A timely book focusing on deadly diet pills causing a rash of deaths in Vancouver and Los Angeles. Toxicologist Dt. Julie Rees and her detective boyfriend Anson Chen join forces with LAPD Detective Cari Garcia to track down the online supplier and prevent other deaths. A possible link between the drugs & a popular wellness centre is also explored.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley & Simon and Schuster Canada. All opinions are my own.

This is a very topical books with all the news about new ways to diet. The detectives are responsible and working hard. Having a Canadian and American focus adds to the story rather than detracts. Quite enjoyed it, wanted to keep reading to see what happened.

3.5 Fit to Die is Danel Kalla's new novel.

There is such a focus on body weight in our society - rather than on being healthy. Kalla takes this skewed thinking as the basis of his plot in Fit to Die. Emergency rooms in Vancouver and LA are dealing with overdoses of an unnamed drug. Once the common thread is named, I thought, no way. But no, it's real. (and that is pretty scary)

Here's the neat bit - Kalla is himself an emergency physician in Vancouver, Canada. I can't even imagine what's he's seen or dealt with over the years. His medical expertise adds much to his book's overall feel in terms of setting, action and dialogue.

His protagonists are medical and law enforcement players whose lives intersect. Some of the characters have appeared in previous books and it's nice to see them again. The investigation is believable from both points of view.

Kalla keeps things moving at a good pace. There's a few twists that keeps the reader on their toes. Overall, an entertaining read for those who like medical thrillers.

Compulsive story that hits close to home for so many. I love this author and how his stories take place in my own backyard. I feel as if I'm watching it all play out on TV, the writing is very descriptive. In fact, I would love to see any one of his books brought to life on tv or a movie

Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla is a medical thriller about eating disorders and drug overdoses.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
LAPD Detective Cari Garcia is investigating the death of Owen Galloway, son of a US Senator who is sure it was murder.  Cari thinks it may have been a drug overdose.  Owen was a star track runner who was intent on making his body lean and strong.

Meanwhile in Vancouver, Dr. Julie Rees, a toxicologist, is concerned with the rising death count of overdoses.  When an American star dies in Vancouver of a drug overdose, Julie's boyfriend, Detective Anson Chen and his partner are put in charge of the case.

Apparently the drug of choice right now contains DNP, which was originally used in the the trenches in WWI and the mining industry as an explosive, but has been found (in small doses), to help with weight loss and muscle enhancement.  Unfortunately, DNP can cause seizures, an abnormally high fever, and death.

The three detectives work together to tie the drug to a popular wellness center that has facilities in both Vancouver and LA.  But they discover that may not be the only source of the drug.


My Opinions:
I had never heard of DNP before, and it is downright scary!  I thought Fentanyl was bad....and it is probably worse because it is much more prevalent, but DNP, if it takes off, could be worse.

Basically the book centers around body image and eating disorders, and how the problems are exacerbated by social media and the weight loss industry.  It is just sad.

The book was very straight-forward, and anything medical was explained very well.  I liked the characters, although I could have done without the romance angles, which really did nothing for the book.

Overall, it was a fast, interesting read.

Once again Kalla lifts the covers on a social issue that is devastating our society, body shaming, eating disorders and the toxic diet industry that preys on these vulnerable people. His main characters are well-flashed out, his plot timely to the point that is almost viewing a live news story.

This book is a fast-paced gritty tale which focuses on the true faces of the victims and those who care about them come to life. This gripping nightmare is real and ongoing and while told as fiction, is like looking through a mirror and seeing both the worst and best of mankind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was a tough read, as a parent of 2 Teenagers it will sit with me for a very long time. Daniel has a knack for writing raw, honest and amazing stories. This is a must read if you think we don't have a Narcotic problem in Canada. Powerful read

Another action packed story by this author - this time centring around illicit diet pils containing DNP ( and explosive !) that leads to multiple high profile deaths in LA and Vancouver . Definitely a interesting plot centring around the diet industry and food disorders⁣
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I was about half way through the book when one of the characters made a comment which made a little light bulb go off in my head . Two of the main characters in this book were the main characters in the 2020 novel 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 by this author . This isn’t marked as a series and clearly it works well as a standalone!

Wow! Super topical medical thriller!

Fit to Die is a medical thriller which applies so well to our current time. I couldn't put it down! As someone battling the bulge but keen on fitness, it would be so nice to have that shortcut, that little pill, which could solve my problems...and so the main premise of this book speaks to me on many levels! The plot moves right along, the characters are well developed, the topic is engrossing, this is a super book! This is the first book by Daniel Kalla that I have read, so I must find the backlist!!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own."

