A string of deaths of young, healthy people, including the athlete son of a US senator and a pop star/influencer, spurs a joint investigation by Canadian detective Anson Chen and his US counterpart Cari Garcia. The victims are dying with the same symptoms - extremely high fever and uncontrollable seizures leading to brain death. The common factor is a toxic substance called DNP which was never intended for human consumption but is now being marketed on the dark web as a weight loss miracle drug. Can the combined talents of Garcia and Chen, along with medical input from toxicologist Dr. Julie Rees, stop the spread of DNP and put an end to the carnage?

I always find Kalla's novels, with a blend of medical insight and detective work, an entertaining read. This one is no different - with quickly moving action, decent dialogue, and a few little plot twists to keep you on your toes. The one criticism I would make is that I think he could do more with the setting and creating a unique sense of place in this series. It is a picture perfect setting on the west coast and I feel he could do more with that. Otherwise this is a reliably entertaining book in this medical/detective series. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster Canada for the digital copy.

Daniel Kalla is so good at writing timely stories that really resonate.. Fit to Die does exactly that. People are dying to be thin - literally. There has been a spike in deaths from DNP - an explosive that in small doses increases metabolism..exceed that small dose and it's deadly.
Detectives in both Vancouver and LA are investigating these deaths and it just so happens a luxury fitness studio has locations in both cities. How many people will die before the source can be stopped?

Great story, great characters, another Daniel Kalla book that hits the mark. 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of Fit to Die in exchange for an honest review.

My latest five star read is Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla. This medical thriller that takes on body shaming, diet culture, eating disorders and supplement safety or lack thereof is so realistic and unfortunately all too real.

When DNP, an explosive used in the trenches of WW1, is found to be causing multiple deaths in LA and Vancouver in elite athletes and people with body dysmorphia, Detectives Anson Chen and his partner Theo Kostas are put on the case after Anson’s girlfriend, Julie Rees, alerts them to the deaths in the ER. Use of the chemical becomes international news after a well known singer dies from DNP poisoning. Detective Cari Garcia of the LAPD contacts the Vancouver detectives when she notices the pattern of use and together they work to try and find the distributor of the chemical and how people are accessing it before it becomes a viral trend.

Readers may remember Julie Rees, ER doctor and toxicologist and Anson Chen from Kalla’s previous novel The Last High. When I first heard that Kalla was bringing these characters back, I was very excited to read the story.

Full of twists and turns, real life scenarios, and an eye opening peek into an industry that our current society is obsessed with, Fit to Die had me turning the pages as quickly as I could.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Fit to Die publishes May 9, 2023.

3.4 stars
In a world that is concerned about how you look at the expense of all common sense comes Kalla’s book. A #Canadian author tackles the illegal and unethical spread of toxic ingredients to the vulnerable.

This book set in Vancouver, Canada and Los Angeles could have been a page-turner but left me a little cold. The wide variety of characters were similar in their emotional striving and upsets which was often confusing. Who are we talking about? should not be a frequent go-to.

One saving grace for this book was the backdrop of Vancouver, the description of mountains against water, the surprising downpours, the streaming traffic on well known congestion points, all familiar to me and oh so enjoyed.

Kalla is a practising physician and kudos to him for finding the time to also be an author, but I had to wonder how many of his characters are based on a short interaction with an emergency patient.

The topic of illicit drugs given to a consumer for an immediate result, the vulnerability of a population consumed by fame, and the depth of deceit with no worry of consequence was a scary description of what awaits the less grounded.

This book does give a worthwhile view at this (unfortunately) thriving industry and what the medical and law enforcement undertake on a too regular basis.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Simon&SchusterCanada for an early copy for honest review.

For more thoughts on this book, see my blog https://morethanlettersonalinetoday.blogspot.com/2023/04/fit-to-die-book-review.html

Exploring the world of body dysmorphia and diet culture that can be lethal, detectives from Vancouver and LA try to solve connected homicides. Very intriguing and informative, this is a good detective thriller. I enjoyed the characters and their backstories as much as the story itself.

