Maggie has just found out she has the same fatal illness her mother had and has months to live. She will spend her time finding her husband and kids a worthy replacement wife and mother.

It took some time for this one to hook me but I kept up with it for the twists I knew were coming. I was surprised by them but I didn’t find it as enthralling as many other reviewers did. It’s still enjoyable and worth a read for sure. My favorite part of the story ended up being a friendship that held true and loyal, despite the betrayals and twists in the story.

“Nobody gets to choose how they come into this world, but some of us are lucky enough to have a say in how we go out.”

Don’t Tell Me How to Die comes out 3/4.

Thank you to Marshall Karp, Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!

”How strong are you?”

I had a few friends raving about this story, so naturally I had to grab it too - and I am so glad I did! I went into this book completely blind, not having even glanced at the synopsis. Our FMC, Maggie, lost her mother to a disease that now comes for her. As a mother herself, Maggie can’t imagine leaving her family. I was surprised at how much of a gut punch that aspect of the story was for me - as a mother, the thought of leaving my children behind is unbearable. I found myself deeply connecting with Maggie. But the wild journey she was about to go on was something I could never predict - I’d be surprised if anyone did actually! Full of secrets, twists and turns, “Don’t Tell Me How to Die” is a poignant look at the fragility of life, while still being a thriller that kept me guessing. Told over multiple timelines, Marshall Karp expertly crafted all the pieces together before delivering an ending that left me just staring at my kindle. Do not miss this one, it will be one of my top reads of the year!

“Don’t Tell Me How to Die” releases march 4, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Saw this title from Tiktok and immediately got interested with it. The story is done remarkably and it really blew my mind. My first read from.this author and definitely not the last.

Ho hum .... 🙁

I'm going to keep this short and sweet because everyone I know is LOVING this one.

I can only blame myself because when I read the synopsis I was hesitant already but the rave reviews intrigued me so much that I went against my better judgement and now here we are. 😩

The entire premise of this book I couldn't get on board with:

Dying mother asking their teenage children to keep all the money hungry vixens away from dear widowed Dad once she's gone.

Um, okay, that's kind of weird to me so honestly this book was failing before I even started. (Again, my fault!)

Then there's our main protagonist Maggie. Eh, she's a little too sassy, rebel type for my liking. This book, I feel, suffered from a male author trying to write from both the women and teenage girls perspective and it failed in its execution. None of the humor in this book landed for me and the dialogue just didn't ring true. Karp is not an author I'll be seeking out in the future. 2 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy.

Wow! Don't Tell Me How To Die was so good and twisty, I could not put it down! Easily 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can't believe this was my first Marshall Karp book! But luckily I know now that it won't be my last.

Maggie McCormick Dunn has it all. A devoted, gorgeous doctor husband, fun teenager twins, and a recent upgrade in careers from hot shot prosecutor to newly elected mayor of Heartstone. But being told that she now faces the same terminal disease that took her mother at 43yrs old, changes her meticulously planned life. She is now on the hunt to find the perfect woman to take her place, so the same thing doesn't happen to her family as it did when her mother passed away. Can Maggie actually get this plan to fruition or do things take turn that even she couldn't prepare for?

I had seen this book touted as 'thriller of the year' and 'Mr. Karp again throws out twist and turns in his signature style,' so be selected as an ARC reader, I truly was shocked and thankful. This story hit from the very beginning and kept going with each turn of the page. Besides Maggie, there were so many fun and lovable characters. Her sister Lizzie was a hilarious sharp shooter with her straight to the point wit, and then drug dealer, Johnny Rollo, just steals your heart in the end. I laughed aloud, gasped, teared up, and was shocked speechless throughout this book. I had to even go back and reread passages just to make sure I believed what was going on because the plot and twists were just brilliant. I stayed up until 12:15am finishing this book, and was on such an adrenaline rush, I scoured social media to try and find others that read it to discuss.
I will recommend this book to everyone I know that enjoys the rush of mysteries and suspense that just keeps going until the very last sentence.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this incredible advanced copy, and for introducing me to this mind-blowing author.

Don't Tell Me How to Die
By: Marshall Karp
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Pub Date: 3/4/2025

What a fun read this was! Different timelines, great character development, bitting humour. This is definitely a must-read. I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because as much as I enjoy an unexpected twist, I like it when there are bread crumbs leading us to it. In this case, it came absolutely out of nowhere. But I still highly recommend it.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
A NOTE OF INTRODUCTION
I typically stay away from spoilers, but this is one of those books where almost everything I want to say feels like it's in that general neighborhood. So I use illustrations from other books that are pretty well-known by this point. I can't think of another way to do it that's fair to Karp and this text.

WHAT'S DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DIE ABOUT?
This is one of those novels where it'd be easy to say too much, so let me rely on whoever wrote the jacket copy at Blackstone:

I have one thing to do before I die. And time is running out.

