The Red Parts

by Maggie Nelson
The Red Parts cover
Good Books rating 4.23
True Crime
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Paperback • £12.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 2799
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781473547841
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2017-06-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In 1969, Jane Mixer, a law student at the University of Michigan, was brutally murdered, her case remaining unsolved for decades. Maggie Nelson's 'The Red Parts' is a deeply personal and reflective account of her aunt's tragic death and the trial that took place 35 years later, after a DNA match identified a new suspect. Nelson's work delves into the complex emotions and moral questions surrounding violence against women, offering a profound exploration of grief, obsession, and the pursuit of justice. /n/n The book is not just a retelling of the crime and trial but a meditation on the enduring impact of such violence on families and society. Nelson's writing is marked by its integrity and moral precision, making 'The Red Parts' a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Reviews
The Guardian · 2017-06-02
powerful 4.50

A powerful and searingly honest account of a family's grief and the reopening of a murder trial after 35 years. The book reveals societal issues surrounding justice and trauma.

This review highlights the emotional depth of Maggie Nelson's memoir, which delves into the personal and societal implications of a decades-old murder trial. The reviewer praises the book's honesty and its ability to explore complex themes like grief, justice, and societal expectations.

Quick quotes

    Powerful and searingly honest, it is a deeply personal account of a family's grief, a wound reopened after 35 years.

    It also reveals a society grappling with the complexities of justice and trauma.

    The book is a powerful exploration of how personal and public tragedies intersect.

NPR · 2016-04-07
nuanced 4.00

The book chronicles the trial of Maggie Nelson's aunt's murder, reopened decades later, and offers no easy answers to the complexities of justice and grief.

NPR's review emphasizes the book's refusal to provide simple answers to the questions it raises about justice, grief, and family trauma. The reviewer appreciates the book's nuanced exploration of these themes.

Quick quotes

    The book chronicles the trial that ensues when the old, cold case is reopened.

    The Red Parts offers no easy answers to the complexities of justice and grief.

    The book is a nuanced exploration of justice, grief, and family trauma.

Amazon.co.uk · 2007-03-13
thoughtful 4.20

Customers find the book's readability positive, with one describing it as a beautifully written set of meditations. The pacing receives mixed reactions.

Amazon customers generally praise the book's lyrical prose and thoughtful exploration of grief and justice. However, some readers find the pacing uneven, which affects their overall enjoyment of the memoir.

Quick quotes

    Customers find the book's readability positive, with one describing it as a beautifully written set of meditations.

    The pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it uneven.

    The book is a beautifully written exploration of grief and justice.

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