Book Review: How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
By Doreen Sheridan
August 9, 2022
Grace Bernard has known for a long time that her father abandoned her mother and herself to eke out a hardscrabble London living on their own. But she’s a teenager when she realizes exactly the breadth of his neglect, and how callously his wealthy family has consigned her to the ash heap. After her mother dies of cancer when she’s thirteen, she begins to concoct a plan that will earn her not only vengeance but the inheritance she deserves.
In order to attain her goal, she’ll have to kill seven members of the extended Artemis family, beginning with the grandparents who were probably the cruelest of them all. Grace is nothing if not practical, and decides that the best way to off her family and get away with it is to make their deaths seem like a series of accidents:
I want these killings done—done well, yes, but I’m not an enthusiastic fan of homicide, researching the most fascinating and gruesome ways to kill. There’s a certain art to a good murder. I will admit to being impressed by the lengths that some people will go to, but I don’t want to get caught up in more and more extreme plans which eventually result in me hanging off a zip line through central London, decapitating someone with a samurai sword just for theatrics.
As Grace studies, stalks and slays her victims—some definitely more deserving than others—she muses on the life she’s led so far, commenting in a snarky, freeform manner on all the issues of her age, both great and small. The reason for her rambling quickly becomes clear: She’s been imprisoned in Limehouse and is amusing herself by writing a memoir of sorts, her main escape from her incredibly nosey cellmate. Ironically, she’s been convicted of a murder she is absolutely innocent of, throwing a major wrench into her actual homicidal plans. Will she be able to regain her freedom so that she can continue with her murderous spree? Or will yet more complications arise to derail her ambitions for good?
This is a brutally honest portrayal of a young woman nursing a lot of rage in her heart and directing her anger, sometimes justified, sometimes less so, at every irritating thing that crosses her path. From the entitlement of the rich to the smugness of the middle class to the squalor of the poor, no one is safe from her acerbic observations, not even the relatively wealthy woman who takes her in as a teenager and attempts to instill feminist virtues in her new ward:
Did she think that I had no understanding of the way the world treated women? I understood how the system was stacked against women long before I ever knew the words to describe how we are marginalized, discarded, belittled. I saw it chip away at my mother day by day. Brought up by strict parents who had rigid views about how girls should behave (who spurned her when she decided to live her life a certain way), prized for her looks until one day she wasn’t, used by a man for fun until he got bored. Working hard in a series of low-paid jobs where she was never appreciated. Raising a child alone without it counting for a thing.
Grace is often a sympathetic heroine, even as she behaves badly in pursuit of her goals. Though she can be easy to dislike, it’s difficult to go through the entire book and not want her to ultimately achieve her ends, if only because we’ve been exposed to her psyche at its most vulnerable and ugly. Thus the big twist at the end felt oddly off from the seemingly feminist aims of the rest of the novel. Perhaps Bella Mackie meant for readers to feel infuriated by the ways class and patriarchy unceasingly profit off of the efforts of scrappy young women to make better lives for themselves. While perhaps true to life, it feels like an odd stopping point in Grace’s tale, as readers by that point will well know she’s still got a lot of righteous murder left in her to explore.
Comments are closed.
Ryan Gosling is my #1 entertainer, I don’t miss any of his motion pictures. Presently it is the ideal time to see who’s assuming the most outstanding aspect in the new film The Gray Man, and his coats are consistently cool.
Your website is really cool and this is a great inspiring article. Thank you so much.
Because this is so helpful to me, I believe that this blog is among the best of those that are available to me. I am grateful that you have made this helpful information freely available.
Thanks for your sharing
The leatherz
Great review and also love the story of this book. Great work by the author.Congratulations.
I read this, and I’m with you about the ending, bit of a let down. To be honest I thought it was a reworking of Kind Hearts and Coronets, untill the end. The novel woukd have benefited from the KH&C’s ambiguous ending too.
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
Very good points you wrote here..Great stuff…I think you’ve made some truly interesting points.Keep up the good work.
I’m glad I found this web site, I couldn’t find any knowledge on this matter prior to.Also operate a site and if you are ever interested in doing some visitor writing for me if possible feel free to let me know, im always look for people to check out my web site.
Very nice article, I enjoyed reading your post, very nice share, I want to twit this to my followers. Thanks!.
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work.
These are some great tools that i definitely use for SEO work. This is a great list to use in the future..
Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!
I love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming!
very interesting post.this is my first time visit here.i found so mmany interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion..thanks for the post!
Its a great pleasure reading your post.Its full of information I am looking for and I love to post a comment that “The content of your post is awesome” Great work.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Fantastic work!
Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer!..
Really a great addition. I have read this marvelous post. Thanks for sharing information about it. I really like that. Thanks so lot for your convene.
Excellent and very exciting site. Love to watch. Keep Rocking.
I’ve been searching for some decent stuff on the subject and haven’t had any luck up until this point, You just got a new biggest fan!..
This is highly informatics, crisp and clear. I think that everything has been described in systematic manner so that reader could get maximum information and learn many things.
It is a great website.. The Design looks very good.. Keep working like that!.
