Wow!!! Wow!!! I highly recommend this book. Different than what I normally read and completely unputdownable.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the thrill of reading early.

A woman in her late 40s discovers she has cancer within the first chapter of the book. As she's looking at her paperwork sent home from the doctor, she realizes her lead levels had been elevated a year back when she had first started showing symptoms, but they just randomly disappeared. She blames her ex, and her whole family treats her like she is crazy, after all, she's had mental problems before. Just when you think she is at the end of her life and she will never discover what truly happened to her, things just all the sudden click into place and the who and why make more sense. I had a hard time putting this book down as I wanted to figure out whodunit just as much as anyone else. Great read for those of you who like a good mystery. Thank you NetGalley, this was another enjoyable read.

Whoa! I did not see that ending. This book had me sitting at the edge of my seat and shaking my head in disbelief as the plot took multiple different twists . An excellent read!

Jennifer recieves news at the doctors that she only has weeks to live because she has cancer. While she received the papers from her doctors office she finds out that a year ago when she had blood work done that she had really high levels of lead. Someone had been poisoning her and that is what she believes is what caused her cancer.
As she explains her therary to her daughters Aline, Emily and Miranda they think she is reaching far for an explanation and then they believe that she basically did this to herself.
Jennifer is left to try to discover if it is her husband trying to divorce her or if its one of her three daughters who poisoned her. Along with all of the secrets that everyone tried to keep quite slowly start coming out. This is a different kind of thriller, The story was told in different perspectives and a fast paced thriller that is a great read! Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Simon and Schuster Canada as well as the author Catherine McKenzie. When I got the approval to read this book, I was so excited as I read a few of the authors backlist (Catch me if you can, Spin and Arranged to list a few). This book was list as a Mystery & Thriller book but when I got to about 40% of the book, I said this is a TV drama. The would work well as a 3 episode mini series set in the UK. I like it but did not love it. I hated "What the fork?" Now that I type it, I see the undertone joke beyond the swear word but it was just not a great read for me. So my honest rating for this book is a 3 star. It is worth a read for a Catherine McKenzie book lover but not on of my favourites.

“Six Weeks To Live,” a psychological thriller by Catherine McKenzie, explores the lengths someone will go to uncover the secrets in their own life.

A diagnosis of a terminal brain glioblastoma multiforme stage IV rocks 48-year-old Jennifer Barnes’s world, sending shockwaves through her fractured family. As if this wasn’t enough to deal with, her blood panel shows a high lead toxicity, suggesting someone may be poisoning her. As the title suggests, her time is limited, and her purpose is to hunt for her own killer. With 42 days left, can she uncover the truth in time?

Not really the psychological thriller I was expecting, this is more a family drama with moments of suspense sprinkled throughout. Regardless, the story was enjoyable. Jake and Jennifer are parents of triplets; 2 embryos, with one of them splitting as identical twins, Aline and Miranda, and a fraternal third triplet, Emily. Lacking love, the marriage splits and a battle for divorce ensues. For the past two years, Jennifer holds leverage over Jake and won’t grant him his wishes, creating tension when he appears. Each of the 25-year-old triplets is unique; Miranda lives at home and is distant with her mom, Aline is moody and has a career in the science field and Emily is a calm and nurturing mom, wife and medical student. McKenzie plays on this duality and shows how each girl differs in their reaction to their mom’s diagnosis. The novel is told using Jennifer and her three girls ‘points of view and this works because it allows us to get into their mind and see how it works. Readers get a sense that something is off in the Barnes family and it propels the story forward, making it an addictive read.

Of benefit to this novel’s success is McKenzie’s law degree as it has allowed her to tell Jennifer’s story in a compelling way. Twenty years practising law, McKenzie knows about human nature under stress. As we peel away the layers, we see a truly dysfunctional family. Not only are they dealing with imminent death, grief and the stress of putting affairs in order, but they are also dealing with years of revenge, secrets, and blame. McKenzie shows how finger-pointing and tempers preside over helping the matriarch cope. With such broken lives, can they still pull together and solve the mystery?

A great story: a little slow burning with irritating ‘fork’ usage, but a twisty mystery and a must-read.

Currently, McKenzie is working on a 2022 book release, “Please Join Us,” about a woman who gets invited to a secretive women’s organization and chaos ensues.

