This is an unusual and quietly powerful novel that tackles the fraught subject of assisted dying with warmth, wit, and tenderness, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, finding myself relating to all the characters, especially Eufrasia herself. Set in Peru, it follows Eufrasia Vela, a carer whose deep compassion for her elderly clients gradually draws her into helping them end their lives on their own terms. It’s a bleak premise but handled with compassion and insight. Rodríguez balances the moral weight of euthanasia with moments of humour, friendship, and even joy, particularly in the portrayal of the elderly residents whose lives, though nearing their end, are still rich with memory and personality. The novel also offers a subtle but pointed critique of social inequality, loneliness, and the neglect of the old. Sometimes sentimental but never overly so, the author has written a very human and relatable tale that will resonate with many readers. Grounded in Peruvian society yet with a universal application, it’s a deeply empathetic novel, less about death than about dignity, connection, and what it means to live well until the end.

I picked up “One Hundred Guinea Pigs” not quite knowing what to expect, but I was very impressed. I’m very grateful that this novel was translated to English by Charco Press so that it can reach a whole new audience.

A touching and poignant novel, the author treats death in a deeply human and dignifying matter without becoming overly sentimental. I’ve read several other books this year centred around the topic of death and assisted death, and this one is by far the best, in my humble opinion.

I recommend this book without hesitation, particularly to lovers of translated literature and character driven fiction.