Kathy works for a company named SCYTHE, tasked with retrieving freshly dead souls to be processed into their afterlife. When she arrives at a house one night to retrieve a fresh soul she finds the teen's dead body but his soul is no longer there. As she sets out to find the missing "essence" of the teen she is dragged into the mystery of what happened to him as he insists he was murdered and her company insists his was a natural death. I loved this really imaginative story, as Kathy's life is upended for the better and we find that family can be built from whoever we choose.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. This was a fun mystery that held my interest. However, the ending felt a bit rushed and didn’t really explain the “why” of the situation.

Kathy Valence is 42, nearly divorced, pregnant by her soon to be ex-husband Simon, and utterly convinced she’s cursed with a “Sadim” (an anadrome of the word Midas) touch. She only sees her failures and has built her walls so people can’t get too close, but one thing she is good at?

Collecting a newly deceased person’s soul or “essence” for processing to the afterlife on behalf of her employer, S.C.Y.T.H.E (Secure Collection, Yielding and Transportation of Human Essences).

Unfortunately, her work success is about to hit a snag when her latest client’s soul, case number 507032, better known in life as 17-year-old Conner Ortiz, is missing from the scene! To make matters worse, when she does track his essence down, he claims he was murdered! His file says he died of natural causes. What’s going on?

That’s the premise, but what follows is Kathy and Conner, along with her mentor Jo and almost ex, Simon, racing against time to figure out who ACTUALLY murdered him and get him to processing within the 45-day window before he becomes a permanent ghost or loses his soul forever!

First let me say that I MOSTLY liked this, and as a series starter it shows a lot of potential for what’s to come. It’s well-written, has a nice sense of humor, a decent mystery and though I didn’t immediately connect with Kathy or Conner, I grew to really like both of them by the end. The ad hoc mother-son relationship between the two was funny and touching! I also loved Simon’s gentle heart. Themes of found family, finding one’s inherent worth, being vulnerable in relationships, grief, and what constitutes being a “parent” are all explored, among others.

There were some aspects of the story that didn’t work as well for me, though.

Among the characters, Kathy can be a “Debbie Downer”, so fixated on her failures that she comes across as pathetic and irritating at times. Conner starts off as hostile and brash, and he’s unceasingly foul-mouthed, which could get repetitive, though I did grow to sympathize with him and see his very sweet qualities over time too. He’s a teenager, so he gets extra grace from me! Ancillary characters would’ve benefited from being developed more as well.

The pacing needed a boost. There were a lot of dead ends (no pun intended) in the mystery, so when I began to get excited that the story’s action was about to pick up, it was disappointing when it didn’t keep the momentum. For a story involving a pregnant woman, it was like Braxton-Hicks contractions: something’s happening! Ah … nope … sorry … false alarm.

My only other complaint was that the ending felt rushed and not adequately explained. I’m still not sure what the motivation for those involved was, which made the story lose some of its punch at the end.

All of that said, the winning aspects of the story made up for its deficits, and while I can’t say I loved it, I did like it well enough to move onto the next book in the series!

Loved this and can't wait for another in the series. Great blend of humor with quality writing. Good humor. Great characters. Some heart-wrenching moments. Well done!

4.5 stars. I expected a silly fantasy, but this was neither silly nor a fantasy, sentinent dead people "essences" notwithstanding.

It was a bit silly and fun, even with all the dead people, but it also explored some sad, even tragic and heartbreaking themes. Aging, family dynamics, sexism, ageism, and more. And without being the least bit trite or treacly or preachy, love. It shows how love can uplift us and how its lack can be so damaging.

I wanted a silly "popcorn" book (delicious but not nutritious) and ended up with a book that made me laugh, get a little misty-eyed, and then made me think, dammit.

🪦 A Grim Reapers Guide to Catching a Killer 🪦

Kathy Valence has only been good at two things: making a mess of her life and her job. Which is why at 42, she’s pregnant and divorcing the love of her life. Kathy works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., a super secret corporation that processes the souls of the dead and keeps them from becoming ghosts. She’s a Collections Agent for Natural Causes, and damn good at it.

That is until case 507032, seventeen year old Connor Ortiz, goes missing. When Kathy finally tracks down his soul, Connor claims that he was murdered by a S.C.Y.T.H.E. Agent, and demands that she find his killer. With only 45 days to solve the case before Connor goes ghost, Kathy will have to learn to open up to the people in her life, or die trying.

