Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 28/02/2025
Published by: Blackstone Publishing
ISBN: 9798874824457
Publication date: 04 March 2025 (Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
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 qualities and 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.
Discussion Questions (Contains spoilers!):
Q: What were your thoughts on Maggie’s husband, Alex?
I adored Alex’s playful and caring nature, like changing his name on Maggie’s phone just to make her laugh. However, this all changed with the shocking twist towards the end that he had been poisoning Maggie while maintaining the façade of a loving and supportive husband. The thought of someone smiling, sharing intimate moments, and planning a future with their spouse, all while secretly engineering their death, sent chills down my spine.
Q: What were your suspicions when Alex went missing?
I am clearly very gullible! I genuinely believed that Alex had run away because he could not handle facing Maggie’s decline and death. The idea that he might have died only crossed my mind when a funeral was done for him. It struck me as odd that no one seemed to find it strange that Maggie was holding a funeral for her missing husband.
Q: Were you aware of HLH before reading this book?
I was unaware of HLH (Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis), and I wish the author had explored the complexities of this condition more, particularly its effects on families. Instead, the story seemed more focused on finding a new spouse/ parent to manage the loss, which felt like a missed opportunity.
Q: What did you think when Maggie was miraculously cured of her terminal illness?
I won’t lie—my first reaction was a big eye-roll at the seemingly miraculous recovery, as it felt like a convenient plot twist. However, the final revelations did a great job of tying everything together and shedding light on the events that led to her miraculous healing.
Q: Do you have siblings, and are you close?
I have one older sister, and we are pretty close, much like Maggie and her sister. Their contrasting personalities really resonated with me, as my sister and I share a similar dynamic.
Q: Do you have any recommendations for readers who enjoyed this book?
I recommend The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden and The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. Like this book, both of these thrillers have multiple timelines that converge towards the end with surprising twists.
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below.
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