This book really makes you think. What would you do (facing your own untimely death) if the devil approached you and made an offer you couldn't refuse? I quite enjoyed this story and liked the fact that "The Devil" wasn't portrayed as a red, angry, demon (he actually reminded me a bit of the movie "Meet Joe Black"). This would make a great book club choice.

I received an ARC from Netgalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This is a story about a young woman being sent to her death who makes a deal with tne devil, she becomes death and this is her story. This book is a horror and suspenseful. It was a bit dark, but it was a great read. I was sad to learn the author died and this is their only book. I would recommend this book.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I was provided with an ARC of this book not Unbound via Netgalley.

It honestly saddens me that Lucy did not live to see the release of her truly amazing book. I have never read anything quite like this, this is a book that really stays with you. I finished this yesterday but I knew that I needed some time to really ponder what I thought of this book.

This one kept me engaged all the way through, wanting to see what would happen next. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen death written about in this way and it almost feels weird to say that I enjoyed the book because of its subject matter.

But this book is so deliciously complex in that way; the protagonist Elizabeth Murray is incredibly layered; you learn more and more about her as you read on and her journey takes you places you never thought she’d go. This is a novel that really handles the topic of death, of love, humanity, evil (or what it means to be evil) in a really interesting way.

It’s a solid 4/5 for me and I would definitely recommend it.

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.

We start the story with Lizzie, a woman accused of being a witch in the late 1500s. Lizzie is waiting to be burned at the stake when the Devil himself shows up and makes her a deal she can’t refuse, eternal life as long as she helps usher the dying to death. For hundreds of years Lizzie flits about performing her job until one day she comes across Tom and has an instant connection. Lizzie decides she doesn’t want this deal with the devil anymore and asks him to make a new deal, one where she gets her soul back. While the devil agrees he has his own stipulations, five peoples’ deaths of his choosing in exchange for her soul. This is where things get interesting but also heartbreaking. Lizzie has to make the ultimate decision of putting her own wants and desires before the lives of others.

I found this book to be an easy and quick read. The book is well written and thought provoking. What makes one life more valuable than another? Who actually wins when you make a deal with the Devil?

If you’re looking for something a little different then you’ll definitely want to add “The Life of Death” to your summer reading list.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This is definitely a must read, I enjoyed every moment. The writing is descriptive, the story engages you, you will want to read on, for moments that make you question life and death. An unusual story of love and death, with twists along the way, this is one story that you will remember.

The Life of Death is really the story of five deaths. It is a novel that combines great beauty with great pain and profound insight into the nature of love and death. The writing of The Life of Death is as remarkable as the story it tells. Lucy Booth was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and approached it with characteristic determination and humor. Lucy died in 2016. During those five years, she wrote this novel and it was her last wish to have it published posthumously. Lucy Booth must have been a strong woman to have written this novel while she herself was facing a terminal decline. I was intrigued by the title and description. This reminded me of the Faustian legend or the story of Robert Johnson at the Mississippi Crossroads. I guess the moral of the story is ''if you make a deal with the devil do so at your own peril cause the devil will always win''.
The subject was extremely interesting and gave the reader food for thought. It was well-written and flowed easily. I enjoyed the journey and recommend others to give it a go I am sure it will stay with you for a long time.
Rest in peace Lucy your legacy will last for generations to come.

This was a tough read, at times. Partly because of the fact the author died before its publication and that was always at the back of mind as she deals with the myriad faces of Death, present at the ending of every life.
Elizabeth Murray is visited by the Devil as she waits with her fellow condemned witches to be burned at the stake. She can escape by accepting his offer of becoming Death itself, which she gladly does. Implacable, capable, for 400 years she fulfills her role as the Devil wishes. Until she falls in love........
She can only give up Death and become mortal by dispatching 5 people identified by the Devil. This is not easy, despite her previous experiences. Each of the 5 deaths raises questions of fairness, morality, the sheer physicality of the end of someone’s life, particularly as they are so vibrant and unprepared.
I had to take several breaks in reading this. The writing itself is sumptuous and descriptive - not something you can just fly through without a thought. There are no details spared and it can be very intense and upsetting at times. What shines through all of it is the enduring power of Hope and Love. A wonderful testament to the author.

