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My Murder
Lou is a happily married mother of an adorable toddler. She's also the victim of a local serial killer. Recently brought back to life and returned to her grieving family by a government project, she is grateful for this second chance. But as the new Lou re-adapts to her old routines, and as she bonds with other female victims, she realizes that disturbing questions remain about what exactly preceded her death and how much she can really trust those around her.
Now it's not enough to care for her child, love her husband, and work the job she's always enjoyed--she must also figure out the circumstances of her death.
7 hours and 52 minutes
Darkly comic, tautly paced, and full of surprises, My Murder is a devour-in-one-sitting, clever twist on the classic thriller.
Now it's not enough to care for her child, love her husband, and work the job she's always enjoyed--she must also figure out the circumstances of her death.
7 hours and 52 minutes
Darkly comic, tautly paced, and full of surprises, My Murder is a devour-in-one-sitting, clever twist on the classic thriller.
Audible Audio
First published June 6, 2023
1519 people are currently reading
73330 people want to read
About the author
Katie Williams
22 books622 followersKatie Williams was born and raised in mid-Michigan. She earned her BA in English from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her MFA in creative writing from the Michener Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Katie is the author of The Space Between Trees (2010, Chronicle Books), Absent (2013, Chronicle Books), and Tell the Machine Goodnight (2018, Riverhead Books).
Katie is the author of The Space Between Trees (2010, Chronicle Books), Absent (2013, Chronicle Books), and Tell the Machine Goodnight (2018, Riverhead Books).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,330 reviews
October 7, 2024
I can't count the number of times I go into a book with high expectations, drawn in by a heck of a premise, only to end up sorely disappointed. So imagine my surprise and delight when I encounter a book that's so much more than I thought it would be.
Lou is part of a serial killer survivors group. But she didn't really survive a serial killer, did she? Rather, she's a clone brought to life by a government program after her other self was killed. And she's grateful for this second chance at life with her husband and her young baby. But she's not really sure how she's supposed to feel, being a clone and all. And there seems to be mysterious circumstances surrounding her murder.
Going in, I really wasn't sure what to expect. On the surface, this seems to be a mystery/thriller, but Book of the Month put it in their literary fiction category. So whatever it was, I knew it wasn't just going to be your standard thriller. And indeed, it turned out to be something more.
If I were to put a label on it, I think it would be character-driven speculative fiction. Even though the book's title and blurb would have you thinking that the murder investigation was the focus of the story, it really was just a small part of it. Instead, the focus is on Lou and how she's doing and coping given her unusual circumstances.
You guys know me, I love anything science fiction related. And so of course I found the parts around cloning and what it means for Lou to be particularly interesting. This isn't the first time I've encountered the concept of cloning a person to bring them back from the dead, but it's the first time it's really made me think. If I were a clone of Yun, would I be Yun to others and myself? Or would I feel that the original Yun and I are actually two separate entities, and that I'm really an interloper in her life? It's quite fascinating to contemplate.
I also really enjoyed this book's portrayal of motherhood. I'm a new mom myself, and Lou's baby and mine are about the same age, so it particularly resonated with me. The feelings of uncertainty and wanting to run away, but also the fierce love and devotion, they all rang true to me. The only part that didn't ring true was how much time Lou had to meet with her survivor's group and nose around about her murder. But then we wouldn't have a story otherwise, would we?
As for the mystery itself, I found it interesting, but I didn't focus on it. And when the reveal came, I really enjoyed the way the story chose to go. It was both surprising and thought-provoking. Based on all the upset reviews out there, I can see why it might be polarizing, but it totally worked for me.
I'm glad this didn't turn out to be a standard thriller. I've read so many of those, it's hard to distinguish one from the other. As soon as I've finished with one, it passes from my mind. This one though, this one I'm going to remember. I feel like it came into my life at the right moment and was exactly what I needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.
Lou is part of a serial killer survivors group. But she didn't really survive a serial killer, did she? Rather, she's a clone brought to life by a government program after her other self was killed. And she's grateful for this second chance at life with her husband and her young baby. But she's not really sure how she's supposed to feel, being a clone and all. And there seems to be mysterious circumstances surrounding her murder.
Going in, I really wasn't sure what to expect. On the surface, this seems to be a mystery/thriller, but Book of the Month put it in their literary fiction category. So whatever it was, I knew it wasn't just going to be your standard thriller. And indeed, it turned out to be something more.
If I were to put a label on it, I think it would be character-driven speculative fiction. Even though the book's title and blurb would have you thinking that the murder investigation was the focus of the story, it really was just a small part of it. Instead, the focus is on Lou and how she's doing and coping given her unusual circumstances.
You guys know me, I love anything science fiction related. And so of course I found the parts around cloning and what it means for Lou to be particularly interesting. This isn't the first time I've encountered the concept of cloning a person to bring them back from the dead, but it's the first time it's really made me think. If I were a clone of Yun, would I be Yun to others and myself? Or would I feel that the original Yun and I are actually two separate entities, and that I'm really an interloper in her life? It's quite fascinating to contemplate.
I also really enjoyed this book's portrayal of motherhood. I'm a new mom myself, and Lou's baby and mine are about the same age, so it particularly resonated with me. The feelings of uncertainty and wanting to run away, but also the fierce love and devotion, they all rang true to me. The only part that didn't ring true was how much time Lou had to meet with her survivor's group and nose around about her murder. But then we wouldn't have a story otherwise, would we?
As for the mystery itself, I found it interesting, but I didn't focus on it. And when the reveal came, I really enjoyed the way the story chose to go. It was both surprising and thought-provoking. Based on all the upset reviews out there, I can see why it might be polarizing, but it totally worked for me.
I'm glad this didn't turn out to be a standard thriller. I've read so many of those, it's hard to distinguish one from the other. As soon as I've finished with one, it passes from my mind. This one though, this one I'm going to remember. I feel like it came into my life at the right moment and was exactly what I needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
This was a pick for my Book of the Month box. Get your first book for $5 here.
August 1, 2023
I was completely invested in this one until the reveal at the end....
Can't say much without spoilers....but it was one of the worst endings I've come across.
FYI: Goodreads lists this as a mystery/thriller, but it is not. I like to check edelweiss for the proper genre, which lists this as women's fiction, which I think is correct.
Now that I've settled down, I'll jot down a few thoughts...
This was such an intriguing premise: the setting is the future, and women whose lives were cut short by a serial murderer are brought back to life through cloning. The women know they are clones and experience short term memory loss, including forgetting their murder. The women meet weekly in a support group.
