The Life of Death

5 lives for 1 life. Liz sold her soul to the devil in 1590 when she was facing burning at the stake for witchcraft. Thing is, she really was the daughter of the devil, but she'd done nothing evil to deserve that title, she'd just dabbled in herbs to help villagers heal from small ailments. When the inquisition comes calling though, the villagers start pointing fingers, because of course they did. And for roughly 400+ years, Liz did her duty by the devil as his harbinger of death, and helped usher souls at their time peacefully in their final moments. He called her his "little D." That's all she had to do, provide solace in the form of whatever woman that departing soul most fondly remembered in their life, she would appear to them as that person. But she longed for a life of her own. In the passing of one of those souls, she sees Tom. And everything changes. She wants life, and love, and to stub her toes, and taste wine, and experience everything that she's been missing. And the devil will happily oblige her, at the cost of 5 lives that she has to actively participate in taking. Such begins her moral conundrum. These 5 lives will have countless ripples outward should she choose to accept his bargain and so begins her journey to try to regain a chance at life. I will say that this was a devastatingly sad, sometimes funny, and heartbreaking story and one that ultimately left me shaking my fist at the author. Now that I know that she was fighting cancer during the writing of this, and that she ultimately lost her fight to it, it makes so much more sense, and made me want to cry at the unfairness of life. I'll just say that this was a wonderful story, that truly does show the craftiness of the devil in her story.

This book has been posthumously published, the author having lost her battle with cancer in 2016, diagnosed in 2011. I believe it was her last wish to have the book she wrote during these five years published. But don't let that put you off. It really is a cracking read. Although death is a somewhat strange topic to write about when you are facing it yourself. But I appreciate the irony in that!
So, let's go back several hundred years to when witchcraft was unknown, scary stuff and witches were sought out and burned. Meet Elizabeth, one accused of that crime and facing that sentence. But then, a possible reprieve when the devil visits her and offers her a deal. Immortality in return for becoming Death, the Grim reaper, assisting the passing of those who are on death's door. Faced with the fate she has in store for her, she agrees. Fast forward several years and she's been ticking over in her role quite nicely. Until that fateful day, when the impossible happens, the one thing that could put the kibosh on everything. She falls in love. But that doesn't fit in with who she is now. She has to go cap in hand, back to her boss, back to the Devil, the one who owns her soul and ask for it back. He agrees, he just has conditions. Five of them to be precise, Five people she needs to kill, five souls in return for hers, then she can be free... She then understands what it really means to deal with the Devil.
I blooming loved this book. All the way through we are given examples of people that Lizzie has helped and the ways she helped them pass over. An eclectic mix indeed. We also follow her in the present as she starts to fall in love and how that changes her. And then when we find out what she has to do to gain back her soul, well. Oh my goodness. What a Devilish thing to do. At this point, I thought that I knew where we were going; had it all pretty much mapped out. How I kicked myself as I read on and saw the directions we were actually taking were nothing like what I assumed. More fool me... Clever stuff indeed, very well plotted. And a bit brutal to be honest. But then, we are talking about the Devil after all!
I felt for Lizzie all the way through. How, at the start, she was faced with, well, Hobson's choice pretty much. I enjoyed reading about all the people she helped, even though most of them were a little sad. And then when she had to do what she did, the book really did start to get going and, from that point on, it never really slowed down, racing to its ultimate conclusion with an ending that was perfect for what had gone before.
And then, after I finished, I got a bit sad as I knew that there would be no more books from this author. I hate to say the obvious but, what a talent lost. But then I also thought that it was a wonderful thing that her family had done in achieving her wish for it to be published. Just a shame she didn't see it happen in her own lifetime.
My thanks go to the Publisher for the chance to read this book, And to Lucy's family for making this book happen in the first place.

Whit a unique premise like this, I knew instantly I had to read it. This is a wonderful story I loved reading and I’d highly recommend it. Amazing.

400 years ago Lizzie made a deal with the Devil. She was spared the pain of being burned at the stake for her remarkable connection with the Devil in exchange for becoming Death itself. She spends 400 years guiding souls through death without a hitch. Then she falls in love. She wants out of her deal and He agrees if she delivers 5 souls. She must take the lives of 5 people of the Devil's choosing. Lizzie is faced with the question of what is a life worth?

The premise for The Life of Death was so unique that it was a pleasure to read. I enjoyed following Lizzie's thought process of wanting a normal life verses having to kill 5 people in order to attain that. Her inner monologue is relatable as she works through getting out of her deal with the Devil. Highly recommend.

A rich tale with beautiful prose, Lucy Booth's posthumously published The Life of Death is a must-read.

Poor Lizzie was born with the devil's mark and mocked for it for all of her young existence, until in 1590 the rumours turned ugly and she was sentenced to be burnt as a witch. Here, Lucifer stepped in to claim her for his own, and while her physical body expires, she is given the role of Death itself - a chance to peacefully usher people into the Afterlife.

And so Lizzie embarks on the emotionally draining task of the Grim Reaper, until she sees Tom and falls in love. She wants to live again and love, but to do so she needs to regain her soul - a task not as simple as one would hope.

She turns again to Lucifer, to beg for the return of her soul. And of course, he'll oblige. But there's a catch. He wants to see her change her passive role in the deaths, to a more active one. He has a list of 5 people who have thus far avoided, or rather cheated death in Lucifer's eyes and he wants Lizzie to make sure he can have them.

Sometimes violent and graphic, mostly poignant and heartbreaking, this is a story that will stay with you for a long time.

The Life of Death is a engrossing book with great characters. I was sad to learn of the author's passing, she had great potential as a author. A good book to read.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

This book was one that I read a second time. I could not find a way to put it down. Even the second time and even though I knew what was going to happen, I still wanted to read it it all over again. The author does a great job with writing so eloquently and to the point. Nothing is kept out and you, the reader, will feel as though you are a part of this novel and time period. I love this book and hope that I have done it justice without giving the story away. The blurb will tell you what it is about, and I will tell you it is worth reading and that you will want to read it again and again.


Thank you netgalley and to the publisher/author for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for my honest review.