Wow....what a book!
I still am getting a chill thinking about it.
The book sounded different from the beginning. The life of death title did not give me much to think about until I started to read this book.
Then, I understood the title so much better! The plot is great and spooky. The writing is good because it makes you to engage in the story line.
This was a very unique book to read and for me a memorable read, therefore, I am giving it 5 stars!

Where to start? I finished this last night, but needed to ponder this one overnight, and am still struggling with what to think about this remarkable but disturbing book. While it may be about a young woman who yearns to give up her job as the embodiment of Death because she has fallen in love, this ain’t no paranormal romance novel. It has been published posthumously by the author’s family after she died of cancer in 2016.

1590, Scotland, and 23 year old Lizzy awaits her fate in a prison cell. Her mother has just been burned at the stake for alleged witchcraft and she is next - their crime? Helping heal other villagers illnesses with herbs and poultices and attracting the ire of jealous men. When the devil appears in the guise of a fashionably dressed charmer, He makes her an offer she can’t refuse - give him her soul in exchange for a pain-free passing into immortality to work as Death. After over 400 years of compassionately helping people who are dying, the unthinkable happens - she falls in love with a young widower, Tom, and suddenly craves the life she was denied. Going back to her master, he agrees to another deal - he will restore her to life if she kills five people of his choosing, but a deal with the devil will only ever have one winner.

While the idea of Death as a character is not new, this was a highly original take on it, and we follow Lizzy as she conscientiously performs her duties, transforming into the female most important to the victim to help them pass over into the unknown. This made her willingness to kill innocents because of her inexplicable passion for Tom all the more shocking. She singlemindedly pursues her task, as the targets get more and more unethical, and this made for an increasingly uncomfortable read. The first person present narration added to this, and I found some scenes horrifying. The ending should not have been a surprise - this is the devil after all - but was devastating nonetheless. The devil was a superb creation, I totally saw Mick Jagger every time he appears.

Writing a book about Death while suffering from a terminal illness must surely influence your writing, and this book is a lot darker than the summary and cover imply. Publishing your loved one’s work as a tribute is an amazing way to honour them and it’s tragic that she will never know how it is received. I do recommend it, but with caution as while beautifully written, this is not an easy read. My thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. The Life of Death is available now.

Lucy Booth must have been a strong woman to have written this novel whilst she herself was facing a terminal decline.
Not the genre of book I would normally choose but I was intrigued by the title and description.
I guess the moral of the story is ''if you make a deal with the devil do so at your own peril cause the devil will always win''.
The subject was extremely interesting and gave the reader food for thought. It was well-written and flowed easily.
I enjoyed the journey and recommend others to give it a go i am sure it will stay with you for a long time..
Rest in peace Lucy your legacy will last for generations to come.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and of course the author for this digital ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
This book is a twisted psychological thriller and was a very enjoyable read!

After a pact with the devil, for over 400 years Elizabeth Murray was death she became whatever the person who died needed, a shoulder to cry on, a person to talk too, she showed them compassion as she eased them in to the black in to death.
But suddenly Elizabeth falls in love and for the first time in 400 years she wants her life again she wants her pact to end. The devil agrees but his way his terms and in the end can Elizabeth do it? And can you ever trust the devil himself.
This book was a very enjoyable read with so much emotion at it core, a real different perspective on life and death, we visit all the elements of what death could be the passing the people we see the journey they take and the final release. It left a real book hangover with raw emotions and some intriguing lingering questions of my own views long after I finished the book.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book for a review. Elizabeth was set to die as witch until the devil offer her deal for her soul. 400 hundred years is a long time to be Death....what would you do to free yourself from that deal? This book was a bit darker than I thought it would be but I couldn’t put it down. I loved it but I did figure out the ending.

