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A review by 1_more_chapter
I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I had a few issues with the book:
- I found John's character to be unbelievable in the sense that he didn't read like a potential serial killer kid. He seemed more like someone who had learned they shared a similar name to a serial killer and then gaslit themselves into believing that also meant they were a serial killer. I believe that if he wasn't so obsessed with serial killers and knew what the 'signs' were, he would not act like he does.
- To further my point, I didn't believe John was a sociopath. For starters, he clearly still had some empathy if he didn't want to kill people, he can recognise that killing is wrong, and all it took was one sentence from his mother to realise he cares about his family. The only thing that makes him a sociopath is the author telling us he is.
- I also didn't like, and wasn't expecting, the supernatural element to the story. I think it was just lazy writing to explain the killer's motivation as them being a monster instead of creating a fully fleshed-out human character with a believable background and psyche.
- Lastly, I found it unrealistic that John never encountered another car while out on his bike at night other than the killers. Like, be for real.
- I found John's character to be unbelievable in the sense that he didn't read like a potential serial killer kid. He seemed more like someone who had learned they shared a similar name to a serial killer and then gaslit themselves into believing that also meant they were a serial killer. I believe that if he wasn't so obsessed with serial killers and knew what the 'signs' were, he would not act like he does.
- To further my point, I didn't believe John was a sociopath. For starters, he clearly still had some empathy if he didn't want to kill people, he can recognise that killing is wrong, and all it took was one sentence from his mother to realise he cares about his family. The only thing that makes him a sociopath is the author telling us he is.
- I also didn't like, and wasn't expecting, the supernatural element to the story. I think it was just lazy writing to explain the killer's motivation as them being a monster instead of creating a fully fleshed-out human character with a believable background and psyche.
- Lastly, I found it unrealistic that John never encountered another car while out on his bike at night other than the killers. Like, be for real.