The Devil in Ms Johansson is the funniest novel written since A Confederacy of Dunces, told with dry humour and academic bite.
Erika Johansson, a tough Swedish headmistress and kickboxing champion, escapes a dreadful school in Gothenburg for an absurdly well-paid post at an English girls’ boarding school on a lonely moor.
Saint Prudence Home for Venerable Virgins looks respectable, but the staff are eccentric on the edge of vitriolic, the traditions archaic, and the girls frozen with fear. Erika restores faith with unconventional methods and a streak of compassion.
Her weekends take a stranger turn when a glamorous rock couple invites her to a salacious masquerade. Dressed in a red devil costume with a whip, she becomes Lil’ Devil.
A discreet organisation soon recruits her to coax wealthy couples back into bed. She fixes marriages with sharp wit, a firm hand, and the occasional crack of her trusty whip.
Trouble strikes when love turns into revenge. England rewards class over results, and Erika pays the price. She returns home changed, wiser, and unsure which part of her story was real.
At its core, The Devil in Ms Johansson is a satire about a woman attempting to bring reason into systems that cling to tradition, hierarchy, and emotional chaos. It is both a tragicomic love story, a parody of therapy, and a quiet manifesto for embracing your true sexuality.
Voices
“Good Heavens! Before we even knew how, we were back in bed with each other.”
– Reverend Timothy Worshipley
“The hook she gave us performed miracles for our marriage.”
– Lady Chantelle Jefferson Vanity-Hall
“Neville is such an obedient servant; once she taught me how to use a whip properly.”
– Lady Florence Stiffington
“Ms Johansson knows a thing or two about monkey business.”
– Lord Rupert Ruffledbush
“She is fair dinkum, our Erika, but she undercooks her vegetables.”
– Sheila Crumble, Head Chef at Saint Prudence
“She restored order; that is good.”
– Frau Doktor Getrude von Steinhart
“Those girls did not treat me fairly.”
– Rutger the Ram
Reviews
👩🏻💻 dixie
🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
The Devil in Ms Johansson provides a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the homes and lives of Britain’s upper-echelon families and institutions. If you thought they are eccentric, deeply damaged, and prone to vices unthinkable for us mere mortals, think again. It’s far, far worse. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants their prejudices confirmed.
Dixie Grubbins, Senior Lifestyle Editor, The Groper
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 16 December 2025.
😈 bea
♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️
The current success of the application of pain and fear in modern marriage counselling cannot be denied, not even by its detractors in conventional psychotherapy. Forget psychoanalysis or cognitive therapy. As this significant and innovative novel demonstrates, a determined woman with a whip can achieve in an hour what years of therapy usually cannot.
The Devil in Ms Johansson is a highly recommended read for couples looking for a quick fix to their marital problems. As they say, no pain, no gain.
Beatrix Domina, Senior Counsellor and contributor to The American Journal of Applied Pain
Reviewed in the United States of America on 14 December 2025.
🧑🏻🏫 hovdy
🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑
As a steadfast supporter of a low-arousal staff approach, I picked up this novel with a certain amount of trepidation. I must admit, it is a page-turner, and the results speak for themselves. It inspired me to start a research programme on how discipline and no-excuse policies can be put into practice in schools with a majority of students with special needs. I have also tried this at home, which led to my wife losing interest in knitting and crochet.
Petter Hovland, Professor at the Faculty for Pedagogy, University of Hardangervidda, Norway
Reviewed in Norway on 12 December 2025.
👱♀️ viola
🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦
Being a woman in a country where men are men and sheep are terrified leaves us few opportunities for sensuality and romance. Thank heavens for romantic novels and our trusted self-help devices. Look no further than The Devil in Ms Johansson and the tragic love story of Erika Johansson. This captivating novel offers romance, hot sex scenes, and the disastrous breakups we expect from quality fiction.
It left my thighs trembling — and confirmed my suspicion that we never should have allowed Irish immigration.
Violet Vendremore, Head of Literature Desk, Romantic Revue
Reviewed in New Zealand 10 December 2025.