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Don’t Tell Me How to Die: A Novel
I have one thing to do before I die.
And time is running out.
I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.
My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.
I am not letting that happen to my family.
I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.
You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants�?
From thriller writer Marshall Karp (cocreator with James Patterson of the #1 New York Times bestselling NYPD Red series), and rich with Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, Don’t Tell Me How to Die has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.
And time is running out.
I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.
My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.
I am not letting that happen to my family.
I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.
You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants�?
From thriller writer Marshall Karp (cocreator with James Patterson of the #1 New York Times bestselling NYPD Red series), and rich with Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, Don’t Tell Me How to Die has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.
Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2025
185 people are currently reading
17.7k people want to read
About the author
Marshall Karp
43books541followersMarshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a TV and screenwriter, documentarian, and playwright. Working with James Patterson, Marshall cocreated and cowrote the NYPD Red series. After six bestsellers, Marshall has carried the series forward on his own, beginning with NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority. Marshall is also the author of Snowstorm in August, as well as the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs novels, featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs. For over twenty years he has worked closely with the international charity Vitamin Angels, providing tens of millions of mothers and children around the globe with lifesaving vitamins and nutrients.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews
March 4, 2025
WHY is this book getting so many 5 STAR reviews?
Because it’s ADDICTIVE reading, it’s ORIGINAL, and it’s TWISTY in all the best ways. I couldn’t put it down!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maggie and Lizzie lost their mother when they were only seventeen. She died from a rare blood Cancer but before she did, she sat her daughters down and she warned them that women would flock to her suddenly single husband “like stray cats to an overturned milk truck� and that the girls would have to protect him.
THE WOMEN CAME-carrying home cooked meals in casserole dishes that would have to be collected a few days later. But, the sisters washed those dishes and delivered them back to their owners before the women could return.
But one managed to sneak her way into the fold�.
So when Maggie discovers at age 43, that she too has the disease-she is determined to get ahead of the women who will prey upon her own husband.
And, the woman voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants� is determined to succeed at any cost.
Is the omission of a FEW facts, really lying?
DOESN’T EVERYONE HAVE AT LEAST ONE SECRET?
This book unfolds in THREE parts, PAST and PRESENT and PART ONE (46% of the book) reads more like a heartbreaking 💔 FAMILY DRAMA-full of flawed, well developed characters and MESSY relationships-who feel like people you know-NOT the psychological thriller I expected from the Publisher’s blurb.
DON’T LET THAT FOOL YOU!
Parts TWO and THREE are full of revelations which completely “flip the script� and in an oversaturated genre, full of overdone tropes-this one managed to do what few others have done lately-it CONTINUALLY SURPRISED ME!
I have never read any of the authors collaborations with James Patterson, and I wasn’t familiar with his work-but I will definitely be reading more of it now!
Highly recommended!
A buddy read with MarilynW. Is she recommending this one too? Be sure to watch for her review!
PICK UP A COPY TODAY! Now available!
Thank You to Blackstone Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Because it’s ADDICTIVE reading, it’s ORIGINAL, and it’s TWISTY in all the best ways. I couldn’t put it down!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maggie and Lizzie lost their mother when they were only seventeen. She died from a rare blood Cancer but before she did, she sat her daughters down and she warned them that women would flock to her suddenly single husband “like stray cats to an overturned milk truck� and that the girls would have to protect him.
THE WOMEN CAME-carrying home cooked meals in casserole dishes that would have to be collected a few days later. But, the sisters washed those dishes and delivered them back to their owners before the women could return.
But one managed to sneak her way into the fold�.
So when Maggie discovers at age 43, that she too has the disease-she is determined to get ahead of the women who will prey upon her own husband.
And, the woman voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants� is determined to succeed at any cost.
Is the omission of a FEW facts, really lying?
DOESN’T EVERYONE HAVE AT LEAST ONE SECRET?
This book unfolds in THREE parts, PAST and PRESENT and PART ONE (46% of the book) reads more like a heartbreaking 💔 FAMILY DRAMA-full of flawed, well developed characters and MESSY relationships-who feel like people you know-NOT the psychological thriller I expected from the Publisher’s blurb.
DON’T LET THAT FOOL YOU!
Parts TWO and THREE are full of revelations which completely “flip the script� and in an oversaturated genre, full of overdone tropes-this one managed to do what few others have done lately-it CONTINUALLY SURPRISED ME!
I have never read any of the authors collaborations with James Patterson, and I wasn’t familiar with his work-but I will definitely be reading more of it now!
Highly recommended!
A buddy read with MarilynW. Is she recommending this one too? Be sure to watch for her review!
PICK UP A COPY TODAY! Now available!
Thank You to Blackstone Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
March 6, 2025
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
Outlier Alert!
2.66 Stars
First off, I want to say that I get the huge hype of this book. It was addictive, it has short, punchy chapters, and I can't wait to read what happens next vibes. The start of the book was the best part for me, unlike many others who found it slow. The family drama and dynamics really drew me in, I loved it. - 4 Stars
Then the book lost me a bit about when the mom expects the 16-year-old daughter to find a new wife for the dad and look out for him. I found it rather controlling and laughable that she thinks the 16-year-old would do better than the grown man himself. It was still readable to me, though, like a popcorn thriller. - 3 Stars
The last part of the book went completely off the rails for me. I didn't buy into anything that happened, it was completely implausible. I was literally laughing out loud at the stupidity of it. The book was trying to be serious, these are supposed to be important people, doctors, lawyers, mayors and police. Don't come at me. I know there are many unscrupulous types in these positions, but is ANYONE in this town not a murdering psychopath? - 1 Star
That gives the book eight stars out of fifteen, which is a rating of 2.66 out of five, rounded up to three.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
Outlier Alert!
2.66 Stars
First off, I want to say that I get the huge hype of this book. It was addictive, it has short, punchy chapters, and I can't wait to read what happens next vibes. The start of the book was the best part for me, unlike many others who found it slow. The family drama and dynamics really drew me in, I loved it. - 4 Stars
Then the book lost me a bit about when the mom expects the 16-year-old daughter to find a new wife for the dad and look out for him. I found it rather controlling and laughable that she thinks the 16-year-old would do better than the grown man himself. It was still readable to me, though, like a popcorn thriller. - 3 Stars
The last part of the book went completely off the rails for me. I didn't buy into anything that happened, it was completely implausible. I was literally laughing out loud at the stupidity of it. The book was trying to be serious, these are supposed to be important people, doctors, lawyers, mayors and police. Don't come at me. I know there are many unscrupulous types in these positions, but is ANYONE in this town not a murdering psychopath? - 1 Star
That gives the book eight stars out of fifteen, which is a rating of 2.66 out of five, rounded up to three.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
April 3, 2025
In a Nutshell: An interesting and twisty domestic suspense about a woman on a mission before her time runs out. Marketed as a thriller, but not a thriller for the most way. I did enjoy the regular twists and surprises, but hated the deliberate misleading. I would still recommended this, but not as a must-read. Be ready to suspend disbelief. This is an outlier review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
I don’t know what I expected from this book. I just jumped onto the hype-wagon, even though I am not a huge thriller fan, because almost all my friends gave this novel top stars. This story is not typical, I give you that. It offers a fairly enjoyable journey, but only if you don’t think too much about the deeper nuances. If you can leave your analytical caps aside, this can be a twisty entertainer. I find it to tough to part with my thinking cap, so...
Bookish Yays:
🔪 An excellent prologue with great promise.
🔪 The storyline of Maggie’s parents from a quarter century before � sweet. Not what I expected in a “thriller�, but it was a nice arc.
🔪 Many strong secondary characters. Lizzie is wonderful, and her bond with Maggie comes out strongly. I also liked Johnny Rollo’s character � probably among the few times I would count a shady druggie among my favourite characters of a book. Maggie’s twins, though in a relatively limited role, are impressive. I love how they actually act their age. Probably the only characters in the book to do so, other than Maggie’s dad and granddad, who are also amazing in their tertiary roles.
🔪 The timeline, with all events coming from time markers stating a period before/after "the funeral." Might be complicated to follow for those who don’t enjoy jumpy timelines, but I mostly enjoyed keeping up with the plot from across different timepoints.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
☠️ Is this really a thriller? The prologue shows signs of a mystery, but after that till about the final quarter, the book reads more like a normal domestic drama. (Not a thriller kind of domestic drama but the women's fiction kind.) Only the last section feels like a thriller. The cover and title seem to promise a much darker story.
☠️ Maggie is a man’s dream-come-true character in many ways, hence absolutely not convincing to me as a woman. Though I found some of her traits admirable, I don’t relate to women like her. So I couldn’t really root for her and found her behaviour unrealistic.
☠️ I thought this line from the blurb was exaggerated: “I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.� It was not. While the plot handles this decently, it is still odd to read about a woman who wants to spend her final days searching for her substitute for her husband.
☠️ The story takes a long while to get going. It feels a bit episodic at times, with a distinct subplot tackled one at a time in sequence. Many times, I wondered where the heck the book was going. The subplots were mostly interesting, but too disconnected to feel like part of the same story.
