Maxi’s Favorite Book(s) of 2023
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
In a world obsessed with true crime, Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women stands out as a fresh take on the genre. Knoll never gives one of the world's most famous serial killers the satisfaction of using his name, simply referring to him as ‘The Defendant’ (and therefore, so shall I). This choice reaffirms the victims and those affected by his crimes as the real main characters of the story. The title alone is a punch to this point- reframing the infamous (and heinous) way the judge described The Defendant during his 1979 murder trial, calling him a ‘bright young man’.
Knoll has an ability to create female characters that feel so multidimensional that I have to remind myself that they are fictional characters within a real story. The story is told with two narrators: Pamela Schumacher, the president of the FSU Sorority who witnesses the attack on the sorority house, and Ruth Wachowsky, a victim of the Defendant. Their stories collide with Tina Cannon, Ruth’s friend and advocate who will not rest until her murderer is brought to justice.
My biggest praise for this novel is the way Knoll seamlessly reduces the Defendant to what he truly was, rather than glamorize him in any way. By flipping the point of view and showing his victims as fleshed out and three dimensional, while he remains a side character, she reminds us that The Defendant was not able to lure in his victims because of charm or good looks- he simply asked for favors, and women are trained to be kind and accommodating. He was no charismatic genius or great lawyer- Knoll only allows him to be a predator.
I’ll be honest and admit I would probably give Jessica Knoll’s grocery list 5 stars on Goodreads - but this one is a must read if you’ve got the stomach for serial killer novels.
Check out Knoll’s recent essay Why Women Forgive and Men Are Forgiven for more of her writing. You can also follow her on Instagram.
Honorable Mention: Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas
This one checked all my boxes - unreliable narrator, moody dark academia backdrop, and something sinister happening behind the scenes. I devoured this book in one sitting and was almost sad when my cramped, smelly bus ride was over because that meant I had to put it down.
While it does have spooky undertones, thriller it is not - it’s more of a slow burn with a looming cloud of dread hanging over it. Thomas never shows you the monster full on, leaving the unknown to creep through the novel like a side character. This is a bit of an odd one (all my favorites are, quite frankly) but I promise it is worth it in the end.
