In Katy Brent’s second installment of the Kitty Collins series, “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin,” we return to the world of our favorite feminist vigilante who continues her mission of ridding the world of men who hurt women. This darkly comedic thriller picks up where “How to Kill Men and Get Away With It” left off, with Kitty attempting to embrace a murder-free lifestyle while living with her new boyfriend, Charlie. But as she discovers, some habits are harder to break than others, especially when there are so many deserving targets in a world that consistently fails women.
The novel begins with Kitty monitoring the online activities of “Blaze Bundy,” a misogynistic influencer spreading toxic masculinity to millions of followers. When she finds herself dragged to the South of France for her mother’s surprise wedding to a man she’s never met, Kitty’s murder sobriety is severely tested—especially when she begins to suspect her mother’s fiancé might be Blaze Bundy himself. What follows is a rollercoaster of murder, family secrets, and unexpected alliances that challenge Kitty’s worldview and force her to confront the monster within.
The Anti-Heroine We Can’t Help But Root For
What makes Kitty Collins such a compelling protagonist is how Brent expertly balances her murderous tendencies with genuine emotional complexity. Despite her body count (which Kitty herself estimates at eleven at the beginning of the novel), we can’t help but root for her. Kitty kills the men society has failed to punish—rapists, abusers, and predators who use their power to harm women with impunity. Her moral code, while extreme, is consistent, and her victims are uniformly deserving of their fates.
In this second book, Brent deepens Kitty’s character by forcing her to confront the consequences of her actions. Her relationship with Charlie, the philanthropist boyfriend who represents everything good and pure in her life, becomes increasingly complicated as her past threatens to catch up with her. When she discovers that someone knows her secret and is using it to threaten her, the stakes become even higher.
What’s particularly fascinating about Kitty is her self-awareness. She knows she’s a monster—she just happens to be a monster who exclusively targets other monsters. As she puts it when considering a potential victim: “I might be a killer. But I’m not a cheat.” This moral complexity makes her a fascinating character study in the tradition of other beloved antiheroes like Dexter Morgan or Villanelle.
Social Commentary That Cuts Like a Knife
Beneath its thriller exterior, “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin” offers biting social commentary on misogyny, the justice system’s failures, and society’s tendency to protect predatory men. Brent doesn’t shy away from addressing how the legal system often fails victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, leading women like Kitty to take matters into their own hands.
The character of Blaze Bundy serves as a perfect emblem of online misogyny—a faceless influencer who radicalizes young men with toxic ideology while hiding behind a bandana and voice distorter. Through this character, Brent effectively critiques the real-world phenomena of incel culture and men’s rights activism.
One of the novel’s most powerful scenes takes place at Kitty’s anger management group, where women share their experiences with a system that has failed them repeatedly. As one character observes, “The system isn’t broken at all. It’s working exactly how it was designed to work, by the men who designed it.” It’s moments like these that elevate the novel beyond a simple revenge fantasy into a poignant examination of institutional misogyny.
Strengths and Standout Elements
Family Dynamics and Revelations
The mother-daughter relationship between Kitty and Carmella is one of the novel’s most compelling aspects. Their shared trauma—Kitty killed her abusive father to protect her mother—forms the foundation of their complicated bond. When Carmella reveals that she’s been tracking Kitty through a necklace and has been cleaning up her messes, it adds a fascinating layer to their relationship and to Kitty’s origin story.
The revelation that Antoinette Pemberton is actually Kitty’s half-sister creates another intriguing family dynamic. Their budding sisterhood provides a glimmer of hope that Kitty might find connection beyond murder.
Dark Humor That Lands
Brent’s ability to balance darkness with humor is exceptional. The dialogue crackles with wit, and Kitty’s internal monologue provides numerous laugh-out-loud moments despite the grim subject matter. Consider this example of Kitty’s thoughts about her mother’s pigs that will be used to dispose of a body: “I step into the pen and crouch down beside one snoring beaast. I reach out and gently touch it. Its skin is warm and rough, a little bit hairy. I suppose they’re not the worst thing in the world.”
Unflinching Violence with Purpose
The violence in the novel is graphic but purposeful. Each murder scene is meticulously crafted to reflect the character of both Kitty and her victim. The novel never glorifies violence; instead, it presents it as the tragic but inevitable result of a system that has failed to protect its most vulnerable.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Issues
While the novel generally moves at a brisk pace, the middle section in France occasionally drags, particularly during the wedding preparations. Some of these scenes could have been condensed to maintain the thriller’s momentum.
Some Underdeveloped Secondary Characters
Characters like Maisie and Tor, Kitty’s friends, feel somewhat underdeveloped compared to the first book. While Tor’s storyline becomes important by the end, Maisie’s pregnancy announcement seems somewhat disconnected from the main plot.
Predictable Twists
Some of the novel’s twists, particularly regarding the true identity of Blaze Bundy, become predictable before they’re revealed. More red herrings might have kept readers guessing longer.
Series Evolution: How the Sequel Compares
“I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin” builds successfully on the foundation laid in “How to Kill Men and Get Away With It.” While the first book established Kitty’s motivations and modus operandi, this sequel expands her world and forces her to confront the consequences of her actions.
The first book introduced us to Kitty as she discovered her taste for vigilante justice after accidentally killing her cheating boyfriend Adam. It followed her as she methodically eliminated predatory men while rebuilding her life and eventually finding love with Charlie. The sequel picks up with Kitty attempting sobriety from murder, only to be pulled back in by circumstances beyond her control.
What makes this sequel particularly strong is how it deepens the mythology of Kitty’s world. We learn more about her mother’s involvement in disposing of her father’s body and discover that murder might run in the family. These revelations add complexity to Kitty’s character and suggest intriguing directions for future installments.
For Fans Of…
If you enjoyed “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin,” you might also like:
- “How to Kill Your Family” by Bella Mackie
- “My Sister, the Serial Killer” by Oyinkan Braithwaite
- “They Never Learn” by Layne Fargo
- The TV series “Bad Sisters” and “Killing Eve”
Final Verdict: A Worthy Follow-Up
“I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin” is a worthy sequel that expands on everything that made the first book compelling while taking Kitty’s story in new and unexpected directions. Brent’s second novel confirms her status as a vital voice in the feminist thriller genre, one who isn’t afraid to explore the darkest corners of female rage and retribution.
The novel ends with Kitty and her newly discovered half-sister Antoinette boarding a plane to Los Angeles, hot on the trail of Tor’s abusive ex-therapist. This promising setup guarantees that fans will be eagerly awaiting the third installment of Kitty Collins’ murderous adventures.
For readers who enjoy their thrillers with a side of social commentary, dark humor, and unapologetic feminist rage, “I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin” delivers on all fronts. It’s a bloody good time with a conscience, and further proof that Katy Brent is a force to be reckoned with in contemporary crime fiction.