☠️ There are quite a few twists and turns: some guessable, some unexpected, some good, some downright idiotic. All the twisty content is restricted to the second half, which further enhances the dramatic feels of the first half.
☠️ The ending, keeping aside shady morals and logical flaws, works excellently for the story. So the key question is: can you ignore shady morals and logical flaws? I can ignore the former but not the latter.
Bookish Nays:
💣 My BIGGEST issue with the book: The unreliable narrator trope of the annoying kind, where the narrator doesn’t tell you stuff until they decide to tell you stuff. Imagine a character narrating an incident, and many chapters later, taking you back to that very incident and giving you the complete picture of what happened. Never a fan of such deliberate misleading and needless secret-keeping! All the more irritating as the story is written in first person so we should have received all the deets on time.
💣 Sorry for this misandrist feedback, but this has many examples of “man-writing-woman.� This isn't an umbrella statement, and there are a couple of good women characters in the book. (Mainly Kate, Lizzie and Beth who have their share of positives though they are not perfect.) But the others � yikes! Many scenes reek of generalised misogyny. And I don’t know about other readers, but I found the man-writing-teen-girl content very awkward to read. It was more like wishful thinking than reality.
💣 Speaking of Beth, where is she afterwards? Why do we get to hear only about Maggie’s dad and granddad?
💣 Thanks to the episodic structure, the pacing feels very dragged. This might especially bother those who expect a pacey thriller from a book with such a title and cover.
💣 Too much casual drug usage for my liking.
💣 Vague spoiler: Wouldn't an experienced con artist change their name for each new con, especially if they've already been to prison for a similar crime earlier?
All in all, the book did have some positives, but
a. it is not at all a thriller as promised;
b. it is too slow and episodic to be gripping; and
c. the man-writing-woman content is quite offensive.
The first half was still quite strong for me, perhaps around 3.75 stars if I rated it for its storytelling than for its merits as a thriller. But the second half, which had more of the promised twisty thriller, let me down with the deliberately deceptive revelations by Maggie.
Recommended to those who read thrillers without overthinking and without asking hows or whys. Oh, and better if you expect a suspense-drama rather than a thriller.
2.6 stars. (3.75 stars for the first half. 1.5 stars for the second half. Averaged.)
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing the DRC of “Don't Tell Me How To Die� via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| || || || || ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Forty-three-year-old Maggie Dunn has it all: a handsome husband who loves her and is also a successful surgeon, twin teens who have a great rapport with each other and their parents, loving extended family (father, grandfather, and younger sister Libby), and a high-profile job as the mayor of their town. Now, something she has dreaded since the last twenty-five years has finally been confirmed: Maggie is going to die soon. And of the same illness that killed her mother at the same age.
Cut to twenty-five years ago, when Maggie, just a high schooler, loses her mother to a rare disease. Before dying, her mother warns her that single women will swarm to their father and that Maggie and Libby should make sure that no one misuses him. Now, all these years later, Maggie feels like she too should ensure that she finds a suitable replacement for herself to take over after her death.
The story comes to us *mostly* in Maggie’s first-person perspective.
I don’t know what I expected from this book. I just jumped onto the hype-wagon, even though I am not a huge thriller fan, because almost all my friends gave this novel top stars. This story is not typical, I give you that. It offers a fairly enjoyable journey, but only if you don’t think too much about the deeper nuances. If you can leave your analytical caps aside, this can be a twisty entertainer. I find it to tough to part with my thinking cap, so...
Bookish Yays:
🔪 An excellent prologue with great promise.
🔪 The storyline of Maggie’s parents from a quarter century before � sweet. Not what I expected in a “thriller�, but it was a nice arc.
🔪 Many strong secondary characters. Lizzie is wonderful, and her bond with Maggie comes out strongly. I also liked Johnny Rollo’s character � probably among the few times I would count a shady druggie among my favourite characters of a book. Maggie’s twins, though in a relatively limited role, are impressive. I love how they actually act their age. Probably the only characters in the book to do so, other than Maggie’s dad and granddad, who are also amazing in their tertiary roles.
🔪 The timeline, with all events coming from time markers stating a period before/after "the funeral." Might be complicated to follow for those who don’t enjoy jumpy timelines, but I mostly enjoyed keeping up with the plot from across different timepoints.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
☠️ Is this really a thriller? The prologue shows signs of a mystery, but after that till about the final quarter, the book reads more like a normal domestic drama. (Not a thriller kind of domestic drama but the women's fiction kind.) Only the last section feels like a thriller. The cover and title seem to promise a much darker story.
☠️ Maggie is a man’s dream-come-true character in many ways, hence absolutely not convincing to me as a woman. Though I found some of her traits admirable, I don’t relate to women like her. So I couldn’t really root for her and found her behaviour unrealistic.
☠️ I thought this line from the blurb was exaggerated: “I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.� It was not. While the plot handles this decently, it is still odd to read about a woman who wants to spend her final days searching for her substitute for her husband.
☠️ The story takes a long while to get going. It feels a bit episodic at times, with a distinct subplot tackled one at a time in sequence. Many times, I wondered where the heck the book was going. The subplots were mostly interesting, but too disconnected to feel like part of the same story.
☠️ There are quite a few twists and turns: some guessable, some unexpected, some good, some downright idiotic. All the twisty content is restricted to the second half, which further enhances the dramatic feels of the first half.
☠️ The ending, keeping aside shady morals and logical flaws, works excellently for the story. So the key question is: can you ignore shady morals and logical flaws? I can ignore the former but not the latter.
Bookish Nays:
💣 My BIGGEST issue with the book: The unreliable narrator trope of the annoying kind, where the narrator doesn’t tell you stuff until they decide to tell you stuff. Imagine a character narrating an incident, and many chapters later, taking you back to that very incident and giving you the complete picture of what happened. Never a fan of such deliberate misleading and needless secret-keeping! All the more irritating as the story is written in first person so we should have received all the deets on time.
💣 Sorry for this misandrist feedback, but this has many examples of “man-writing-woman.� This isn't an umbrella statement, and there are a couple of good women characters in the book. (Mainly Kate, Lizzie and Beth who have their share of positives though they are not perfect.) But the others � yikes! Many scenes reek of generalised misogyny. And I don’t know about other readers, but I found the man-writing-teen-girl content very awkward to read. It was more like wishful thinking than reality.
💣 Speaking of Beth, where is she afterwards? Why do we get to hear only about Maggie’s dad and granddad?
💣 Thanks to the episodic structure, the pacing feels very dragged. This might especially bother those who expect a pacey thriller from a book with such a title and cover.
💣 Too much casual drug usage for my liking.
💣 Vague spoiler: Wouldn't an experienced con artist change their name for each new con, especially if they've already been to prison for a similar crime earlier?
All in all, the book did have some positives, but
a. it is not at all a thriller as promised;
b. it is too slow and episodic to be gripping; and
c. the man-writing-woman content is quite offensive.
The first half was still quite strong for me, perhaps around 3.75 stars if I rated it for its storytelling than for its merits as a thriller. But the second half, which had more of the promised twisty thriller, let me down with the deliberately deceptive revelations by Maggie.
Recommended to those who read thrillers without overthinking and without asking hows or whys. Oh, and better if you expect a suspense-drama rather than a thriller.
2.6 stars. (3.75 stars for the first half. 1.5 stars for the second half. Averaged.)
My thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing the DRC of “Don't Tell Me How To Die� via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
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March 4, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“‘Cause, baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)� - Taylor Swift
Let me preface this review by saying that I don’t usually enjoy reading anything that will make me sad or cry. I read ONLY for entertainment. So, I hesitated to request this book considering the fact that most of the early reviewers said that they were balling their eyes out after the first half.
But, two factors drove me to pull the trigger despite never having read Marshall Karp’s books…January LaVoy’s narration and the promise of an earth shattering twist. Can you blame me for wanting to give it a shot?
Maggie Dunn’s mother is dying from a rare blood disease and only has a short time to live. Her dying wish is for her two teenage daughters to watch out for the female predators who will swoop in and take advantage of her grieving husband. THEY must be the ones to choose the next Mrs. Dunn.
25 years later, Maggie is diagnosed with the same fatal blood disease that killed her mother. Now it is her turn to prepare her children for her death.
I am intentionally stopping there with the plot summary in order to avoid spoilers (the ŷ blurb gives too much away!)
I would classify this book as more of a domestic suspense novel, not a thriller. It takes a very long time to figure out where the plot is going and by the end of the first half I was deeply invested in the characters and CRYING. But…I was right about January LaVoy! Her fantastic narration made me want to keep on reading! If I hadn’t been listening to this book I probably would not have finished it.
The second half flew by and despite its predictability, I wound up enjoying the ending. As a very female character driven novel, I was surprised that it was written by man! Overall, I give the narration 5+ stars and the writing 3.75 stars.
I am intrigued to read more from this author!
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 3/4/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC of Don’t Tell Me How to Die in exchange for an honest review.
