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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This book brings to life Des Moines, specifically the South Side, in the 1980s in the midst of a child abudction based on real-life events. The author puts the tiny details of the era to great work, pictures of missing children on milk cartons, trapper keepers, and more. The final framing of how the world was changed for a generation hits home hard.
I didn’t know what this book was about and listened to the audiobook. It’s definitely about a heavy topic but I couldn’t stop listening and wanted to figure out the end. It was a fast read. I recommend but also think folks should look up the trigger warnings.
Based on the true story of two Iowa paperboys who went missing in the 1980s The Monsters We Make is told from multiple perspectives.
Christopher Stewart has gone missing during his morning paper delivery. On the same morning fellow paperboy Sammy has his own run in and it is one he will tell no one about.
Sammys older sister Crystal see this disappearance as not only horrifying but also an opportunity to earn a scholarship for journalism to the college of her dreams. While doing research for her essay Crystal starts to harbor some suspicion that maybe her little brother knows more then he is leading on.
After moving away from the city and case that almost ruined him officer Dale can’t believe he is facing another child disappearance case. This time Dale is determined to solve the case but with it demons from his past start to unravel.
I really enjoyed the different points of view and the true crime aspect. If you are familiar at all with the Iowa paper boy cases you will see the parallels. This book is a super quick read and an easy 3.5⭐️ For me!
This book deals with heavy subject matter and should come with major trigger warnings for child abuse, sexual abuse and violence.
Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for my ARC
Christopher Stewart has gone missing during his morning paper delivery. On the same morning fellow paperboy Sammy has his own run in and it is one he will tell no one about.
Sammys older sister Crystal see this disappearance as not only horrifying but also an opportunity to earn a scholarship for journalism to the college of her dreams. While doing research for her essay Crystal starts to harbor some suspicion that maybe her little brother knows more then he is leading on.
After moving away from the city and case that almost ruined him officer Dale can’t believe he is facing another child disappearance case. This time Dale is determined to solve the case but with it demons from his past start to unravel.
I really enjoyed the different points of view and the true crime aspect. If you are familiar at all with the Iowa paper boy cases you will see the parallels. This book is a super quick read and an easy 3.5⭐️ For me!
This book deals with heavy subject matter and should come with major trigger warnings for child abuse, sexual abuse and violence.
Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for my ARC
Based on true events, this novel follows the investigation of two boys who go missing while delivering newspapers. Taking 3 perspectives, this novel follows Sammy, his sister Crystal, and Detective Dale as they search for the monster in the neighborhood. A realistic portrayal of how predators lure children into their webs. This book was hard to read particularly because of themes of child abuse. Well-written but hard to describe as a "good read".
This is a stellar read (made even more heartbreaking by the fact that it's based on true events)! In truth, some of the dialogue is a little cringey, but otherwise, the narrative is excellent.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in response for an honest review.
The beginning of this book was very gripping. There was suspense and I got this great feeling of unease while reading it. Then we met the cop. I absolutely did not like the cop character. I thought he really didn't need to be one of the main POV in this book, and only gave me insight to the past murders, which we learned from the sister anyway. He was so frustrating and didn't actually further the story in my opinion. He came into play very little with the actual case, and abused his power which was just problematic.
That being said, I really did enjoy the POV of the siblings, Sammy and Crystal. He was caught right in the middle, and she was investigating for a scholarship essay. Crystal did more to further the case and plot than the cop did, and she was actually an interesting character. Sammy was where the mystery started. His story brought the suspense and for half the book I thought the ending might actually surprise me.
Then it became fully obvious how this book was going to end. I didn't actually know that this book was based off of real cases until the end, but even so, the ending to this book wasn't really that much of a surprise. I was beginning to get frustrated with the cop because he was pulling a "Murder, She Wrote" and going straight after the obvious red herring. If it weren't for him the case would have been solved a lot faster.
Overall, the writing was good and at least in the first half we got a great feeling of suspense. It fizzled out by the end but I still enjoyed reading Sammy and Crystal's ending.
The beginning of this book was very gripping. There was suspense and I got this great feeling of unease while reading it. Then we met the cop. I absolutely did not like the cop character. I thought he really didn't need to be one of the main POV in this book, and only gave me insight to the past murders, which we learned from the sister anyway. He was so frustrating and didn't actually further the story in my opinion. He came into play very little with the actual case, and abused his power which was just problematic.
That being said, I really did enjoy the POV of the siblings, Sammy and Crystal. He was caught right in the middle, and she was investigating for a scholarship essay. Crystal did more to further the case and plot than the cop did, and she was actually an interesting character. Sammy was where the mystery started. His story brought the suspense and for half the book I thought the ending might actually surprise me.
Then it became fully obvious how this book was going to end. I didn't actually know that this book was based off of real cases until the end, but even so, the ending to this book wasn't really that much of a surprise. I was beginning to get frustrated with the cop because he was pulling a "Murder, She Wrote" and going straight after the obvious red herring. If it weren't for him the case would have been solved a lot faster.
Overall, the writing was good and at least in the first half we got a great feeling of suspense. It fizzled out by the end but I still enjoyed reading Sammy and Crystal's ending.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I grew up in Iowa in the 80s, and remember clearly Johnny Gosch and Eugene Wade Martin's abductions. White's novel is loosely based on these disappearances (and one I don't have memories of). I found it hard to put this novel down. I enjoyed the different perspectives which varied by chapter that allowed for the reader to see multiple characters thoughts and feelings. White did a fantastic job recreating the culture of the 80s and the innocence of that time and the freedoms that kids who grew up then had. The ending is not a pat, happily ever after resolution, but is believable and feels real. I can't wait for this book to be published so I can talk about it with my friends.
dark
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes