Of Vengeance - J.D. Kurtness

Fiction/Thriller

Rating: 7.5/10

With an opening line like “Let’s be honest: Who hasn’t fantasized about shooting someone in the face with a hunting rifle?”, a reader suffering from the odd bout of disenchantment with recent publication trends just might have their curiosity peaked!

This story begins with a thirteen-year-old girl who plans on startling a classmate.  Instead, she accidently kills him.  And she likes it.

As the years go by, she begins experimenting with murder.  Choosing victims who have proven themselves worthy of such a fate. The anonymous narrator’s vocation draws the reader down some very provocative paths as she leads her life of vengeance.

While the plot may appall you, the true horror of this book is in the author’s unwavering ability to sway you to the protagonist’s side.

My only complaint here is the shortness of the book. Having additional pages to lay out further intricate plotting as well as more descriptive gore would have ensured an indelible visceral experience for the reader.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dundurn Press and the author for this advance readers copy.

Footnote: Has the reading world been gifted with a new darkly comic writing genius? Unafraid to dish up violence and psychopathy with eerie nonchalance?  I for one really hope so!