Fit to Die is a fast moving mystery novel with a unique story.

I Started reading on the way to a hockey tournament and finished the book once we arrived.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this read. The book was good and faced paced. A medical/procedural novel that included looks into the US and Vancouver where they were looked at the death of young people due to drugs. When I was reading it, I would want to read it so it was something that was not boring and it did not have a time that it was not going anywhere either.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the chance to read an advance copy of Fit to die by Daniel Kalla. This medical/police thriller was quite realistic, with issues like eating disorders, toxic diet drugs, and body shaming. I enjoyed it, but felt there was just too many characters. The fact that it takes place partly in Vancouver was a bonus.

This is a timely, topical thriller about the lengths people will go to lose weight and the perils of illegal drugs. Julie, a doctor for Poison Control, starts to see a pattern in gruesome deaths from infested substances. Her boyfriend, Detective Anson Chen, and Cari, an LA detective are teamed up to investigate the similar types of deaths in LA and Vancouver. A weight loss and performance enhancing supplement called DNP that is made from explosive materials, literally, is discovered to be the deadly substance but finding the source is the big challenge. Only available online, the websites keep changing and disappearing.
I found myself more interested in Anson and Cari’s separate back stories, and it seems like this might be a set up book for a series.
A good summer read!
Thanks to @NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for a copy of this eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fun, timely and freaky. Really enjoyed this roller coaster ride of a thriller. Perfect title, Fit to Die.

Loved this book. It's a real page turner. Follow Anson, Theo and Cari as they investigate several DNP poisonings across Los Angeles and Vancouver. Dr Julie Rees, toxicological, alerts the police to the situation, and is then involved in the investigation.

A tense medical thriller that gives the reader a look into the booming wellness industry and people's obsession about body image.
I like that the subject matter is relevant and informative without being overwhelmed by medical jargon that is too hard to understand.
It was great to read more about Dr. Rees and Detective Chen but I found many of the other characters a bit one dimensional. I am looking forward to the next thought provoking book.
Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC.

Intense, current and captivating. Canada and the US police join forces to find out what is killing young people. Couldn't put it down- loved it

Fit to Die just wasn't the right book for me; I like character-driven thrillers and the characters here were pretty shallow, with dialogue that didn't feel natural to me. I decided not to finish it, but I think it will definitely appeal to readers who like a fast-paced, plot-driven thriller. The issue of weight loss drugs and the harm they do is timely and really interesting.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterca for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Daniel Kalla’s new book, Fit to Die, is described as “a riveting thriller about online body shaming, toxic diet pills, a vulnerable mega-celebrity, and a rapidly rising body count.”
I’m not sure about the the thriller part but I still enjoyed this book. Daniel Kalla is a Canadian author and former emergency medicine physician and that background really comes through in this novel. Fit to Die felt like a medical show that had a crossover with a cop show with a cross-border element. The majority of the book takes place in Vancouver, with some of it set in L.A.
Daniel Kalla explains in the author’s note that the book “focuses on the treacherous phenomenon of body image and eating disorders, which are perpetuated by a toxic weight loss industry and a social media ride with body shaming.”
In Fit to Die, Daniel Kalla focuses on one specific and very deadly diet pill that is growing in popularity. What’s interesting is that it’s mentioned several times throughout the novel, that the concern is that the substance will grow in popularity, because a famous pop star and social media influencer used it – and died from it. He writes in the novel, “Rain’s death seems to have turned into some kind of promotional campaign for DNP.”
I found this foray into celebrity and diet culture so interesting but also scary – that people are willing to do anything to obtain or maintain the body image they view as superior. Even die for it.

Fit to Die by Daniel Kalla [Book #69]

A new diet pill seems to be circling around North America which normally wouldn’t raise the authorities attention. That is, until it’s uncovered that the diet pills contain DNP, an explosive which isn’t safe for human consumption. As the death tolls continue to rise, investigators in Vancouver and Los Angeles work together to get to the bottom of it.

Fit to Die is an entertaining and interesting medical thriller. The story is told via short chapters with alternating POVs; it's fast paced and a quick read. I was fascinated by how realistic the characters; the plot and the twists and turns were. The author combined his medical knowledge with suspense and great police procedural in such a tasteful way. At times, I found it hard to read due to the level of detail he provides in a medical sense. That didn’t stop me from tearing through this book because it was so good!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this Arc in exchange for a review.

Book hits shelves on May 9, 2023.