--- product_id: 125181995 title: "Calf: A Novel" brand: "soft skull press" price: "S$23" currency: SGD in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 category: "Book" url: https://www.desertcart.sg/products/125181995-calf-a-novel store_origin: SG region: Singapore --- # Calf: A Novel **Brand:** soft skull press **Price:** S$23 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Calf: A Novel by soft skull press - **How much does it cost?** S$23 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sg](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/125181995-calf-a-novel) ## Best For - soft skull press enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted soft skull press brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![Calf: A Novel - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41UfbYUWIcL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Twisted and intertwined narratives *by J***N on Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2015* Traumas that occur in childhood leave an indelible mark on survivors, who often recall those times in inimitable detail. I start this way because this book is inspired by a true story that affected the author. Her good friend was murdered by Leslie deVeau, the victim’s mother. Around the same time, John Hinckley Jr. tried to assassinate President Reagan. Later, deVeau and Hinckley became lovers while patients at St. Elizabeths Hospital.This book is not a recreation of those events; rather, it is inspired by them. Any reader who expects a point-by-point comparison will be disappointed. That being said, there is a haunting authenticity to Calf, which pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the very last page.Two narratives intertwine. One focuses on Tammy, a disaffected pre-teen who lives in Washington, D.C. with her mother, stepfather, and younger sister and brother. All the pain, alienation and disenchantment of those tender years is fully captured. In fact, Tammy is so real that she can walk off the page. The friend who is eventually murdered is not difficult to guess; we see the event building as if we are watching a trainwreck.The other story, which gets equal time, spotlights Jeffrey Hackney (an obvious Hinckley stand-in) who obsesses over an actress named Amber Carrol. As he emotionally disintegrates, suspense rises although we know (or think we know) where the narrative is going.For me, the more captivating of the two storylines is Tammy’s. There’s a rawness to it that made me feel as if Andrea Kleine was mining some deep emotional remembrances. Yet both storylines are powerful and unsettling. I read this book in two intense sittings. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Compelling debut novel *by S***N on Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2015* In this debut “faction” novel, the author takes an episode from her childhood—a friend murdered by her mother—and creates a chilling, nuanced dual narrative that is largely a domestic suspense story. The second narrative is based on John Hinckley Jr.’s attempted assassination of President Reagan. Both the true-life shooters were pronounced not guilty by reason of insanity, and met and became lovers at a mental institution. Kleine changes all the names, and invents a fictional story, to give free reign to go inside their heads and not be restricted by true events. This terrifying, character-driven drama allows the reader to follow the daily thoughts and actions of the killers and their families. There’s no gratuitous violence or pandering to readers. From the opening pages, the reader is installed in this accomplished, well-developed story.As the novel progresses, CALF intensifies and grows more hair-raising and disturbing. Kleine brushes up against the second-person perspective, especially with the mentally disturbed and manipulative “Jeffrey Hackney” and the female killer that is inspired by the real-life Leslie DeVeau. The author did her research on mental illness, as these are no stereotypical generic types. Inch by inch, day by day, the murderers get closer to entirely disassociating. If there’s a theme here, then it is about the manifestation of violence in a socially ordered culture. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ an adolescent girl going through painful transitions, and the Hinckley-esque psychotic stalker *by S***E on Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2015* Calf is a page-turner. With the pitch-perfect voices of both Tammy, an adolescent girl going through painful transitions, and the Hinckley-esque psychotic stalker, Jeffrey Hackney, Andrea Kleine's smart writing keeps it spare and gripping. The singular air of the 1980's infuses the characters of Tammy's unpredictable friends, her siblings, the neighbors, and the parents of both Tammy and Hackney. The relationship between the interesting, but bored, tennis-playing housewife Josie and her neighbor, the mentally disturbed mother, Val, is unexpected and moving. I flew through this novel and the story stayed in my head for days. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sg/products/125181995-calf-a-novel](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/125181995-calf-a-novel) --- *Product available on Desertcart Singapore* *Store origin: SG* *Last updated: 2026-05-23*