Title: Dear Killer
Author: Katherine Ewell
Pub Date:April 1st, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 368
Author: Katherine Ewell
Pub Date:April 1st, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 368
Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.
Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.
Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.
But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.
Katherine Ewell’s Dear Killer is a sinister psychological thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil, and the messiness of that inevitable moment when life contradicts everything you believe.
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My Thoughts
Dear Killer is an new and fresh take on the morals we live by. Told from the villain's perspective, Katherine Ewell writes in a way that makes readers feel for said villain and even root for her. - Nova @ Out of Time
When I read Dear Killer, I was blown away at the concept used in it. The concept of Moral Nihilism (what is good, what is bad?) is one that I've been playing with even before reading this. The concept is basically saying that "killing is wrong" (for example) is written from society. Whether it's actually right or wrong depends on where you are. The term evil only applies to the perspective of the person and what they think is evil. This is something that I believe in and also something I've been judged for because I believe in it.
This is such a smart concept and with the story, cleverly used. The main character, Kit, is a killer; born and raised. Killing is all she's really known. I wanted to hate her because she was pretty much a monster. Again, I don't know if it's me, but I was more interested in her than repulsed.
When she kills, she takes on a character of Diana. In the book, Diana is what she called her "evil" side while Kit being the side that was benign. Kit is such a developed and interesting character that really had me hooked on the story. Despite her being a killer, I felt bad for her in the end and was (in some way) happy at her final decision.
Although I liked Kit, some of the other characters were "meh" to me because I had no time to connect with them. They were pretty much... dead. And yes, pun intended.
The romance? Oh wait... There wasn't any! In this kind of book, a romance would've either slowed it down, created a (much needed) problem (see below) or ruin it entirely. I like the decision to not have a romance. With the topic of killing, it would've probably changed the entire plot of the story, so awesome! And this also shows that you can have a YA book without a romantic interest!
I was a little uneasy with a bit of the info given. Some of it was a little unbelievable and made me frown, but with her statements, Ewell provided proof to show the reader instead of telling them. An example of this is how Kit is 16 and unofficially the best killer.
Another problem with this story is plot. Surprisingly, this isn't usually the problem. With plot, the problem is usually that there's too much plot. In Dear Killer, we follow Kit as she murders people and ultimately has to make difficult decisions. There was no plot in terms of problem vs. solution. The ending was a solution to a weak problem. The "problem" came in very close to the end of the book and was solved very quickly. I feel like there should've been more of a problem throughout, rather than just a novel following the life of a killer.
Katherine Ewell is 18. When I'm 18, I kind of want to be like her. Her writing style is beautiful captivating and so professional. Her style is flowing and very natural, as opposed to some writers who have stiff writing. Ewell's writing also does a lot to to help her characters. One thing that really stuck out for me were the vivid descriptions of the kills and how easily it was for the reader to get inside the mind of a killer. It was very authentic but also makes me wonder if it's talent or something a little scary. (*insert shaky laugh here*)
Dear Killer happened to be a new book that I connected with instantly and loved until the end. It's scary in the sense that there may be another side to what's good and bad. It fell short in certain areas, but I counted on Ewell's writing to supply for where things could've been better. And yes, I really do recommend this to everyone!
When I read Dear Killer, I was blown away at the concept used in it. The concept of Moral Nihilism (what is good, what is bad?) is one that I've been playing with even before reading this. The concept is basically saying that "killing is wrong" (for example) is written from society. Whether it's actually right or wrong depends on where you are. The term evil only applies to the perspective of the person and what they think is evil. This is something that I believe in and also something I've been judged for because I believe in it.
This is such a smart concept and with the story, cleverly used. The main character, Kit, is a killer; born and raised. Killing is all she's really known. I wanted to hate her because she was pretty much a monster. Again, I don't know if it's me, but I was more interested in her than repulsed.
When she kills, she takes on a character of Diana. In the book, Diana is what she called her "evil" side while Kit being the side that was benign. Kit is such a developed and interesting character that really had me hooked on the story. Despite her being a killer, I felt bad for her in the end and was (in some way) happy at her final decision.
Although I liked Kit, some of the other characters were "meh" to me because I had no time to connect with them. They were pretty much... dead. And yes, pun intended.
The romance? Oh wait... There wasn't any! In this kind of book, a romance would've either slowed it down, created a (much needed) problem (see below) or ruin it entirely. I like the decision to not have a romance. With the topic of killing, it would've probably changed the entire plot of the story, so awesome! And this also shows that you can have a YA book without a romantic interest!
I was a little uneasy with a bit of the info given. Some of it was a little unbelievable and made me frown, but with her statements, Ewell provided proof to show the reader instead of telling them. An example of this is how Kit is 16 and unofficially the best killer.
Another problem with this story is plot. Surprisingly, this isn't usually the problem. With plot, the problem is usually that there's too much plot. In Dear Killer, we follow Kit as she murders people and ultimately has to make difficult decisions. There was no plot in terms of problem vs. solution. The ending was a solution to a weak problem. The "problem" came in very close to the end of the book and was solved very quickly. I feel like there should've been more of a problem throughout, rather than just a novel following the life of a killer.
Katherine Ewell is 18. When I'm 18, I kind of want to be like her. Her writing style is beautiful captivating and so professional. Her style is flowing and very natural, as opposed to some writers who have stiff writing. Ewell's writing also does a lot to to help her characters. One thing that really stuck out for me were the vivid descriptions of the kills and how easily it was for the reader to get inside the mind of a killer. It was very authentic but also makes me wonder if it's talent or something a little scary. (*insert shaky laugh here*)
Dear Killer happened to be a new book that I connected with instantly and loved until the end. It's scary in the sense that there may be another side to what's good and bad. It fell short in certain areas, but I counted on Ewell's writing to supply for where things could've been better. And yes, I really do recommend this to everyone!
Author Info
18-year-old author of YA psychological thriller novel DEAR KILLER, to be published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, on April 1, 2014! High school senior, avid reader, science lover, geek.
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ReplyDeleteOH I've never heard of any book like this! I'll make sure to check it out. it would be a good change from all the love stories I'm reading :D Great Review... Looking forward to more by you :)
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