Little Deaths - Emma Flint

Little Deaths

By Emma Flint

  • Release Date: 2017-01-17
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Score: 4
4
From 136 Ratings

Description

It's 1965 in a tight-knit working-class neighborhood in Queens, New York, and Ruth Malone -- a single mother who works long hours as a cocktail waitress -- wakes to discover her two small children, Frankie Jr. and Cindy, have gone missing. Later that day, Cindy's body is found in a derelict lot a half mile from her home, strangled. Ten days later, Frankie Jr.'s decomposing body is found. Immediately, all fingers point to Ruth.

As police investigate the murders, the detritus of Ruth's life is exposed. Seen through the eyes of the cops, the empty bourbon bottles and provocative clothing which litter her apartment, the piles of letters from countless men and Ruth's little black book of phone numbers, make her a drunk, a loose woman -- and therefore a bad mother. The lead detective, a strict Catholic who believes women belong in the home, leaps to the obvious conclusion: facing divorce and a custody battle, Malone took her children's lives.

Pete Wonicke is a rookie tabloid reporter who finagles an assignment to cover the murders. Determined to make his name in the paper, he begins digging into the case. Pete's interest in the story develops into an obsession with Ruth, and he comes to believe there's something more to the woman whom prosecutors, the press, and the public have painted as a promiscuous femme fatale. Did Ruth Malone violently kill her own children, is she a victim of circumstance -- or is there something more sinister at play?

Inspired by a true story, Little Deaths, like celebrated novels by Sarah Waters and Megan Abbott, is compelling literary crime fiction that explores the capacity for good and evil in us all.

Reviews

  • Depressing and slow

    2
    By Beth324
    I didn't find many redeeming qualities when it came to the plot or characters. Overall, the whole thing was just depressing.
  • Not bad

    3
    By Lenox252
    Three stars because even though you'll most likely know or suspect who-dunnit pretty early on, the writing is faced paced & keeps you interested enough to finish the book anyway. Would probably recommend this book if I don't forget about it, doesn't leave too much of an impression. Not bad though!
  • Could've been better...

    3
    By BPF72
    Started off really interesting and then got slow. Pete was a pointless character who added nothing to the story despite a great deal being told from his perspective. I felt like important details were left out and found myself asking more than once if I missed something. Not sure I'd recommend this one.
  • Pass

    2
    By Amigo73
    More holes than Swiss cheese. Unbelievable and unsympathetic characters. Sadly, I found myself not liking anyone, including the author. Why withhold the time of the event until ⅓ of the way through the novel? I had it narrowed down, but it was distracting. It was silly things like that over and over that makes this novel one I'd recommend you pass on if you're up are a thinking reader.