03 July 2026

This is my third Katy Brent novel, and she certainly does not pull any punches.

I absolutely love Kitty Collins. On the surface, she comes across as a petite, glamorous woman, but beneath that polished exterior she takes dealing with bad men to a whole new level.

Brent continues to explore themes surrounding online misogyny, incel culture, and men who use social media to spread hostility towards women. Kitty justifies her kills by targeting men she believes deserve punishment—those who abuse, exploit, and harm others.

In this instalment, Kitty finds herself being taunted by an anonymous Instagram user—a man who openly threatens her while remaining frustratingly out of reach. When she travels to the South of France for her mother’s wedding, Kitty becomes convinced that Blaze Bundy is there too and quickly decides that Gabriel, the mysterious man about to marry her mother, must be the one behind the threats.

It was rather sad that when Charlie goes missing, Kitty’s immediate assumption is that he is with another woman. That reaction highlights her deep trust issues and reveals how little faith she places in men, often painting them all with the same brush.

I really enjoyed getting to know Carnella, Kitty’s mother. Initially portrayed as cold and emotionally distant, her character gradually reveals unexpected depth. As the layers are peeled back, you discover a mother who loves her daughter fiercely, even if she struggles to show it. I especially enjoyed watching the mother-daughter relationship evolve and seeing them reconnect—rather unusually—over a dead body. I had to smile when Gabriel helped them dispose of the body, proving just how wrong Kitty had been about him.

Once again, beneath the dark humour and murder lies a story about friendship, family, and loyalty. Kitty will do whatever it takes to protect the women in her life, extending that loyalty even to casual acquaintances she meets at anger management sessions.

Now that Kitty has discovered a half-sister—and seemingly a partner in crime—I am very curious to see what murderous adventures await these two women next.