“‘Cause, baby, now we got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you've done
'Cause baby, now we got bad blood (hey!)� - Taylor Swift
Let me preface this review by saying that I don’t usually enjoy reading anything that will make me sad or cry. I read ONLY for entertainment. So, I hesitated to request this book considering the fact that most of the early reviewers said that they were balling their eyes out after the first half.
But, two factors drove me to pull the trigger despite never having read Marshall Karp’s books…January LaVoy’s narration and the promise of an earth shattering twist. Can you blame me for wanting to give it a shot?
Maggie Dunn’s mother is dying from a rare blood disease and only has a short time to live. Her dying wish is for her two teenage daughters to watch out for the female predators who will swoop in and take advantage of her grieving husband. THEY must be the ones to choose the next Mrs. Dunn.
25 years later, Maggie is diagnosed with the same fatal blood disease that killed her mother. Now it is her turn to prepare her children for her death.
I am intentionally stopping there with the plot summary in order to avoid spoilers (the ŷ blurb gives too much away!)
I would classify this book as more of a domestic suspense novel, not a thriller. It takes a very long time to figure out where the plot is going and by the end of the first half I was deeply invested in the characters and CRYING. But…I was right about January LaVoy! Her fantastic narration made me want to keep on reading! If I hadn’t been listening to this book I probably would not have finished it.
The second half flew by and despite its predictability, I wound up enjoying the ending. As a very female character driven novel, I was surprised that it was written by man! Overall, I give the narration 5+ stars and the writing 3.75 stars.
I am intrigued to read more from this author!
4/5 stars
Expected publication date: 3/4/25
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC of Don’t Tell Me How to Die in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2025
I did not see that coming!! These characters!!
What is a perfect family? Maggie appears to have it all. She has two children and a wonderful husband. Her profession as a lawyer and her husband Alex as a doctor provides everything they need. What it can't buy is time!
Reel it back to Maggie's childhood. Her mother was diagnosed with a rare cancer and died at 43 when she was only 17 years old. Her mother pleaded with her daughters to watch over their father and protect him from women who actively pursue relationships with men who have recently lost their wives. She worried about him being vulnerable and seeking companionship after experiencing a loss.
They guarded him the best they could until one slipped under the radar. She wasn't just bringing baked casseroles. She has secrets too.
Maggie had quite the reputation after her mother's death turning to drugs and bad rep boys. She managed to keep her grades up to later become a successful lawyer but voted "Most likely to kill someone to get what she wants".
Present time: Maggie has also been diagnosed with this deadly cancer and worried about her own children and husband. The suspense in this family drama carries you through loving moments, loss then grief turns into deadly deceptions. This one caught me off guard all the way up to that last sentence.
Good job to the author on this incredible book and audio. Kudos to the narrator January LaVoy!!
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What is a perfect family? Maggie appears to have it all. She has two children and a wonderful husband. Her profession as a lawyer and her husband Alex as a doctor provides everything they need. What it can't buy is time!
Reel it back to Maggie's childhood. Her mother was diagnosed with a rare cancer and died at 43 when she was only 17 years old. Her mother pleaded with her daughters to watch over their father and protect him from women who actively pursue relationships with men who have recently lost their wives. She worried about him being vulnerable and seeking companionship after experiencing a loss.
They guarded him the best they could until one slipped under the radar. She wasn't just bringing baked casseroles. She has secrets too.
Maggie had quite the reputation after her mother's death turning to drugs and bad rep boys. She managed to keep her grades up to later become a successful lawyer but voted "Most likely to kill someone to get what she wants".
Present time: Maggie has also been diagnosed with this deadly cancer and worried about her own children and husband. The suspense in this family drama carries you through loving moments, loss then grief turns into deadly deceptions. This one caught me off guard all the way up to that last sentence.
Good job to the author on this incredible book and audio. Kudos to the narrator January LaVoy!!
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 24, 2025
What did I just read!?
Ho hum…just another day, just another thriller. Ummm…WRONG!
If you knew you only had months to live, what would you do?
Would you get your affairs in order? �
Would you spend your remaining time with family and friends? �
Or…would you plan who your spouse will end up with next!⁉️
Are you kidding me!!? 18% into this read and I’m unabashedly bawling! That just doesn’t happen. I was ugly crying to the point where my dog jumped into my lap to make sure I was ok. (And he’s no lap dog.)
So yes, I was expecting a thriller. This author is known for his collaborations with James Patterson (which I’ve read and enjoyed). So I expected nice, short chapters with a few twists along the way. And it delivered on both counts.
But there was so much more!
We were also treated to a look into an incredible family, filled with love, loss and grief. Best described as a healthy dose of family drama with a side of thriller. Both sides worked and dove-tailed perfectly.
As a friendly tip may I suggest picking this one up over a weekend because at any given time you may be reduced to tears! (Or was that just me?)😉
Absolutely loved it! A favorite for 2025! I will definitely be reading more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
Ho hum…just another day, just another thriller. Ummm…WRONG!
If you knew you only had months to live, what would you do?
Would you get your affairs in order? �
Would you spend your remaining time with family and friends? �
Or…would you plan who your spouse will end up with next!⁉️
Are you kidding me!!? 18% into this read and I’m unabashedly bawling! That just doesn’t happen. I was ugly crying to the point where my dog jumped into my lap to make sure I was ok. (And he’s no lap dog.)
So yes, I was expecting a thriller. This author is known for his collaborations with James Patterson (which I’ve read and enjoyed). So I expected nice, short chapters with a few twists along the way. And it delivered on both counts.
But there was so much more!
We were also treated to a look into an incredible family, filled with love, loss and grief. Best described as a healthy dose of family drama with a side of thriller. Both sides worked and dove-tailed perfectly.
As a friendly tip may I suggest picking this one up over a weekend because at any given time you may be reduced to tears! (Or was that just me?)😉
Absolutely loved it! A favorite for 2025! I will definitely be reading more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
April 4, 2025
BELIEVE ALL OF THE FIVE STAR RATINGS!
OOOMMMGGG! Addictive, unputdownable, and utterly transfixing, Don’t Tell Me How to Die was filled with some of the best twists that I’ve ever read. And let me tell you, I’ve read quite a few. What blew me away even more, though, was that for the first time in quite a while, I didn’t guess even a one. A slow burn whopper of family drama and psychological suspense, I was shocked by Karp’s magical ability to pull the rug right out from under my feet. And while I would classify the first two-thirds of the book as more general fiction than thriller or suspense, that last third made up for it in spades. Throwing one earth-shattering bombshell in after the other, I couldn’t stop grinning while I screamed “Wait, WHAT?!� into the night.
That’s not saying, though, that the bulk of this novel wasn’t also pure gold. Filled with messy relationships, well-developed characters, and a backstory for the ages, I quickly—and easily—got pulled into the story. After all, it started off with an emotional bang that had me crying real tears page after page. But the further I got into the storyline, the more I realized that I didn’t know a thing. Packed full of script-flipping revelations and shocking new facts, I ended up flying through these short, compelling chapters in just one single sitting. You see, it was physically impossible for me to put this book down—especially given the huge number of cliffhangers that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Another huge selling point of Mr. Marshall Karp’s writing was the characterization of each and every persona. Fully fleshed out and with believable, humanizing flaws, even the supporting characters were deep and with clear identities and purpose. The authenticity of the characters also extended to the page-turning storyline as well. Well-plotted and cunningly written so as to hide all of the jaw-dropping secrets and lies, there was simply no outguessing this author as I raced through this original premise which was complete with a dark humor vibe. In short, it was utter perfection and I won’t forget these brilliant characters or this mind-blowing plot any time soon.
All said and done, I’m beyond blown away by what has become my new favorite novel. From the tear-jerker beginning to the applause-worthy conclusion, I couldn’t have imagined a better book if I tried. Now, I do have to warn you, this was not a psychological thriller like the synopsis hinted at on the back cover. With depth, poignancy, and a long list of thought-provoking themes, it was genre-bending in the extreme. So much so that I’m having a hard time nailing it down more than I’ve already said. Just know that it handed out a whopping dose of deception while making you wait for those big, huge, gigantic reveals. So don’t walk, run to order this book now as it will easily top your list of favorites for the year. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.
My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.
I am not letting that happen to my family.
I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.
You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants�?
Thank you to Marshall Karp and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2024
Content warning: terminal disease, death of a parent, drug use, drinking and driving, mention of: murder/suicide, infidelity
OOOMMMGGG! Addictive, unputdownable, and utterly transfixing, Don’t Tell Me How to Die was filled with some of the best twists that I’ve ever read. And let me tell you, I’ve read quite a few. What blew me away even more, though, was that for the first time in quite a while, I didn’t guess even a one. A slow burn whopper of family drama and psychological suspense, I was shocked by Karp’s magical ability to pull the rug right out from under my feet. And while I would classify the first two-thirds of the book as more general fiction than thriller or suspense, that last third made up for it in spades. Throwing one earth-shattering bombshell in after the other, I couldn’t stop grinning while I screamed “Wait, WHAT?!� into the night.
