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.

Maxie Dara offers a refreshing take on the cozy mystery genre with A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer. The story introduces Kathy Valence, a forty-two-year-old grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E., a supernatural organization that collects souls. Juggling the turmoil of a mid-divorce pregnancy and a career handling the dead, Kathy is thrown into chaos when one of her client's souls goes missing—and the missing soul insists he was murdered.

I really enjoyed the way Dara blends the supernatural with real-world problems. The magical elements of the story are ever-present but don’t overshadow Kathy’s personal journey, which is centered around her struggles with self-worth, impending motherhood, and the aftermath of her marriage falling apart. It felt like a very grounded story, despite the more fantastical aspects of grim reapers, missing souls, and paranormal mysteries. Kathy’s struggle to find balance between her work and personal life was particularly relatable, making her an easy character to root for.

Surprisingly, I found myself invested in the second chance romance between Kathy and her estranged husband. Usually, I don’t care much for this trope, but Dara manages to write it in a way that feels natural and authentic. Kathy’s conflicting feelings about her relationship added an extra layer to the story, and it was heartening to watch her navigate the complexities of love and forgiveness. Their dynamic felt raw and real, which is something I rarely expect in a mystery about grim reapers!

Another highlight for me was the found family theme. As Kathy relies on her retired mentor, her almost-ex-husband, and even the stubborn spirit of the murdered Conner to solve the mystery, there’s a real sense of community that builds over the course of the story. Each character brings something valuable to the table, and their relationships grow in a way that felt heartfelt and genuine.

That said, the mystery and procedural elements of the story left something to be desired. For a book that seems to want to establish itself as the start of a detective series, I felt the investigation itself could have been more fleshed out. While the concept of a grim reaper solving a murder within her own ranks is fascinating, the actual detective work felt a bit thin. It wasn’t as intricate or compelling as I had hoped, which dampened the impact of the overall mystery. I wanted more twists, more suspense, and a stronger connection between the supernatural elements and the investigation.

The cliffhanger ending was another point where the book fell short for me. While I understand that it’s setting up for future installments, I would have preferred a more contained resolution. It felt a bit too open-ended, leaving a lot of plot threads dangling, which made it difficult for this book to stand on its own. I think a stronger conclusion would have made for a more satisfying read, even if it is part of a series.

Overall, A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer is an enjoyable read with strong character development, a relatable protagonist, and an interesting supernatural world. While the mystery itself could have been stronger, there’s plenty of potential here for future books to build on. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, or stories that mix life’s real struggles with magical elements, this is a series to keep an eye on.

4/5 stars

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy!

What a clever premise!! I really enjoyed this book. The magical realism dynamic was super fun, and I love to read different, creative, light-hearted takes on death and what happens to us after. Kathy and Conner were such an unexpectedly joyful duo to read about -- especially after their first meeting -- but I grew to love their dynamic and interactions so much. While this book was action-packed, silly and mysterious at times, there were some very heartwarming moments sprinkled throughout, and all of these factors kept me super interested from start to finish. This story had some coincidences and more predictable moments for sure, but overall it was a great mystery and fun read. I was super excited to see this say "SCYTHE Mystery #1" on Goodreads, leading me to believe there will be more to come from this wacky world. I'll definitely keep up with these characters and this realm!

SYNOPSIS -- Kathy Valence is used to her professional life being boring enough to make up for the chaos of her personal life. As a woman in her 40's, Kathy is mid-divorce, accidentally pregnant and very, very stressed. At least her job as a modern-day grim reaper at S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences) is predictable. That is, until she goes to pick up her newest client, Conner Ortiz, only to find his soul missing. When she does track him down, he claims he was murdered -- a mystery if not only because Kathy works in natural causes. With a time-limit of 45 days before Conner is doomed to be a ghost forever, Kathy has to solve his murder and save both of them from feeling stuck for the rest of their lives.

