Deconstructing the Kitchen Fairy

– Synopsis1

Two bodies are discovered juxtaposed on a bed; one, a man in his thirties has clearly been the victim of a murderous attack, a single hammer blow to the head. The other, a blonde woman lies beside him, a single white feather clutched in her fingers and an empty wine glass upturned on the floor. The subsequent investigation into the deaths reveals an obsessive, abusive and ultimately destructive relationship hidden behind the façade of middle class respectability.2

This is a contemporary novel primarily charting the reconstruction of the couple’s lives and is mainly told through the device of flashback. It utilises a multi narrative approach in that the story is relayed by several characters to the chief narrative figure who is deconstructing this relationship.3

This nameless figure attempts to compile a neutral profile of the two victims whose backgrounds closely resemble his own; however, as his investigation proceeds, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the point of obsession with the thirty two year old woman and her reasons for murdering her abusive partner. Other narrative characters are friends and colleagues, as well as the central couple themselves who are allowed to tell their own story through the device of computer files, reported conversations and posthumous emails. 4

All of the characters are nameless; this is a deliberate choice to highlight the fact that domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone in any relationship at any time. It explores an important issue and also examines the reasons behind the decision not to leave such a relationship and the difficulties faced by both partners.5