Little Deaths

This book sparked my interest so much. The story was based on a true story, but one I was unfamiliar with. Before reading this fictionalized version, I decided not to research the case.

Obviously, my rating indicates that I had several problems with the book. The first thing that struck me was how boring it was. As the story progressed, the chapters just dragged on. I almost gave up a few times but kept going, hoping things would improve. That didn't happen to me at all. This is, after all, a book about a murder. What made for a compelling news story didn't translate well into a novel.

Another issue I had was the description of Ruth Malone, the children's mother. Many have mentioned that she teased her hair, wore too much make-up (her lipstick was described as “sticky”), dressed provocatively, smoked, drank, and wore cheap perfume. In my mind, I picture a woman who is garishly made up and cheap-looking. However, she seemed to be viewed differently by men.

She captivated every man she met. There was a mad rush to get to her. Particularly Pete Wonicke, the rookie reporter assigned to her case at a local newspaper. As time passed, I was just like, c'mon, really? Alice Crimmins, the actual murder suspect in the murder of her two children, was actually quite beautiful, as it turned out. It's unclear why the author exaggerated these characteristics so much. In the end, it reduced my belief in Ruth's character.

Even though this is clearly intended to be an examination of slut-shaming and a challenge to feminine ideals, it ends up going nowhere, and neither the characters nor the reader are left changed. I found it to be a travesty of a suspense novel and an opportunity to highlight feminist issues at the same time.

In the end, the novel's potential to challenge slut-shaming and feminine ideals was lost, failing to leave a lasting impact on either the characters or the reader.