The Best Way to Bury Your Husband

A Novel

By: Alexia Casale

Narrated by: Ambreen Razia, Ayesha Antoine, Bea Holland, Imogen Church

A dark comedy about four women coming together to heal the damage their husbands have done––and hide their bodies once they’ve killed them

When Sally kills her husband with a cast-iron skillet, she’s more fearful of losing her kids than of disposing of a fresh corpse. That just wouldn’t be fair—not after twenty years of marriage to a truly terrible man. But Sally isn’t the only woman in town reaching the brink. Soon, Sally finds herself leading an extremely unusual self-help group, and among them there are four bodies to hide. Can they all figure out the perfect way to bury their husbands . . . and get away with it?

First to join is former nurse, Ruth, who met her husband as a single mom. Now her son is grown and her husband’s violence builds by the day until an attack on the stairs leads to a fatal accident—for him. A few doors down, Samira’s last straw comes when she discovers her husband is planning a campaign of violence against her eldest daughter, who has just come out. Janey, Sally’s best friend, has just had her first child at forty-two. Sleep-deprived Janey needs a hero to slay the monster in the fairy tales she whispers to her daughter each night . . . and as her husband’s violence escalates, it might just be her.

Together, fueled by righteous anger but tempered by a moral core, the four women must help each other work out a plan to get rid of their husbands for good. Along the way, Sally, Ruth, Samira and Janey rediscover old joys and embark on new passions in work, education, and life. Friendship and laughter really are the best medicine—and so is getting away with murder.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Best Way to Bury Your Husband:

“A darkly comedic story with hijinks that will leave you torn between shock and horrified laughter. Casale has tackled a heartbreaking topic with the dexterity and nuance it deserves. I don't condone of murder, but I would like to join the Lockdown Ladies' Burial Club now, please!”
—Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

“Warning: You won't sleep until you've finished this book. It's utterly unputdownable. Tense, funny, moving, and strangely cosy at the same time. Casale writes about domestic abuse with clarity and urgency, and yet with humour, farce, and warmth. You'll weep as these four survivors find solace and homecoming as they share their stories (and tips on dismemberment). Not to be missed. Read it now!”
—Holly Bourne, bestselling author of How Do You Like Me Now?

“The Best Way To Bury Your Husband is poignant, funny, and warm, but also dark, searing and downright heart-breaking. Beautifully written with a perfect blend of humour, pathos, and important, hard-hitting messages.”
—Andrea Mara, bestselling author of No One Saw a Thing

“A wife and her trusty frying pan fighting the patriarchy can elicit a silent cheer… Casale’s book goes beyond the statistics to tell four very human stories — morbid, funny and sadly relevant.”
—The Washington Post

“Casale’s adult debut is a sharp, entertaining, and fast-paced story that’s as much about revenge as it is about sisterhood and liberation....This intoxicating blend of revenge thriller and black comedy will appeal to fans of C. J. Skuse and Helene Tursten.”
—Booklist

“Casale…uses humor as an advocacy tool.”
—Yes! Magazine

Important topic

I loved this book and the way the women bonded during such a difficult time in their life. Edwina, too, was an important character. This book sheds light on a serious topic but in a clever, humorous way. The author's notes at the end were particularly appreciated.

A Great Book!

Really well done. Appreciated the Author’s Note at the end. I recommend this story! Loved the characters.

Interesting

Was not expecting a British accent and the story taking place there or during the pandemic. Didn’t read into the story before buying.

Easy listen

The characters are good, and though the plot is wildly implausible, it makes sense within its own world. I can't hold it against the story itself, but I was bothered by the author's note about "MVAWG" at the end. For one, reducing millions of abusers and victims to one acronym as if they're all the same bothers me. For another, the author talks about 'men' as if ALL of them are like this and 'women' as if all of them are victims. What about mothers who abuse children? What about fathers who abuse male children? What about the fact that men are almost always bigger and stronger than women, making it just plain easier for them to be controlling and abusive whether the woman has those same tendencies or not?? Abusive people abuse those weaker than them, whether physically or because cultural beliefs make it easy for them to get away with it. The fact that that's usually men doesn't make all men evil.

The stories stay with you

I really liked this book, while it eludes to DV you don’t get the down and dirty details. I was thankful for that as those tend to stick with me.
I liked how everyone didn’t get their story wrapped up with a bow, or with some new man to “save them”. They managed on their own, expanded their confidence and found new friends to teach and learn from.
The pandemic references got a bit old, but it didn’t stop me from finishing the book and even listening to the writer’s bit at the end. And. I rarely leave a review , so there’s that! Definitely a good read, glad I bought the book.