Tis the season, folks!

When I think of my favorite time of year, all I can picture is thunderstorms and thrillers by the candle light.

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer

With a title like that, it was worth an eye brow raise.
The cover was also stunning and deserved a place on my shelf, so I pre-ordered a copy before I even knew what it was about.

Ok, now let's talk about this sure to be bestseller.

I wouldn't necessarily consider this book a thriller, more like a humorous murder mystery with maybe a dribble of romance? I absolutely LOVED Kathy. She was relative and spunky. The storyline flowed with ease, it was so unique to what I typically read that I was so curious to see the plot unfold.

Fun Fact, This is Maxie Dara's debut, and she absolutely slayed! (in more ways than one!!)

Thank you Maxie Dara, Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review prior to the big release (October 1!!!!!)

Check out this teaser

Murder is not her department.

It’s not like it used to be. Modern-day grim reapers wear business casual, not black cloaks, and they don’t carry scythes, they work for S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), where the Department of Natural Causes is the least exciting gig. And that’s how Kathy Valence likes it: boring and predictable. She has enough stress in her personal life; she’s mid-divorce, pregnant, and terrified she doesn’t have what it takes to be a good mom.

Then, she goes to pick up a new client and finds his soul is missing. When she finally tracks down Conner Ortiz, he angrily insists he was murdered, and he refuses to move on until Kathy finds out why and by whom.

Kathy has only forty-five days to solve the mystery before the boy’s soul is doomed to roam the earth as a ghost forever. To do that she’ll have to call on the help of her retired mentor, her almost ex-husband—and, inconveniently, Conner himself. This is the wildest case of her career . . . and one wrong move could cost Kathy her job, not to mention her life.

Kathy Valence loves her job with S.C.Y.T.H.E. as a modern day grim reaper. Her personal life is a mess. She is mid-divorce, pregnant and terrified to be a mom. Her latest case proves to be a challenge. When she goes to pick up her latest client he refuses to move on because he was murdered and insists Kathy must find out who killed him!

I LOVED this debut novel! The story and development of the characters keeps you wanting more! I really hope this becomes a series. I can’t wait to read the next installment with grim reaper Kathy Valence. I recommend this book to those who like paranormal and mystery.

This was such a fun and cozy little mystery book!!

I loved how Kathy was a very average 40-something year old woman. She was getting divorced, found out she was pregnant, and had the worst luck of anyone she knew…so, said another way, she was a fantastic representation of a lot of women who typically aren’t represented!

I loved that she was such a reluctant heroine. She was used to being the person who messed things up and blended in in order to not stand out and ultimately lead to the demise of things. However, when her case ended up smelling a little fishy, she definitely was thrust into the star detective role whether she liked it or not. I loved watching her come into her own, trust her instincts, and let more people in to help her. It was a fun transformation to watch play out in the pages and it endeared her even more to me.

I absolutely loved Kathy’s and Connor’s dynamic! They were “enemies” turned resistant allies turned found family. Connor was hilarious and had such a sad background but was ultimately a great kid who just got caught in a bad situation. I loved watching him come around to Kathy and even lovingly send digs at her, as though she was his true maternal figure.

I enjoyed Jo, Kathy’s blind and older friend who had previously worked for SCYTHE as well. She was a breath of fresh air and comedy relief on page, especially with her relationship with her “boy” Connor.

I really, really loved Simon, Kathy’s soon-to-be-ex-husband. He truly cared for Kathy and would do anything and everything for her, no question asked! He was also a very average man, both in looks and personality, but he was the biggest, most loyal fan of Kathy’s and that’s what mattered! I loved watching her drop her walls around him and let him in finally. While she was worried he wouldn’t love the parts she had hidden away, it was so completely obvious to the reader that he would do anything for her.

I loved the time markers throughout the chapters counting down the days Kathy had to solve Connor’s murder. It added a sense of urgency to the overall plot and was enjoyable to keep all the days in perspective.

Finally, I like where the story left off. From the name of the book on Goodreads, it appears there will be more in this series, and I’m excited to see where it goes. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one 😊

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Maxie Dara for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

I've found that I love books about Reapers or Death as a character. This was a fun and new twist on a humans-as-reapers story. I enjoyed the plot and the characters, especially the angry teen ghost.

