What do you think?
Rate this book
Diary of a Teenage Serial Killer
Raised by her father to be a remorseless killer, Darla is trying to reboot her life as a college freshman in a bland Midwestern town.
When a lowlife at her cafeteria job tries to molest her, she's not surprised. When he takes another try and brings a friend, she's not unprepared. But the more she shakes them off, the harder they come back, until Darla's working her way up the org chart of an unsavory local business selling homemade porn cast with unwilling teenagers.
Darla just wants to be left alone, the same way her daddy wanted to be left alone. She's trying to make a normal life where no one needs to die.
But just like they wouldn't let her daddy alone, they can't seem to let Darla alone either. And just like her daddy, Darla has skills she can bring to bear on a difficult situation.
When a lowlife at her cafeteria job tries to molest her, she's not surprised. When he takes another try and brings a friend, she's not unprepared. But the more she shakes them off, the harder they come back, until Darla's working her way up the org chart of an unsavory local business selling homemade porn cast with unwilling teenagers.
Darla just wants to be left alone, the same way her daddy wanted to be left alone. She's trying to make a normal life where no one needs to die.
But just like they wouldn't let her daddy alone, they can't seem to let Darla alone either. And just like her daddy, Darla has skills she can bring to bear on a difficult situation.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2012
29 people want to read
About the author
Jem Fox
2 books2 followersJem Fox grew up wandering the bluffs near the confluence of the Illinois River and the great Mississippi, barefoot and bramble-torn. She is descended from a long line of storytellers and liars.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 10, 2012
I like it when I start a book and have preconceived notions about it's topic. And then am proved 100% wrong. From the title of this one, I assumed it would be full of maiming and somewhat random killings. However, it is more an explanation of why and how one becomes a serial killer, especially at such a young age. There's a kill or be killed type of reference. Daddy dearest tried his best to prove to Darla that there is evil in everyone and that everyone deserved to be wiped out. Darla tries to prove to herself that her father is wrong, only to realize that he's partially right.
This was a short story that kept me enthralled through to the end. It's not written like a diary, per se, more like a regular first person story. But you could see how it could have been a diary. A diary of a much older and wiser Darla. Maybe writing things down helped her see how she fell into that serial killer category and how if she wanted to live she would need to change her ways.
I was thrilled to find this book was not what I expected and enjoyable nonetheless. It was a fairly quick read and I would be more than happy to read more by Jem Fox given the chance.
This was a short story that kept me enthralled through to the end. It's not written like a diary, per se, more like a regular first person story. But you could see how it could have been a diary. A diary of a much older and wiser Darla. Maybe writing things down helped her see how she fell into that serial killer category and how if she wanted to live she would need to change her ways.
I was thrilled to find this book was not what I expected and enjoyable nonetheless. It was a fairly quick read and I would be more than happy to read more by Jem Fox given the chance.
August 12, 2021
The difference between my 3 or 4 stars is based in a single question: "would I read it again?"
And I know I will read this book again. This and other books by the same author, especially if they are about "Darla". I have so many questions about her life with her father.
I'm on the path of serial killers and family life... This will be a summer to remember.
And I know I will read this book again. This and other books by the same author, especially if they are about "Darla". I have so many questions about her life with her father.
I'm on the path of serial killers and family life... This will be a summer to remember.
May 2, 2020
Enjoyed the book.
May 1, 2012
Diary of a Teenage Serial Killer is a thriller with an interesting, fleshed out heroine, but superficial in it's other characters and with fast paced, but still not very exciting action.
The Good: Diary of a Teenage Serial Killer surprised me. Darla is a surprisingly well fleshed out character for the thriller genre. I was not expecting her motivations and viewpoint to be so thoroughly thought out. The best parts of the novel are when Darla is reasoning and thinking through how she will react to the situations she finds herself in. Jem Fox has done a great job bringing a character to life. She is also a character that can kick some serious behind. It's good when a thriller heroine can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
The Bad: While the creation of the character Darla is the best aspect of Diary of a Teenage Serial Killer, the rest of the characters are the worst. A lot of this is due to the diary format of the novel. It only gives Darla's thoughts and viewpoint. Still, the motivations of other characters could be drawn better through dialogue and interactions with Darla. None of the others caught my attention.
The scenes of the novel that are most action and thriller genre oriented are definitely not as strong as the sections where Darla is by herself and thinking through her options. The action is fast paced, but not very remarkable or exciting.
There is also one plot element that I did not at all find believable. I won't give it away because it is a big spoiler, but if you read it you will know what I am talking about.
The Bottom Line: Jem Fox has created a great thriller heroine, but the rest of the novel is a bit of a let down.
The Good: Diary of a Teenage Serial Killer surprised me. Darla is a surprisingly well fleshed out character for the thriller genre. I was not expecting her motivations and viewpoint to be so thoroughly thought out. The best parts of the novel are when Darla is reasoning and thinking through how she will react to the situations she finds herself in. Jem Fox has done a great job bringing a character to life. She is also a character that can kick some serious behind. It's good when a thriller heroine can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.
The Bad: While the creation of the character Darla is the best aspect of Diary of a Teenage Serial Killer, the rest of the characters are the worst. A lot of this is due to the diary format of the novel. It only gives Darla's thoughts and viewpoint. Still, the motivations of other characters could be drawn better through dialogue and interactions with Darla. None of the others caught my attention.
The scenes of the novel that are most action and thriller genre oriented are definitely not as strong as the sections where Darla is by herself and thinking through her options. The action is fast paced, but not very remarkable or exciting.
There is also one plot element that I did not at all find believable. I won't give it away because it is a big spoiler, but if you read it you will know what I am talking about.
The Bottom Line: Jem Fox has created a great thriller heroine, but the rest of the novel is a bit of a let down.
January 28, 2016
No sense of the main character being raised to be a remorseless killer or even that she's anything more then a runaway.
Kind of a waste of a fun premise.
Kind of a waste of a fun premise.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews