Sometimes the charm of a book is centred on the storyline; other times, its strength might be the plot or a travelogue-themed backdrop. McKenzie’s books, I find, are all about the characters, ones that can equally captivate you, disappoint you, or make you cheer for them. On occasion, truth to be told, you might also want to shake them in frustration, give them the proverbial boot, as you valiantly pick about the plot.

Take McKenzie’s upcoming book, Six Weeks To Live, which is being released on May 4th, 2021.

It is a tough way to spend your last forty-two days on earth.
Six Weeks To Live tells the story of a forty-eight-year-old woman, Jennifer Barnes, who has just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. She has only six weeks to live as a result of that diagnosis- or is that really the reason? The twist – you can be guaranteed that there is always going to be a twist in McKenzie’s novels - is, that at the same time Barnes gets her cancer diagnosis, recent blood work shows she is being slowly poisoned. Who is responsible?
Enter Barnes’ triplet adult children: Emily, the perfect oh-so-organized med student; Aline, the moody distant scientist daughter; and Miranda, the reckless, can’t-be- counted-on daughter, who admittedly, engages in some pretty interesting ‘side bits.’ Of course, there is also an ex-husband who has been down in the basement of the family home for no good reason. Presumably.

I had to leave the night light on an extra hour so I could finish Six Weeks To Live and find out who was doing what to whom.
Six Weeks to Live is yet another solid read from the master of the psychological sleight of hand. #SixWeeksToLive #NetGalley #cecereviewstheread www.cecescott.com @cecemscott

Catherine McKenzie is back with a psychological thriller and family drama about a woman trying to find out who poisoned her as her clock is slowly ticking.

Jennifer Barnes is a mother of triplets who just found out she has cancer. But looking at her results, she sees traces of lead in her system (weird, right?) which leads her to believe that someone has poisoned her. Jennifer thinks it was her ex-husband and what follows is the story of Jennifer's paranoia as she tries to find out the truth about what actually happened. Part thriller and part family drama, McKenzie soars with her newest novel till its

I read this book in two sittings. The novel begins with Jennifer at the doctor's office finding out about her diagnosis and her life spirals from there and the story takes off immediately. We are introduced to her three daughters and her despicable ex-husband and each have secrets of their own. I found the story to be very fast-paced and the integration of the family drama blends really well with the thriller genre. It's not overly emotional, but just enough to make you feel sympathy for the characters.

This story comes with its own set of twists. Throughout the novel, McKenzie places little hints here and there to find out who poisoned the mother. I found out a bit earlier who it was but it didn't take away from me enjoying the story, but I do have to say I did find myself switching up between characters until I put my best on a single one. Each character in this story is flawed (except for Suzie, she's wonderful).

Overall, McKenzie crafts an original novel that is sure to have you flipping through the pages until the final twisty conclusion. Good luck putting this one down!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Woah! This is a twisty book. There are so many turns and secrets in this book. This novel introduces us to Jennifer a mother of adult triplets. Her husband left her about a year ago and now she is terminally ill will brain cancer. She also has suspicions that someone tried to kill her. It’s a race against what little time she has left to figure out if she was poisoned.

This book starts off in a doctors office and bam your thrown a curveball and they just keep coming. This is fast paced and well written you are sucked in from the first page. All the characters are flawed and messy. I could feel the characters pain while reading this book. I’ve never read a Catherine McKenzie book before but this won’t be my last.

Six Weeks to Live is billed as psychological suspense about a mother, Jennifer. dying from terminal brain cancer who thinks she has been poisoned and is on a mission to prove it was her ex-husband who did so. But this novel also delves into more serious issues around mothers and daughters and the impacts they have on each other which culminate in an unexpected ending to the story.

The writing is crisp, the plot is generally well-paced and the telling of the story from Jennifer’s and her three daughters’ perspectives is very well done.. I found the use of the six week timeframe to frame the novel very effective as we feel what Jennifer must be feeling as the weeks count down to the end of her life. This is a solid read that kept my attention and was easy to read.

