This book is about killing your abusive husband, with a comedic twist

I loved seeing the characters bond and share their experiences, as well as getting rid of some corpses!

The premise of this book really intrigued me but unfortunately I’m really struggling with it. I’ve been reading it for weeks but I still haven’t hit the 50% mark. I don’t know if I’m just not in the mood for this genre or if I need a more fast paced book so I’m DNFing for now and will come back to it later. I’ll update my review with my proper thoughts when I do finish it.

I’ll be leaving a neutral rating of 3⭐️ for now.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm slightly conflicted about this book as I think it's brilliant that some light is being shed on a huge social problem and there certainly isn't enough literature out there, let alone from someone as informed and knowledgeable as Alexia Casale. The way domestic violence and the long lasting effects of abuse as well as the victim mentality are all portrayed with great mastery and I think that someone who has found themselves in a similar situation, would say that it all feels quite realistic, it definitely felt that way for me as a reader. The only slight hesitation I have is that I found the 'dark comedy' element of the book to fall a bit flat. I didn't find the dialog to be particularly engaging or the jokes to be 'on point' but that could very well be personal taste. My takeaway is that it might not be 100% my cup of tea, but it still makes for an interesting read and I was very keen to finish it and find out if the ladies managed to get away with it or not. It would make a great book club choice for sure!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Great humour, great characterisation. It's a solid 5 stars from me. The story flowed easily and was quickly devoured. The author touches upon some dark subjects but the dark humour shines through.

I loved this! As a survivor of dv this was tough but such an insightful truthful and informative read I was lucky to have got out of my relationship before the pandemic so reading this made me feel extremely lucky I didn’t want anything bad to come to the women throughout although they had committed a crime I felt the whole time why they did what they did and loved how they all came together to kind of protect and find themselves again I will definitely read again it was funny but also extremely well written amazing story!

I was so excited for this book! I love a good revenge story, but sadly it lacked in the revenge department. It has some seriously funny moments, but the story dragged so much, I felt like a lot of time was wasted of just describing what happened.

Although I really liked the premise for this book, and I love how it spotlights violence against women (especially the spike during COVID) I didn't find the book compelling enough. It had some darkly funny moments, but it dragged on for the most part.

I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced, I flew through it. Focusing on an important topics such as domestic violence and how we were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, this book takes place during lockdown.
Although this book touches of delicate topics, I think the author took time and consideration to make sure to highlight this topic, whilst making the book fun and enjoyable to read. Throughout the book, we see the friendships formed between these women, with themes of hope and second chances which also adds depth to the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin General UK for a copy of this book!

Don‘t attempt this at home
Even though there was some dark humour in this tale about four women who murdered their husbands during the pandemic lockdowns, each after having suffered long years of their abuse, reading this book did not spark any pleasure in me - too close to home, probably.

Alexia Casale's The Best Way to Bury Your Husband is a darkly humorous take on the harrowing reality of domestic abuse. The story revolves around four women who find themselves unintentionally involved in the demise of their abusive husbands and the subsequent cover-up.

While initially feeling conflicted about finding amusement in such a serious topic, I was drawn into the story by its light-hearted tone and focus on the strong bonds of friendship among the women. Sally and her companions, particularly the endearing Edna, became characters I rooted for wholeheartedly, eagerly hoping for their success.

Despite the comedic elements, the novel doesn't shy away from the gravity of domestic abuse, skillfully balancing humour with moments of genuine emotion and suspense. Casale's adept handling of such a delicate subject matter is commendable, as she manages to entertain while also fostering awareness and empathy for a pressing societal issue.

Overall, 'The Best Way to Bury Your Husband' is a testament to the author's talent in tackling complex themes with both wit and sensitivity. The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

It’s the beginning of the Covid lockdowns and domestic violence and abuse is on the rise.of the author. Its in this climate, that four women murdered their husbands after years of abuse - accidental or deliberate acts they all now have one problem how to dispose of the bodies, and continue with their lives for the sake of their children. This book is a dark story of despair, but also how female friendship can bring people together, especially when they have a common link. The women are marvellous characters and I have to admit I wish that Edwina would be my friend in a crisis. There are some absurd moments of dark humour, but on the whole, I found this book lacking in comedy due to the dark, subject matter. I hope that it finds a wider audience as this subject needs to be more in our consciousness. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review

