Review of Chloe Esposito’s Mad
Chloe Esposito’s Mad plunges the reader into a whirlwind of lust, crime, and unapologetic hedonism. The first in a trilogy, the novel follows Alvina Knightly, a dissolute antiheroine who trades her unremarkable London life for the gilded chaos of her twin sister Elizabeth’s opulent Italian existence. Alvina’s descent into murder, manipulation, and sexual excess is as unpredictable as it is relentless—a twisted thrill ride for those who can stomach its unflinching brazenness.
This is not a book for everyone. Mad revels in slapstick romance tinged with blood, offering a protagonist who is equal parts egotistical and sociopathic. For fans of dark humor and excess, Alvina might be a delight. For others, her shallow self-absorption and relentless internal monologue—an avenue for Esposito’s pointed authorial commentary—may grate.
While the pacing is largely taut, it stumbles in places, particularly in scenes of erotic escapade that stretch too long and substitute for action beyond the bedroom. The male characters, reduced to caricatures—useful either as sex objects or murder accessories—fail to add depth to the novel’s already chaotic landscape. The ending, too, offers little satisfaction, lacking the sharpness needed to punctuate the audacious plotting.
Though the book’s ambition and irreverence plant it firmly within the “chick lit” field, comparisons to masters of crime fiction—Hammett or Higgins—feel out of reach. Instead, Mad is best approached as a fever dream of indulgence: brash, messy, and occasionally tedious, but undeniably bold. Whether you savor or loathe the experience, Esposito’s voice is difficult to ignore.
