Review | The Octopus by Tess Little

Former movie star Elspeth is invited to her ex-husband’s 50th birthday celebration. But Richard, a famous film director, has only invited eight guests – and a pet octopus. Next morning, he is mysteriously found dead. Elspeth is now under suspicion, and she must navigate the complicated memories of her past to find the truth.

I let my gaze drift back to the aquarium, to the motion of the fronds, the back and forth, and then I caught it – bright and red – snaking out from the rocks at the bottom of the tank. A tentacle: the ninth guest.

The Octopus is an unusual literary murder mystery! The book is divided into three parts and has no chapters. The narrative mixes the present and past with no headers or markers so it takes a while to understand the format. Once I got used to it though, I became invested in the story. I could see how the format illustrates the disorientation of the main character, Elspeth, and shows how her memories flow and merges with other recollections, making her an unintentional unreliable narrator.

Most of the book takes place at Richard’s lavish mansion on that fateful night. Elspeth’s discomfort at the dinner party is palpable – she has to deal not just with her ex-husband Richard but his new boyfriend, Honey, and Richard’s friends and stars from his new movie. But her connection with them is deeper than it seems. Through her eyes, we see the others in all their flaws. Everyone has secrets and reasons to want Richard dead. His pet octopus, Persephone, is a looming shadow over the events. I loved how the octopus is linked to Elspeth in ways she never expected.

While this is Elspeth’s story, I was disappointed that we didn’t know more about the other guests, particularly Honey. His presence caused much disruption in Elspeth’s life yet he is friends with her daughter, Lillie. I felt that angle and conflict could have been explored further. I also thought the mystery of Richard’s death could have been stronger especially in the aftermath of the police investigation. But I understand that his death is not the focus of the book. Instead, it is a catalyst for Elspeth to look back at her life and the effects he had not just on her but on other people. Their former marriage is revealed through flashbacks and Elspeth’s memories, and we only know the full extent of their relationship history at the end.

Overall, I found The Octopus to be a haunting take on the #MeToo movement and delves deep into the dark side of Hollywood. It explores power, influence, abuse, and silence. I couldn’t stop thinking about the powerful ending. Recommended.

CW: domestic violence, sexual assault, rape

I received a review copy from the publisher and Netgalley.

About the author: Tess Little 

Photo by Isabel Galvez