I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died young. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister's.

I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex's wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You're probably thinking, She'll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted "Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants"?


The book takes place in three parts: 1. When Maggie and her twin sister were seventeen and was dealing with their mother's impending death and the events after it. 2. After Maggie's diagnosis and her trying to implement the above plan. 3. Where the weaknesses in her plan threaten to overtake everything else.

TONE/HUMOR
For much of this book, it felt like Women's Commercial Fiction more than anything. But two things kept me from concluding that—1. Marshall Karp is going to write something with a mystery/crime element, period. and 2. that cover image with the blood (or whatever) writing the word "Die."

Even before I figured out what Karp was up to with this book, it became clear that this fit in more with some of the recent books by Lisa Lutz (particularly The Accomplice)—I'm also thinking of Sascha Rothchild's Blood Sugar or a restrained Darynda Jones—than it did with a Jennifer Weiner or Abbi Waxman.

So as I was preparing to read this novel, I said that it "looks like a return to his roots" because of some of the blurbs talking about Karp's humor and so on. When I think of Karp and humor, I think of his Lomax and Biggs series. So that's what I expected.

I was very wrong. It took less than a couple of pages to realize that this was a different Marshall Karp than I'd ran into before. That's not an evaluation, that's a description. Here's an evaluation: he pulls it off well. Again, see Rothchild or Lutz. The more I think about the Lutz comparison, the more I like it—if you think of the change between her Spellman Files and things like The Accomplice, Karp's new tone is somewhat similar.

Either way, you're getting a guy who knows how to write comedy, no matter the flavor. He also knows when to pull back and let the drama take center stage.

TWISTS/STRUCTURE
I know that when it comes to psychological or domestic thrillers the twists are what generate headlines. While I appreciate a good twist as much as the next reader, what's more important to me is the reveal of the twist. Plots go in strange directions sometimes—it's how the author prepares the reader for the twist and how the author lets us in on the strange direction.

As an illustration: Benjamin Stevenson's Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone has a moment when he says that so-and-so enjoyed her final cigarette, or maybe she lit it, or something like that. The phrase "final cigarette" is the important part. Now, the reader has two guesses as to why that phrase is used here—1. She quits smoking after this or 2. She dies. As this is in the middle of a stressful weekend with her ex-husband's family, with her on the verge of financial problem, her ex is definitely not coming back and is with his new partner, they're all snowed in, there's a killer on the loose, and the book isn't close to ending...you pretty much know how that's going to go for her. Does that matter? Not really, it's how Stevenson sets us up for this and then how he shows us how she dies that's important.

Now I'm not going to spill any of the twists or reveals in this book, but Karp does a few things like Stevenson did—they're even more blatant, you could say. But he will distract you, make you wait a lot longer for the reveal, and will throw a bunch of red herrings at you (I won't tell you how often I made a note like, "Oh, is this how he pays off X?" because I'd also have to tell you that I was wrong equally often). I didn't guess anything right.

He also pulls a few things from seemingly nowhere—but explains them in such a way that you retrospectively say, "of course" or "y'know, that makes sense."

MAGGIE
This is one of those books that you're only going to keep reading (initially, anyway) if you get invested in Maggie, our protagonist/narrator quickly. Other elements might keep you going eventually, but Maggie's diagnosis, Maggie's plight (and kooky plan), and character/voice are what's going to get you to commit.

If you ask me, you're going to want to commit. You can tell from the beginning that she's smart. She's driven. She's brave (at least in the face of some things...like dying). She loves her family. She's gone through a lot. She's pretty funny. (probably pretty, too, but that's not that important, especially when you see the world through her eyes). You later learn what a good friend she can be and why she was elected.

Now, like a parfait, or an onion, or an ogre—Maggie has layers. I'm not going to talk about those layers because you need to discover them for yourself. But she has them—and you keep learning about those layers as the book continues. Each layer—for me, anyway, and I predict for most readers—got me to like her more as a person (pretty frequently) and as a character (always). Is there a difference? Sure—one extreme example (that doesn't apply here, but gets my point across) would be Dr. Lecter. Fantastic character, but not someone you'd want to hang out with.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DIE?
Is this as good as the first two or three Lomax and Biggs books? Probably not—although it's been a long time since I last re-read them, also this is a different sub-genre, so I could be wrong. Also, that's really high bar. Is this better than anything else that Karp has done since then? Yes.

The way that Karp unspooled this was so well done. I sat back and enjoyed the ride more often than I "ought" to have, and didn't take as many notes and whatnot as usual—I was just into the ride that much that continuing was more important than jotting things down. At least in the moment...I'd be sure to write that idea down, right after this part. Well, maybe the next bit.