Thank you to Catherine McKenzie, Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publishes June 1, 2021.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review. ⁣
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Alrighty y’all...if you need a binge-able vacation read for the spring/summer of 2021 THIS IS IT! ⁣
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Six Weeks to Live is about Jennifer, a recent divorcee and mother to adult triplet daughters: Emily, Miranda and Aline. After having throbbing headaches, Jennifer goes to the doctor only to discover she has advanced brain cancer with just six weeks to live. As Jennifer grapples with this diagnosis, she becomes suspicious. After reviewing paperwork from the doctor, Jennifer learns she had poisonous amounts of lead in her blood. How did that happen? Did someone try to kill her and, if so, who? ⁣
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This thriller shifts point of view which I loved! As the reader, I learned so much about the triplets’ dynamics, their relationships with their mother Jennifer and deep, dark secrets about the family. I was shocked with the ending and that’s always a plus for me! ⁣
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Be mindful that two central themes of the book are parental death and cancer, so if those are triggers for you, I wouldn’t pick this one up! ⁣
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Otherwise, I recommend pre-ordering this book so you can binge it on vacation 😎⁣

Engrossing emotional ride into the dark secrets, lies and binds between three daughters and their dying mother.

Fast paced, well plotted twists,
although I figured out the “who dun it” early on I couldn’t figure why until the end. Seeing it all unfold was wild!

A sinister Psychological domestic suspense you won’t want to miss ~ coming out this spring! 💐

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

What she thought would be a routine doctors visit, results in Jennifer, a 48 year old divorced mother of triplets, being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and that she only has six weeks to live. News like that would be a shock to anyone, but its amplified for Jennifer when she sees her tests results indicate she has high amounts of lead in her system. Has she been poisoned or is this from natural exposure? Has she been essentially been murdered or was this an accident? Jennifer has six weeks to find the truth, and her family just so happens to be her list of suspects.

I am a fan of author Catherine McKenzie. One thing I have come to realize about her writing, is that her novels are a slow burn. "Six Weeks to Live" was no exception. It's described as a psychological suspense novel, but I wouldn't agree with that description. I would say this is a domestic drama with a few moments of light suspense thrown in. The novel alternates POV with each chapter focusing on Jennifer and her three daughters. It takes a few chapters to really get into Jennifer trying to figure out if she was poisoned or not. Throughout the book a lot of family secrets are exposed, most of them I found to be predictable and others I could tell were thrown in to throw you off the scent of truth. With that said, I did think this book was a page turner, and it kept me engaged and wanting to know what truly did happen. Structurally the story flows well and even though it may feel a bit slow paced, it is entertaining.

One thing that really stood out to me and I wish author McKenzie had given an explanation for was the titles of each chapter. At first it looked like every one was the title of an 80's song, then it started to veer away from that pattern. But the chapter titles felt so deliberate, I wish I could've understood why they were chosen since I didn't feel the connection between the titles and the content of the chapters were very clear. It's probably something a lot of readers wouldn't even notice, but it stood out to me.

I would recommend this book to fellow readers who are looking for an entertaining, quick read and I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy.

<b>This was entertaining, a little heartbreaking, and rather far-fetched. McKenzie threw quite a few suspects at us, which caused some intriguing twists. But I started getting irritated with most of the characters fairly early. </b>

<b><i>“I’m dying. My life has a countdown clock. And it starts now.”</i></b>

The title tells it all. Jennifer is devastated when she’s diagnosed with a brain tumor and was given six weeks to live. But she can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. Her blood tests from a year ago showed abnormalities and she's sure it's not the tumor that is causing her paranoia.

It's a shocker when her Dr’s visit ends with catastrophic and heartbreaking news. She has three grown triplets and a deceitful husband that’s been pushing for a divorce. She starts to imagine scenarios that might help her find the truth before her time is up.

Although the book was entertaining, most of the characters started to annoy me early on. Talk about dysfunctional...OMG! Jennifer refuses to give her cheating husband a divorce. I got tired of hearing about it. He didn't need her forking permission! And she spent most of her remaining time focused on him and his “terrible” treatment of her. Let it go, already!

The triplets were a media sensation from birth. Even with the free vacations and other benefits they received, they still whined about their elite lifestyle and treatment. They came off as spoiled, unappreciative brats most of the time. But I guess everyone wants what they didn't have, lol.

This is my first time reading the author and I enjoyed it enough to give her another try.

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine McKenzie, and Atria Books, for this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

<b>My Rating: </b> 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding down)
<b>Published:</b> May 4th 2021 by Atria Books
<b>Pages:</b> 384
<b>Recommend:</b> Yes...most reviews are positive.

@CEMcKenzie1 @AtriaBooks @NetGalley
#NoRulesJustThrills #InExchangeForReview #NetGalley
#SixWeeksToLive #Brain Tumor #BookReview #JustFinished #Triplets

Wow, what an original, unique, and absolutely chilling book! The whole thought of knowing you’re going to die, is very chilling to me, so of course I found this book to be chilling to the bone! I thought the characters were well developed, making it easier for me to get involved in the story and need to know what was going to happen. While, I didn’t get shocked by this book, I did find it to be riveting and unputdownable! I highly, highly recommend to my fellow thrill seekers!

