Cassandra Neyenesch's debut novel, A Little Bit Bad, is a sparkling and subversive tragicomedy that explores an illicit romance while doubling as a gripping murder mystery. The story centers on Perdita Jungfrau, a 39-year-old stay-at-home mother in San Diego who becomes infatuated with Nando, the 25-year-old roofer working next door. Their relationship unfolds against the backdrop of 2009, a time of economic hardship and personal discontent.
A Tale of Two Narratives
The novel alternates between two timelines: the affair itself in 2009 and a murder investigation in 2010. Nando is killed, and Perdita, devastated and a true-crime enthusiast, sets out to solve the case. This dual structure keeps readers engaged, as the romance cools while the mystery heats up.
Character Dynamics and Humor
Perdita and Nando are an odd but compelling pair. Both are raw and fragile, sharing a dark sense of humor. When Perdita's son bites another child, Nando quips, "He just likes the taste of human flesh." Their attraction feels genuine, as does the tension when their differences emerge. Neyenesch's comic brilliance shines through, reminiscent of Halle Butler's heroines—ferocious and delightfully inappropriate.
Themes of Societal Injustice
While Miranda July's All Fours focuses on the perimenopausal woman's unleashed life, A Little Bit Bad delves into societal injustice. It critiques the military-industrial complex, the "good Obamaverse," and the carceral system, questioning the structural violence that privileges the normative nuclear family. The novel occasionally pulls back from the middle-class mother's perspective to ask who truly suffers that violence.
A Tragicomic Tone
The story is inherently tragic, but Neyenesch's smart humor prevents it from becoming too heavy. For instance, when Nando lies bleeding after a fall, Perdita sees his blood as "exit-sign red," a clinical description that keeps emotion at bay. The satire is subtle, perhaps even parodying the trend of older women going rogue in fiction. One chapter is wittily titled "The Roofer Holds Space for My Feelings."
Compulsive Reading
The plot is crafted for compulsive reading, with interspersed chapters that build momentum. The central couple is adorable, as seen on their first date at an open-mic night where Perdita raps and Nando performs an Irish clog dance. The audience is delighted, and readers will be too.
A Little Bit Bad by Cassandra Neyenesch is published by Fig Tree (£16.99).
