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Mrs Shim is a Killer

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

FOR FANS OF BUTTER and KILLING EVE - the Korean cult portrait of a housewife turned contract killer. Translated by Paige Morris, a co-translator of Han Kang

A hilariously unsettling tale of love, food and one woman's unconventional quest to support her family.

I am no ordinary ajumma. I am a killer

Recently widowed and unemployed, Mrs Shim and her two children face an empty fridge. As her job options run out, she answers an ad for the Smile Detective Agency.

Within weeks, she has turned it around. For Mrs Shim is sharp as a blade, handles business cleanly and is like a padlock when it comes to keeping secrets.

By day, she prepares kimchi for her family and her neighbour with dementia; by night Mrs Shim is out on a contract.

But what starts as a need for survival escalates into a thirst for vengeance. For Mrs. Shim is done with being everyone’s doormat.

Diving headfirst into her new career among petty criminals, ghosts and assassins, Mrs Shim's past soon comes hurtling towards her.

Savage and unexpectedly moving, Kang Jiyoung paints a comedic world of twisted love, unhinged loathing and hopeful reinvention. Among the misfits and the meals is a powerful statement about class, capitalism and the role of women.

© Kang Jiyoung 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critics Review

A struggling mother turns to contract killing to support her family in this darkly funny thriller... a rich narrative stuffed with surprises ... sharp and satisfying.
Publishers Weekly
A dark ... book about love, loss, jealousy, friendship, and perseverance. The decidedly odd characters are riveting, with revealing descriptions of Korean culture. A fine pick for fans of quirky horror and gory mysteries.
Booklist
An eye-catching mosaic of Korean culture as it builds to a tense showdown with a rival agency.
Times
A bizarre and fascinating read, with the puzzle pieces slowly locking together for a spectacular final standoff.
Guardian
Author Kang Jiyoung, Translated by Paige Morris
Narrator Chan Woo Lim, Jennifer J Kim
Duration 10 hours and 34 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781529973280
Format Audiobook
Publisher Transworld
Genre Fiction in translation, Thriller: organised crime / gangland crime, Thriller: serial killers
Availability AU, GB, IE

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