This Girl’s A Killer

Rejoice, Dexter junkies! The TV series featuring Dexter Morgan ran for eight thrilling seasons, concluding in 2013, followed by a ten-episode sequel in 2022. Fans reveled in Dexter’s exploits as he solved crimes by day and committed them by night. The show was based on Jeff Lindsay’s dark and gritty series of eight novels.

Now, a worthy successor has arrived with Emma C. Wells’s debut novel, introducing the anti-heroine Cordelia Black with wit, suspense, and style.

At 33, Cordelia is at the top of her game as a successful pharmaceutical sales rep, glamorous in her designer outfits and refined demeanor. But her journey was far from easy. Born Joanie Brown to a junkie mother in a trailer park, she was once meek and mousy, always somewhat hungry and sick. Determined to escape her past, she transformed herself before college at LSU in Baton Rouge, lightening her hair, straightening her teeth, and honing her speech. With this transformation, Joanie was buried forever, replaced by the confident and dynamic Cordelia.

Cordelia loves three things: her chosen family—her college best friend Diane and Diane’s daughter Samantha (“Sugar”)—and killing “monsters.” By day, she enjoys brunch and shopping, but by night, she prowls the streets of Baton Rouge (or “Red Stick”) to rid it of predators who have escaped justice—child abusers, spouse abusers, rapists, and murderers. She hunts with meticulous care and an enthusiasm bordering on joy. Once a target catches her attention, she embarks on a relentless process: lengthy surveillance, disguising herself to get close, and casually slipping them Bosephan, her highest-selling drug at Meyer Pharmaceutical.

Bosephan, originally used in the 90s for erectile dysfunction before being withdrawn for its side effects, has become Cordelia’s weapon of choice. A few tablets render her victims confused and easily manipulated into compromising positions before they fall into a prolonged sleep. They awaken zip-tied and gagged on Cordelia’s worktable in her personal kill room. Watching their terror, Cordelia savors the moment before slicing their jugular with a single swipe. Later, she mixes their blood with paint, creating unique, cathartic artwork as a final act of closure. And, as a macabre bonus, she’s secured an arrangement to sell the remains to an unscrupulous body broker.

But Cordelia’s methods are disrupted when Bosephan is pulled from the market due to newly reported side effects. Desperate, she scrambles to cover up her use of samples, even forging doctors’ signatures on forms. Complicating matters further, her best friend Diane has a new boyfriend, Simon White, who Cordelia deeply mistrusts. This mistrust soon spirals into chaos when she impulsively kills Simon—an unplanned act that shatters her meticulous control. Now, she’s left with the problem of disposing of an unplanned kill, as a cascade of events threatens to expose her. Yet, as the stakes rise, readers find themselves rooting for Cordelia to evade capture.

Meanwhile, news reports blare about missing men in Baton Rouge, hinting at a potential serial killer and attracting police interest. Cordelia can’t afford an investigation.

Emma C. Wells proves herself a masterful storyteller, weaving multiple plotlines, red herrings, and surprising twists. At its core, this tale is about the power of family and friendship. Wells blends dark humor with strong character development, creating a story as gripping as it is entertaining. Like many, I’m eager to follow the ongoing exploits of this compelling vigilante killer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press/Sourcebooks for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.