There’s something delightfully wicked about Katy Brent’s debut novel, “How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.” Set in the glamorous world of Chelsea’s elite social scene, this darkly comic thriller introduces us to Kitty Collins—Instagram influencer by day, avenging angel by night—as she accidentally stumbles into a life of murder.
Brent’s novel, the first in what promises to be an intriguing series (with “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin” following), is a refreshing and provocative take on the female revenge narrative. Think “Killing Eve” meets “Made in Chelsea,” or perhaps “American Psycho” with a strong Instagram aesthetic.
The Plot: From Accidental Killer to Vigilante
The story centers on Kitty Collins, a wealthy Instagram influencer with a perfectly curated online life hiding a troubled past. When a man who harasses her on a night out ends up accidentally dead at her feet, Kitty discovers something unexpected: she doesn’t feel remorse. Instead, she feels a rush. This initiates her transformation from socialite to vigilante, targeting men who abuse women.
What starts as accidental homicide evolves into purposeful vigilantism as Kitty begins to see herself as a sort of moral exterminator, ridding society of predatory men. However, her carefully constructed world begins to unravel when:
- She mistakenly kills an innocent man
- A mysterious stalker appears to know her secrets
- A potential romance with the genuinely kind Charlie threatens her new “hobby”
- Her best friend Hen reveals shocking secrets of her own
The plot accelerates toward a climax involving her friend’s father—a powerful music mogul with a history of sexual abuse—leading to a twisted final act that leaves the door open for the sequel.
Character Development: Beyond the Instagram Filter
Brent excels at creating a protagonist who is simultaneously sympathetic and horrifying:
- Kitty Collins: Far from a one-dimensional avenger, Kitty is complex—damaged by her father’s disappearance (which we discover she caused), struggling with anxiety, and yearning for normalcy while battling darker impulses. Her vegan lifestyle juxtaposed with her family’s meat business and her own bloody proclivities creates a fascinating contradiction.
- The Supporting Cast: Especially compelling are:
- Charlie Chambers: The refugee charity worker whose genuine goodness offers Kitty a glimpse of a different life
- Hen (Henrietta Pemberton): Whose twisted motivations create the story’s most shocking turn
- Tor: Whose traumatic experience in Mykonos propels one of Kitty’s most significant murder sprees
What makes the character work so effective is that these wealthy, privileged people exist in a moral gray zone, where their traumas don’t excuse their actions but make them understandable.
Style and Tone: Sharp as a Butcher’s Knife
Brent’s writing style is as cutting as Kitty’s favorite Shun knife. The prose is sharp, contemporary, and laced with a sardonic wit that perfectly captures the disconnect between social media perfection and grim reality.
The novel’s tone strikes an impressive balance between:
- Darkly comedic observations about social media culture
- Genuinely tense murder scenes
- Emotional moments examining trauma and abuse
- Scathing social commentary about privilege and power
Particularly successful is Brent’s ability to make Kitty’s internal monologue simultaneously horrifying and hilarious. Lines like “I hate picnics… I don’t get the point of eating outside with no table service” juxtaposed with casual descriptions of dismembering bodies create a disturbing but effective contrast.
Themes: More Than Just Murder
What elevates “How to Kill Men and Get Away With It” beyond typical thriller fare is its engagement with several provocative themes:
Justice vs. Revenge
Kitty operates outside the law, justifying her murders as a form of justice in a system that routinely fails women. The novel asks: Is vigilante justice ever justified? Is Kitty a hero or a monster? The line blurs throughout.
Social Media vs. Reality
Kitty’s carefully curated Instagram presence stands in stark contrast to her bloody extracurricular activities. This dichotomy serves as a sharp commentary on the falsity of social media personas and the darkness that can lurk behind perfect filters.
Trauma and Its Aftermath
Most characters in the novel carry significant trauma—from Kitty’s childhood witnessing animal slaughter to Tor’s sexual assault. How they process (or fail to process) this trauma drives their actions, showing how past wounds shape present behaviors.
Class and Privilege
Set in the elite world of Chelsea’s ultra-rich, the novel skewers the privilege that insulates its characters from consequences. James Pemberton’s ability to evade justice for years through money and connections highlights how power protects predators.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works:
- Kitty’s Voice: Brent creates a distinctive, complex protagonist whose perspective is compelling even when her actions are reprehensible.
- Social Commentary: The novel’s observations about social media culture, privilege, and sexual abuse feel timely and incisive.
- Plot Twists: The reveal of Hen as Kitty’s stalker and her subsequent manipulation of Kitty is genuinely shocking and well-executed.
- Setting: The elite Chelsea environment provides the perfect backdrop for exploring themes of privilege and performance.
Room for Improvement:
- Ethical Ambiguity: While moral complexity is a strength, some readers might struggle with a protagonist who murders without facing meaningful consequences.
- Pacing Issues: The middle section, particularly following Kitty’s breakdown after killing Ruben Reynolds, occasionally drags compared to the tightly plotted beginning and end.
- Believability Stretch: Kitty’s easy access to slaughterhouses and disposal methods sometimes requires suspension of disbelief.
- Character Motivations: Hen’s revelation that she lied about her father’s abuse feels somewhat contrived and potentially undermines the novel’s otherwise strong stance on believing victims.
Comparisons: Where It Fits in the Genre
“How to Kill Men and Get Away With It” joins a growing subgenre of female-led revenge thrillers, but brings its own distinctive voice to the conversation. It shares DNA with:
- Oyinkan Braithwaite’s “My Sister, the Serial Killer” in its darkly comic tone and morally ambiguous protagonist
- Luke Jennings’ “Killing Eve” series in its exploration of female rage and violence
- Bella Mackie’s “How to Kill Your Family” in its privileged protagonist taking revenge
- Caroline Kepnes’ “You” series in its disturbing yet compelling first-person narration from a killer’s perspective
What distinguishes Brent’s work is its specific focus on social media culture and its unapologetic centering of female fury in response to sexual violence.
Final Verdict: A Fresh Voice in Thriller Fiction
“How to Kill Men and Get Away With It” is a bold, provocative debut that announces Katy Brent as a fresh voice in thriller fiction. While not without flaws, its razor-sharp social commentary, complex protagonist, and blend of horror and humor create a compelling read that lingers in the mind.
The novel’s ending—with its promise of a new killer stalking London and Kitty feeling her murderous impulses awakening once more—perfectly sets up the sequel, “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin,” while providing a satisfying conclusion to this initial installment.
For readers who enjoy morally complex protagonists, social satire with teeth, and thrillers that don’t shy away from difficult questions about justice and revenge, Kitty Collins offers disturbing but undeniable company for a few dark nights of reading.
Brent has created a protagonist you’ll either love to hate or hate to love—either way, you won’t forget Kitty Collins anytime soon. The Instagram influencer with a knife collection and a body count is a darkly entertaining guide through the underbelly of elite London society, where the most dangerous predators might just be the ones you least expect.
With the second book in the series already published, “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin,” readers captivated by Kitty’s murderous adventures can continue following her journey into vigilante justice—or perhaps, simple bloody revenge.
