Overview
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating on legislated euthanasia
“There is probably no more important issue in contemporary bioethics or a more serious ethical decision for our parliaments than assisted dying legislation. In public life it is the principles that matter. It is a mistake for legislators to act on the deeply held emotional concerns when that involves crossing a threshold that will affect the entire society in perpetuity.”
Keating quotes Dr Michael Gannon: “Once you legislate you cross the Rubicon. The cause for euthanasia has been made in a very emotional way and this is the latest expression of individual autonomy as an underlying principle. But the sick, the elderly, the disabled, the chronically ill and the dying must never be made to feel they are a burden.”
Sydney Morning Herald, October 19, 2017
Euthanasia, a black Pope and Australian politics collide in this intense thriller.
He’s the nation’s chief law maker. His daughter is fighting for her life in intensive care, a victim of a terrible crime. Will he ignore the prime minister’s demands and his own laws to save her? Or will politics and the Catholic Church prevent him from doing his job?
Treasurer, Parker Osborne, initiates a covert plan, in partnership with Vatican emissary, Cardinal Rosseau, to guarantee proposed euthanasia legislation is destined for failure in the national parliament triggering a leadership challenge and his anticipated ascension to prime minister.
Leadership rival and Attorney General, Charles Stevedore, witnessed his wife suffer a prolonged death and agrees to prepare euthanasia legislation for the prime minister. He is forced to question his politics when his daughter is brutally attacked and left for dead, now surviving on life-support. Will he switch off the machines … or not?
Rosseau captivated by the ferociousness of Australian politics plans his own coup d’etat whilst Osborne counts his numbers and prepares to take high office knowing his elevation to prime minister will witness the crucial end of euthanasia legislation.
In a surprising development, the prime minister makes a decision which changes everything.
THE KILL BILL is a gripping political thriller featuring moving and surprising plot twists, convincing characters, and exposes the black-hand of politics that will have you questioning the ethics of assisted dying. If you like fast-paced and page-turning thrillers that draw you into the story, then this book will not disappoint you.
Author Information
THEMES USED IN THE KILL BILL
Euthanasia
Political manipulation
Moral Dilemmas
Readers’ Comment
Utterly gripping thriller with compelling characters and surprising plots twists. It is a provocative read and places a question about the ethics of mixing religion, morals and politics. I couldn’t put it down. – Amazon
**
Wow! Richard Evans has given us his best book yet with The Kill Bill.
From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked. I didn’t want to put it down to go to work,
Many stories and lives intertwine, all seamlessly coming together as we wander through the minefield that is voluntary euthanasia (note, I am all for it. We treat animals better at end of life than we do human beings, but that is a debate to have with me another day).
One thing that I am certain about is that we need a separation of church and state. As an athiest myself, I do not want a church telling me how to live my life, and they should not be getting involved in our government systems (again, another debate to have with me another day) and when the Vatican gets itself involved in Australian legislation in The Kill Bill, it cements that for me. They have enough things they should be looking at in their own house instead of getting involved here.
And it only made me hate the church more.
I like how the main players in this tale – The Prime Minister, the Attorney General and a PM wannabe/treasurer take different stands on the church involvement, even when they are conflicted. I liked how this was dealt with.
Richard Evans experience as a politician shines through as he tells a tale full of scandals, ethical dilemmas, and the tale as old as time – everyone out for what they can get for themselves.
He delivers the world of political and church machinations, the wheelings and dealings that will get you thinking (and probably adding another healthy level of cynacism to it!)
I hope we get more of the Referendum series in the future. – BJ’s Book Blog
**
This is the first book I’ve read from the Richard Evans stable and I’m pleased to say it won’t be the last.
The Kill Bill is a clever and polished political thriller. I was enticed by the book’s cover and blurb, and it’s promise to delve into issues around church and state, and the ethical question of euthanasia. The story weaves these themes deftly and the interplay of the characters and their flaws and goals brings the themes to the fore. The cleverness here is the writer presents arguments for and against various ethical issues – such as as euthanasia – but through the experiences of the characters. I never felt I was being ‘led’ or ‘preached’ into a particular direction or belief. This is not an easy thing to accomplish in the field of ethics, and especially in a novel.
