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First time reading Ketchum and regardless of how you feel about a book like this, it has to be said that Ketchum knows how to tell the story. His sense of tension and pacing is impeccable as well as his ability to invoke time and place. Before I learned this was based on a true story I wondered if it was taking the torture too far. But now I think it was necessary: these were real people who acted on the same depraved depths that are in all of us.

Horrifying, disturbing, and authentic. Ketchum, with crystal clear prose, details the malevolence of silent compliance and the horrors of abuse to a degree that is genuinely shocking. Not sure I‘ll ever read this one again, but it‘ll always stick with me.

I don't know what I thought when I bought this book. I read the half of it but I cannot bare anymore with this poor girl's torcher. I stopped reading this very bloody and violent thrillers about a year ago because it became too much for me.

I don‘t believe I‘ve ever read a story that left me feeling so uncomfortable and disturbed as this work by Ketchum. The fact that the author based the story on actual events only exaggerated my sense of discomfort. I cannot precisely recommend this book to others, but I give Ketchum credit for telling a truly horrific and gripping tale. Trigger warnings exist to warn prospective readers of books like this.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Not sure how to rate this. It‘s horrific and violent and sad, but the story is a true one. Obviously liberties were taken and that‘s both better and worse somehow. I think it can be argued that we shouldn‘t capitalize on others trauma, but also can be argued that if someone experienced this, we can at the very least read it and remember her.

Just started. The beginning reminds me of The Virgin Suicides. That tone of looking back and sort of telling stories as a kid, but through the adult filter. I know it will get bad soon.

Been meaning to tackle this one for a while. I went into this thinking it was simply about a girl being kept in a basement and based on true crime. What I got was SO much more than I had bargained for.

Difficult to read at times, beautifully and painfully narrated. A modern classic.

Although the content was despicable, it was very well written. I knew where it was going from the first but hopes I was wrong…I was not. It made me feel many emotions such as anger, disgust, fear, hope and more disgust which was the point. Trigger warnings for just about all evils.

Picked up both of these books this week for like $10. Now looking at their ratings/reviews here neither seem to be too popular so I‘m slightly regretting my decisions 😑. But I‘ll still give them a try!

People may well tell you that this book is worth reading, but I do not agree. This reads as real no-thoughts-head-empty torture porn.