Heather’s Bookshelf: Dear AI, I Killed Her
Author: Kirill Khrestinin
Released: 03/10/26
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Serial Killer Fiction
“Three women. One of them was dead. One of them was alive. One of them was something else entirely. I wasn’t sure anymore which one scared me most.”
“Dear AI, I Killed Her” introduces Chester LaRue, a serial killer who has decided to confess his crimes to an AI, Simulacrum 4.6.
Chester’s looking for answers. He knows what he is and what he’s done, but there’s this phone call…seeking guidance and ambiguity, he turns his questions to Simulacrum 4.6.
The AI asks guiding questions about Chester’s history, motivations and actions. Chester eagerly relays all requested information, seeking answers to his pressing questions including why a woman he murdered is insisting that he kill his wife. Chester believes he’s in control…it is just an AI...
Trigger Warning: violence, rape, murder, child murder, animal murder, cannibalism…this is a book that includes the actions and desires of a serial killer…so basically everything terrible and unimaginable is in this book…fair warning.
Overall, I was torn on this book. I had to put it down and come back to it on several occasions and almost had to put it down completely. It is extremely disturbing, violent, and disgusting throughout much of the first two-thirds. To be fair, the premise is pretty clear- a serial killer relays all of the horrible things he has done and desires to do to an AI. The expectation is that some pretty horrible things will be revealed and the author does not disappoint in this manner. It is not an easy read and that might be some of the point. What draws you to continue to read is the odd feeling you get from the interactions with the AI. Something just doesn’t feel quite right and you want to find out why. The story includes themes like nature vs nurture, child psychology, and challenges of the system in identifying and treating psychosis in children. The structure of the tale is told mostly through flashbacks from Chester and the AI pushing the tale forward while also analyzing the responses of the killer. The structure serves the purpose of drawing in the reader but is also often redundant in the synopses told by the AI. When the reveal comes, it fits with the psychological aspects of the story and also wraps everything up to make the tale feel complete. This one is in no way for everyone, but if you enjoyed the movie Trap or the show Criminal Minds and want to hear from the POV of the killer - all the horrible things - then fair warning…
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
An extremely graphic and disturbing take on the serial killer genre with a bit of a tech twist thrown in.
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Check out my interview with Kirill Khrestinin
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