Born in New York City on the night of John Lennon's assassination Ros is now a celebrated photographer who claims to have killed reclusive writer J. D. Salinger with the help of her alter ego Marta. In the psychiatric hospital where she resides Ros talks with her therapist about art and pop culture and the psychological and moral motives behind her actions. But rebellious and outspoken Marta has other ideas: she mistrusts the therapist and is determined to escape from the hospital during the building refurbishment.

Flowing as a torrent of stream-of-consciousness prose The Day I Killed J. D. Salinger explores the vital function of art and the responsibility that ensues when art is not simply what we do but who we are.