Melissa ~ Bantering Books's Reviews > Bright Young Women
Bright Young Women
by
by
I’m taking a cue from the author, Jessica Knoll. I will not call the American serial killer at the center of Bright Young Women by his name. Because names have power, and to bring any further recognition to the monster’s memory is a dishonor to the 30+ women he murdered. Infamy is what he most wanted, this supposedly bright young man.
Instead, and again like Knoll, I will focus on the women in this fictionalized account of The Defendant’s final 1978 killing spree inside a Florida State University sorority house – the women who lost their lives and those who afterward fought to bring The Defendant to justice.
Knoll gives us two narrators: Pamela Schumacher, the president of the FSU sorority house, and Ruth Wachowsky, a missing victim of The Defendant living in Seattle. Pamela and Ruth’s stories are told in an alternating fashion, with the link between the two women being Tina Cannon, Ruth’s intimate friend. When Tina hears of the latest attacks in Florida, she travels there and works with Pamela to catch him, knowing The Defendant is the reason for both Ruth’s disappearance and the Florida tragedy.
Bright Young Women is an intense literary crime novel that combines smart storytelling with propulsive readability. And in it, Knoll knocks The Defendant down a notch by bringing to light his many ineptitudes, including his idiocy, and shows us that he wasn’t the bright young man that a judge once praised him to be. That the positive press attention was misguided and, in reality, a way for the police to cover up the mistakes that allowed The Defendant to twice escape prison and continue killing.
Knoll’s book has fired me up. I’m angry with the press for the erroneous narrative they created about The Defendant. I’m angry with the police for their bumbling mistakes. And of course, I’m most angry with The Defendant, for being the monster he was and for the women whose lives he cut short.
But I’m proud of the women in this story, though a fictionalized account it may be. I’d like to think there actually was a real-life Pamela and Tina doing their best to put The Defendant in prison, their identities anonymous and contributions minimized. In fact, I’m sure there was.
I wish I knew their names. I’d say their names over and over, to myself and all who would listen.
My sincerest appreciation to Jessica Knoll and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for the physical advanced reading copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
Instead, and again like Knoll, I will focus on the women in this fictionalized account of The Defendant’s final 1978 killing spree inside a Florida State University sorority house – the women who lost their lives and those who afterward fought to bring The Defendant to justice.
Knoll gives us two narrators: Pamela Schumacher, the president of the FSU sorority house, and Ruth Wachowsky, a missing victim of The Defendant living in Seattle. Pamela and Ruth’s stories are told in an alternating fashion, with the link between the two women being Tina Cannon, Ruth’s intimate friend. When Tina hears of the latest attacks in Florida, she travels there and works with Pamela to catch him, knowing The Defendant is the reason for both Ruth’s disappearance and the Florida tragedy.
Bright Young Women is an intense literary crime novel that combines smart storytelling with propulsive readability. And in it, Knoll knocks The Defendant down a notch by bringing to light his many ineptitudes, including his idiocy, and shows us that he wasn’t the bright young man that a judge once praised him to be. That the positive press attention was misguided and, in reality, a way for the police to cover up the mistakes that allowed The Defendant to twice escape prison and continue killing.
Knoll’s book has fired me up. I’m angry with the press for the erroneous narrative they created about The Defendant. I’m angry with the police for their bumbling mistakes. And of course, I’m most angry with The Defendant, for being the monster he was and for the women whose lives he cut short.
But I’m proud of the women in this story, though a fictionalized account it may be. I’d like to think there actually was a real-life Pamela and Tina doing their best to put The Defendant in prison, their identities anonymous and contributions minimized. In fact, I’m sure there was.
I wish I knew their names. I’d say their names over and over, to myself and all who would listen.
My sincerest appreciation to Jessica Knoll and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for the physical advanced reading copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
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Reading Progress
March 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 28, 2023
– Shelved
May 15, 2023
– Shelved as:
arc-physical-copy
September 23, 2023
–
Started Reading
October 4, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 65 (65 new)
message 1:
by
Jayme
(new)
Oct 06, 2023 09:25AM
I like that! Not using HIS name! Powerful review!
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Terrific review, Melissa. I don't know if I have the energy to read this kind of novel, I'm raging all the time as it is.
Wonderful critique of a novel I've seen read and rated on my status feed, but I didn't know what it was about. I stopped referring to our ex-president by his name on social media years ago. He's "the defendant" now too. The best thing you can do for a narcissist is give them more attention.
