I think this goes down as my favorite cozy mystery I’ve ever read! It really blew my mind how raw and real this book was based on the somewhat silly premise! From the middle-aged pessimistic, self-sabotaging FMC, to the sarcastic, angsty teenage essence (what souls are called before they become ghosts), every character was so spot-on realistic and relatable.

For a cozy mystery, I was surprised by how suspenseful and twisty this book was! I definitely sacrificed the little precious sleep I get every night because I couldn’t stop reading. It wasn’t “just one more chapter” for me, it was “just five more chapters!”

I did guess who the killer was pretty early on, but there were still so many unanswered questions that I wasn’t disappointed by this in the slightest (and still couldn’t stop reading).

This is definitely a book I’ve now preordered because it needs to be physically on my bookshelf! I cannot wait to read more by Maxie Dara.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted ARC!

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
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Kathy is 42, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her soon-to-be ex hausband’s baby. She works for a company called S.C.Y.T.H.E. which means that it is her job to get recently deceased ones to a processing center to move on. But when a complication happens with one essence, it will change how Kathy thinks and feels about everything.
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I really enjoyed this book.

-First of all the plot was very quirky. Kathy isn’t our typical Main Character, and I loved that! To be 42 and still trying to figure out your life, I loved reading about this and relating to it.
-The mystery was very interesting and then the last quarter of the book was very suspenseful! My eyes kept going faster than I could read as I was so anxious for the people I felt for in this book.
-How Kathy and Conner interacted and got to know each other was part of what really made this book special. They learned from each other and helped each other in such sweet and emotional ways.
-The ending was so lovely and heart-warming.
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4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This was a delightful read!

4.25 rounded down

What a refreshing, fun to read mystery!

When I started, I knew this wasn’t going to be your average mystery. While there is a murder, and we are tasked with following the story to find out who did it, the rest is unlike others.

There’s a bit of fantasy woven into everyday, ordinary life. The main character appears to be unimpressive and the victim seems like your average kid. Throughout the story they become full of depth and emotions, making me want them to succeed.

Advance reader copy provided by Berkley and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This should be just another ordinary day on the job for Kathy Valence: Get file. Pick up soul. Take it to processing. Go back to the office.

It should basically be the same as every other day she has worked as a grim reaper for S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), but when she arrives at the location in today’s file, the soul she is there to collect is missing.

When she eventually does find the soul of seventeen-year-old Conner Ortiz, he claims that he was murdered and that his death is connected to someone at S.C.Y.T.H.E.

With Conner refusing to go to processing and his case remaining wide open, forty-two-year-old Kathy dons her amateur detective hat. Something nefarious is going on at work, and pregnant Kathy, soon-to-be-ex-husband Simon, mentor Jo, and dead-but-still-hanging-around Conner are determined to get to the bottom of it.

This is a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I was a big fan of the show Dead Like Me when it was on years ago, so when I saw the premise for this book, I knew I wanted to give it a try.

I especially enjoyed the found family aspects, seeing Conner blossom from the scared and angry teen striking out at everyone to feeling comfortable being himself with Kathy and her crew, and pretty much everything about fun and feisty Jo.

I don’t always love the marriage-in-trouble trope, but I liked watching Kathy finally open up to Simon who has just wanted to see her and accept her as she is all along. He is such a sweetheart.

I’m interested to see where Maxie Dara takes this series next.

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley. All review opinions are my own.

