I like bed this book. I feel like I have whiplash with all of the twist and turns. I loved the characters. The ending was such a surprise that I didn’t see coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I loved this books so much. I did read it in one day. I loved the storyline and all the characters. I could not put this book down. I would definitely recommend this book.

What happens if a mother in her forties has a prognosis of an imminent death within months, and doesn’t want her children and husband subject to the vulturous aspirations of women who will flock to become the next wife? Marshall Karp addresses this in his new thriller which explores terminal illness, bereaved family and the devastating effect of the emergence of the wrong potential-step parent. Forty-something Margie Dunn lost her mother when she and her sister were in their teens. This left their grieving father open to unscrupulous gold diggers. When Margie is told she has the same fatal blood disease as her mother and will be dead in a few months, she vows to find her twins a new mother in advance of her own imminent death.
This novel certainly took me on some circuitous routes and twisty, tangly plot trails that I didn’t expect. And it didn’t play out in the way I expected from the publisher blurb. The result was actually better than expected. Recommended to readers fond of suspenseful winding family tales.

I can't say enough good things about Marshall Karp’s Don’t Tell Me How to Die. From start to finish, this book had me hooked, and the high praise it’s received is absolutely deserved.

The story follows Maggie, the mayor of Heartstone, a wife, and a mom of two. She’s recently learned that she’s dying from a rare blood disease—just like her mother did before her. After years of check-ups, Maggie is now facing the harsh reality that her time is running out. Before her mother passed, she warned Maggie and her sister to take care of their dad, especially since all the women in town would be out to swoop in on the grieving widower. And sure enough, that’s exactly what happens. With time running out, Maggie’s mission becomes clear: she has to find a new wife for her husband before she dies.

This book made me laugh, cry, and gasp out loud. The twists were so well done, and I was so wrapped up in the story that I almost forgot the surprises that were coming. Then BAM! Another twist hit me right when I least expected it. Marshall Karp’s writing keeps you on the edge of your seat, pulling you in emotionally while keeping you hooked with the unexpected.

I can’t recommend this book enough—it’s emotional, funny, and absolutely thrilling. If you’re looking for a book that will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, Don’t Tell Me How to Die is the one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I picked this book up on a whim and I am so glad I did. I appreciated the strong character development and realistic growth over the course of the story. This real life aspect roped me in and had me believing so deeply that I got whiplash in the best way as truths were revealed.

A fresh take on the thriller genre. This story is addictive and enthralling and the characters are perfectly flawed. This book is surprisingly emotional and well worth reading!

If anything I was hesitant to read Don’t Tell Me How to Die as I usually stay away from books about death where possible. Murders are acceptable. People dying of illnesses not so much. So when the book description starts with “I have one thing to do before I die. And time is running out” and goes on “my mother also died at forty three” I wasn’t sure this was the read for me. But this is not a sad book about death and in fact is so twisty and turny you don’t have a second to feel sad.
I at no point guessed any of the twists and at one point interrupted everyone on my bus by loudly exclaiming “WHAT!!!!!” when one of the twists was revealed!
Add to your TBR immediately.

This opening sets an intriguing and emotionally charged premise that immediately captures the reader's attention. The narrator's determination to secure a future for her family, even after facing such a devastating diagnosis, is both admirable and unsettling. The reference to her high school reputation adds a layer of dark humor and complexity to her character, suggesting that she is willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve her goals.

The stakes are compelling—finding a replacement for herself in such a short time frame—and the backstory involving her mother's death and the impact of a destructive woman in her father's life adds depth to her motivations. This creates an engaging conflict, as readers are left wondering how far she’s willing to go and what choices she will make.

However, while the setup is strong, the narrative could benefit from a little more nuance. The character's drive is fascinating, but it might be interesting to explore her fears and vulnerabilities as well. The emotional weight of her impending death coupled with the pressure to fill her role can lead to rich character development.

Overall, it’s a gripping start that promises tension, humor, and moral ambiguity, suggesting a potentially thrilling journey.

5/5 rating upgraded after completing the audio

Karp nailed it with this one! Great character development, great storytelling. Chapters were the right length and I was left wondering how it was going to end so I kept turning the pages! Loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this copy of "Don't Tell Me How to Die."

Wow - what a fantastic book! The ending! The secrets! The twists! Definitely lives up to the hype and if this isn't already optioned for a movie, I'd be shocked.

The characters are amazing and unforgettable which is what drives a story for me. Maggie and her sister Lizzie are fantastic, funny, wise-cracking, and so tender together.

It's told in current time and flashbacks as we learn about Maggie and Lizzie's mom who died from a rare blood disease which is genetic. So it's a heart-wrenching story of grief and regrets.

I'm not saying anything else in case I spoil anything (you can read the book blurbs) but it was wonderful!

Marshall Karp is a wonderful writer. His Lomax and Biggs series won me over with The Rabbit Factory and I look forward to reading each installment. Don’t Tell Me How to Die, a standalone, is a bit of a hybrid but pure Marshall Karp. It’s part domestic thriller but mostly a humorous heartfelt family saga. Maggie drives the story with wisecracking sister, Lizzie, as her backup, confidante, and go-to. Their mother has a rare and terminal blood disease that earmarks the mother for an early death. Teen Maggie is asked by the mother to make sure the father is looked after and through his grief doesn’t become enamored of some woman after his money. Maggie accepts the challenge and handles her responsibility well keeping the gold diggers at arm’s length. The story continues with adult Maggie as mayor of a small Hudson Valley town and Lizzie a doctor in the same town. Maggie has the perfect husband, a handsome and popular doctor, and teen twins, a boy and girl, whenMaggie receives horrific news that she has the same terminal disease as her mother. Maggie decides to deal with her death and ensuring husband and kids are able to continue without her.

