Katy Brent’s “How to Kill Men and Get Away With It” is a steamy, murderous satire.

If Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) and Kim Kardashian had a baby, that child would be our narrator - Kitty Collins, a vengeful social influencer who loves the thrill of a kill.

There are things to love about this book. It’s a quick read. The chapters are punchy and bite-size. And, there are some solid laugh out loud moments. I also appreciated what the author was trying to do here - create a lady Dexter who comes for men who commit crimes against women.

But while I loved the concept, I found the execution to be quite disappointing. There is simply too much going on! The story bounces around a lot (not in a clever way), and at times, it feels like a provocative, late-night Showtime special. Sure, there’s a loose plot, but **cue porny music** there are A LOT of unnecessary sex scenes (I started to question if the author was trying to break the record of most blowjobs in a book). Furthermore, I found the characters to be one dimensional and difficult to relate to. Almost every man in this book is painted as a cheater, an abuser or a rapist. Where have all the good guys gone? Lastly, the ending felt rushed and left me regretting my decision to read this book. When I closed it, I actually thought, “What the hell did I just read?”

Like all reviews, this one is subjective. While this book was not for me, I do think there is an audience for it. If you’re a fan of steamy romance novels and you’re looking for a quick read with a hint of mystery, this may be a fun pick.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

In addition to being a Dexter-like killer, Kitty Collins is an Instagram influencer. She surrounds herself with a group of similar follower count influencers, and with them attends glam parties and launch events. The book is set in the world of likes, fake-yet-real friendships, and appearances being everything.

As dramatic and interesting as the Goodreads/publisher summary is, I do with they would have been more clear about that aspect of the book. It’s not that it was bad, it was just not what I was expecting. I was anticipating the book to be more thrilling and mysterious but the emphasis on social media definitely changed those preconceived notions. Again, it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. Many of the scenes in this book take place at music label partie, charity galas, or a first class trip to Greek islands- just not very relatable scenes or characters.

Kitty was entirely unrelatable to me as an individual, but it was more what she stood for that readers will connect with the most. I’m really not that active on social media- I’m the type of person whose Instagram is set to private and who doesn’t accept Facebook friend requests from people she doesn’t know. I’m most active on Goodreads! But for Kitty her entire world has to be social media and appearances in order to make a living.

It was tough for me to get a handle on the dynamics of her friend group. Everyone seemed to genuinely like each other while simultaneously being jealous, catty, or gossipy. Kitty herself had thoughts about being exhausted by her friends and wanting to hurt them while also being willing to do anything for them.

This book really goes into the subjects of rape, sexual assault, and predatory behaviors. Parts o the book definitely made me mad, not at the book itself but at how relatable some of these situations are and how often we actually see them playing out in real life. This book made me mad at the world and all its injustices.

I liked the premise of Kitty taking revenge on predatory men, I really did. But I’m also the type of person who gets more satisfaction from these types of people living the rest of their lives in prison. Unfortunately, I know that most rapists either aren’t reported or aren’t convicted and imprisoned for their crimes, so I can see why Kitty felt the need to cleanse society in a way.

But honestly, I feel like Kitty would have killed anyone eventually. She just seemed the type.

But still, her motivations for killing these men eventually got to her head. On top of that, Kitty had a online stalker that quickly proved to be stalking her irl as well. I won’t say much about this twist, so we’ll move on. But rest assured that The Creep, as they affectionately call this person, end up making quite the appearance.

The thing that just didn’t click with me in this book was how almost every man was painted to be a rapist. I know, I do get what the author was trying to say, and she definitely made her point. But I just didn’t love that literally every man that spoke with Kitty or her friends ended up being incredibly disrespectful, lecherous, or outright predatory. Again, I get what the author was trying to show, but it just got repetitive.

I did enjoy how the author didn’t shy away from the gore in regards to the killings and the body disposal. I also liked how devious and intelligent Kitty was, and how funny it was that she was a vegan serial killer.

All together, I didn’t love this book. I liked what it was trying to convey and I liked the gory scenes but didn’t love the social media aspects or relationships. I may read more from this author but I’m not totally taken by this book.

Wow. This book is seriously nuts! I'm going to start with something I've never done before...trigger warnings...and there's A LOT of them:

Trigger warning: rape, rape of a minor, sexual assault, murder, suicide, drugs, alcohol, sexual content, gore.

I think that's them all 😬

Kitty Collins, rich, influencer. Her job IS Instagram. Then, one night when she's out with her influencer friends, she heads home early and the creep from the bar follows her. He thinks because he bought her a few drinks she now owes him. Kitty is scared, he's so much bigger than her, but one push and he falls onto a broken wine bottle. What a waste of a decent white wine. The police think it's an accident, but Kitty feels good that she's rid the world of one scumbag...maybe she's the sort of hero the world needs?

At first I didn't think I'd finish. I absolutely hate the whole influencer "famous just for being famous" world and didn't think I'd be able to trawl through all that. But actually, Kitty really grows on you after a while. Her loyalty to her friends and dark humour is endearing and I really started rooting for her and her new budding relationship.

