The Murders of Molly Southbourne

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: The Murders of Molly Southbourne

If you bleed, blot, burn and bleach.

This is the mantra Molly lives with day after day. If she doesn't follow it, she must kill herself. Every time Molly bleeds, there is a risk a new molly will be created. The mollys start off innocent, wanting simple things like comfort and companionship, but it is only a matter of time until they turn against her and anyone that gets in their way.

This macabre story will take hold of you and refuse to let go. Molly is a girl forced to grow up in isolation on her parent's farm. Before being allowed into the real world, she must learn how to deal with her condition. If she bleeds, Molly must quickly destroy the blood. But when she can't, Molly learns how to disassemble a body for easy disposal and clean up.  After all, you can't leave dead mollys lying around for someone to find.

But killing copies of yourself takes its toll on Molly. Emotions do not come easy to her. When she is finally ready to leave the farm, she will have to learn how to function like a normal human. Dealing with the residue fears that arise from her trauma and the difficulties of forming a relationship.

This is not a book to pass on. I highly recommend it. Tade Thompson is extremely talented to have created such a story in fewer than 100 pages.