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A review by the_lectorem
Some Must Die by Angie D. Comer
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Trigger Warning: Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Abuse, Graphic Content
Once in a while, we read a book and get emotionally involved with the characters, and when we finish that book, it feels like saying goodbye to a close friend. Some Must Die by Angie D. Comer is one such book for me.
This book places child abuse and domestic violence at the core of its theme, where our protagonist, Carl, acts as a vigilante to deliver justice to the abusers. He is an anti-hero, doing the right thing in the wrong way. The family is formed of six children who are survivors of abuse and violence, and as readers, we get to witness their journey as outlaws.
When I started this book, I assumed it would just be a teenage drama where our characters would remain between the ages of 12-18, but seeing/reading them grow up from 1968 to 2025 was something I didn't expect. It provided me with time to understand each of them and the family dynamic as our characters matured.
Even though it's a crime thriller, at many instances, it doesn't feel that way because most of the time, our characters—Carl, Bonny, Lea, Saul, Sherry, and Matthew—are on a road trip, going from one place to another, living their mundane lives until "vengeance" (Batman reference) strikes again, and the action takes over.
The story is seamlessly written, with a few side plots that I initially found irrelevant, but when merged with the main plot, they blew my mind. One such astounding example is Dr. Stephanie Archer’s subplot, which turned out to be imperative and shifted the narrative in a completely different direction and genre. This is the twist I didn’t see coming when our crime thriller turns into almost post-apocalyptic fiction. I was awestruck thinking about how grounded the story started and the turns it took to conclude in something I didn’t expect.
This twist comes with a small disadvantage, though, because until it happened, the majority of the story revolved around our family of outlaws. However, after the twist, the focus shifted to Sam and her mother, Dr. Stephanie. I would have loved it more if the unity of the family had been as consistent as it was before the worldwide crisis.
The characterization in this book is magnificent. My favorite among all the characters was Carl; he was sensitive but fierce, loving, kind, and protective, and more than anything, unpredictable. His intolerance of child abuse and violence makes him deadly and dangerous. The family of outlaws is trauma-bound; the suffering of these characters makes the reader empathetic toward them, and seeing them happy later in life delivers a sense of happiness.
This book ends with a prospective hint of its sequel, and I would love to read about our characters and how they will tackle new challenges while maintaining their bond, which provides them the strength to stick together through thick and thin.
It's a 4.5/5⭐ for me. Highly recommended for the variety of elements I discussed. More than anything, read it for the character development of our outlaws.
Once in a while, we read a book and get emotionally involved with the characters, and when we finish that book, it feels like saying goodbye to a close friend. Some Must Die by Angie D. Comer is one such book for me.
This book places child abuse and domestic violence at the core of its theme, where our protagonist, Carl, acts as a vigilante to deliver justice to the abusers. He is an anti-hero, doing the right thing in the wrong way. The family is formed of six children who are survivors of abuse and violence, and as readers, we get to witness their journey as outlaws.
When I started this book, I assumed it would just be a teenage drama where our characters would remain between the ages of 12-18, but seeing/reading them grow up from 1968 to 2025 was something I didn't expect. It provided me with time to understand each of them and the family dynamic as our characters matured.
Even though it's a crime thriller, at many instances, it doesn't feel that way because most of the time, our characters—Carl, Bonny, Lea, Saul, Sherry, and Matthew—are on a road trip, going from one place to another, living their mundane lives until "vengeance" (Batman reference) strikes again, and the action takes over.
The story is seamlessly written, with a few side plots that I initially found irrelevant, but when merged with the main plot, they blew my mind. One such astounding example is Dr. Stephanie Archer’s subplot, which turned out to be imperative and shifted the narrative in a completely different direction and genre. This is the twist I didn’t see coming when our crime thriller turns into almost post-apocalyptic fiction. I was awestruck thinking about how grounded the story started and the turns it took to conclude in something I didn’t expect.
This twist comes with a small disadvantage, though, because until it happened, the majority of the story revolved around our family of outlaws. However, after the twist, the focus shifted to Sam and her mother, Dr. Stephanie. I would have loved it more if the unity of the family had been as consistent as it was before the worldwide crisis.
The characterization in this book is magnificent. My favorite among all the characters was Carl; he was sensitive but fierce, loving, kind, and protective, and more than anything, unpredictable. His intolerance of child abuse and violence makes him deadly and dangerous. The family of outlaws is trauma-bound; the suffering of these characters makes the reader empathetic toward them, and seeing them happy later in life delivers a sense of happiness.
This book ends with a prospective hint of its sequel, and I would love to read about our characters and how they will tackle new challenges while maintaining their bond, which provides them the strength to stick together through thick and thin.
It's a 4.5/5⭐ for me. Highly recommended for the variety of elements I discussed. More than anything, read it for the character development of our outlaws.