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emily_mae08's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual violence
reverendmix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Bullying, Child abuse, Body horror, Child death, Torture, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Gore, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Sexual assault
lovestained's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
drjacvick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Rape and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
bookishevy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The story is told from the perspectives of Pamela and Ruth. Pamela's is from the present when she receives a letter summoning her return to Florida and through flashbacks. Ruth's is from winter 1974 until her disappearance that summer and provides insight into how unhappy she was before meeting Tina.
Inspired by true events, the novel's name comes from the judge, who called Ted Bundy a "bright young man," which is ridiculous because the only thing Bundy had going for him was that he was a white male. Pamela often points out that The Defendent's (how Knoll refers to Bundy here to keep the focus on his victims and their families) good looks and intelligence are exaggerated.
He was able to carry out this final killing spree due to the ineptitude of law endorsement in Colorado. It made officers look less incompetent to paint him as this slippery genius, and the press was just as complicit in his glamorization.
It's up to Pamela and Tina to do what the men in charge of the investigation failed to do.
Ruth put her own happiness aside to appease her mother. The Defendent targeted young women because they are conditioned to please others. While reading Ruth's heartbreaking account, I was reminded of the killer's monologue in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Fincher's version) when he tells Mikael "It's hard to believe that the fear of offending can be stronger than the fear of pain. But you know what? It is. And they always come willingly."
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship
reasek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Violence, and Rape
Moderate: Homophobia and Child abuse
Minor: Gun violence
summerofsoaps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Blood, Misogyny, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Dementia, Murder, Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
Minor: Incest
hanhantap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Misogyny, Death, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse
tigerkind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Rape, Murder, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Death, Confinement, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder and War
emma_vb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Murder, Death, Misogyny, Dementia, and Death of parent