What Doesn't Kill Us

In this book, a killer stalks the streets of Leeds, and every man is a suspect. Women in a house on Cleopatra Street are fighting back, led by Rowena and Charmaine. PC Liz Seeley joins the squad investigating the murders, drawn to a feminist collective. As the list of victims grows, police fail to catch the killer, and women across the north are too terrified to go out after dark. Ajay Close combines the tension of a police procedural with the power and passion of the womens lib movement, revealing how much the world has changed since the 1970s.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2024
Publisher: Saraband

This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a truly raw and authentic voice. Maxine Peake's novel takes readers on a thrilling journey through the streets of Leeds, where a killer is on the loose, casting a shadow of suspicion over every man. However, in a house on Cleopatra Street, a group of women are fighting back, determined to protect themselves and their community.

Set in the vibrant atmosphere of the 1980s, PC Liz Seeley joins the squad investigating the murders. With a violent boyfriend at home and a male-dominated workplace, Liz is drawn to a feminist collective led by the militant and uncompromising Rowena. There, she meets Charmaine, a young, Black, artistic, and fiercely independent woman who is fighting discrimination on two fronts.

As the list of victims grows, and the police fail to catch the killer, fear spreads throughout the city, causing women to stay indoors after dark. To the feminists, the Butcher is a symptom of a wider misogyny that needs to be addressed. Their anger finds an outlet in violence, and Liz finds herself torn between her loyalty to the collective and her duty as a police officer.

Ajay Close masterfully combines the tension of a police procedural with the power and passion of the women's lib movement. The novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, action, and dark humor, revealing just how much the world has changed since the 1970s and how much it has yet to change. Through the characters of Liz and Charmaine, Close explores themes of empowerment, resilience, and the fight for equality.

What Doesnt Kill Us is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that will leave readers reflecting on the importance of standing up against injustice and the strength of women who refuse to be silenced. It is a testament to the power of literature to shed light on the issues that matter and to inspire change in the world.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913393960