Held in Slumber is unapologetic from the opening scene. It is a graphic serial killer tale that goes into vivid and fine detail of every abuse against women and every killing. This book is not for those who find descriptive and explicitly detailed assaults against women triggering. I personally wish the book had a detailed trigger warning section or content notes. I was unprepared for the brutality of the book, but found that it also contained some important social commentary.
I really enjoyed that book included the lack of support for families of missing women and how little is actually done to find them. The book also details what happens after a woman has been found dead and how little the system supports the surviving family. This was delivered as a seamless part of the storytelling and was not done in a preachy way but more of “this is the way it is” style.
I also enjoyed the way the discussion of medication was handled, and experimental medication in particular. There is little support, if any, for those who are struggling with mental health medication and this book does touch on this. It is not the central theme of the book, but I appreciated that it was mentioned. The book does keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat throughout. For those who enjoy graphic serial killer whodoneits that will keep you guessing, this is the book for you.