That’s not saying, though, that the bulk of this novel wasn’t also pure gold. Filled with messy relationships, well-developed characters, and a backstory for the ages, I quickly—and easily—got pulled into the story. After all, it started off with an emotional bang that had me crying real tears page after page. But the further I got into the storyline, the more I realized that I didn’t know a thing. Packed full of script-flipping revelations and shocking new facts, I ended up flying through these short, compelling chapters in just one single sitting. You see, it was physically impossible for me to put this book down—especially given the huge number of cliffhangers that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Another huge selling point of Mr. Marshall Karp’s writing was the characterization of each and every persona. Fully fleshed out and with believable, humanizing flaws, even the supporting characters were deep and with clear identities and purpose. The authenticity of the characters also extended to the page-turning storyline as well. Well-plotted and cunningly written so as to hide all of the jaw-dropping secrets and lies, there was simply no outguessing this author as I raced through this original premise which was complete with a dark humor vibe. In short, it was utter perfection and I won’t forget these brilliant characters or this mind-blowing plot any time soon.
All said and done, I’m beyond blown away by what has become my new favorite novel. From the tear-jerker beginning to the applause-worthy conclusion, I couldn’t have imagined a better book if I tried. Now, I do have to warn you, this was not a psychological thriller like the synopsis hinted at on the back cover. With depth, poignancy, and a long list of thought-provoking themes, it was genre-bending in the extreme. So much so that I’m having a hard time nailing it down more than I’ve already said. Just know that it handed out a whopping dose of deception while making you wait for those big, huge, gigantic reveals. So don’t walk, run to order this book now as it will easily top your list of favorites for the year. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.
My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.
I am not letting that happen to my family.
I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.
You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants�?
Thank you to Marshall Karp and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2024
Content warning: terminal disease, death of a parent, drug use, drinking and driving, mention of: murder/suicide, infidelity
March 4, 2025
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Publication date: 04 March 2025
(Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 2 stars
Despite an intriguing prologue and some clever twists towards the end, 'Don't Tell Me How to Die' ultimately bored me due to a lack of compelling characters and tangible suspense.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
With a dead woman found floating in a pond during an atmospheric torrential rainstorm, the prologue brilliantly sets the stage for a gripping thriller. However, that initial intrigue was quickly overshadowed by waves of drawn-out teenage and family drama that does not link back to the body until the story's final third. The use of multiple timelines also contributed to my disinterest as they made the storyline convoluted and failed to generate much tension. It was only in the final chapters that the storyline began to come together with some impressive twists, but by that point, my interest had long since faded, and I found myself eager to just finish the book.
"you can't orchestrate what happens after you're gone."
Even with the extensive backstory provided, the characters felt painfully one-dimensional, as much of their characterisations, emotions, and growth are told, not shown. The main character, Maggie Dunn, was also difficult to connect with due to her anti-hero qualitiesand obsession with preventing women from preying on vulnerable widowed men. I especially hated the derogatory terms like "tramp" and "hag" used to describe these women.
"Shame is a powerful force that can sabotage you and make you feel worthless"
It's not all bad, though! January LaVoy did an exceptional job with the audiobook narration. LaVoy's dynamic vocal pacing, inflexions and character voices breathed life into the narrative. The story also raises interesting themes, such as grief, loss and terminal illness. However, I wished it had delved deeper into these emotional threads, as they had the potential to make the storyline richer. Besides this, the clever writing and cliffhanger chapter endings initially drew me in, but their charm soon wore off as the story dragged on.
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on !
Publication date: 04 March 2025
(Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 2 stars
Despite an intriguing prologue and some clever twists towards the end, 'Don't Tell Me How to Die' ultimately bored me due to a lack of compelling characters and tangible suspense.
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟
Storyline: 🌟🌟
Main character(s): 🌟🌟
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
With a dead woman found floating in a pond during an atmospheric torrential rainstorm, the prologue brilliantly sets the stage for a gripping thriller. However, that initial intrigue was quickly overshadowed by waves of drawn-out teenage and family drama that does not link back to the body until the story's final third. The use of multiple timelines also contributed to my disinterest as they made the storyline convoluted and failed to generate much tension. It was only in the final chapters that the storyline began to come together with some impressive twists, but by that point, my interest had long since faded, and I found myself eager to just finish the book.
"you can't orchestrate what happens after you're gone."
Even with the extensive backstory provided, the characters felt painfully one-dimensional, as much of their characterisations, emotions, and growth are told, not shown. The main character, Maggie Dunn, was also difficult to connect with due to her anti-hero qualitiesand obsession with preventing women from preying on vulnerable widowed men. I especially hated the derogatory terms like "tramp" and "hag" used to describe these women.
"Shame is a powerful force that can sabotage you and make you feel worthless"
It's not all bad, though! January LaVoy did an exceptional job with the audiobook narration. LaVoy's dynamic vocal pacing, inflexions and character voices breathed life into the narrative. The story also raises interesting themes, such as grief, loss and terminal illness. However, I wished it had delved deeper into these emotional threads, as they had the potential to make the storyline richer. Besides this, the clever writing and cliffhanger chapter endings initially drew me in, but their charm soon wore off as the story dragged on.
You can also find more of my thoughts and discussion questions on !
January 31, 2025
Well there’s always that one person� 🤷🏻♀� There’s lots of hype surrounding this book right now, lots of five-star reviews. I will say this book was good, but it didn’t have me crying like most people stated (I think I’m heartless, or just had my mind mentally prepared for what was coming). I also didn’t find this to be a fast-paced thriller. This book read super sloooow, in which I had to take several breaks before I could pick it up again. I also feel that I had to wait too long for any of the twists and reveals to take place (nothing happens until Part Three of the book).
This story basically focuses on the life of Maggie. Maggie’s mother died at the age of forty-three from a fatal blood disease (HLH). Maggie and her sister Lizzie were on a mission after her mother’s death to vet all the single women away from their father. Of course, her father would still pick the wrong one�
Twenty six years later, Maggie learns that she has the same fatal blood disease as her mother. How can that be? Maggie is now the mayor of the city she grew up in, the wife to a successful doctor, and she’s a mother to two wonderful children. Maggie decides that she is now on a mission to find the perfect wife for her husband, so he will have a good woman once she is gone.
I personally felt like this story had lots of unnecessary details/filler in it, and once again the twists took too long to take place. This is a good story with some “a-ha� moments, but if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, then this isn’t the book for you.
(3.5 stars, rounded down)
I would like to thank NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the author for a DRC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: March 4, 2025
This story basically focuses on the life of Maggie. Maggie’s mother died at the age of forty-three from a fatal blood disease (HLH). Maggie and her sister Lizzie were on a mission after her mother’s death to vet all the single women away from their father. Of course, her father would still pick the wrong one�
Twenty six years later, Maggie learns that she has the same fatal blood disease as her mother. How can that be? Maggie is now the mayor of the city she grew up in, the wife to a successful doctor, and she’s a mother to two wonderful children. Maggie decides that she is now on a mission to find the perfect wife for her husband, so he will have a good woman once she is gone.
I personally felt like this story had lots of unnecessary details/filler in it, and once again the twists took too long to take place. This is a good story with some “a-ha� moments, but if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, then this isn’t the book for you.
(3.5 stars, rounded down)
I would like to thank NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the author for a DRC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: March 4, 2025
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 13, 2025DNF @ 18% - Colour me shocked that a thriller about girls trying to fight off the “predators/vultures/bitches� who bring food after their mother dies is written by a man. The misogyny is off the charts. “I’m up front � watching the lionesses stalk him, and they’re not bringing casseroles. They’re wearing push-up bras, painting their nails, and dabbing their pulse points with eau de gold digger.�
February 27, 2025
4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing & NetGalley for the ALC! 💌
Okay, let me start by saying, this book is wild. I thought it was gonna be a nice, heartwarming story, but boy was I wrong! Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp is a thriller with some serious jaw-dropping moments. Like, I was NOT ready for those plot twists!
The premise? It’s totally unique! Maggie Dunn is diagnosed with a fatal blood disease—like her mother before her—and she’s got three months to find a new wife for her husband, Alex, and a mom for her kids. A whole mission before she dies! Yeah, you read that right. She’s determined to make sure that her family doesn’t end up in the same mess she did when her own mom passed away. Seriously, talk about a complex character!
Now, the first half of the book? Oof, it’s a slow burn. The timeline jumps back and forth, and at times I found myself a little confused 😵, but it was worth it. And once that second half hit? Boom 💥, the pace picked up like a freight train. There are twists, murderers, and secrets galore! At one point, I was just like, “Okay, wait, how many murderers can this small town have?!� 🤔
The narration by January LaVoy was hands down AMAZING. She brought the characters to life, and seriously, her narration alone deserves a 5-star rating. 🎧�
I loved how female-driven this story was—Maggie is a powerhouse who doesn’t let anything get in her way. But, I gotta be honest, the whole thing felt a little over-the-top towards the end. Some moments just seemed a bit... unbelievable. Like, the book had such a strong start, and then it kinda took a turn into full-blown thriller mode that felt a bit jarring. By the time we got to the end, things had spiraled so out of control that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes a little. It wasn’t just the twists; it was how everything became so unrealistic and contrived. I honestly expected more from such a strong concept.
