Deadly Diet Pills and Body Shaming

Fit to Die is a medical thriller set in Los Angeles and Vancouver, revolving around the deadly consequences of toxic diet pills and online body shaming. The story begins with the death of Owen Galloway, a track star and the son of a prominent U.S. Senator, who is found dead in his bedroom from an apparent overdose. This incident sets off a chain of events that uncovers a dark world of diet culture, unscrupulous wellness centers, and a rapidly rising body count.

Fit to Die stands out for its compelling and timely themes, realistic medical scenarios, and well-developed characters. However, some readers might find the dialogue-heavy narrative a bit overwhelming. Overall, it is a thought-provoking thriller that sheds light on the dark side of the wellness industry and the lengths people will go to achieve physical perfection.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy of Fit to Die!

"From internationally bestselling author Daniel Kalla comes a riveting thriller about online body shaming, toxic diet pills, a vulnerable mega-celebrity, and a rapidly rising body count."

A good police/crime mystery with some medical elements. I wish they didn't advertise this as a thriller because I feel like it sets a tone that this will be more intense and dark than it really is. I did enjoy the medical part of the book - and it turns out the author is a physician! As ignorant as this sound, I'm surprised to find out that DNP (the toxic diet pills in the book) is very real. Overall, I enjoyed this and I learned something new from it.

When I read the premise for this, I was very interested. Reading about influencers to me is very fascinating.
I had a hard time keeping track of the characters as there was so many of them. Some of the twists fell flat for me, but that be a me thing. I read a lot of thrillers.
It was enjoyable.

"Fit to Die" by Daniel Kalla presents an intriguing medical thriller that delves into the world of fitness and mortality. Kalla's background as an emergency room physician lends authenticity to the medical aspects of the story, grounding the narrative in realism. The premise, which revolves around a series of deaths linked to extreme fitness regimes, is both compelling and timely, tapping into society's obsession with health and wellness.

The protagonist, Dr. Julie Rees, is a relatable and determined character whose pursuit of the truth drives the plot forward. Her professional expertise and personal vulnerabilities add depth to the story, allowing readers to empathize with her struggles and triumphs.

Kalla's writing is crisp and engaging, keeping readers hooked as the mystery unfolds. The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the suspense high. However, some readers may find the resolution of the mystery somewhat predictable, detracting from the overall impact of the novel.

Despite its strengths, "Fit to Die" is not without its flaws. The secondary characters lack development, and certain plot points feel contrived or formulaic. Additionally, while the medical details are well-researched, they may be overwhelming for readers without a background in healthcare.

Overall, "Fit to Die" is a solid medical thriller that offers an intriguing premise, engaging protagonist, and suspenseful plot. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it delivers an entertaining read that will satisfy fans of medical mysteries. With its combination of medical expertise and thrilling storytelling, "Fit to Die" earns a respectable 3/5 rating.

I DNF this book. The description of fit to die seemed so intriguing and up my alley but I couldn’t get into the story.

I’ve had this book on my TBR list for quite some time and I finally picked it up.

The content of the book was very interesting. I enjoyed the focus on the drug and the implications quite a bit.

I spent much of my time reading trying to remember who the characters were. There were so many of them, and many with not a lot of introduction.

From an aesthetic perspective, the cover art does not do the story justice. Part of why I kept putting off this book was because of the cover.


But overall, I did enjoy it.


An ARC was provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon and Schuster Canada and Daniel Kalla for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

"Fit to Die" is a gripping thriller that delves into the dark world of drug addiction and toxic substances. The story follows LAPD Detective Cari Garcia and Vancouver Detective Anson Chen as they investigate a series of mysterious overdoses linked to a deadly toxin known as DNP.

The novel explores the interconnected lives of prominent individuals, including track star Owen Galloway, toxicologist Dr. Julie Rees, and pop star Rain Flynn, whose deaths shed light on the dangerous consequences of illicit diet pills and online marketing.

Author skillfully weaves a complex narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, unraveling the web of deceit and intrigue surrounding the distribution of DNP. The fast-paced plot and well-developed characters make for a compelling read, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end.

While the premise of the story is intriguing, some readers may find the pacing to be slow at times, and the resolution of the mystery may feel rushed. Additionally, the characterization of certain individuals could have been more fleshed out to create a deeper emotional connection with the reader.

Overall, "Fit To Die" offers a thought-provoking exploration of the dangers of substance abuse and the lengths people will go to for fame and success. Despite its shortcomings, the novel is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers.

Oh no, I read this book in April 2023 and apparently forgot to review it... I really enjoyed this one. It took a bit of time to figure out who all the characters were and if they were actually part of the storyline or just a side part, that really didn't need a name and/or description. But once you figure out the core people, this book comes together like any other Kalla book. Fast paced, great medical jargon and with a story that needs to be solved, which keeps me turning the pages, and coming back to his books! Also being from BC, I loved how 'local' this one felt. I will never not read a Kalla book!!

