Review of LITTLE CRUELTIES by Liz Nugent (New Release)

 4 Stars

At the centre of this dysfunctional family drama are three Irish brothers:  William, Brian, and Luke Drumm.  The novel opens with one of the three dead, but the reader does not know which one.  Each of the three tells his story, but it becomes clear that they all acquired resentments and jealousies in childhood and carried them into adulthood:  “Three is an odd number, so there had always been two against one, although we all switched sides regularly.  Nobody would ever have described us as close.”  The narrative focuses on their rivalries and betrayals. 

In the prologue, the reader is told that one brother died suddenly and horrifically; his body was “smashed and broken.”  Both survivors may have been involved in the death because both seem to think “this outcome was all for the best.”  The mystery as to the identity of the dead man is complicated by the fact that all three are flawed and have done things which could lead to a violent death.  And each has a motive to want the other brothers out of the picture. 

None of the three is particularly likeable.  William, the eldest, becomes a film producer, but he is more memorable as a philanderer and misogynist.  Brian, the middle brother, has difficulty finding his niche but gradually becomes a master manipulator who is pre-occupied with the acquisition of money.  Luke, the youngest, is the most sympathetic of the three; he becomes a pop star but struggles with mental illness and addiction. 

Each of the three is affected by their upbringing, specifically the treatment received from their mother Melissa.  A singer and actress, she is a vain narcissist who sees everyone as inferior to her.  William’s arrogance can be seen as stemming from the fact that Melissa makes it abundantly clear he is her favourite son.  Brian is treated indifferently and perhaps sees financial success as a way of gaining more of Melissa’s attention.  Luke is sensitive and his mother’s obvious lack of love for him leaves him fragile.

Since each brother narrates his own story, some events are seen from more than one perspective.  Since William tells his story first, the reader may sympathize with him; however, once the perspective of another brother is given, the reader’s feelings may change.  Some readers might complain about repetitiveness, but I enjoyed the additional insight into behaviour and the depth of character development. 

The one complaint I have about the individual stories is that they all have unique, non-linear timelines (e.g. William:  1994, 1985, 1992, 1978 . . . ; Brian:  1978, 1993, 1979, 1976 . . . ; Luke:  1977, 1989, 1984, 1995 . . .).  I could find little reason for this rather chaotic arrangement. 

Liz Nugent is known for her crime fiction, but this book does not have the amount of suspense found in that genre.  This novel touches on a variety of topics:  dysfunctional families, mental illness, addiction, sexuality, #MeToo.  I particularly liked how it demonstrated the effects of upbringing and traumatic events on personality and behaviour. 

Note:  I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.