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sapphic_in_the_stacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Pedophilia, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
salgalruns'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
5.0
The story opens with a shooting at the high school in which a well loved teacher is shot and killed and where the white police kill the black suspect. Titus, the chief of police, not only dives into the investigation of the murder, but also into the internal investigation.
As Titus and his team find out more about the shooting and the beloved teacher, the themes of racism, religion, family, and life in the rural south come through. The investigation is intense, fast moving, and unbelievably brutal. Through it all, Titus is a strong example of strong beliefs and fairness.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Racism, and Murder
condls27'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Murder
mlweih's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
bhuyanr'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder
rugops'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
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Racism, and Sexual content
corinne828'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: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Injury/Injury detail
takeaim'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? It's complicated
5.0
Intense and riveting. Unforgettable, and too close to today's headlines. Please check trigger warnings. Despite the despicable crimes under investigation by a Black sheriff in a small Southern town, the author does not veer into gratuitous sensationalism. Nor does he glide over raw emotions in the face of unspeakable acts.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
thekrujue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, and Murder
siobhanward'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? It's complicated
3.5
I had no idea what to expect going into this, but I was caught off-guard by how creepy and twisted it was. The plot was solid and Titus was a solid protagonist. My struggle with the book was that it felt like I was reading a book in the middle of a series, rather than a standalone novel. Characters came and went quickly, which made it feel like I was already supposed to be familiar with who they were and their context. Unfortunately, since this was a standalone, it mostly just meant that there were a lot of side characters that I was trying to keep track of and found myself not caring about at all, even when I should have.
However, apart from that, I really enjoyed the book and quite liked Cosby's style. There's at least a couple more of his books on the NYT notable books lists from the past five years and I'm looking forward to reading them.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Mass/school shootings