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A review by nzlisam
Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Holy Smokes!
1997 – Seventeen-year-old Maggie McCormick, and her 16-year-old sister Lizzie lose their mother to a rare, genetic, incurable blood disease. Her final wish, that her daughters promise to watch over their father because there are many women in their small town of Heartstone, New York, who will take advantage of his grieving state. But one gold-digger is persistent!
2023 – Maggie is flying high. She is now the mayor of Heartstone, married to a brilliant surgeon named Alex Dunn, and together they share fifteen-year-old twins – Kevin and Kate. But Maggie’s world comes crashing down when her latest test results reveal she has the same blood disease her mother had. She remembers how the women flocked around her father back then. She doesn’t want to leave her husband and kids vulnerable to that. Maggie has a plan.
A thrilling premise, a title that grabbed my attention, and eye-catching cover art. I was pretty much sold when I swiped to the first page, and once I’d read the foreboding prologue I was hooked. Don’t Tell Me How to Die was a psychologically disturbing story of deceit, deception, and misdirection. I was immediately drawn to the characters, and quickly grew to like and care about them, even as I reminded myself that I probably shouldn’t trust or grow attached to anyone in a thriller. I think because the 1990’s timeline read more like literary fiction/family drama, saga/YA it lulled me into a false sense of security. Although there were some parts even in the first half where I was like, “I smell a rat!” But nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind number of twists in the last half. How it all came together in the end was executed to perfection. Did I guess correctly regarding any of it? Nope!
Another highlight was the dialogue, every line felt natural, real, and on-point. And even though there were dialogue tags they weren’t needed as every character had a distinctive voice and tone. The humorous dialogue really stood out as well, and lightened the mood. And I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the setting of Heartstone and its charming sense of community and neighbourhood, and how the author brought it to life with his intricate descriptions of the layout – I could clearly picture all of it in my head.
I’m unable to think of a single negative. And my fellow reviewers are in complete agreement as I’ve read so many glowing 5-star reviews praising this one. I’m sure there’ll be many more to come once Don’t Tell Me How to Die is released next month. My top favourite of the novels I’ve read so far published in 2025.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Marshall Karp for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025
1997 – Seventeen-year-old Maggie McCormick, and her 16-year-old sister Lizzie lose their mother to a rare, genetic, incurable blood disease. Her final wish, that her daughters promise to watch over their father because there are many women in their small town of Heartstone, New York, who will take advantage of his grieving state. But one gold-digger is persistent!
2023 – Maggie is flying high. She is now the mayor of Heartstone, married to a brilliant surgeon named Alex Dunn, and together they share fifteen-year-old twins – Kevin and Kate. But Maggie’s world comes crashing down when her latest test results reveal she has the same blood disease her mother had. She remembers how the women flocked around her father back then. She doesn’t want to leave her husband and kids vulnerable to that. Maggie has a plan.
A thrilling premise, a title that grabbed my attention, and eye-catching cover art. I was pretty much sold when I swiped to the first page, and once I’d read the foreboding prologue I was hooked. Don’t Tell Me How to Die was a psychologically disturbing story of deceit, deception, and misdirection. I was immediately drawn to the characters, and quickly grew to like and care about them, even as I reminded myself that I probably shouldn’t trust or grow attached to anyone in a thriller. I think because the 1990’s timeline read more like literary fiction/family drama, saga/YA it lulled me into a false sense of security. Although there were some parts even in the first half where I was like, “I smell a rat!” But nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind number of twists in the last half. How it all came together in the end was executed to perfection. Did I guess correctly regarding any of it? Nope!
Another highlight was the dialogue, every line felt natural, real, and on-point. And even though there were dialogue tags they weren’t needed as every character had a distinctive voice and tone. The humorous dialogue really stood out as well, and lightened the mood. And I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the setting of Heartstone and its charming sense of community and neighbourhood, and how the author brought it to life with his intricate descriptions of the layout – I could clearly picture all of it in my head.
I’m unable to think of a single negative. And my fellow reviewers are in complete agreement as I’ve read so many glowing 5-star reviews praising this one. I’m sure there’ll be many more to come once Don’t Tell Me How to Die is released next month. My top favourite of the novels I’ve read so far published in 2025.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Marshall Karp for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025