Overall, I liked it, but it was a little overly dramatic in places. Maggie’s character was solid, and I loved her dedication to her family... but towards the end, she was painted in a way that didn’t do justice to her earlier strength. The conclusion really ruined it for me. Her character, who I admired for so long, became a bit... manipulated by the plot in a way that felt off. That ending? Ugh. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion—so much chaos and so little sense. I really wish the author had kept things a bit more grounded.
Tropes:
🌸 Terminal Illness
💥 Murder Mystery
🌸 Female Protagonist
💥 Family Secrets
🌸 Twists & Turns
💥 Slow Burn to Fast-Paced
CW:
- Death
- Terminal illness
- Murder
- Family secrets
It was an emotional ride, but I ended up feeling like it could’ve been a little more realistic. Still, a solid read with a twisted ending. I’m definitely intrigued to check out more of Marshall Karp’s work!
Okay, let me start by saying, this book is wild. I thought it was gonna be a nice, heartwarming story, but boy was I wrong! Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp is a thriller with some serious jaw-dropping moments. Like, I was NOT ready for those plot twists!
The premise? It’s totally unique! Maggie Dunn is diagnosed with a fatal blood disease—like her mother before her—and she’s got three months to find a new wife for her husband, Alex, and a mom for her kids. A whole mission before she dies! Yeah, you read that right. She’s determined to make sure that her family doesn’t end up in the same mess she did when her own mom passed away. Seriously, talk about a complex character!
Now, the first half of the book? Oof, it’s a slow burn. The timeline jumps back and forth, and at times I found myself a little confused 😵, but it was worth it. And once that second half hit? Boom 💥, the pace picked up like a freight train. There are twists, murderers, and secrets galore! At one point, I was just like, “Okay, wait, how many murderers can this small town have?!� 🤔
The narration by January LaVoy was hands down AMAZING. She brought the characters to life, and seriously, her narration alone deserves a 5-star rating. 🎧�
I loved how female-driven this story was—Maggie is a powerhouse who doesn’t let anything get in her way. But, I gotta be honest, the whole thing felt a little over-the-top towards the end. Some moments just seemed a bit... unbelievable. Like, the book had such a strong start, and then it kinda took a turn into full-blown thriller mode that felt a bit jarring. By the time we got to the end, things had spiraled so out of control that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes a little. It wasn’t just the twists; it was how everything became so unrealistic and contrived. I honestly expected more from such a strong concept.
Overall, I liked it, but it was a little overly dramatic in places. Maggie’s character was solid, and I loved her dedication to her family... but towards the end, she was painted in a way that didn’t do justice to her earlier strength. The conclusion really ruined it for me. Her character, who I admired for so long, became a bit... manipulated by the plot in a way that felt off. That ending? Ugh. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion—so much chaos and so little sense. I really wish the author had kept things a bit more grounded.
Tropes:
🌸 Terminal Illness
💥 Murder Mystery
🌸 Female Protagonist
💥 Family Secrets
🌸 Twists & Turns
💥 Slow Burn to Fast-Paced
CW:
- Death
- Terminal illness
- Murder
- Family secrets
It was an emotional ride, but I ended up feeling like it could’ve been a little more realistic. Still, a solid read with a twisted ending. I’m definitely intrigued to check out more of Marshall Karp’s work!
March 6, 2025
I’m on outlier island once again!
The set up: Maggie is found to be suffering from the same fatal illness as her mother, who died at the age of 41. She is determined to find a suitable wife for her husband after she’s gone, after her father was the victim of a con artist after her mother died.
But the majority of the book is set in the past with teenage Maggie behaving badly while her friends, parents, and sister speak in pithy, smart-ass comments. They find hilarity and humor even when faced with the death. The problem is the humor wasn’t funny in the least.
Everything that happens in this book requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Everything, and I mean everything, is completely implausible. If it wasn’t so stupid and cheesy I would have been laughing.
The adults at 43 were indistinguishable from their 16 year old selves. They were all insufferable. The dialogue was ridiculous, and bears no resemblance to how people really talk to one another.
The final nail in the coffin is the author portrays women to be predatory, gold-digging, casserole-wielding piranhas out to snare new widowers in their web. Misogyny at its finest. Very offensive.
I was ready to DNF early but the glowing reviews kept me listening to the audiobook, sure that at 50% the book would pick up. It did not.
The synopsis promised a thriller with biting humor. Don’t believe it. The author seems like a good person, working with international charities, but it still doesn’t redeem this book.
A complete disappointment for me and my reading buddy, Marialyce.
The positive: January LaVoy did her usual excellent job narrating the audiobook.
2 VERY generous stars only because I finished it. With regret.
* I received a digital audio and e/book copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
The set up: Maggie is found to be suffering from the same fatal illness as her mother, who died at the age of 41. She is determined to find a suitable wife for her husband after she’s gone, after her father was the victim of a con artist after her mother died.
But the majority of the book is set in the past with teenage Maggie behaving badly while her friends, parents, and sister speak in pithy, smart-ass comments. They find hilarity and humor even when faced with the death. The problem is the humor wasn’t funny in the least.
Everything that happens in this book requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Everything, and I mean everything, is completely implausible. If it wasn’t so stupid and cheesy I would have been laughing.
The adults at 43 were indistinguishable from their 16 year old selves. They were all insufferable. The dialogue was ridiculous, and bears no resemblance to how people really talk to one another.
The final nail in the coffin is the author portrays women to be predatory, gold-digging, casserole-wielding piranhas out to snare new widowers in their web. Misogyny at its finest. Very offensive.
I was ready to DNF early but the glowing reviews kept me listening to the audiobook, sure that at 50% the book would pick up. It did not.
The synopsis promised a thriller with biting humor. Don’t believe it. The author seems like a good person, working with international charities, but it still doesn’t redeem this book.
A complete disappointment for me and my reading buddy, Marialyce.
The positive: January LaVoy did her usual excellent job narrating the audiobook.
2 VERY generous stars only because I finished it. With regret.
* I received a digital audio and e/book copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
March 10, 2025
Not for me!
I had a hard time getting through this one. It is getting a lot of five star reviews, but was a fail for me. I thought it was very slow, not pacy, not intriguing or believable. 🤷♀�
I didn't want to finish it, but trudged through to the end. ☹️
The whole premise was rather depressing. TW: parent death
Thanks to Netgalley for my early ARC. Came out March 4, 2025
I had a hard time getting through this one. It is getting a lot of five star reviews, but was a fail for me. I thought it was very slow, not pacy, not intriguing or believable. 🤷♀�
I didn't want to finish it, but trudged through to the end. ☹️
The whole premise was rather depressing. TW: parent death
Thanks to Netgalley for my early ARC. Came out March 4, 2025
February 27, 2025
Maggie and Lizzie are just teenagers when their mother Kate says these four words to them. What follows is a life of unexpected twists and turns and we are along for the ride.
This read was like taking a ride in Mama Kate's red mustang convertible. 😎 🚘
When I looked at the cover, I expected to find a thriller. What I got was a mystery that is set up for decades in advance and some deftly executed plot twists. Many others have left enthusiastic reviews about this one. It will be one of the more memorable reads on my 2025 list.
So, for our narrator Maggie, it really comes down to four words in the end:
Do you trust me?
Who she trusts will make all the difference.
Why not five stars? For me, the set up took a bit long. The last half of the book was, for me, a more compelling read. The pacing seemed a bit off. Nevertheless I will be happy to read another Marshall Karp title in the future. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2025
*HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY*
Holy Smokes!
1997 � Seventeen-year-old Maggie McCormick, and her 16-year-old sister Lizzie lose their mother to a rare, genetic, incurable blood disease. Her final wish, that her daughters promise to watch over their father because there are many women in their small town of Heartstone, New York, who will take advantage of his grieving state. But one gold-digger is persistent!
2023 � Maggie is flying high. She is now the mayor of Heartstone, married to a brilliant surgeon named Alex Dunn, and together they share fifteen-year-old twins � Kevin and Kate. But Maggie’s world comes crashing down when her latest test results reveal she has the same blood disease her mother had. She remembers how the women flocked around her father back then. She doesn’t want to leave her husband and kids vulnerable to that. Maggie has a plan.
A thrilling premise, a title that grabbed my attention, and eye-catching cover art. I was pretty much sold when I swiped to the first page, and once I’d read the foreboding prologue I was hooked. Don’t Tell Me How to Die was a psychologically disturbing story of deceit, deception, and misdirection. I was immediately drawn to the characters, and quickly grew to like and care about them, even as I reminded myself that I probably shouldn’t trust or grow attached to anyone in a thriller. I think because the 1990’s timeline read more like literary fiction/family drama, saga/YA it lulled me into a false sense of security. Although there were some parts even in the first half where I was like, “I smell a rat!� But nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind number of twists in the last half. How it all came together in the end was executed to perfection. Did I guess correctly regarding any of it? Nope!
