The Language of Bodies

by Suzanne DeWitt Hall

Maddie Wells' life spirals out of control after the murder of her wife Char, a transgender woman of color. Hunger for revenge drives Maddie to take a job at a wax museum near the murderer's hometown, where she studies revenge and plots how to strike back. Befriending the murderer's wife is the first stage in Maddie's plan to make him pay. The Language of Bodies probes the seduction of vengeance using vivid, sensual imagery to explore how love transcends the particulars of body parts, and how revenge blurs the line between victim and perpetrator, hero and villain. It's a gorgeous, dark tale about the enduring power of love, and the human spirit's unwillingness to give up.

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Mystery, Queer, Thriller

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2022

About the author

Suzanne DeWitt Hall (she/they) is the author of The Language of Bodies (Woodhall Press, October 2022), which Wally Lamb called "...a film noir between covers—dark, tense, and sexy."

She also penned the Where True Love Is devotionals, the Living in Hope series which supports the family and friends of transgender people, The Path of Unlearning faith deconstruction books, and the Rumplepimple adventures.

Suzanne lives with her transgender husband, two terriers, and a cat named Chicken. Her work is designed to shine the light of love into hearts darkened by discrimination and fear. You can learn more at www.sdewitthall.com

Reviews

[T’Layne Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure at first, primarily because my expectations for this story were all wrong. I was expecting a fast paced vengeance based genre novel, this is not that. Instead this is a quirky, gentle, deeply emotional examination of grief. Hall has packed so much into this story of a woman struggling to come to terms with the brutal hate filled murder of her wife, an out Black Trans woman. I felt Hall was able to balance the weight of such heaviness and cruelty with the quirky banality of life that endures during a crisis. I found the relentlessness of the MC’s (irrational?) thinking well written and relatable, and her grief, when it finally softens, so moving that I cried.
There is quite a bit of religion/spirituality/Christianity in this story. It’s scattered throughout, and never reaches a point where I felt I was being proselytised to, but enough that I noticed, and wondered, why so much? The inclusion does encompass the anti queer hate that Christianity fosters, so it’s not all ‘pro’ religion. (I have since looked up the author, and discovered she is a Christian author)
Also, I’m not comfortable with the way the depiction of the murdered Black trans wife was written into the story. On one hand it makes sense that a truly beloved spouse may become idealised and almost angelic in grief. However, on the other hand, the only Black character in the story being brutalised and murdered, and that murder being the device from which all the white characters learn and grow makes me pretty uncomfortable. This is too close to the ‘magical negro’ trope. I wonder if the choice to make the murdered character a Black trans woman was an attempt to recognise and shine light on the real life murder rates of trans women of colour? I don’t know. But I did feel icky about some of this (I don’t want to explain specifics because of spoilers).
There was a lot to love about this novel. There are complexities and choices that are so understanding and others that are quite surprising. But there are also some issues. I would recommend, with the above caveats, and a big CW for anti queer hate and violence.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy of this book. I will never be the same. I have read and reviewed more books than I can remember in my forty plus years on this planet. DeWitt Hall's writing style makes me wonder if Wally Lamb and Paul Harding had a protégé named Suzanne.

I laughed, pondered, wept, and applauded. The writing is brilliant. When you read this book I suggest you do it with tissues, popcorn, and time. It will change you. It will make you want to stand up for love and marginalized people. I am off to read every word this author has ever written.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book beautifully depicts love, grief, vengeance and redemption. I’m not crying, you’re crying.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Char’s life was a song of gratitude.” A ‘will she do it’ rather than a ‘whodunnit,’ this beautiful story of love, grief, and revenge is centered on the main character surviving the guilt she feels when her wife, a trans woman of color, is murdered. This story, stemming from the real murder of a trans woman in Missouri, has interesting subplots that kept surprising me throughout. I highly recommend this book for a deeper understanding of a non-traditional yet ‘normal’ marriage, and just for a riveting story that keeps you up late at night wanting to know what happens! #LGBTQIA+

Themes of compassion, forgiveness, and redemption are woven throughout.

A searing portrait of the anguish of grief and a wife’s thirst for revenge for the murder of a beautiful, powerful transwoman.

“In her view, feeling shame about ourselves was a rejection of the gift of existence.” Page 154.

“Char’s life was a song of gratitude.”

“It was beginning to feel like flashes of heat lightning, striking suddenly in a summer sky, to stun the cicadas and birds into silence.”

