Scan barcode
A review by husnaibrahim_
She Can Scream by Melinda Leigh
2.5
I've read some fantastic books from this author, and it's disappointing that 'She Can Scream' isn't one of them.
Brooke, the main character, stood out for me. She portrayed a strong female lead and her commitment to protecting other women was commendable. Yet, in her fervor, she tiptoed that thin line between dedication and obsession.
While I understood Brooke's motives, I can't entirely agree with all her choices. And I understood why Luke went along with it all even if I didn’t like it. That’s fine, sometimes we have to let people get involved with the investigation for them to find closure. But taking risks like visiting people you suspect without informing the police is just something I’ll never agree with, a recurring trope in crime fiction that often doesn't sit well with me.
Regarding the victims, particularly Halie, there's a blend of frustration and sympathy. And I’m not one for victim blaming but why would halie go out to meet some boy in the dead of the night when she knows a man is out there targeting young women related to her mum in some way. She might not have thought it but I imagine she should have been too scared to even think of going to meet a boy, especially with the lurking threat in the background.
Speaking of victim blaming. Luke was a victim himself yet he blamed himself for what happened to his assistant. I didn’t really understand it or why but I guess that’s just how it is sometimes. And the narrative involving Luke's history as a victim and his battle with PTSD felt severely underexplored. His somewhat miraculous improvement through interactions with Brooke didn't seem convincing considering the gravity of PTSD. I’m just not too sure that’s how ptsd works.
Then there’s the matter of the rapist/killer. I won’t say I expected who it was but i won’t lie that was shocked. I should have been, yet I was disappointed if anything. It just felt a bit lackluster to me. The scenario didn't fit the ideal portrayal of a small-town crime mystery. And this is the problem with some small town crime fiction. The way the killer is revealed should essentially be so well down we wont even have a chance of questioning it. Yet I questioned everything about this one.
Firstly, why was he just running his mouth to Brooke and telling her how he did everything without her even asking? You can say he wanted to brag but that’s not what it felt like. If anything it was stupid. He didn’t feel like a serial killer at all but an amateur. Secondly, why did he have to be the one connected to Brooke’s roommate. I mean come one. If it were to be that way, it should have been better portrayed. Again it felt half assed. And lastly, why did it have to be him?? I mean really? It could have been anyone but him. Because if it were to be someone in his position, it should have been portrayed better than that.
Maybe I am criticizing this book too much even after knowing it’s one of the first books the author wrote in her carrier. But it’s essentially because of that I am criticizing it and while critiquing, I do consider her growth in subsequent books. I've seen the improvement in her recent writing style, and although this book wasn't my favorite, I still appreciate the author's progress and look forward to her future works. I just wished I enjoyed this book as much as I did the others.
Brooke, the main character, stood out for me. She portrayed a strong female lead and her commitment to protecting other women was commendable. Yet, in her fervor, she tiptoed that thin line between dedication and obsession.
While I understood Brooke's motives, I can't entirely agree with all her choices. And I understood why Luke went along with it all even if I didn’t like it. That’s fine, sometimes we have to let people get involved with the investigation for them to find closure. But taking risks like visiting people you suspect without informing the police is just something I’ll never agree with, a recurring trope in crime fiction that often doesn't sit well with me.
Regarding the victims, particularly Halie, there's a blend of frustration and sympathy. And I’m not one for victim blaming but why would halie go out to meet some boy in the dead of the night when she knows a man is out there targeting young women related to her mum in some way. She might not have thought it but I imagine she should have been too scared to even think of going to meet a boy, especially with the lurking threat in the background.
Speaking of victim blaming. Luke was a victim himself yet he blamed himself for what happened to his assistant. I didn’t really understand it or why but I guess that’s just how it is sometimes. And the narrative involving Luke's history as a victim and his battle with PTSD felt severely underexplored. His somewhat miraculous improvement through interactions with Brooke didn't seem convincing considering the gravity of PTSD. I’m just not too sure that’s how ptsd works.
Then there’s the matter of the rapist/killer. I won’t say I expected who it was but i won’t lie that was shocked. I should have been, yet I was disappointed if anything. It just felt a bit lackluster to me. The scenario didn't fit the ideal portrayal of a small-town crime mystery. And this is the problem with some small town crime fiction. The way the killer is revealed should essentially be so well down we wont even have a chance of questioning it. Yet I questioned everything about this one.
Firstly, why was he just running his mouth to Brooke and telling her how he did everything without her even asking? You can say he wanted to brag but that’s not what it felt like. If anything it was stupid. He didn’t feel like a serial killer at all but an amateur. Secondly, why did he have to be the one connected to Brooke’s roommate. I mean come one. If it were to be that way, it should have been better portrayed. Again it felt half assed. And lastly, why did it have to be him?? I mean really? It could have been anyone but him. Because if it were to be someone in his position, it should have been portrayed better than that.
Maybe I am criticizing this book too much even after knowing it’s one of the first books the author wrote in her carrier. But it’s essentially because of that I am criticizing it and while critiquing, I do consider her growth in subsequent books. I've seen the improvement in her recent writing style, and although this book wasn't my favorite, I still appreciate the author's progress and look forward to her future works. I just wished I enjoyed this book as much as I did the others.