Mark Mupotsa-Russell’s debut novel is impressive, but not for the faint-hearted. Its theme is confronting, its characters are foul-mouthed, and its violence is all-consuming.
Olivia Hodges, mid-30s, is a suburban mum with a husband, Jai, and two young daughters. Olivia has a secret. She used to be a hitwoman in Spain, having perfected her talent while serving in Afghanistan with the Australian forces. In Afghanistan she killed and earned a soldier’s pay; in Spain she killed and earned megabucks.
In Europe, Olivia met the man who became her husband. They settled quietly in the Dandenong Ranges and started a family. She established a public relations agency to launder her wealth held in bank accounts overseas. The business seemed to be doing so well they decided she would work outside the home, he would work from home. There are no financial worries; household bills are paid on time.
The former hitwoman is a lapsed Catholic with a belief in Karma, good and bad. Her conscience bothers her, and she fully expects retribution for her past sins at any tick of the clock. Jai was brought up in the Sikh religion but is now an agnostic. He is great with the kids, handy around the house and considerate in the bedroom. As an IT expert, he finds it intriguing that Olivia refuses his offers to help with the PR agency’s accounts.
Tragedy strikes … and strikes hard. Olivia’s worst fears are realised.
Olivia uses her talents to take revenge. No way is she going to allow the criminal gang responsible to be arrested, serve a short time in prison and be released back into the community. What follows is ugly, bloody … and thrilling.
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORMark Mupotsa-Russell is a writer living on Wurundjeri Country in the Yarra Ranges. His debut noir thriller, Sinners Like Me, won the 2023 Affirm Press Mentorship Award and will be published in 2024. Before writing novels, he was a screenwriter, film reviewer, cocktail columnist, PR consultant and communications adviser in the suicide prevention sector.
Mark was previously shortlisted for the Text Prize, won a screen development grant from Screen Australia and had screenplays optioned. He lives among the trees with his Art Therapist-superstar wife, hilarious son and a moodle majestically-named ‘Mufasa’. When not writing he obsesses about movies and martial arts.
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