This is another quick paced and entertaining novel by Kalla that takes on the gritty reality of our weight obsessed culture. Kalla ties the police and the medical fields together well in all his novels, making the information relatable to those not in the professions. . The author is ahead of his time here already referencing the Ozempic craze that the media is just recognizing now. Kalla lays out the nagging voice in most of us about our weight and looking for a quick way to lose weight and how some can be so vulnerable to that voice that they risk their lives to it.

I always appreciate the Vancouver/Lower Mainland references and had to laugh at a side piece in the story about two gangsters who were killed with names of the gangsters that felt like they came right from my Global news feed!

I liked the addition of LAPD Detective Cari Garcia and found the LA/Vancouver connection realistic both in the entertainment industry and the fitness culture.

Kalla has a way of hitting the big news topics in his novels making them timely reads with added insight.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC. This was my first Daniel Kalla book and I was excited to read this book. The premise was interesting and I was looking forward to a mystery. The book was ok. It's a light read. A good beach read. I wasn't keen on Daniel's dialogue. It felt pedantic and forced. Some of the characters were painfully steroetyped. I had hoped for a bit more depth in this novel. If you want a light read then this book is for you. If you want more psychological thriller where there are twists and turns you don't see coming and real character development, then this book isn't for you.

I'm going to be totally.honest here, this book fell a little bit flat for me. I wanted to love it so badly but things felt disconnected. The writing was really well done, however, and I would be interested in trying another work by this same author. I think I just didn't feel incredibly invested in this particular story.

I loved this book so much! It gets 5 stars with an additional bonus star for being partially set in Vancouver.

I started reading Fit To Die earlier today and thought I'd just read a couple of chapters but NO! I've read the entire book and my unfinished chores are giving me the side-eye.

This was a fast-paced read with a lot of characters but I was never overwhelmed and was able to keep them all straight.

I was horrified to read in the author's notes that this drug is real.

This was my first Daniel Kalla novel but it won't be my last!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada!

Thank you Simon & Schuster CA and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

<b> Writing: basic | Plot: 5/5 lmao | Ending: 3/5 </b>

<b> SYNOPSIS </b>

As deaths caused by a diet pill containing DNP (an explosive) ramp up in LA and Vancouver, the two police forces link up to find the distributor.

<b> MY OPINION </b>

This is a true middle of the road book. Yes, even with a 5/5 plot. The plot was rather complex, but it stayed toit and didn't jut off into silly season territory (mafia, john wick-esque action, etc). Despite the handful of characters and alternating locations, I never found myself confused with what was going on and where. Also, the fact that Daniel Kalla is an MD made the medical aspects very realistic and informative, which a hoe always appreciates because lots of authors just run off assumptions and vibes these days.

Now, where it wasn't so great was the very bland, basic writing and the abuse of exclamation marks. I love to abuse an exclamation mark (or 10) in my reviews, but in published work, that's a different story. It makes the dialogue cringy and gives me soap opera vibes. Just use an adjective if they're hootin and hollerin and all that. I didn't count how many exclamation marks Kalla used, but I'd estimate it was one per scene AT LEAST. Sometimes he was using b2b2b2b exclamation marks which should be a punishable offense tbh.

Next, we have the "all plots, no thoughts" vibe (ffs how many times can I say vibe in this review?). Yes, the plot was well-executed, but it was missing depth and nuance. The relationship drama injected into the story felt like window dressing and it felt like the characters were assigned one emotion each and that's what they rocked with.

Also, this was a story about the toxic culture of influencers and how lethal eating disorders can be, but Kalla failed to really explore this with any depth. It felt like an angle, but not much more. He really could've gotten into the psyche of individuals who take these pills and why, or delved a bit deeper into how the "wellness" industry is really about being skinny at any cost. It felt like he missed an opportunity to really make the reader feel sympathy toward these characters and their struggles. Even Cari's inner monologuing about her sister, Luci, who passed due to her battle with anorexia, felt strangely devoid of any emotion.