I received a copy from Netgalley to review. Here is the blurb

"One soul. One pact with the Devil. One chance at love. Elizabeth Murray has been condemned to burn at the stake. As she awaits her fate, a strange, handsome man visits her cell. He offers her a deal: her soul in return for immortality, but what he offers is not a normal life. To survive Elizabeth must become Death itself. Elizabeth must ease the passing of all those who die, appearing at the point of death and using her compassion to guide them over the threshold. She accepts and, for 500 years, whirls from one death to the next, never stopping to think of the life she never lived. Until one day, everything changes. She – Death – falls in love. Desperate to escape the terms of her deal, she summons the man who saved her. He agrees to release her on one condition: that she gives him five lives. These five lives she must take herself, each one more difficult and painful than the last."

I really loved the idea of this book and was not disappointed. The idea of death being a female character who is there to comfort you and guide you on to the next life was such a fascinating concept as opposed to our traditional idea of the "grim reaper". It wasn't exactly as I was expecting which was a book with a supernatural / horror theme. It was more an observation on humanity and relationships. The torment of watching Lizzie wanting her freedom and wresting with the cost of having to take five lives was fascinating. A great read!

It wasn't until I got to the end of the book and began to read the About the Author section to look at her background and what other books she had written that I discovered that the author had sadly died of cancer and had written the book following her diagnosis. So sad.

Elizabeth Murray is set to die alongside her mother and the others who have been branded witches in the 16th century witchhunts. She is offered a reprieve by a mysterious stranger (the rakishly charming Devil) and the chance to become immortal and help those fated to die cross over peacefully. This she does for 400 years until one day she falls in love with a bereaved mortal. Elizabeth wants to renege on the deal but He says this is only possible if she will kill 5 people of His choosing.

Wow, what a read. I very much doubt that I will read a better book this year. It kept me glued to the pages, racing through to find out what happens. It obviously deals with death and it raises some moral questions as to the main character's actions. Does the end ever justify the means? Should you ever trust the Devil? The only thing I wasn't sold on was the instalove for Tom, but I suppose it had to happen that way for the book. I wasn't aware until I had finished reading it, that the book was published posthumously and that adds a definite poignancy to the tale. It's a dark story at times, but oh so worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Unbound, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

'For I am there to carry you through those last moments, through the screaming and the seeping, through the fog, and deposit you softly, gently on the other side.'

The story begins in 1590, twenty-three year old Elizabeth “Lizzie” Murphy of Scotland is condemned to burn at the stake for witchcraft. A woman who has ‘a talent for poultice’, along with her sisters, aunts, mothers and women from the village took care of their people, who desperately had need of their cures, nurturing. It wasn’t long before accusations of evil, of witchery was on the tongues of those they helped. Soon, Lizzie strikes a deal with the devil and while burning before the jeers of the people, feels nothing thanks to him. She has, from the moment of her conception been the chosen one, for all Satan wants is for her to usher in the dead for all eternity.

Free of the burning licks from the fires of hate, Lizzie has spent centuries with brief glimpses into others life, taking them over to the other side. Steadfast in her duties as Death, she never falters, nor thinks about that life she traded so long ago too busy tangled up in the last moments of others. This reminded me of a show I loved, Quantum Leap, because she gets inside of people in guiding souls over but once she plays the devil’s game, it is with a far more tragic and at times darker bend. She is a dutiful worker until Tom. Just as the man becomes a widower, Lizzie is reminded of the burning desire for life and an all consuming love. It is time for Death to die, now if she can just outwit the devil, strike a deal with him so she may escape the monotony of taking lives. Then, and only then, will she be able to taste deep love, with Tom.

There isn’t a soul as dark as the beast’s, nor one as skilled at wagers. All she needs to do is take five lives in order to be released. But the catch, of course, is the devil picks who and relishes in the horror of their pain, the sorrow of their final moments. What happens when one of the Satan’s victim is too much bear? Will she change her mind, risk her only chance at love, freedom in the name of fairness? The devil is tricky tricky tricky… Will she allow the sun to set on the innocent for her own selfish desires? Can there ever be a happy ending when the devil is involved? Why is the devil so enamored of Lizzie, what is it about her that captured his attention while she was in her mother’s womb?

