Eileen Cook, With Malice, Hot Key/Allen & Unwin, August 2016, 304pp., $16.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781471405853
With Malice is a draining read in many ways. Eileen Cook’s novel gives you just enough to think Jill is guilty of murder, before tables turn and you find yourself sympathizing with Jill.
But, on to the plot: Jill wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the past six weeks, including her long-awaited trip to Italy, and the circumstances leading up to her best friend Simone’s, death in Italy. Very quickly Cook establishes that Jill is under suspicion of Simone’s murder and Jill is left struggling to make sense of things, while readers don’t have to wait for the story to get started. Jill is the perfect unreliable narrator in a way – she doesn’t remember the time frame in question, so she can’t be lying, right? But then, there’s the evidence that points to the contrary and readers are left trying to figure her out.
Jill is the girl next door – the kind of girl you would be friends with, and who would follow the more outgoing Simone around. Sure she’s popular, but Simone is the one that commands or rather demands attention. Readers are going to like Jill, which makes the tale all the more intriguing as Cook throws up doubts about her innocence.
As Jill works on her physical rehab in hospital, the investigation into Simone’s death begins, and Jill is interviewed by cops, hires a lawyer and starts building a defense for herself, much to her horror. Indeed, the book is a very character-driven piece, focused on Jill and her trying to recall the trip, while she undergoes rehab.
However, while this part of the main plot is happening, Cook begins to introduce alternate chapters chronicling social media posts and discussions about her friendship with Simone, about their fights and the trip to Italy. These sorts of posts are staples in news items these days, so readers will appreciate these and be engaged with them, all the while seeing how Jill is affected by them. It’s easy to be a keyboard warrior when you can’t see the real person you’re commenting on.
Some chapters include police interviews with kids on the trip and parents, bringing another level of reality into the story to contrast with the social media content. It’s another effective way Cook uses to build a complete picture of the events leading to Simone’s death, not to mention her relationship with Jill as a result.
Cook adds another element into the story in the form of Anna, Jill’s roommate. As the book progresses, I saw her as a contrast to Simone and her friendship with Jill. I’m not saying that Jill and Simone weren’t best friends, but I do think they outgrew each other and didn’t know how to let go because of their history together. And then, here’s Anna, this down-to-earth girl, who Jill knows for a few weeks, but who helps her and advises her in the same way I imagine Jill would have advised someone in her position. Friendships that last are wonderful, but history can stop people from moving on to new friends, something I hope readers see.
Jill’s parents are a big part of this story too, though in some respects they could be stronger characters, working with their daughter to find out the truth instead of protecting her and leaving her to figure things out on her own. Parents are usually left out in the cold in YA, and while that’s not entirely true in this book, I can’t help wishing their presence was felt more.
The ending might be confusing for readers, but I think the author is leaving it more up to them to make up their mind. It’s a bold move, because some readers might feel robbed of a firm answer. But that right there is why this is an excellent book – it still leaves you wondering in the end.
Reviewed by Verushka Byrow