My Father is a Serial Killer
-Spencer Guerrero Read 3/14/2025-3/17/2025
To start, this is the second book of Guerrero’s I’ve read and I kind of started backwards – there is no required reading order as each is a standalone. I started reading Guerrero with My Mother-in-law Must die (which is amazingly outstanding if you have not read it yet), and I can clearly see the growth in writing between the two books. I really wish I had started with his first book as my first read to have witnessed the growth as I read along. Instead, I kind of feel like I fell backwards with this one. The overall story of My Father is a Serial Killer has great potential but the entirety of the book kind of fell flat for me – it’s still a great read, it just definitely shows he was in the beginning of his writing journey.
My Father is a Serial Killer is a gripping tale that dives into the dynamics of family relationships. It plunges deep into the broken family narrative with a backdrop of crime and psychological turmoil. There are multiple points of view throughout which helps give depth and realism. Guerrero tells us from the beginning the who, it is up to us to find out all the in-between by following along with the FMC, Venus and her husband, MMC Arthur.
The story is crafted with a blend of suspense and emotional depth, exploring the impactful themes of nature vs nurture, identity vs belonging, love vs betrayal, and trauma vs healing. By exploring these themes, Guerrero offers insight into how a child grapples with loyalty to a parent while trying to understand the monstrous actions they commit. Guerrero successfully balances the disturbing elements of the plot with moments of vulnerability and reflection, allowing readers to empathize with the character’s struggle.
While Guerreros’ main character development is one of the standout aspects of the book, his supporting characters were left a little lackluster leaving you with little to no connection with them as they just die off. The levels of complexity that he built up for the father challenge the reader’s perception of good vs evil as he isn’t merely portrayed as the archetype of evil, he is layered with personality. He shows moments of tenderness and charisma pulling the readers into the questionable duality in which he lives his life. This writing style and alternating pacing – ranging from heart-pounding situations to quieter, thoughtful passages, keeps the reader engaged from start to finish while questioning how much of our identity is shaped by our family and how much our environment is responsible for shaping who we are.
Even though the themes of violence and morality can be distressing, they serve as a mechanism for deeper conversations about nature versus nurture, the effects of trauma, and the search for identity. I love that Guerrero does not shy away from the difficult truths of life, making this an impactful read for those willing to face them.
If you are looking for a book that challenges your understanding of morality while keeping on the edge of your seat, My Father is a Serial Killer is worth reading. You will find a complex psychological thriller dealing with family drama, love and morality that keeps the pages turning. Sometimes the most haunting and chilling monsters are the ones we think we know the best.
As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author, present or future, for my review.
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