A review by zimlicious
Penance by Eliza Clark

challenging medium-paced

• 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

As a true crime lover, I loved this book. Since I was very curious about what else Eliza Clark was up to, I immediately ordered her other books! It tells you from the very beginning what kind of murder has been committed, but as you get into the memories of those involved and their relatives, things get more complicated and darker. Not all of the narrators, even journalist Alec, the fictional author of the book, are reliable types; In fact, Alec has been accused by many readers, publishers, and witnesses who have spoken to him of exaggerating his stories. Clark has meticulously woven the stories of the girls involved, interspersing interview articles, Tumblr posts, social media and SMS messages: she has succeeded very well in giving distinct voices to such similar yet different characters. We see that adolescence is a very difficult thing; While the internet can be a tool to help you find people like you and feel like you are not alone, it can also host much darker fantasies and obsessions; The media is actually not a reliable narrator at all because, especially when focusing on big events such as Brexit, other news can get sidetracked and ignored. Clarke wrote Penance inspired by the murder of Suzanne Capper in England. The incident, which coincided with another murder, did not receive much coverage in the media. It is obvious that Clark loves true crime, but he won my heart especially with the different perspectives and details he added to it.