Seven Ways to Kill a Cat

Sep 6, 2025 9:35 AM

Author:Matias Nespolo,Frank Wynne

'There's seven ways to kill a cat. But when it comes down to it, there's only two ways. In a civilised fashion or like a fucking savage'.

In Buenos Aires, the economy has collapsed and people are protesting on the streets. But in the barrio, life goes on - the slums of the city are ruled by gangs, drugs and guns.

Gringo and Chueco are almost adults, and joining the gang warfare that governs their community seems inevitable. Chueco thinks he can join El Jetita's gang but remain his own man, Gringo knows this can't happen - you obey the leader or else. As the two get drawn ever deeper into the turf war between El Jetita and his rival Charly, Gringo sees an alternative way of life, and love, pass before his eyes. A few days ago he and Chueco were joking about killing cats; now he's fighting to save his skin.

Reviews

Néspolo's novel bears comparison with such masters of description of life in the slums as Alexander Baron and Nelson Algren...an excellent adventure story that also documents urban poverty and violence, with faultless dialogue and at breathtaking pace

—— Michael Euade , Independent

First-rate...7 Ways to Kill a Cat is a debut pervaded by a grim rather than magic realism, and the better for it

—— Andrew Rosenheim , Times Literary Supplement

a startlingly strong debut... Tarantino-style fast editing, black humour and sicko-hilarious gun-toting slapstick... A brilliant debut

—— Chris Moss , Time Out

A story as forceful as a bullet. It leaves you breathless. High voltage literature.

—— El Mundo

A brilliant debut

—— Javier Cercas

First-rate

—— Guardian

In a wonderful, lively, insightful and heartbreaking love story, Harper allows Shakespeare's secret wife, Anne Whateley, to narrate her colorful, lusty story. With her sharp eye for detail and dialogue, Harper delivers a tale that resounds with the colour and atmosphere of life in the theatre, London and the intrigues that ran rampant in England

—— Romantic Times

Witty enough to make you laugh out loud, but there are moments of real emotion that keep the book from being too light

—— Psychologies

A superb ear for dialogue...wonderfully comic

—— Evening Standard

Riotously high in laughs and glamour. I defy a festive grump not to be cheered by it

—— Independent Books of the Year

Fast-paced and funny

—— Women & Home

Influenced by magical realism and the cool prose of modernism, first-time author Chloe Aridjis takes the best from each

—— Alastair Mabbott , Herald

Previous Article：Shakespeare's Mistress Next Article：The Secret Garden (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.