Before I Die by Jackie Morrissey is not your typical thriller. The victims in this horror story are senior citizens - being taken out by their “carer” Delores. This demon is the last thing they see before dying. Nobody can believe this innocent kind-hearted woman could be guilty of a crime, and that’s where Maureen, another senior citizen comes in. Having previously been cared for by Delores, she is faced with her worst nightmare when her daughter Alva hires her back. Maureen is convinced Delores is out to get her, and drugging her to make her look senile. She then forms an unlikely alliance with Michael, the drug addicted son of the first victim Frank, and the two are determined to prove who Delores really is.

Let me start of by saying this book had me staying up past my bedtime to finish it last night. When I saw I was 90% through, I knew I had to keep going until I reached the end. It started off a tad slow, but it picked up quickly and I was hooked!

Maureen and Michael are two polar opposite characters, and the narrative switches between their POV. I know this is becoming a common trend in thrillers, but I thought it was well executed and added to the story. Maureen’s chapters had me seething, as Alva refused to believe Delores could be causing her mother any harm. There were multiple times I wish I could of shaken Alva to smack some sense into her. Then you have Michael’s chapters, which are heartbreaking as you see him struggle with his heroin addiction and attempts to sober up.

While they are a very unlikely duo, I enjoyed the friendship Maureen and Michael develop. There is a legitimate laugh out loud scene near the end that will warm your heart. Had these two not worked together, Delores would of continued her reign of terror.

While I enjoyed the book overall, the dialogue could of used some work. It felt clunky and the characters seemed to ramble on. There were times it lacked the flow of a natural conversation. Otherwise, I really didn’t have any complaints.

I tried to give this book a go, but sadly struggled to get into. This is through no fault of the author, the book just wasn't to my liking.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read the book. And all the best to the author.

Jackie is a new author for me and I looked forward to reading this. It didn’t disappoint. A really great read, and refreshing to see characters out with the usual demographic. I can’t wait for more form Jackie.

If there's one thing that I like doing it's discovering new authors. Jackie Morrissey is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for 'Before I Die' and it certainly sounded like the sort of psychological thriller I particularly enjoy. I wasn't wrong either because I really did enjoy reading 'Before I Die' but more about that in a bit.
I liked the character of Maureen. She is a strong and determined lady, who finds herself incapacitated by an ankle injury where she comes across the 'delightful' (note the sarcasm) Dolores. Maureen is pretty clued up and she realises that there is something not quite right about the overbearing Dolores. She tries to distance herself from Dolores but Dolores always seem to find a way through. Maureen is a very kind and compassionate lady. As for Dolores, well what can I say- other than she is a total nightmare and that she might as well have had a big alarm bell over her head because every time she appeared in the story, she made me cringe and sent a shiver down my spine. She is a highly dangerous, predatory and manipulative individual. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my goodness, 'Before I Die' was a highly enjoyable read. As soon as I started to read, alarm bells started to ring and my 'safeguarding' hat was put on. (Not to bore you too much but in a former work life I used to work for what is now the Disclosure & Barring Services, which is to protect children and vulnerable adults, so I already had some knowledge about predators like Dolores). The more of the book I read, the more I wanted to read and the more desperate I became to find out how the story concluded and so the quicker the pages were turning. I just had to know if Dolores was going to be caught. In a way, Dolores reminded me of a certain Dr. Harold Shipman for reasons which should become clear. I soon raced through the story and then all too quickly I reached the end of 'Before I Die'.
'Before I Die' is really well written. The synopsis is guaranteed to grab your attention and then Jackie draws you into the story. Once Jackie has your attention she will not let you have it back until the moment you read the last word on the last page. Not that I wanted my attention back. For me, the story is perfectly paced- it started with a bang and then the story was a bit of a slow burn, which was perfectly fine as it helped to build up the level of tension in the story. This slow burn led to a tense and dramatic conclusion. I really did feel as though I was part of the story and I found myself become very emotionally involved in the story. I know that ''Before I Die' is fiction but I find that if I enjoy a book to the extent that I enjoyed this one then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real. Whilst reading this book, I wanted to jump into the book's pages to give Dolores a darn good slap with a wet flip flop before frogmarching her off to the police station.
In short, 'Before I Die' was a tense psychological thriller with more than a twist or two. I really enjoyed reading it and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading more of Jackie's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book, so I could review it.

Clever plot, likeable/relatable character, and great twist!! What more can you ask for in a book....

Release date: June 27, 2020
#NetGalley #Goodreads #ARC #AdvancedReaderCopy

Thoughts: You know those books that make you wanna scream at the characters? This book was one of them. I would yell out of frustration (albeit in my head) from what I wanted the characters to do or out of anger for the evil character. I started this book without much expectation. The premise seemed okay and I thought it might pass the time as I was looking for a simple thriller. I was happily surprised and really enjoyed it. One thing I liked about this book was that the main character was an elderly woman but she wasn't portrayed as just a weak old woman. While there were weak moments, the main character, although old, was one tough, vibrant fighter.

