Most people think that when they meet Death, it’ll be a skeleton in a black potato sack. Maybe with a scythe. Truth is, she’s just a woman doing a job, and she’s very good at it.

But when Death takes a much-needed break to live on earth, things start to go terribly wrong.

Someone’s killing people not on her list (well, not yet anyway) and it's down to her to find the culprit before it’s too late. To make matters worse, her sanctimonious sister Life – whom Death hasn’t gotten along with in millennia – won’t stop blaming her. . . and there’s the slight problem of the charming (sexy) parasitologist she’s suspicious of.

But she’ll be fine, right?

I really really enjoyed this book, it was engaging from the first chapters. I would thoroughly recommend

Such an unusual and unique concept, Death's sharp voice will linger in your mind long after you've read. Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa
By far one of my favourite books I've read this month…

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld for this ARC.

Death feels burnt out and underappreciated so puts in for a sabbatical in London in the body of a young woman, Delara Donn, that her sister Life provides her with. Yes, Life and Death are women.

The problem is that in this body, Death is suddenly mortal, and just as some Unplanned deaths occur - deaths that she is not responsible for and which consequently threaten the fabric of life and try to bring about the apocalypse.

So Death tries to find out what's going on and why the Italian mafia wants to poison people with food while the Vice President for Pandemonium & Perdition or in other words the Devil is sabotaging her at every turn.

The Boss (God) isn't very interested but she gets help from the Human Communications Director (Jesus, who makes shampoo adverts and every now and then dies for three days) and a human parasitologist named Marco. Is there romance in the air? Can Death actually fall in love, and what does that mean for her job?

This is a darkly funny, uniquely absurd and madly entertaining debut novel about a contemplative Death discovering the meaning of life a la "Live, Laugh, Love" whilst trying to help her sister, solve some murders, keep the VP at bay and prevent the apocalypse.

It's nice to get a different perspective on Death. I could practically hear Louis Armstrong crooning "What a Wonderful World" in the background at some of her observations! Read if you liked Good Omens, it's the same sort of wit and humour.

4.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book but it was a great read.

Death takes a sabbatical on Earth, fed up with being unappreciated and she is determined to improve her PR.

That takes a back seat when unplanned deaths occur. She immediately begins investigating, outraged that someone is doing her job.

It was a mystery with a great twist and seeing Death learning to engage with humans was amusing.

I guessed some of who was behind it but it definitely keeps you guessing.

Bizarrely by the end of this book you find yourself rooting for Death!