The story is narrated by Lou (Louise), who is a wife and mother of a 9 mo old daughter. Meanwhile, a video game is produced that makes a game of her murder. While this is gruesome, I think it was meant to portray the public's fascination with true crime.
Lou also bans together with a group of amateur detectives who investigates cold cases. We know from the beginning that her murderer has been caught, but there are questions that arise, and Lou goes in search of answers. We, along with Lou, begin to question just who she can trust.
I really enjoyed the world building, especially the cloning and the emotional effects on the cloned women, as well as the futuristic world. I was invested in finding out just what happened to Lou, and then we come to the end and all questions are answered. Which ruined the entire book for me.
I felt the author jerked the reader around for the entire book only to pull out an ending out of her hat like a magic trick.
Can't say much without spoilers....but it was one of the worst endings I've come across.
FYI: Goodreads lists this as a mystery/thriller, but it is not. I like to check edelweiss for the proper genre, which lists this as women's fiction, which I think is correct.
Now that I've settled down, I'll jot down a few thoughts...
This was such an intriguing premise: the setting is the future, and women whose lives were cut short by a serial murderer are brought back to life through cloning. The women know they are clones and experience short term memory loss, including forgetting their murder. The women meet weekly in a support group.
The story is narrated by Lou (Louise), who is a wife and mother of a 9 mo old daughter. Meanwhile, a video game is produced that makes a game of her murder. While this is gruesome, I think it was meant to portray the public's fascination with true crime.
Lou also bans together with a group of amateur detectives who investigates cold cases. We know from the beginning that her murderer has been caught, but there are questions that arise, and Lou goes in search of answers. We, along with Lou, begin to question just who she can trust.
I really enjoyed the world building, especially the cloning and the emotional effects on the cloned women, as well as the futuristic world. I was invested in finding out just what happened to Lou, and then we come to the end and all questions are answered. Which ruined the entire book for me.
I felt the author jerked the reader around for the entire book only to pull out an ending out of her hat like a magic trick.
July 27, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
STALKED. MURDERED. CLONED.
The Serial Killer’s Survivor group met on Tuesday Afternoons, moderated by Gert, who was from the Replication Committee, which had given each woman her life back, through a Government cloning project.
The name was a lie though, wasn’t it?
None of the five in the group-Angela, Fern, Jasmine, Lacey, or Louise had ACTUALLY survived.
Each STAGED by their murderer, with their shoes 👟 👠 DISPLAYED prominently beside them-so that the Police would realize that they were all the Victim of the same depraved mind.
DISTURBING. SURPRISING. ORIGINAL.
Set in the near(?) future, this novel of SPECULATIVE FICTION was one of my FAVORITE reads this year.
Although Louise (Lou)is desperate to find out the circumstances of her death, she does so with humor, and remarkable insight!
ADD it to your overflowing TBR list! 📚
This book was published by a smaller publishing house, and I haven’t seen it reviewed much, but it really is deserving of your attention! And, it’s AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title.
STALKED. MURDERED. CLONED.
The Serial Killer’s Survivor group met on Tuesday Afternoons, moderated by Gert, who was from the Replication Committee, which had given each woman her life back, through a Government cloning project.
The name was a lie though, wasn’t it?
None of the five in the group-Angela, Fern, Jasmine, Lacey, or Louise had ACTUALLY survived.
Each STAGED by their murderer, with their shoes 👟 👠 DISPLAYED prominently beside them-so that the Police would realize that they were all the Victim of the same depraved mind.
DISTURBING. SURPRISING. ORIGINAL.
Set in the near(?) future, this novel of SPECULATIVE FICTION was one of my FAVORITE reads this year.
Although Louise (Lou)is desperate to find out the circumstances of her death, she does so with humor, and remarkable insight!
ADD it to your overflowing TBR list! 📚
This book was published by a smaller publishing house, and I haven’t seen it reviewed much, but it really is deserving of your attention! And, it’s AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title.
March 3, 2023
Lou is married to Silas and they have an adorable baby daughter called Nova. Life is good until she becomes the fifth victim of a local serial killer. However, she is returned to her bereft family as part of the Replication Commission, a scheme to bring people back. She’s a clone of the original as are the four other victims. However, as Lou settles back into her life it becomes apparent that things are not as straightforward as they seem. She needs to figure out the circumstances of her death and work out who she can trust.
It takes me a few chapters to settle into this as initially it seems confusing. Then there’s a shift in understanding and I become fascinated by the original concept of the novel. I really like the dystopian feel and some aspects of this imagined future are so creative. In places it’s amusing, witty and smart especially some of the dialogue between the victims. What is particularly gripping is Lou’s realisation that things have not been great for her before her murder and that plays out really well with several jolting surprises. Parts of her story are very poignant and there is genuine love in one direction which is heartwarming.
The crimes sections of the novel are probably the best in my opinion and there are several twists that are very unexpected and that which shock. The ending is very clever so kudos to Katie Williams.
My only reservation is that the pacing is somewhat irregular as we shift between the past and the present. However, it’s a very different book from the norm and I really like the combination of sci-fi and mystery thriller.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline, Wildfire for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
It takes me a few chapters to settle into this as initially it seems confusing. Then there’s a shift in understanding and I become fascinated by the original concept of the novel. I really like the dystopian feel and some aspects of this imagined future are so creative. In places it’s amusing, witty and smart especially some of the dialogue between the victims. What is particularly gripping is Lou’s realisation that things have not been great for her before her murder and that plays out really well with several jolting surprises. Parts of her story are very poignant and there is genuine love in one direction which is heartwarming.
The crimes sections of the novel are probably the best in my opinion and there are several twists that are very unexpected and that which shock. The ending is very clever so kudos to Katie Williams.
My only reservation is that the pacing is somewhat irregular as we shift between the past and the present. However, it’s a very different book from the norm and I really like the combination of sci-fi and mystery thriller.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline, Wildfire for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 3, 2023
A futuristic sci-fi murder mystery with a killer twist!
Louise, Lacy, Fern, Jasmine, and Angela are all members of the Luminols, a group of clones whose past selves were murdered by serial killer, Edward Early.
The plot centers around Louise, the final murder victim before Early was caught and jailed. A new mother to nine-month-old Nova and Silas’ wife, she and the other clones are determined to find out why Early killed them.
In this Virtual Reality obsessed society, a video game is soon created about the serial killer and his murder victims. Louise and the other clones play along, hoping to uncover clues about their murders.
Louise also works at The Room, a business created to mimic a banned video game room that players didn’t want to leave. Here, she wears different skins to hug and comfort patrons who pay for her service.