4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this and raced through it. It focuses on an important topic (domestic violence) and is set in the Covid lockdown. I think it worked really well and was very funny, despite the seriousness of the topic. The friendship that formed between the women was also wonderful to see come to life throughout the story. I’d really recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A dark comedy about 4 women who kill their abusive husbands during lockdown. I like the way the narrative is set out in the first third or so of the book, introducing the characters one by one. Each family is well written & thoughtfully & realistically constructed. I feel the second half of the novel to be very far fetched though & it didn't quite feel it lived up to the promise of the first half. An enjoyable read though & it highlighted well the proportion of women who experience domestic violence & how that only got worse during lockdown.

“On average, a woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK: in the vast majority of cases, that man is a current or former partner. At the start of Covid lockdown, the femicide rate doubled - in the first three weeks, fourteen women were killed where a man was suspected of, or charged with, the crime”.

The Best Way to Bury Your Husband is a dark comedy that explores the effects of domestic violence on women during the pandemic. It is a cooky crime novel that sees four women get together in an English suburb to work out a plan to hide their husbands’ bodies once they’ve killed them.

Though the circumstances that see this story taking place are simply implausible, I really enjoyed reading this one. Alexa Casale’s use of humour to explore such a hard topic works well in a tale that sees these women taking back control of their lives. The light-heartedness of murder in this book certainly won’t be for everyone, but I think it’s complementary to the theme of domestic violence.

The story comes to a head when the women follow through with their cover story, and set out to plant the evidence to cover their own tracks. This was the most gripping part of the book and probably the most serious too, which is shocking considering the heaviness of the events leading up to it!

The humour of this novel reminded me of the TV show Santa Clarita Diet, that stars Drew Barrimore. If you’ve watched the show, this will either make you immediately want to read this book, or steer clear of it J. Either way, it’s a great concept and an interesting angle to look at the topic of domestic violence.

Thanks to @PenguinIreland @VikingBooksUK @PenguinBooksUK for the advanced copy via @NetGalley. The Best Way to Bury Your Husband is out now.

It's the spring of 2020, the first national lockdown is in full swing, and Sally has just killed her husband with her Granny's cast iron skillet. After more than twenty years of abuse, she won't pretend she's not glad Jim's dead, but now she must figure out what she's going to tell their children - and how to get rid of the body under the watchful eye of her nosy neighbour, Edwina. But Sally is not alone - all across town abused women are reaching their breaking point, and the bodies soon start piling up.

The Best Way to Bury Your Husband is superficially a dark comedy about domestic violence and unlikely friendships, but it is also an ambitious, laudable endeavour on the part of author Alexia Casale. A seasoned non-fiction editor, Casale spent much of the pandemic working on news articles highlighting the horrifying increase in male violence against women and girls (MVAWG) during lockdown; she also supported clients in writing funding bids to help victims, and contributed to problem-solving models for how frontline workers could reach vulnerable women and girls trapped at home. Her novel is her effort to get more people thinking and talking about the issue of MVAWG by engaging them in an improbable scenario whereby men are regularly dying at the hands of their female partners.

Sally, the protagonist is a relatable everywoman, characterised so to remind the reader that anyone can find themselves trapped in an abusive relationship. She isn't weak or naïve, but her desire to see the best in people - and her need to escape her own volatile family home - is ultimately what leads to her abuse. Her storyline also acknowledges the role of generational cycles of abuse: Sally grew up being berated and belitted by her father, so was able to convince herself that, so long as Jim directed his rage towards her alone, it was better for her children for their parents to stay together.

Casale is resolute in reinforcing the message that MVAWG affects women and girls from all social classes, cultures and background; it may manifest itself differently, but, as Casale writes in her author's note, 'Although
MVAWG dresses up in different clothes and excuses in different places, it is the same problem at heart... sexism.' It would have been simpler for Casale to focus solely on characters whose backgrounds mirror her own more closely - certainly she acknowledges the sensitivity with which she had to approach writing about 'unhealthy family dynamics within cultural contexts outside [her] own' - but it is hugely important for readers to recognise that these crimes are not unique to a specific community but are perpertrated against women and girls across the world.