Overall I enjoyed it, it's losing one star because it was difficult to get into at first and I felt some of the story didn't quite make sense (possibly fixed in editing?) - there were a couple of timeline issues.

Otherwise I really enjoyed it, a few bits I didn't enjoy the detail I just skimmed over. It's entirely unrealistic, completely ridiculous and a whole lot of fun...while still raising some good points about treatment of women, expectations and how you do feel that you need to keep your keys between your fingers when walking home late at night...

#netgalley #howtokillmenandgetawaywithit #katybrent

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read!
Kitty Collins, wealthy social media influencer, bored with life and frustrated at the injustices women experience at the hands of men, starts taking vigilante justice. Turns out she’s very good at killing.

This was an easy read - Kitty’s voice is witty, acerbic and peppered with pop-culture references that fit well within the current influencer experience.
She’s not always the most likeable of characters, and makes mistakes along the way, but I couldn’t help rooting for her.

I liked the combination of murder and budding romance, with a supporting cast of socialite characters.

At times I felt this lacked a bit of depth - given the circumstances, the stakes never feel particularly high, partly due to the opening chapter which is set months after the rest of the story. However, the twist at the end was a surprise to me and made it a satisfying conclusion (if a little quick!)

This works as a stand-alone but I’d love to read more about Kitty’s exploits!

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Readers meet Kitty Thomas, a trust fund baby Instagram influencer which has sworn it her personal mission to avenge every girl who has become a non consenting victim to an over-arrogant, over-assuming man. By killing them all.

This was a quick and intriguing read, but incredibly surface level with little depth. The plot twists were half assed and the main character had very little development, there was an ongoing love story but i felt very little attachment to the love interest… it sort of faded into irrelevance and you kept waiting for something to happen. Furthermore, I couldn’t help but question some clear plot holes - Kitty orchestrates entirely via tinder; you’re telling me they would not have checked the victims phones? It seemed all very coincidental / with very few consequences. It made some good points about male entitlement and how frequently rich famous men get away with the most horrific of crimes, but the utterly shallow main character (having a rich white pretty female lead this book while never once acknowledging her privilege?) really took away from the story.

Oh and thank you to NetGalley / HQ for the ARC.

Just the title of the book made me want to read it! Great choice by the author / editor / publisher / PR team. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for allowing me to review an eARC of this book.

How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent is using a fantastic and eye-opening mixture of events in the current world including the risks facing women of all ages every day.

Katy Brent skilfully builds on the worries present every day for women, where they feel forced to carry their keys as weapons and message each other when they've safely made it home.

It is hugely entertaining in a twisted, dark way.

Kitty Collins. Influencer. Meat princesses. Killer.

Thanks for arc netgalley
I thought this would be just up my street talking about social media and influencers but it started well and then it got very gory and talk about who it’s next
And repeat
And more gory
And repeat
Sorry not my cup of tea at all need more substance in my books than a social media post

Hilarious and thought provoking.

I loved this book so much, it’s hilarious and lighthearted and I easily finished it in a day,, but to say it’s just that is wrong. It deals with some very serious, and relevant issues. The Me Too movement, the influence of social media on young people, and the fact that women quite simply cannot walk anywhere safely on their own.

I love Kitty and her murderous ways, and I love this book, it’s hilarious, but it’s not shallow..

My thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯:
Meet Kitty Collins.
FRIEND. LOVER. KILLER.

Have you ever walked home at night, keys in hand, ready to throw a punch in self-defence? That’s how it all started. The killing spree, I mean.

I sort of tripped into this role… Literally. The first one was following me. That guy from the nightclub who wouldn’t leave me alone. I pushed him, he stumbled, and fell onto his own broken wine bottle. Oops. It was such a waste of a good house white.

But now I can’t seem to stop and nor do I want to… I’ve got a taste for revenge and quite frankly, I’m killing it.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
Kitty is the female equivalent to a modern day Dexter. Vegan, tick. Social Media Influencer, tick. #metoo movement, tick.

Her family ran an abattoir business so Kitty knows her way around a knife, that's all il say. Reading about this industry from her perspective & without giving too much away how she deals with some of the bodies, wow I am glad I'm vegetarian. I was always wary of those sausage rolls no matter how delicious they tasted.. 🤢😂

This story keeps you page turning, from the stalker who seems to be there for Kittys every move, a new philanthropist boyfriend who seems to good to be true, little snippets of back story that you're drip fed & twists and turns that I was not expecting!! 😱

Thank you @netgalley & HQ Digital for the ARC.

Wow. What a story. In parts snortingly funny, at times crusading for the rights of women and at times a murder mystery thriller. There is also a sideline on mental health issues and a happy ending. This is a really enjoyable read but can get quite dark at times and it has a measure of blood and gore. Above all though it is a rattling good read where the good guys prevail and the necessity for sacrificial love for a relationship to endure is emphasised.

