Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m surprised at my reaction to this book, as I had assumed it would be a great read for me. Perhaps it was the way it was told (a book within a book, with podcast excerpts or something like that😝). Or maybe Clark tried to stuff way too many “ripped from the headlines” cases into one story? Commentary on the true crime genre and how little victims matter, was the goal it seems. A shame because her debut Boy Parts was disturbing yet so convincing.

Holy cow, this one‘s a corker! Told as a true crime book within the book as well as podcast segments, it tells of 3 English teen girls who murder a fourth. My expectations were shattered more than once by this deeply disturbing tale. I‘m stunned that this is a debut. Edit: because it‘s not! Oops. 😬

Can‘t say this was a feel good book, but it examined a lot of interesting issues. It‘s a book within a book telling the “true crime” story of three teenage girls who murder another girl. It gets into many issues including small town communities, the issues with true crime and the people who are part of that industry, teenage bullying and violence, and the early days of internet communities. Disturbing and thoughtful.

I am trying to use my Instagram a bit more, but I have zero idea what I am doing.
#recommendationwednesday

This is a novel that reads like non-fiction as it is purportedly a journalist‘s book about the murder of a teenage girl perpetrated by three of her female classmates. The whole thing feels ripped from the headlines and examines the lives of each of the girls involved including podcast transcripts, email correspondence and an examination of fandom, specifically serial killer fandom. I found it fascinating, but slow.

A fictionalized true crime podcast wrapped in a book. I listened to it as an audiobook via Spotify and that just added to the feel of authenticity. Clark captures the callousness and the fixation of this style of news(?) story(?) so perfectly. I found myself getting frustrated that the victim becomes lost then realized, yep that‘s what happens. She captures the warped online worlds of fandom too well as well. Great pick, @thewallflower0707

When you start a book you know nothing about, and now you can't sleep! 😊

#hooked

Really enjoyed this. It kept me intrigued from beginning to end. A collection of interviews from a small coastal town in the UK after a girl is murdered by 3 other girls. A great build up to find out what actually happened and the motivations behind the murder. Alongside the murder plot, is a great dissection of what it was like to be a UK school girl with the rise of social media in the 2010's and the dark side of being a true crime fan.

I liked this book. It had all the elements to make a great thriller. In short, the girls murder one of their schoolmates in a seaside town in the UK. Told from multiple perspectives including podcasts and social media sites as well as from a few girls involved and family members of the other killer. It's a good one. Solid ✴️✴️✴️✴️

8th Sept 2023 - quick read!