Edna's Death Cafe

Talking about death, celebrating life

by Angelena Boden

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Pub Date 5 Sep 2018 | Archive Date 10 Sep 2019

Troubador Publishing Limited | Matador

General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction

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Description

As in life, death is not without its agenda. This is something seventy-nine year old Edna Reid finds out when her partner, Ted, suddenly dies. To cope with her loss, she sets up a Death Cafe to break down the taboo around death and to encourage other members of the community to discuss it openly. Over tea and cake, the participants hide their fears behind a veil of dark humour. Religious fanaticism clashes with Victorian spiritualism as Edna’s meetings trigger lively conversations on the fragility of life, anxiety over dying, cost of funerals, and making sure long-lost greedy relatives don’t benefit from inheritances. Soon, a series of events begin to unfold which threaten to undermine Edna’s livelihood and the Death Cafe meetings. These events just happen to coincide with the arrival of a mysterious stranger into the village. Who is she and why is she so hostile to Edna?

As in life, death is not without its agenda. This is something seventy-nine year old Edna Reid finds out when her partner, Ted, suddenly dies. To cope with her loss, she sets up a Death Cafe to...

A Note From the Publisher

Angelena was born and raised in the Peak District, the setting for Edna’s Death Cafe. Until she discovered the Death Cafe movement, she suffered from thanatophobia (death anxiety) and until early retirement at sixty, she had a celebrated career as a training consultant in the UK and overseas, specialising in conflict resolution and communication skills. As well as writing, Angelena relieves anxiety through painting, walking in the Malvern Hills and writing. As a trained funeral celebrant she embraces the realisation that we have a life after death through the memories and legacy we leave behind. Edna’s Death Cafe is Angelena’s third novel.

Available Editions

EDITION	Ebook
ISBN	9781789011579
PRICE	US$2.99 (USD)
PAGES	200

Additional Information

Average rating from 24 members

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Featured Reviews

Account D, Reviewer

Thanks for the early review copy!

I recommend this novel to fans of contemporary novels. It was well-written and interesting novel.

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Reviewer 508020

This is a really interesting and thought provoking read that helps readers consider their own preconceptions about how we deal with death in a light way. This has humour, an interesting mix of romantic and non romantic relationships and a breezy dialogue.

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Reviewer 238609

The concept of a cafe where people gather to discuss death was intriguing. This book isn't all dark and gloomy, there are bits of humor and insight found in this book. I enjoyed it and think others will as well..

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

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Sean T, Reviewer

A very unique look at talking about death. The death cage idea is brilliant and in this book you get to see a lot of what makes this author so good.

She writes passionately about Edna and what has went on in her life and what she attempts to do with her death meetings. People are misunderstanding as to what this is and this book will help you understand the idea of a support group.

It is well written with a solid group of characters. There is even a family secret almost conflict is better term as you try and piece together just what is happening.

Wonderful book and this is not my normal genre but it was so good.