'What the Dead Can Do' stands out as the most original ghost story I’ve ever enjoyed, even among the hundreds I’ve read. Blending mystery, thriller, horror, and family drama with extraordinary creativity, it transcends genre boundaries and delivers a must-read tale.
Peter Rosch is a master of his craft, weaving such compelling narratives that his fresh perspective on the afterlife feels utterly authentic, effortlessly drawing readers in without requiring any suspension of disbelief.
Seriously, you have to read this one.

This book is a total mind-bender—part supernatural thriller, part psychological nightmare, and 100% addictive. After a plane crash kills everyone on board except two-year-old Ethan, his late parents, Tag and Amanda, watch helplessly from the afterlife as he’s placed with family friends. But Amanda’s grief turns into something terrifying—she’s convinced Ethan belongs with her, and she’ll do anything to be reunited with him… even if it means taking his life.

The mix of supernatural horror and real-life tension is chilling. The battle between Tag and Amanda is both heartbreaking and terrifying, and the whole concept is just so unique. If you love dark, twisty thrillers with an eerie edge, What the Dead Can Do is a must-read!

This book has a dark but very unique take on the afterlife. Intense and tragic, this is an amazing book any thriller/horror lover would thoroughly enjoy!

thank you net galley for this arc. this is a story about the thin line between grief, loss, love. Ethan is the son of Amanda and Tag who die in a plain crash, as they watch there son from what called the plain another form of the afterlife.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

A timely book given the state of air travel, What the Dead Can Do is set up by a tragedy, a plane crash in which only one toddler is the survivor - but devolves into fantastical horror.

While Ethan, the little survivor of the crash, is taken in by his godparents, his mom and dad, Tag and Amanda, watch him from the second plane (a form of afterlife). What they see saddens Tag and enrages Amanda as Ethan’s new ‘mother’ is a drunk, and his new ‘father’ has his hands full trying to keep things under control. Really his most parental figure is his new sister Emily, who is the absolute star of this story. As Amanda searches for a way to bring her son to second plane, readers discover more about this unique idea of the afterlife and the thin line between love, grief, and absolute insanity.

This was chilling, went to places I could not have guessed at, but absolutely had me glued. The closest comparison I could try to make would be to liken this to a dark The Lovely Bones in some elements, but I assure other would be readers, this is its own story and one that will fascinate and give you some scares along the way.

I just finished reading this incredible book, and I have to say it’s a must-read! The story is deeply engaging, with an amazing storyline that builds a strong connection between reality and a mysterious “second plane” after death.

What truly captivated me was how the parents, even after passing away, remained present in their child’s life watching over him and trying to help in every possible way. It’s an emotional yet thrilling journey that keeps you hooked till the very end.

I’m so happy and grateful to have received this book through NetGalley, and a huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books for this amazing read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a gripping thriller with a unique and heartfelt twist

Posting this on March 1, 2025.

Oof. Where to begin? This is not your average possession story, or at least I've never read one like it.

The plot is certainly unique, and while dark, I found Amanda's obsession with reuniting with her still-living son relatable. Beyond that, though, there are friendship dynamics, family dynamics, loyalty questions, and the question of how far is too far all wonderfully at play here. I'd downloaded this book with the intent of starting it in between some other things, Once I started, those other things had to wait.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a very unique take on a story. I was not sure if I would like it when I first started reading. Would not lie, the first half felt like a freaking chore sometimes. I thought about not returning to it. But the middle and the last act was really well done and suspenseful and I am glad that I stayed till the end to read it through. Adore the characters and their really complicated dynamics.

Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!

What The Dead Can Do revolves around a toddler named Ethan, the sole survivor of a plane crash. His parents, Tag and Amanda, watch from the afterlife (known as the Second Plane) as their son's godparents, family friends Nicole and Matthew, struggle to adjust to life with the boy. Many things threaten Ethan's life - obsessive reporters, conspiracy theorists, and Nicole's drinking problem, to name a few - but the biggest threat of all is Amanda's plan to murder Ethan, so she can bring him to her in the Second Plane.

The book has a very introspective tone to it, in the way that most of it is exposition. We learn a lot about our characters, but I found that the plot pace suffered as a result. Even the climax felt slow to me as I felt we were focusing too heavily on the characters thoughts and feelings. Given this, it makes sense that there was seven unique perspectives, as I am sure Rosch wished to share these characters thoughts with us. However, it made the story feel bloated in my opinion. I think that Ethan's perspective could be cut completely with some clever edits, and doing so would make what happens in his one chapter that much more unsettling.

This story was interesting enough to keep me engaged and curious to see where it would go next, and the premise was completely unique. However, I found that it was lacking the heart-thumping moments that I crave in a thriller.

Whoa!!! This was an intense read and I throughly enjoyed it! So dark and twisted! Everything I love! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book!

Hard to remember the last time I read something so hopeful cloaked in a plot so dark. Quite a ride. Well done.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

After the recent spate of air tragedies, this novel about a child, the only survivor of a plane crash is especially eerie. The deceased parents of the child watch from another dimension as their son is placed in what they consider an unacceptable position. Mom is so determined to “save” her son, she’s willing to ensure his death. Insidiously dark