I had Marshall Karp‘s Don’t Tell Me How to Die on my list to read, then I removed it, then I added it back–I’m really glad I finally picked up the novel as it was a riveting domestic thriller filled with dark humor and relentless suspense and so many twists and turns.
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 young. 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.
Don’t Tell Me How to Die wasn’t just an exhilarating ride of a domestic thriller, the novel was truly filled with a ton of emotion and heartfelt moments that nearly had me in tears. How Marshall Karp was able to cram the tumultuous journey of one woman’s desperate attempt to secure her family’s future after she’s gone with heart-wrenching moments and intrigue is beyond me. This novel hit me with so many feelings.
Each character’s motives—whether good or bad—were hidden to me as I navigated the story. As the narrative unfolded Karp introduces us to a number of characters with rich personalities and those said motivations. Each character seems to play a pivotal role and are not just mere background players. This made for such a compelling story that had me caring for some people while hating others—sometimes both at the same time.
Karp crafts a story that also seamlessly blends gripping suspense with dark humor. It’s a true balance between gravity and levity. Don’t Tell Me How to Die is filled with many twists and turns. Typically a book with this many twists can lose me, but Karp masterfully crafts the tale in a way that kept me going. Just when I thought I figured out where the story was headed, another unexpected turn sends it spiraling into new directions—each more thrilling than the last.
Don’t Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp is a fantastic thriller with a unique premise paired with brilliant execution. The twists, turns and immense amount of heart made for a fantastic thrilling reading experience. I am glad this novel landed on my TBR after falling off, the read was worth the ride.
Don’t Tell Me How to Die is available at bookstores everywhere from Blackstone Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by January LaVoy, is available at Libro.fm!