Evans’ experience as a federal politician is strongly present in his writing. It was fascinating to get a view behind the closed doors of our Commonwealth Parliament and into the goings-on of the political and media game. Having worked in the political arena myself (at a state level), and having dealt with politicians, staffers, and the media, there were a number of times I laughed out loud and winced at the realism of the plot and characters. There are some brilliant political anecdotes in the dialogue too.
And the radio shock jock character pulling the strings … loved it! We probably all know who this guy would be in real life, and considering his recent de-throning it was doubly satisfying to read how his game might have been played.
If you enjoyed the TV series ‘The Young Pope’, or anything which dares to peer behind the public walls of the Vatican, you’ll enjoy the Catholic angles as well.
It’s not without its surprises, and especially at the end. One chapter shocked me in the subject matter (no spoilers here) but for those who find sexual violence disturbing you might be disturbed by this part. It wasn’t superfluous – it was an integral part of the story – but did make for some uncomfortable reading.
Evan’s writing is slick, tight, and unobtrusive. The dialogue is a joy to read. The characters are solid and believable.
One of the best books I’ve read in a while, and a solid five stars from me. Recommended! – Goodreads
**
A clever and polished political thriller which delves into the murky worlds of politics, church, medicine, and ethics. A great story and a top read! – Amazon
Media
Former federal MP enters euthanasia debate with a new book – The Kill Bill
Is euthanasia an ethical or emotional question?
Do we support life or convenience?
20 September 2021
Was Paul Keating right when he said that legislating assisted dying laws was wrong – that the sick, the elderly, the disabled, the chronically ill, and the dying must never be made to feel they are a burden?
Was Senator Dodson right, suggesting euthanasia laws pave the way for First Nation people to be even more vulnerable? Or, was Noel Pearson right, when he said assisted dying laws are a question of emotion, that there is something deeper involved on the ethics of life and death regardless of culture and history?
Into the current debate steps former federal MP Richard Evans with the release of his fourth Australian political thriller – The Kill Bill.
In The Kill Bill, we meet the nation’s chief law maker. His daughter is fighting for her life in intensive care, a victim of a terrible crime. Will he ignore the prime minister’s demands and his own laws to save her? Or will politics and the Catholic Church prevent him from doing his job?
It is a story with a fascinating concept at its heart, with characters that come to life as they fight for the nationalisation of euthanasia laws. The female prime minister tries to block the legislation and the church influence whilst fighting off leadership challengers until she makes a decision which changes everything.
As a federal member of parliament, Evans voted against the Northern Territory’s laws in 1996.
‘I voted against the laws after listening to my community highlighting the potential for purposely misusing the laws against the vulnerable,’ Evans said. ’25 years later, I remain unconvinced about euthanasia laws and their ability to effectively reflect the ethical questions. To me, it seems there remains an unresolved subplot of selfish convenience by the living influencing legislation.
‘We should be having a national conversation about the implications of these laws,’ Evans said. ‘To step away from the personal, the emotional, and consider the burden we place on the vulnerable. It is an ethical conversation about life we should at least think about.’
The Kill Bill examines the influence of the church like any other lobby group in law making and how euthanasia laws could be misused when it suits the people making the decisions.
Evans draws a comparison between the euthanasia debate and state government responses to managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Throughout lockdowns and pandemic restrictions, we’ve seen meek compliance and blatant flaunting of the rules by the community. It raises the question – who is actually paying attention to the ethics of the government decisions and those emotionally responding? Who actually cares about their community, and who are just in it for themselves?’ Evans said.
Evans wrote The Kill Bill to raise the issues of the sanctity of life challenging the reader to reflect on attitudes.
‘Many people support the sanctity of life yet also support abortion and euthanasia; but these same people stand against the use of capital punishment. The point I make is – what’s the difference? Life is life. I try to express that within this story.’ Evans said.
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Media contact
About the author
Richard Evans served as a federal politician in the national parliament giving his books added authenticity. As an insider, Richard recognises the tribalism, warped egos, and the ruthless lonely life of a politician, writing thrilling character driven stories about this exotic, mysterious world.
Richard lives with his partner in the small village of Airlie Beach, overlooking the Whitsunday Islands, Australia.
