Paper Cut by Rachel Taff
After I read the book description for Paper Cut by Rachel Taff, I was immediately intrigued. True crime is such a popular topic in today’s world, with people obsessing over podcasts and documentaries. I liked the idea of a book that features a character who is dealing with the aftermath of their own traumatic past, while capitalizing on the true crime community. So in today’s Paper Cut by Rachel Taff book review, I’m going to be sharing some of my thoughts on this page-turning suspense debut.
And if you enjoyed today’s post, you can find more thriller book reviews here.
What is Paper Cut by Rachel Taff About?
Everybody knows the story. Nobody knows the truth…
Lucy Golden is a true-crime icon, infamous for the murder she committed while escaping a California cult twenty years ago. But as everyone in Los Angeles knows, fame is fleeting, and Lucy and her story are always just one news cycle away from obscurity. Not to mention, she’s fending off a stalker and moderating an icy feud between her acclaimed photographer mother and her scandalous rock star sister. Worst of all, online trolls are asking increasingly threatening questions about the legendary crime. Questions that could tear her life apart.
So when a hotshot documentarian makes her case the subject of his next film, Lucy sees a chance to silence any doubters once and for all. But as filming begins, she must return to the California desert and come face-to-face with a cast of players from her torrid history. Of course, the past is never what it seems, and long-buried secrets soon collide with present-day threats. Can Lucy stop her critics from digging up the truth before it’s too late? And how far will she go to protect the story she’s been telling—and selling—all along?
Told in a narrative split between the present day and Lucy’s hit memoir about her fated summer in the cult, Paper Cut combines psychological suspense with coming-of-age Californian cult noir and a sharp examination of the true-crime phenomenon. As incisive as it is propulsive, this mesmerizing debut will keep readers hooked until the last page. (from Amazon.com)
My Initial Thoughts
When we’re first introduced to Lucy, she is going through a difficult time. She’s living with her mother (or actually, her mother is staying at her loft) and they have a tense relationship. Toxic mother-daughter relationships are common. But it seems like everyone in their family seems to have a tense relationship. Lucy is a true crime icon, who has become well known for sharing her own experiences of escaping a cult when she was a teenager. But her book is selling less and less and she needs to find a way to stay relevant in order to maintain her career.
Her chance comes when a hot-shot documentary filmmaker approaches her to join his upcoming project. He wants to cover her story. And that’s great for Lucy. The anniversary of her escape from The Oasis is coming up, and this could be exactly the thing to reignite interest in her story. Maybe her publisher would release a special edition after the original success of the memoir.
But there are a lot of dangerous secrets in her past. And as the production crew starts meeting with people from her past, new parts of her story come to light.
Lucy is a Difficult Main Character to Read About
I didn’t really like her, to be honest. She just felt so negative and like she had a chip on her shoulder. But I guess that’s to be expected. She did go through a lot during her teen years. And her mother isn’t exactly the nicest person in the world. So I did feel like I should be more empathetic towards her as a character. It was just hard.
The Twists
There were some twists in this story that I definitely did not see coming! I really enjoyed this literary thriller for how thought out and unique the plot was. It reminded me of a Jessica Knoll book in a way. You can read my review of Bright Young Women here, if you’re interested in true crime related fiction.
It’s Darker Than I Thought it Would Be
Every cult has something weird about it, and the Oasis is no exception. I was really appalled as we got further and further in to the story. I couldn’t believe some of the truths that were uncovered about this cult. It was pretty gross and weird so just make sure you prepare yourself before going into this book.
In Conclusion
Thank you so much for checking out my book review of Paper Cut by Rachel Taff! I believe this is her first novel, and I found it to be very enjoyable. I liked the the topic and the development of the story. It’s one of the best books that I’ve read so far this year! And I know it’s only January but I’ve read quite a few books this month.
Our culture’s obsession with true crime and murder can be a little scary at times, but I think this book is a good reminder of why we care about this kind of thing. Behind every true crime story is a real person, and a real family, who was affected. And we need to be aware of these types of situations to better protect ourselves in the future.
I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy true crime, contemporary fiction, or literary fiction. This novel book will keep you glued to your couch as you turn the pages!