It was a fun read in some ways but in others it was also a wasted potential. The whole setup seems quite intriguing with a hidden secret in the world of the glamour and the rich. But a big part of that interest was left untouched. Kitty's interest in killing men seems sudden and forced even if her interests are justified with time. I never for once was interested in kitty's murders. (It really isn't that easy to get away with murdering someone). She is unable to get any sympathy for herself or any interest in her actions out of the reader. Her friends are a bunch that are easily forgettable but worst of 'em all is kitty's boyfriend who is solely there for the purpose of being at her beck and call. He doesn't seem to have a life. The story is intriguing and captivated my interest but the climax wasn't as exciting as i thought it would be which kinda ruined the story for me. It might be a fun read for you if you like reading about rich "influencers" who do nothing all day.

YESSSS!
This book gave me the same vibes as "The Mindf*ck Series" without all of the blood, gore, and craziness.

Instagram star Kitty is tired of men getting away with heinous acts, so she takes their fates into her own hands. She goes on a killing spree and believes she is getting away with it until a stalker informs her that they know all about her little hobby.

The short chapters were amazing. It always makes me feel like I'm reading through a book super fast. I also loved that each chapter let us know where were geographically, which helped set the scenes throughout the story.
The plot twists were fun (a couple of them predictable) but the final one definitely left me shocked! I loved this book!

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and HQ/HQ Digital for an eArc of this book!

Really the least objectionable thing about the main character was her murder spree. I hated her before she started any of that. She identified every person with their number of instagram followers. Nothing made any real sense and she never developed as a character. Is serial killing personal growth?

What a fun read! Murder, mystery, and romance! Yes, please!

Kitty Collins is a female version of Dexter that kills men who hurt women. She’s an instagram influencer who must find the balance between navigating friendships, a new love interest, and serving justice— vigilante style.

It was a super cute book and despite all the killing, it was quite humorous!

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

read it this afternoon.
5⭐️
Absolutely loved it.
Kitty is an instagram influencer and Kitty kills men! She tries to stop but can’t because some men just deserve to die!
You could argue that it was unrealistic but I loved it.
It also carried a strong message of violence against women.
Lots of trigger warnings but they all form part of story.
Funny in parts, but also sad, traumatic and lots of twists and turns along the way.
Thank you to #netgallery for this copy in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. It follows influencer Kitty Collins as she navigates a series of encounters with abusive men which result in their deaths. There is a certain amount of mystery and intrigue as we uncover more about our main character and her motivations and background that have led to her vigilant life. It is told with lots of dark humour and witt which keep the story entertaining and enjoyable despite the heavy topics and sometimes unrealistic plot. The writing style is brilliant for a fast paced, easy read that will keep you turning the page.

Please do look up trigger warnings for this book as there is a lot of focus on sexual assault and violence amongst others.

Kitty Collins is a social influencer who has gained more than a million followers on Instagram by trying and reviewing weight loss teas, skin moisturizers and by attending the most most prestigious parties around London. She lives in an exquisite penthouse apartment, bought and paid for by her family’s business, Collins’ Cuts. It was her Father’s company but when he disappeared when she was younger, her Mother paid for her penthouse and moved abroad. Kitty is a vegan and has no interest in running a company devoted to slaughtering animals.

Kitty has 3 close friends; Tor, Maisie, and Hen. Her friends are also on social media and they all judge a person by how many Instagram followers they have. Their entire lives are displayed on Instagram for the world to see and Kitty loves reading the praises, and the compliments but she started to receiving messages from A Creep who would rather see her bleed out after killing her.

After a night of partying with her friends, she begins to walk home but notices a young woman very distressed and trying to get away from a man that’s following her. She intervenes and gets the woman to safety, but now, she’s put her own life in danger. When he throws a wine bottle at her, she pushes him in self defense and what do you know, the slimeball slips and falls onto the broken glass on the sidewalk and is dead.

The feeling of euphoria has washed over Kitty and she sees purpose in removing awful womanizing men off this planet. She didn’t actually kill this man but she WILL kill others.

This was such an exhilarating, funny, and mysterious read. While Kitty, a female Dexter, is excitedly killing predators she’s taken aback by The Creep’s messages to her.

As the book unravels, I couldn’t believe the amount of damage Kitty has done over the years. She’s been lying her entire life but that’s what makes her the best friend, lover, and killer.

funny and witty

very dark and disturbing in places

dark humuor though shines through

Take this with a pinch of salt as it;s written tongue in cheek and don;t drink during it otherwise you will spit whatever drink you have down you and all over where you are sitting

Imagine Carrie Fisher is a serial killer and you’ll start to get an idea of the atmosphere in this book!

Kitty Collins is an influencer who lives a life of luxury and ease. But she has a very dark secret…or may several! Kitty is affected by men who rape and abuse women and decides to take matters into her own hands. But she has strict rules to follow!

On the one hand this book is grim and gives quite a lot of gory detail about murders and disposal of bodies! Yet on the other it is light hearted, funny and all about relationships.

I love the style of writing and whizzed through this book. I loved the characters, the relationships and the never ending secrets that come out. You absolutely need to be able to suspend your disbelief at times, but a brilliant debut!

How to Kill Men and Get Away With It is an extremely dark humor book. I do wish that there had been a sexual assault trigger warning in either the beginning of the book or the in the description. Describing Kitty as a female Dexter is 100% accurate. The book was filled with mystery and had me questioning all of her friends motivations. Overall an good book but definitely needed trigger warnings.