Another highlight was the dialogue, every line felt natural, real, and on-point. And even though there were dialogue tags they weren’t needed as every character had a distinctive voice and tone. The humorous dialogue really stood out as well, and lightened the mood. And I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the setting of Heartstone and its charming sense of community and neighbourhood, and how the author brought it to life with his intricate descriptions of the layout � I could clearly picture all of it in my head.
I’m unable to think of a single negative. And my fellow reviewers are in complete agreement as I’ve read so many glowing 5-star reviews praising this one. I’m sure there’ll be many more to come once Don’t Tell Me How to Die is released next month. My top favourite of the novels I’ve read so far published in 2025.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Marshall Karp for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025.
Holy Smokes!
1997 � Seventeen-year-old Maggie McCormick, and her 16-year-old sister Lizzie lose their mother to a rare, genetic, incurable blood disease. Her final wish, that her daughters promise to watch over their father because there are many women in their small town of Heartstone, New York, who will take advantage of his grieving state. But one gold-digger is persistent!
2023 � Maggie is flying high. She is now the mayor of Heartstone, married to a brilliant surgeon named Alex Dunn, and together they share fifteen-year-old twins � Kevin and Kate. But Maggie’s world comes crashing down when her latest test results reveal she has the same blood disease her mother had. She remembers how the women flocked around her father back then. She doesn’t want to leave her husband and kids vulnerable to that. Maggie has a plan.
A thrilling premise, a title that grabbed my attention, and eye-catching cover art. I was pretty much sold when I swiped to the first page, and once I’d read the foreboding prologue I was hooked. Don’t Tell Me How to Die was a psychologically disturbing story of deceit, deception, and misdirection. I was immediately drawn to the characters, and quickly grew to like and care about them, even as I reminded myself that I probably shouldn’t trust or grow attached to anyone in a thriller. I think because the 1990’s timeline read more like literary fiction/family drama, saga/YA it lulled me into a false sense of security. Although there were some parts even in the first half where I was like, “I smell a rat!� But nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind number of twists in the last half. How it all came together in the end was executed to perfection. Did I guess correctly regarding any of it? Nope!
Another highlight was the dialogue, every line felt natural, real, and on-point. And even though there were dialogue tags they weren’t needed as every character had a distinctive voice and tone. The humorous dialogue really stood out as well, and lightened the mood. And I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the setting of Heartstone and its charming sense of community and neighbourhood, and how the author brought it to life with his intricate descriptions of the layout � I could clearly picture all of it in my head.
I’m unable to think of a single negative. And my fellow reviewers are in complete agreement as I’ve read so many glowing 5-star reviews praising this one. I’m sure there’ll be many more to come once Don’t Tell Me How to Die is released next month. My top favourite of the novels I’ve read so far published in 2025.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Marshall Karp for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025.
March 8, 2025
The premise centers on Maggie, who faces the daunting reality of inheriting the fatal illness that took her mother at a young age. As she grapples with her mortality, her focus shifts to finding a suitable partner for her husband after her passing, mainly due to her father's unfortunate experience with a con artist following her mother’s death.
The narrative predominantly unfolds through flashbacks, illustrating a teenage Maggie in reckless moments, surrounded by peers, parents, and her sister, all engaged in dialogue filled with sarcasm. This blend of humour against a serious theme aims to create a sense of levity; however, the humour may not resonate as intended, leaving some moments feeling less effective.
The plot requires a significant suspension of disbelief, with several events seeming implausible, which can create a disconnect between readers and the story’s reality. Despite being in their 40s, the adult characters often appear to lack substantial development from their teenage selves, coming across more as caricatures instead of fully fleshed-out characters. The dialogue sometimes feels contrived, missing the richness of authentic human interaction.
There are also aspects of the portrayal of women that could be perceived as problematic, presenting them as predatory figures who target grieving widowers. This characterization raises concerns and could detract from the overall message of the narrative.
Despite initial reservations, I chose to continue reading, influenced by the seemingly positive reviews and hopeful for an improvement in the narrative quality. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met as the story progressed.
The synopsis promised a thriller infused with sharp humour, yet this potential seems underexplored throughout the text. Overall, there are interesting themes at play, but there is an opportunity for more profound character development and a more nuanced approach to humour and relationships.
I lost my mother when I was a teenager due to cancer. I expected a more emotional and nuanced narrative and expected to shed some tears. That wasn’t the case. I was dry-eyed and rolling my eyes and became offended at how they portrayed the women as opportunist vultures.
I want to thank Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The narrative predominantly unfolds through flashbacks, illustrating a teenage Maggie in reckless moments, surrounded by peers, parents, and her sister, all engaged in dialogue filled with sarcasm. This blend of humour against a serious theme aims to create a sense of levity; however, the humour may not resonate as intended, leaving some moments feeling less effective.
The plot requires a significant suspension of disbelief, with several events seeming implausible, which can create a disconnect between readers and the story’s reality. Despite being in their 40s, the adult characters often appear to lack substantial development from their teenage selves, coming across more as caricatures instead of fully fleshed-out characters. The dialogue sometimes feels contrived, missing the richness of authentic human interaction.
There are also aspects of the portrayal of women that could be perceived as problematic, presenting them as predatory figures who target grieving widowers. This characterization raises concerns and could detract from the overall message of the narrative.
Despite initial reservations, I chose to continue reading, influenced by the seemingly positive reviews and hopeful for an improvement in the narrative quality. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met as the story progressed.
The synopsis promised a thriller infused with sharp humour, yet this potential seems underexplored throughout the text. Overall, there are interesting themes at play, but there is an opportunity for more profound character development and a more nuanced approach to humour and relationships.
I lost my mother when I was a teenager due to cancer. I expected a more emotional and nuanced narrative and expected to shed some tears. That wasn’t the case. I was dry-eyed and rolling my eyes and became offended at how they portrayed the women as opportunist vultures.
I want to thank Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 20, 2025
Ho hum .... 🙁
I'm going to keep this short and sweet because everyone I know is LOVING this one.
I can only blame myself because when I read the synopsis I was hesitant already but the rave reviews intrigued me so much that I went against my better judgement and now here we are. 😩
The entire premise of this book I couldn't get on board with:
Dying mother asking their teenage children to keep all the money hungry vixens away from dear widowed Dad once she's gone.
Um, okay, that's kind of weird to me so honestly this book was failing before I even started. (Again, my fault!)
Then there's our main protagonist Maggie. Eh, she's a little too sassy, rebel type for my liking. This book, I feel, suffered from a male author trying to write from both the women and teenage girls perspective and it failed in its execution. None of the humor in this book landed for me and the dialogue just didn't ring true. Karp is not an author I'll be seeking out in the future. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy.
I'm going to keep this short and sweet because everyone I know is LOVING this one.
I can only blame myself because when I read the synopsis I was hesitant already but the rave reviews intrigued me so much that I went against my better judgement and now here we are. 😩
The entire premise of this book I couldn't get on board with:
Dying mother asking their teenage children to keep all the money hungry vixens away from dear widowed Dad once she's gone.
Um, okay, that's kind of weird to me so honestly this book was failing before I even started. (Again, my fault!)
Then there's our main protagonist Maggie. Eh, she's a little too sassy, rebel type for my liking. This book, I feel, suffered from a male author trying to write from both the women and teenage girls perspective and it failed in its execution. None of the humor in this book landed for me and the dialogue just didn't ring true. Karp is not an author I'll be seeking out in the future. 2 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy.
April 13, 2025
3.5⭐️
I really wanted this to hit me more cause yes it fell flat when it came to the twist.. I sensed that Alex knew and I was right...
Anyway let's start from the beginning, I think I enjoyed the family dynamic/drama more than the twist to be honest, now while the first half made me cry it also irritated me a tad because why is an entire family obsessed with finding other women for their loved ones once they're gone?? This narrative is absurd for me in real life ( if anyone thinks like this genuinely) let alone in books ..
Plot Summary
Maggie's mother is diagnosed with a rare blood disease and has little time left, her dying wish is for her two daughters to take care of their grieving father, they must be the ones to choose the next Mrs Dunn
25 years later Maggie is diagnosed with the name fatal disease that took her mum away -- Maggie’s life looks perfect from the outside—she has a great family, a solid marriage, and a life she loves. When she's hit with the news of her diagnosis, everything changes, knowing her time is limited, Maggie focuses on doing what she thinks is best for the people she’ll leave behind. That means making sure her husband and kids are taken care of—even if it means finding the woman who could take her place. However nothing goes quite as planned, and what starts as a well-intentioned plan takes a turn and FAST
I really wanted this to hit me more cause yes it fell flat when it came to the twist.. I sensed that Alex knew and I was right...
Anyway let's start from the beginning, I think I enjoyed the family dynamic/drama more than the twist to be honest, now while the first half made me cry it also irritated me a tad because why is an entire family obsessed with finding other women for their loved ones once they're gone?? This narrative is absurd for me in real life ( if anyone thinks like this genuinely) let alone in books ..
