Book Review: The Kill Club

THE KILL CLUB | Wendy Heard
12.17.2019 | MIRA Books
Rating: 5/5 stars

Jazz will stop at nothing to make sure her brother, Joaquin has everything he needs. Unfortunately, their foster mother, Carol, does not see eye to eye with Jazz. Now that Jazz has moved out of their home, Carol’s level of religious fanaticism has increased. Carol no longer supports Joaquin taking his insulin because she believes that God will heal him and medicine isn’t needed. Jazz has tried to have child services intervene, but time and time again her attempts fail. 

As Joaquin’s time starts to run out Jazz receives a blocked call from a mysterious individual offering a solution. There are other people out there like Jazz. Others who the law has failed to assist. Together they have formed an underground contingent of “helpers”, each agreeing to eliminate the abuser of another member. As a trail of bodies begins to form all around Los Angeles, these murders are dubbed the Blackbird Killings. If Jazz agrees to join, the network will take care of Carol and make it look like just another murder at the hands of Blackbird. How far is she willing to go? Would she kill a stranger?

“The first of murder club, don’t talk about murder club.” That’s basically all you need to know about this book! I’m kidding, but really who wouldn’t want to read something with lines like that? 

THE KILL CLUB is a look into Jazz’s current situation. She’s a single woman trying to make ends meet on her own in LA while also taking care of her thirteen-year-old brother who is trapped with their foster mother. Jazz is one of the most badass characters I’ve read about in a crime fiction book. She’s not willing to take anyone’s crap and also cares endlessly about those important to her. More books need strong female characters like Jazz!

What would you do if you had the chance to save a life, but in order to do it you needed to take the life of a stranger? Would you kill someone? What if that person was evil, would you feel they deserved what was coming to them? That’s exactly the moral dilemma Jazz is facing. What she doesn’t realize is this situation is so much beyond that. This underground organization does not take no for an answer and will stop at nothing to collect the debt you owe them. Talk about a thrill ride! Following along with Jazz was highly entertaining and kept me on my feet throughout the book. I could not stop reading this one! 

On top of being an exciting read filled with thrills, this book also contains heart and characters that build upon this to truly connect the reader to the story. The relationship between Jazz and Joaquin was so real that I felt for both of them in their individual situations. I wanted nothing but for them to be together and for Carol to get out of their lives. This connection really helped me to buy into everything that was happening throughout the story and understanding the lengths Jazz was willing to stretch herself to.

If you’re looking for a quick, binge-worthy read, then this is the book for you!

This book is available to buy from: Amazon | Book Depository

Disclosure: What Jess Reads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This in no way influences my opinion of the above book.