Book Review:

Thirteen Ways to Kill Lulabelle Rock by Maud Woolf

Publication Date: January 9, 2024

Summary from Goodreads:

A washed up star creates a clone tasked with eliminating other clones of herself; a whip-smart and thrilling sci-fi read that’s perfect for fans of Orphan Black, Killing Eve and Keeping it Real by Justina Robson.

Set in a world of the near future, the celebrity elite have access to a technology that allows them to make perfect copies of themselves, known as Portraits. These Portraits exist to fulfil all the various duties that come as the price of fame.

Our protagonist is the thirteenth copy made of the actress known as Lulabelle Rock. Her purpose is very to track down and eliminate her predecessors.

While initially easy, her task is made difficult by the labyrinthine confusion of Bubble City and the unfortunate stirrings of a developing conscience. When she makes the mistake of falling in love with one of her targets, the would-be assassin faces the ultimate question; when you don’t want to kill yourself, what’s the alternative?

Confession:

This was an interesting and entertaining read. I enjoyed the different characters and the setting of this book, but it just seemed to be missing a little something to make me really like it. I’m not sure what that something is, but I never really felt connected to the story or characters.

I did like the thirteenth clone of Lulabelle, she called herself the assassin. She starts off being quite simple, but also a little lost in this world that she is new to. She does learn and grow as she takes herself around Bubble City finding and killing the other Lulabelles. Some of them she has conversations with before she kills them, and for the most part she learns something new about herself and the real Lulabelle each time. I thought it was interesting that all of the Lulabelles were created for specific reasons and to fulfill a certain task or job that the original did not want to do. They each actually had pretty distinct personalities from each other, which was interesting as they were all clones. It was quite the commentary on individuality and self awareness.

The assassin also meets some other characters in the city and all of them help to shape her personality as well. I thought it was very interesting that she kept bumping into different ones at crucial moments in her journey. I particularly liked the hitchhiker she picks up on her way into town. He is the one to introduce her to the tarot cards which become important as the story progresses.

The story is well written with decent pacing, although a little slow in some parts. The descriptions of the city, both the glamourous and the seedy sides, were well done. The dialogue between the characters is also pretty interesting and at times witty. I thought the book would be a bit funnier, and although there are some lighter bits, it does tend to stay on the darker side of things. The murders are well done, not being too graphic or gory. There is also a bit of a mystery surrounding the real Lulabelle, and it was quite the twist when it is revealed.

This is a book that you must experience for yourself. It is quite different from what you might expect from the summary. It is entertaining and it does make you think, which is something all good books do.