Young Gabriel is a lonely boy, a very lonely boy. His father is slowly dying from cancer and his mother, a nurse, is wrapped up in being a caregiver and doing her intense hospital work. And then when Gabriel’s father dies the Grim Reaper comes to collect him, and Gabriel is the only one who can actually see him. Imagine being so alone that you can see Death! So sad! Eventually Gabriel must make a deal with Grim to protect his mother and the deal has devastating consequences. It’s very intense how it plays out as such extreme loneliness is surely death.

Fascinating idea. As a child, Gabe encounters the Grim Reaper. It's not after him, but it seems attracted to the boy perhaps because Gabe can see him and see what the Reaper does. As Gabe grows, he learns how to contact the Reaper. One day he makes a deal in order to save his mother.
I enjoyed the book however the story goes off the rails a few times. Despite this, I think its worth the read. Thank you, NetGalley and David Cinnella for the arc.

I wouldn’t classify this as a horror book, but a dark suspense, yes. I loved this. I thought the concept was interesting and it kept me engaged. It wasn’t something that I have heard of or read previously. It was completely unique. It was a lot heavier than I expected since it dabbled in the morality of consequences of actions. I think there could have been some room for improvement including creating some more elements of fear or horror if wanting to classify this as a horror book. In general, I really, really enjoyed this one. This book comes out February 26, 2025.

Thank you to David Cinnella, Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book for a honest review.

Wow I really enjoyed this book! It was a thriller book that gradually got darker. It was a roller coaster of a ride. Starting as an 8yr to an 18yr Gabriel goes thru hell in more ways than 1. First losing his father at a young age, trouble in school, a bully, then his mother’s illness, and the decision that changed everyone’s lives. The emotional rollercoaster the author put me on was no less than exhilarating! There were times I had tears in my eyes and others I laughed then a few gasps and audible “OH MY GOD!” “NO WAY” “WHAT?!”
If you’re looking for a book to get you out of a slump or are dipping your toe into the thriller/horror genres then this is a great book to start with. I myself love all things horror/thriller and I was still totally entranced with this book. The world thru Gabriel’s eyes/mind really hit close to the heart.
I truly felt his fear, hopelessness, depression, defeat, love for his mother, guilt for his actions, anger, regret. I loved the writing, the story/plot was very entertaining! I will definitely keep an eye out for future work of this author.

Reapers and deals, two things that never end well - sad and emotional with a good dose of creepy and disturbing. You know this isn't going to have a HEA, no spoiler there, a dark tale with a dark end.

Grim by David Cinnella is a compelling and unique take on the Grim Reaper, blending dark and eerie themes with a well-structured, easy-to-follow narrative. From the very first page, the portrayal of death is both thrilling and thought-provoking, keeping me engaged and eager to uncover more.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its depiction of the Reaper—a fresh and intriguing perspective that adds depth to the age-old figure of death. As the story progresses, it takes an even darker turn, something I personally enjoyed. The ending, in particular, leaves a lasting impact, making it a memorable read for fans of horror, suspense, and macabre storytelling.

While Grim is an enjoyable read, I would advise potential readers to be mindful of some heavy themes. The book explores drug abuse, cancer, death, murder, and self-harm, which may be triggering for some.

Overall, I would recommend Grim to those who appreciate dark, unsettling narratives with a unique twist. I think it will resonate with readers who enjoy chilling and thought-provoking stories.

Ever since he was a child, Gabriel Matthews, has been able to see the Grim Reaper when death was near. While this may frighten most of us, the Reaper himself becomes almost a comfort to Gabriel as he grows into a teenager. The one lesson in life Gabriel has learned the hard way is that death doesn't discriminate and when it's your time, it's your time. Or so he thought. When Gabriel receives some tragic news, his old friend the Reaper is there to make Gabriel a deal that that has him wondering how far he's willing to go to change fate . Would you make a deal with death if it meant saving someone you loved?
This was a fantastic view into the exploration of morality and just how far people are willing to go for those they love. The way this author portrays Gabriel as a young, agile teenager at the beginning of this book while we slowly watch him deteriorate and get sicker the longer this guilt and shame weighs on him throughout the book is genius. Gabriel's character is written very well in the way that a teenager doesn't stop to think about consequences until they are staring him in the face. I do wish we had more of a horror aspect involved in this story, rather than the suspense that truly carried this story. There wasn't much real horror, except for the murders that were rushed through in my opinion. I was more on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Gabriel could fulfill his contract before the Reaper's deadline was up. I was really hoping for maybe death himself to be more scary, or if maybe some of the souls Gabriel reaped had come back to haunt him it might have been a little spookier. The way the author portrayed death was interesting and I enjoyed the black door scenes where the souls went instead of the author attempting to write a heaven and hell storyline. The ending was a bit predictable but I did highly enjoy it, especially the totality of Irene and Gabriel's storyline. 4/5 stars because while I did enjoy the characters and the story itself I just wish it would have been a little creepier.

📕 Summary: Gabriel Matthews has been able to see the Grim Reaper ever since he was a child. When the teenager receives some tragic news, he is offered a horrific deal.
🌟Review: A fantastic exploration of morality and how far a person will go in the defense of love. Are we able to handle the consequences of our actions when force to make a life changing choice? The grief and moral dilemma that Gabriel goes through is extremely moving. I took one star off because the conclusion is a bit predictable; I absolutely still recommend this to anyone who enjoys horror and psychological thrillers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

If you could save a loved one by making a deal with death itself, would you?

Follow Gabriel as he navigates this life altering decision he made and the inner turmoil as he battles with the guilt.

This book felt more like a dark mystery, or maybe suspense, but not so much a horror. The book description had me expecting a bit more spook to it, so the plot fell a bit flat in that aspect. However it was an interesting storyline… the lengths someone would go in order to save someone they love. I was curious where Gabe would end up, and if his decision was “worth it” in the end.

Do you think it would be worth it? What if it meant losing yourself to save them? The premise definitely had my wheels spinning wondering if I’d go to the lengths Gabriel did watching him struggle as things got worse (and stranger).

A teenager makes a deal with Death (grim reaper) to save a loved one. Like all supernatural bargains there is a catch.

Overall,an okay read. Very straight forward. An unique protraying of Death.