Plot: Maureen is an old lady that lives on her own. She has hurt her ankle which prevents her from getting around as she would like. Dolores, a much younger lady who is a very overzealous, persistent, aggressive caretaker.
The thing about Dolores is there is something that just isn't right about her, something seemingly sinister. She always pops up and takes over even when the person doesn't want it.
After, Maureen's elderly friend, Frank, mysteriously dies, Maureen becomes suspicious of Dolores. Only problem is, Frank's drug addicted son has been accused of the murder and Maureen's friends and family thinks that she has been showing signs of delusion and confusion. The story takes on a cat and mouse game with Maureen trying to out Dolores but Dolores isn't going down without a fight.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This was my first read from Jennifer Morrissey and I would be interested in reading more from her.

I thought this was a well written thriller.

Maureen isn’t happy that Dolores is caring (if that’s what you call it) for her. Dolores isn’t a nice person and Maureen needs to have her wits about her.

This is one of those stories that you know could happen in real life so it’s kinda creepy in that sense. Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

This was a different type of psychological thriller based around the older generation but was a great read that had you turning the pages to reach the conclusion.
Frank, Elizabeth, Maureen and Dolores....all members of a retirement club. Dolores is a woman who likes to care for others.
Frank's son, Michael, leads a troubled life as a drug addict, known for stealing to fund his habit. When he finds his dad dead from an overdose, he becomes the primary suspect. He forms an unlikely friendship with Maureen. Dolores is now caring for Maureen, who appears to be coming senile having taken an overdose. However things are not as they seem and the motives of Dolores are thrown into question.
Loved this book, highly recommend.

I read this for a blog tour.
This is something I genuinely worry about - the carer who's out for whatever they can get. As someone with mental health issues, married to a disabled person I fear being left, like the elderly victims in this book, with someone who presents a different face to the outside world.

That being said, most people in the caring professions are nice and would never turn into Dolores.

I liked that the heroine is an older woman - Maureen is in the Miss Marple mold of a sleuth who many overlook due to her age.

There were some genuinely chilling moments and a satisfying denouement, a very impressive debut novel all round.

It is my pleasure to kick off the blog tour for Before I Die by Jackie Morrissey.

The story begins with Maureen – an elderly lady who is recovering from an ankle injury. Her daughter arranges for carer to drop and keep an eye on Maureen. Afterall, Delores was the live-in carer for a friend of Maureen’s so what could possibly go wrong? Different events unfold that throw suspicion on both sides…is Maureen starting to get confused and mixing things up? Or is Delores not quite what she seems? And how on earth would you go about proving it when everything seems so reasonable?

This is a slow burn that will mess with your head! It put me in mind of The One Who Got Away in that respect - it made me feel desperately sad and concerned for anyone who is in this situation, how on earth do you know who to trust? How easy it is to write an elderly person off as confused and what an awful thought that this might be what the future holds...

There was a lot held back with this story and Morrissey built the slowly builds the tension until final the end of the book plays out - a very well put together story that unravels rather than being dumped in one fell swoop. 

So a slow burn but still a quick to read book with some interesting dilemmas and good characters... albeit that it leaves a nasty taste!

All Alva wants is someone to help her aging mother with the simple tasks of life. Her mother has had an injury and while she is insistent she is fine, Alva is worried. In walks Dolores the “perfect” care person. Only Dolores has a past and some secrets.
This was a swift read and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough.
Thoroughly enjoyed the twists ride.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ebook version of the book in exchange for my honest review.

We begin with our main character – Maureen – an elderly lady that found herself recovering from an ankle injury. In a bid to help her during that time, her well-meaning but totally misguided daughter, asked a carer to drop in to assist Maureen. Afterall, Delores was the live-in carer for a friend of Maureen’s so what could possibly go wrong? Different events unfold that throw suspicion on both sides…is Maureen starting to get confused and mixing things up? Or is Delores not quite what she seems? And how on earth would you go about proving it when everything seems so reasonable?

This story isn’t overly elaborate but my, it packs a punch. There aren’t the usual overt, outlandish actions and plot twists that you’d expect from a book like this. Instead, it’s made up of clever, subtle events that could be completely believable in real life. That is where the beauty lies. I’m still reeling from the ease and realness of the events. It’s this very realness that makes this tale so dark and utterly twisted.

With this in mind I loved the plot! Despite the small twists and little changes, it still managed to move quickly. Morrissey built the intensity throughout until I was so on edge by the time we came to the last ‘scene’ I felt like I was barely breathing as it all unfolded. The way it all came together was well thought out too. We weren’t given all the answers straight away or in a linear way which kept up the mystery. There was also no knowing how much the other characters knew, apart from Maureen, or when they might show up which again, just heightened the unknown and the questions. At one point Maureen’s inner monologue said “She assembled what she knew for Michael” which was pretty much how I felt around that time and throughout the rest of the book, trying to rearrange my thoughts and the events until things started clicking in to place. Lastly, Morrissey’s choice of demographic was very smart because the more Maureen protested, the more it cast doubt and fuelled the senile theories. Very catch 22!

