In six essays united by a common theme, Kathleen Hale traces some of the most treacherous fault lines in modern America—from sexual assault to Internet trolling, from environmental illness to our own animal nature. In these wide-ranging pieces, Hale proves herself to be an exhilarating new voice whose writing is both fearless and profound.

In “First I Got Pregnant. Then I Decided to Kill the Mountain Lion,” Hale recounts the month she spent tracking a wild cat lost in the Hollywood Hills while pregnant; in “Prey,” she tells the troubling story of her sexual assault as a freshman in college; other essays recount the mesmerizing stories of a trip to hunt wild hogs in Florida, and a standoff with an anonymous blogger. On the surface, Hale’s writing is deeply personal, but these essays also tell thought-provoking stories of predators and prey. Taking no prisoners and fearing no subject matter, Kathleen Hale wields razor-sharp wit, uncommon levels of empathy, and daring honesty, even in detailing some of the most difficult moments of her life.

Hilarious, candid, and sometimes unsettling, Kathleen Hale Is a Crazy Stalker introduces an arresting and unusual new voice for this strange American century.