Book Review: How I'll Kill You

By Sara Steven

Make him want you.

Make him love you.

Make him dead.

Sissy has an...interesting family. Always the careful one, always the cautious one, she has handled the cleanup while her serial killer sisters have carved a path of carnage across the U.S. Now, as they arrive in the Arizona heat, Sissy must step up and embrace the family pastime of making a man fall in love and then murdering him. Her first target? A young widower named Edison--and their mutual attraction is instant. While their relationship progresses, and most couples would be thinking about picking out china patterns and moving in together, Sissy's family is reminding her to think about picking out burial sites and moving on.

But then something happens that Sissy never anticipated: She begins to feel protective of Edison, and then, before she can help it, she's fallen in love. But the clock is ticking, and her sisters are growing restless. It becomes clear that the gravesite she chooses will hide a body no matter what happens; but if she betrays her family, will it be hers? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

What a unique story! It’s not often that I read a book about women who are serial killers, particularly sisters who have a pact to stick together, no matter what–including who they choose to kill. The storyline takes a turn when Sissy chooses Edison as her first target, because falling in love with your target is never part of the plan. It complicates everything, essentially putting Sissy in the worst of predicaments: should she continue to side with her sisters, or should she let her heart decide? 

When Sissy describes her methods as the one-man cleanup crew, it was seriously astounding. There were so many intricate details, which made me truly feel as though she really is the one who is essentially the backbone for her sisterly group. They really can’t get by or continue to elude the authorities without her, which is why it’s even more important that Sissy fall in line with all of the plans they’ve set out to accomplish. It was great to see such a divide between doing what her sisters think is right, versus Sissy doing what she thinks is right, in essence coming into her own, since she’s always been considered the less-experienced one. 

There is a pretty explosive moment towards the end of the book, and I wasn’t sure how things would play out. Or who would make it out alive. It’s continual moments like that one that really made How I’ll Kill You a fun roller-coaster ride, from start to finish! A well-deserved five-star read! 

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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