Through the stories of the other women - Ruth, Samira and an initially unnamed new mother - Casale covers a huge range of elements and contributing factors to MVAWG, including the gradual forced estrangement of abused women from their family and friends, the act of making them dependent on their partner and therefore trapped in their relationship, and the impact of shame. She also touches on the harmful influence of toxic societal expectations for men - Ruth's husband became violent with her after losing his job and his identity as the family's provider, while Samira's husband wants to force their daughter into marriage rather than deal with the stigma of her queerness.

Casale does not claim to have the answers to the myriad questions the book raises, but she is determined to use whatever tools she has to force people to pay attention to what she terms 'a pandemic on a greater scale even than Covid'. Different elements of the story will appeal to different readers: I was amused by the humour, but far more affected by the way the novel's events allow the women to rediscover themselves, realising their strengths and what they are capable of, whilst showing the power of women supporting each other to achieve a common goal. The specificity of the early lockdown setting makes it easy for the reader to insert themselves into the story, and I loved how the changing government restrictions at turns provided obstacles for the women's plans and could be used to their advantage. Also, the ending was deliciously satisfying.

Overall, a funny, heartwarming romp of a book which I hope will bring much needed attention to its bleak subject matter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

Serious but humorous - a great read”
This book took me by surprise, its a very serious subject of domestic violence towards women and how much of that escalated during covid lockdown but its written so well, dark dry humour, comradery between women and how things can work out. Well recommended read

The dark comedy I was feeling not comfortable to read. The parallel stories full of cruelty told in very relaxed manner didn't let me to enjoy the reading. Expected more from this book.

I really enjoyed this book.
It is of course founded in a very dark and serious topic but the author used humour so well throughout.
I loved all of the females and how they became a found family of sorts.
It drives home the main points whilst staying light hearted.

When Sally accidentally murders her husband with a skillet during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, she has no idea that her life is about to change for ever.

She makes a split second decision to not phone the Police. Her husband has tormented, bullied and abused her for years. She doesn't deserve to go to prison due to accident. She deserves to finally start living her life.

The pandemic will buy her some time whilst she figures out what to do next...

It is a unique set of circumstances only possible during the pandemic that determines what happens next.

For Sally isn't the only one whose husband has met a decidedly suspicious ending during lockdown. None of the women meant to kill, all were driven by years of suffering and abuse like Sally. Some in the same accidental scenarios, and some not so, but you could hardly call it premeditated.. or blame them.

Determined that none of her new found friends will go to prison, the women who have been bought together in the strangest of circumstances begin to devise a plan to hide their husbands bodies so that their crimes may never be recovered, and they can finally be free.

Will they succeed? You'll have to read it for yourself to find out!

I absolutely loved everything about this novel. It is so clever and funny. I appreciate it might not be too everyone's taste, but I really enjoyed it.

4.5 stars

There are arguments for and against going into a book blind, but it’s definitely the approach I’d recommend for this darkly comedic drama. The less you know, the more you will appreciate the author’s skill in crafting a story that uses humor to shine a light on issues that really aren’t that funny at all.

Set during lockdown, The Best Way to Bury Your Husband, tells the story of four women who come together to form the Lockdown Ladies’ Burial Club after killing their respective husbands.

Okay, I can see your eyes rolling already, and yes, this is definitely a book where you have to suspend belief. As Alexia Casale readily admits in her author’s note, “The idea that four women in one moderately sized town would kill their husbands — even in self-defence — within one week of each other is laughably implausible.”

But it is this very exaggeration that allows us to find humor in their situation without feeling uncomfortable. They might all have committed a dreadful deed, but rather than revile them, the impulse is not only to feel sympathy but to actively cheer them on.

All four women have been subjected to long-term domestic abuse, and we come to understand that their actions are the result of being pushed to their limits, when normal avenues of escape have been removed.

I loved the macabre humour in this unlikely tale involving secret rendezvous (don’t forget, it’s lockdown), dismembered bodies and the creation of a community garden. I loved the hilarious brainstorming, the expression of sisterhood, and the out-of-left-field twist at the end that had me punching the air in delight.

Most of all, though, I loved how Casale rammed home the truth that, if the roles had been reversed, and this had been a story about four men killing their wives, it would have been far less improbable and not remotely one to be recounted with humour.