Eventually, the clones’ investigation takes a surprising turn, and Louise must learn the painful truth about her murder.
My Murder’s completely unique and original plot, engaging characters, and darkly humorous tone captivated me from the first line. I listened to the audiobook, which is expertly read by Rebecca Lowman. I have read countless audiobooks, but haven’t listened to one of her readings. Lowman is a standout for me, and I can’t wait to listen to more from her! She brought Louise to life and perfectly captured the entire cast of male and female characters. I highly recommend listening to this one!
I am hesitant to provide more details about the themes explored in this book, as it will surely give away the twist. If you enjoy light sci-fi (I am immediately confused by complex sci-fi plots), this book will win you over too! My Murder deserves all the stars!
Note to publisher: The original cover with the woman peering between the bars is 💯 preferred over the one that now appears on the Goodreads book description.
5/5 stars
Louise, Lacy, Fern, Jasmine, and Angela are all members of the Luminols, a group of clones whose past selves were murdered by serial killer, Edward Early.
The plot centers around Louise, the final murder victim before Early was caught and jailed. A new mother to nine-month-old Nova and Silas’ wife, she and the other clones are determined to find out why Early killed them.
In this Virtual Reality obsessed society, a video game is soon created about the serial killer and his murder victims. Louise and the other clones play along, hoping to uncover clues about their murders.
Louise also works at The Room, a business created to mimic a banned video game room that players didn’t want to leave. Here, she wears different skins to hug and comfort patrons who pay for her service.
Eventually, the clones’ investigation takes a surprising turn, and Louise must learn the painful truth about her murder.
My Murder’s completely unique and original plot, engaging characters, and darkly humorous tone captivated me from the first line. I listened to the audiobook, which is expertly read by Rebecca Lowman. I have read countless audiobooks, but haven’t listened to one of her readings. Lowman is a standout for me, and I can’t wait to listen to more from her! She brought Louise to life and perfectly captured the entire cast of male and female characters. I highly recommend listening to this one!
I am hesitant to provide more details about the themes explored in this book, as it will surely give away the twist. If you enjoy light sci-fi (I am immediately confused by complex sci-fi plots), this book will win you over too! My Murder deserves all the stars!
Note to publisher: The original cover with the woman peering between the bars is 💯 preferred over the one that now appears on the Goodreads book description.
5/5 stars
June 11, 2023
Interesting premise and world building, but unfortunately I think this is a case of the synopsis not setting the right expectations for what this story is.
This story is less about a woman solving her own murder than it is about what it means to be brought back to life as a clone of yourself and all the identity struggles that come with that, which is an incredibly fascinating concept to explore, but as I came into this with the mindset of a murder mystery thriller I found myself slogging through descriptions of the protagonist’s daily life for the first 50% of the book before the action starts to pick up.
The conclusion ultimately felt a bit rushed and a bit incongruent with the rules of the world (is the law privatized now? You’re telling me genetics is so advanced that cloning a dead person with all of their memories intact at the exact age they were when they died is possible, but the investigators can’t pick up accurate DNA traces on a crime scene body?).
This story explores some important themes and raises a lot of intriguing questions, but I’m a little unsatisfied with the execution.
This story is less about a woman solving her own murder than it is about what it means to be brought back to life as a clone of yourself and all the identity struggles that come with that, which is an incredibly fascinating concept to explore, but as I came into this with the mindset of a murder mystery thriller I found myself slogging through descriptions of the protagonist’s daily life for the first 50% of the book before the action starts to pick up.
The conclusion ultimately felt a bit rushed and a bit incongruent with the rules of the world (is the law privatized now? You’re telling me genetics is so advanced that cloning a dead person with all of their memories intact at the exact age they were when they died is possible, but the investigators can’t pick up accurate DNA traces on a crime scene body?).
This story explores some important themes and raises a lot of intriguing questions, but I’m a little unsatisfied with the execution.
February 3, 2023
We don't get a lot of speculative crime novels and this one does the speculative parts really well. By far the best parts of this book are its near-future world. A good near-future feels recognizable with a couple of big changes, and this is mostly right on.
The crime novel part works, too, but the pacing and structure are wonky. You don't really understand what the book is doing until more than halfway through, which is a long time to wait. Once it does come together, it really works. Best of all, you get a very rewarding "aha!" moment that is just about perfectly executed, in that Williams gets you to reach a conclusion exactly when she wants you to without going full reveal. Very nicely done. For me, I just wondered a little what I was doing here for a good chunk of the first half, when it isn't clear what is really at stake.
The crime novel part works, too, but the pacing and structure are wonky. You don't really understand what the book is doing until more than halfway through, which is a long time to wait. Once it does come together, it really works. Best of all, you get a very rewarding "aha!" moment that is just about perfectly executed, in that Williams gets you to reach a conclusion exactly when she wants you to without going full reveal. Very nicely done. For me, I just wondered a little what I was doing here for a good chunk of the first half, when it isn't clear what is really at stake.
February 3, 2025
This is an unusual book.
In any typical murder mystery we have a few key points that we are addressing: victim, killer, and the individuals who solve the whodunit. As the novel progresses we as readers get to work alongside the detective or the amateur sleuth to identify the circumstances of the death, the identity of the killer, the motive for the killing and the details of how it all went down. That is the satisfaction we seek as readers. Right?
Well. In this story. It is all different.
We have the information already.
The victim is our protagonist Lou (Louise). The murderer, Edward Early, has already been caught and is in government custody. He is a serial killer.
There are just a few twists to this strange tale. Lou is alive. She has been brought back to life. And as part of a survivor's group being taught how to re-enter her former life.
Are you still with me? Because I wasn't sure I was. At first.
The premise sounded fascinating. Who doesn't like the idea of getting a second chance at life?
The novel explores the challenges and relationship dynamics to motherhood. Exploration of identity. Even social fascination with serial killers.
The twists and turns are in the characters and their development, and Lou's uneasy and complicated feelings about motherhood and domesticity. Not necessarily a focus on a murder mystery plot. Which is what I wanted more of.
But there are still the questions.
Did Early really kill Lou?
Did the husband do it?
Is the suspect lying or telling the truth?
Who can be trusted?
In this way, those of us who are murder mystery enthusiasts, still have a mystery to unravel. And, is that really what we want to do by the end of the novel?
3.5 stars rounded down
In any typical murder mystery we have a few key points that we are addressing: victim, killer, and the individuals who solve the whodunit. As the novel progresses we as readers get to work alongside the detective or the amateur sleuth to identify the circumstances of the death, the identity of the killer, the motive for the killing and the details of how it all went down. That is the satisfaction we seek as readers. Right?
