Wow, this was intriguing, suspenseful and so surprising. The beginning started more family drama and by the end, it completely changed directions to a thriller. Funny comments throughout the dialogue kept a note of humor throughout. The narrator was fantastic at bringing this story to life.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the epitome of a roller coaster, starts off slow and then you are thrust into the action!

I read this in one sitting and anyone who may be reading this review add this to your TBR. You won't be disappointed!

Wow! I went into this one not knowing a lot. I honestly thought it was more of a thriller and since thrillers haven’t really been my thing lately, I was a little weary. I don’t think it really became a thriller until about 75% but the weaving of family trauma and all the different characters and stories had me so intrigued. This wasn’t like any book I ever read before. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"This book is packed with so many twists and turns that it's challenging to discuss without giving away something important. It's about a political couple—she's a mayor and he's a doctor—living what appears to be a perfect life. But can you trust anyone? The beginning is a bit slow, but trust me, the ending and all the unexpected twists are worth every moment. This book has it all: romance, crime, friendship, and political intrigue. It's a must-read! Although I had to push through the slow start, it was absolutely worth it. I even re-listened to the last hour and a half of the audiobook to make sure I didn't miss anything! Special shoutout to January LaVoy, the narrator. She’s the best at performing both male and female voices and truly is the star of the show. This book deserves all five stars, easy!"

This story has a dual timeline, most of which takes place in the past. I found the story from the past kind of boring, kind of average, and deviates from the thriller it's supposed to be by becoming a book about finding someone a new wife, both in the past and present. However, when you rejoin the present it's nonstop action and twists. It ended well for a story about a woman who will be dead by the end of the book, so that was a fun surprise. The characters were compelling. Maggie is interesting and multi-faceted in ways you don't typically get from books. Many of the characters were as well, I think that kept me moving through the slower parts. The title of the book is dumb, I'm sad to say. I would've completely ignored this book if I hadn't thought reading the description would make me laugh at how corny it was, but the description grabbed me. I'm glad I looked past the bad title and read this.

I had never read this author before and I admit I went into the book a little blind. I was so engrossed in the story that I had to stop twice and think "wait, isn't this supposed to be a thriller?"

So, let's talk about plot twists. Some books are only good because of the crazy plot twist. THIS book was fantastic, even without the twists, but boy did that add to it! I am not a huge literary fiction fan, but I was gripped from the beginning. I was truly invested in these characters.

The story is told from one POV but flashes back and forth through points of time. This layout was perfect and never seemed confusing at any time. If you like, dark humor, you will enjoy this as well.

The takeaway from this book, "what would you do for family?"

Spice Level: a little steam, no sizzle.

Violence: nongraphic/closed door

I adore January LaVoy. She is an excellent narrator.

Highly Recommend

4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing & NetGalley for the ALC! 💌

Okay, let me start by saying, this book is wild. I thought it was gonna be a nice, heartwarming story, but boy was I wrong! Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp is a thriller with some serious jaw-dropping moments. Like, I was NOT ready for those plot twists!

The premise? It’s totally unique! Maggie Dunn is diagnosed with a fatal blood disease—like her mother before her—and she’s got three months to find a new wife for her husband, Alex, and a mom for her kids. A whole mission before she dies! Yeah, you read that right. She’s determined to make sure that her family doesn’t end up in the same mess she did when her own mom passed away. Seriously, talk about a complex character!

Now, the first half of the book? Oof, it’s a slow burn. The timeline jumps back and forth, and at times I found myself a little confused 😵, but it was worth it. And once that second half hit? Boom 💥, the pace picked up like a freight train. There are twists, murderers, and secrets galore! At one point, I was just like, “Okay, wait, how many murderers can this small town have?!” 🤔

The narration by January LaVoy was hands down AMAZING. She brought the characters to life, and seriously, her narration alone deserves a 5-star rating. 🎧✨

I loved how female-driven this story was—Maggie is a powerhouse who doesn’t let anything get in her way. But, I gotta be honest, the whole thing felt a little over-the-top towards the end. Some moments just seemed a bit... unbelievable. Like, the book had such a strong start, and then it kinda took a turn into full-blown thriller mode that felt a bit jarring. By the time we got to the end, things had spiraled so out of control that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes a little. It wasn’t just the twists; it was how everything became so unrealistic and contrived. I honestly expected more from such a strong concept.