Plot Summary
Maggie's mother is diagnosed with a rare blood disease and has little time left, her dying wish is for her two daughters to take care of their grieving father, they must be the ones to choose the next Mrs Dunn
25 years later Maggie is diagnosed with the name fatal disease that took her mum away -- Maggie’s life looks perfect from the outside—she has a great family, a solid marriage, and a life she loves. When she's hit with the news of her diagnosis, everything changes, knowing her time is limited, Maggie focuses on doing what she thinks is best for the people she’ll leave behind. That means making sure her husband and kids are taken care of—even if it means finding the woman who could take her place. However nothing goes quite as planned, and what starts as a well-intentioned plan takes a turn and FAST
February 23, 2025
This saucy, spirited, suspenseful, and sometimes irreverent fictional thriller is brilliantly crafted and expertly executed. It has an ingenious plot that is twisty and razor sharp.
I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to end. And I was sorry when it was over. This is the first book that I have read by this author and now I will definitely be checking out his past catalog.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this terrific book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to end. And I was sorry when it was over. This is the first book that I have read by this author and now I will definitely be checking out his past catalog.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this terrific book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 9, 2025
You know that feeling when you’re into a book, trying to enjoy it, but something just keeps nagging at you? You push it aside, tell yourself to let it go—but no matter how hard you try, it lingers, growing until it completely ruins the experience. That was me with this one. I finally had to admit there was no coming back and I stopped reading around the halfway mark.
So what was it that I couldn’t shake?
I struggled with a male author writing from the POV of a teenage girl and I couldn’t shake that. It was hard to fully connect with the character knowing the author couldn’t truly understand what it’s like to experience certain things firsthand.
And then there’s the drug use. That can be a tough subject for me when it comes to young characters, and while it might not feel excessive to someone without that sensitivity, for me, it did.
I loved the concept—a gripping family drama with thriller elements, featuring moments of genuine emotional pull, is exactly my kind of read. The premise had so much potential, and some moments truly pulled me in, I might have enjoyed this one if it wasn't for that nagging feeling. I definitely feel like from all the glowing reviews this is just a me thing.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley,
So what was it that I couldn’t shake?
I struggled with a male author writing from the POV of a teenage girl and I couldn’t shake that. It was hard to fully connect with the character knowing the author couldn’t truly understand what it’s like to experience certain things firsthand.
And then there’s the drug use. That can be a tough subject for me when it comes to young characters, and while it might not feel excessive to someone without that sensitivity, for me, it did.
I loved the concept—a gripping family drama with thriller elements, featuring moments of genuine emotional pull, is exactly my kind of read. The premise had so much potential, and some moments truly pulled me in, I might have enjoyed this one if it wasn't for that nagging feeling. I definitely feel like from all the glowing reviews this is just a me thing.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley,
March 6, 2025
I think Jan and I seemed to have read a different book!
So disappointing!
I was super excited about going into this book with so many five star reviews. So you might imagine my disappointment when I found it to be a book that not only required I need to leave my qualms at the door but also at times seemed to be a YA story (minus the sex, drugs, and alcohol).
It had all the qualities of pathos and yet I unfortunately found myself rolling my ears, looking up to heaven, and staying out loud "this just is impossible".
The bulk of the story delves into a somewhat sordid life of Maggie and briefly her sister who had lost their beloved mother, a very over the top understanding progressive mother. She tasks her daughters with the job of finding their father a "suitable" replacement wife. Not easy with a trail of what seems like marauding women striding pass his door. (It kind of frosted me that single woman looking for someone seemed to be with were cast as villains here)
At any rate their perfect family life is interrupted when mom dies of an incurable blood disease and then to make things worse she passes it on to Maggie who grows up to be a successful lawyer, a District Attorney, a mayor, a happily married woman married to the handsome successful surgeon, with a gorgeous life and two beautiful children.
However, then tragedy happens and Maggie travels down the road her mother took and looks to find a mate for her husband.
There are some twists in the story which at least had me completing the book, but on the whole this book with too many nasty women was just plain annoying. However, most men were not portrayed as ax murderers as seems to be the thing to do these days and I appreciated that aspect.
So I guess this book was a definite fail for me sadly.
So disappointing!
I was super excited about going into this book with so many five star reviews. So you might imagine my disappointment when I found it to be a book that not only required I need to leave my qualms at the door but also at times seemed to be a YA story (minus the sex, drugs, and alcohol).
It had all the qualities of pathos and yet I unfortunately found myself rolling my ears, looking up to heaven, and staying out loud "this just is impossible".
The bulk of the story delves into a somewhat sordid life of Maggie and briefly her sister who had lost their beloved mother, a very over the top understanding progressive mother. She tasks her daughters with the job of finding their father a "suitable" replacement wife. Not easy with a trail of what seems like marauding women striding pass his door. (It kind of frosted me that single woman looking for someone seemed to be with were cast as villains here)
At any rate their perfect family life is interrupted when mom dies of an incurable blood disease and then to make things worse she passes it on to Maggie who grows up to be a successful lawyer, a District Attorney, a mayor, a happily married woman married to the handsome successful surgeon, with a gorgeous life and two beautiful children.
However, then tragedy happens and Maggie travels down the road her mother took and looks to find a mate for her husband.
There are some twists in the story which at least had me completing the book, but on the whole this book with too many nasty women was just plain annoying. However, most men were not portrayed as ax murderers as seems to be the thing to do these days and I appreciated that aspect.
So I guess this book was a definite fail for me sadly.
March 11, 2025
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
More like 4.5 stars, I think!
Thanks to a lot of my GR friends glowing reviews and the original sounding premise - I could not wait to get my hands on this one. I was so happy to see it was a “Read Now� on NetGalley. Downloaded immediately.
This author - Marshall Karp - is new to me. I love James Patterson, but have yet to read the NYPD series, which he wrote and co-wrote. I’m thinking I should go start that series now!
This book had me hooked from the get-go! I loved the short, cliffhanger chapters and alternating timelines that intertwined in spectacular fashion!
I was expecting a psychological thriller, but I would say the first 2/3 was general fiction. However, I was never disappointed! The last 1/3 had me flying through the pages. So many unexpected twists. The ending was perfection!
Unputdownable and worthy of the hype!
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Marshall Karp for my advanced copy to read and review.
More like 4.5 stars, I think!
Thanks to a lot of my GR friends glowing reviews and the original sounding premise - I could not wait to get my hands on this one. I was so happy to see it was a “Read Now� on NetGalley. Downloaded immediately.
This author - Marshall Karp - is new to me. I love James Patterson, but have yet to read the NYPD series, which he wrote and co-wrote. I’m thinking I should go start that series now!
This book had me hooked from the get-go! I loved the short, cliffhanger chapters and alternating timelines that intertwined in spectacular fashion!
I was expecting a psychological thriller, but I would say the first 2/3 was general fiction. However, I was never disappointed! The last 1/3 had me flying through the pages. So many unexpected twists. The ending was perfection!
Unputdownable and worthy of the hype!
Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Marshall Karp for my advanced copy to read and review.
March 9, 2025
Being in a dreaded thriller slump, I swore off the genre. But with all the hype and so many reader friends praising this one, I decided to give the genre one last chance.
Does Don’t Tell Me How To Die live up to the hype?
Absolutely!
I’m happy to report that Don’t Tell Me How To Die isn’t another generically written thriller filled with overused tropes and eye rolling twists, it’s a fantastically written and completely unique story. But the book Die isn’t entirely a thriller either, it’s also a family drama (which I love).
Don't Tell Me How to Die is a brilliantly written story filled with deeply complex and dimensional characters. From the beginning I found it hard to put down and each word had me hanging on the edge of my seat dying to know what would happen next.
Only time will tell if I’ll ever get over the thriller slump but if your like me and tired of the over saturated market of seemingly the same books and looking for a completely original work, then I highly recommend Don’t Tell Me How To Die!
I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by one of my favorites, January LaVoy. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
Don’t Tell Me How To Die by Marshall Karp was published on March 4 from Blackstone Publishing so it’s available now. Many thanks to Libro.FM for the gifted audiobook!
Does Don’t Tell Me How To Die live up to the hype?
Absolutely!
I’m happy to report that Don’t Tell Me How To Die isn’t another generically written thriller filled with overused tropes and eye rolling twists, it’s a fantastically written and completely unique story. But the book Die isn’t entirely a thriller either, it’s also a family drama (which I love).
Don't Tell Me How to Die is a brilliantly written story filled with deeply complex and dimensional characters. From the beginning I found it hard to put down and each word had me hanging on the edge of my seat dying to know what would happen next.
Only time will tell if I’ll ever get over the thriller slump but if your like me and tired of the over saturated market of seemingly the same books and looking for a completely original work, then I highly recommend Don’t Tell Me How To Die!
I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by one of my favorites, January LaVoy. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
Don’t Tell Me How To Die by Marshall Karp was published on March 4 from Blackstone Publishing so it’s available now. Many thanks to Libro.FM for the gifted audiobook!
February 14, 2025
This book begins with the body of an unpopular woman found floating in the water. The story does not circle back to this apparent suicide until the end of the book. At that point, it becomes just one of the many secrets held by the characters in this book.
