readingspells's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first book by this author. I didn't realise it was No. 4 in a series but from I can see it is a prequel and so reads as a stand alone.
And oh boy what a read it is.
I love a female psychopath but so many books about them always end up with them being caught, usually for a silly reason. I won't spoil the ending but all I will say is I loved it.
Mauve is vicious, evil and so twisted and I bloody her. She has no fear at all. Imagine being that fearless. As a women it's almost impossible to do but if you were, blimey what a force you, or in this case Maeve, would be.
This book contains graphic accounts of both consensual and non consensual sex, violent gruesome murders and alcoholism. So if those things are not your bag then don't read this.
But if you some Steven King graphic murder/horror then I am fairly sure this will totally be your bag.
And oh boy what a read it is.
I love a female psychopath but so many books about them always end up with them being caught, usually for a silly reason. I won't spoil the ending but all I will say is I loved it.
Mauve is vicious, evil and so twisted and I bloody her. She has no fear at all. Imagine being that fearless. As a women it's almost impossible to do but if you were, blimey what a force you, or in this case Maeve, would be.
This book contains graphic accounts of both consensual and non consensual sex, violent gruesome murders and alcoholism. So if those things are not your bag then don't read this.
But if you some Steven King graphic murder/horror then I am fairly sure this will totally be your bag.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
paulaw1874's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
frombethanysbookshelf's review
4.0
Maeve has everything. A high-powered job, a beautiful home, a string of uncomplicated one-night encounters. She’s also an addict: a functioning alcoholic with a dependence on sex and an insatiable appetite for killing men.
When she can’t find a support group to share her obsession, she creates her own. And Psychopaths Anonymous is born. Friends of Maeve. Now in a serious relationship, Maeve wants to keep the group a secret. But not everyone in the group adheres to the rules, and
when a reckless member raises suspicions with the police, Maeve’s drinking spirals out of control. She needs to stop killing. She needs to close the group.
But Maeve can’t seem to quit the things that are bad for her, including her new man...
"God, grant me the lack of empathy to kill the ones I cannot stand, apathy for the ones I can tolerate and detachment to know the difference. Thy kill, not mine, will be fun."
Let's just start by saying - if you're not ready for bloody graphic violence, sex and swearing, don't even both reading past the first line and put this book in the freezer where you can't see it. This is the type of book you'd assume has a cult following somewhere on the internet - this electrifying crime thriller is brutal, bloody and reaches into the darkest, most depraved parts of human nature.
Even if you're not an alcoholic sex addict with psychopathic murderous tendencies, it's terrifyingly easy to relate to Maeve, to feel some morbid curiosity and connection to her character. Even in her twisted, cynical voice she sometimes voices unkind and uncomfortable truths - like the fact sex workers and homeless people are often swept over in the media if they are victims of murder or any crime, that everyone will blame their choices and not the actual murderers themselves.
There is a lot of repeated themes - using the idea of the twelve steps programme and reliance on God to solve the problems of humanity - and while it took a while for this book to take off, when it did it was a total, chaotic bloodbath that stopped for no man.
The entire concept is something totally unique and had me looking at everyone suspiciously. I will definitely be eyeing up every bulletin board I see to make sure the Friends Of Maeve aren't too close by... Horrifically entertaining and engrossing, this book is the very definition of marmite fiction.
When she can’t find a support group to share her obsession, she creates her own. And Psychopaths Anonymous is born. Friends of Maeve. Now in a serious relationship, Maeve wants to keep the group a secret. But not everyone in the group adheres to the rules, and
when a reckless member raises suspicions with the police, Maeve’s drinking spirals out of control. She needs to stop killing. She needs to close the group.
But Maeve can’t seem to quit the things that are bad for her, including her new man...
"God, grant me the lack of empathy to kill the ones I cannot stand, apathy for the ones I can tolerate and detachment to know the difference. Thy kill, not mine, will be fun."
Let's just start by saying - if you're not ready for bloody graphic violence, sex and swearing, don't even both reading past the first line and put this book in the freezer where you can't see it. This is the type of book you'd assume has a cult following somewhere on the internet - this electrifying crime thriller is brutal, bloody and reaches into the darkest, most depraved parts of human nature.
Even if you're not an alcoholic sex addict with psychopathic murderous tendencies, it's terrifyingly easy to relate to Maeve, to feel some morbid curiosity and connection to her character. Even in her twisted, cynical voice she sometimes voices unkind and uncomfortable truths - like the fact sex workers and homeless people are often swept over in the media if they are victims of murder or any crime, that everyone will blame their choices and not the actual murderers themselves.
There is a lot of repeated themes - using the idea of the twelve steps programme and reliance on God to solve the problems of humanity - and while it took a while for this book to take off, when it did it was a total, chaotic bloodbath that stopped for no man.
The entire concept is something totally unique and had me looking at everyone suspiciously. I will definitely be eyeing up every bulletin board I see to make sure the Friends Of Maeve aren't too close by... Horrifically entertaining and engrossing, this book is the very definition of marmite fiction.
abbiecait's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jennifer_1987's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kaseyadams94's review
3.0
This book was okay at best. I liked the twist that happened with Jill, however, I hated the way the narrator told you what happens with Seth in the middle of the book. Also, the ending with Seth just seemed really rushed and sloppy in my opinion. I did like the main character overall though so not terrible but not the best book I’ve ever read.
melaniesreads's review
4.0
This is not a book I would recommend to my mum or my sweet friend Sally who is of a gentle disposition. This is a book I would recommend however to those of you with a dark sense of humour and who like their fiction to not just cross a boundary but to stomp all over it. This will offend right from the prologue with language and actions that made even me blush and I swear like someone who has just opened flat pack furniture and discovered the instructions are in Japanese.
Maeve won’t be for everyone, I’m not even sure she was for me and I love a female that takes no shit. She is dangerous, disturbing and works in marketing, say no more! Setting up Psychopaths Anonymous/Friends of Maeve I did have to question if this woman was even capable of friendship. Then an even bigger shock she gets in a relationship, and how is she going to keep it when she is hiding who she really is?
It is brutal in it’s sharp observations, it calls out religion and the sex makes fifty shades of grey look like it was written by Mary Whitehouse. (Yes I’m that old). It is graphic in it’s descriptions and yet again Will Carver has worked in a clever social commentary and even though it is pushed to it’s limits you have to admire it for it’s complete originality. Trust me you will never meet another Maeve and if you do I suggest you run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
Maeve won’t be for everyone, I’m not even sure she was for me and I love a female that takes no shit. She is dangerous, disturbing and works in marketing, say no more! Setting up Psychopaths Anonymous/Friends of Maeve I did have to question if this woman was even capable of friendship. Then an even bigger shock she gets in a relationship, and how is she going to keep it when she is hiding who she really is?
It is brutal in it’s sharp observations, it calls out religion and the sex makes fifty shades of grey look like it was written by Mary Whitehouse. (Yes I’m that old). It is graphic in it’s descriptions and yet again Will Carver has worked in a clever social commentary and even though it is pushed to it’s limits you have to admire it for it’s complete originality. Trust me you will never meet another Maeve and if you do I suggest you run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
izzyf03's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0