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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
bella_cavicchi'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Rape, Child death, Cursing, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Pregnancy and Eating disorder
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
lollymac'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? No
3.0
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Child death, Death, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual harassment, Stalking, Torture, Murder, Rape, Infidelity, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexism
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
fiction_addiction_1994's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child death
eleanorareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Rape, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Child death, and Misogyny
ktdakotareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Torture, Murder, Death, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault
lisa00'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
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexism, Child abuse, Child death, Body shaming, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Outing, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Incest and Pandemic/Epidemic
maddiet425's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Blood, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Child death and Child abuse