This was a fun and fast read. The writing was very creative and included some truly laugh out loud imagery. I really enjoyed the plot, but would’ve loved some more background information on S.C.Y.T.H.E. and how Kathy was hired. However, this is the first in the series, so fingers crossed that will come later.

I adored all the characters in this book. I related to Kathy in so many ways, from her social anxiety to her fears of failing her child. What I loved most about her was that she wasn’t naturally heroic. She wasn’t athletic or ever described as pretty. She was an ordinary person, who found herself capable of extraordinary things because of her convictions and the support of those around her, and I think we need more stories like this. Stories where anyone feels like they can be the hero ❤️

This book handles the subjects of mortality, grief, and regret wonderfully. I had several moments where I got emotional and wished I could hug the characters. The only downside for me was the ending felt a little rushed, and (as always) I would’ve loved more details. Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: Oct 1, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my free e-reader copy in exchange for an honest

I love cozy mysteries and this one fits in perfectly. From the story to the characters it was a joy to read. The best part was that I did not figure out who did it until it was in the book

This book was super charming and had a great plot and great writing. All the characters really brought the story to life and I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store.

The main character in this book is so unique and quirky, it shouldn't work. But she's exactly the oddball we all need. Pregnant, midlife crisis, mid-divorce mystery detective. Maybe you've heard that one before?

Well, Kathy's full-time job as a collection agent means she's a grim reaper. And her job is collecting souls to move on.

She's not supposed to be solving murder mysteries. She's not a trained detective.

But Kathy is exactly what those wronged in death need.

I absolutely adore her. This story moves quickly, and has plenty of twists. The frame story with a fantasy computer game is a unique technique. And the unusual character premise works so well, I didn't want to put it down.

"This wasn't the way it normally worked - the way it always worked. ... Somehow today was different."

"Select 'Alternative Justice' from the option screen and let's get out of here."

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer is an interesting book that is written about lost souls and the attempt to save them.

A pregnant grim reaper is charged with guiding a 17 year old's soul for processing to the other side. Unfortunately he is full of shenanigans and she loses him.
The idea of a grim reaper made me think that she would kill people rather than work to escort them into the afterlife. The book is full of insight and compassion in what, at times, is rather comical.

It took me a bit to get into the book but I am so glad that I continued because this book really is a delightful read.

Kathy Vallence works for S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), which is the only thing going right in her life. She's good at reaping souls, filling out the paperwork, a good employee. Until 17 year-old Connor Ortiz. First, Kathy find his soul. Then, when she does find it, he insists he did not die of natural causes but at the hand of a S.C.Y.T.H.E. employee.

Kathy is in a race as she tries to stall her boss until she figures out who in S.C.Y.T.H.E. is a murderer - is it her boss? Someone in another department? Meanwhile, she's got a soul hanging out in her house, in a race against turning into a ghost and being stuck on earth forever.

This was such a fun read and I eagerly anticipate the next in the series. I love the secondary characters, and find the whole premise completely charming. This was a one-sitting reading for me!

This is a fun title, with quirky characters reminiscent of Jasper Fforde and TJ Klune. Although I was not sure about the self-doubt of the protagonist at first, the author ensured that it had a believable and meaningful arc. The overall pacing was satisfying, and there were enough plausible suspects to keep the mystery interesting without sliding into too many red herrings.

This was a great mystery about a modern day reaper who loses her latest clients soul and when she finds him he tells her that one of her colleagues killed him but he doesn't know who. I really loved the interaction between Kathy and her client 17 yr old Connor and how it ended up being very maternal since he didn’t have the best parents when he was alive. They are racing against the clock since they only have 45 days to figure out what happened before Connor ends up a ghost who is stuck on earth and can never be moved on. I love that Kathy overcame her insecurities about how she is just bad luck and needed to let her husband go so she doesn’t ruin him also that she is pregnant with his kid while trying to divorce him. Her mentor Jo is a hoot and I really loved how they interacted with each other. Kathy and gang investigate Connors murder and try not to get murdered themselves and finally figure out what happened in the nick of time for Connors soul to be moved on. All in all, a great fun mystery and a fast read.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book is a total knockout! The twist on the grim reaper concept is both original and riveting, turning a classic murder mystery into something refreshingly unique. It’s got suspense, humor, and a whole lot of heart, making it a five-star read that’s as deep as it is delightful.