I loved this book. It was a murder mystery that was also heartwarming and funny. Kathy worked for an agency that moved souls from one plane to the next after death, but she stumbled upon a case that wasn’t making much sense. The boy insisted he’d been murdered, but had no tangible memories. Kathy’s life was falling apart around her and she hated taking risks or opening herself up, but something about the boy and his insistence had her agreeing to help him. Along the way, there were great characters, growth, and little bit of mayhem.
I definitely recommend it if you’re in the mood for something a bit light and fun, but with some depth to it. It wasn’t dark or gruesome despite the subject matter. Definitely a perfect read for a cozy fall day!

Oh Kathy. You had my heart almost instantly; you caring and self-doubting and relatable characters. I love seeing into Kathy's mind why she does the things she does because her parents told her she ruined everything (because WTF) and how she is an intense doubter and overthinking as I am. And yet she is one of the most caring and loving sleuths. I LOVE the set-up of this book; the SCYTHE entity is so intriguing and set up such a unique story.

This book has such interesting characters, so many suspicious ones and a few absolute cinnamon rolls! I loved seeing Kathy doubt her mothering abilities while we can ALL SEE how maternal and amazing she is. This book had my mind on a serious wild goose chase because I could not figure it out, until just before Kathy does. This book is cozy but also edgy and I love how those two factors worked together. I hope there will be more!!

I had so much fun reading this debut novel! It's imaginative and has the kind of wacky premise I love. Not only are grim reapers humans who walk among us, but it's a corporate gig with policies and procedures. Here, we meet our FMC, Kathy. She's 42, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her ex's baby. The last thing she needed was a case that did not follow protocol. But, teenage Connor swears he did not die of natural causes and demands an investigation. Now, Kathy has a mystery and a race against the clock.

A mash-up of paranormal mystery, cozy fantasy, and women's fiction, this whodunnit has moments of humor, heart, and unexpected depth. Real-life issues balance the paranormal elements, but I loved that the book didn't take itself too seriously. I found myself laughing out loud, enjoying the romance and the investigation, and then having my heartstrings tugged.

The characters are quirky and likable, and I loved their found family vibe and endearing generational friendships. A touching connection develops between Kathy and Connor, and they have great banter. I also enjoyed Kathy's soon-to-be ex-husband, Simon, who was a surprise, and her eccentric and uninhibited former mentor, Jo, who was a hoot!

The world-building, writing, and dialogue are great, and I happily suspended disbelief to get caught up in this fun and unique story. If you want a spooky season read that is offbeat, funny, and charming rather than scary, check this one out. I honestly cannot wait to see what this debut author writes next. Hopefully, it's book 2 in this series!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted ARC!

I enjoyed this cozy mystery a lot more than I anticipated. I love that the MCs are so normal. Average everything. Bland, even. And yet none of that is even mentioned when Kathy and Simon look at each other. Frumpy people fall in love and have satisfying spicy times, too! Yes! Also, the idea of found family is strong - their cohesive group of misfits almost felt like another character, its own entity. It’s not a perfect book (wrapped things up pretty quickly at the end), but it’s an entertaining way to spend an afternoon. 3.5 stars.

5 REAPER STARS!!

Where do I start?? A whole star to how the characters are written: the main character, a middle-aged pregnant lady that is divorcing basically the love of her life and her life is going down the toilet and the victim is a rich spoiled kid that is reasonably angry with how he died. The characters all felt relatable, even ones that you just meet in passing. For example, you meet the victim's ex and she's not just another rich spoiled kid, there is more to her than just that.

A whole two stars to the plot because it feels very original to me--probably because Maxie Dara has chosen a middle-aged woman of all people to be her main character. The delivery is also very unique. The main character, Kathy, has always kept her head down especially after being told by her own father that she screws up everything she touches. She isn't going to want to just immediately launch into heroics and that is seen in all her decisions moving forward. As a person with generalized anxiety disorder, I truly feel for her--girl was pregnant too and I understand being absolutely terrified of being a mother especially if you think that you'll just screw up their life.

