She’s a Killer (Kirsten McDougall, VUP)

This fun, dark-comedy thriller is led by one of the most memorable characters I’ve encountered in recent contemporary fiction. Alice is in her late 30s, a near-genius (IQ: 159) content to waste her life away in a dull admin job while ignoring the world collapsing around her. Russia is at war with China, there’s a climate apocalypse, people at home and around the world are suffering through food and water shortages … yet Alice avoids reading the news or taking initiative to acknowledge the changing world she finds herself in. Her malaise is shaken by two developments: the re-emergence of her imaginary friend Simp and an encounter with Pablo, one of New Zealand’s wealthugees—a class of ultra-wealthy international elite who’ve bought citizenship rights and are in the process of recolonising the country. From here, Alice falls under the influence of Pablo’s daughter Erika—a serious, probing young girl who boasts a troubling IQ of 162—who leads Alice to confront her inaction and to consider the value of righteous violence. To outline more of the plot would risk spoiling the twists the story takes, and one of the book’s strengths is its seamless shift into fast-paced action thriller. Its other strength is its lively cast of characters, of which Alice is the clear star. She’s poorly socialised, emotionally stunted yet deeply likeable—her stubborn refusal to engage with or follow the rules seems like an apt response to the world she finds herself living in. The novel’s sense of humour—it’s full of sharp one-liners and witty writing—doesn’t detract from the seriousness of the subject underpinning the narrative, making She’s a Killer is a great read for those who like a bit of edge to their literary fiction.

Brad Jefferies is the digital editor of Books+Publishing.

Category: Reviews