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The Light and Shade of Ellen Swithin
Ellen is tired of being overshadowed at work. Tired of watching less competent, entitled suits take the promotions she’s earned. But when one of them pushes her too far, things take a murderous turn. And it turns out the darker Ellen goes, the shinier her future starts to look.
Business can be murder, but it turns out murder can also be good business for Ellen. Torn between capitalising on her newfound success and desperately covering her tracks she soon discovers that others in the company are also interested in dramatically adjusting its toxic office culture. Will she be able to survive the competition?
Business can be murder, but it turns out murder can also be good business for Ellen. Torn between capitalising on her newfound success and desperately covering her tracks she soon discovers that others in the company are also interested in dramatically adjusting its toxic office culture. Will she be able to survive the competition?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
6 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 25, 2024
Well, that was fun. What starts with a deadly laptop case imbedded in the neck of a dastardly colleague we are introduced to Ellen. She’s been overlooked for a promotion, and after 6 years of being disregarded, has had enough. The dastardly colleague? That’s Noah, who’s been promoted to the job instead by the old boy network at The City. When no one is looking Noah tries to have his wicked ways with her. Ellen snaps. Hence the deadly laptop embedded in his neck.
What follows is comical, quirky, full of entangled plot twists and turns. Ellen rapidly unravels as she faces not only chaos at work but also upheavals at home with her partner Stephanie leaving, her landlady Mrs Cooperman attempting to evict her, and what about the cats? Does she flee? Does she stay? Both actually as she conspires to get to the root cause of what lead to the shady business dealings, insider trading, and the many nefarious deceptions.
I enjoyed this book very much. Especially how the author merged and fused so many twisty turns and characters together. Fun and recommended reading.
Thank you to Random House UK, Vintage, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
What follows is comical, quirky, full of entangled plot twists and turns. Ellen rapidly unravels as she faces not only chaos at work but also upheavals at home with her partner Stephanie leaving, her landlady Mrs Cooperman attempting to evict her, and what about the cats? Does she flee? Does she stay? Both actually as she conspires to get to the root cause of what lead to the shady business dealings, insider trading, and the many nefarious deceptions.
I enjoyed this book very much. Especially how the author merged and fused so many twisty turns and characters together. Fun and recommended reading.
Thank you to Random House UK, Vintage, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
August 26, 2024
The pace is good, some unusual twists to an intriguing story – but I found the pitch and ‘passion’ didn’t quite work for me, even though the author throws energy and enthusiasm into the writing. Too many stretches of credulity and plausibility made it tricky for me to properly engage - I wanted to sharpen my red pen and write questions, comments and suggestions on the side of the page!
It is an easy read, so perfect for the beach or plane or a lolling in the garden. Do read other reviews, too.
It is an easy read, so perfect for the beach or plane or a lolling in the garden. Do read other reviews, too.
May 9, 2025
Absolutely fantastic, couldn't put it down
This book literally has everything you would want... Its lighthearted but has serious topics running through its core. It's easy to read and gripping. It's a story that just keeps giving and giving.
As someone who has phantasia when reading, it was so well written that it all unfolded in my mind without effort. The little nuances and the micro aggressions were just perfection. As a white cisgendered homosexual male some of the race based micoaggresions made me cringe because I myself have been guilty of similar.
The main character of this story being a Queer PoC female was a first for me and so refreshing. The character and her plot line was used very well to express the daily struggles for someone of this position. The tokenism, of which there are 3, were used so well. The daily struggle of having to overachieve in comparison to the white male counterpart. The tokenism/Equality being used for the benefit of the corp but a hindrance to Ellen.
The homophobia/sexism faced on a regular basis highlighting how "normal" this is.
All this written into a story so well that it just flows, it doesn't feel "that deep" but on reflection it's just acheived to absolute perfection.
The story just keeps evolving, there's twists you don't see comin and it really kept me guessing. Thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly reccomend. Don't let my analysis of the deep topics put you off because they are executed so well throughout the story.
I'm hopful for a second installment of Swithin to see what else is to come, but if there isn't one, it doesn't feel like anything is missing.
This book literally has everything you would want... Its lighthearted but has serious topics running through its core. It's easy to read and gripping. It's a story that just keeps giving and giving.
As someone who has phantasia when reading, it was so well written that it all unfolded in my mind without effort. The little nuances and the micro aggressions were just perfection. As a white cisgendered homosexual male some of the race based micoaggresions made me cringe because I myself have been guilty of similar.