A whole star for the flow/readability because I gobbled this book up in a day, about 2.5 hours?? I read fast, yes, but there's also something about this book that made it really hard to put down. I think it was the overall writing, because the delivery of the plot was just perfect. 45 days to figure out who killed the victim? It's such a minor thing, but the stretch of time was perfect for all the characters to get closer together and for things to blur for Kathy while she tries to figure out who actually is the killer.

A whole star because I definitely will reread this masterpiece. It was such a great read and it didn't give me a book hangover, honestly! I'm actually really pleased with that. I'll definitely recommend this book and reread it!!

Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley, for my free book for review.

"A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer" by Maxie Dara breathes fresh life into the paranormal cozy mystery genre, offering a delightfully unconventional take on the Grim Reaper trope. At its heart is Kathy, a refreshingly relatable protagonist whose age, insecurities, and strong moral compass make her instantly endearing to readers.

The story unfolds when Kathy, tasked with collecting a soul, discovers her charge missing. Upon locating seventeen-year-old Connor, who claims he was murdered, she embarks on an investigation that's as compelling as it is humorous. The unlikely duo's dynamic shines throughout, their growing bond subtly addressing themes of motherhood and belonging.

Dara's narrative sparkles with easy banter and well-timed humor, balancing the weightier themes of acceptance and self-doubt. The mystery itself is cleverly crafted, with a surprising reveal that keeps readers guessing until the end. This imaginative and entertaining cozy mystery not only satisfies the whodunit craving but also delivers an emotionally resonant story.

As a child, Kathy was labeled by her father as having "Sidam" (opposite of the Midas Touch), As a result, Kathy is convinced that she eventually destroys everything she touches. S.C.Y.T.H.E., the Secure Collection, Yielding and Transportation of Human Essences, is the first place Kathy Valence has ever truly felt successful. Sadly, this is a job that must remain a secret and that wears on Kathy's marriage. As the story begins we find 42-year-old Kathy pregnant with her soon-to-be ex's baby and in the middle of a "collection" for work.

Case # 507032 should be routine. After all, Kathy works in the Natural Causes division, not the Murder or the Accidental Death division. But when Kathy shows up to collect the Essence, it isn't there. This is unheard of for Natural Causes! When she eventually finds #507032, also known as Connor, he is convinced that he was murdered. He refuses to go with Kathy, despite the fact that his memories are hazy and he can't give Kathy any concrete details about his death. All he knows for sure is that he saw a S.C.Y.T.H.E. badge right before he died. The idea that one of her colleagues is a murderer is more than Kathy can take. Now she has to find out the truth. Unfortunately, her boss is fed up with her delays and throws her off the case. Now it's just her, Connor, and her bff a retired S.C.Y.T.H.E. agent named Jo. When there's an attempt on her life, she's forced to bring her soon-to-be ex, Simon, into the mix.

This book is a little campy (think <i>Dr. Who</i>), but the characters are a lot of fun and there are some twists and turns. I did get a little frustrated with Kathy's obsession with her "Sidam" problem and the idea that she poisoned everything around her eventually - her outlook was pretty negative most of the time. But, I absolutely loved Simon! Connor, though he had a pretty bad "potty mouth", was a typical teenager who really grew on me as the book went on. I loved the relationships between the characters and the themes of grief and found family.

This book is definitely worth the read and I look forward to reading the sequel! 4 solid stars

Much thanks to Maxie Dara, Berkley, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spoilers! Beware!

The title's misleading; to call it a guide implies the MC has killer-catching experience, but it's quite the opposite. She has no idea what she's doing.

It's a bit of a slow burn because Kathy's a very reluctant heroine, but once Conner starts to cooperate the pace picks up, and then when Simon gets involved things move even faster. That said, it does feel now and again like the characters are sitting on their hands and waiting out the clock---which is exactly what they're doing. Dara usually utilizes those scenes for character development, which is excellent, but the reader might still feel some lag. The stakes keep rising but the rise in tension pauses, if that makes sense, so it's a tad frustrating.*

The biggest plot hole I noticed is probably the characters playing hide and seek. Kathy's worked for Scythe for several years and has only been separated from her husband and living in an apartment for less than a year. It seemed odd to me that the address on file for her was the apartment and not still the house she'd shared with Simon for a decade. I imagine most people would neglect to perform the formality of updating their address, especially in tenuous circumstances, but in the case that someone was proactive, I have a hard time believing their previous address wouldn't still be logged somewhere, on the internet if not within the company.

