Marshall Karp delivers an exhilarating and witty thriller in Don’t Tell Me How To Die, a novel that keeps readers on their toes from start to finish. With his signature blend of humor and suspense, Karp masterfully crafts a narrative that is as engaging as it is unpredictable.

The story unfolds with gripping intensity, challenging readers to piece together the truth as twists and revelations continually shift expectations. Karp’s writing style is sharp, immersive, and effortlessly entertaining, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. His characters are well-developed, their dialogue infused with humor and realism, adding depth to the novel’s already compelling mystery.

What sets Don’t Tell Me How To Die apart is its ability to surprise. Just when you think you have it figured out, Karp turns the narrative on its head, proving that nothing is as it seems. This clever storytelling ensures an experience that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

For fans of crime fiction that delivers both suspense and a dose of humor, Don’t Tell Me How To Die is a must-read. Karp’s ability to blend tension with levity makes for an unforgettable ride, and this book is a testament to his skill as a storyteller. Highly recommended.

My first five star of the year! The writing was engaging with three dimensional characters and witty banter. I was engrossed from the first page to the last page. I appreciate that the twists were not overly done or exaggerated just to expand the story. Thank you so much for this ARC!

🩸𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 L̶I̶V̶E̶ 𝗗𝗜𝗘
𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔯𝔞𝔩 𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫/𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟺, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻
🤩𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟝+𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ★★★★★+

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝...Maggie has been diagnosed with the same rare blood disease that her mother died from. She has 3 months to find a new wife for her husband & a mom to her kids….

🌸𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...HOLY FRIGGIN WOW! I loved this book! If you see above👆 I wrote general fic AND thriller as the genre even though this one is dubbed solely as a thriller/mystery. Wellllllll…it is BOTH! Woohoo! 🎉The first two thirds-ish is an amazing emotional story about grief, family & love. The added wit & banter made it not a massive tear jerker for me, but I DEF felt big things. 🥺♥️The pacing, the writing, the main character....all are phenomenal. 💯The last third-ish is like whiplash in the best of ways🙌. That’s when the thriller part hits & barely lets up! 😳I am talking twists galore 🌀& the whole damn thang was just BRILLIANT! 🏆

Five stars for one of the most original - and what will make my Top 10 of the year - thrillers I have ever read!

Maggie is a lawyer and the mayor of her small town. She is dealing with a death of a prominent citizen when this story begins. Maggie also receives some life-altering news: she has been diagnosed with the same rare condition that took her mother’s life at a young age. Maggie is determined to spend her last days with her family and making plans.

That’s as much about the plot that I want to say. Go into this one blind - that is my advice. This book has so many twists and turns that you will not know if you are coming or going. That is a compliment. I had NO idea where this one was heading, and I was surprised at every turn. This story does bounce back and forth throughout Maggie’s life, but it is very easy to follow. I absolutely loved the ending too!

I also was lucky enough to get the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of this one. January LaVoy does a phenomenal job as always. If you prefer the audiobook, you are in for a treat!

This book is absolutely incredible. I cannot recommend it highly enough! It is truly original, and my head was spinning by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital and audiobook copies of this amazing thriller! Now I need to read more from this author. This book is out now! Pick it up!

WOW. Just…wow.

“How strong are you?”

I’ve been trying to come up with what to say about this book for a few days now and I’m at a loss. I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook of this book, which was phenomenally narrated by January LaVoy and I couldn’t stop listening. I finished this in less than 24 hours and yet it’s been living rent-free in my mind for DAYS.

It’s starts off a bit heartbreaking as we learn that Maggie’s mom died when Maggie was only 17 from a fatal condition that Maggie has apparently now been diagnosed with herself. Her mom’s last wish was for Maggie and her sister to protect their father from the vultures of women who would throw themselves at him—and protect him they did.

So when Maggie learns she has a similar fate coming her way, and realizes her kids might be too young for that kind of undertaking, she decides to find a woman to take her place in her family—as her husband’s wife and also mother to her twins.

This story captured bits of the past alongside the present to show us just how much Maggie has been through and just how important family truly is to her. We see the bonds she’s made with people over the years and which ones truly stand the test of time.

A lot of people have said they’ve cried while reading this one, and while I didn’t, I can understand it as part of this psychological thriller does read like a family drama and with deaths involved, it’s hard not to tear up at times.

I was riveted for the entire story either way though. And the twist at the end??? Wow.

I cannot recommend this one enough, and I hope you’ll check it out! It’s addictive, twisty, and completely original.