This novel raises the ever present question we have when death comes. Why him, why her? Why me? Death feels like a monster, indiscriminately picking us off, and stomping our feet at the inequality of it all releases us from nothing. For death truly is with us, an ever present shadow from the moment we are born. We can’t, not a one of us, escape it- not even by making a pact with the horned one. If you take the time to read About the Author, you discover Lucy Booth was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and continued to write, including finishing this very novel. The cancer returned in 2014 and this time Lucy’s battle ended. I hate saying she lost her battle, because she didn’t, we don’t. We live each day and hope to wake up the next, but just like the souls in this novel learn, life isn’t guaranteed. There isn’t a bargain any one of us can make to extend our time.. eventually we come to the end. Age isn’t always factor, sometimes not even the state of our health, and that’s what makes life so precious, that at any moment it can slip through our fingers. So many choices are really just a circle, and you still end up where you started. We do the best with what time we have, and for some it is in mustering the strength to continue on as before and finish a novel.

Out Today!!!! May 2, 2019

Unbound

I enjoyed this story, a different genre to my usual. A refreshing change and well written with complex characters. Recommended.

Just a Few Words:  After finding out that the author died in 2016 (see below in “About the Author”),  I hesitated to read her debut novel.  Do not be me.  Do not hesitate. 


The Life of Death by Lucy Booth is a fiction novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Unbound Books, and of course the author’s family, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Elizabeth Murray was born in 1567. She is only a young woman, but she has been condemned to burn at the stake, along with her mother and aunts. She doesn’t want to die, and there seems to be a way out, for her alone. Apparently, she belongs to the Devil. She is one of his, and her own mother does not deny it. Elizabeth has always been his. If she agrees to his “deal”, and sells him her soul, she will not go to hell, and although she will still burn, she will not feel that pain. Instead she will live for eternity, and will serve the Devil. Her job will be to help the dying to move on from life. She will be their guide. She will be Death.

For over 400 years, Elizabeth Murray became Death. She became whoever a person needed to see in their final hours. She sat with them, cradled their heads, stroked their backs, talked to them, and with compassion, eased them into the black, into death.

Then the unthinkable happened. Elizabeth fell in love, and wanted life again. She wanted her pact with the Devil to end. He agreed…on his terms. No longer was she to bring only comfort. Now Elizabeth would have to take lives…five of his choosing. How far is she willing to go to have a chance for life and love? Can she trust the Devil? If she succeeds, will she be able to live with herself?

My Opinions:
This was a really interesting book. The author took us on a journey of death, from everyone’s perspective. She showed us the dying, and who they would want to see in their final hours, how they reacted to death. How Death reacted to them. The different perspectives were thought provoking.

Lizzy herself was thought provoking. Putting myself in her situation, would I have agreed to the terms initially? Would the thought of immortality been appealing? I know the thought of a painless death would definitely play into my own thoughts….

The book dealt with a troubling subject, with private moments, with sad moments. But somehow, the compassion the protagonist brought to the subject lightened it.

The writing was good, the plot compelling, and although I thought I knew what the twist would be, I was wrong. That’s always a pleasant surprise, even when the twist isn’t.

I wish the author was around to write more…but I hope she was met by someone as compassionate as Lizzy to guide her through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound for a Kindle ARC of The Life of Death.

It's so hard to find a good scary book that will intrigue me and keep me interested. I don't have to be scared, but I do have to be invested in the story.

I'm glad to say that The Life of Death kept me reading and thinking long after I finished the last page.

Lizzy made a deal with the Devil over 400 years ago to spare her life from a horrific death. In return, she is Death, ushering in countless souls to the afterlife. Not surprisingly, she has grown weary of this role and just as she is in despair that this is all her life will amount to, she falls in love.

His name is Tom and he is a recent widow. As a result, she makes another pact with her master. Five lives in exchange for her mortal one to be returned to her in that she may have a chance with this young man.

The lives are not up for debate, who dies is up to the Devil's discretion and Lizzy must play his game. But when the time comes for the fourth victim, Lizzy finds herself unable to proceed and the deal falls apart.

Or does it?

When the Devil agrees to give Lizzy a second chance, it will be too late to turn back. She will soon understand, you should never make a deal with the Devil because he always wins.

