Title: Getting Off: A Novel of Sex & Violence

Author: Lawrence Block, Writing as Jill Emerson

People are always fascinated with how the minds of serial killers work, and what motivates them to commit their heinous crimes. The new Titan Books crime thriller ‘Getting Off: A Novel of Sex & Violence,’ the latest noir book featured in the Hard Case Crime series, strikingly recreates the style of crime novels of the 1940s and ’50s. Writer Lawrence Block adds an interesting, modern twist to his story by featuring a strong, determined femme fatale as the lead character who’s determined to punish and kill all men for their sexual urges, particularly towards her.

‘Getting Off’ follows a smart, self-motivated young woman, Kit Tolliver, who sets off on a mission to find every man she’s ever slept with. Still suffering from the effects of her father sexually molesting her as a teenager, and her mother neglecting to protect her, Kit finds it necessary to punish every man who has sex with her. She heads off on a cross-country road trip, changing her identity in every city she passes through, and relishes in targeting men of all ages, races and backgrounds.

While Kit enjoys sleeping with the men she targets, she enjoys killing them, in such diverse ways as stabbing and poisoning them, even more. After killing them, she steals their money and moves to the next town before she can get caught. While on her journey, Kit surprises herself by becoming physically and emotionally attracted to one of the women she briefly rents a room from in Kirkland, Washington, Rita Perrin. Kit must contend with her ever-present need to kill the men she’s ever been intimate with and her surprising, conflicting attraction to Rita.

Block makes a risky move in creating Kit’s story through the eyes of his female writing alter-ego, Jill Emerson. But channeling the emotions and motivations of one of the most self-possessed femme fatales in the crime noir genre through the eyes of a woman allowed Block to create a memorable and unique serial killer. While some fans of the crime genre will surely be appalled by the graphic details Block included during the numerous sex and murder scenes, as well as Kit and Rita’s growing attraction towards each other, readers will come to identify with Kit’s plight.

As she grows closer to Rita, Kit embarks on a new emotional journey of self discovery, leaving her to question why she feels the need to continuously kill every one she’s ever connected with. In the beginning of ‘Getting Off,’ before meeting Rita, Kit is still determined to continue on her mission to kill men she feels sexually abuse her. But after seeing the kind of normal, loving life she can develop with her new love, Kit no longer feels compelled to continue on her murderous, destructive mission.

Readers will also become intrigued to find out if Kit, who changes her name to Kimmy when she becomes involved with Rita, will ever be caught by police. While routinely changing her identity and the methods she uses to kill her victims, Kit becomes an expert at keeping people at bay, both personally and with the law. Even though she regularly changes her killing style and quickly leaves town after killing someone to avoid detection, her icy demeanor and sociopathis ways are clearly reminiscent of ‘Basic Instinct’s villain Catherine Tramell.

Block expertly created one of the smartest, self-possessed women serial killers in crime noir literary history with Kit Tolliver in ‘Getting Off.’ While the book’s explicit sexual and violent content isn’t aimed towards every fan of the crime thriller genre, people interested in understanding the psychology and motivation of serial killers will surely enjoy Block’s new novel. Kit’s remarkable transformation, from a cold-blooded murderer to a caring companion, throughout the story earns her the distinction of being one of the most memorable femme fatales in literary history.

Story: A-

Written by: Karen Benardello