News
Recent & upcoming events.
The Telegraph, Lucy Denyer
“Anyone whose parents are ageing or stuck in their ways will identify with Camilla Barnes’s hilarious debut … The characters in this novel made me smile, and laugh, and grit my teeth in recognition.”
Souvenirs of Barnes & Noble in store event: Princeton
On Friday 4th April 2025, Camilla Barnes celebrated The Usual Desire to Kill with Ben Morison at Barnes & Noble Market Fair.
The Telegraph, interview by Jessamy Calkin
“The Usual Desire to Kill is a wonderful novel. It reminds me of Nancy Mitford, and has an air of nostalgia, even though it’s set in vaguely contemporary times. You find your sympathies switching between the characters, and as the parents’ backstory is revealed, it becomes extremely moving.
It also has an intriguing hybrid structure – Miranda’s narrative is interspersed with vignettes of dialogue set out like scenes from a play, as well as emails between Miranda and Charlotte, and letters from their mother to an unexplained sister called Kitty. The dialogue is superb.”
Souvenirs of Barnes & Noble in store event: New York
On Wednesday 2nd April 2025, Camilla Barnes celebrated The Usual Desire to Kill at Barnes & Noble Upper West Side, live taping of an interview Poured Over podcast with Jenna Seery.
The New York Times Book Review
Catherine Newman
“The usual desire to kill your exasperating old parents — that’s the implied full title of Camilla Barnes’s wickedly delightful debut novel. (…) I loved it completely.”
Souvenirs of Barnes & Noble in store event: Philadelphia
On Wednesday 2nd April 2025, Camilla Barnes celebrated The Usual Desire to Kill at Barnes & Noble.
Fleet Street Quarter - Festival of Words
Larry Lamb and Camilla Barnes:
Our Writing Journeys
Beloved actor Larry Lamb discusses his first novel All Wrapped Up, a story inspired by his experience in the film and television industry alongside Camilla Barnes, whose debut novel is The Usual Desire to Kill.
Fleet Street Quarter - Festival of Words
Place : Court Room, Stationers' Hall, Ave Maria Lane London EC4M 7DD United Kingdom
Date : Saturday 17th May 2025
Time : 5pm
Wantage Literary Festival
Larry Lamb and Camilla Barnes - in conversation
Discover the unique partnership between Larry and Camilla as they share their experiences of helping each other bring their literary dreams to life. Enjoy lively conversations about the creative process, challenges, and triumphs of writing and publishing.
Wantage Literary Festival
Place : The Beacon, Oxfordshire
Date : Wednesday 25th June 2025
Time : 7pm
Dame Harriet Walter narrates
The Usual Desire to Kill
“A wonderful and original book about family and how the people we care for the most can often be the most maddening. It is at turns extremely funny and very moving.”
The Usual Desire To Kill - out in United Kingdom
The Usual Desire to Kill - published in United Kingdom on 10th April 2025.
The Usual Desire To Kill - out in America and Canada
The Usual Desire to Kill - published in America and Canada on 1st April 2025.
Keine Kleinigkeit - out in Germany
Keine Kleinigkeit - published in Germany on 27th February 2025.
Here is the link to read PIPER’s newsletter about the novel:
Past News & Events
Barnes & Noble in store event: Princeton
Camilla Barnes celebrates The Usual Desire to Kill with Ben Morison.
Friday 4th April 2025 - 6.30pm
Barnes & Noble in store event: New York
Camilla Barnes celebrates The Usual Desire to Kill.
Wednesday 2nd April 2025 - 7pm
Barnes & Noble in store event: Philadelphia
Camilla Barnes celebrates The Usual Desire to Kill.
Wednesday 2nd April 2025 - 1pm
Germany : Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung review
“… Insanely funny.”
“...An impressive debut, a remarkably assured balancing act between comedy and tragedy.”
“...A sophisticated mystery underpins the narrative, a mystery which penetrates deep into the heart of family secrets.”