An Ethical Guide to Murder, Jenny Morris (Review by Stephanie Rowitz)

Thea is living her ordinary existence as an HR employee when she discovers she has a supernatural ability: she can see how long people have left to live and transfer life from one person to another just by touching them. After using her power to save her best friend, Ruth, and killing a man in the process, Thea tries to make sense of her new abilities by creating her own ethical framework. What begins as an attempt to do good quickly spirals out of control as Thea tries to figure out who deserves more time and who gets to decide. The writing is very strong throughout the novel. There’s a lot of witty dialogue, and the story seems well-paced. Morris does an excellent job of weaving ethical dilemmas into the plot with care and attention to detail while prompting readers to consider their own views about justice and the consequences of unchecked power. For those who like morally ambiguous stories, the premise offers a lot to contemplate. However, the most challenging aspect of this book is the protagonist, Thea. She’s a hard character to root for because the narrative doesn’t always acknowledge the weight of her actions. Her first use of the power results in the death of a man who isn’t portrayed as evil; he’s just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thea’s lack of remorse and reflection makes it hard to connect with her, and unfortunately, that distance continues for me throughout the rest of the book. Her “ethical guide” feels more like a shifting set of justifications than a principled system. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell whether her behavior is critiqued or subtly validated by those around her. Overall, An Ethical Guide to Murder is an intriguing read, especially for those who enjoy ambiguous storylines and characters with internal conflict. It’s an interesting exploration of power, morality, and judgment that feels very timely.