Well. In this story. It is all different.
We have the information already.
The victim is our protagonist Lou (Louise). The murderer, Edward Early, has already been caught and is in government custody. He is a serial killer.
There are just a few twists to this strange tale. Lou is alive. She has been brought back to life. And as part of a survivor's group being taught how to re-enter her former life.
Are you still with me? Because I wasn't sure I was. At first.
The premise sounded fascinating. Who doesn't like the idea of getting a second chance at life?
The novel explores the challenges and relationship dynamics to motherhood. Exploration of identity. Even social fascination with serial killers.
The twists and turns are in the characters and their development, and Lou's uneasy and complicated feelings about motherhood and domesticity. Not necessarily a focus on a murder mystery plot. Which is what I wanted more of.
But there are still the questions.
Did Early really kill Lou?
Did the husband do it?
Is the suspect lying or telling the truth?
Who can be trusted?
In this way, those of us who are murder mystery enthusiasts, still have a mystery to unravel. And, is that really what we want to do by the end of the novel?
3.5 stars rounded down
July 8, 2024
WAIT I LOVED THIS SO MUCH????
November 28, 2024
I’m having the worst luck with books lately.
Just consider the innovative premise here: A woman murdered by a serial killer is brought back to life in a future society overflowing with technological advancements. Okay, she isn’t really brought back. It isn’t the once dead Lou sitting in on her serial killer victim support group meetings. It’s her clone. And facsimile Lou has some questions about her murder. Or original Lou’s murder, to be precise. That sounds promising, right?
Well, I hated it. You might have figured that out already. I was so eager for it to end and I really should have cut things off before it concluded. I could have forever wondered about what was to come while clinging to a fragment of hope that the book would get better.
I’ll give it this, though: There were a few interesting points made about society’s morbid fascination with serial killers, as well as what earns our sympathy, in terms of violence toward women, and the overall expectation of how women should behave. It’s unfortunate that the execution of what could have been a meaningful story was a miserably long winded disappointment.
What we’re given here is a glimpse into Lou’s slow, meandering thoughts. The promise of a taut, darkly comic read was not fulfilled. While there were surprises, I’d already predicted the first one before it hit, and the others were so infuriatingly absurd that it was not possible to feel any satisfaction as they blossomed
And then there was the writing. It was just… not good. It is not poetic to use three metaphorical expressions to describe the same thing. I did not appreciate encountering that redundancy so often in this novel.
But that’s not at all! I was also stuck questioning the point of lines like this: “‘Away,’ I wanted to say. Then I did say it. ‘The day went away.’” Was it really necessary to let the readers know Lou’s thought before she said it out loud? And what a strange response to someone asking, “Where did the day go?” They already knew the day went away. 🤦🏻♀️
But my fiery rage toward this novel didn’t need to be all consuming. The ending could have extinguished the flames. Surprise, surprise, friends. It did not. It was one of the silliest reveals I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering. The saddest thing is that I think the author was aiming to make a meaningful statement that would resonate with many other women. But what’s actually conveyed is alarmingly insensitive and unhealthy. Perhaps that was the author’s objective, given her other points about society, but I despised it too much to deeply consider what she might have been going for. I don’t think it was well constructed, regardless of what she was hoping to say.
Just consider the innovative premise here: A woman murdered by a serial killer is brought back to life in a future society overflowing with technological advancements. Okay, she isn’t really brought back. It isn’t the once dead Lou sitting in on her serial killer victim support group meetings. It’s her clone. And facsimile Lou has some questions about her murder. Or original Lou’s murder, to be precise. That sounds promising, right?
Well, I hated it. You might have figured that out already. I was so eager for it to end and I really should have cut things off before it concluded. I could have forever wondered about what was to come while clinging to a fragment of hope that the book would get better.
I’ll give it this, though: There were a few interesting points made about society’s morbid fascination with serial killers, as well as what earns our sympathy, in terms of violence toward women, and the overall expectation of how women should behave. It’s unfortunate that the execution of what could have been a meaningful story was a miserably long winded disappointment.
What we’re given here is a glimpse into Lou’s slow, meandering thoughts. The promise of a taut, darkly comic read was not fulfilled. While there were surprises, I’d already predicted the first one before it hit, and the others were so infuriatingly absurd that it was not possible to feel any satisfaction as they blossomed
And then there was the writing. It was just… not good. It is not poetic to use three metaphorical expressions to describe the same thing. I did not appreciate encountering that redundancy so often in this novel.
But that’s not at all! I was also stuck questioning the point of lines like this: “‘Away,’ I wanted to say. Then I did say it. ‘The day went away.’” Was it really necessary to let the readers know Lou’s thought before she said it out loud? And what a strange response to someone asking, “Where did the day go?” They already knew the day went away. 🤦🏻♀️
But my fiery rage toward this novel didn’t need to be all consuming. The ending could have extinguished the flames. Surprise, surprise, friends. It did not. It was one of the silliest reveals I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering. The saddest thing is that I think the author was aiming to make a meaningful statement that would resonate with many other women. But what’s actually conveyed is alarmingly insensitive and unhealthy. Perhaps that was the author’s objective, given her other points about society, but I despised it too much to deeply consider what she might have been going for. I don’t think it was well constructed, regardless of what she was hoping to say.
July 2, 2024
Would you want a loved one back.. if it wasn't their original body?
I love a short read, and My Murder was perfect for a dose of sci-fi/domestic thriller elements!!
I also really enjoyed the moral questions that the reading posed. I felt like I was pondering the ever-present 'what would I do?' problem when I learned what I was reading and what was happening - in a good way.
***TTLE was a BOTM add-on last month, and I’m so glad I started reading this weekend at the lake! Right now, my Book of The Month tally is 42 Loves, 22 Likes, and 5 Loathed. Learn more about a Book of The Month Club subscription here. (It's not a referral link, just FYI. 😊 Just my thoughts on why I truly think Book of the Month Club is the best book subscription box!)
I love a short read, and My Murder was perfect for a dose of sci-fi/domestic thriller elements!!
I also really enjoyed the moral questions that the reading posed. I felt like I was pondering the ever-present 'what would I do?' problem when I learned what I was reading and what was happening - in a good way.
***TTLE was a BOTM add-on last month, and I’m so glad I started reading this weekend at the lake! Right now, my Book of The Month tally is 42 Loves, 22 Likes, and 5 Loathed. Learn more about a Book of The Month Club subscription here. (It's not a referral link, just FYI. 😊 Just my thoughts on why I truly think Book of the Month Club is the best book subscription box!)