A Grim Reapers Guide To Catching A Killer by Maxi Dara, Cape Valens works for the SCYTHE agency, collecting the soles of those recently departed the department she works for is the natural causes department but when she goes to retrieve Connor a newly dead teenager he’s nowhere around. His dead body is there but he isn’t and that is extremely abnormal but this is just the first of many abnormal things that will happen while investigating Connor‘s case but first she has to find him. Kate is newly divorced from husband Stew but has recently found out the Goodbye night together will soon make them coparents something that causes Stew to be over the moon. Before they can celebrate cake must immediately get back on the case then fine her latest client and while investigating she not only finds out things that are upsetting and hit close to home but are also very dangerous. Kate feels like she’s never succeeded at anything except her job so she is determined to find out what happened to Connor and who caused it this case will teach her many things but the most important is that she is way better than she believes she is. I always do a terrible job with the reviews for books that I absolutely love and I was gaga for this book I couldn’t wait to read it for the first time in a while was not disappointed. This is the type of book that even though you know what’s going to happen you’re OK with it and totally down for it this is a feel good found family awesome awesome read. I do want to say however in the book while in labor she grits through it and keeps running just an FYI no woman who’s ever been in labor could raise their hand and say I could do that because OMG regular cramps are nothing like contractions and to say you can grit your teeth and keep going is not true at all. Either way though again awesome awesome read it’s funny with lovable characters great writing and an awesome ending… Did I mention how awesome this book is? Since I am blind I just want to give a shout out to one of the characters Joe who like me is blind southern and fabulous… Loved her I thought Maxi Dara did a great job writing a handicap character and I want to say I have no complaints about her portrayal of blind people just awesome.#NetGalley, #BerkeleyPublishing, #MaxiDara, #AGrimReapersGuideToCatchingAKiller, #ScytheAgency,

I wanted to like this book more. I feel like I was hoping for a bit more comedy interspersed with mystery. Instead, I just felt incredibly sad for Kathy. The mystery was mediocre at best. Honestly I just was stuck in how depressed Kathy felt most of the book. I am glad that she was able to come to terms with her life and realize that she could be an amazing mother. Yet this book just wasn’t quite what I was hoping it would be.
Thank you so much Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title for an honest review.

This was absolutely adorable! A GRIM REAPER'S GUIDE TO CATCHING A KILLER is the first book in a new SCYTHE Mysteries series. We are following Kathy, a 42 year old woman who works for SCYTHE, the agency responsible for gathering up the souls of the departed and taking them for processing to their next destination. She likes her work, but she lives a pretty solitary existence, not able to share her job with anyone not in the confidential loop. For this reason, she is in the middle of a divorce, even as she's just discovered that she is pregnant with her husband's baby.
When attempting to make a routine collection, Kathy finds the soul of the young man who died missing. She is able to eventually track the young man down, but what he tells her about his death has her confused as to what is really going on. With only 45 days to get his soul processed, Kathy is on deadline to find out what has happened in order to make sure her charge remains safe.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-arc.*

This book was so much fun!

I LOVED the show "Dead Like Me" and was so excited to pick up this book because the blurb gave the same type of energy. And I wasn't disappointed! We've got a FMC in her 40s who believes everything she touches turns badly--the one thing she has going for her is her job, and Connor threatens to ruin that too. It was refreshing to have adult characters acting like adults and only the teenager acting like a teenager.

The relationship development between Connor and Kathy (or "Grim" as he likes to call her) was so sweet--an "enemies to found family," if you will. Over the span of 45 days, we see Connor learn he's worthy of love and protection, and we see Kathy learn that she's going to be a better parent than she thinks. I loved how their relationship was developed--it didn't feel rushed, and it only felt moderately cheesy at the end of the book.

The pacing of the story was well done--I don't really think any part of it felt like a drag. And I LOVED the characters--especially Jo. I want to be Jo when I grow up. Was some of it a liiiitttlllleee unbelievable, even with the story having the paranormal aspect that it does? Sure, but welcome to the cozy mystery genre. The ending also felt a tad rushed, but that feels like part of the point given the time crunch of the story. I definitely wanted a bigger punch with the ending--we get to a point where it seems like a big conspiracy, and the reveal was just....a let down for me? I wish it had been a bigger moment, or that there was a more specific reason for all of this. The story makes it feel like the stakes were high, and then they....weren't.

Overall this was a really fun cozy mystery, and I'm glad I picked it up! I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series when it releases.