Maggie is the 43 year old mayor of a small N.Y. town. She has just been diagnosed with the same fatal disease that killed her mother, and her main concern is that her husband Alex and their twin teenagers will be ok after she dies. To that end, she wants to ensure that Alex does fall prey to the flock of gold-digging, swindling harpies that she is sure will descend upon him as soon as she is gone.
This book is difficult to characterize. A lot of it is spent with the events surrounding the death of Maggie’s mother. Her final days were heartbreakingly described. Following her death, the widower did indeed encounter a woman who Maggie did not find acceptable. And Maggie’s way of handling her grief was to have sex with any man with a pulse.
The book then jumps ahead to the married Maggie and her recent diagnosis. It was near the end of the book that the plot sort of fell apart for me. I know that people are going to describe it as twisty and full of secrets, but I just thought it was unbelievable. The book did hold my interest though. I just wanted it to be more realistic. And the shift in tone from the first part of the book to the quasi thriller that it turned into was jarring.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
Maggie is the 43 year old mayor of a small N.Y. town. She has just been diagnosed with the same fatal disease that killed her mother, and her main concern is that her husband Alex and their twin teenagers will be ok after she dies. To that end, she wants to ensure that Alex does fall prey to the flock of gold-digging, swindling harpies that she is sure will descend upon him as soon as she is gone.
This book is difficult to characterize. A lot of it is spent with the events surrounding the death of Maggie’s mother. Her final days were heartbreakingly described. Following her death, the widower did indeed encounter a woman who Maggie did not find acceptable. And Maggie’s way of handling her grief was to have sex with any man with a pulse.
The book then jumps ahead to the married Maggie and her recent diagnosis. It was near the end of the book that the plot sort of fell apart for me. I know that people are going to describe it as twisty and full of secrets, but I just thought it was unbelievable. The book did hold my interest though. I just wanted it to be more realistic. And the shift in tone from the first part of the book to the quasi thriller that it turned into was jarring.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
April 19, 2025
A FIVE for me!
I’ve heard you either love Don’t Tell Me How to Die or don’t care for it. Fortunately, I’m in the former group.
From the first chapter, this book gripped my mind and held on for days. I couldn’t stop thinking about it long after I finished. Maggie, Lizzie, their parents, and Maggie’s friend are characters who will stay with me. It’s a story I won’t forget!
I know I should tell you more, but you’ll enjoy it most if you go in blind.
So here’s the bare minimum: Maggie’s mother dies of an aggressive blood cancer at forty-three. When Maggie reaches the same age, she learns she has the same disease and only months to live. Like her mother, she doesn’t want her husband, Alex, to end up with an unsuitable woman. Determined to find a worthy partner for Alex and a loving presence for her children, Kevin and Katie, Maggie sets out to choose someone she approves of to complete her family after she’s gone.
It sounds straightforward, right? Nope, so many formidable twists that made this book a fantastic novel!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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I’ve heard you either love Don’t Tell Me How to Die or don’t care for it. Fortunately, I’m in the former group.
From the first chapter, this book gripped my mind and held on for days. I couldn’t stop thinking about it long after I finished. Maggie, Lizzie, their parents, and Maggie’s friend are characters who will stay with me. It’s a story I won’t forget!
I know I should tell you more, but you’ll enjoy it most if you go in blind.
So here’s the bare minimum: Maggie’s mother dies of an aggressive blood cancer at forty-three. When Maggie reaches the same age, she learns she has the same disease and only months to live. Like her mother, she doesn’t want her husband, Alex, to end up with an unsuitable woman. Determined to find a worthy partner for Alex and a loving presence for her children, Kevin and Katie, Maggie sets out to choose someone she approves of to complete her family after she’s gone.
It sounds straightforward, right? Nope, so many formidable twists that made this book a fantastic novel!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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December 28, 2024
Wow! Just WOW. I'm struggling with how to review this book. But WOW is a great start to describe this amazing, one of a kind stroy.
Don't Tell Me How To Die is an emotional story about grief and love. It's a character driven story so well done, I felt like all of these people were a part of my life. It was emotional and heartbreaking.
The writing was phenomenal, with fantastic short chapters that kept me turning the pages, yearning for more.
It's dubbed a mystery/thriller but I was getting women's fiction or general fiction vibes, loving it but utterly confused about the categorization. I just kept going and all I can say is patience grasshopper.
This will be one of the best books of 2025. No doubt.
Don't Tell Me How To Die is an emotional story about grief and love. It's a character driven story so well done, I felt like all of these people were a part of my life. It was emotional and heartbreaking.
The writing was phenomenal, with fantastic short chapters that kept me turning the pages, yearning for more.
It's dubbed a mystery/thriller but I was getting women's fiction or general fiction vibes, loving it but utterly confused about the categorization. I just kept going and all I can say is patience grasshopper.
This will be one of the best books of 2025. No doubt.
March 6, 2025
It’s been a long time since I read a book that caught me off guard with almost every single turn. I’m not sure I would consider this one a thriller, but it certainly was twisty and turny and kept me on the edge of my seat. I listened to the audiobook of this one and I really liked the narrator. This book is told in two timelines the first when Maggie was 17 and her mother died of a rare blood disease at 43 and when Maggie was 43 and diagnosed with that same blood disease. Both timelines were fascinating and took me places I was not expecting to go. There are definitely some mysteries the reader will find and lots of craziness. It was a fun book and since I rarely find books that have multiple twists take me off guard I definitely had to give it 5 stars. Definitely an author I will keep an eye out for.
March 17, 2025
Marshall Karp's Don't Tell Me How to Die is a family drama sprinkled with assorted thriller elements. Maggie, the local mayor and an attorney, is dying of a rare disease. Her husband Alex, a doctor and hospital administrator, knows he can't save her. She hasn't told the kids yet. Maggie's mother died of the same disease. As a result, Maggie spent her adolescence trying to carry out her mother's dying wish to protect her father from evil gold diggers. She almost failed. The book initially appears to be about how families living with hereditary diseases prepare for deaths that are not totally unexpected. Now that Maggie is about to die, she knows her daughters will need to face more than just life without her. One of her initial goals is to try and find someone to be a second wife for her husband Alex. It doesn't take long for Maggie to realize this won't work and for readers to realize that this book is a thriller. Expect twists and surprises. Don't Tell Me How to Die will appeal to you if you enjoy those TV specials that have a limited number of must watch episodes and then vanish. High intensity surprises in each part, but way too many clashes between characters over actions that are not fully revealed or explained until later. The excellent narration in the audio version adds to the impact and keeps readers listening.
December 21, 2024
Woah. This is one of those "just trust the process" stories. I saw another bookstagrammer call this phenomenal so I went in hunt for it, found it as read now on NetGalley, and dove immediately. I blinked and I was 40% in, and completely invested. The character development is deep and well crafted to the point I feel like they're people I actually know. Then as I got to about 60%, I paused and thought "wait isn't this meant to be a mystery/thriller?" I looked it up and yup that's how it was labeled so I was confused and a little worried. But let me tell you, TRUST THE PROCESS OKAY?! It's worth it. I would call this a character driven slow burn mystery, something like Chris Whitaker's All The Colors of the Dark. It's page turning, but not in the heart racing thriller way. The way this story is weaved together is so well crafted, I had to stop and process the entire thing over when I got to the end. I was truly shocked. And here's the thing, I was nearly crying in the first half. Then the last third has my jaw on the floor. How often does that happen in a mystery? I'll tell you, not often.
I really applaud the way this story is written and weaved together. I want to comment on it but don't want to give a single thing away so I'll say this; dive in, trust the process, and dm me when you're done cause I'm sure you'll be dying to talk about it just like I am!
Thanks Marisha for making me want to read this. And thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access. I can’t wait to get a physical copy!
I really applaud the way this story is written and weaved together. I want to comment on it but don't want to give a single thing away so I'll say this; dive in, trust the process, and dm me when you're done cause I'm sure you'll be dying to talk about it just like I am!
Thanks Marisha for making me want to read this. And thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access. I can’t wait to get a physical copy!
December 28, 2024
A slow burn, scandalous thriller that will give you whiplash!
Maggie’s mother passed away from a fatal blood disease. But before she passed, she warned Maggie there will be tons of women flocking to her newly single father with condolences, casserole dishes, and some other motives 👀
When one evil woman almost ruins Maggie’s father’s life by taking advantage of him, Maggie vows to never let the same happen to her family. So when Maggie has three months to live (same fatal blood disease), she makes it her mission to find her husband her perfect replacement.
An emotional first half with very real, deep characters, and an ending with so many twists and turns it’ll make your head spin, this book is a special one!!!
Maggie’s mother passed away from a fatal blood disease. But before she passed, she warned Maggie there will be tons of women flocking to her newly single father with condolences, casserole dishes, and some other motives 👀
When one evil woman almost ruins Maggie’s father’s life by taking advantage of him, Maggie vows to never let the same happen to her family. So when Maggie has three months to live (same fatal blood disease), she makes it her mission to find her husband her perfect replacement.
An emotional first half with very real, deep characters, and an ending with so many twists and turns it’ll make your head spin, this book is a special one!!!
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