October 8, 2023
Very cool concept. I like the twist and turns. very captivating for the first 75% of the book but then the ending and the last twist was just not for me. I think she could’ve done a little bit better but it was OK -a good read , fast pace, page Turner.
May 23, 2023
4 stars
This book is a perfect example of something I would not have liked years ago, but today is something I really did. It pushes you out of your comfort zone and helps you grow as a reader.
It might have been a higher rating for me if it hadn't taken nearly half the book to understand what the point of the whole thing is. It's tough because I get that you need time to set up a world that's very similar (but isn't), introduce the characters, etc., but the 'why are we here' took a little too long. The good thing is that the payoff was worth it. So if you have patience to wait for the halfway point (the first half can be the "collecting data" part), then you'll enjoy this. If you don't think you have the time or patience, then maybe skip this one for when you do. This would be a great book for a book club because of all the topics it handles. I think if you're a mother or caretaker, this will really hit home.
Ultimately, a worthy read for sure. I enjoyed how different this was and I'm glad that I also listened to the audio, but had the book to accompany me. Definitely recommend, but for the right reader.
Thank you to Riverhead Books for the gifted finished copy, and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 5/23/2023
Publication Date: 6/6/2023
This book is a perfect example of something I would not have liked years ago, but today is something I really did. It pushes you out of your comfort zone and helps you grow as a reader.
It might have been a higher rating for me if it hadn't taken nearly half the book to understand what the point of the whole thing is. It's tough because I get that you need time to set up a world that's very similar (but isn't), introduce the characters, etc., but the 'why are we here' took a little too long. The good thing is that the payoff was worth it. So if you have patience to wait for the halfway point (the first half can be the "collecting data" part), then you'll enjoy this. If you don't think you have the time or patience, then maybe skip this one for when you do. This would be a great book for a book club because of all the topics it handles. I think if you're a mother or caretaker, this will really hit home.
Ultimately, a worthy read for sure. I enjoyed how different this was and I'm glad that I also listened to the audio, but had the book to accompany me. Definitely recommend, but for the right reader.
Thank you to Riverhead Books for the gifted finished copy, and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 5/23/2023
Publication Date: 6/6/2023
September 25, 2023
What if the murder you had to solve was your own? After falling victim to a local serial killer, Lou is cloned by a government commission. She attempts to return to her old life; you know, the one before she died. In the words of Harry Styles, you know it's not the same as it was... Is her daughter really her daughter if she didn't birth her herself? Is she still the same person to her loving, devoted husband? She is a clone, after all. This book combines so many different genres. If I were to rate this book solely based on how much I enjoyed the writing, plot, and overall "twist," I think I am sitting at a 3.5. Nothing much at all happened until about the halfway mark. However, I had to give the author a bit more credit for her originality. My thoughts summed up in one word: WEIRD! If you are expecting your typical murder mystery novel, you may not enjoy it. Open your mind!
August 14, 2023
2.5 stars. Nonsensical overload!
May 20, 2025
absolute dog through and through. could the twist have been any more nonsensical??
June 11, 2023
My mom heard about this book on NPR and immediately messaged me, saying I would love this book given the few keywords she heard. And she was right; this might be my favorite book I’ve read this year (so far).
It was a rollercoaster, sometimes I was loving it, sometimes I was confused, and sometimes I didn’t like the outcomes, but ultimately by the end of it I was pleased and wanting to start over… picking up the pieces I had missed along the way.
I don’t know who to recommend this to. It’s lyrical, it’s speculative, it’s thrilling… and nothing like I’ve read in a long time. It’s an A24 film waiting to happen. Don’t go in with expectations. I hope you enjoy it.
It was a rollercoaster, sometimes I was loving it, sometimes I was confused, and sometimes I didn’t like the outcomes, but ultimately by the end of it I was pleased and wanting to start over… picking up the pieces I had missed along the way.
I don’t know who to recommend this to. It’s lyrical, it’s speculative, it’s thrilling… and nothing like I’ve read in a long time. It’s an A24 film waiting to happen. Don’t go in with expectations. I hope you enjoy it.
August 8, 2023
This was extremely underwhelming
June 30, 2023
WHAT the HELL?!?
This was SO GOOD! I loved the writing style, the futuristic world, the mystery, E V E R Y T H I N G.
Wow wow wow. And that ending?!? Part of me saw it coming but also I was still SHOCKED.
And now my brain hurts because I’m thinking too much about clones and are they you? Or someone else? And what makes you YOU? Your body? Your memories? Or something else, something irreplicable? (Is that even a word?)
This was SO GOOD! I loved the writing style, the futuristic world, the mystery, E V E R Y T H I N G.
Wow wow wow. And that ending?!? Part of me saw it coming but also I was still SHOCKED.
And now my brain hurts because I’m thinking too much about clones and are they you? Or someone else? And what makes you YOU? Your body? Your memories? Or something else, something irreplicable? (Is that even a word?)
January 26, 2024
5/5 🌟
3/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
3/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Serial Killer
Stalking
Murder
Death
Cloning
Forced Proximity
Gaslighting
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR AND GLAMOUR!
“One of those rare emotionally intelligent books that are also fun reads… Going to keep readers turning pages late into the night.” –The New York Times
“Ingenious…fresh and unpredictable.” –The Washington Post
“Gleefully overturn[s] the age-old ‘woman-in-trouble’ plot…eerie and inventive.” –NPR's Fresh Air
What if the murder you had to solve was your own?
Lou is a happily married mother of an adorable toddler. She’s also the victim of a local serial killer. Recently brought back to life and returned to her grieving family by a government project, she is grateful for this second chance. But as the new Lou re-adapts to her old routines, and as she bonds with other female victims, she realizes that disturbing questions remain about what exactly preceded her death and how much she can really trust those around her.
Now it’s not enough to care for her child, love her husband, and work the job she’s always enjoyed—she must also figure out the circumstances of her death. Darkly comic, tautly paced, and full of surprises, My Murder is a devour-in-one-sitting, clever twist on the classic thriller.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I enjoyed this different take on a mystery thriller so much! That it also includes the highly controversial subject of cloning makes it even better. The cherry on top.
Imagine being cloned using your DNA after being brutally slain by a serial killer. Being able to not only ID your attacker but being able to see justice served!
This book is set somewhere in the not too distant future which also made the book different and fun.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
3/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
3/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Serial Killer
Stalking
Murder
Death
Cloning
Forced Proximity
Gaslighting
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR AND GLAMOUR!
