It was Greek mythology that first captured the storytelling power of the vengeful woman and the havoc she can wreak. Ripe with themes of betrayal, oppression and violent reprisal it’s a theme that’s been mined by countless writers through the ages. The Dangers of Female Provocation reiterates the familiar trope, but goes further. Coyle cleverly sets her tale of violent revenge firmly within the framework of today’s #MeToo culture where real women are speaking out about male abuse of power.

Odessa has the perfect life – dream job, wealth, luxury home in London and blissful marriage. Until, with the discovery of husband Ian’s infidelity, it begins to unravel. Flailing and furious at his betrayal, she starts to see her own predicament writ large in a wildly aggrandised cinemascope of male oppression. What follows is a descent into ever more bizarre acts of reprisal, not against her own cheating husband, but those of her ‘sisterhood’.

Odessa isn’t an empathetic character, although you can’t help but root for her, albeit wishing she’d turn the force of her rage on the vapid Ian, where it belongs. Her escalating ‘bunny boiler’ type exploits is gripping reading, although towards the end the impetus falls away as the story metamorphoses into a morality tale. For my taste, the writing was overwrought and let down by a technicolour use of metaphor. Less would have been more. It is however an innovative take on the ‘hell hath no fury’ idea and the plot is bizarre enough to keep the reader guessing.

Reviewed by Anne Green