The story flashes from the present to the past with hilarious scenes in both. All the characters bring the story to life as teen Maggie and adult Maggie engages with family and friends with enthusiasm and humor. While the mystery and thriller parts of the book are limited they do bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.

The title immediately drew me in and the premise ket me engaged. The FMC, Maggie is diagnosed with a fatal blood disease like her mother before her. Accepting fate, she's determined to find a new wife to ensure her family is left in good hands,. From the very beginning you can already tell Maggie is a complex and interesting character.

For me there were issues with the pacing. While Maggie's voice is engaging, the story is slow in the first half. The shifts in timelines add layers to the story but there were times that the jump threw me off. And then all of a sudden it became fast-paced, and the twist were solid, a little extra (unrealistic) but interesting. Solid family drama/mystery.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
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4.5 Stars
I first became interested in reading this story because of the subject of a genetically inherited disease. This is a story about a family and the impact this can have on the patient as well as the entire family. I especially liked the main character, Maggie, who had to acknowledge this disease and then live in fear that, like her mother, she too could succumb to an early death. This story was surprisingly so much more than the stress of a possible fatal inherited disease. There is unexpected intrigue and a surprising revelation as the story unfolds. As I read on, it only became more interesting and the ending was a total surprise to me.

This book was fantastic!! It's my first read from this author and I'm so glad I was able to read it. It had a little bit of everything.... humor, it was emotional, twists I absolutely was not expecting. The character development was perfect. Not too much, and not too little. I felt like I genuinely knew every character. Chapters weren't too long either. Definitely recommend this book. 5 stars.

3.5 stars, rounded up
Much different than I was expecting! Fast paced and twisty.

I went into this book with zero expectations, I didn't even read the synopsis. I had just seen all of my book friends raving about it, so I wanted to give it a try. For at least the first half of the book, I was really wondering what on earth all of the fuss was about, but then when the twists started coming they came quickly and furiously.

I liked that things were never what they seemed in this book, and that kept me invested to get the answers. I listened to the audiobook narrated by January LaVoy, and she did a spectacular job giving Maggie a voice. I love her narration and she elevated the novel.

It's not a perfect book, I thought the setup and the time in the past was a bit too long and drawn out, much longer than necessary. I didn't love the "protect your father from the predatory women" angle, it seemed too heavy handed and over the top. Yet overall, since I was looking for an escapist read I ended up really enjoying my experience with this unique book.

This is a slow burn book done right!!

It starts off slow and at times it read more like a contemporary fiction than a thriller (that’s not a complaint) That led to amazing character building and gave insight into all the relevant characters.

Just when you get comfortable and feel that ok now I know how this ride will go the author switches gear and throws you one twist after another which gives you a literal whiplash!

I loved it! Thankyou NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review 🥰

Oh my god, this BOOK! Obsessed doesn’t even cover it. Halfway through I pre-ordered this because I knew I would have to share this with friends. This was so unexpected as it is a slow burn to get to the thriller part but I was enraptured nonetheless. You will go through all the emotions during your read - I was sobbing, laughing, shaking with fury, etc.! There are so many twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Seriously, I cannot recommend this book enough so please believe me when I say you won’t regret reading it!

4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

More like 4.5 stars, I think!

Thanks to a lot of my GR friends glowing reviews and the original sounding premise - I could not wait to get my hands on this one. I was so happy to see it was a “Read Now” on NetGalley. Downloaded immediately.

This author - Marshall Karp - is new to me. I love James Patterson, but have yet to read the NYPD series, which he wrote and co-wrote. I’m thinking I should go start that series now!

This book had me hooked from the get-go! I loved the short, cliffhanger chapters and alternating timelines that intertwined in spectacular fashion!

I was expecting a psychological thriller, but I would say the first 2/3 was general fiction. However, I was never disappointed! The last 1/3 had me flying through the pages. So many unexpected twists. The ending was perfection!

Unputdownable and worthy of the hype!

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Marshall Karp for my advanced copy to read and review.

Can a book about impending death from a deadly disease be both a mystery thriller, a dramatic family saga and somewhat funny? Marshall Karp has managed this trifecta. Not only that, but he made it the kind of book to be read in one sitting!

Teen-aged Maggie and her sister have lost their mother to a dreaded hereditary illness. In her early forties, Maggie, now married with children, discovers she also will fall victim to the illness.
Karp takes us back to Maggie’s teenaged years, as the sisters witness the parade of potential future stepmothers who come armed with comforting casseroles. Older Maggie does not want her husband to become a victim to her “replacement”, so she starts thinking - do I need to find a replacement?

But everyone has secrets, everyone’s relationships are complicated, and the small upstate NY town has more than enough problems and characters for Maggie, who is also its mayor! Readers will be whipsawing between tears and laughter. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

I listened to the audiobook and wow, what a great book! It was narrated by January LaVoy and I have loved her narration of other books too and this was also so well done. I was expecting this to be a thriller but it was so much more. Maggie, Who is married with two kids and has a happy life, is dying of a rare disease at the age of 43. She vows to find the woman who will take her place as the wife to her husband before she passes away. The first half of the book builds on the family dynamics and drama and then the suspense picked up through the second half. This part definitely was more like a thriller. So many twists that I didn't see coming, and although it took a bit to get to that part, it was worth it. I will definitely be interested in more books by this author.

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley and librofm for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.