The main character of this story being a Queer PoC female was a first for me and so refreshing. The character and her plot line was used very well to express the daily struggles for someone of this position. The tokenism, of which there are 3, were used so well. The daily struggle of having to overachieve in comparison to the white male counterpart. The tokenism/Equality being used for the benefit of the corp but a hindrance to Ellen.
The homophobia/sexism faced on a regular basis highlighting how "normal" this is.
All this written into a story so well that it just flows, it doesn't feel "that deep" but on reflection it's just acheived to absolute perfection.
The story just keeps evolving, there's twists you don't see comin and it really kept me guessing. Thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly reccomend. Don't let my analysis of the deep topics put you off because they are executed so well throughout the story.
I'm hopful for a second installment of Swithin to see what else is to come, but if there isn't one, it doesn't feel like anything is missing.
August 7, 2024
2.5, I suppose, really, as there were spots where the prose wasn't all that bad.
I hate giving a low rating to an author who obviously tried hard, and this might have been a far better book if the editor was awake whilst working on it, but overall this was such a hard slog to get through that I feel I should spare other readers the tedium.
The core idea was good, and the story started out reasonably well, but got bogged down in two basic, but intrinsic, aspects: prose and logic.
In some parts of the book the reader is overwhelmed with filler (I do not need to know the order in which a protagonist puts on every item of clothing in the morning, unless it's germane to the plot; it wasn't), and in others is left rather confused, particularly at the climax, which was rushed and not enough explanation is given as to how the antagonist was foiled.
And logic, one of the most important things in a murder mystery, oh how it irked!
The first accidental killing was all over the place, and made even worse towards the end (I won't spoil - ha ha - the surprise); the keeping of the victim's phone (really?? has the author never seen a police procedural, ever?); the fact that the protagonist realises her long-standing neighbours are related to/know both the victim and the antagonist (that never came up in conversation before?); the fact that a protagonist who is so shy they can't even stand up for themselves at work can merrily go on to murder more people...these are just the main points. I won't even get started on the cliches of toxic masculinity, as they were mere caricatures that almost made me sympathise with the nasty men.
Overall, not an enjoyable read, irritating, boring, illogical and not a sympathetic character in sight.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
I hate giving a low rating to an author who obviously tried hard, and this might have been a far better book if the editor was awake whilst working on it, but overall this was such a hard slog to get through that I feel I should spare other readers the tedium.
The core idea was good, and the story started out reasonably well, but got bogged down in two basic, but intrinsic, aspects: prose and logic.
In some parts of the book the reader is overwhelmed with filler (I do not need to know the order in which a protagonist puts on every item of clothing in the morning, unless it's germane to the plot; it wasn't), and in others is left rather confused, particularly at the climax, which was rushed and not enough explanation is given as to how the antagonist was foiled.
And logic, one of the most important things in a murder mystery, oh how it irked!
The first accidental killing was all over the place, and made even worse towards the end (I won't spoil - ha ha - the surprise); the keeping of the victim's phone (really?? has the author never seen a police procedural, ever?); the fact that the protagonist realises her long-standing neighbours are related to/know both the victim and the antagonist (that never came up in conversation before?); the fact that a protagonist who is so shy they can't even stand up for themselves at work can merrily go on to murder more people...these are just the main points. I won't even get started on the cliches of toxic masculinity, as they were mere caricatures that almost made me sympathise with the nasty men.
Overall, not an enjoyable read, irritating, boring, illogical and not a sympathetic character in sight.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
August 1, 2024
Ellen Swithing is to discover just what she is capable of when the chips are down in DG Coutinho's darkly humorous storytelling. Whilst this was indeed light, fun and entertaining reading in some parts, often emulating the real life contemporary misogyny that women face, additionally it managed to irritate and get on my nerves too, the humour did not always work for me. Ellen's life is not going well, her partner has left her, and after years of service, she has continued to be and endured being overlooked when it comes to promotion, with the men climbing the career ladder being nowhere as good as her. As if this is not enough to make her gnash her teeth, the bully Noah is a sexual predator. It is all too much, pushing Ellen to discover exactly what she is capable of, smouldering inside her is a killer just waiting to pop out.
