Member Review

Honey Left Dripping

Imani Thompson’s debut novel, “Honey,” is a provocatively dark thriller that takes the familiar trope of the female serial killer and subverts it with a sharp, academic lens. While the book is firmly rooted in the thriller genre—following Cambridge PhD student Yrsa as she descends into a cycle of killing “bad men”—it is notably not a mystery. The reader witnesses exactly what is happening as Yrsa executes her plans. Instead of asking who the killer is, the suspense centers on how Yrsa will pull off each increasingly bold crime and, more compellingly, where she will eventually slip up and face the consequences.

Yrsa, a student of Afropessimism, attempts to justify her escalating violence by framing it as "theory in action… a new methodology" and an act of feminist and racial solidarity. However, the novel suggests that her primary drive is less about deep-seated vigilante rage or redemption and more about a feeling of sport, or a cure for her profound boredom. This detachment gives Yrsa’s voice a dry and often sarcastic edge, providing moments of dark humor. The novel is at its most ambitious during its forays into academia, where Yrsa uses her research to intellectualize her bloodlust, challenging the reader with complex ideas about power, justice, and the limits of liberation.

Despite the high-speed pacing and intriguing characterization, the novel ultimately falters in its conclusion. While the narrative creates a mounting sense of tension that suggests Yrsa is heading toward a significant confrontation or obstacle, it abruptly halts at the height of this momentum. Given that the primary appeal of a thriller is the looming threat of an imminent collapse, this abrupt halt undermines the entire experience.

For readers who favor intellectually dense and morally complex character explorations over traditional, neatly packaged thrillers, Honey is a striking debut. Yrsa stands out as a singular, albeit ethically questionable and often unsympathetic, lead. The novel offers a profound intellectual journey, even if it sacrifices a satisfying thriller ending.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. #Honey #NetGalley