Murder By Natural Causes
Murder By Natural Causes introduces us to Cilla, a 22-year-old contract killer who specialises in the dry job, making murders appear as natural deaths. She is an unconventional anti-heroine, lacking beauty and physical strength, but armed with astute cleverness and tenacity. But Cilla knows her luck won't last forever, and she must find a way to reinvent herself before her past catches up with her. This intelligent thriller keeps readers engaged in her journey of self-preservation towards the normal life she so desperately craves.
Do you remember going to raves and where you were when the Berlin Wall fell?
Cilla does, and it all conveniently coincides with her own small glimmer of hope. As a product of an experimental programme training child assassins behind the Iron Curtain, she had no need for emotions. This protagonist seemed more of a curiosity to me when I first started listening. She even taught me a little about the game of bridge, which I fondly remember my parents playing with their friends. But as the story began to unfold, I found myself cheering for her to evade, escape, and succeed. The pacing is superb and the final scene ambiguous, engrossing from the very start to the bitter end.
"Loose ends must always be tied."
Full disclosure: I received this audiobook by mistake from a popular digital review site. Although I was approved for a completely different title, this one turned up unexpectedly by accident. No complaints here – it ended up being a very pleasant surprise.