A creative telling of the poisonous emotions such as guilt that can keep us from living happily.

[Honey Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know if they wanted to make Maddie likable, because I absolutely didn’t, but they did make her very human. But in doing so she came off so self centered. Every time she recalled a moment with Char or imagined one, it was always centered around Maddies needs and wants.

Denying Char’s body as her own while she lay in the morgue was for her own self preservation and in doing so she actively denied Char, which disgusted me.

And when Maddie was recounting the last moments with Char, seeing Char’s speech and the lack of “her” love sign, she was angry because she didn’t get something she wanted! Char was upset and if you don’t feel Love in that moment why would you say something or do something that your hearts not in? But Maddie didn’t take it as that, she took it as an attack and a denial of something that was her right (which it was not)

the actions of dismantling Char’s spiritual space after she’s gone reads as her own uncomfortability in spirituality but was also so disrespectful.

AND even the beginning with thinking of herself if she did what Char had wanted by spending the insurance money, how uncomfortable she would be creating a charity/foundation. Reads like “why couldn’t char have just taken care of me let me run away. Why do I have to honor her memory the way she wants me to?”

And Maddie loosing her morals in order to enact revenge, going with the conservative ideals, playing up her size, her frailty, and her whiteness all for the potential to throw away her life plays a stark contrast to Char even in her final moments. Char was a pioneer in her career, daring to be seen and heard, and even at the sanctuary she prayed and she fought because she wanted to live.

Even her redemption arc was very short and kinda abrupt and didn’t nullify her actions and mindset over the whole book

the lesbian representation was nice but I would honestly love to read a short story from Char’s point of view In those few days. She’s the successful Afro-indigenous trans woman with a complex relationship with her spiritual upbringing who became a memory and ancestor to the lgbtq+ community.

[Lennon Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

utterly amazing book, some of the best character development and plotline i've seen in a long time. only complaint is that it is clear the author had a view of the southwestern route 66, while the book was taking place in the midwest. the inspiration was clearly taken from the arizona-new mexico stretch of the 66, and had the book taken place in AZ, none of the plot would've had to change, nor would it have erased the whole redneck homophobe sideplot.

goodreads is NOT great about trigger warnings, so coming from a trans person (a white one at that), this is an incredibly difficult book to get through. the main plot point is centered around the killing of a trans woman of color, which is an all too real and familiar story to our community. it was beautifully written through the eyes of someone lucky enough to love a trans person, but hard to read nonetheless. if you are at all sensitive or triggered by this topic and its graphic description, i would not recommend this book. other than that it is wonderfully written and thought out, and is 100% something you need to read.

[Julianna August · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Language of Bodies by Suzanne DeWitt Hall is a harrowing journey of vengeance after the hate-filled murder of main character Maddie's wife Charlotte. This is so unlike what I usually read. What I expected to be a fast thriller ended up being a deep, introspective reflection of grief and slow healing. The characters were incredibly complex, and we learn a lot about Maddie alongside her. I do not recommend this story for anyone who is triggered by the following items:

Trigger Warnings: transphobia, homophobia, graphic depictions of murder, body mutilation, sexual assault, attempted murder, sex with dubious consent

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not think I would enjoy this book as much as I did but I loved it! The story line seemed like real human emotions that someone would experience in her sort of situation and finding ways to love again.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely outstanding. literally broke me!!! a masterful portrait of grief, queerness, and healing. especially touching as someone who grew up in the South. probably a top 10 book, ever. i adored this and I have nothing else to say except literally everyone should read this.

[Tricia G · Rating 4 out of 5]

unhinged but in an enjoyable way

[Chloe Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part haunting grief portrait, part bittersweet love story, part odyssey of healing and hope, The Language of Bodies is a powerful novel that captivates the reader’s emotions from start to finish.

The main character Maddie is ensnared by an unrelenting thirst for revenge against the man who murdered her wife, a transgender woman and activist. Her quest is filled with agony, guilt, hatred, but also surprising flashes of enlightenment, humanity, and hope. The journey through the darker and lighter ends of this emotional spectrum is riveting, and even suspenseful as the reader accompanies Maddie, watching to see which end she will eventually cling to.

While the plot of The Language of Bodies alone is compelling—and tragically relevant given the transphobia and ignorance that still run rampant in our world—it is the hypnotic poetry of the storytelling that makes this story unforgettable. Rich, evocative language brings every element of it to life, from the deepest emotions to the seemingly quotidian details of scenery and setting. The poetry is employed, perhaps, most effectively in the striking religious and spiritual imagery that undergirds the narrative without overpowering it.

