This is a very intriguing book and one which had me desparate to know what was really going on....
Elle wakes up by the river feeling strange and unsure how she got there.
She makes her way home but can’t remember anything about the night before. She tries to sleep but as soon as she closes her eyes she feels like she’s drowning.
Elle can’t understand what is happening, but tells us she ‘feels like she’s died.’
She tries to carry on as normal but deep down she knows something is wrong.
The village around her want to mark the Anniversary of the death of Sarah, a girl who was drowned a year ago in the river and Elle joins in.
Soon another girl is missing and Elle and her boyfriend try and find her.
This is a gripping read, but a bit of a strange one!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Well this was a refreshing change - a mixture of genres that worked very well for me!

This is essentially a YA novel about Ellie, who finds herself in a river and realises that she is actually dead, although to everyone else she looks alive. Yes, you have to suspend belief, and once you do, then you're in for a wonderful read. The book is a whodunnit, with plenty of mystery and a smattering of the supernatural, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved Ellie's character and her voice, I think, is perfect for the YA market, with plenty of wit and sassiness in the mix. The story flows along at a great pace, as we are led down all the blind alleys until we come to a gripping finale - and a twist that I did not see coming.

This is my first Kerry Wilkinson book and I'll definitely be reading more.

"Never trust a person who eats a gingerbread man arm-first."

This was a great mystery book. The main character Ellie, Eleanor Parker, dies and comes back to life. How did she die? Someone drowned her in a river. But who was it? She can't remember. She has to go through the next couple days trying to spark memories so she can figure out who killed her...or at least tried to? As the story progresses a lot of things rise and things are pinned on people who didn't do anything. You know how small villages are. Rumors spread quick even if they aren't real.

The person who ends up being the killer was someone I didn't expect but after I found out who it is I was wondering how I didn't think of that person.

This ended up being a quick read because I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. I usually don't read mystery books but I really liked this one. If you are a fan of mystery books then this is definitely a book for you. I highly recommend this book.

This was such a different atmosphere to any other books that I have read by Kerry Wilkinson. It was a splendid change of pace that had me pushing to get to the next chapter so I could see what happened

This is another brilliant book by Kerry Wilkinson. The main character is definitely different which adds to the story. Eleanor is trying to find a murderer. The story is well told and engaging. This is an enjoyable read. I am a big fan of Kerrys books and I hope he will write a lot more.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I was very excited for the chance to read this and I was not disappointed. From the first page to the last, this was an excellent read. I'm sitting here at 3:40 in the morning writing my review, because I couldn't stop reading!

First, I'd like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture, and Kerry Wilkinson (the author) for allowing me to have this ARC of The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker.

**spoilers**

Eleanor wakes up in the river, freezing cold and not having any recollection of how she got there. She tries breathing only to cough up muck and water. She somehow manages to get herself up onto the bank and eventually home. She sneaks inside and makes her way to her room. She notices dark bruises on her chest and realizes they are fingerprints. She is also freezing cold and can't seem to get warm. As she tries to sleep, she feels hands, on her head and chest, pushing her deep into the river. She can't sleep. The only thing she can think of is that she died in the river that night.

From that moment on, Eleanor stops at nothing to try and figure out what happened. She knows there has to be a tie between herself and Sarah (her brother's girlfriend who was killed in the river just the year before). Everyone looks like a suspect. It isn't until another girl winds up missing, that the pieces of this suspenseful puzzle are put together into a very climactic ending.

Definitely a great read and one that will have you thinking until the very end!

I have only recently started reading and enjoying author Kerry Wilkinson's books so was keen to try this stand alone. I loved this book and found it different to many books I have read recently, in a good way.
Eleanor Parker died approximately a year after another girl had died in a small town in England where everyone knows each other's business. Seventeen-year-old Eleanor Parker wakes up cold in the river that runs through the village. Her memory is vague and has no idea how she got there but she does know that another girl was held under the water and drowned by an unknown killer. So who killed them? Eleanor is suspicious of everyone and attempts to find the answers. While Eleanor is dead, she appears to be still alive and nobody is aware of her death.
This novel is different and intriguing, twists and turns and full of suspense. An excellent book for anyone who is looking for a novel with a difference.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an hones review.

So color me surprised, but this book was pretty damn fantastic. The writing was great. It was well paced. The plot was super engaging and had me hooked from the start. The characters were intriguing. Throw in a twist that I DID NOT see coming, and you have a cracking good way to spend a few hours. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

I honestly can’t believe how much I liked this book—completely took me by surprise. Which really shouldn’t surprise me as I enjoy Kerry’s books as a general rule.

From the beginning we know that Eleanor has died, almost exactly a year ago that another girl had died. It’s a very small town in England, where everyone knows each other and what’s going on. So who killed Eleanor? This begins a week of her trying to solve her own death. Even suspicious of her closest friends and brother.

I will say this was unique. Eleanor is “dead” but is still living and nobody knows. She doesn’t even know why or how this is possible. Kerry did a great job with everything. It’s part coming of age, part mystery. One reviewer had likened this to a Twin Peaks type story. I would say I agree. It just had that supernatural-otherworldly feel to it. I loved it.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by both the cover and blurb as soon as I first heard about The Death And Life Of Eleanor Parker, and I just couldn't resist temptation. And WOW, this story is definitely something else! I've enjoyed reading Kerry Wilkinson's books in the past, and while going down a different road with this story, the writing is just as solid as ever. It's really easy to fully emerge yourself in the story when the writing simply flows and grabs you straight away. The plot itself is both fascinating, surprising and quite original. Ever seen the movie Deaeth Becomes Her with Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep? The main character of this story would sort of be a teenage version of Goldie or Meryl, then add a murder mystery and a healthy dose of teenage drama: an improvised recipe for The Death And Life Of Eleanor Parker. Could I have done without the love triangle? Yes please. Did certain aspects of the behavior of the main characters annoy me? Without doubt. But I was so intrigued by Ellie's situation I was able to forgive the story for it. Mystery with a hint of paranormal and a LOT of plot twists; oh yes, you will be in for one entertaining and intriguing ride. Although there are many suspects, I'm sure you won't be able to guess the final outcome early on! I really enjoyed this original twist to what could have been just another murder mystery mixed with YA elements. Different in this case is definitely a good thing!

If you are looking for something different, fascinating and entertaining to read, definitely give The Death And Life Of Eleanor Parker a go. I love my murder mysteries, but personally I really liked the added paranormal touches as it was a nice counterweight for the more cliche teenage drama and love triangle. The plot is well developed with some mayor plot twists that will make you doubt everything until the final twists are revealed. Definitely one of the more original stories I've read this year!

The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker by Kerry Wilkinson satisfied my need for a gripping thriller. This mystery novel is unlike anything I’ve read before as the main character tries to solve her own murder. Eleanor is likeable and perseverant, and the writing is very suspenseful. I definitely enjoyed this one, and I would recommend it to mystery fans.This book tells the story of a girl who wakes up to remember being drowned in a river. A girl had previously been killed in the same river she was attacked in, so she believes there is a link between the two of them. I enjoyed how Eleanor works to investigate her own murder and how fast-paced the novel is. The ending was something that I could figure out fairly early on. However the shocking twist really makes up for it.

I really enjoyed Eleanor’s character. It is so interesting how she investigates her own murder, and I loved how she never gives up. Eleanor never complains about her symptoms, and she focuses instead on taking action to find the culprit. A main character I can root for is exactly what I look for in mystery novels, and I’m glad that Eleanor met my expectations.

One of my favourite aspects of the book was the suspenseful writing. The book begins with a bang as Eleanor realizes that she was dead, and it continues to build from there. Wilkinson distorts reality and creates an eerie atmosphere to complement the plot, and this kept me hooked. I have seen many other books by this author around Goodreads, and after reading this one, I should definitely give them a try.

The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a suspenseful novel about a girl who investigates her own murder. I enjoyed the main character and the gripping writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a mystery novel to keep them hooked.

Even though this is aimed at young adults - it is Kerry Wilkinson so you know it is a must read which will have unusual surprises.
This is completely different from his other reads, and I found this a refreshing change.
I liked the characters and the part they played slowly unfolding the story, which kept me guessing and no I didn't figure out the ending.

Thank you netgalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was the weirdest book I've ever read, but it was pretty good. I wouldn't say it was anything particularly special to me really, but I enjoyed the story and the mystery of who killed Eleanor (and whether she was actually dead).

The death stuff was a bit weird though. It was what drew me to the book to begin with, but it was mostly just weird with her not being able to eat or sleep so just wandering around trying to work things out.

In general, though it was a fairly good story. The mystery was pretty good though. There weren't really enough suspects for my liking, but it was a really satisfying conclusion.

In general, I liked it enough, but it wasn't really anything special.

I’m a huge fan of Kerry Wilkinson. This book comes off as more of a YA mystery and didn’t grab me the way his Jessica Daniels books do.

It’s a different premise. The book starts with Eleanor coming to in the middle of the river, with no memory of how she got there. But she has the feeling that she had died and come back to life. Her lack of three of the five senses (taste, smell and touch) bolster her belief. But folks still know she’s there, she’s not a ghost. Her brother’s girlfriend was drowned in the river a year earlier. Are these incidents connected? The book works from there as she tries to make sense of what has happened.

Eleanor is a typical teen, not part of the in crowd, somewhere in the middle on the popularity scale. I can’t say I really bonded with her. In fact, I didn’t feel much, one way or the other, about her.

There’s a bit of the supernatural element to this and that is not my genre.

There is one bit about how weird rom coms can be depending on how things are viewed that’s really funny and true. This is the first Kerry Wilkinson book that didn’t work for me. I’m willing to call it a one off. I’ll definitely be returning for the next book in the JD series.

My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.

The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker isn't your typical young adult mystery — it's a genre-defying, original spin on investigating your own murder ... after the fact.

Ellie Parker is just your average teenage girl who suddenly finds herself with a slew of not-so-average problems when she wakes up on a riverbank with large gaps in her memory. Last night might be a blur, but she has the unsettling certainty that she was drowned the previous evening.  And it's not just Ellie's memory that's gone—she's missing her sense of smell, can't stomach food, and is absolutely freezing all of the time.

How can you investigate your own murder when no one realizes you're really dead? Ellie struggles to determine who she can and can't trust, keeping everyone at arm's length as she begins trying to plug the holes in her memory. Her brother's girlfriend died in the river the previous year—is it connected? Or does it have to do with the mysterious man who's been spotted on the outskirts of town? Or with the way her boyfriend is suddenly hesitant to be around her? Wilkinson injects a witty humor into Ellie's voice that makes her mishaps and cynical societal commentary a joy to read. With far more suspects than clues, she must retrace her steps and solve her own murder, doing her best to ignore the fact it feels like time is running out, and she's not quite sure what will happen when it does.

I didn't realize just how literal Ellie's return from the death would be, but despite my initial surprise and wariness, I became fascinated by the unique plot. Not wanting anyone to find out the truth behind her not-so-alive predicament, Ellie does her best playing the expected role of best friend, girlfriend, sister, and daughter, even when she's doubting the intentions of everyone around her. It's a fun dichotomy, and I flew through this novel so much quicker than I had expected.

I love that we don't get bogged down by the existential technicalities of what happened to Ellie, but it does make her return from the dead come across as rather hand-wavy at times. I also wish there had been more focus on scratching beyond the surface of Ellie's interpersonal relationships. It felt like some of her friends and family were just plot points, which left me unsure where she stood with them at the end of the novel.

Nevertheless, The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker is a quite enjoyable young adult mystery novel. It's got plenty of unique twists and a refreshing protagonist that will keep you on your toes. Be sure to be on the lookout for when it's released later this month!

~An uncanny mystery filled with dark humour.~

Thank you so much Bookouture & Netgalley for sending me this ARC copy!

Ellie is dead.
Or at least that's what she thinks after "waking up" in the river.
We follow her while trying to find information about what happened the night before as well as what happened to her brothers girlfriend who was found dead a year before at the exact same spot in the river.
Most of the people in town still seem to suspect her brother is behind it and since he is the direct link
between the three of them, she starts to do too.


The story gave a dark, uncanny feeling, like the answer should be right there in front of me, but it still made me
doubt everything. Including things Eleanor told me.

I really enjoyed reading this book, so much that I don't have anything "critical" to add.

Story: 4,5/5 Everything added up really well in the ending.
Characters: 5/5 You get to know the character good enough for the time that you spend with them.
Writing: 5/5 It was clearly written with the serious things and the humorous were really well alternating each other but also fitting together as well as very well timed.
Reread: Yes, I will be rereading this on for sure!

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The Life and Death of Eleanor Parker by Kerry Wilkinson
July 14, 2018Susan
Something I really liked about this book was that it was set in the UK. It also had that edge to it – part sarcastic, part afraid to appear boastful. This mix was a definite plus for me.

As psychological thrillers go, this one was appropriate within the YA genre. Enough murder and crime without overdoing the gory details. Add in an unexpected confession and you’ve got the plot here.

I would say I was entertained throughout this read. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the paranormal aspect, I feel the book would have worked better either with a different resolution (i.e. hero has served purpose so is no longer required) or that it just wasn’t included at all. I think I’d prefer the latter.

Tape Deck is somewhere I want to go – although it did seem a bit Americanised in its location and description.

All in I’d say 3.5 stars, I was entertained and the writing was easy to digest.

Book provided to me free of charge by publisher through Netgalley.

You can trust everybody in your small village, can't you ...?

This is a very good coming of age book, but it can be perfectly read by adults as well. I liked the point of view from which the story was written. It was original and weird (I mean that in a very positive way) and the atmosphere reminded me of Twin Peaks. You always felt that bit of creepiness and you kept on wondering who was responsible.
When you get further along in the story, the pace picks up as well and then it's time to give to it that twist, like the cherry on the cake.. 4,5 stars

Thank you, Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and Netgalley.

I pushed myself, desperately trying to figure out if I was missing something. The pacing was slow, staggered, and I found myself skimming through the information more often than not. I was not intrigued by the secondary characters and did not see the charm in the main character that others did. The premise is interesting. Someone who drowned and woke up, dead but alive. Lacking senses. Seems paranormal but bordering magical realism. The mystery persuaded me to read more, to search for answers but the fact that she literally Googles whether she's a zombie? I mean, she woke up in a river, she's AWAKE. It doesn't mean that you're undead. I just don't understand the leap in thought process. Yes, question how you got to the river, why, and what happened, sure but that automatic, must be dead? I dunno, it didn't sit right with me and put her character into question. Then the cliche mean girls, the quirky friend, the bland boyfriend...it just wasn't for me.

DNF 79 pages

The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker by Kerry Wilkinson - This novel was...interesting, different. I'm not totally sure how I feel about it. It starts off with Eleanor waking up on a river bank after being drowned. That's right...drowned, as in she is dead. She is still physically here. People can see her, talk with her etc, but she can't feel anything, eat anything or sleep. So what's a dead girl to do? Figure out who killed her of course! Could it be the same person who drowned her brother's girlfriend almost a year ago? Now a third girl has gone missing. Ellie better work fast before anyone else dies.
Truthfully, I think I enjoyed this book. It's a bit quirky here and there and the ending (not the reveal of the killer) was not what I was expecting. #TheDeathAndLifeOfEleanorParker #NetGalley