The writing was phenomenal. There was so much character development that I felt like I really knew all of the characters. Multiple times I had to stop and question if this was truly a thriller/mystery! Trust the process. All of the plots are woven so well together. Excellent book!!!

Thank you netgalley for an advanced reader's copy.

This book is told in three parts. The first part is in the past-1997. Seventeen year old Maggie’s mother is dying from a rare blood disease and asks her daughters to look after their dad and keep the vulture women away from him. So, when Connie comes into her dad’s life she is skeptical.

Part two and three are more domestic suspense than family drama. (More part three). 26 years later, Maggie learns she has the same rare blood disease as her mother and she decides to find a replacement wife for her husband, Alex.

It’s somewhat unrealistic and unbelievable, but I enjoyed the twists. I ended up listening to the audiobook for the last half narrated by January Lavoy. She is amazing.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the advanced readers copy and to Libro.fm for the advanced listener copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This had a very unexpected turn of events that hit me one right after the other and I couldn’t have enjoyed a better peak and ending. There was a lot of back and forth between time periods, which can get consuming at times, so pay attention. Intriguing me the most is the opening chapter, you think that’s wha the book is eluding up to but it’s much more. I won’t give it away you’ll have to see for yourself.

I became a fan of Marshall Karp after reading his Lomax & Biggs books. Karp then went on to team up with James Patterson in the NYPD Red series. I was happy to see him back with a solo title, Don't Tell Me How to Die, and this fast-paced tale certainly does not disappoint.

Maggie Dunn is a woman who knows how to get things done. She knows how to succeed. She has a younger sister and friends who will support her no matter what. She's been living with the threat of a rare genetic blood disease hanging over her, so when she's told she only has three months to live, she knows what she has to do.

I love Marshall Karp's writing style. Each chapter is headed by how much time is left before Maggie's funeral, and that adds urgency to the story. There are also laugh-out-loud moments that can catch readers off guard, and if you're a fan of plot twists, you'll love the ones in this book.

Maggie is a force of nature, and although I ultimately did not like her, I did like her absolute honesty. I couldn't stop following her every move. If you're a fan of fast-paced books filled with twists and turns and an indomitable main character, pick up a copy of Marshall Karp's Don't Tell Me How to Die.

I loved this novel from start to amazing finish. The characters were real and the story flowed as fast as the Hudson River. The twists and turns kept me flipping the pages, and I put everything on hold until I finished the last word. Maggie and Lizzy were the best sister duo trying to find the next wife for their father after their mother passes away. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. My habit is to go into a novel knowing nothing about it, and this was a fresh experience that I totally invested myself in. I will highly recommend this novel to my library patrons and I will be putting this on top of my list for anyone asking for a book that packs a punch! Well done, Mr. Karp, keep them coming!

Thank You to NetGalley, The Author Marshall Karp and The Publisher Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC, for my honest review.

Maggie’s mom died young with a rare blood disorder, and it is looking like Maggie will suffer the same fate. But she won’t make the same mistake as her mom and waste what time she has left doing chemo and being miserable. She is going to let what happens happen. So much of this book I kept wondering if it was mislabeled, because it just seemed to be about her mom and family and job and such. Until the end hits you with a sucker punch out of nowhere and wow, that was quite the ending!

Don't Tell Me How To Die
By Marshall Karp
Publication Date: March 4, 2025
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

This was soooo good. Karp is whip-smart and has written an incredibly compelling, delicious story. This book was MADE to be devoured!

4.5 ⭐️
What a ride ! This felt more like a family drama for the most part and in the last 20% is when the thriller part comes in . Overall a quick and enjoyable read . I had to come back to this review and rating the next day and update it - the more I thought about it, the more I realized how brilliantly the story was executed

Holy crap was this good! So many twists and turns that I lost count of how many times I was dumbfounded! Part family drama, part exciting mystery/thriller makes for a unique read! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Don't Tell Me How To Die
By Marshall Karp
Publication Date: March 4, 2025
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Don't Tell Me How To Die is an absolutely compelling five star read that was unexpectedly brilliant. Karp is such a wonderful storyteller -- I flew through this book and truly enjoyed every minute of it!

This book takes place over multiple timelines, with short chapters and a story that pulled me in immediately. I laughed a lot and I cried big tears. So many of the quips from the characters caused me to laugh out loud, with witty dialogue and clever one-liners that brought buoyancy to the heaviness of the topics in these pages.

For much of the read, I wondered why it was listed as a thriller. Not that it mattered, because the story was phenomenal. I was completely entertained by the McCormick family, the people of Heartstone, and the plot itself. I don't even want to say more or tell you anything about the synopsis.

