The Usual Desire to Kill by Camilla Barnes
A wry, propulsive, exquisitely observed debut about a singularly eccentric family and the sibling rivalry, generational divides, and long-buried secrets that shape them. This is an extraordinary novel from a seasoned playwright with a flare for dialogue and, in the end, immense empathy for the mysterious intimacies of marriage, family, and love.
‘Hilarious and heartbreaking, packed with acute and painfully funny observations about relationships and family dynamicsBarnes’s dialogue is pitch-perfect, and her characters dance off the page and straight into your heart. Mum and Dad are magnificent creations, eccentric and endearing, both instantly recognisable and utterly singular’ * Monica Ali, author of LOVE MARRIAGE *
‘Camilla Barnes deftly deciphers the secret language of one family, often with deeply funny and knowing results. I loved spending time in the very specific, complicated and memorable world of this novel’ * Meg Wolitzer, author of THE WIFE *
‘I love nothing more than reading about eccentric families, and the family in The Usual Desire to Kill is just that. Miranda and her sister work to uncover the true story of their parents' marriage, only to have their brilliant, quirky mother and father deflect them at every turn. Barnes has written a witty, moving novel about characters who, even when they seem incapable of speaking honestly, are worth listening to nonetheless’ * Ann Napolitano, author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL *
‘An account of two ageing, secretive, disputatious and thoroughly maddening parents – poignant, funny and brilliantly told through gritted teeth’ * Posy Simmonds, author of CASSANDRA DARKE *
‘Camilla Barnes deftly deciphers the secret language of one family, often with deeply funny and knowing results. I loved spending time in the very specific, complicated and memorable world of this novel’ * Meg Wolitzer, author of THE WIFE *
‘I love nothing more than reading about eccentric families, and the family in The Usual Desire to Kill is just that. Miranda and her sister work to uncover the true story of their parents' marriage, only to have their brilliant, quirky mother and father deflect them at every turn. Barnes has written a witty, moving novel about characters who, even when they seem incapable of speaking honestly, are worth listening to nonetheless’ * Ann Napolitano, author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL *
‘An account of two ageing, secretive, disputatious and thoroughly maddening parents – poignant, funny and brilliantly told through gritted teeth’ * Posy Simmonds, author of CASSANDRA DARKE *
Camilla Barnes was born and brought up in England but moved to France in her twenties. She lives in Paris and works in theatre, doing every job possible there except act. She writes for the stage in both English and French. The Usual Desire to Kill is her first novel.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781398535237 |
| ISBN 10 | 1398535230 |
| Title | The Usual Desire to Kill |
| Author | Camilla Barnes |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Scribner UK |
| Year published | 2026-04-09 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |