bookmadlibrarian's reviews
263 reviews

“My name is Kitty Collins and I’m a serial killer”.

Kitty is back with more sass, dark humour, wit and of course, murder. She’s been doing really well recently. No killing since last year, loved up with the boyfriend but the itch to kill is still there. Especially since misogynists like Blaze Bundy are spouting their vile degradation of women to millions of followers online. Someone needs to put men like that down - he’s a menace to society and needs to be taken care of.

Kitty goes to France to witness her estranged mother marrying a man she’s never met. But she’s got murder on her mind and as they say, a woman’s work is never done. One more murder won’t hurt, will it?

Brent delivered another deliciously dark and sharp-tongued story with the second outing of Kitty. Watch how Kitty dismantles the patriarchy (and her victims) one slice at a time. Brent isn’t afraid to delve into some very difficult topics (sexual assault, rape, violence all feature in this story), but it’s handled in such a way as to give women back their power and Kitty is the weapon of choice. 

It’s hilarious, clever and the twists delivered throughout will leave your head reeling. There are plenty of downright gory scenes (Kitty’s methods are quite sinister), and it’s an engrossing, addictive fast-paced story. We get more insight into Kitty’s family dynamics and see how her past helped to shape her into the feminist, no nonsense vigilante that she is. At no point will you feel sorry for Kitty’s victims- be prepared to unleash the feminine rage with her and cheer her on! 

I really hope there’s a third book because Kitty has so much more to give to the world.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the arc. Out 30th Jan. 4⭐️ 

“I did an evil thing to be put in here, and I’m going to have to do an evil thing to get out.”

15 year old Fern arrived at Welwood House in the hot murky summer of 1970. Pregnant, terrified and alone, she’s abandoned in shame by her family. Fern meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament and quickly becomes friends with 3 other girls, Holly, Rose, and Zinnia. Every second of their days is rigidly controlled by adults claiming they know what’s best for them. When a librarian arrives to the home and gives Fern an occult book about witchcraft, she hands power to the group of girls for the first time in their lives. But there’s a price to pay for such power and the payment is in blood.

Moving away from Hendrix’s typically dark and humorous take on horror stories, his new book deals with extremely difficult topics which are at times graphic, disturbing and heartbreaking in equal measure. It’s twisted but something that will leave the reader full of rage at the way these girls are ostracised and demonised by their families, the ones who should protect them the most. In a country where mother and baby homes existed right up to the 1990s, this story was so hard for me to read at times, particularly the abuse of little Holly. Her story absolutely ripped my heart to shreds.

It’s a dark and beautiful story; it’s emotional and cruel, but what stands out the most for me is the powerful bonds formed between the girls. Their willingness to call on unknown forces to escape, to take back some control and to protect their friends from further harm and abuse is poignantly treated by Hendrix.

The true horror in this book isn’t the supernatural elements (although there’s some good old fashioned terror added with the presence of the coven and their terrifying canine guardian); it’s the graphic description of childbirth, miscarriage and pain that these girls must endure hidden away from the world as if they are nothing but dirt. It’s not for the faint-hearted so be warned! Oh how the rage boils your blood reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the arc.

4.5⭐️ out 16th Jan.