Reader, I Murdered Him
In this daring tale of female agency and revenge from a New York Times bestselling author, a girl becomes a teenage vigilante who roams Victorian England using her privilege and power to punish her friends’ abusive suitors and keep other young women safe.
Adele grew up in the shadows—first watching from backstage at her mother’s Parisian dance halls, then wandering around the gloomy, haunted rooms of her father’s manor. When she’s finally sent away to boarding school in London, she’s happy to enter the brightly lit world of society girls and their wealthy suitors.
Yet there are shadows there, too. Many of the men that try to charm Adele’s new friends do so with dark intentions. After a violent assault, she turns to a roguish young con woman for help. Together, they become vigilantes meting out justice. But can Adele save herself from the same fate as those she protects?
With a queer romance at its heart, this lush historical thriller offers readers an irresistible mix of vengeance and empowerment.
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Community Reviews
Just like in the original novel, Jane Eyre is Adele’s governess in this retelling, as well. However, this Jane is not as strong as the Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte. This Jane is a bit more… MIA as all she does is fawn over Edward Rochester, who is believed to be Adele’s father, according to Celine. Jane Eyre falls for Edward Rochester, gets married, is pregnant, and then ships Adele off to boarding school. While Jane Eyre proclaims she loves Adele, I did not get that feeling. It is more selfish love and when it is most convenient for Jane. Jane is constantly putting Edward Rochester first, and Adele last. Jane writes to Adele about how Adele must be getting along beautifully with the girls there and Jane is sure one of them would be more than glad to invite Adele over. This truly hurts Adele’s feelings but Adele keeps making excuses for Jane. Adele loves Jane and feels Jane is the closest thing to her mother. I suppose when you have lost your mother and you have Bertha, the mad first wife of Edward Rochester and Jane Eyre, I guess Jane does win hands down.
The title is a spin on the line from Jane Eyre’s famous quote, “Reader, I married him,” this is a mesmerizing tale of Adele Varnes who actually grows up in this “would be” sequel that a modern-day Charlotte Bronte would possibly have written if she lived in today’s time. Only this time, instead of Jane uttering the famous line, we find Adele declaring, “Reader, I Murdered Him,” which makes it more wickedly interesting. This is a retelling of Jane Eyre.
We find Adele living in London with her “father” and as she lives with him and later at the Webster school for girls who are coming out to society, think debutante, she notices a common denominator. It’s a man’s world and a woman’s word is worthless unless a man agrees or cooperates with her.
She realizes she must be the protector and vigilante for all the girls who have no voice because of society. She makes the acquaintance of Nan and learns truly how to take care of those who she loves but also how to take care of herself. I love the closeness these two shares and how Adele also has written correspondence, which can also serve as a confessional, as she shares the truth with her distant cousin, Eric Fairfax.
But just when you think Adele has a full grasp of how to be, a horrible event puts her life into another event spins and her life will never be the same. Only this time, instead of being the vigilante, she is in need of rescuing.
What I love is that the author did not make Adele weak and to be pitied. She isn’t the same Adele from Charlotte Bronte’s Adele. We see this Adele grow up and learn how she became a teenage vigilante and the care and love she shows others. She is not one bit selfish and very astute for her age. She goes out of her way to look after those who are in need of help.
Historical thriller - check
Complex characters - check
Queer romances - check
Sapphic Romance - check
Bad Ass heroine - check
Women supporting each other - check
Feminism - check
Victorian era - check
Great point of view - check
Retelling - check
Breaks the fourth wall - check
I loved this audiobook! Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audios for sending me this digital audio review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
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