This book is sure to inspire deep thoughts, ignite even deeper feelings, and follow the reader long after the last page has been turned.

(I received an early copy of this book from the publisher but was not obliged to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.)

[Uka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex story about grief, revenge and victimhood with an imperfect victim that leaves one with a lot to think about

[Izzy Ensinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The language of bodies was such a beautiful testament to grief. Each stage of loss flowing between the pages, with the reader so intertwined with the feelings of the narrator that it’s nearly impossible to see that process unfolding around us. Coupled with edge of your seat thrill, laugh out loud desert dry humor and, most importantly, the kind of real life terror that stays with the reader well after the last page has been read this is a masterpiece of queer literature.

[Abby Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a well-written book which perfectly depicts the deep love one has for someone along with the many levels of grief and revenge.

I loved the twist of Maddie being with Sarah instead of murdering her (even if I saw it coming). There’s so much power in that.

It was a pretty entertaining story (in a Criminal Minds way) and I would definitely recommend!

[Trudie Barreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having long been a disciple of Suzanne DeWitt Hall’s “Where True Love Is” devotional series, I was honored to be offered the opportunity to review her most recent book, “The Language of Bodies”. This powerful novel, however, is a very different genre. It could be described as a psychological thriller, and also a deeply probing investigation of the horrors which can result when a toxic mixture of grief and guilt cause otherwise ethical people to plunge into a maelstrom of anger and plots of revenge.

As the plot summary explains, Maddie (Madeleine Wells) is overwhelmed with anger and grief as the result of the murder of her wife Char (Charlotte Mitchell) who was killed by a homophobic man, who almost immediately confessed and was jailed for the crime. Maddie’s grief, however, is soured by guilt because her own fear of flying prevented going with Char to the Transgender Day of Remembrance celebration at which Charlotte was being honored and during which she was killed. Taking over the curatorship of a small wax museum which “honors” the vengefulness of Jesse James and other outlaws at a location very near where Char was murdered, Maddie plots her own revenge against the killer by way of assaulting his wife.

DeWitt Hall’s novel, besides being a fast-moving, deep, and somewhat mystical narrative, is also full of vivid descriptions and empathic and extremely sensitive characterizations. Since the publication date of this book is October 4, which also happens to be the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, considered the patron saint of animals, I think it is especially appropriate to mention the feline character, Clyde, who although not a major part of the plot, is referenced frequently and lovingly by Maddie during her emotional and spiritual communications with Maria, who serves a major role as the main character’s spiritual mentor.

As has to be expected of DeWitt Hall’s work, although this is a novel and not a devotional, it is fully realized in terms of spiritual and ethical understanding. It is also completely authentic with respect to the psychological and ethical concerns of our present-day culture coming to terms with issues of gender identity, sexuality, and the toxic bias which results from fanatical adherence to false interpretations of various religious codes and admonitions. This book is both meaningful and exciting.

[Tracy Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a dark story is not my first choice, the author is as I have every book they've written and love them all. My one overall word is AMAZING. I read it twice it was that good and I really need a sequel because the characters came alive to the point I want to know where they are now, what they are doing, did things work out, etc, etc. I felt every step of the way the characters came to life and I couldn't wait to turn the page, not once being bored but wanting to know more. Did I guess the outcome? Not in a million years! I do not want to give any spoilers but this is a story of love, pain, and hope in the midst of a horrendously awful situation that many if us will probably never face and yet we long for a Maria in our lives and a Maddie who love beyond the meaning of the word, each giving hope to the other in completely different ways. Wanting a sequel is not because it was not complete but more of I want to read more of their work but on this story as I felt I was there right with them. This gave me joy for many reasons and I highly recommend Suzanne's first novel simply because it is worth reading and being out there amongst the best. Enjoy!

[Hono · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like it. I wish I could but I can’t. First, the writing style is not one I’m into. I wanted to stop reading it almost as soon as I started. It felt bland to me.
Second, the only character of color is the dead one. I know why the author chose to do so, but Black and Indigenous people are already too often victims of hate. This was to talk about it, I don’t know how other BIPOC feel about it.
Thirdly, the dead character feels fetishized at times. Now, grief is a crazy experience and maybe that’s why the MC feels that way and describes her partner that way but it truly made me feel uncomfortable at times. I’ve grieved, never for a romantic partner, it still felt excessive. She talks a lot about her partner’s body parts, mainly her genitalia, and that too made me feel uncomfortable.
Fourth, she has a change of plan, which I saw coming but was still wild and she compares it to a rape. It doesn’t happen as such but still.
Fifth, her redeeming arc is fast and short. I’m not convinced by anything and I find her character horrible.
Overall, I’m not convinced by this book.

