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sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
While usually I try to steer clear of any books with the serial killer taint this was different enough that I ended up thinking it was well worth reading. More of a character study, with some extremely dark humor. I originally meant to read it back when it was first published but had forgotten about it. Was reminded by the Rap Sheet's list of underappreciated books http://therapsheet-onebook.blogspot.com/
jmccarth's review against another edition
Strayed into shocking for the sake of being shocking
poachedeggs's review against another edition
4.0
This was hard to put down. But it's creepy how .
Spoiler
I've now read two books (within one month) wherein a kite is used for devious purposes - the other being [b:The Wasp Factory|567678|The Wasp Factory|Iain Banks|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1303915010s/567678.jpg|3205295] by Iain Banksservemethesky's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! Blackburn was a page-turner. It was disturbing at least 80% of the time...but also funny. In the scenes with Morton towards the end of the novel, I laughed out loud several times. And of course, as I think Denton wants, you do start to feel some strange and unexpected sympathy for Blackburn, some understanding of his rationale.
I'd be interested to see what else Bradley Denton has written. While Blackburn wasn't exactly life-changing, it was definitely a worthwhile read that held my attention and made me think a little bit- that's always a good thing.
I'd be interested to see what else Bradley Denton has written. While Blackburn wasn't exactly life-changing, it was definitely a worthwhile read that held my attention and made me think a little bit- that's always a good thing.
leighanneslit's review against another edition
3.0
We follow the character Jimmy Blackburn, a serial killer who only kills people that he thinks deserves to die. Some of his victims include an auto mechanic who rips people off, and a jerk of a boss, among many others. You go back and forth between the present, and Jimmy’s past. Growing up with a father that terrified him and a mother much to afraid to stand up to him, the reader learns that Jimmy has only grown up to be a product of his surroundings. Leaving home at 17 after killing a cop, Jimmy sets out to find a place in the world.
We watch as Jimmy falls in love, only to be betrayed and how he struggles with who he has become and what he has done. Constantly adrift through the country, never staying in one place too long, Jimmy never really finds his place.
I found this book intriguing because of the insight that Denton attempts to give us into the mind of a serial killer. You find yourself sympathizing with this man who takes people lives. I enjoyed this book.
Another quick read. Overall, I would give this a 3 out of 5.
We watch as Jimmy falls in love, only to be betrayed and how he struggles with who he has become and what he has done. Constantly adrift through the country, never staying in one place too long, Jimmy never really finds his place.
I found this book intriguing because of the insight that Denton attempts to give us into the mind of a serial killer. You find yourself sympathizing with this man who takes people lives. I enjoyed this book.
Another quick read. Overall, I would give this a 3 out of 5.
deadwolfbones's review against another edition
4.0
A far-better-than-average serial killer narrative. A less lurid, less glitzy, more piercing Dexter.
Reads really quickly, too.
Reads really quickly, too.
chuckmunson's review against another edition
5.0
A gripping tale about a politically correct serial killer.
alexauthorshay's review against another edition
3.0
This book started out so good. The first handful of chapters were amazing, especially Blackburn's childhood. Seeing how others saw him as a freak while also having access to his motivations provided the emotional base needed to feel for him and his troubles through the rest of the book. But I just seemed to have really bad timing with this one.
The first time I stopped, where the book picked up next was his first real relationship. It started with a lot of sex and then things moved very fast, and ended exactly how I didn't want them to--predictably awful. So many novels do this [], and TV shows, and I'm just getting sick of it. That knocked the book down to 4 stars.
Then when I picked it up again later, all of the sudden he was on a completely different track in life [] and I felt like I had missed a big chunk of something important. The tone was different, the situation was different, the mood was different, and I felt like there really wasn't any sufficient motivation for Blackburn to be there. Hence 3 stars.
The very end of the ending was, predictably, mushy and redeeming, but I still cared enough for Blackburn for it to effect me a little. But it wasn't enough to redeem how I felt about earlier parts of the book. I had such high hopes from what the synopsis said and how things started, and I knew of course that things couldn't end all happy and rainbows; most things don't when you're a serial killer. But even keeping that in mind, it still felt like it fell flat of what it could have been and lost so much of my interest and enthusiasm along the way.
The first time I stopped, where the book picked up next was his first real relationship. It started with a lot of sex and then things moved very fast, and ended exactly how I didn't want them to--predictably awful. So many novels do this [
Spoiler
have someone in the relationship cheatThen when I picked it up again later, all of the sudden he was on a completely different track in life [
Spoiler
arrestedThe very end of the ending was, predictably, mushy and redeeming, but I still cared enough for Blackburn for it to effect me a little. But it wasn't enough to redeem how I felt about earlier parts of the book. I had such high hopes from what the synopsis said and how things started, and I knew of course that things couldn't end all happy and rainbows; most things don't when you're a serial killer. But even keeping that in mind, it still felt like it fell flat of what it could have been and lost so much of my interest and enthusiasm along the way.
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