'A fantastic novel about fractured families, class and the politics of parenting. Beautifully written and very moving.' — Liz Nugent
Fifteen-year-old Ashleigh is clever and charming, all too ready to rush to the rescue of parents in need of relief, and she soon becomes the neighbourhood’s favourite babysitter. But she has an appetite for secrets.
Fast-paced, witty and scalpel-sharp, One Woman Crime Wave examines the limits of what money can buy, and how easily the fragile web of middle-class privilege can be torn. In the end, is it really Ashleigh who’s the problem, or is it the fractious and divided community she exposes?
Guaranteed to get your book club talking.
'A great read.' — Russell Bentley Ham & High
'A fantastic novel about fractured families, class and the politics of parenting. Beautifully written and very moving.' — Liz Nugent
'Micro-aggressions, misdemeanours and malevolence stud this twisting tale of the inner lives of interconnecting families with nothing in common but fierce love – sometimes of the very wrong kind. Pacy, furious and a great deal of fun.' — C.E. Riley
'What Bee manages to achieve in terms of character depth in such a slim novel is quite remarkable. It’s fresh, it’s gripping, it’s great. I loved it.' — Laura Pearson
'One Woman Crime Wave is a riptide of a ride! Filled with characters who are both utterly unique and deeply recognizable, it’s a vivid invitation to ponder questions of privilege, inequality, and familial love. At the same time, the characters’ unexpected predicaments and Bee Rowlatt’s lively prose will keep readers hooked to the very end.' — Jean Hegland
'Bee Rowlatt’s witty and smart coming of age novel artfully examines the complexities of class and privilege through a sharp and contemporary lens. Prepare to be captivated by its vivid characters and resonant truths.' — Tahmima Anam
'A cleverly crafted narrative with such perfectly etched characters, One Woman Crime Wave is a witty and heart-rending read that masterfully blends humour with poignant social commentary, and entertains as much as it enlightens. I couldn’t put this book down.' — Maha Khan Phillips
'Put a bit of grit in your beach read and a thrillerish twist in your sundowner this summer with Bee Rowlatt’s One Woman Crime Wave. Rowlatt’s deft tragicomedy of middle-class bad manners is as unnerving as it is irresistibly entertaining. Ashleigh is a superbly intriguing and unforgettable anti-heroine – like or loathe her, she’ll never let you forget her.' — Rachel Holmes
'If you ever wonder why the disempowered sometimes pick on people with less power, or worry what embarrassing secrets a rummage through your home might reveal, or if you’re just looking for a novel that is sad and funny and vicious and vivid, this is the book for you.' — Catherine Mayer
'Humorous and fast-paced. I was hooked!' — Lijia Zhang
Bee Rowlatt is the author of the award-winning travelogue In Search of Mary, co-author of the bestselling Talking About Jane Austen in Baghdad and contributor to Virago's Fifty Shades of Feminism. Bee led the campaign for the Mary Wollstonecraft memorial – the most trolled artwork in living memory – and came out fighting across national and international media. She programmes events at the British Library, and has chaired writers all over the world, been a BBC producer, taught English to the Vice-President of Colombia and worked in a coleslaw factory. Bee is a regular on TV and radio, and has written for the BBC, Telegraph, Times, Grazia, Die Welt, Guardian and Daily Mail. She now lives in London, but hails from Yorkshire, and used to be a showgirl. One-Woman Crime Wave is her first foray into fiction.