Regardless, I can see this working for many people, as I've read similarly written police procedurals that are rated extremely well. I don't have any strong feelings toward this book. It just wasn't a banger. Also the cover is cool but it really has jack shit to do with the book LOL.

<b> PROS AND CONS </b>

Pros: well-executed plot, easy breezy read, medical aspects were informative

Cons: lacked emotional punch, didn't delve deep enough into the psychological aspects of eating disorders or the toxic "wellne

3.25⭐️

This was an intriguing read. It felt light for a thriller and although it discussed disordered eating, it felt more surface level to me.

There were parts of the writing that felt like it was being written more like a screenplay than a novel, providing details that gave context perhaps to the scenario but took away from the fluidity of the story.

I felt like this was an interesting story and the various character lines kept me interested but the writing style was disjointed for me and kept pulling me back out of the story which really affected my enjoyment.

I do think this would make a great movie.

Fit to Die
What can I say? I devoured this book in 1 day! It was fast paced, twisty, turny and fasinating. I didn't guess the final ending at all.
It brought so much awareness to body issues, eating disorders and Toxic loose weight fast scams.
This was my first nov by Daniel Kalla and it will not be my last!
I want to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC.
It publishes on May 9, 2023

Always a great read when Daniel Kalla is the author!
Once again, he has brought, us the readers, the dire reality of the opioid crisis. Also in this read, we have issues of body shaming and eating disorders within the diet industry as well as the banned diet pills that are killing people in Vancouver and L.A.
A toxic, explosive chemical developed for WW 1 has become the latest toxic addition to weight loss and body building products. A series of deaths are attributed to DNP and police in Los Angeles and Vancouver team up to find the sources and shut them down.
The first page grabbed me and I knew I was in for a great ride. It was a fast paced read and I found I couldn’t put it down. Definitely twists and turns and an unexpected conclusion, all the things I love in a good thriller!
Highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Daniel Kalla for the advanced copy of Fit To Die.

Book Review
Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla

⚠️Triggers⚠️
Bulimia/anorexia
Body dysmorphia
Drug abuse

Characters
Too many to count - but I did- over 30 names….
I appreciate there were “epidemic” numbers of deaths but did I really need the names of every single lab tech, cop, current and past boyfriend/girlfriend, and coffee barista? I struggled to connect with the characters- even the MC’s - I needed a bit more complexity and depth to their narratives I think.

Exceptional medical realism (as expected from an ER Doctor). The hospital scenes were so accurate they added another layer of urgency to the narrative. Kalla excels at this.

Overall a solid read but not my favourite from this author. I look forward to continuing to read from his backlist.

Thank you to @simonandschuster and @netgalley for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

A medical thriller centered around a diet culture, Fit to Die is very relevant for our times. The drug DNP, used in explosives in earlier times has now become a weight loss pill. Unfortunately this is part is not fiction. How many of our on line ads are centered on weight loss. In this thriller multiple deaths in LA and Vancouver have been attributed to DNP. Anson and Theo of the VPD team up with Cari from the LAPD to track down the sellers and distributors of this fatal drug. A must read for those who enjoy a medical thriller.
#FitToDie#NetGalley#SimonSchusterCanada

This was a very interesting read I would best describe as a Medical Mystery Thriller. I had some Criminal Minds/CSI vibes reading the book which is definitely not a bad thing! These are the kind of TV shows which give me life!

The novel hits the topic of body/fat shaming, how social media can negatively influence people’s perspectives, the fact people are looking for the ultimate easy weight loss fix and an underground black market selling deadly diet pills for profit.

After a string of deaths, including the son of a Senator and a famous pop star, the cause of death is found to be a deadly toxin called DNP. As the investigation is underway, the DNP is found linked to diet pills and drinks. Tracking down where they are manufactured and who is distributing them becomes the focus.

