A minor complaint: when the sheriff finds the old woman who knew of the young boy, she doesn’t say his name and he’s referred to as “the boy” thereafter. Why no name? It wouldn’t have given anything away.
Spoiler
Also, it felt like the killer was a rabbit pulled out a hat. I don’t think anyone would have figured out his identity by the end.Spoiler
The strongest parts deal with the racism embedded in the South (and indeed the whole US) and the way Black people are confronted with it every day. The topical issues of white supremacy and rabid Confederacy adherents show that the worst bits of the story are all too real, not fiction at all.
It’s a shame that Cosby is likely preaching to the choir - I can’t imagine any racist deciding to read to the end of this book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Hate crime, Animal death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Vomit, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Chronic illness, Murder, Gore, Blood, and Mental illness
tsundokukarla's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Racism, Trafficking, Torture, Pedophilia, Child death, Religious bigotry, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
misspennreads'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
tysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Mass/school shootings, and Racism
jamie_rich's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Excrement, Drug abuse, Cursing, Child abuse, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Mass/school shootings, Domestic abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Alcoholism, Animal death, Violence, Racism, Drug use, and Blood
feralbookwife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Police brutality, Ableism, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexism, Slavery, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Torture, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Stalking, Chronic illness, and Classism
amandas_bookshelf'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
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Mass/school shootings, Cursing, Gore, Murder, Religious bigotry, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Car accident, Child death, Classism, Grief, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Mental illness
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, and Drug abuse
mollysbooklist's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
My thoughts:
1. The audiobook narrator was perfect for the characters. He did a great job.
2. I feel like there is something left unsatisfied with this book, but I think it’s supposed to feel like that though. It’s got a sense of melancholy to the ending.
3. This isn’t a book where you’ll guess who did it. You find out along with the MC which I kind of liked.
4. The commentary on race and religion is excellent.
**Please check the content warnings for this book if you have any triggers**
CW/TW:
Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury / injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass school shootings, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, alcohol abuse, and illegal adoption
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Police brutality