“One of those rare emotionally intelligent books that are also fun reads… Going to keep readers turning pages late into the night.” –The New York Times
“Ingenious…fresh and unpredictable.” –The Washington Post
“Gleefully overturn[s] the age-old ‘woman-in-trouble’ plot…eerie and inventive.” –NPR's Fresh Air
What if the murder you had to solve was your own?
Lou is a happily married mother of an adorable toddler. She’s also the victim of a local serial killer. Recently brought back to life and returned to her grieving family by a government project, she is grateful for this second chance. But as the new Lou re-adapts to her old routines, and as she bonds with other female victims, she realizes that disturbing questions remain about what exactly preceded her death and how much she can really trust those around her.
Now it’s not enough to care for her child, love her husband, and work the job she’s always enjoyed—she must also figure out the circumstances of her death. Darkly comic, tautly paced, and full of surprises, My Murder is a devour-in-one-sitting, clever twist on the classic thriller.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I enjoyed this different take on a mystery thriller so much! That it also includes the highly controversial subject of cloning makes it even better. The cherry on top.
Imagine being cloned using your DNA after being brutally slain by a serial killer. Being able to not only ID your attacker but being able to see justice served!
This book is set somewhere in the not too distant future which also made the book different and fun.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
August 30, 2023
What if you were murdered, cloned, and given a second chance at life?
Would you go back to normal or try to find out who killed you?
This is the premise of this incredibly unique and twisty thriller. Read this if you like:
👯 Knife-sharp prose
👯 Futuristic science/technology
👯 Cloning
👯 Women helping women
👯 Loving marriage
👯 Likeable heroine
Would you go back to normal or try to find out who killed you?
This is the premise of this incredibly unique and twisty thriller. Read this if you like:
👯 Knife-sharp prose
👯 Futuristic science/technology
👯 Cloning
👯 Women helping women
👯 Loving marriage
👯 Likeable heroine
April 10, 2024
My local library’s book club choice for this month is a weird mash up of the murder mystery and sci-fi genres. Even with the twists and suspense of belief it was a breezy read.
June 28, 2023
It’s not terrible but supremely underwhelming.
I suggest adjusting your expectations bc this is not a thriller but more of a literary fiction with sci-fi elements and a mystery. If there was a genre called “going through the motions” then this would have a spot there. All the characters were pretty much wooden sticks who talked. The writing and pacing didn’t heighten real investment for the characters and dialogue. It was as if the novel as a whole needed a case of red bull bc the energy was missing.
The general plot is good but the execution was so disappointing and definitely failed the mystery within the story so bad. If you’re going to make clues and characters obvious early on, at least make the story fun and engaging to hold the interest of the reader. Also, one side character in particular and their logic made no sense by the end. How they got from point A to B, etc is the real mystery. lol So many things felt jumbled up.
I suggest adjusting your expectations bc this is not a thriller but more of a literary fiction with sci-fi elements and a mystery. If there was a genre called “going through the motions” then this would have a spot there. All the characters were pretty much wooden sticks who talked. The writing and pacing didn’t heighten real investment for the characters and dialogue. It was as if the novel as a whole needed a case of red bull bc the energy was missing.
The general plot is good but the execution was so disappointing and definitely failed the mystery within the story so bad. If you’re going to make clues and characters obvious early on, at least make the story fun and engaging to hold the interest of the reader. Also, one side character in particular and their logic made no sense by the end. How they got from point A to B, etc is the real mystery. lol So many things felt jumbled up.
August 20, 2023
The whole time I was reading this, I kept thinking of J.P. Delaney’s book, The Perfect Wife, as it had a similar vibe. However, the differences made it so I was kept on my toes about what happened to Lou. I really enjoyed the journey until the end. It was lackluster and not fleshed out well. The “why” is missing.
December 10, 2023
It’s been so long since I’ve read a thriller, but this one was a lot of fun. Wasn’t what I was expecting either. Definitely a worthwhile read. I’d suggest going into this one with as little pre-knowledge as possible. It’s really a ton of fun!
December 21, 2023
See, this is how you get me to like a lit-fic. You smuggle it to me in a genre.
November 6, 2023
I was sure this would be a 5-star read up through the middle and then it kept going downhill.
The premise is intriguing: Louise ("Lou") was a pretty, middle-class mother of a young child who was the last victim of serial killer Edward Early. There is a replication commission with the ability to create identical replicas of adults through cloning - including the memories and personalities of weeks or months old corpses. Due to recent bad publicity from a cloning scandal (one of their clones was a senator who was later revealed to be a rapist), the replication commission decided to clone Early's victims as a positive PR stunt. So Louise and her fellow victims are alive once again, and meet up regularly in a support group.
In this near-future, children have invented a catchy rhyming game out of the murder victims that helpfully gives a broad sketch of the killings (incredibly creepy, but not something that has ever happened in my living memory - we are about a century past the creation of skipping rhymes like "Lizzie Borden with an axe"):
Edward Early, Edward Early,
hunting in the dark
Edward Early, Edward Early,
left Angela in the park.
Fern he dropped in the shopping cart.
Jasmine he laid on the street.
Lacey he spun on the merry-go-round,
Louise he left with bare feet.
Louise he left with bare feet.
Although Louise is grateful that she was brought back to life, she is disassociated from her original (murdered) self. She may be a clone of Louise but she does not believe she is herself Louise. The other clones seem to feel the same way.
The early part of the book is best, especially Louise's blunt responses to people with a morbid interest in her murder (which she doesn't remember, but which Early described in detail to police). Williams takes on our society's obsession with murder as entertainment (see: all those murder podcasts, Hollywood and made-for-TV movies, and Netflix "documentaries"). And it is interesting to follow along with someone who has to live with the fallout personally and publicly of being a "famous" murder victim. I also enjoyed the support group in this book far more than the dynamics of The Final Girl Support Group, mostly because I remember hating every character in that book. The women in this support group are far less illogically dumb, even if they are not all fully fleshed out.
The worldbuilding is incredibly poor. I was willing to overlook that, as long as the book remained entertaining and thought-provoking. The boundaries of the replication commission are plot convenience (so the rich and powerful can be cloned - what does that mean to the populace that some people will live forever? What about political systems? Think about your most hated leader/politician- either in your own country or a dictator elsewhere - they can now LIVE FOREVER?!? Would the U.S. Supreme Court be the same 9 judges for literally forever?). The technology itself makes no sense - the perfect physical clone is classic sci fi trope, but usually the "memories" and "personalities" bit is due to previously "uploading" onto some system. In this case, there is no sense that people keep back-ups of themselves online. So instead, somehow, humans can clone memories/personalities from corpses? Angela, the first victim, died months (years?) before she was cloned - so even a desiccating brain can be cloned? We also learn that somehow this world has empathy-creation medicine (because it is given to Early), but chooses to only use it once someone has murdered people and not, you know, trying to prevent serial killers. I was willing to overlook this shaky worldbuilding until I started disliking aspects of the book for other reasons. It would be hard to create this plot in a completely logical way - and since I liked the idea, I was willing to sacrifice some logic to allow for this plot.
