Alistair's Reviews > How to Kill Your Family

Dear Bella,
I hope you don’t mind my informality? After all, we’ve never met, although we do have one thing in common: you are the author of the book I’ve just put down and removed my bookmark (at page 223 of 354). I will not be re-inserting said bookmark.
I loved the premise of your novel, and you have talent as a novelist. I’ll give you a couple of examples I particularly enjoyed. “The other guy had a sizeable belly on him, and back hair, which I refuse to accept is attractive to anyone in the modern age. You don’t get points for keeping yourself warm.”

“…. and Gavin, the sweetly camp guy who wore cardigans more than he should, and that is being kind because the correct amount is never.”
(I love my cardies….)

However, Bella, nothing excuses the over-abundance of WORDS in your novel; I felt I was drowning in them. Where was your editor? Did you have one? The novel would have been more successful, and shorter, if someone had taken the blue pencil to your draft.
I’m not giving up on you, and will look out for your next effort.
Sincerely yours,
Alistair