MY DARRLING by KRYSTAL MCLEAN

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Reviewed by Jenny & Gitte

J&G:  ✯✯✯✯ Stars

“All things truly wicked start from innocence.” ~ Earnest Hemingway

G&J:  We had absolutely no idea what to expect from this book and what we got was really quite thought provoking and we are still discussing this one. We couldn’t put down My Darrling for want nor money such was the debatable storyline and we read on wanting to find out how it was all going to end. There’s two sides to the coin here; one we loved the concept, the writing and the portrayal of a serial killer who became a love interest. Two; we thought this could easy have been a 5 star read if it had been a full size novel which gave us more of an insight into Isaac rather than take Sophie’s surmising and perspective on him. Also; we wanted more on Sophie and what transpired at the end. It was rushed and the ending felt odd in some respects regarding Sophie. So many things were unexplained and glossed over.

‘I hated it. But I loved it. Isaac was my favorite contradiction.’ – Sophie

It raised the following discussion points and thoughts for us:

Rather than love in the case for Sophie; was this not an infatuation stemming from original obsession? The concept of love did not fully convince us due to the short space of time involved. Rather; the enigma of a handsome young man distorted reality and judgement of an otherwise intelligent and knowing young woman.

“But I don’t understand, aren’t you afraid?” – Isaac

If a serial killer is good-looking with an attractive personality can you excuse or reason away his behaviour? Are we that fickle and swayed by the packaging rather than what it hides? Taking the lives of innocents thought secondary to looks and suave behaviour? Sophie knew who and what Isaac was, what his hands were capable off yet was not at any stage swayed by what she knew was morally right. Rather she was led by her obsession and her perceived feelings of love believing her love could change a killer.

“Isaac is too beautiful to be a killer. Those aren’t the eyes of a murderer. He must have been framed.”

Forbidden love and unconditional love; both enticing and exciting. How far would you go to accept it or revel in it? We hear about it but we frown upon it and call it crazy and delusional. It can’t be real love can it? Did we fall for Isaac in this story? Of course we did; he was portrayed as a gorgeous, sweet and caring bloke with the side order of evil killing machine. Now, importantly we fell for him because we saw him through Sophie’s eyes not his nor the eyes of the victims or the victim’s family. If that had been the case it would have been a whole different story! One which we’d probably have enjoyed even more.

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