Kathy Lette

The reported death of Jason Riley triggers a madcap revenge caper in Til Death, or a little light maiming, Do Us Part by Kathy Lette.

As sixty year old schoolteacher Gwen Brookes stares grief-stricken at all that remains of her handsome, loving husband of two years, Jason Riley, - a swimming cap and a piece of torn, blood-stained wetsuit - after he was reportedly taken by a shark while training for an Ironman competition, a woman in a bejewelled bustier and leather jacket barrels through the show more crowd calling her husband’s name. To Gwen’s horror, jazz singer Tish also claims to be Jason’s wife, and though she is loathe to believe it, Tish has their wedding certificate issued a year earlier, as proof. More shocks are to come when the women sit across from Jason’s lawyer and learn that his entire estate, and much of theirs, had been transferred to a female business partner in Egypt just days before his death.

Despite the antipathy between the two Mrs Riley’s, and Gwen’s fear of flying, the women fly to Cairo in the hope of recovering their money only to discover Jason, alive and well, in the arms of a younger woman. As Jason flees through the streets of the city, Gwen learns that Skye, a geologist, is not just Jason’s business partner but also his wife of less than a year, and though Skye is sceptical of the women’s claims, when she logs on to her banking account she finds both their business, and her personal account have been emptied.

Now three very hurt, angry and near broke Mrs Riley’s are on the trail of the conman they had the misfortune to marry, and Jason may well wish he was dead if they manage to catch him.

Sure the plot is absurd, but it’s also fun as the reader is led all over the globe while the women give chase, from Cairo to the Maldives, from Tanzania and through Europe, with Jason just barely eluding their grasp several times. Though it’s a whirlwind world tour, geography teacher Gwen insists on visiting at least some cultural sites as the women pursue their quarry by plane, train, ship and even bicycle, uncovering more victims of Jason’s as they go.

Tish’s bold personality and raunchy sense of humour contrasts sharply with Gwen’s sensible, timid manner, and Skye’s crystal loving spirituality. A descending decade or so apart in age (Gwen is the oldest) the women have almost nothing in common so there is plenty of conflict between them, but the bond that slowly develops between Gwen and Tish in particular is warming.

The dialogue consists mostly of wisecracks, innuendo and quips. Though Lette made me laugh more than once, the humour tends to be obvious and get a little one-note after a while.

For all its inanity however, the story does address issues such as the vulnerability of women of all ages and social groups to so called ‘love rats’, and explores the idea that women can choose to embrace the post menopausal period as an opportunity to redefine their lives.

Til Death, or a little light maiming, Do Us Part is a funny, raunchy, fast-paced adventure that you’ll likely either love or hate. show less

Kathy Lette has an unusual talent in being able to write about serious issues with a tonne of humour and sarcasm thrown in. This style is disagreeable to some readers, especially if they're unfamiliar with her work. Some see it as disrespectful, but under the snark is a deeply important narrative, served in a way that makes it palatable to a different audience than the usual crime fiction fan. The events central to this book are horrific, but the style makes it a page turner when it could show more otherwise become depressing and overwhelming. Add in some realistically awkward romantic side stories, vibrant characters, and lots of chocolate, and you've got a darned good read if you go with the flow. show less

The pace of the humour in this book was so frenetic it was like being assaulted. In any situation, jokes have primacy. It doesn't matter how dramatic or tragic a situation the characters find themselves in, they will always get a pun in at the very least. This is literature for people who want to have their funny bone tickled from the word go, and who don't mind a creaky overblown plot and a cast of exaggerated stereotypes. I swear there were no likeable men at all in this book, but we show more needn't worry about offending half the population, because the author mentioned sanitary towels in the first sentence, niftily ensuring none of them will read it anyway.

I like a laugh, but this wasn't my style of humour. That doesn't make it a bad book, it's just a matter of preference. Many many people are going to be rolling around on the floor splitting their sides reading this. And even in my case, it had its moments. I loved the competitive mums at the baby group. And my favourite gag: "Maddy...couldn't think of one female who...would prefer to die rather than ask directions (which is why they now always include a token female on the space shuttle)" Oh yes, world class that one. show less

My Thoughts: I could write reams on why I enjoyed this book and there is so much that the blurb doesn’t tell you about the highs and lows of life with an autistic child as Lucy tries to raise her child and stay sane; and author Lucy Lette should know as her 21-year-old son, Julius, was diagnoses as having Asperger’s (high-functioning autism) when he was a toddler. In an interview Kathy said there is a lot of Julius in Merlin but the book is fiction and not a memoir. In amongst the show more hilarious one-liners and slap-stick skits are poignant statements such as “…Mothering a child on the autism spectrum is as easy as skewering banana custard to a mid-air boomerang…” said in jest but striking deep in the heart. There is also a standout scene that highlights the dangers these trusting children can get into as Merlin is waylaid by a paedophile in a nearby park – brought up to be polite and not ask questions he is ill-equipped to understand what was going on. Lucy battles with the education department to try and get her son into a special school – only to be told time and time again that her son was just naughty. Lucy also has to field questions from the literal mind of her son such as “…if there is a happy hour in a bar is there a sad hour?..” There were also some very hairy questions, usually at the most inappropriate times like telling his grand-mother that he had heard she had two faces so why she was wearing the face she had on today! I loved this book – I loved the humour, I loved the message. THE BOY WHO FELL TO EARTH goes a long way to understanding what the parents and carers must be going through and to help and encourage them rather than talk about them behind their backs. show less