The Usual Desire to Kill

In this engaging debut novel, a sharp-witted daughter observes the idiosyncrasies of her long-married parents, who live in a decaying house in rural France alongside an assortment of animals. With her father, a cantankerous retired philosophy professor, and her mother, fixated on reliving a war she never experienced, Miranda navigates the complexities of family dynamics as she mediates their disagreements and expresses her frustrations. Blending humor and emotional depth, the story explores sibling rivalry, generational divides, and the secrets that bind this eccentric yet lovable family.