I was a little less willing to forgive the Early Evening VR (virtual reality) game that took up far too much space in this book. To really hammer home the murder-as-entertainment theme, a VR company has created a game where you can be Angela (who agreed to work with them and license her image/murder) and then be murdered by Edward Early. It then quickly becomes a PvP (player-versus-player) game where you could instead play Edward Early. So you just have a bunch of Earlys and Angelas, all on the same platform, murdering each other. It seems actually quite boring - there is no other worldbuilding or subplot or whatever. It is just a basic PvP VR with a thin "ripped from the headlines" skin. Williams has also either never played a MMPORG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) before or, more likely, is just making a Point, because the book heavily implies that every single "Angela" is played by someone who identifies as female and every single "Early" is played by someone who identifies as male. It therefore becomes an Evil Male v. Victim-Turned-Empowered Female morality tale. Because we all know everyone plays as their own gender online, and also that no man would identify as the victim and no woman would identify as the serial killer.
It is also frustrating how poorly the psychology of a serial killer is handled. Early's mother is a kind, thoughtful, empathetic, normal woman (or at least portrayed that way). Which...maybe....but every single real-life serial killer had an abusive/neglectful childhood. Even those who seem "normal" like the Golden State Killer and BTK, if you dig down have explosive anger issues and were domestic abusers. It is possible that Williams just characterized Early as an out-and-out psychopath who was going to murder people regardless of his upbringing, but then again, if that is so, how did the medicine change his entire brain pattern/chemistry to suddenly create empathy and why wouldn't that be identified and changed sooner?
But what really brought down the story was (1) the heavy drag in the middle and (2) the ending. Although the book had a great start, it started losing steam about a quarter of the way through. There was less emphasis on the forward momentum than Louise pondering her life/motherhood/her childhood. Nearly every other chapter was dedicated to Louise's musings. For instance there is a chapter entitled "Staying" all about how Louise has "always been good at staying." These chapters appear to be to round Louise out as a character and to develop the book's themes (that become obvious with the ending), but all they served to do was make Louise wallow in navel-gazing and slow down the plot development.
It wasn't until I got to the chapter entitled "Leaving" that I identified what felt off about the writing. In "Leaving," Louise described "a friend whose lover would recount in exhaustive detail all the dreams he'd had the night before." Eventually, the friend "changer her number, her apartment, her job, and her friends, all so that he wouldn't be able to find her." Because it was the kindest thing she could think of to make herself into someone from his dreams, who disappeared come morning. I read that and just stopped cold. It is the stupidest thing I think I've read this year. It reads exactly like an MFA exercise -a thought-experiment of a chapter, not something that would happen to a real person ever. I understand thematically why it is there, but it completely pulls one out of the story. There are people who are being actively stalked and harassed and don't pull up all their roots and put themselves in a self-imposed witness protection like state, because leaving your entire life and all of your friends (and, one has to suppose, family) and create a brand new identity and start for yourself is incredibly difficult. And this "friend" supposedly did it because her boyfriend talked about his dreams too much and she thought ghosting him was therefore the kindest thing? On what planet? It doesn't make sense because it is not supposed to make sense - it's a metaphor wrapped in an anecdote. And then I flipped to the author bio and, sure enough, Williams earned her MFA and is an assistant professor in a writing department. Then this book made so much more sense. The problems I had with this book are the problems I have with many books that feel like the product of an MFA project - technically proficient, but more focused on theme and language than actual character psychology or worldbuilding.
The ending was what really sunk the book. The ending was so frustrating. It underlined the feeling that these characters were never meant to be real people (as much as any character is real), but just pieces in a thought-experiment. Spoilers below:
The premise is intriguing: Louise ("Lou") was a pretty, middle-class mother of a young child who was the last victim of serial killer Edward Early. There is a replication commission with the ability to create identical replicas of adults through cloning - including the memories and personalities of weeks or months old corpses. Due to recent bad publicity from a cloning scandal (one of their clones was a senator who was later revealed to be a rapist), the replication commission decided to clone Early's victims as a positive PR stunt. So Louise and her fellow victims are alive once again, and meet up regularly in a support group.
In this near-future, children have invented a catchy rhyming game out of the murder victims that helpfully gives a broad sketch of the killings (incredibly creepy, but not something that has ever happened in my living memory - we are about a century past the creation of skipping rhymes like "Lizzie Borden with an axe"):
Edward Early, Edward Early,
hunting in the dark
Edward Early, Edward Early,
left Angela in the park.
Fern he dropped in the shopping cart.
Jasmine he laid on the street.
Lacey he spun on the merry-go-round,
Louise he left with bare feet.
Louise he left with bare feet.
Although Louise is grateful that she was brought back to life, she is disassociated from her original (murdered) self. She may be a clone of Louise but she does not believe she is herself Louise. The other clones seem to feel the same way.
The early part of the book is best, especially Louise's blunt responses to people with a morbid interest in her murder (which she doesn't remember, but which Early described in detail to police). Williams takes on our society's obsession with murder as entertainment (see: all those murder podcasts, Hollywood and made-for-TV movies, and Netflix "documentaries"). And it is interesting to follow along with someone who has to live with the fallout personally and publicly of being a "famous" murder victim. I also enjoyed the support group in this book far more than the dynamics of The Final Girl Support Group, mostly because I remember hating every character in that book. The women in this support group are far less illogically dumb, even if they are not all fully fleshed out.
The worldbuilding is incredibly poor. I was willing to overlook that, as long as the book remained entertaining and thought-provoking. The boundaries of the replication commission are plot convenience (so the rich and powerful can be cloned - what does that mean to the populace that some people will live forever? What about political systems? Think about your most hated leader/politician- either in your own country or a dictator elsewhere - they can now LIVE FOREVER?!? Would the U.S. Supreme Court be the same 9 judges for literally forever?). The technology itself makes no sense - the perfect physical clone is classic sci fi trope, but usually the "memories" and "personalities" bit is due to previously "uploading" onto some system. In this case, there is no sense that people keep back-ups of themselves online. So instead, somehow, humans can clone memories/personalities from corpses? Angela, the first victim, died months (years?) before she was cloned - so even a desiccating brain can be cloned? We also learn that somehow this world has empathy-creation medicine (because it is given to Early), but chooses to only use it once someone has murdered people and not, you know, trying to prevent serial killers. I was willing to overlook this shaky worldbuilding until I started disliking aspects of the book for other reasons. It would be hard to create this plot in a completely logical way - and since I liked the idea, I was willing to sacrifice some logic to allow for this plot.
