Kill the Messenger

by Kim Idynne

Marco has often felt overshadowed by his twin brother, Jacob, but their relationship changes after a near-fatal accident. Jacob's injuries leave him with “verbal disinhibition,” an inability to filter his thoughts before speaking them aloud. His remarks often spark anger in the people around him and cause endless embarrassment for Marco, who has taken on the role of Jacob's guardian and coach—a role that is further complicated when one of his co-workers falls head over heels for Jacob. Despite his best efforts, Jacob can rarely keep a secret; Marco's embarrassing mishaps are thoughtlessly revealed, his vulnerabilities are thrown in his face, and he finds himself in innumerable awkward situations—and like everyone else who knows Jacob, he must decide whether to respond with self-reflection and forgiveness, or with rage.

147 pages, Unknown Binding

First published February 1, 2022

About the author

Kim Idynne is a Minneapolis-based writer and illustrator. Her first short story, "Meat," was published in the February 2015 issue of Literary Mama; the following year, Idynne received a Silver Pen award for her story "Fungus." Since then, she has authored several novels and a variety of short fiction and poetry. Her artwork has been featured in journals, books, datebooks, and at galleries around the Twin Cities area. You can check out her work at idynne.com.