This book had a really interesting premise - influencers are such a hot topic that it's brilliant to have a twisted take. Some twists fell a bit flat to me though and I felt like I needed more depth to the story. Overall enjoyable though!

This book fell a bit flat for me.

While I expected it would be something I’d really enjoy as a blogger and fitness enthusiast who loves thrillers, there was just something missing.

While it was an interesting idea for a plot, I just didn’t feel it was fully fleshed out and was a bit slow at times and , I just didn’t connect to the characters.

A medical thriller about toxic diet pills and the lengths one will go to lose weight, even if that means risking your entire life. I enjoy Kalla’s books because he tackles current issues with a mix of medical insight and details. And I always enjoy the setting of Vancouver, where I can really picture the areas he uses in the story. The characters definitely have room for more development but I don’t think that’s necessarily the purpose of Kalla’s books. Held my interest and had me wanting to see how it all played out so a solid medical mystery imo.

This is a contemporary thriller about the impact of diet pills and the influence of societal pressures to be young, fit and slim. The reality of eating disorders and the lengths people are willing to go to transform their bodies without putting in the work are addressed. The author gives a lot of medical background and detail which enhances the topic. The story line is fast paced.

This book seemed well written, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sure lots of people enjoyed it though. It definitely seems like a good read.

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Fit To Die is a thriller that focuses on the dangers of weight obsession. When people start dying due to taking this popular weight loss pill containing a deadly toxin, Dr. Julie Rees and Detective Anson Chen race against the clock to find out who is the real monster behind the drug and how they can stop it once and for all.

This was a descent read for me. I found it to be interesting and entertaining but the thrill factor just wasn't there. The story itself dragged on a bit but picked up at the ending to finish off a descent note. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, wouldn't recommend it as a thriller. However, I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for something that brings light on the serious dangers of eating disorders and body image issues.

Canadian author Daniel Kalla has crafted a captivating and clever medical thriller with Fit to Die that dives deep into the diet industry's darker side. He exposes the dangers of diet pills and highlights the issues of body shaming and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

This story's setting in Vancouver and Los Angeles made it even more enjoyable for me. Seeing a familiar Canadian city in the story adds a nice touch, making the experience richer.

The book features a variety of characters who are engaging and keep me hooked as I turn the pages. The original plot drives the story forward right up to the satisfying payoff in the end.

I absolutely loved this book!! I couldn’t put it down.
I just loved all the characters. I highly recommend this book.

This is a fine thriller that showcases the very real danger of diet culture. Although I expected the drug at the heart of the story to be fictional I was surprised and saddened to realize it is very real. Although this wasn’t a standout story for me , I did enjoy it and encourage you to read it too should you find yourself with a copy. An enjoyable summer beach read type book.

ARC Review: Fit to Die

Thank you @simonschusterca for my copy of this book - it’s out now!

I’ve been really trying to get into more thrillers recently, especially since realizing that a lot of them aren’t actually scary enough to keep me up at night. This one definitely had the vibe of a thriller I could handle but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of suspense.

Overall I found this book to be well written and I actually enjoyed the plot but the characters fell really flat for me. There was a slight attempt at a love interest storyline that felt kind of forced and unimportant to the general story so I didn’t care for it much. I did appreciate that everything made logical sense and there wasn’t a random third party thrown in to explain away the mystery.

This is definitely not a book where you can pick apart the technical pieces - the medical descriptions were fantastic and had an incredible amount of details portrayed very accurately!

Read this if you:
- Have ever done something shady to get ahead in your career
- Love a ‘whodunnit’ where all the pieces fit together pedectly
- Enjoy a plot where justice is served

When the son of a senator is found dead in his home in LA, no foul play is suspected. Soon after, a famous influencer in Vancouver turns up dead with many of the same symptoms that have also been showing up in other young people who have died of apparent drug overdoses. When the autopsy confirms that her death was caused by overdosing on a diet pill that contained toxic levels of DNP, police detectives in LA and Vancouver must work together to find the source of the illicit drugs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Fit to Die” is in many ways a basic police procedural following the investigation of deaths linked to a diet pill laced with a deadly toxin. Detectives from Los Angeles and Vancouver team up to solve the case.

I really enjoyed it, with a few reservations. The plot is fast-paced and interesting. The author raises questions about body image, social media influencers, and the diet industry. Unfortunately, he doesn’t go too deeply into any of these issues. The books is plot heavy, with little depth of character. And there are a lot of characters! At times I had difficulty remembering who was who.

Despite these issues, the plot moves along and the resolution is satisfying. I really like the relationships between the two teams of detectives. I thought it was suspenseful and twisty, and the author’s experience as an ER physician definitely added to the story.

The book isn’t highly memorable, but it’s enjoyable. I recommend it to pass a weekend or a day by the pool.

Reading the description of this one was super intriguing but the actual story fell a bit flat for me. I did like that it was a pretty quick read, quite fast paced.