’Finely crafted, vividly detailed … reminiscent of [Pat] Barker … brusque, rebarbative, unsentimental … [and] wittily realized.’ Times Literary Supplement

‘This book is a must read. Ajay has a uniquely raw and authentic voice. She conjures up atmosphere like no other.’ Maxine Peake

‘The fear felt by the women … is chillingly portrayed; the impact of the collective on the women’s lives is equally felt … tension-filled and beautifully observed.’ Andrew Rosenheim, Spectator


‘Close transports us to the time and place beautifully, evoking all the sights, sounds, smells, and attitudes of Britain – and that part of Britain in particular … It is the depiction of the social mores of the time that makes this essential reading.’ Alistair Braidwood, Snack Magazine

’An eye-opening read about womanhood and how some of the struggles of nearly 50 years ago are still present now.’Chloe Mullis, Buzz magazine

’Panoramic … the parallels with failures in today’s criminal justice system are unmissable in this uncompromising novel.’ Times best new crime fiction February 2024


‘Close evokes real women in a real world, exploring … the intricate frictions and loyalties in female friendship … [it is] about human beings: flawed, funny and deeply engaging.’ Susan Mansfield, Scotsman

’Powerful, moving, and sometimes funny … Absorbing and thought-provoking in equal measure and a brilliant read.’ ON: Yorkshire magazine

’A gripping page turner [and] a wider, excoriating, examination of misogyny, racism and extremism … a riveting, thought-provoking novel with acutely observed and convincing characters.’ Edinburgh Reporter

’Absolutely stunning book … incredibly pacy and moving … I heartily recommend this to anyone who loved Happy Valley … Phenomenal.’ Sandy Thomson

’My top read of the year so far … To say I was gripped is an understatement … Everyone should read [it] … an excellent, totally immersive novel.’ Beledit review

★Winner of the 2024 Scotland's National Book Awards for Fiction and featured on The Times "Best New Crime Fiction" list. The Times Literary Supplement (TLS) praises it as "masterfully crafted, vividly detailed, and written in a stark, unconventional prose."
★ Grounded in the infamous late-1970s "Yorkshire Ripper" serial murder case that shocked the UK. The novel masterfully balances the tense momentum of a crime investigation with a profound analysis of the systemic gender issues that enabled such violence.
★ Driven by a compelling dual-protagonist narrative, the book explores a rich tapestry of class, race, and the complex dynamics of female solidarity and conflict.
★Though set nearly half a century ago, its core themes strike a powerful contemporary chord, deeply resonating with modern audiences through its exploration of systemic institutional failures in law enforcement, pervasive violence against women, and the philosophical rifts within feminist movements.

A killer stalks the streets of Leeds. Every man is a suspect. Every woman is at risk. But in a house on Cleopatra Street, women are fighting back.

It’s the eve of the 1980s. PC Liz Seeley joins the squad investigating the murders. With a violent boyfriend at home and male chauvinist pigs at work, she is drawn to a feminist collective led by the militant and uncompromising Rowena. There she meets Charmaine – young, Black, artistic, and fighting discrimination on two fronts.

As the list of victims grows and police fail to catch the killer, women across the north are too terrified to go out after dark. To the feminists, the Butcher is a symptom of wider misogyny. Their anger finds an outlet in violence and Liz is torn between loyalty to them and her duty as a police officer. Which way will she jump?

Ajay Close combines the tension of a police procedural with the power and passion of the women’s lib movement. By turns emotional, action-packed and darkly funny, What Doesn’t Kill Us reveals just how much the world has changed since the 1970s – and how much it hasn’t.

Ajay Close

Ajay Close grew up in Yorkshire and, after her school years at a Sheffield comprehensive, studied at Cambridge. She worked at Granta before becoming a journalist and then a novelist. She is the author of six literary novels, of which her first, Official and Doubtful, was longlisted for the Orange Prize. Her novels are pacy, often political, page-turning, dealing with family and relationships under pressure, and can be read as thrillers. Her new novel, What Doesn’t Kill Us, will be published by Saraband in early 2024.