I liked Lizzy as a character though I couldn't understand why she fell for Tom; the insta-love part I wasn't crazy about.

I would have loved it if the author had spent more time developing Tom, showing the readers why Lizzy would be attracted to a man like him, I would have felt more invested in Lizzy's desire to be with a man she'd never met and may not like her in return.

The standout is the Devil; wily, funny, Machiavellian, everything we are told the Devil is. I was more interested in his and Lizzy's relationship, and would have loved more exposition on how their relationship progresses through the years.

Do they spend time together in the last 400 years? Why is the Devil so invested in Lizzy? Yes, its touched upon in the beginning but not fully fleshed out.

Does he makes deals like the one he makes with her with others? Does he keep tabs on her?

The ending is great; exactly what I expected the Devil to do. In fact, I was waiting for it and it didn't disappoint.

The Life of Death was good and I recommend it to anyone looking for something different to read.

Life of death is published posthumously. The author was dying of cancer when she wrote it. Its obvious that the author was coming to terms with her own mortality when writing this.

The notion of death being personified is not new. However taking the point of view of the person who has become death is very creative. Elizabeth does not want to become the death figure upon her death but makes the promise that she would deliver 5 deaths. You see her observations and struggles while being in this role. Her struggles range from moral dilemmas to her own emotional exhaustion.

In this gothic horror novel death isn't just an entertaining thrill...it is a provocative meditation upon life with lyrical prose. The writing in this book is simply stunning. I didn't want to part my eyes from the page as I was reading this book. I absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Unbound for my advanced readers copy.

3.5 stars

When you have only one soul. When all hope is gone. When you are asked to choose, would you make a pact with the devil? What if you wanted love?

In the late 1500's Elizabeth "Lizzy" Murray was sentenced to burn at the stake for being a witch. While she listens to other women being burned, a man visits her in her cell. He has a proposal, her soul in exchange for a painless death and immortality. But immortality comes with a small price - she will be death itself. She will ease the passing of others, to be there in the moments before and after death, to guide their souls with compassion and care. She does this for five hundred years until one day she sees someone. A man she falls in love with. A man she wants to live for. Can she make another deal with the devil? Five lives of his choosing. Five lives for a chance of happiness. Five lives she must take to get her soul back. Will she make this deal? Would you?

The plot is straightforward and simple and yet it is moving as we see Lizzy interact with those at the end of their lives. How she is seen by various individuals as a parent, a lover, a spouse, a child, or a friend. She embodies the person most important to the individual who is dying. This isn't a heaven vs. hell book. This book is about one woman's choice and ultimately how it affects her and the people she encounters. It is also a lesson recalling the adage: <i>Be careful what you wish for</i>. What happens when you make a deal with the devil? Who wins in the end? Does anyone?

Lizzie is an interesting character. She is a victim in the beginning of the book. Falsely accused of being a witch. Tortured and listening to other women die as the townspeople cheer, watching her own Mother be burned at the stake. Knowing what is in store for her, tired, in pain, hopeless and fearful, she is given a choice. She tries to help the people who die, but then she sees a glimmer of hope. She begins to think of what life would be like if she were mortal, if she could love and be loved in return, falling in love with a man, she wants to live the life she was robbed of so long ago.
But what a choice she is given. Will she do as the devil wishes? hmmmm

I found this book to be thought provoking and interesting. Although Lizzy is the main character, the Devil makes his appearances throughout. He is a crafty, debonair, articulate, manicured and handsome fellow. I couldn't help but hear the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil" playing in my head while reading these sections. When he asks her to kill five people in exchange for her soul, things got interesting but also sad. I enjoyed this book and toward the end and had a few things figured out. While I felt sorry for Lizzy a.k.a. little "D" as the devil called her, it had me wondering, about her choice at the end. About putting one's own needs, wants and desires above the lives of others.

It is interesting to note that the Author was diagnosed with Cancer in 2011 and passed away in 2016. She did not live to see this book published but she did write the book after her diagnosis. While reading, I wondered if her diagnosis and her thoughts on her own mortality influenced this book specifically what happens when one dies.

Thank you to Unbound and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.