S. F. Prescott

Disturbing, original, and wildly entertaining.

Katie Williams is the author of the novel Tell the Machine Goodnight, which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, and young adult novels, The Space Between Trees and Absent. Her short fiction has appeared in The Atlantic, American Short Fiction, Prairie Schooner and elsewhere. Williams earned her MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. She is an assistant professor at Emerson College in Boston.

Published June 6th, 2023.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s been a while since I read a good piece of speculative fiction and this story pulled me back into the genre immediately. The prose sparkled, the pace was steady, the world immersive, and every single question was answered by the end. A very satisfying read!

The world Williams created is weird and fascinating, and not too much of a stretch to imagine, where cloning is legal; killers undergo empathy chemical therapy while forced to serve prison time in stasis; hologram technology and virtual reality are the norm. Even Lou’s day job takes place in The Room—where clients attend virtual sessions seeking comfort (emotional and physical), appearing in ‘skins’ (avatars) to protect/conceal their true identities—using a method of futuristic therapy. It was disturbing to learn of a video game created of the murders, including the victims and Edward Early (the killer) as characters, in which players could choose whether to kill or try to outsmart the killer. The spin at the end was satisfying when the women banded together to finally overcome him, obtaining a sense of power (even if only in a virtual world).

Character development was one of my favorite aspects of this novel. In particular, Lou and Louise, and how my outlook of them had swapped by the end. Initially, Lou was a soulless clone to me. A shadow of her former self, and Louise was a helpless victim. By the end, Lou’s character had splintered into someone unique, and I couldn’t imagine them ever being the same person. It also brought a sense of relief for Silas and Nova, knowing that Lou was dedicated to her new life with them and determined to mend the failed relationship of her counterpart.

I enjoyed the chapters interspersed between the main narrative, detailing aspects of Louise’s life before and after the murders. It was hard to tell if it was Lou or Louise, but it provided an additional layer to the story. More depth to the main character(s).

For readers who enjoy original ideas, compelling characters, and satisfying reveals.

Synopsis:

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.