This book is SO creative -- a mix of cozy mystery and science fiction, about a 42 year old woman who has a unique job -- she's a Grim Reaper, employed by a shadowy organization to shepherd dying souls to their final rest. When there is a little trouble from a teenage boy who doesn't want to go just yet, she begins to suspect that all is not well and begins to investigate. Great, fun story which I hope becomes a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer promised to have a unique plot line and it delivered in spades! Set in a world where there are modern Grim Reapers, those who collect souls after a body’s passing to move them along to their next step in the journey, Kathy is a by the books employee who hasn’t run into a problem - until the soul she went to collect, Conner, is missing and when found is adamant he was set up. Kathy has put her personal life on the back burner in favor of her professional life where she thinks herself capable (unlike everything else she has done) but grappling with a pregnancy while she tries to solve Conner’s mystery, she starts to realize her priorities have been as wrong as her ideas that her job is where she truly kicks bum.

I loved the action in this story, the world the author has created and some fun shakeups of everything Kathy believes. Satisfying both my heart and head, I’d recommend this to those readers who like their mysteries to go beyond the surface.

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer was such a fun thriller! It got 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me!

Kathy is a middle aged, modern grim reaper, pregnant with her ex’s baby, working for S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences) in the natural causes department. When one of her souls goes missing, it’s up to her to find it.

This book is so fun! It’s a murder mystery, but underneath it all, it’s heartwarming and wholesome, and focuses on human relationships! 🖤 I found the modern-day grim reaper aspect of the book super interesting, and it made this book stand out more than other murder mysteries.

This book releases on October 1, 2024!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for an advanced copy!

Love this fast-paced otherworldly story! S.C.Y.T.H.E. Collection Agent Kathy the “Grim” is such a messy person. Her life is in shambles, she’s pregnant, soon to be divorced, and a complete disaster. When she’s assigned a new soul to transfer to the next stage she is drawn into a very different kind of case. She must solve the mystery of Conner’s death and get his soul to processing before his time expires and before she becomes a soul herself. Witty, funny, a page turner, and the perfect one-sitting read!

I was ready to give up on this book after the first two chapters. I had no connection with the main character, didn't like any of the characters and just wasn't feeling it. However, for some reason, I stuck with it. I am so glad I did. As the characters evolved, I began to like them and then I loved them. By the end we were family. I really enjoyed the story.

Maxie Dara’s debut SCYTHE mystery wasn’t at all what I expected. A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer was better than I expected with more humor and a lot more love.

Kathy Valence is forty-two, mid-divorce, and six months pregnant with her ex’s baby. The only thing right in her life is her job as a Collections Agent for S.C.Y.T.H.E., Secure Collections, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essence. Kathy helps souls pass over to the next stage. If they don’t pass in forty-five days, they become ghosts, doomed to remain on earth. Kathy has been the perfect agent for the job, a nondescript woman of middle-age. She thinks she’s messed up everything else in her life.

But, when she is scheduled to collect Conner, a seventeen-year-old boy, he isn’t there. His body is, but his soul is missing. She tracks him down and finds a typical sarcastic teen. But, he’s angry. He’s insists someone from S.C.Y.T.H.E. murdered him, but he has no memory of what actually happened. If Kathy can’t help him, he only has forty-five days until Ghost.

It’s the first time Kathy has faced this situation. She’s desperate to help Conner move on, until she does a little digging and spends time with him. Once she’s convinced he really was killed, she’s determined to find the person at her work who took his life. She suspects her boss, Stu, who always seems odd, and when he insists she drop the case, she’s even more suspicious. But, Kathy needs help.

She’s willing to ask a former co-worker who retired. Jo is blind, but leads an active life, much more than Kathy does. But, Kathy isn’t as eager to ask Simon, her almost-ex. The two love each other, but Kathy’s job and her fear that she messes everything up has kept her from revealing herself to Simon. But, he’s willing to step up, and he accepts her story, despite his inability to see Conner.

The search for answers becomes dangerous. But, with her new found family, for the first time in her life, Kathy has people she loves. The strength of this story is in the characters – Kathy, Conner, Simon, and Jo, who band together to help a teenager, and each other.

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer has mystery, humor, and strong characters. It’s labeled as the first in a series. It will be interesting to see what happens with S.C.Y.T.H.E. in the future.