Let's just say that Noah deserves the laptop case that ends up in his neck, but will this turn out to be a one off act? Perhaps not, as chaos, more murder, and mayhem follow, including the problems of eviction, blackmail, romance, cats, unexpected twists and turns and so much more as becoming a killer, just fits like a comfortable glove on Ellen. There are aspects that kept my attention and other occasions when I was reading as fast as possible, desperate to get to the end, as the main character increasingly struggled to hold my interest. I think there will be other readers to whom this will appeal more, so please do consider reading other reviews. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Let's just say that Noah deserves the laptop case that ends up in his neck, but will this turn out to be a one off act? Perhaps not, as chaos, more murder, and mayhem follow, including the problems of eviction, blackmail, romance, cats, unexpected twists and turns and so much more as becoming a killer, just fits like a comfortable glove on Ellen. There are aspects that kept my attention and other occasions when I was reading as fast as possible, desperate to get to the end, as the main character increasingly struggled to hold my interest. I think there will be other readers to whom this will appeal more, so please do consider reading other reviews. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
August 18, 2024
In this darkly, comic thriller/ crime novel, the set-up is simple: Ellen, her girlfriend, their cats, a massive promotion announcement around the corner and a birthday to be celebrated... what could possibly go wrong? Only a bad day at the office that descends into the worst day ever, ending in murder.. and that’s just where the real thrill of the ride starts. What would you do succeed at work? What makes ‘Ellen’ such a fabulous read is that she is every reader who has ever felt overlooked at work, as she winds her quick-witted, sardonic way through a maze of murder, triumph, and ethical dilemmas? Can murder be ethical?
Like all great thriller/ crime fiction, it works because it brings alive every-day, social details that make it pop, even without the murderous mayhem. The villains of the piece are set out in painfully hilarious detail, instantly recognisable as the type of young high-flying businessmen, brainless wonders, full of braggadocio and misogyny. Instantly familiar and yet here, appearing with a new and horrific freshness. The scene where the girls in the office surprise Ellen with a birthday cake is a masterclass in how to showcase socially awkward racial faux pas, the kind Ellen has to deal with on a daily basis. So excruciatingly funny I had to read it through laced-fingers while moaning ‘nooooo!’ (so not one to read on a crowded Tube .. or maybe it is??). Wherever you read it, DO read it.. and buy it for anyone who has ever worked anywhere!
Like all great thriller/ crime fiction, it works because it brings alive every-day, social details that make it pop, even without the murderous mayhem. The villains of the piece are set out in painfully hilarious detail, instantly recognisable as the type of young high-flying businessmen, brainless wonders, full of braggadocio and misogyny. Instantly familiar and yet here, appearing with a new and horrific freshness. The scene where the girls in the office surprise Ellen with a birthday cake is a masterclass in how to showcase socially awkward racial faux pas, the kind Ellen has to deal with on a daily basis. So excruciatingly funny I had to read it through laced-fingers while moaning ‘nooooo!’ (so not one to read on a crowded Tube .. or maybe it is??). Wherever you read it, DO read it.. and buy it for anyone who has ever worked anywhere!
September 12, 2024
Overall I enjoyed reading The Light and Shade of Ellen Swithin. Good to see the patriarchy, in particular some really unsavoury misogynistic arseholes, get their come-uppance. I mean what female[-identifying] office worker hasn’t fantasised about whacking a leering or roaming-handed male colleague with their laptop? Seriously? Make that not roaming hands but grievous sexual assault and the gloves are well and truly off.
If I were to be less forgiving, I’d have to say that the plot is outlandish, the characters a bit two-dimensional and the ending, well, pretty hard to follow, to be honest.
I give The Light and Shade of Ellen Swithin a 3* rating because it’s a good read, but some may view that as a generous rating given the basic unlikeliness of the whole thing. You’ll be hard pressed to suspend your disbelief. But as an entertaining way to knock back a few hours and vicariously murder a misogynist, go for it!
#TheLightandShadeofEllenSwithin #NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest no matter how I acquire the book.
If I were to be less forgiving, I’d have to say that the plot is outlandish, the characters a bit two-dimensional and the ending, well, pretty hard to follow, to be honest.
I give The Light and Shade of Ellen Swithin a 3* rating because it’s a good read, but some may view that as a generous rating given the basic unlikeliness of the whole thing. You’ll be hard pressed to suspend your disbelief. But as an entertaining way to knock back a few hours and vicariously murder a misogynist, go for it!
#TheLightandShadeofEllenSwithin #NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing an ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest no matter how I acquire the book.
August 9, 2024
I haven’t read a novel about a murderous actuary before, but it’s a great concept – the cut-throat world of the City is the perfect environment for murder, and an actuary, whose very job is to assess risk, is perfectly suited to carry it out.
However, Ellen isn’t exactly the murdering type, until she’s forced to be. DG Coutinho skilfully (and extremely entertainingly) exposes how the murky sexual politics of the corporate world lead Ellen into a series of events that unfold with the precision of mathematical logic through a series of twists and turns that kept me guessing and up late at night to read just one chapter more.