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
Thank you for the good info. Me and my friend were just preparing to do some research about this.
Really nice and interesting post. I was looking for this kind of information and enjoyed reading this one.
Thank you again for all the knowledge you distribute,Good post. I was very interested in the article, it’s quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting you site since I always come across interesting articles like this one.Great Job, I greatly appreciate that.Do Keep sharing! Regards,
Interesting post. I Have Been wondering about this issue, so thanks for posting. Pretty cool post.It ‘s really very nice and Useful post.Thanks
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives indepth information. Thanks for this nice article.
this is really nice to read..informative post is very good to read..thanks a lot!
I am very happy to discover your post as it will become on top in my collection of favorite blogs to visit.
I know your expertise on this. I must say we should have an online discussion on this. Writing only comments will close the discussion straight away! And will restrict the benefits from this information.
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work
Gogoanime Win – Watch Free Anime Online with English Dub and Sub
Thanks for posting this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting and informative. I can’t wait to read lots of your posts.
Do you want to “meet” your child? At Baby Envisions Ultrasound, our only focus is on making your pregnancy as enjoyable as possible for you and your unborn child!
Thank you for such a wonderful content .It was really helpful to me.The problem like this is very general but we are not aware about it .It was really helpful knowing about it.Looking forward for more content like this.
Thank you for such a wonderful content .It was really helpful to me.The problem like this is very general but we are not aware about it .It was really helpful knowing about it.Looking forward for more content like this.
Does this cover trials & recurring payments in online
The High School Football final! The State football final 2022 will be held in August. Where the “Best of the Best” teams will meet and fans from around the US and Canada will come together to witness champions competing for the High School Football 2022! Here are the details before we explore that question again.
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
New web site is looking good. Thanks for the great effort.
Nice post dear.
Extraordinary Share! Aw, this was a truly decent post. I thought I might want to carefully record like this also – taking time and genuine work to make an awesome article. Thanks a lot!
Extraordinary Share! Aw, this was a truly decent post. I thought I might want to carefully record like this also – taking time and genuine work to make an awesome article. Thanks a lot!
I high appreciate this post. It’s hard to find the good from the bad sometimes, but I think you’ve nailed it! would you mind updating your blog with more information?
Thank you very much for this useful article. I like it.
I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post.
The information you have posted is very useful. The sites you have referred was good. Thanks for sharing..
This is really a nice and informative, containing all information and also has a great impact on the new technology. Thanks for sharing it
Im no expert, but I believe you just made an excellent point. You certainly fully understand what youre speaking about, and I can truly get behind that.
Please share more like that.
Very useful post. This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. Really its great article. Keep it up.
This is very educational content and written well for a change. It’s nice to see that some people still understand how to write a quality post!
I recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing.
Your music is amazing. You have some very talented artists. I wish you the best of success.
i really like this article please keep it up.
The website is looking bit flashy and it catches the visitors eyes. Design is pretty simple and a good user friendly interface.
I’m glad I found this web site, I couldn’t find any knowledge on this matter prior to.Also operate a site and if you are ever interested in doing some visitor writing for me if possible feel free to let me know, im always look for people to check out my web site.
Thanks for the post and great tips..even I also think that hard work is the most important aspect of getting success..
Great survey, I’m sure you’re getting a great response.
I found that site very usefull and this survey is very cirious, I ‘ ve never seen a blog that demand a survey for this actions, very curious…
I have read your blog it is very helpful for me. I want to say thanks to you. I have bookmark your site for future updates.
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here.
This is very educational content and written well for a change. It’s nice to see that some people still understand how to write a quality post!
Your website is really cool and this is a great inspiring article. Thank you so much.
Eastern Maine Community College provides the highest quality post-secondary technical, career, and transfer education, and serves as a dynamic community and economic resource.
Nice post. I find out some thing tougher on various blogs everyday. Most commonly it is stimulating to learn to read content from other writers and exercise a specific thing at their store.
I found your this post while searching for some related information on blog search…Its a good post..keep posting and update the information.
Thanks for sharing such a valuable post. Please keep us updated for future posts.
This article is superb in all respects. Thank you for sharing this useful information.
thanks for posting this wonderfull post .. i have waiting for your next post …reading books is a great hobby and its my favourite book and i realy like it
realy nice article …thanx for posting
Excellent Blog! I would like to thank for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. I wanted to thank you for this websites! Thanks for sharing. Great websites!
I find this so interesting. Thanks for sharing
Huur voor vertrek naar Suriname makkelijk via onze website, Auto-huren-suriname.com jouw ideale huurauto! Wij bieden jou een goed verzekerde, nette en betrouwbare huurauto.
Thanks for sharing such great information with us. Your Post is beneficial and the information is reliable for a new audience. Thanks again for sharing such a useful post.
Thanks for sharing this information.
Awesome things here. I am very satisfied to look your article.
You know your projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It seems to me all of them are really brilliant!
Hey, I am so thrilled I found your blog, I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and all round interesting website. Please do keep up the great work. I cannot be without visiting your blog again and again.