The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt

'I met my husband on the same day I committed my very last murder. There's a joke in there somewhere, about ending two men's lives.'

Olivia Hodges used to do horrible things - back when she worked for a Spanish crime syndicate - but she fled that life and moved home to Australia, building a family in the hipster community of the Dandenong Ranges.

When a small-time criminal gang brings tragedy to her family, superstitious Olivia believes it's the universe demanding payment for her crimes. She wants revenge, but has to get it without adding to her karmic debt. So she creates situations where these bad men get themselves killed through their anger, ego and greed - all while trying to mislead the cops long enough to finish what she started.

'I love it. The writing is sharp, smart and suffused with an irresistible energy; the premise is fresh, and the characters larger than life from the word go. It's the kind of book that has you invested from the first page: the tone and pace is so snappy and confident, you just know you're in extremely safe and clever hands.' - Anna Downes

'Fresh, fast, uniquely awesome. The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt is devilishly good.' - Candice Fox

'The plot is wickedly clever-every time I thought I'd reached the climactic scene, the story just kept going, the action getting bigger, the stakes getting higher. Best of all, The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt is gleefully original. I don't think I've ever read anything else quite like it. I started having fun about halfway through the title and it just kept getting better until the final page. Simultaneously relatable and shocking, this book made me both giggle and gasp. Finally, a worthy successor to Dexter.' - Jack Heath

'A winner on all fronts.' - Dinuka McKenzie

'An enticing reversal of a familiar crime-fiction formula, The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt sports mordant wit and psychological depth'. - The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald

'This debut from Melbourne-based Mupotsa-Russell manage to be funny and dark and thrilling all at once'. - The Weekend Australian

'Mark Mupotsa-Russell's debut novel is impressive, but not for the faint-hearted'. - Good Reading

'A fun, fast and refreshing debut for all thriller fans.' - Truly Aus

'This is a cracker read that will keep you glued to the couch' - Meredith Jaffe

'It's a hell of a ride'. - Aust Crime Fiction

'Deliciously dark with a good helping of tragedy and comedy'. - The AU Review

'A gripping and enjoyable read, and a solid choice for anyone looking for a thrilling, high-octane escape'. - Novel Feelings

'The best debut novel I have read in a long time. Part thriller, part crime caper, Mupotsa-Russell's narrative crackles with dry wit and features incisive commentary on everything from gym-bro culture to grief to child-rearing'. - Kylie Moore Gilbert

'I laughed and gasped'. - Kate Mildenhall

Mark Mupotsa-Russell is a writer living on Wurundjeri Country in the Yarra Ranges. His debut novel, The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt, won the 2023 Affirm Press Mentorship Award. Before writing novels he was a screenwriter, film reviewer, cocktail columnist, PR consultant and communications adviser in the suicide prevention sector. He lives among the trees with his art therapist superstar wife, hilarious son and a moodle majestically named 'Mufasa'.

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