I met my husband on the same day I committed my very last murder. There’s a joke in there somewhere, about ending two men’s lives.
Olivia Hodges used to do horrible things – back when she worked for a Spanish crime syndicate – but she fled that life and moved home to Australia, building a family in the hippie, hipster community of the Dandenong Ranges.
When a small-time criminal gang brings tragedy to her family, superstitious Olivia believes it’s the universe demanding payment for her crimes. She wants revenge, but has to get it without adding to her karmic debt. So she creates situations where these bad men get themselves killed through their anger, ego and greed – all while trying to mislead the cops long enough to finish what she started.
Review
The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt is a fast-paced revenge fantasy/thriller that packs a punch. Olivia is a compelling lead, a former hitwoman with a dark past trying to maintain some semblance of a normal life—a balancing act that becomes increasingly difficult.
From the outset, Olivia is closed off, with a tendency towards lies, secrecy, and some unhealthy coping mechanisms. Her traumatic past—including her subsequent fears of karma and losing the life she has built with her husband Jai and their daughters—adds a layer of depth. I enjoyed exploring her psyche, though I would have loved to have gone a layer or two deeper into her past experiences (hopefully there is room for this in a sequel!).
The story takes a dramatic turn when a tragic event propels Olivia into a quest for revenge. The grief she experiences is dominated by her all-consuming anger. Rather than simply murder the criminals behind the event, Olivia takes a unique, calculated approaches to ending their lives, adding a layer of intrigue to the suspenseful and clever action scenes that follow. These scenes are among the book’s strongest; she walks the line between avenger and villain.
One minor downside is the characterization of the criminal gang targeted by Olivia. While Olivia is nuanced, most of the antagonists are relatively one-dimensional and somewhat stereotypical (think ‘country bogan’ x ‘no conscience’), making it easy to root for her as she enacts her revenge. The notable exception is Dylan, who has more depth, largely due to having some point-of-view moments.
The ending chapters, while thrilling, do require some suspension of disbelief. Despite this, the novel’s entertainment value kept me engaged from start to finish. In summary, The Hitwoman’s Guide to Reducing Household Debt is a gripping and enjoyable read, and a solid choice for anyone looking for a thrilling, high-octane escape.
Overall, this book will remind you: always beware the wrath of a mother if you wrong her family. You never know what she might be capable of.
Thank you to Affirm Press for the review copy.
Review by Elise
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