Serial killer victims support group.
This has been my favorite book I’ve read so far in 2024. Normally I’d save such a declarative statement for the end. I had to put it out there early. Just go read it. Alright, let’s move on.
My Murder follows Lou, the victim of a serial killer, brought back to life. Well, cloned with most of the memories of her previous self, the “other her” from before the murder. The book starts about 6 months after being brought back. “Brought back” being an uncommon, weird thing in this world. Uncommon and frowned upon so much that it has only been done a few times with horrible rich people. Yet her and several other victims of a serial killer were brought back and now meet once a week in a support group. Each of the women in the group are still mostly what they remember themselves to be. But how could they not be different after a violent death and a very public second chance at life?
I love the writing of Lou. Author Katie Williams wrote her so well. Light sarcasm, the good kinds of puns, and depth all around. Reading Lou’s thoughts as she works through current and previous her’s relationships feels relatable. Lou is a new parent. Lou is a spouse. Lou has a job. Lou is trying to socialize as an adult. Lou is a murder victim. Okay, I don’t relate to that one. It all felt genuine as she reexamines herself and her place after returning from the dead.
I think what I appreciate most about the author’s writing, is that she takes her time on Lou’s relationships. She gives them a tangible nature. Lou feels like someone who is actually a new mother. There’s a spector of postpartum depression she (her “other her”) experienced. She mentions the intense fears, the odd little habits, that bright sunrise of new, incredibly focused love. She feels like someone who has been in relationships, experience in the ebb and flow of a long term commitment. She feels like an emotionally intelligent 30 something adult.
There’s this funny trick that with this book. It is going to be one of my favorite sci-fi books of the year (favorite books in general too), but it is in no way marketed as, or hinted at being a part of the genre. Cloning, VR, autonomous vehicles, and many other bits of set dressing are present, but none of that takes priority. No technical gibberish or futurish proper nouns are thrown around. Yes some of those things enable the story, but Lou and her new life are front and center.
This was a great book. When I picked it up, pages would fly by. I’d recommend it to just about anyone. For me, it feels like it had a little more weight because I am a recent parent, I love sci-fi, and have recently read a few murdery books. But in no way do any of those have to apply to you.