I should note that I dipped back in a couple of times while writing this post to fact-check myself and even now I ended up reading a few pages or a chapter when I only needed a clause or a name. Karp just doesn't want to let me go.

Anyone picking this book up—unless you do it blindly (and even then it's told to you within a chapter)—knows that Maggie's mom died almost two decades before these events. And yet—in her final moments, her last personal triumph—I was moved. I shouldn't care this much about the impending death of a character I knew was long dead. But I did. And again, even though it's right there in the description, "And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed ["my suddenly single father"'s] life, mine, and my sister's," watching it feels like a traffic accident—you know it's coming, but you can't stop watching.

Maggie's plot, when introduced, feels like a silly rom-com plot that's going to blow up in her face. And for most of the book, her sister treats it that way. You kind of do while you're reading, too. It feels like one, you react like one. Then...well, you start to take her seriously. As does her sister, Lizzie (eventually).

Speaking of Lizzie. I really would've enjoyed more time with her, she seemed like a hoot and a half. Her kids Katie and Kevin were also the kind of characters you want more of. And if we were looking at any other part of Maggie's life, we would've had more time with all three and we would've been perfectly content watching them go through their life. But this book just introduces them, lets us spend some time enjoying them (in pretty un-enjoyable circumstances) and then we just have to imagine the rest of their lives. Which is enjoyable enough.

I feel like I've talked around the book a lot, hopefully, I've talked about it enough. But I'm not sure what else to say. On March 4, go pick yourself up a copy (or go put it on reserve at your library now, and read it ASAP). Then we can email or chat or something about it and I can say all the things I can't put here.

Don't Tell Me How to Die isn't the Marshall Karp I know, enjoy, and respect. It's a new flavor of him that I'm getting to know, that I did enjoy and respect. And I can't wait to see what other sides he has up his sleeve (to torture the metaphor). I'm trying too hard. I'm babbling. Go read this and I'll shut up. Deal?

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this book. The beginning immediately hooked me in, and then some of the back flashes etc was a slow burn and then about 1 hour left in the book it picked back up again, and I needed more. I still think it would have been beneficial to have a epilogue. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of Don’t Tell Me How to Die!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🍖 love a story with a lot of substance
🧩 like to connect the puzzle pieces
🤯 have ever had a book completely blow your mind (if not, this one will)
💍 would spend your final days finding someone to replace you

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.

I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants”?

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

Wowwowowowoowwow. That’s all I can say. This book absolutely blew me away. At first, it seems like we are getting all of this random information and it doesn’t seem connected other than that Maggie experienced all of it herself. But no, it’s so much more than that, and I was absolutely blown away by the big reveal. Not only that, but they kept on coming and didn’t end! I absolutely loved this story, not only because Maggie came to life for me and felt both real and 100% relatable, but because of the amazing twists. The story is told in such a way that we aren’t really being given all of the information like we are led to believe. Just, wow. Pick this up ASAP!

This was an amazing book and I give 5 stars! For sure a top 2025 read. I was hooked and the suspense was killing me. I had to know what would happen next. The chapters were nice and short

When I started this book I did not think I would be all in my feels and crying. This is so much more than a thriller. It’s family, love, loss and grief. It’s told in multiple timelines leading up to “the funeral”. If you were told you had months to live what would you do? Well, Kate is determined to find a good woman for her husband because she doesn’t want what happened to her father happen to him. The thriller part definitely HITS at the end. I was not expecting it. The twist was twisting baby!
I am going to be recommending this one to EVERYONE.

What a surprise this book was! After reading the synopsis, I was intrigued, so I was glad to be approved for an early copy. I was not prepared for the twists and turns and unique story that was about to unfold.
Maggie and Lizzie lose their Mother in her 40’s due to a genetic blood disease. As their Father moves on in life, he meets a con artist named Connie. The sisters know their loving Father deserves so much more than this wicked woman. Years later, Maggie faces her own battle with the same disease that took her Mother, but she vows to not sit around and watch her husband Alex and two kids go through the same thing her Father did. Maggie decides to search out the perfect replacement for her, before she passes away.

This story is SO MUCH MORE! The relationships, the secrets, the lies, the twists and the turns. I loved everything about this one. It was mysterious, witty, and had great banter between characters. I thought the writing was fantastic. It made me laugh, it made me sad, and boy, was I shocked multiple times.

I’m so glad this book didn’t fly under my radar, I would have missed out on, what I’m sure will be, one of my Top Reads of 2025.

Run to the store on March 4, 2025 and pick this one up. Clear your calendar and immerse yourself into this wild ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an early copy.

Marshall Karp’s “Don’t Tell Me How to Die” introduces readers to Maggie Dunn, a 43-year-old woman who, upon receiving a terminal diagnosis, embarks on a mission to find her husband’s next wife to ensure her family’s future stability. This unique premise sets the stage for a narrative that intertwines elements of domestic life with suspenseful twists.