Will buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

I appreciated the relationship between the sisters and their mother. I had to keep reading to find out what happened. The story shows that you never really know what anyone is thinking/going through.

What the fork did I just read?

Let me start with the positives:
- The story was interesting, despite its issues, and kept me entertained.
- Each character (a mother and her three daughters) had a very distinct voice, which I appreciated.

And, I think that's about it.

The not-so-positive things:
-Reading this from a medical perspective, I was less than impressed. Glioblastoma multiforme was not portrayed well here at all. Everything about it just seemed mildly...off.

- I also figured this one out WAY early. There were no surprise conclusions for me. Even if I hadn't, I felt the ending was pretty...limp.

- Though each character had a distinct voice, they were all sort of awful.

- I was incredibly tired of hearing just how identical Aline and Miranda were; over and over we were told this throughout the story. I also got sick of the whole "fork" thing. "What the fork is going on?" "I don't give a fork." ANNOYING. Just go for the gold and say the real thing.

- This wasn't a thriller. It was a domestic drama.

Most readers will probably enjoy this more than I did, but I can't personally give it more than 2.5 stars.

Available June 1, 2021

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my review copy.

Imagine a countdown to the end of your life. Now imagine that countdown to include who is responsible for your impending death. In addition, add in a unreliable narrator. Throw in some family drama for fun! McKenzie's new book is not your typical whodunnit and that is what makes it so suspenseful.

I loved this book so much! This is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read more by her! The characters and their story stick with you long after you finish the book. I highly recommend this book!

Jennifer is a 48 year old almost-divorced mother who has just received a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, with only six weeks left to live. What her diagnosis does not explain, however, is the blood tests that showed high levels of lead in her blood over a year ago. She is immediately suspicious that her husband poisoned her when she would not give him the divorce he wanted, and she is determined to prove it.

This was a solid, enjoyable read. I expected it to be more of a true mystery/thriller (given the cover and description), but it is really more of a...domestic thriller? Is that a thing? If it's not, it should be a new category and this book should be the shining example of the genre.

The book is not as fast-paced as I anticipated, but it deals well with both the emotions of Jennifer's diagnosis and her impending death and also the reveal of the secrets every member of the family has been hiding. This is not the one to read if you are looking for high speed chases and gun fights, but if you love betrayal and messed-up families, definitely check this book out!

Catherine McKenzie is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors - and she's Canadian!

This book incorporates two things I've always been fascinated with - psychology, and the biology of multiples. Along with complicated family dynamics, this book was almost perfect!!

I would have liked if more information about the condition (which I won't name to avoid a spoiler), details about it, how it manifests etc.

I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Jennifer Barnes has six weeks to live. Who knew? She was definitely surprised. After thinking about it and doing research on her condition, she has reached a conclusion. She believes someone has poisoned her. Who would do that? Her estranged husband. He has been asking for a divorce forever. She will not relent and give him one. Her triplets, grown daughters, will just have to believe her.
A psychological thriller that leaves you astonished and surprised. Great read, I recommend it.

3.5 stars

If you're looking for a quick and engaging mystery/thriller, this one fits the bill.

When the novel begins, Jennifer, the m.c., is diagnosed with glioblastoma and given the titular six weeks to live. She immediately engages her triplets - who are in their mid-twenties - her estranged husband, and a few other folks as she flies toward her own demise. More interestingly, she becomes convinced that there is something even more sinister happening: a potential poisoning that may have led her to this state.

McKenzie effectively balances Jennifer's unreliability, suspicions, and questionable characters to create a real who dun it and also did anyone actually do anything impact. While this isn't the most creative mystery/thriller I've read recently, it fits the entertainment bill. I'll read more from McKenzie for sure!

I took some time after finishing this book to figure out how I could tell you how awesome this story is without revealing any major plot points. We know going in that our main character Jennifer is going to die. She has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and as the title suggests she only has six weeks to live. While trying to come to terms with this diagnosis it turns out she’s probably been poisoned. A crime to which there is no shortage of suspects; Ex-husband? Possibly. One of her three grown children? Maybe. Perhaps it was her mom or best friend. With that many potential perpetrators, this story could have easily dragged as we weeded out one after the other. But when the book is written by a gifted storyteller such as Catherine McKenzie that’s not something the reader has to worry about. Six Weeks To Live is a perfectly paced whodunnit.

With all the skeletons this family has in their closets I’m not sure where they are able to store their coats. A few of their secrets center around mental health issues with one particular disorder becoming the main focus in the second half of the book. I really want to go into detail but I’m afraid if I get started I won’t be able to stop talking about it thus ruining the book for you and I also really want everyone to read this book so I will keep my mouth shut but trust me it’s genuinely compelling.

I am extremely grateful to the publisher for providing me an ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of the year through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it comes out in May.