I loved Coutinho’s characters – Ellen, of course, but also Martin, her long-suffering friend from the IT department, and company boss Vivianna, seductive but evil. The tangle of lesbian relationships made me laugh out loud in recognition. There’s a lot of humour in this book, despite its subject matter. Coutinho treats serious subject matters with a light hand, moving at a cracking pace, but also making you think. I rather fell in love with Ellen Swithin – I'd love to see what she does next.
However, Ellen isn’t exactly the murdering type, until she’s forced to be. DG Coutinho skilfully (and extremely entertainingly) exposes how the murky sexual politics of the corporate world lead Ellen into a series of events that unfold with the precision of mathematical logic through a series of twists and turns that kept me guessing and up late at night to read just one chapter more.
I loved Coutinho’s characters – Ellen, of course, but also Martin, her long-suffering friend from the IT department, and company boss Vivianna, seductive but evil. The tangle of lesbian relationships made me laugh out loud in recognition. There’s a lot of humour in this book, despite its subject matter. Coutinho treats serious subject matters with a light hand, moving at a cracking pace, but also making you think. I rather fell in love with Ellen Swithin – I'd love to see what she does next.
June 26, 2025
Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would - keeping it fun but still a thriller is so hard to do well and despite EVERYTHING I just could not stop routing for Ellen Swithin.
*Spoiler incoming*
Something about this being a happy ending felt really right for the story - controversial but our girl went through hell, let her have her corner office 🤷🏾♀️
4 stars for this one only because I wish Samantha and Martin were more significant. Like she told her ex fiancé she was a murderer then said ex fiancé just goes into obscurity except in small doses? We don’t even know how they made up in the end and moved past it. Also Martin just left…Why? And he left to the point of disconnecting his number which is weird and felt important but maybe I missed the reason why in my skim reading of certain parts?
*Spoiler incoming*
Something about this being a happy ending felt really right for the story - controversial but our girl went through hell, let her have her corner office 🤷🏾♀️
4 stars for this one only because I wish Samantha and Martin were more significant. Like she told her ex fiancé she was a murderer then said ex fiancé just goes into obscurity except in small doses? We don’t even know how they made up in the end and moved past it. Also Martin just left…Why? And he left to the point of disconnecting his number which is weird and felt important but maybe I missed the reason why in my skim reading of certain parts?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2024
Murder and mayhem in the executive suite
Surrounded by boors (both male and female) and passed over for promotion, is Ellen willing to do anything to claw her way up the corporate ladder? In an entertaining thriller, jam-packed with dark humour, Coutinho has given us another in the current trend for women taking charge through murder. Ellen, however, remains conflicted throughout, so she retains our empathy, whilst entertaining us with thoughtful deaths and a cat-and-mouse affair. Threats loom on every side and the plot stays taut to the end, and the innocent are saved.
A highly commended three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
Surrounded by boors (both male and female) and passed over for promotion, is Ellen willing to do anything to claw her way up the corporate ladder? In an entertaining thriller, jam-packed with dark humour, Coutinho has given us another in the current trend for women taking charge through murder. Ellen, however, remains conflicted throughout, so she retains our empathy, whilst entertaining us with thoughtful deaths and a cat-and-mouse affair. Threats loom on every side and the plot stays taut to the end, and the innocent are saved.
A highly commended three and a half stars, rounded up to four.
August 29, 2024
I feel sure that with some good editing and pruning out of the tortuous overlong metaphors there is a really good story in this book just waiting to be told. However, in its present form I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters or care about what they did or why. I wasn't sure if the author expected readers to be surprised by the misogyny in the workplace as it certainly felt like a well worn trope rather than any new observations.
Sadly it wasn't for me but hopefully I'll be in a minority, and many others will enjoy it.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
Sadly it wasn't for me but hopefully I'll be in a minority, and many others will enjoy it.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
August 29, 2024
Passed over for promotion again, the impact is devastating. Not able to pay rent arrears means losing the home. No pay increase means no saving for the wedding that keeps getting put on hold. Having to socialise with new team leader, who is a self entitled idiot means missing her birthday present to a concert.
A struggle and lashing out in anger has massive repercussions. Manipulation, uncertainty and self preservation lead to more decisions. Follow the twists and turns as one impact's directly the other.
Enjoy I did
A struggle and lashing out in anger has massive repercussions. Manipulation, uncertainty and self preservation lead to more decisions. Follow the twists and turns as one impact's directly the other.
Enjoy I did
April 29, 2025
Don’t be put off by the terrible title and cover. They don’t match the tone or the content of this outstanding story.
Look, I read a lot of books about women who kill. This one brought something fresh and different to the genre. Campy, edgy fun! Go read it.