While the novel is lauded for its originality and Karp’s signature biting humor, I found the plot’s progression challenging. The story leads you down one path, only to abruptly redirect you onto a completely different trajectory towards the end. This broad and sudden diversion can feel jarring, and the plot twist might have been more impactful with a more thoughtfully planted buildup.

Despite these structural concerns, “Don’t Tell Me How to Die” offers a fast-paced and emotionally resonant experience. Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his sharp character development keep readers engaged. The novel’s unpredictable twists and turns ensure that it remains thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining. However, the abrupt narrative shift may leave some readers wishing for a more seamless transition.

In conclusion, while the book’s structure might benefit from a more gradual plot development, it remains a compelling read for those who appreciate thrillers infused with dark humor and emotional depth.

In Don't Tell Me How to Die, our protagonist discovers that she's soon to die from the same disease which took her own mother when she was a teenager. She's ready to accept her fate, but worries about how her family will move past her death. Therefore, she decides to find the next Mrs. Dunn before she passes. But how many secrets will be uncovered by her search...?

I really enjoyed this read. The characters and family dynamics felt surprisingly realistic. The sense of loss was palpable. I had to go hug my own mom after reading. The thriller elements aren't introduced until near the end of the story, but they were truly shocking. Not a twist many will see coming. Would recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A woman facing a terminal illness seeks to find a replacement wife and mother for her family before she dies. With only three months left to live, she is determined to prevent the same tragedy that happened to her family when her mother passed away.

I recently discovered this author and am always intrigued by different writing styles. This particular book was captivating, featuring a dark and twisted storyline that led to an unexpected ending.

One challenging aspect was the unique timeline structure. The author frequently shifted between the day of the funeral, events from the past, and the present, which made it difficult to follow at times. Despite this, I was able to focus on the plot and immerse myself in the story.

The exploration of previous generations provided valuable insights into the characters and their motivations. The protagonist, Maggie, faces challenges that mirror those of her mothers, creating a sense of history repeating itself. As the story unfolds, unexpected twists and turns keep the reader engaged, ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion.

This book allows readers to step into the characters' shoes and question how they would respond in similar situations. With its suspenseful and dark tone, unexpected plot twists, and touches of dark humor, it offers a unique reading experience. The pacing is moderate, keeping the reader engaged without feeling rushed.

I highly recommend adding this book to your "to-be-read" list, as it is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have been a fan of Marshall Karp's work since the first time I picked up a collaboration he did with James Patterson. The first thing I did after that? was find everything else he had ever written and read them too! It was one of the best decisions I made. He's hilarious, he's witty, and he's poignant and dark, all at once. I have since been blessed to appear in one of his books with Patterson having won a contest (I lived!), and even accidentally discovered he and I have people in common as I indirectly worked with his cousin. None of that adds to this review, but I like throwing it around. This was no less enjoyable and I already cannot wait for his next book!

Wow! This book was amazing. I devoured it so quickly. As I was reading the first bit I had to look it up again since I thought this was supposed to be a humorous thriller! I cried several times in the first part of the book. The jaw dropping surprised started happening and then i just couldn't stop!

If you want to cry, laugh and be surprised please read this! It comes out March 4th 2025. This is definitely one Id reread!

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone publishing for the eArc.

𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐭.

I'm SO glad I gave in to FOMO and got this book!

Unlike most thrillers, the central focus is on grief, and it's unbelievably well-executed. You know that feeling when you went to the theater to see UP thinking it was going to be a cute movie for kids, and then you're sobbing hysterically into your bucket of popcorn? That's this book.

Starting in present day then moving to twenty-six years prior, the story centers around Maggie and her Irish twin Lizzie finding out that their mother has a rare cancer. The girls shared one perfect day with their mom before she died at forty-three. Before her death, she warned her teen girls that "women with casseroles" would flock to their now-single father before she was even in the ground. They did-and one woman got her hooks into their father good, intent on ruining all their lives.

Maggie is now the same age her mother was when she died, and blood tests have confirmed she has the same illness. She's never been a victim, and she's not about to start now. With the time she has left, she's going to find the perfect replacement for her husband Alex and her two children. But that saying,"We plan, and God laughs," comes busting in and shatters the entire trajectory of this story.

Absolutely riveting, with a cast of characters who you will love, easily visualize, and will stay with you long after the story is over. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this early copy. This book is expected to publish March 4, 2025.

So this was a thriller if I ever read one. I usually am pretty good at seeing the twist in a book coming, but not with this one at all. And I was shocked, to say the least. I have learned that the best type of thriller is one where you can't figure it out, and this one did that. I rated this 4.5 stars, but I can't put that here in NetGalley.