My point being, when the killer failed to find what they wanted at Kathy's apartment, why didn't they check out the house right away? That'd be my first guess on where to find her, followed by her closest friend, and they searched the friend's place right away, yet never searched her estranged husband's house. It became very obvious that Dara was purposefully allowing the bads to remain obtuse about where to look for Connor until she was ready for the black moment.

*The three days after Connor was taken was a notable example of waiting out the clock. Why the timeline couldn't have been tweaked to skip that lag, or at least shorten it, I don't know. Another example was needing someone else to work on Connor's phone, but that one I forgive because it prevented Simon being ex machina.

All that said, I did greatly enjoy this book. I loved Connor's development, Kathy's development. I loved Jo, I loved Simon. I especially love Kathy and Simon's romance. They're far from the typical romantic hero and heroine, at least physically speaking, and that's part of what makes their love so beautiful. And refreshing! Not all heroes need to be broody and arrogant alphas, and not all heroines feisty super models. Actually, come to think of it, the villains were the beauties. Interesting.

I could go on for days about the character development. Like how Kathy increasingly called Connor by name instead of case number. Connor's teenage jargon (which showed me my age because a few times I didn't understand the slang). But the other characters were well realized also. Health crazy Stu---Stu's biceps!---bad cliche Jesse, quirky Caroline, rascally Jo. And how the video game played in---brilliant. Not sure it was significant enough to use "Owen" like they do, but whatevs. The timeline was clunky, but other aspects of the writing were outstanding.

Except the author's penchant for "offensively inoffensive." She only used it twice, but it's unusual enough to be noticeable. And I honestly don't know what it means. So both times it appeared I paused and puzzled over it.

Oh, how I adored this story. I'm torn about it being a series. On one hand, all the character arcs are so gorgeously complete and hard-won that I don't want to see them battle new conflicts and doubts. I want them to just stay eternally happy in Storyland. On the other, I want to see them again and accompany Kathy as she digs into the world of Scythe. I'm nervous about that, though....sometimes picking apart the lore can destroy some of the intrigue. Like, the birth of a child is a beautiful miracle.....but when you study the biology of it, the reality of it, it's terrifying and gross. So. I'll probably look out for the next book, but I'd be just as happy leaving this one to stand alone.

This book was so cute. I know, cute probably isn't the word you would have thought I would say, but I honestly can't think of a better one. It gave my dark soul all the feels.

I love me a cozy little mystery! This book gave exactly what I anticipated - an interesting, heartwarming mystery but what I was surprised about was how much I loved the characters!

The main character, Kathy, is very average - as far as MCs go. You could even say she is boring. Kathy is in her 40s, hates fun, is unexpectedly pregnant, and for the first time is facing a problem at her job. Kathy does have a pretty interesting job - she works at S.C.Y.T.H.E, collecting recently deceased people’s souls and transporting them to the afterlife. Kathy’s job has built a huge rift between her and her soon-to-be ex- husband, Simon. After Kathy is unable to collect the soul of a 17-year old boy, named Conner, her problems really begin.

What I loved: Kathy and Simon are maybe the cutest, most average couple ever! I love how the author wrote these characters and their love story. It is rare that readers get to experience “frumpy” characters getting love stories but wow, I loved it. Kathy’s relationship with Conner made me cry on more than one occasion. I was overall obsessed with all the characters and their development. I also found the idea of S.C.Y.T.H.E to be unique and fun.

Kathy trying to solve the mystery was fun but the mystery itself fell flat for me. The pieces didn’t connect super well and the ending felt so rushed. The story could have been more interesting if more would have been written about the collection of souls and the motivations of the villains. With that said, the audiobook is excellent! I finished this in two days and found the narration extremely engaging.

3.5/5 stars

Summary from Amazon

Murder is not her department.

It’s not like it used to be. Modern-day grim reapers wear business casual, not black cloaks, and they don’t carry scythes, they work for S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), where the Department of Natural Causes is the least exciting gig. And that’s how Kathy Valence likes it: boring and predictable. She has enough stress in her personal life; she’s mid-divorce, pregnant, and terrified she doesn’t have what it takes to be a good mom.