Kathy thinks her job is routine and a tad boring. I personally, did not. She works for SCYTHE short for the secure collection, yielding, and transportation of human essences. Try to say that one fast! But suddenly her routine is turned upside down. She is assigned to collect Connor Ortiz’s essence, and it is not where it is supposed to be. This has never happened to Kathy before, and her boss is not amused.
She only has 45 days to find out what happened to Connor’s soul. Her information states he died naturally, yet, when Kathy finds him, he insists that he was murdered. A lot of information is revealed and maybe Kathy does not know as much about the company she works for as she thought.
An intriguing, cozy mystery and a good warm-up for spooky season. I guessed some things but not others. I only wish that the relationship between Kathy and Connor didn’t have to end. Or does it? I believe this is the first book in a new series and who knows what might happen.

Modern grim reapers aren’t cooked in black. They work for Secure Collection, Yielding,
and Transportation of Human Essences (S.C.Y.T.H.E.). Kathy Valence enjoys the predictability of her job until she goes to collect a soul who insists he was murdered,
despite her working in the natural causes division.

I loved the idea of this one and really enjoyed learning the details behind S.C.Y.T.H.E. I know this will be a fun series like Finlay Donovan! It’s light hearted, despite the topic of death. It’s funny and cozy and has an interesting mystery behind it.

“Souls are funny things. They’re raw, vulnerable, naked without their bodies to wear.”

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer comes out 10/1.

Sign me up for all of the SCYTHE mysteries!!
S.C.Y.T.H.E - the Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences - is where our modern day grim reaper Kathy works, or at least it was until her latest client's soul goes missing. When Kathy finally tracks down 17 yr old Connor, he's convinced he was murdered by one of Kathy's coworkers and demands that they find out who and why before his 45 days are up and he becomes a ghost left to haunt his childhood home...

This was more than just a cozy little mystery. Kathy is going through a bit of a mid-life crisis - she's divorcing her husband, dealing with low self esteem after being told her whole life she ruins everything, finding out she's pregnant mid-divorce, and all while going through this emotional adventure with Connor. You couldn't help but root for Kathy and hope for the best for Connor, loving them both by the end of the book. It's a great introduction to a series that I hope continues with Kathy, Simon, and Jo to the rescue. The pacing felt slow at times while the ending felt rushed, I would have liked to have had a little more explanation as to the why and how, but am hopeful that will be covered in the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Maxie Dara, and Berkley Publishing for the eARC copy. All opinions are my own.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Well written and touching, it explores how an uneasy reliance between an almost middle-aged introvert and a dead teenager developed into a friendship. And it solves a murder, too.

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub date: 10/1

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for my advanced copy!

Kathy Valence is a 42-year-old grim reaper working for S.C.Y.T.H.E. (the agency responsible for collecting souls). Kathy’s life is a bit messy—she’s mid-divorce and unexpectedly pregnant with her ex’s baby. But things get even crazier when she tries to collect a soul, only to find that it’s gone missing.

Kathy tracks down Conner Ortiz, a teenager who refuses to believe his death was natural. He’s convinced someone from S.C.Y.T.H.E. killed him, and now Kathy has just 45 days to figure out what really happened before his soul is stuck wandering the earth as a ghost.

What an incredibly unique, fun story! I loved the relationship between Kathy and Conner, and how she takes on a motherly role as they try to find his killer. I also really enjoyed Kathy herself. She’s relatable, dealing with real-life issues like a divorce and pregnancy, all while handling her job as a grim reaper. The quirky cast of characters around her—her ex, her retired mentor, and Conner himself—are charming and funny, and I loved how they wound up becoming a little family.

The mystery was intriguing, and even though things got a little over-the-top at times, it worked well with the book’s playful tone. If you’re into cozy mysteries and urban fantasy, this is a great one to pick up. I’m excited to see what’s next for Kathy and this series!

Really liked this title! Kathy was "every-woman" and I loved her for it. Her soon to be ex-husband was "every-man". Loved the banter between Conor and Kathy! This story just felt to real to me, "sadim" and all. I would love this to be a series!