Reviewed by Ephantus Gold
“An Ethical Guide To Murder: The darkly twisted debut thriller of the year” is a captivating story by Jenny Morris that beautifully blends mystery, magic, and a lot of emotion. At its core is Thea, a young woman who discovers she has an ability that allows her to know a person’s exact death date and time by touch. But that’s not all. She can also change someone’s death—by taking time from someone else. Purchase Here.
The story begins when Thea sees her best friend Ruth’s death flash in her mind. Ruth is supposed to die that same night. When a fight breaks out at a club and Ruth is badly hurt, Thea panics. Somehow, she manages to steal life from the man who caused the accident and give it to Ruth—saving her life, but killing someone else. That’s when everything changes.
Thea is not a superhero. She’s just a regular girl working a boring HR job and trying to figure out life. But now she has a strange new power and a giant ethical dilemma. If she can save Ruth again…should she? And who deserves to die so Ruth can live?
This book is part mystery, part dark comedy, and part moral puzzle. Even though it heavily features themes on death, readers will find it not scary or sad but smart and funny, with lots of great moments that will make them think. Thea is very relatable—she’s clumsy, sarcastic, and often overwhelmed. Her thoughts are messy, and her emotions feel real. That makes it easy to connect with her, even when she’s doing something as wild as stealing someone’s life.
The writing is clear and clever. There are some deep questions hidden under the humor—like what makes a life valuable, and whether it’s ever okay to hurt someone for the greater good. Remarkably, the book keeps things light and fast-paced, so it’s easy to keep reading. There’s also a strong friendship at the center of the book. Thea and Ruth’s bond is sweet and believable, and watching Thea struggle to save her friend is very touching. The other secondary characters, especially Zara, Ruth’s other best friend as well as Thea’s boss, add just the right depth of drama and tension needed to keep the plot engaging.
Overall, “An Ethical Guide To Murder: The darkly twisted debut thriller of the year” is a creative, funny, and thoughtful read that’s perfect for anyone who likes a little magic in their mysteries. It’s about friendship, choices, and the weirdness of life—and death. Highly recommended for teen readers and up!