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The Spider and the Fly: A Reporter, a Serial Killer, and the Meaning of Murder by Claudia Rowe
sarahcee's review against another edition
3.0
Not what i expected. More about the author's journey than about the actual crime
eedelmann's review against another edition
3.0
First, I think this would’ve been really helpful to know: the author of the story is actually the reporter. The killer that she interviews was a true person. She wrote the story like it was fiction, but it’s really a true account of her interviews with the killer. I liked the general layout of the story, but was disappointed with the end, and the lack of questions answered.
vegantrav's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fascinating but ultimately disappointing read: I had hoped to gain some insight into what created Kendall Francoise, what made this shy and soft-spoken man, often described as a "teddy bear," into a man unable to control his rage, into a man who became a serial murderer. The author, Claudia Rowe, had hoped for the very same thing, but her efforts ultimately ended in frustration; Rowe could not penetrate the depths of Francoise's psyche. She made a valiant attempt, and her book about Francoise is very well written, but in the end, it leaves us with more questions than answers.
sadiesarrah's review against another edition
2.0
Although not a bad book, I would not read this if you are looking for a true crime thriller. The Spider and the Fly was a lot more about the author and her own life than it was about the killer or the meaning of murder. It left me wanting to know so much more about Francois, his crimes, and conviction, but really only told me a lot about the author's troubling family life and her break-up with a boyfriend. It felt very disjointed and seemed to jump or float indiscriminately in time so I was often confused on where we stood in the timeline. I could easily identify with Rowe's fascination in serial killers, and I enjoyed delving into her thoughts on why so many young women are enthralled by the subject.
frauleinn8123's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars, very interesting memoir intertwined within a true crime case
herelieshenry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
2.5
The only thing I can really give this book props for is that it succeeds in creating a disturbing tone that is appropriate for the subject matter. However, this book is much more memoir than true crime, and it would have made more sense if this book were advertised about being about the author’s experiences in true crime journalism rather than pretending to be about the actual crimes that took place. The few times the author mentions the victims as people feel one-note and disingenuous. It feels like Rowe wants us to think she cares about the victims more than she actually does care about the victims; not dissimilar to the way she seems to have been incredibly preoccupied with proving to Francois that she wasn’t racist more than she actually seemed to care about not being racist. This book feels very self-conscious of the fact that it’s exposing more about the author than about the subject or the murders he committed, and it just leaves me feeling unsettled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, and Animal death
Addiction stigmacr4nkyp4nts's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I very much liked the authors voice and writing style. I know that the book is not only about Kendall Francois but also about the author but I was much less interested in her and her history and her journey than I was with the killer and his crimes. Even much of the background info about him, the interviews with his old friends and teachers, were tedious and boring to me.
Not a book I'd read again but I don't regret the experience. I'd definitely read a novel by Rowe if she goes that way. I really do like her writing voice.
Not a book I'd read again but I don't regret the experience. I'd definitely read a novel by Rowe if she goes that way. I really do like her writing voice.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
My first True Crime book and it was not what I was expecting. It felt more like a memoir of a woman’s obsession with a serial killer. However, it lacks the insight that memoirs need to make them interesting. This is understandable from a woman who couldn’t name her problems in a private journal, but it was disappointing nonetheless.