This book will not be what you're expecting, but then it's going to start blowing your mind. Because suddenly, around 75-80% of the way in, this story starts twisting and doesn't stop till the very last page. Seriously, the way this book twisted and turned in its last chapters absolutely left my jaw on the floor. I kept saying, Wait a minute, WHAT?!, again and again. And when it was done, I felt like I wanted to stand up and applaud.

I cannot recommend this book enough -- whether you're a fan of thrillers, contemporary fiction, family drama, or character-driven stories - there's something in this book for you to love. And damn this book was good - you simply MUST add it to your bookshelf!

#DontTellMeHowToDie #MarshallKarp #BlackstonePublishing #BlackstoneInfluencers #ARC #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #bookreviews #bookrecs #MUSTREADS #fivestarreads #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #booklover #bookaddict

I was really drawn to this book because of the cover and description. It sounded like a true mystery/thriller but it read more like contemporary fiction at parts. All of the intense mystery/thriller moments happened in the last 10% of the book. At around 84% one of the MCs goes missing but at that time it was too late to grab my attention.

The sporadic time hops were confusing and inconsistent. Even with the time hops Misty and Maggie’s relationship had zero depth. All of the sudden Maggie was explaining how Misty always felt like family, but she stayed with her for what? One night after her family was murdered and they had limited contact once she moved away.

I felt like the author used a lot of unnecessary sexual language and sex scenes that just did not fit the narrative. They felt forced and to be honest, creepy. Also the use of a slur to describe a lesbian at around 70% was completely unnecessary especially since the book is written by a cis heterosexual male. It was also weird to me that September 11 was tied into the end of the book. All of these instances felt very gross to read especially when the book wasn’t marketed correctly.

I will not be posting this review on my socials.

I was intrigued by the blurb on Netgalley and was excited to get the ARC. The first half of the book was developing Maggies' background and her genetic blood disease that will kill her before her next birthday. it flashes back to the time to when her mom was dying of the same disease and how it affected their family and town. The pace was not super fast and I would put it down nd pick back up weeks later but once I got past that point, the book picked up and I flew through the end with the twists.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! This book is full of shocking surprises, and I did not see any of them coming. The writing is phenomenal. The story is stunning in so many ways. The characters are spot on, and I cannot stop gushing about this book, it is phenomenal! Marshall Karp had me going in one direction and flipped that right around and had me going in the exact opposite direction. My mouth hanging open in shock, trying to gasp for air as I read the last few tantalizing chapters. This book is highly addictive and tore through it like it was my job.

This book had my emotions all over the chart. My eyes were welling, laughing aloud, to my jaw hitting the floor. The way in which the story was written is utterly amazing. I am not giving away any juicy tidbit. You need to read this book! It is a jewel of a book that cannot be passed by. Thank you to my book bestie @webreakforbooks for telling me to read it. You always have the best suggestions. Thank you to Marshall Karp and Blackstone Publishing for my gifted copy. Are you still reading this, what are you doing? Go order it or drive to the store a pickup your copy!

On the basis of my love for the delightful five-book Lomax and Biggs mystery series by Marshall Karp from a while back, I was happy to come across Karp's new standalone, Don't Tell Me How to Die. But I must confess to wondering what type of book the author intended to write. The first two-thirds or so presents as a family drama, but then the book suddenly and (for me) unconvincingly takes a huge swerve into psychological thriller territory. And where was the "darkly funny" humor promised in the blurb?

To be fair, the multiple twists in the latter part of the book were unexpected and entertaining to read, but because I found the female protagonist, high school senior class president and current town mayor Maggie, so unrelatable and unlikeable, they ultimately fell flat for me. I much preferred Maggie's slightly younger sister, Lizzie, but her story all but disappeared partway through the book, as did the stories of Maggie's 16-year-old twins. In addition, much of the story involves terminal illness (not a spoiler--it's in the Amazon description), which could have been more deeply affecting, but which suffered from the matter-of-fact way those involved reacted to it. I know Karp is a talented writer with a wonderful sense of humor, but I unfortunately didn't find any of that in this book.

My thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

This didn’t wow me like all the 5 star reviews you’ll see. I think my expectations were too high. It’s VERY slow and NOT a thriller. This reads like a family drama, coming of age, with a heavy theme of grief and some scandalous behavior. The suspense and “twist” doesn’t hit until 88% which is way too late.

One thing I will say is that it DID make me cry in the beginning; my sad heart just couldn’t take it. So for that, I added a star.