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Six Weeks to Live is out in April.

Another fantastic book by Catherine McKenzie! Not as frantic as her last book, but this one doesn't exactly have a slow burn, either. The mystery was teased out in exactly the right length of time to keep me enthralled, introducing bits of information at just the right time! Great read, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it.

This is a psychological thriller that had me Intrigued in the first chapter and kept me reading until I had finished the book. The author created some great characters and a wonderful storyline. There are some nice twists, which were totally unexpected. I like a book that keeps me guessing.

When I started the book I thought it would be more of a tear jerker kind of story but it is an intense suspense book. You won’t want to put it down. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

The story starts out with us learning that Jennifer, a mother of adult triplet girls and estranged from her husband Jake, has been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Jennifer suspects 5th at the cancer has developed from being poisoned a year ago.
The story was gripping and a well written page turner at the start when we learn all this in the first few pages. I was thinking that this is going to be like the novels that McKenzie wrote earlier in her career.
The chapters are written from four different viewpoints of the main characters.... Jennifer and each of the three daughters. Each chapter there was evidence provided as to who may have been the one to do the poisoning of Jennifer.
Unfortunately for me about halfway through the story lost it’s page turner feel and it just felt I was reading to get to the end and find out “whodunit”. When the final turn of the plot was revealed it was disappointing and kind of anti-climatic. And some of the details seemed a bit far fetched.
I’m pleased for Catherine McKenzie that the book appears to be a success but for me I was hoping for more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

Jennifer has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour, Glioblastoma. She has been told that she has six weeks to live. Jennifer is the middle aged mother of triplets, grown women. And, she is in the process of a not so pleasant divorce from her husband of many years.

Then, Jennifer discovers that she has also had lead poisoning which may have lead to her brain cancer. The answer to how she got it seems obvious. But, is it?

The relationships in this book (the triplets, Jennifer, her mother, and the estranged husband) seem a little “off” throughout the book. It is obvious that there is an undercurrent of something but it is hard to figure out.

Jennifer is on a mission to figure out what happened to her. It's hard to do when you only have six weeks to live.

As the six weeks are drawing to a close the twists and turns start. It is hard to tell which twist or turn will be the final one. Some readers may be able to figure it out but this one didn't.

Once again, Catherine McKenzie has hit it out of the park with her new novel. I often wonder how she can sleep while formulating her books. It was an entertaining, fast paced and easy to read book. The characters are well developed, the plot is well thought out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Readers copy of this book

My rating: 4-stars! Interesting read that definitely left me hanging on to every word this author had to say! There was such build up to all the twist and turns. Enjoyed this read and will look forward to more from this author

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review of this book!

Wow, wow, wow. What a deeply disturbing thriller. I thought I had it figured out a couple of time and boom there's a twist. I couldn't put this book down and became deeply invested in the truth of the story. What a complex family dynamic. So good. So recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC

Oooh so much going on...great twist I didn't see that coming at all. Couldn't put this one down such a draw you in and hold your attention book.
Great read

Thanks to the Author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I absolutely loved this book!!! Could not put it down. I read it in one night! Another five star book for Catherine McKenzie!

Six Weeks to Live by Catherine McKenzie is a gripping read from the very start, and you will want to devour it in a single session. I have long been a fan of Ms McKenzie's work, and I do believe that this is her best to date.

Jennifer Barnes is only forty-eight when she receives the grim prognosis. She has a brain tumour and is given only six weeks to live. But Jennifer suspects that there is more to her illness than it would seem, suspecting her estranged husband of poisoning her in an effort to smooth the way for a speedier termination of the marriage. As her health rapidly deteriorates, Jennifer relies on her triplet daughters to help her find out the truth at a time when she is at her most vulnerable, all while facing the unrelenting march of time.

This is a compelling read and I was invested from the very first page. The novel lends itself to speculation, in the best possible way, and I have to admit that while I did suspect the ending, I was nonetheless surprised by the way it all spins out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.