A Killing in the Real World

by Chris Bohjalian

extremely rare,very good condition

Genres: Fiction

216 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

Chris Bohjalian is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 26 books. His new novel, THE AMATEUR, arrives on August 4, 2026. He writes literary fiction, historical fiction, thrillers, and (on occasion) ghost stories. His goal is never to write the same book twice. He has published somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.7 million words.

His work has been translated into 35 languages and become three movies (MIDWIVES, SECRETS OF EDEN, and PAST THE BLEACHERS) and an Emmy-winning TV series (THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT). He has two other novels in development for TV series as well.

He is also a playwright, including THE CLUB in 2024; MIDWIVES in 2020; and GROUNDED (now WINGSPAN) in 2018.

His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon.

His awards include the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts; the Sarah Josefa Hale Award; the ANCA Freedom Award for his work educating Americans about the Armenian Genocide; the ANCA Arts and Letters Award for THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS, as well as the Saint Mesrob Mashdots Medal; the New England Society Book Award for THE NIGHT STRANGERS; the New England Book Award; Russia’s Soglasie (Concord) Award for THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS; a Boston Public Library Literary Light; a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for TRANS-SISTER RADIO; a Best Lifestyle Column for “Idyll Banter” from the Vermont Press Association; and the Anahid Literary Award. His short story, SLOT MACHINE FEVER DREAMS was a finalist for Best Short Story from the International Thriller Writers Association and the audio production was an Audie Finalist. His novel, MIDWVES was a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, and his novel, HOUR OF THE WITCH, was a Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. He is a Fellow of the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He has written for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. He was a weekly columnist in Vermont for The Burlington Free Press from 1992 through 2015.

Chris graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College. He has been awarded Honorary Degrees as well from Amherst, Champlain College, and Castleton University.

He lives in Vermont with his wife, the photographer Victoria Blewer.

Reviews

[Betsey Brannen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, as many know, I am a huge fan of Chris Bohjalian's work. I've had the priviledge to meet him twice and have found him funny, humble, and truly honored by the attention his fans give him. I wanted to read the originals, the books that Bohjalian started with, even if they didn't necessarily put him "on the map" so to speak.

Bohjalian himself describes this book as the "worst first novel ever written." Those are his words to me, not necessarily mine. I certainly don't think it is a horrible novel, although I will admit Bohjalian's work then vs. now is 100% better.

A Killing in the Real World is the story of a college friendship gone awry. As people are brutally murdered from an elite Northeastern girls college, this novel does read at times like an episode of "Scream Queens." If the "Scream Queens" had left college (not murdered) and moved on to their lives.

I really didn't know who the killer was until the end. That is something I truly appreciate. I recently recommended Bohjalian to a friend who stated she "didn't like knowing the ending 10 pages in." That is something I have come to rely on with his work, and it is nice to see how it has flushed out over the years.

In all A Killing in the Real World is a light murder mystery that one could read at the beach or under the influence of heavy narcotics following surgery (like I was). It is certainly better than some of the droll recently put out by more acclaimed murder-mystery writers; however, it isn't as heavy as some of his later work (Skeletons at the Feast, Light in the Ruins, etc). Any Bohjalian fan should give it a try, as well as anyone who likes to see snobby brats get what is coming to them.

[krdito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every year, I chose an author and read all of their books. 2017 is the year of Chris Bohjalian, whose "Midwives" I LOVED (and think it was an Oprah book club selection). So, I decided to start with his very first novel, written in the 1980's. I have found that the first book by an author is either his best or his worst, and I suspect it it the latter in this case. This book is out of print, so I had to use my local library's inter-library loan process to find it. It arrived here in Indiana from Auburn University and, according to the card inside, had not been checked out since 1992!

SPOILER ALERT...don't read further if you plan to read this book!

To be honest, this book was awful. Focusing on a murder mystery, I found none of the characters to be well-developed or even remotely interesting. I did not really care "who dunnit!" The circumstances around the initial murder was ludicrous (was Penny REALLY buying cocaine to hand out at a national sales meeting....I don't think so!). I found it also unbelievable that the killer "snapped" and then went on a killing spree. So, if you are a Bohjalian fan, read this book only so you can say "Wow, look how are he has come since then!" Otherwise, the book has no redeeming qualities.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bohjalian's writing skill has improved considerably in the thirty years since he wrote this book. If this had been the first book of his which I read, I may not have read another. There were many implausible plot elements, and I didn't feel sympathy or a liking for any of the characters.

[Larry Harty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was OK as I did not have a problem finishing it. It was a little over the top as far as the one friend in the group of four committing the murders as they panned out. Good though.

[Brian Stillman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chris Bohjalian hates fat people.

P.192

"In his mind's eye he saw Christine Yarbrough, her body bloated more than usual by death..."

and

"...she deserved better than an airport toilet. But where else could one hide a body that big at the Delta Terminal..."

p.177

"Christine...half-smiling. She was unaware of the small black chocolate slivers on her upper lip."

and

"Christine wrapped her arms around Lisa's shoulders in such a way that Lisa heard the candy bar wrapper crinkling loudly beside her ear."

and

"Her last image of Christine that morning, a lumbering whopper of a woman with a Milky Way..."

Not a very good book, but some nice descriptive passages here and there. And overall nowhere near as bad as Honeymoon which still remains the worst book I have ever read.

[LInda L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery that gets a slow start, but before you finish it, it's kind of terrifying. Chris Bohjalian's first book, and a good one.

[Mickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always interested in reading early work by authors I like... To see the progression and changes in focus. This was a brief story somewhat like a "Columbo" episode.

[Amy Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best work, but reasonably enjoyable.