Then, she goes to pick up a new client and finds his soul is missing. When she finally tracks down Conner Ortiz, he angrily insists he was murdered, and he refuses to move on until Kathy finds out why and by whom.

Kathy has only forty-five days to solve the mystery before the boy’s soul is doomed to roam the earth as a ghost forever. To do that she’ll have to call on the help of her retired mentor, her almost ex-husband—and, inconveniently, Conner himself. This is the wildest case of her career . . . and one wrong move could cost Kathy her job, not to mention her life.

Fun and witty. It is the first in a new series about what happens after death. Rich with lovable characters and not-so-likable characters too. It was a delightful read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6846699462

Kathy Valence works for SCYTHE—delivering souls to the afterlife. But one day, her teenaged assignment, Conner, insists he was murdered, and refuses to move on until Kathy solves his murder. Kathy, despite being very pregnant, then decides that the kid deserves justice—even when SCYTHE operatives are implicated. She works to uncover the nefarious activities of rogue agents who are experimenting on human souls. But the clock is ticking. Conner must be processed before he's condemned to be a permanent ghost.
Fun!

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book. I very much enjoy the ghost/paranormal mystery stories. This would be a great book to add to a reading list. There had been lots of funny moments between Kathy and Conner. I can't wait to read more stories with kathy, as well as more of Maxie Dara's books.

This was the perfect book to kick off fall season reading. It was a cozy novel, so nothing too spicy or scary, but just right. It was laugh out loud funny in parts. Conner's character captures exactly how I picture a 17 year old boy being stuck with a average middle aged woman and the banter between them. I look forward to finding out more about S.C.Y.T.H.E., the things that are unknown about essence, and the shenanigans Kathy will find herself in.

Kathy Valence is 42 in the middle of of a divorce and pregnant. She's also a grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences). Her current case is a seventeen-year-old Conner Ortiz, and denies he died of natural cause but was actually murdered and that is was some that also works for S.C.Y.T.H.E. Kathy has only 45 days to figure out how Conner died and help him move on before the boy's soul is doomed to roam the Earth as a ghost forever.

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer
by Maxie Dara
narrated by Jaime Lamchick

Thank you so much partner @berkleypub @prhaudio for the gifted copy. #berkleybookstagram #berkleypartner

About the book 👇🏽

Murder is not her department.

It’s not like it used to be. Modern-day grim reapers wear business casual, not black cloaks, and they don’t carry scythes, they work for S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), where the Department of Natural Causes is the least exciting gig. And that’s how Kathy Valence likes it: boring and predictable. She has enough stress in her personal life; she’s mid-divorce, pregnant, and terrified she doesn’t have what it takes to be a good mom.

Then, she goes to pick up a new client and finds his soul is missing. When she finally tracks down Conner Ortiz, he angrily insists he was murdered, and he refuses to move on until Kathy finds out why and by whom.

🪦👻 My thoughts:

I loved this so much, zero notes from me! It’s perfect in my eyes. If the synopsis doesn’t sell you on reading it then the cover surely will! I was gluttonous and I simply did not want to have to put the book down and I requested the audiobook so that I didn’t have to. I thoroughly enjoyed both versions of this book and I have every intention to buy a finished copy for myself! This paranormal cozy mystery is everything I didn’t know I needed. The found family in this damn near brought tears to my eyes. Just read it, you need to read it. A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer is out 10/1/24!

Happy reading 📖 🪦👻🎧

Raise your hand if you didn’t expect your heart to swell reading a book about a pregnant grim reaper.


A GRIM REAPER’S GUIDE TO CATCHING A SERIAL KILLER was an unexpected delight. Pregnant and mid-divorce, Kathy Valance works for SCYTHE transporting human souls and finds herself in the midst of a mystery when her client’s soul goes missing. I thought this book would be more outside of my wheelhouse, but it's a big-hearted story with broad appeal.

The audio narration is top-notch if you’re looking for a fall listen

READ THIS IF YOU:
-adore intergenerational friendships
-can handle a bit of teenage angst
-want to get in on the ground level of a new series (SCYTHE Mystery #1)


RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: 10/1/24

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.