Book Review
Title: Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
Genre: Dark, Fiction, LGBT
Rating: 5 Stars
I originally picked this up because it was recommended to fans of Tender is the Flesh which has been on my TBR for a while but the cover design finally made me pick it up as I have been craving darker books lately and it’s only just over 100 pages long. The whole book consists of internet correspondence between two women, Zoe Cross and Agnes Petrella and we are aware from a comment about a redacted email address that something happens involving Zoe as she is part of a criminal case and I was wondering what it could be. The relationship between Zoe and Agnes begins fairly innocently as Agnes is selling a family heirloom in order to pay her rent and Zoe is going to buy it but after learning of its sentimental value to Agnes and her reason for selling it she gives Agnes $1000 dollars not to sell it starting a friendship between the women.
From here there is some flirting that happens between the pair and after Zoe breaks things off with her current partner they begin getting more heated together. However, they are also part of the kink community and eventually the pair enter into a Master/slave contract. At first it is fairly innocent with Zoe asking Agnes to wear or not wear certain clothes to work and while this does get Agnes first it isn’t doing her any harm. However, when Agnes mentions the fact she wants children and Zoe asks her to kill a small animal as a symbol of rebirth things start get dark. Agnes does kill the animal but she feels horrible about it and breaks off the contract with Zoe for a whole month. However, Agnes comes back after realising there are worse people in the world and she cares for Zoe so they begin again but Agnes is still adamant about having children.
At this point Zoe gets Agnes to deliberately infect herself with a tapeworm parasite to simulate being pregnant but eating rotten met which was disgusting but Agnes does it because she wants to please Zoe and has a strong desire to be a mother. Agnes succeeds in infecting herself with a tapeworm and both are happy for a moment but Zoe comes to realise that she can’t put Agnes through this as she is worried for her mental well-being and this time it is Zoe that breaks things off. Agnes is heartbroken and continues to email Zoe explains how she gave birth to the parasite and how she views it as her child. Here the novel ends, however, it does make you think about what Agnes went on to do and why Zoe is being investigated by the police. Did Agnes kill herself and implicate Zoe? Did Agnes kill someone else? Did she steal a baby? It is unclear but what is clear is the relationship that takes place is dark and toxic from the very beginning and Agnes should have run screaming for the hills when Zoe asks her to kill the salamander. Overall, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke was dark and disturbing with some horrific implications and it is definitely worth picking up if you are craving some seriously spooky vibes. Highly recommended!
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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