Wow, what a talented writer Katherine Min was! How lucky for us that her daughter, Kayla, put in the work to ensure her mother’s second novel got published posthumously.

This is actually a very grim story, filled with infidelity, suicide, abduction, attempted murder, and more. It revolves around the relationships that violinist and accused Asian fetishist Daniel Karmody has created (and destroyed) over the course of his life. There is revenge, but also repentance, and it does end on an overall hopeful note.

The author had that special kind of skill to write characters that so feel genuinely real, from the ailing concert cellist Alma to the angry punk rocker and anime artist Kyoko, and everyone in between. I liked the structure of the book, as well as the style chosen for the chapter names. And such a way she had with words!

One issue I have is the blurb calling this black comedy and referencing it’s brilliant humour—I think that might be misleading, as I don’t remember anything funny about it (outside of Daniel wearing the Snugli and other QVC acquisitions stored in his prison).

This was truly good literary fiction, and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons (and Kayla) for the opportunity to read this ARC.