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A review by aplace_inthesun
All of Us by A. F. Carter
2.0
Reference was made to AllofUs by AFCarter as a novel of suspense. It's a doozy! The premise is that Carolyn Grand is arrested late one night for propositioning an undercover police officer during a sting targeting prostitution. The issue: Carolyn Grand is not actually a prostitute and she will argue she was not even present at the time. The offender was Eleni, one of Carolyn's many identities.
Carolyn has a history of complex trauma at the hands of her father, as well as others, over many years. As a result she developed multiple personalities and has a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder. Each chapter is narrated by one of the identities. There is Victoria, Martha, Kirk, Serena, Tina, and finally Eleni, whose voice interestingly (in terms of having a chapter allocated to her view) does not appear until Chapter 12. As a result of her arrest, Carolyn et al must attend psychiatry appointments pursuant to a stint in psychiatric care. During her treatment Carolyn's father is released from jail, only to be murdered. And guess who is the main suspect?
And so enter the police (again) but this time we meet Detective Ortega who forms an unusual relationship with Carolyn as the reader observes the investigation unfold, as well as Carolyn's battle for power with her psychiatrist, and with her competing identities.
What I liked?
The backwards and forwards struggle the identities had with the psychiatrist.
The pacing - it was a page-turner.
The portrayal of isolation in the every day minutiae of Carolyn's life.
The distinct voices of each identity.
What I didn't like?
This seemed to pigeon-hole survivors and their experience.
The voices of Carolyn's identities though distinct might be considered by some as cliched.
The "relationship" between Ortega and Carolyn given her vulnerability. Again, my belief is this propagated further abuse upon Carolyn given Ortega's position of power in the relationship. This just seemed to violate all ethical and moral dilemmas of modern day investigation and trauma informed victim care. I couldn't stomach it, irrespective of Ortega's own background and motivations.
All of Us is a book that I think will give readers a reaction one way or the other. I think people who love suspense novels are most likely to love this one. It's a quick, fast-paced book with alot happening. I just couldn't get past the portrayal of the extreme abuse of power to be able to say I loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an electronic advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
Carolyn has a history of complex trauma at the hands of her father, as well as others, over many years. As a result she developed multiple personalities and has a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder. Each chapter is narrated by one of the identities. There is Victoria, Martha, Kirk, Serena, Tina, and finally Eleni, whose voice interestingly (in terms of having a chapter allocated to her view) does not appear until Chapter 12. As a result of her arrest, Carolyn et al must attend psychiatry appointments pursuant to a stint in psychiatric care. During her treatment Carolyn's father is released from jail, only to be murdered. And guess who is the main suspect?
And so enter the police (again) but this time we meet Detective Ortega who forms an unusual relationship with Carolyn as the reader observes the investigation unfold, as well as Carolyn's battle for power with her psychiatrist, and with her competing identities.
What I liked?
The backwards and forwards struggle the identities had with the psychiatrist.
The pacing - it was a page-turner.
The portrayal of isolation in the every day minutiae of Carolyn's life.
The distinct voices of each identity.
What I didn't like?
This seemed to pigeon-hole survivors and their experience.
The voices of Carolyn's identities though distinct might be considered by some as cliched.
The "relationship" between Ortega and Carolyn given her vulnerability. Again, my belief is this propagated further abuse upon Carolyn given Ortega's position of power in the relationship. This just seemed to violate all ethical and moral dilemmas of modern day investigation and trauma informed victim care. I couldn't stomach it, irrespective of Ortega's own background and motivations.
All of Us is a book that I think will give readers a reaction one way or the other. I think people who love suspense novels are most likely to love this one. It's a quick, fast-paced book with alot happening. I just couldn't get past the portrayal of the extreme abuse of power to be able to say I loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an electronic advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own.