An Ethical Guide To Murder

Reviews / Votes

'Jenny Morris' remarkable debut novel resembles Naomi Alderman's The Power, but she limits the ability to harm and sets the story in the present, not the future...(a) clever, beguiling novel' The Sunday Times

'This original read is dark, funny and gripping' heat' Book of the Week

'Also out in the middle of this month is Jenny Morris's ingenious An Ethical Guide to Murder (Simon & Schuster (12hrs 43mins), narrated energetically by Nicky Diss. At its heart is a fantastical proposition and an equally unlikely character: Thea, who has the ability to tell how long you're going to live and, if you're not one of the good guys, to subtract your remaining years and give them to someone more deserving. The novel's momentum - and its fun - comes from Thea's qualms, and her consequent attempts to work out a set of rules to govern the use of her superpower' Financial Times, Audiobook round up

'Wittily written, it's deeply emotional at times and I was surprised at my reaction (tears) at several points - but one of those must-talk about books' Belfast Telegraph

'An Ethical Guide to Murder will leave you pondering over deep issues that are often skated over in regular crime novels. What an excellent debut!' Crime Fiction Lover

'A bewitching, deadly and cleverly audacious read with psychological weight...and a dark heart' Buzz Magazine

'An Ethical Guide to Murder is a complex moral dilemma on who really determines what's good and what's bad, do bad people not deserve to live long lives, and whether the power for deciding that should sit with someone that's not even in control of keeping on top of their own laundry! . . . [In Thea] Jenny Morris has written a complex and vulnerable character who is highly principled and incredibly naive in equal measure . . . Jenny Morris has lovely, fast paced writing style, peppered with good humour that breaks up some of the thornier moral questions and makes Thea a much more likeable character than she otherwise could be . . . It's a fun read that could lean more towards cosy crime than a true thriller and might make for an entertaining Netflix drama ( think of The Obituary) and if you're a fan of Bella Mackie's How to Kill Your Family you'll enjoy this debut from Jenny Morris just as much' Interview Room One 'An ambitious thriller with supernatural overtones, this debut crime novel by British behavioural scientist Jenny Morris balances sometimes comic thrills with questions of morality and certainly proves highly original' Crime Time UK 'Jenny Morris has taken the "with great power comes great responsibility" concept and applied it to someone who struggles to be responsible for her own laundry. Thea is a relatable, messy character whose trials and tribulations kept me laughing all the way to the emotional gut punch. What a marvellous debut!' Alice Bell, author of Grave Expectations

'Relatable, poignant, and filled with unexpected twists, An Ethical Guide to Murder is near-impossible to put down. I was hooked all the way up to the ending, which I can't stop thinking about. A must-read for 2025' Jenny Hollander, author of Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead

'An Ethical Guide to Murder is the best type of book - one that's as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. With Thea, Jenny Morris has created one of the most interesting characters that I've read in a long time. Though you might not agree with every decision she makes, you'll be fascinated just the same. This book should be on the top of your TBR pile' Kellye Garrett, award-winning author of Missing White Woman

'Is Thea a serial killer? Is she an avenging angel? Maybe she's both. Fresh and fun, I loved this original take on the crime genre. Combining ethics with a good old revenge story, I raced through this unexpectedly poignant novel. A fabulous debut!' Sam Holland, author of The Echo Man

'A wonderfully hooky premise with the emotional depth to back it up, An Ethical Guide to Murder is a stellar debut from Jenny Morris. The Trolley Problem for the Uber age' Callum McSorley, author of Squeaky Clean, winner of the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year 2024

'A darkly compelling and brilliantly original take on power, morality, and consequence. Thea's extraordinary gift is both a blessing and a curse, and watching her navigate the blurry line between justice and vengeance makes for an absolutely gripping read. With razor-sharp prose and wonderfully relatable characters, Morris asks the ultimate question: if you had the power of life and death, how far would you go? I couldn't put it down' Amanda Cassidy, Irish Times Bestselling author of The Perfect Place

'You do not want to miss this! A fresh, humorous yet thought-provoking tale of one ordinary, complex woman's quest to put her superpower to good use. Thea's dilemmas of who lives and who dies will keep you pounding through the pages with a smile on your face and an ache in your heart' Graham Bartlett, author of City on Fire

'A deliciously dark, entertainingly sincere Dexter meets Sophie's Choice. Loved it!' Claire Wilson, author of Five by Five

'An Ethical Guide to Murder is a thought-provoking whirlwind of a ride with unexpected twists, well-timed humor, and a propulsive plot. It kept me on my toes until the last page, and I'm still thinking about it!' Gloria Chao, author of The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club and Ex Marks the Spot

'Thea's gift of transferring life from one person to another begins as a darkly entertaining tale. Unnerved but empowered by her ability, this Robin Hood of life and death uses her skills to save her best friend. Her plan to do good by taking years of life from people who don't deserve to have it and giving it to those that do is initially well meaning. But how can she really tell the difference? As events spiral and Thea struggles to cope with the ethics and unforeseen circumstances of her gift, An Ethical Guide to Murder takes a twist into the thought-provoking and poignant. Beautifully written, funny and heartbreaking, it asks questions that will stay with you long after the final page' Heather Critchlow, author of Unsound