I was a little wary when I began the book because there are quite a few characters, each with their own POV. There did not seem to be a “main” character but rather, a lot of people who were invested in the same case, who were either affected by the loss of someone to DNP or who were behind the supply of DNP. There were a lot of players to get to know which took place in two different cities – Vancouver and Los Angeles. { I, personally, love a book written in a Canadian setting}

After I figured out the who is who, the storyline I found fascinating. I was shocked when I read the Author’s Notes at the end of the book to find out DNP really is a product in illicit diet pills and being distributed in our society. The book wasn’t necessarily a fast paced read full of action but rather, a good steady flow of characters and information which held my attention. It touched on the personal lives of the main characters but not enough for me to really get to know them to feel anything for them. The focus was on the crime and getting the people behind it to do the time. ( bahaha cheesy rhyme I know lol)

Four solid stars, would recommend when you are in the mood for a medical mystery. Watch for it – publication date May 9, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the digital ARC.

Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps….)
*********************************************************************

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.

When Owen Galloway, the track star son of a prominent US senator, is found dead of an overdose in his bedroom, LAPD Detective Cari Garcia suspects that he’s just another teenager who hid a drug addiction. In Vancouver, Dr. Julie Rees, an experienced toxicologist, notices a growing number of overdoses among the eating disordered and bodybuilders and mentions it to her boyfriend, Detective Anson Chen.
Then Rain Flynn, a famous pop star and social media influencer, dies in her Vancouver hotel room showing the same symptoms of a fatally high fever and uncontrollable seizures as Julie’s other ER patients, including the co-owner of a wildly popular wellness center with locations in both Vancouver and LA.
After an autopsy confirms that Rain overdosed on illicit diet pills containing a deadly toxin known as DNP—an explosive agent originally used in the trenches of World War I—the media gets hold of the story and runs wild with it. But who’s behind the online marketing and distribution of DNP? And how is the wellness center connected? The daunting challenge of putting the pieces together falls to Detectives Garcia in LA and Chen in Vancouver. Can they solve these crimes before DNP becomes the next viral TikTok challenge?

TikTok challenges....oy vey - that is a good enough reason for Dr. Rees to solve this problem alone: the world would be a better place without TikTok. DIabtribe aside, this is another great medical mystery by Dr. Kalla that looks at our diet culture and how people will literally do anything to be thin. DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) is a real phenomenon as I found by using Dr. Google and it is a scary one and I am sure that that was the impetus behind this drug being the killer in this excellently written novel.

I will recommend this book to friends, family, book clubs and patrons alike as it is a great medical thriller with so much at stake: body shaming is at an all-time high and some people will do literally anything to lose weight...even kill themselves..to be GOOP-approved-thin-enough. Take that, GOOP...you are as toxic and evil as the drug.

HiGHLY recommended.

#shortbutsweetreviews

Edge of your seat medical thriller. My favourite genre of thrillers! High end wellness centre selling drinks laced with DNP, or an explosive. Loved the settings, LA, Vancouver. Great characters! Overall fun read. Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for the arc of this book.

This is an earth shattering ride on the west coast!

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.

Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla reads quickly. While the plot-driven nature of Kalla's story kept me interested enough to keep turning pages, I found myself longing for further character development and searching for nuance between the lines. However, Kalla's experience as a medical doctor lends credibility to the story - he's certainly got a finger on the pulse of contemporary fad diet trends.

If you enjoy crime procedurals such as Law & Order: SVU, you'll likely devour Fit to Die in a sitting or two. 3 Stars.

If you are looking for a fast paced medical thriller that involves diet/ wellness culture and influencers then this is the book for you. I couldn't put this down because I needed to find out what would happen next. I really loved that detectives from LA and Vancouver were central to this book and I really enjoyed that they (and the doctor who helps them crack the case) had their own back stories that made them seem much more relatable. I haven't read the previous book that feature the Vancouver characters of Anson Chen and Julia Rees but that book also sounds very topical and a thriller that I won't be able to put down. (3.5 stars)