The Usual Desire to Kill

In The Usual Desire to Kill, a witty and poignant debut, Miranda navigates the quirks of her long-married parents, who inhabit a chaotic rural French home filled with an assortment of animals and a freezer full of food dating back to 1983. With her father, a combative retired philosophy professor, and her mother, who frequently evokes World War II despite having been born afterward, Miranda plays mediator in their eccentric family dynamic, expressing her frustrations to her sister and daughter. As she attempts to uncover the layers of her parents' marriage, this keenly observed story explores sibling rivalry, generational divides, and the complexities of familial love and loyalty. Read by Harriet Walter, the novel combines sharp dialogue with empathy, making it a compelling listen for fans of character-driven narratives.