One-word review: Everything
Emojis: 🫨🥹🥲🥰
Rating: 4.5🌟s

Favorite Quote:
"Why do . . . did you love me?" Simon sat back in his chair at that, his hands coming to rest on his stomach. He looked at me for a long moment, as if I'd asked him to explain the formation of the universe. Perhaps loving me was just as puzzling. Finally, he leaned across the table and took my hand. "Because, Kathy Valence, you are worthy of love."

My Top-Five-style Review:

5. It's EVERYTHING you could want in a fun paranormal world, with unique and fascinating elements that left me wanting more. The world-building is so immersive that I found myself lost in its intricate details. I'm left with a few questions, eagerly anticipating their answers in future books.
4. It's EVERYTHING you could want in a second-chance romance. The love between Kathy (Grim) and Simon is palpable on every page, making me root for them. If she can admit it and fight for their relationship, all will be right.
3. It's EVERYTHING you could want in a found family story. The only thing Conner missed out on in his short life was a real sense of family, and witnessing that thread of the story play out truly touched my heart in the most profound ways, making me feel a part of their journey.
2. It's EVERYTHING you could want in a cozy mystery. Loads of suspense make the pacing consistently quick throughout the story. The mystery kept me guessing, with plenty of red herrings to distract me.
1. It's EVERYTHING you could want in a story of any genre. With characters that come to life right on the page and a whimsical, cozy, suspenseful, mysterious, and poignant tale, I couldn't have asked for more and hated to leave the story. When is Book 2 coming out?

Kathy is in her early forties, in the middle of a divorce, and currently pregnant with her soon-to-be ex-husband's baby. (Fun times!) Her job is being a modern-grim reaper, collecting the souls of those dying of natural causes and transporting them to the processing center. She is pretty good at her job, though her job is part of the reason she is mid-divorce.

Unfortunately for Kathy, her bad luck continues when her most recent client, Connor's, soul goes missing, and that had never happened before. Scared for what will happen to her and her baby, should she get fired, Kathy is determined to find Connor and get him to transition. Along the way, Kathy learns that something more sinister than natural causes caused Connor's death, and she is determined to find out more.

This was refreshing read and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

4 out of 5 stars.

Kathy isn’t having a great day. She’s running late for dinner where she plans on telling her soon-to-be ex-husband she’s pregnant and the soul she was meant to collect went missing.

As a grim reaper — sorry, Collections Agent — for S.C.Y.T.H.E, Kathy’s a case worker tasked with visiting the recently departed (unlike Murder or Accidental Deaths, Kathy works in the Natural Causes department) and assisting the newly released souls with Moving On.

What should have been a simple assignment turns out to be anything but: Conner insists he was murdered. And by someone wearing a S.C.Y.T.H.E badge. Now the two must work together to figure out what happened — and they only have 45 days before Conner is doomed to an existence of life as a ghost.

A GRIM REAPER’S GUIDE TO CATCHING A KILLER was an absolute delight start to finish! I went in expecting a fun paranormal cozy mystery — and while I got that, this book is so much more! Family, both biological and chosen; individual worth and value; and relationships are all explored while dealing with ghosts and possibly-nefarious coworkers.

A pregnant woman in her 40s teaming up with an angry teen and her ex-husband, it shouldn’t work, but it does. I had such a great time reading this one and am eager to see where the series goes from here!

thank you to berkeley for the e-ARC!

4⭐️. all in all, a very cute, feel-good urban fantasy mystery. the romance was sweet and low-conflict, the family feels were adorable, and the plot was coherent. I liked the elements of an impromptu detective-team, and the grim reaper concept was fun.

this book took me a while to get into, and wasn’t *that* immersive, otherwise there’d be an even higher rating. I think the resolution of the mystery was pretty unexciting but overall I think the interpersonal drama made it worth it. writing was not an issue throughout, characterization stayed consistent, and I liked the ensemble cast.

I absolutely loved this book. It's perfect for spooky season of you want something spooky light. It's LOL funny, such great characters, living ones and not so living ones. In fact, Connee was probably my favorite but his relationship with Kathy was so special.

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!