It's a rare but thrilling find when one well-read in the genre can call a mystery novel, in all honesty, exciting. This is one of them.

Meta and self-referential without being smug — itself a rarity that denotes immense wit and skill in proper hands — West Heart Kill is a unique, original, and utterly delightful ride that knows well the art of stealing to create the something better, something different (integrating the canon and history of its predecessors into the narrative; these are not mere inspirations or winks towards, but fundamental parts of, the narrative). A brilliant experience for lovers of literature in all its forms, this debut novel is a triumph, serving as both a tribute to and marvelous addition to the art of murder and mystery.

That said, while I cannot recommend this enough to avid readers of the genre, I must also temper expectations by saying that this novel absolutely has the capacity to be divisive; readers who dislike the uncanny, are put off by the meta, and believe the fourth wall is a critical part of the experience they seek while reading will want to skip this one. The characters here are all takes on the classics, slightly to the left; the reader is one of these characters. For some, who do not understand what they're in for and would have avoided it if they had, this might be unsettling. While I do believe that fair warning is necessary in helping West Heart Kill find its most appreciative audience, I admit that I'm glad I, personally, went in blind; to me, this was a marvelous surprise. I cannot recall a time when I read the entirety of a novel (though to refer to this as a novel is, perhaps, itself misleading; it plays fast and loose within its written mediums) with a grin on my face. This is, perhaps, the first in a long, long time.

West Heart Kill is a stunning, exceptional, and, critically, thoroughly enjoyable novel which will be devoured by devotees and casual enjoyers of the murder mystery alike. It's not for everyone, but those it's for are in for great fun. A terrific success.

Expected publication 24 Oct 23 ❦ Thank you NetGalley!