I was a little less willing to forgive the Early Evening VR (virtual reality) game that took up far too much space in this book. To really hammer home the murder-as-entertainment theme, a VR company has created a game where you can be Angela (who agreed to work with them and license her image/murder) and then be murdered by Edward Early. It then quickly becomes a PvP (player-versus-player) game where you could instead play Edward Early. So you just have a bunch of Earlys and Angelas, all on the same platform, murdering each other. It seems actually quite boring - there is no other worldbuilding or subplot or whatever. It is just a basic PvP VR with a thin "ripped from the headlines" skin. Williams has also either never played a MMPORG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) before or, more likely, is just making a Point, because the book heavily implies that every single "Angela" is played by someone who identifies as female and every single "Early" is played by someone who identifies as male. It therefore becomes an Evil Male v. Victim-Turned-Empowered Female morality tale. Because we all know everyone plays as their own gender online, and also that no man would identify as the victim and no woman would identify as the serial killer.
It is also frustrating how poorly the psychology of a serial killer is handled. Early's mother is a kind, thoughtful, empathetic, normal woman (or at least portrayed that way). Which...maybe....but every single real-life serial killer had an abusive/neglectful childhood. Even those who seem "normal" like the Golden State Killer and BTK, if you dig down have explosive anger issues and were domestic abusers. It is possible that Williams just characterized Early as an out-and-out psychopath who was going to murder people regardless of his upbringing, but then again, if that is so, how did the medicine change his entire brain pattern/chemistry to suddenly create empathy and why wouldn't that be identified and changed sooner?
But what really brought down the story was (1) the heavy drag in the middle and (2) the ending. Although the book had a great start, it started losing steam about a quarter of the way through. There was less emphasis on the forward momentum than Louise pondering her life/motherhood/her childhood. Nearly every other chapter was dedicated to Louise's musings. For instance there is a chapter entitled "Staying" all about how Louise has "always been good at staying." These chapters appear to be to round Louise out as a character and to develop the book's themes (that become obvious with the ending), but all they served to do was make Louise wallow in navel-gazing and slow down the plot development.
It wasn't until I got to the chapter entitled "Leaving" that I identified what felt off about the writing. In "Leaving," Louise described "a friend whose lover would recount in exhaustive detail all the dreams he'd had the night before." Eventually, the friend "changer her number, her apartment, her job, and her friends, all so that he wouldn't be able to find her." Because it was the kindest thing she could think of to make herself into someone from his dreams, who disappeared come morning. I read that and just stopped cold. It is the stupidest thing I think I've read this year. It reads exactly like an MFA exercise -a thought-experiment of a chapter, not something that would happen to a real person ever. I understand thematically why it is there, but it completely pulls one out of the story. There are people who are being actively stalked and harassed and don't pull up all their roots and put themselves in a self-imposed witness protection like state, because leaving your entire life and all of your friends (and, one has to suppose, family) and create a brand new identity and start for yourself is incredibly difficult. And this "friend" supposedly did it because her boyfriend talked about his dreams too much and she thought ghosting him was therefore the kindest thing? On what planet? It doesn't make sense because it is not supposed to make sense - it's a metaphor wrapped in an anecdote. And then I flipped to the author bio and, sure enough, Williams earned her MFA and is an assistant professor in a writing department. Then this book made so much more sense. The problems I had with this book are the problems I have with many books that feel like the product of an MFA project - technically proficient, but more focused on theme and language than actual character psychology or worldbuilding.
The ending was what really sunk the book. The ending was so frustrating. It underlined the feeling that these characters were never meant to be real people (as much as any character is real), but just pieces in a thought-experiment. Spoilers below:
March 2, 2024
One of my pet peeves - when they advertise a novel as one thing and it turns out to be something else
No thank you
Dnf
No thank you
Dnf
July 28, 2023
My Murder by Katie Williams is a very clever, sometimes a bit confusing, novel about a serial killer and the cloning of his murder victims. This is definitely something I have never read before, and I loved the blend of mystery and insight. I don't think I would have appreciated this book had I read it even a year ago, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. Even though it was at times confusing, I thought I ultimately understood it and it just took me an extra minute to appreciate it. There were a lot more twists than I was expecting and even though I had to rewind one to fully understand it, boy was it a doozy! I have a feeling that if I read or listened to this again, I would pick up on things I missed, and there really is a lot to take in from this story.
I also happened to love the audiobook which is narrated by Rebecca Lowman. I couldn't have imagined anyone else being the voice of Lou and she did an incredible job narrating. I think My Murder would be a little confusing if you read or listen to it, so I would recommend going with the audio if possible. I only found out about this because of a rave Bookstagram review, and I am so happy I did, because I don't know if I would have found out about it otherwise. Williams is clearly very smart, and it comes through in her writing of this novel. It makes you think while keeping you engaged, and I highly recommend it if you enjoy speculative fiction, futuristic worlds, and thrillers!
I also happened to love the audiobook which is narrated by Rebecca Lowman. I couldn't have imagined anyone else being the voice of Lou and she did an incredible job narrating. I think My Murder would be a little confusing if you read or listen to it, so I would recommend going with the audio if possible. I only found out about this because of a rave Bookstagram review, and I am so happy I did, because I don't know if I would have found out about it otherwise. Williams is clearly very smart, and it comes through in her writing of this novel. It makes you think while keeping you engaged, and I highly recommend it if you enjoy speculative fiction, futuristic worlds, and thrillers!
July 27, 2023
This book was a disaster. I had pre ordered it as my most anticipated reads of 2023.
A complete disappointment. It was all over the place, no character development, a futuristic world that was hard to follow.
We were just suppose to understand this new future world, with very little explanation or description of it.
The only good writing in this book is who wrote the book description.
Amazing cover art.
I hate to give books one star i have only ever done it one time before. So now twice.
⭐️
A complete disappointment. It was all over the place, no character development, a futuristic world that was hard to follow.
We were just suppose to understand this new future world, with very little explanation or description of it.
The only good writing in this book is who wrote the book description.
Amazing cover art.
I hate to give books one star i have only ever done it one time before. So now twice.
⭐️
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