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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"The Chestnut Man" follows a cast of characters as they try to figure out who this elusive serial killer is that is terrorizing Copenhagen. At each of the crime scenes, the killer leaves his calling card: a tiny doll made of chestnuts. The police are shocked to discover that the dolls actually have the fingerprints of a young girl, a government minister's daughter, who was kidnapped and murdered years ago. Could this be a coincidence? Or does the Chestnut Man have even more secrets?
First and foremost, this book is graphic. I am normally not too shocked or appalled to read about most crimes in books, but this book was visceral in its descriptions and left me feeling uneasy. I think it is a great testament to the author that he can write such gore, but still have a really strong narrative and interesting story that continues to progress. One example of this is that the serial killer amputates hands, and the police explain it in great detail.
I am normally not a huge fan of crime novels, especially ones that follow police, but this one was so well done, and I am happy to report that I did not feel like I was reading an episode of Law and Order. There is something about those types of crime stories that really take me out of the narrative, but this book read more like a thriller with some characters who happen to be the police.
The story starts off a little slowly, and it took me some time to get into it. It is a lengthy story, and the author took the time to really build up the big reveals, so it takes a while to get into the story. However, once the murders start happening more frequently, I do think the story picks up in pace and it was easy to devour the second half of the novel.
I loved all of the twists and layers to this story. I did not see the killer coming. I also have not been able to stop thinking about what occurred in the house during those final few scenes of the book.
I definitely recommend this novel to anyone with a strong stomach who likes violent novels.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
dev921's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
katybugggg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Body horror and Torture
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
jettaparadis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
essie__reads'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Please be advised to look up content warnings!!!!!!
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Torture, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, and Stalking
overbookedteacher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
sarah_speaks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcoholism and Forced institutionalization
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail
cromen12'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
bookwormfr_t0'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Fire/Fire injury