Search

Search only in certain items:

Psychopath with Piers Morgan (Crime Documentary)
Psychopath with Piers Morgan (Crime Documentary)
2019 | Crime, Documentary
8
8.0 (4 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Direct and in depth interview technique (3 more)
Able to see family interaction in video footage
Mothers point of view is shared
Expert point of view is shared
Over dramatisation (1 more)
Piers questions repeatedly ask Paris to describe feelings that he may not have.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Paris Bennett is a diagnosed psychopath incarcerated in the Ferguson Unit within Texas State prison for stabbing his 4 year old sister to death.


Piers, revealing that Paris has a 'genius' level intellect.. an IQ score of 141 'wants to find out how their (psychopaths) minds work'.
When Piers opens the interview, in which he is separated from Paris by 'toughened glass', Paris begins with 'Since this is going to be done for ITV would you like me to speak in Queens English'. The comment, clearly planned, is blurted out almost in excitement and followed with a self-satisfied smile. Immediately, arrogance comes accross reflecting his narcissism.

This interview is mesmerising in that, despite his attempts to control his responses, you see the presentation of psychopathy quite clearly in the detachment and monotone used by Paris in describing horrific acts.

The documentary provides context by showing videotaped interactions between Paris, his sister and his mother which while appearing normal and happy, contained the odd disturbing comment from Paris that may have revealed his mindset. For example, to his mother:' what is your favourite sentence?,' I don't know ',' kill Charity's children? '.

Piers carries it out in a professional manner, calmly yet assertively seeking information. However the focus of his questions, on asking Paris to describe emotions, while helping to reveal the nature of psychopathy, do seem unfair.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this documentary is the fact that Charity, who has another child, has not only remained in contact with Paris but that she encourages his contact with his sibling rather than putting as much distance between him and Paris as possible.

Because Paris was a juvenile when convicted he will be up for parole in a few years in spite of his diagnosis.
  
40x40

ClareR (6118 KP) rated One Year Later in Books

Aug 18, 2019  
One Year Later
One Year Later
Sanjida Kay | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
One Year Later by Sanjida Kay is a psychological thriller that had my heart in my mouth from the first page. It starts with an emotive subject: the death of a child - 3 year old Ruby. The family becomes fractured, no one deals well with Ruby’s death, and so Nick, her uncle, convinces his sister and her husband that it would be a good idea for the whole family to celebrate or mark the anniversary of Ruby’s death abroad and away from the bad memories. So they all go to a small island off the coast of Italy. But instead of this being the healing holiday that everyone needs and hopes for, secrets are revealed and it looks as though fractures within the family will become even worse.

I really think that Sanjida Kay has the voices of the characters just right: the mother who is barely able to function and hides alcohol around the house, just to get by and to be able to function for her two living children; the father who distances himself from everyone; the uncle who constantly thinks about his dead niece, and blames himself even though he couldn’t possibly be to blame; the sister who seems completely wrapped up in her own world of TV and her looks; and the grandfather who is responsible for the death of his granddaughter, but can’t remember what happened.

It’s such an emotional subject and so well written. I found myself very involved with these characters, and I couldn’t help but empathise with them. I was never quite sure if the person they all thought was responsible for Ruby’s death actually was, but I have to admit that I changed my mind a few times. The twist revealing the actual culprit came as a total shock and surprise.

A really very impressive book, in my opinion, and I’ll be telling everyone to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
  
40x40

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Castaways in Books

Oct 3, 2021  
The Castaways
The Castaways
Lucy Clarke | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
An intriguing and enjoyable mystery about one sister's quest for survival and the other's hunt for answers.

Lori and Erin are close having lost their parents at an early age. Things are not going too well for either of them but Lori in particular, so she books a holiday of a lifetime for them both to a Fijian island. Unfortunately, things don't go to plan and Lori finds herself on the plane without her sister. Disaster then ensues when the plan goes missing. Two years later, the pilot turns up - he has been working under an alias in Fiji.

What the heck happened? Why wasn't Erin on the plane? Where are the rest of the passengers? Did anyone else survive and why did the pilot go into hiding? So many questions!

Written in two distinct voices and time lines - Lori in the then and Erin in the now - the story follows Erin's search for the truth about what happened to her sister and the rest of the passengers and Lori's experience from the moment she realised something was going terribly wrong with the plane.

Lucy Clarke's writing is captivating and puts you right at the heart of the story; the two main characters are really well developed and you absolutely get a sense of the strong bond between the two sisters. The pacing is pretty good - the beginning is riveting, it dips a bit in the middle but then ramps up again towards the end. The plot is expertly weaved throughout with twists jumping from nowhere, just when you think you've worked it out, and with an ending that is quite satisfactory.

Overall, I enjoyed this book from an author I've never read anything from before and I would recommend to those who enjoy a bit of escapism albeit one with a few twists and hair-raising moments.

Thank you to HarperCollinsUK / HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
  
Changed (The Made Ones Saga #2)
Changed (The Made Ones Saga #2)
Vicki Stiefel | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
loving this series!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 2 in The Made Ones Saga, and you really should read book one, Altered, before this one. It does overlap/intertwine some with this one, and you need to hear from Kit at points along the way where it does.

Bree is Kit's sister. She has awakened on Eleutia, and finds herself at Catamount. Gato is Alpha Cat. These two butt heads a lot here, especially in the beginning but Gato soon becomes wise to Bree and her antics.

We catch up with Kit and Rafe, and what their scientists have discovered, and some more information about why Eleutia is dying, and more importantly, HOW comes to light. Still can't quite see where THAT's all going though!

Gato and Bree are perfect for each other, they really are, especially as Bree bonds with the cubs, which is unheard of for a non-cat. I loved that it took time for them to come together, to fully form their friendship, before they jump into bed with each other.

Gato does something here, which wasn't ideal, but all parties were in agreement and I'm intrigued as to how Kes manages to get free, hoping we find in the next book!

We discover what has happened to the third sister, Sybi, and how she comes to be in the land of the CastOuts. And her story begins right at the end of this one.

It's been a while since I read the first book (Aug 2019) so it took me a little bit of time to catch up with who all the major players were, and what was going on, but not long, and I thoroughly enjoyed Bree and Gato's story.

Wonderful series so far, I can't wait for Sybi's book!

4 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere