This was a very good read that I really enjoyed. It started out a bit slow and at times I wondered if I would carry on reading it, However I am really glad I stuck with it as I ended up loving it.

4-5 stars, as I almost gave up on it because it was sooo slow in the beginning! I am so glad I did not give up on it, as once I got hooked, I was completely and utterly hooked! While it started slow, it eventually picked up speed and became quite fast paced, thrilling, chilling, and of course shocking!! Very well written, great character development, and full of the things thrill lovers seek! I do highly recommend, but please make sure to get through the slower beginning , as it’s not one to be missed and I promise it’ll pick up!
Will make sure to buzz around and use low amazon review number on release date!

Absolutely loved this book. It is gripping from the start and the characters are well described , even though they aren't all pleasant. I reckon this would make a great film

Okay, first of all, REAL TALK: I wanted to abandon this ship right from the prologue. The old lady's distress, the abuse, the despair, it's a lot to take in. I felt like I was in that room, just a pair of eyes that couldn't do anything, except watch the horror that is about to unfold. I wasn't even at the beginning and I WAS THAT FREAKED!

Catch my full review on my blog!

I really enjoyed this book and will give it a huge thumbs up. With a great story line and excellent main characters - I would highly recommend this book.

I liked this story but goodness the characters were frustrating! I cheered for Maureen and Franks son. It was a solid read that I rate a 3.8

Wits are pitted against wits in this amazing book. What an original concept! Maureen’s housekeeper is plotting to kill her .... but Maureen knows! Who will emerge triumphant? I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it with 10 stars. Unputdownable.

When the truth is the fiction, then the fiction becomes larger than life. This was a difficult book to review as the story was so close to the realities of life that it had me breaking out in sweat.

Maureen was an independent woman, but a fall and damaged ankle made her vulnerable. Entered Dolores, a care giver appointed by her daughter Alva, and things changed. A death of another senior citizen under the care of Dolores caused Maureen to become paranoid as things started happening with her too.

My first book by the author, Maureen was one gutsy gal. She rocked my boat with her courage and logical analysis. I felt sad when her suspicions were swept under the carpet. With an unlikely ally, I liked how she took charge of her life to bring the truth to light to daughter Alva.

The author brought to light the current situation where people took advantage of the vulnerable human beings, whatever age they be. The social issue was well enveloped by the suspense building up in the story. I kept egging Maureen in the entire book to move faster. Yes yes I knew she was elderly, but this was just me tapping on my kindle screen.

The characters made me react, some made me want to bop them on their heads. Actually, all of them deserved a knock or two. The last few pages brought out the final reveal, linking all the plot lines together.

As I said, a fun read but which highlighted the real plight of the vulnerable.

It took me awhile to get into this book, it was a bit of a slow burner but warmed up into a good wee thriller. It was nice to have a book about the elderly, as most of the books I read are about younger people - and about how little people will believe the elderly (and drug addicts!).

I found the characters a little frustrating and found myself telling them to hurry up. I guess I'm a bit impatient!

Overall, a well written and exciting thriller.

This was an engaging read and I felt invested in the characters.

The scary aspect was that the plot was perfectly plausible. An elderly person in need of a carer can often be helpless and vulnerable, as we see with Frank and Maureen in 'Before I die.' Maureen has a family who care for her. I particularly liked the relationship she had with her grandson, Ross. Frank's son, Michael, has a drug problem, but I liked that they still cared for each other despite their difficulties.

Dolores was painted perfectly as the Spanish busybody, who cared for Frank and Maureen. I felt compelled to find out whether Maureen HAS her suspicions heard before it is too late.

The author has a flowing, every day style of writing and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Maureen is independent and has several friends at a retirement club. When she hurts her ankle her daughter Alva thinks she is helping by getting Dolores to look after her, but Maureen is adamant that Dolores who was looking after her friend Frank murdered him, whereas the police are investigating his son Michael who is a known drug addict.

Dolores is such an easy character to hate with her bossy ways, always interfering and taking over. You know a book is good when a character fills you with such rage that you could hit them!!

Maureen is a great character. It makes a change to have a story based on someone more mature. She is battling to look into Dolores’s past, but is her life in danger?