[stephanie standridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and twisted tale of love, sorrow and redemption.

This book is a much needed addition to the literary world for several reasons. Firstly for all the transgender folks who can now feel they are seen and for straight people who need to be aware of the atrocities that are committed against the LGBTQIA community.
I am a fan of Suzanne’s style of writing ….a dark, slightly macabre genre and her story did not disappoint. Suzanne’s turn of a phrase made me actually stop and reread them because I found them so profound. An example “There are some things which can’t be undone no matter what you’re willing to sacrifice at the altar of regret”.
A thrilling, suspenseful story with a skillful addition of characters who each play a role in helping the reader understand a little why we struggle with faith and a belief in a God who lets such hatred survive in our world and in redemption.
Give this novel a try you won’t be disappointed.

[Carrie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's important to first note that though we share the same last name, the author and I are not related. Suzanne Dewitt Hall writes a novel that shows you can hold competing feelings, thoughts, and ideas in one hand: love and grief, loneliness and friendship, revenge and forgiveness, despair and hope. The reader feels it all with Maddie, which is a testament to Hall's skilled prose, vivid imagination, and excellent characterization. I will avoid spoilers but in several scenes, I was taken aback by Hall's ability to capture how our bodies seek and store both the emotional and physical manifestations of grief. Still, even with the heavy subject matter, the book offers levity in quirky and likable secondary characters who help Maddie along the way. An important addition to the literary landscape that centers a beautiful love story set in the backdrop of the dangerous reality faced by those in the trans community.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written. I could not put this book down. I laughed, cried, pondered, and imagined a better world while reading this debut novel. When you sit down to read it bring, tissues, popcorn and time. This novel will change you. It will make you want to stand up for the marginalized in our society especially transgender people. Author DeWitt Hall's love for her trans spouse is evident in her writing. I am off to read every word this author has ever written.

[Kelly Alberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Haunting, powerful, and unforgettable."

The Language of Bodies is a breathtaking exploration of grief, love, and vengeance. Maddie’s journey pulled me in from the very first line her heartbreak is raw and deeply human, and her hunger for justice kept me on edge the entire time. What makes this story so extraordinary is how it doesn’t just tell a revenge tale it immerses you in the complexity of love, identity, and the thin line between healing and destruction.

[Laurie P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite kinds of book: a beautifully written story that also takes me out of my comfort zone and places me firmly into an existence very different from my own. There is some disturbing graphic violence, but sadly, a story involving a trans person of color without violence would not reflect reality.

[elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

very conflicted. I did like some parts of this and the author wrote some beautiful prose. however, this whole story felt very exploitative of the violence perpuated against trans poc. idk, it might not be my place to cast that judgement as a white woman, but some passages made me deeply uncomfortable. it felt like Maddie was fetishizing Char instead of remembering the things she loved about her.

[Laura Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Alicia Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise of the book but several sections seemed a bit too unrealistic. The ending wrapped up nicely.

[Mary Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne is an expert wordsmith, and the dialogue is to die for. This story is a gripping journey through the interior worlds of revenge and the dark side of human experience.

[Britt Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous and gut-wrenching exploration of grief, the inherent dilemma in the desire for revenge, and the courage and bravery in facing what hate does to people.

[Nancy Crochiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exquisitely written novel weaves themes of guilt, grief, and obsession into a gripping tale of revenge, as protagonist Maddie Wells seeks vengeance for the murder of her transgender journalist wife. Suzanne DeWitt Hall's gorgeous prose draws us deeply into Maddie's journey while quirky secondary characters bring light to a dark and brooding tale. In the end, The Language of Bodies speaks to the redemptive power of love in overcoming even the most soul-crushing grief.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written. I could not put this book down. I laughed, cried, pondered, and imagined a better world while reading this debut novel. When you sit down to read it bring, tissues, popcorn and time. This novel will change you. It will make you want to stand up for the marginalized in our society especially transgender people. Author DeWitt Hall's love of her trans spouse is evident in her writing. I am off to read every word this author has ever written.