Women on a Mission

Ellen Morris Prewitt, a writer with ties to Memphis, Mississippi, and New Orleans, delivers a delightfully rambunctious novel with When We Were Murderous Time-Traveling Women.

As the book begins, we meet Etoile, our narrator and protagonist, walking the streets of New Orleans to grab a quick coffee at one of the local shops. Suddenly, after singing a song she crafted, a castle whose interior smells of “rat turds,” “wet mold,” and maybe glue or “dough popping yeast bubbles” appears out of nowhere. Soon we realize that Etoile has not only conjured a castle but also brought forth a saint, a prince, and her three “ancestral grannies”: Tip-Top, Bigmama, and Elfy.  

It doesn’t take long for the prince to give the group a mission, and they set out on a time-bending adventure, spanning histories, packed with action, violence, humor, and heart. 

Prewitt cleverly and impressively balances multiple genres throughout the book, combining literary fiction, fantasy, and a bit of enjoyable fever dream. This mix is apparent from the first page and creates a foundation that helps ground the novel, even in its most historically dense moments and time-traveling shifts. 

When We Were Murderous Time-Traveling Women is brimming with love. In fact, it often reads like a love letter to New Orleans. Prewitt captures the life of the city, invoking structures, streets, sounds, feelings, and even Mardi Gras. It’s quite apparent that this is a writer who knows the soul of the city. 

People, too, hold so much of the novel’s loving core, especially Etoile’s grannies. The women are a collective powerhouse, but they are also mighty as individuals. We learn of their previous deaths alongside their daily interests, and every story feels important, even necessary. In one moment, Etoile cites how imagination “was the gift passed” from one of her grandmothers, and the importance of that gift speaks for itself in a story as inventive and creative as this one. 

It is through the grannies that we find the novel’s strongest theme: the power of stories. Etoile states it best: “Story is as strong as reality.” Yes, it is, and this novel proves as much. 

When We Were Murderous Time-Traveling Women is a deeply funny book. One of the best glimpses into Prewitt’s humor occurs early on with a description of Alabama: “All bad things start in Alabama. That’s not talking ugly. It’s a geographical fact. Alabama is a sinkhole that burps onion-tinged gas.” Humor runs wild in this novel.

While there is much to enjoy, When We Were Murderous Time-Traveling Women could prove a little overwhelming for some. The narrative features twists and turns aplenty, with much movement — fast movement — across time and space. It can take a little work to regain one’s footing with the frequent shifting, but it’s absolutely worth the effort. The novel is a unique and exciting read that will leave most readers eager to see what the author will craft next.