For me this started slowly but the suspense soon builds into a chilling conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

When I first read this, I was pulled in right away. It was a hard book to read at times, especially if you have elderly family members, but it makes you think. It was a heartfelt read that kept me at the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. This book is not for everybody but it was a great read.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was hard to not read this book in one sitting.
A rather frail old lady.
A daughter with a busy job.
A grandson who is leaving the country.
An old friend.
A young junkie.
And a well-meaning caregiver...

... makes for a great story about the resilience of people and not to forget: determination and cleverness. Maureen may be frail, she's still sharp and by no means 'an old doddy'. Frank dies way too soon, Alva and Ross mean well but are unaware of what is happening, but the star of the story is Michael, who really tries to better his life.
And Dolores, of course. Horrible Dolores.

It was sometimes hard to read what was happening, especially because no one believed Maureen just because she is old. My mother is 85. And believe me, if she would say something about her carers, I would believe her. Nothing wrong with her mind. I'm very glad Maureen won, in the end (I don't think this is a spoiler. Usually the bad person doesn't win in a book...).

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital reading copy.

This was a really great read first book by this Author I have read would definitely read more of of her work it kept me gripped from start to finish highly recommend this book

This book had me feeling all sorts of emotions, but if I'm honest , mainly frustration and quite a lot of anger, I did really enjoy it tho I have a few caregivers in my family, and I know it frustrates them how things aren't done properly, mixed emotions but an enjoyable read thanks netgalley

Never take somebody at face-value.
Never underestimate somebody that is elderly.
Dolores finally meets her match in Maureen. Who would have thought.

Creepy and tantalisingly frustrating at times! As a reader you are entirely powerless as you can see the events unfolding but can do nothing but turn the pages and hope!

It’s a bit of a slow narrative at times, but I think that adds to the drama as it’s like a ticking time bomb.

The characters are well developed, I think Michael particularly is incredibly well crafted - his credibility is undermined by his circumstances, and as Maureen’s sole hope of survival this makes for a tense and nail biting series of events as they battle to be taken seriously! For me it is the characters, they are all so well designed and so real you cannot help but imagine how you would feel if it was your mum / dad / nan and face your own conscience as to what you would do if in this situation.

The ending is explosive and worth every page read to get to!

#BeforeIDie #NetGalley
A good read.
Maureen might be getting on in years but she’s fiercely independent and smart as a whip.
But when she falls and injures her ankle, her daughter Alva is convinced Maureen can no longer take care of herself and is determined to get her some help – which comes in the shape of local caregiver, Dolores.
Maureen tries to say no, she’s fine on her own, but it’s not so easy to get rid of Dolores. She seems to be everywhere, poking her nose into every corner of Maureen’s life, implying to Alva that her mother is getting senile and will soon need constant care.
Maureen feels as if she’s under siege 24/7. And she knows in her heart that there’s something not right about Dolores… But no-one will listen
I loved the way in which the author started the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for giving me an advance copy.

Frank, Elizabeth, Maureen and Dolores are all members of a retirement club. Frank's son, Michael is a drug addict. It's well known that he steals to fund his habit. Micheal finds his dad dead from an overdose and quickly becomes the prime suspect.

This story will mess with hour head and make you think about what happens to us as we get older. It's filled with lots of lovely characters and a couple of not so nice ones. There's a few curve balls in this well plotted story. The pace is steady as the tension builds. It was nice to read a book that was based on the elderly. It made a nice change. The story is told from Maureen and Michael's point of view. It's also a book you can't say too much about as it would spoil it for other readers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Inkubator Books and the author Jackie Morrissey for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really dark domestic thriller. I was so grabbed by the story line from the beginning of the book. The book delved deep into the aging loved ones. And decisions to be made on behalf of someone who we have loved immensely. What is required, what care givers want to do as opposed to what they force themselves to do out of obligation.
Throughout this intricately woven story the characters were Top notch! I felt Like I knew each one. Felt strong empathy for others and got flat out mad at the snarky ones!!
Real life situations and very uncomfortable topics just rocked this book!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.