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amandas_bookshelf'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: Misogyny, Mental illness, Murder, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racial slurs, Grief, Sexual violence, Confinement, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Classism, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
crystalisreading's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Torture, Blood, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Self harm, Stalking, Classism, Cursing, Misogyny, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Confinement, Lesbophobia, Vomit, Mental illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Sexual content
leahkarge's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Racism, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Hate crime, Infidelity, Blood, and Stalking
devynreadsnovels's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Racism, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Racial slurs, Sexism, Alcohol, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Classism, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Lesbophobia, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Abandonment, Blood, Kidnapping, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual harassment
misha_ali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Unfortunately, Ken is only mostly sure it wasn't her who killed this horrible man but could one of her "headmates", i.e. her other identities, known and unknown to her, have done it instead?
I really enjoyed the deep dive into the science of DID. Each of the headmates has a compelling and separate personality, voice, and agenda and they bicker and enjoy each other's company while periodically taking control for varying amounts of time of being a co-pilot with someone else.
It's really easy, when making a condition like DID the main subject of a thriller, to make things overly dramatic or demonize the condition for shock value. I appreciate that this doesn't happen here and the mysterious circumstances have explanations that make sense without being sensationalist about DID and are compelling because each of the identities is a whole person and the narrative treats them this way.
Really fun, fast-paced, and a novel take on the idea of a locked room (island?) mystery when one person contains multitudes.
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
corrieroe's review
- 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
3.5
One of Us Knows is a thriller with multiple mysteries that created a gothic atmosphere but that is also grounded in reality. I ultimately thought it was trying to do too much in its conclusion, but it has a solid foundation and interesting characters that make it an easy read.
I was excited to receive an ARC of this book from the publishers via a giveaway. I read When No One Is Watching in 2020 (also coincidentally received through a giveaway), and thought Alyssa Cole's foray into thrillers was solid and compelling. This book reminded me a lot of When No One Is Watching in its tone and outlook.
Like much of Cole's writing, the story hooked me from the start. It was natural to learn alongside Ken, our protagonist, who has dissociative identity disorder (DID), as she came back to fronting after six years of essentially mental hibernation, when her headmates led them through the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I did not know anything about DID but felt like I learned something through reading this book, and, as always with Cole, through a holistic, compassionate, and humanizing lens. The mysteries of this book were not only what was happening with the historic home where Ken and her headmates have apparently accepted a job, but also with what is going on with their inner world.
In addition to the pandemic, there are some things included / alluded to in this book that may be a no-go for some. I'd check out the readers submitted content warnings and am including those that stuck out the most to me.
Graphic: Misogyny, Mental illness, Hate crime, Homophobia, Death, Kidnapping, Pandemic/Epidemic, Ableism, Death of parent, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit