How I'll Kill You

Starred review from January 2, 2023
Three murderers are better than one, especially when they’re psychopathic identical triplets, as shown in this outstanding serial killer thriller from DeStefano (Dreaming Dangerous and other YA titles as Lauren DeStefano). Abandoned in childhood and raised in foster homes, 25-year-old sisters Sissy, Moody, and Iris (not their legal names) have maintained a “clean streak” of messy crimes across several states before settling in Rainwood, Ariz., where “nothing ever happens,” until Sissy tells the story of targeting a grieving, church-going 29-year-old widower, Edison. The only rule the three have always had is that they seduce their marks, “live out every fantasy” they desire, and then finish them off. Garroting, skewering, bludgeoning, and burying their victims is like “assembling a new bookshelf.” The only problem is that this time Sissy’s dispassionate routine turns to passion when she takes a liking to Edison and has to decide where her loyalties or betrayals lie. Several bombshell revelations make that easier than it might seem in this dark scenario. DeStefano does a superior job delving into the disturbed minds of the twisted sisters. This devilishly clever textbook of malicious mayhem is a must for Dexter fans. Agent: Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary.

Starred review from February 1, 2023

DEBUT When it comes to falling in love--or killing someone--your first time should be special. That's what Sissy's sisters Moody and Iris have always told her. While Moody and Iris both have several murders to their credit, until now, Sissy's only job has been to see to it that their crime scenes have been scrubbed clean. However, now it is Sissy's turn to find a mark, make him fall in love with her, then have him pay with his life. After careful consideration, Sissy finds her perfect first: Edison. But the more time she spends with Edison, the more her sisters wonder if killing him really is the only thing on Sissy's mind. When it comes to carefully concealed sociopathy, the fascinating protagonist in DeStefano's adult debut (she's published YA as Lauren DeStefano) gives Gone Girl's Amy Elliott a run for her money. Combine this with a cleverly crafted plot that delivers ingenious twists, and you have a novel that will stun readers. VERDICT Not for the squeamish, but fans of Oyinkan Braithwaite's My Sister the Serial Killer or of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels will be equally ensnared in DeStefano's assured literary clutches.--John Charles

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2023
Triplets Sissy, Moody, and Iris longed for each other as children separated in the foster-care system. Reunited as adults, they're traveling the country, hunting for their darkly warped version of love. In turns, they choose a mark, cultivate love, and then kill him as a demonstration of their devotion to each other over anyone else. Hyperobservant Sissy, the expert in crime-scene clean-up, is a virgin to love and murder, and now it's her turn to enter their blood pact. Sissy's mark is Edison, an earnest young widower who quickly complicates things by igniting comforting, confusing feelings. Next door, Sissy finds a convenient pawn in Dara, but once she's drawn her in, genuine affection and temptation to help Dara escape domestic violence threaten the sisters' plans. Sissy begins to dread choosing between Edison and her sisters, wielding calculated manipulation to prevent her sisters' suspicions from spiraling into destruction. This deceptive thriller opens as a chilling, dispassionate chronicle of murderous triplets devoted to their chosen craft and each other, but it evolves into a twisted love story as layers of loneliness, self-sacrifice, and competing loyalties surface. Readers will find that this sneakily heart-wrenching story lingers with them after Sissy's final words. An outstanding addition to the recent trend in psychological thrillers featuring female predators.

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