In Cat Fight by Kit Conway, a suburban ecological paradise nestled in the English countryside becomes unmoored after a confrontation with nature during one hot, sultry summer. Alternating among the perspectives of three neighbors whose lives are not what they seem, Conway's exceptional debut is an engrossing, gossip-laden domestic drama sizzling with secrets and deceit.
Small wild animals such as hedgehogs and badgers are common sightings in Sevenoaks, which borders a glorious wilderness reserve in Kent, but panthers are most definitely not. So when Adam King, the local heartthrob, sees one on the hood of his car, the ensuing panic reverberates far and wide. Neighbors are divided between those who believe Adam and those who don't, while for some residents the diversion proves to be very convenient indeed.
Emma Brooks hopes the panther hysteria will distract neighbors from her controversial home renovation plans, while Twig Dorsett considers the media attention on Sevenoaks a boon for her GoFundMe campaign--she'll do anything to raise money for her daughter's cancer treatment. Coralie King, a former zoologist, doesn't believe her weed-smoking husband actually saw a panther, but maybe by appeasing him she can save her marriage. Despite her glamorous exterior, Coralie is the resident wilderness expert in Sevenoaks and if anyone can get to the bottom of the big cat sighting, it's her.
The launch of summer brings with it a "wildness unfurling" among neighbors, especially as it pertains to the intriguing character of Coralie. She grew up in a spectacularly wealthy family that kept leopards as pets until a tragedy forced an end to the practice. Now, the panther sighting unleashes something primal in her, rendering her secretive, unpredictable, and possibly dangerous, too.
On its surface, Cat Fight is an entertaining parody of suburbia. Emma, dressed in Disney-themed attire, dreams of a "dalliance" with Adam; her husband, Matt, is a Cub Scout leader who takes his role too seriously. Twig, of former punk rock fame, has a lot to hide beneath her tough-girl facade. Conway skillfully employs a chorus of neighborhood voices as observers who speculate on wildcat theories and whether Coralie is a "cat whisperer."
As the mystery of the panther deepens and neighbors start behaving strangely, Cat Fight prowls its way toward a spectacular, terrifying conclusion. One realizes the panther itself is beside the point--it's the reaction it elicits from Conway's delightfully imperfect cast members that makes for memorable drama. --Shahina Piyarali
Shelf Talker: A panther sighting brings drama and intrigue to a suburban neighborhood in England in this exceptional debut sizzling with secrets and deceit.