I need to be clear about something, though. Samantha’s a terrible person. The couple are behind on their rent, so when her fiancée is denied the promotion they were counting on, it’s disappointing. I get that. But she gets angry and blames Ellen. That’s a hard no.
Look, I read a lot of books about women who kill. This one brought something fresh and different to the genre. Campy, edgy fun! Go read it.
I need to be clear about something, though. Samantha’s a terrible person. The couple are behind on their rent, so when her fiancée is denied the promotion they were counting on, it’s disappointing. I get that. But she gets angry and blames Ellen. That’s a hard no.
January 30, 2025
An absolute stunner of a book. The pace was just right and the drama and tension never failed to keep me hooked. The twists to the plot were riveting, and added to the persona of the book, meaning that I just couldn't sop reading! A charismatic book which filled me with the kind of pleasure I have not felt for a very long time!
September 22, 2024
A skilfully written page turner. DG drew me into a toxic world of diverse, dangerously flawed characters. I found myself wanting Ellen to get away with murder!
September 11, 2025
The book is incredibly well paced, with just the right balance of the lighthearted and serious. The plot twists make for an engaging read, too, and the overall story is very well put together.
September 19, 2025
This novel reads to me like a metaphor of the cutthroat workplace today. Everyone stabbing everyone in the back. I felt like I was really there. Reminds me a bit of Sweet-pea too.
July 26, 2024
I loved the premise of the book and think it could be a lot better than it currently is with some vigorous editing. The writing felt rushed, and the environment seemed bent to serve the storyline. While all of the misogyny described is unfortunately indeed something women deal with in the workplace, their portrayal seemed a bit forced and cliche. It was a bit like a checklist the author was working through of awful things in the workplace and they all had to occur in their most obvious form within the timespan of a couple of hours.
There were also a few statements that made little sense to me, such as the protagonist making puppy eyes to assure her partner. How would puppy eyes assure anyone that somebody will stop taking cr... at work? It seemed a bit of a stretch that the house owner has her deadline for buying the flat on the same day as her possible promotion which for some reason comes with a bonus in cash on the very same day (maybe it is a practice in other countries, I have never heard of that);. I think the events could have been spread out while still showing the tense situation the character is in.
I am a bit sad because I liked the story and feel it could be a great book with some editing and smaller rewrites. I still enjoyed reading it though.
There were also a few statements that made little sense to me, such as the protagonist making puppy eyes to assure her partner. How would puppy eyes assure anyone that somebody will stop taking cr... at work? It seemed a bit of a stretch that the house owner has her deadline for buying the flat on the same day as her possible promotion which for some reason comes with a bonus in cash on the very same day (maybe it is a practice in other countries, I have never heard of that);. I think the events could have been spread out while still showing the tense situation the character is in.
I am a bit sad because I liked the story and feel it could be a great book with some editing and smaller rewrites. I still enjoyed reading it though.
June 22, 2024
This clever thriller has many twists to keep you on your toes, and that's before karma joins in and stomps all over Ellen's life!
We start with Ellen being passed over for promotion and being sidelined yet again by the patriarchal boys club, who run the company she has spent years pouring her life into. The hopes of Ellen and her partner Samantha are dashed as a result, and Samantha chooses to leave Ellen.
Just when you think life couldn't get any worse for Ellen, it does. Noah, the douche who stole her promotion, tries to aggressively get into her pants... and Ellen snaps.
What follows is Ellen's descent into a madness that's cushioned by a comedy of errors, blackmail, power struggles, humorous situations, witty lines, feminine power, tension, twists, shifting suspicions, corporate hostilities, and cats. Obviously, no journey to hell (paved with good intention or not) is complete without cats!
*I received a free copy of this book from Random House UK, Vintage/Harvill Secker via NetGalley, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. *
We start with Ellen being passed over for promotion and being sidelined yet again by the patriarchal boys club, who run the company she has spent years pouring her life into. The hopes of Ellen and her partner Samantha are dashed as a result, and Samantha chooses to leave Ellen.
Just when you think life couldn't get any worse for Ellen, it does. Noah, the douche who stole her promotion, tries to aggressively get into her pants... and Ellen snaps.
What follows is Ellen's descent into a madness that's cushioned by a comedy of errors, blackmail, power struggles, humorous situations, witty lines, feminine power, tension, twists, shifting suspicions, corporate hostilities, and cats. Obviously, no journey to hell (paved with good intention or not) is complete without cats!
*I received a free copy of this book from Random House UK, Vintage/Harvill Secker via NetGalley, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. *
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews