Falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. The art is good; the concept of a kid exploring what's been weighing on his dad for the last 20 years is good; it's all pretty good. But it's not (and never should have been) a clean, easily digestible narrative. And it's worth mentioning that the character interaction is top notch. Felt like a proper representation of what actually happened with the Green River Killer. This was a really interesting concept, which is what drew me in, but the book as a whole did not pan out for me. This was a fascinating read because I had never heard of the Green River Killer before this. I really wanted to learn more about the case and the search and the eventual discovery of the murderer. The book takes the story in a different direction, however, and focuses more on the frustration and toil of Detective Tom Jensen and his team. There is a lot of good in the way Jensen tells his story: the detectives are sympathetic characters whom we want to see triumph in the end. There are multiple poignant moments in which we really feel the damage this killer has done to victims, families, and officers. The art especially is perfect. It is well done, both following the story and setting the tone of the book perfectly. The opening sequence (as Stephen King advertises) is truly disturbing. At the same time, the jumps from one time period to the other are confusing (perhaps that might have merited a change in art style, though I'd hate to recommend that, enjoying the art as much as I did), and in the end it felt very unsatisfying. I do feel the need to go out and learn more about this case, but I wish I could have gotten more out of this book.
Do You like book El Asesino De Green River (2011)?
Excellent stuff. As beautifully rendered and true as a detective story as there ever was.
—lily