This was a fast, easy to read book, that delivered in its ability to create suspense and characters that you wanted to get behind. I really enjoyed reading it – well as much as you can enjoy reading something that unsettles you so much!

Posted on: lotteslibrary.com

OMG!!!!! I loved this book so much. I was thinking this book could be a true story, it seemed so real. It really makes me not want to grow old because you never know what may happen to you and no one would believe you.

Although this book started a. Little slow, it soon sped up and I ended up really enjoying it. For one thing it was a nice change to read a story featuring older people. Let’s face it, they don’t get much attention from fiction writers. And for another, as a slightly older person myself, it was frighteningly realistic. I could see this really happening. And I have read enough reports of elder abuse to know it is real.

When her 80 year old friend, Frank, dies Maureen comes under the sway of his former career, Dolores. Maureen doesn’t like Dolores as she is a very pushy and bossy woman who barges her way into people’s lives and takes over. Maureen has also been speaking with Frank’s son, Michael. Although Michael is a heroin addict he is not a bad person and he has convinced Maureen that Dolores is not to be trusted. However, Maureen’s daughter, Alva, dismisses her concerns and tells her how ungrateful she is - Dolores only wants to help! Alva believes Dolores when she says Maureen is starting to get confused and frail. As Maureen doesn’t like confrontation she goes along with having Dolores as her career for a while as she tries to work out how to get rid of her. But soon Maureen is struggling to marshall her thoughts and is always so tired. Is she really going downhill as everyone thinks? As. time goes by though it becomes clear that Dolores may really have a nefarious agenda. How can one little old lady, whom everyone thinks is losing her marbles, fight back?

I thought this was very well done and quite heartwarming while still having a sense of approaching menace as the book progressed. The characters were really relatable and the suspense really ratcheted up towards the end.

This book not only kept my attention, it made me anxious and tense. The story was horrifying in that the protagonist was so vulnerable. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Highly recommended.

First Thank You NetGalley & Jackie Morrissey for this complimentary copy of Before I Die!

Maureen is a smart, independent lady. And not much can get by her.
She falls and hurts her ankle, her daughter believes she needs to be looked after. And that's where Dolores comes in.
Dolores isn't what she seems to be. And Maureen is figuring it out!

Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
---- This books started off a bit too slow for me. If its doesn't catch my full attention in the first chapter I usually don't finish it. But as I kept reading it did pick up and started getting a bit creepy which is what I love.
It has a great plot. And the twist was great.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller/suspense story!

A minor injury exposes the protagonist, Maureen, a retired schoolteacher to the evil machinations of health care worker, Dolores (a name which can't help but call to mind another Dolores of horror fame) in this fast paced and original account of the too frequent occurrence of elderly abuse. Temporarily hampered by a broken ankle, Maureen's recuperation is placed in the hands of a clever murderess by her well meaning but typically preoccupied daughter. As personal objections give way to deadly implications for Maureen's immediate social circle, she manages to narrowly escape her tormentor with the aid of an unlikely partner while exposing the greater magnitude of Dolores's crimes against her chosen targets, the vulnerable elderly population. Through sensitive character interpretation and representation, Morrissey weaves an engaging plot with surprising twists and turns.

I received a complimentary copy of Before I Die from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This one was a nail-biter! I felt helpless as I related to the old lady who predicted the ill-intent of a neighbor's caregiver. With no one to listen or for support, Maureen finds herself in danger quickly. I refuse to provide spoilers, but I will say I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this conflict would be resolved. Great book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC.
This was a bit of a creepy thriller for someone of my age! It's a good book with a decent ending, but the whole premise of an 'angel of death' being in charge of vulnerable people is quite depressing. These so-called carers of the elderly or infants have been in the news over the years and it's so sad to find out what horrors people are capable of.
The nurse, Dolores, in this case lives with and 'cares' for an 80-year old man who ends up dead. His good friend Maureen, the main character, is elderly and has her suspicions about the nurse, but has difficulty getting her daughter and others to believe her. Unfortunately this means she can't escape from Dolores, who bullies her no end. She's scared for her life and feels helpless, but help is on the way...

Not quite what I expected at the beginning, yet the story does rev up,

A neighborhood "carer", Dolores, becomes the symbol of senior citizen grief. The story begins with Maureen, who had been cared for by Dolores before - now Maureen hides from her. Frank, a friend and neighbor of Maureen, is about 80 and he needs assistance. Dolores lives at his place and "cares" for Frank.

This story is a bit scary - especially if you are of the senior set - but everything comes together with a flash finish.

Many Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!