What a terrific review, Melissa. If this were my standard go-to, I'm certain I'd be just as fired up as you are. Clever beginning and end to your review; you're knocking them outta the park.
Jayme wrote: "I like that! Not using HIS name! Powerful review!"
Thank you, Jayme! I like it, too. It feels empowering. :)
Thank you, Jayme! I like it, too. It feels empowering. :)
Nevin wrote: "Everyone is loving this book! It’s time I put it on my TBR 😉 Thanks for a lovely review 💝"
You're welcome, Nevin! I hope you find it to be an impactful read. :)
You're welcome, Nevin! I hope you find it to be an impactful read. :)
Michelle wrote: "Amazing review, Melissa! 💗 I am dying to get my hands on a copy of this book."
I think you'll really like it, Michelle. It's a fantastic read. :)
I think you'll really like it, Michelle. It's a fantastic read. :)
Jen CAN wrote: "I hope I love this one as much as you. Great review, Melissa"
I hope you do, too. Thanks, Jen! :)
I hope you do, too. Thanks, Jen! :)
Bianca wrote: "Terrific review, Melissa. I don't know if I have the energy to read this kind of novel, I'm raging all the time as it is."
I get it, Bianca! A read like this does take a lot out of you emotionally. But I think you'd find it worth it. I sure did. :)
I get it, Bianca! A read like this does take a lot out of you emotionally. But I think you'd find it worth it. I sure did. :)
Fabulous and impactful review, Melissa! 🙌 💖 I just bought a copy today. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Kendall wrote: "Wow this sounds like a book I’d love! Fab review Melissa!!! 🩵"
Yes, Kendall! I think you'd really, really like this one. :)
Yes, Kendall! I think you'd really, really like this one. :)
Brenda ~Creep it real, witches~traveling witch wrote: "Fantastic review, Melissa!!"
Many thanks, Brenda! :)
Many thanks, Brenda! :)
Joe wrote: "Wonderful critique of a novel I've seen read and rated on my status feed, but I didn't know what it was about. I stopped referring to our ex-president by his name on social media years ago. He's "t..."
Thanks so much, Joe! Ah, I like it. I will now take a cue from you and refer to the ex-president as The Defendant, too. :)
Thanks so much, Joe! Ah, I like it. I will now take a cue from you and refer to the ex-president as The Defendant, too. :)
Melissa wrote: "What a terrific review, Melissa. If this were my standard go-to, I'm certain I'd be just as fired up as you are. Clever beginning and end to your review; you're knocking them outta the park."
You're too kind, Melissa! Thank you. And yes, I know this book would fire you up, too. :)
You're too kind, Melissa! Thank you. And yes, I know this book would fire you up, too. :)
Lindsay L wrote: "Powerful review Melissa! I just started this and can’t put it down."
Yay! I'm so glad you're loving it, Lindsay. Thank you! :)
Yay! I'm so glad you're loving it, Lindsay. Thank you! :)
megs_bookrack wrote: "Fantastic review, Melissa! Wow. You've definitely convinced me to bump this one up my list!"
My job is done then, Meg. I can't wait to see what you think of it. Enjoy! :)
My job is done then, Meg. I can't wait to see what you think of it. Enjoy! :)
Tara (On Semi Hiatus October ) wrote: "Fabulous and impactful review, Melissa! 🙌 💖 I just bought a copy today. I’m looking forward to reading it."
Enjoy, Tara! Thanks so much. You're in for an incredible read. :)
Enjoy, Tara! Thanks so much. You're in for an incredible read. :)
Kay wrote: "Sounds like a very compelling read. Terrific review Melissa! 💙"
It's an incredible read, Kay. Thank you! :)
It's an incredible read, Kay. Thank you! :)
Beautiful review. And YES, words have power. They are spells cast out into the ether when we utter them. Benevolent or malevolent we must always be acutely aware of their intention.
“I’d say their names over and over to myself and all who would listen.”
AMEN.
“I’d say their names over and over to myself and all who would listen.”
AMEN.
Mary wrote: "Beautiful review. And YES, words have power. They are spells cast out into the ether when we utter them. Benevolent or malevolent we must always be acutely aware of their intention.
“I’d say thei..."
Thanks so much, Mary! You get me. :)
“I’d say thei..."
Thanks so much, Mary! You get me. :)
Barbara**catching up! wrote: "Very helpful review Melissa. I had doubts about this, now I'll give it another look!!"
It's really, really good, Barbara. Please try it!!! :)
It's really, really good, Barbara. Please try it!!! :)