[Novella Review] The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson is such an original horror story filled with life, death, and lots of blood. While reading, I felt very unsettled and anxious throughout; I loved it!

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson

What an amazing plot! I thought it was so interesting that clones were created whenever Molly bled and didn’t dispose of the blood properly. What a terrifying idea, especially for a woman! And then to top it off, you could never guess how quickly a molly would turn on her. One second they could be friends, the next they’re fighting to the death! Phew!

Check out this quick passage:

The rules are simple. If you see a girl that looks like you, run and fight. Don’t bleed. If you bleed, blot, burn, and bleach. If you find a hole, find your parents. 

I get the chills each time I read that!

I thought that Molly was such an incredible character! I really enjoyed seeing her grow up while dealing with her very unique issue. I mean, it’s confusing enough to go through puberty, but add this on top of it all? 

I also really enjoyed Molly’s relationship with her parents and how real it all seemed, especially during her teenage years!

The writing style and the pacing of the novel was perfect; it started with a bang and swept right me along. I was totally captivated with each and every page!

When I finished the last page, I was so happy with where the author had taken the story. I loved that it circled back to end this book in a wonderful way that could be left as a standalone (if you wanted to stop there of course), but an ending that also that leads perfectly into a second book.

My Favorite Passages from The Murders of Molly Southbourne

I know things, but I can’t remember them. I feel teased by them. Have I had a head injury? It’s odd remembering that a head injury can cause memory loss but not remembering my phone number or my mother’s name or if I like coffee black. It’s like knowing someone is beside you, but not being able to turn your head.

“If you ever see a girl who looks like you, run. If you can’t run, fight…”

At night Molly sees monsters sometimes. She no longer gets scared because it has been going on since as long as she can remember. She sees them only at night, hiding in the bushes. They have long black bodies and eyes that sometimes glint, although sometimes they have no eyes at all. Her father told her that they are just bushes shaped like monsters. Her mother taught her a word for it: pareidolia. It is true that in the daytime she does not see them, but what Molly does is she stands at her window at night and draws the outline of the monster she sees each night. Come daylight she compares the night shape against the shape of the grass or trees or bushes. They do not match.

She is mostly surrounded by darkness. Her back is cooled by the roofing slats and the sky is made of ink, with an untamed spray of glitter, the Milky Way.

After this, James takes blood samples and biopsies at different times, depending on Molly’s emotional state. He deliberately provokes her to anger, then tries to take a sample. This does not quite work out, because Molly punches him in the face.

My Final Thoughts on The Murders of Molly Southbourne

This novella really packed a punch! It was chilling but also heartfelt. The level of suspense made it an unsettling read, but a fantastic read nonetheless.

This is a book that I immediately wanted to begin reading again as soon as I had finished reading it the first time. And it was just as amazing the second time around!

I highly recommend this book to fans of light body horror, or to readers that simply don’t mind a lot of blood!

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Thanks for reading!
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