Overall, I liked it, but it was a little predictable and overly dramatic in places. Maggie’s character was solid, and I loved her dedication to her family... but towards the end, she was painted in a way that didn’t do justice to her earlier strength. The conclusion really ruined it for me. Her character, who I admired for so long, became a bit... manipulated by the plot in a way that felt off. That ending? Ugh. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion—so much chaos and so little sense. I really wish the author had kept things a bit more grounded.

Tropes:
🌸 Terminal Illness
💥 Murder Mystery
🌸 Female Protagonist
💥 Family Secrets
🌸 Twists & Turns
💥 Slow Burn to Fast-Paced

CW:
- Death
- Terminal illness
- Murder
- Family secrets

It was an emotional ride, but I ended up feeling like it could’ve been a little more realistic. Still, a solid read with a twisted ending. I’m definitely intrigued to check out more of Marshall Karp’s work!

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp.

I'm a bit bummed by the cover art of this book, it makes it look like a throw-away thriller that you'd by at the checkout stand of a Walmart. But it's far from that. This book is good, it's like, really good.

This definitely has some mystery and intrigue, but mostly it's just a really good story. A woman who finds out that the deadly disease that took her mother, has caught up to her. And like her mom tried to do, she is convinced to pick her husband's next wife after she dies. She doesn't want her husband to have the same challenges that her dad did, but she could never bargain for the challenges that came her way instead.

It's organized, well written, great pace, and full of twists. I just loved this book, definitely give it a try!

Don't Tell Me How to Live by Alex Karp ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I devoured this audiobook in a single sitting (on 2x speed)! Don't Tell Me How to Live is a fun, fast-paced story that kept me completely hooked. The plot twists were genuinely surprising, and the overall narrative was incredibly entertaining. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a captivating listen! Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #DontTellMeHowToLive

This book was so good! It completely changed the direction I thought it was going, and I loved it! This kept my attention and was so well written. I was shocked towards the end of the book. Great read!

ARC Review: Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review of Don’t Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp

Marshall Karp’s Don’t Tell Me How to Die is a gripping, darkly humorous thriller that plunges readers into the mind of a woman on a mission with an almost unbearable sense of urgency. At 43, Claire's life is crumbling in more ways than one: she’s been given a terminal diagnosis, and time is running out. Yet, it's the shadow of her mother’s premature death that looms largest in her mind as she faces an even darker challenge—the need to protect her family from the same fate she believes awaits them.

From the outset, Karp presents Claire as a force to be reckoned with. She’s a mother, a wife, and a woman of incredible determination, but her approach to dealing with her impending death is anything but typical. Claire’s mission is simple yet absurdly high stakes: find the perfect woman to take her place as wife to her husband Alex and mother to their children before her time runs out. And to add a deliciously twisted layer, she isn’t just looking for someone kind-hearted and nurturing—she’s driven by a deeply ingrained belief that only a perfect woman will do, one capable of protecting her family from the evils of a world she knows too well.

The book's premise is audacious, dark, and uniquely compelling. Karp’s signature biting humor is on full display as Claire sets off on her absurdly high-stakes quest. At the same time, it’s clear that Claire’s obsessive focus on controlling her family’s future comes from a place of love and fear. The sharp, unpredictable nature of her character only deepens as the story progresses, making her a fascinating, if not always sympathetic, protagonist.

Karp, who co-created the NYPD Red series with James Patterson, brings his trademark skill for creating rich, complex characters and high-stakes drama to Don’t Tell Me How to Die. The dialogue is quick and snappy, laden with wit and tension, and the pacing is relentless. Just when you think you have the story figured out, Karp pulls the rug out from under you with a twist or reveal that leaves your head spinning.

What makes this book particularly interesting is the way Karp balances suspense and humor with emotional depth. The character of Claire is both comical and tragic, and her struggle to make sense of her crumbling life is relatable, even if her methods are anything but. There’s an unexpected poignancy to the narrative, especially as Claire tries to reconcile her desire to control the fate of her family with the reality of her impending death.

However, it's the tightly woven plot full of unexpected twists that will keep readers hooked. As Claire narrows down her candidates for Alex’s next wife, the reader is constantly kept on edge, wondering just what will happen next. Will she succeed in finding someone she trusts to take her place? And, more importantly, can she pull it off before it’s too late?

Karp’s prose is sharp and immersive, and his ability to dive into the psyche of his protagonist without making her too sympathetic or too unlikeable is a testament to his storytelling skill. While the premise may seem outlandish, the emotional stakes never feel less than real, making Don’t Tell Me How to Die a surprisingly heartfelt ride through the highs and lows of family, love, and legacy.

In conclusion, Don’t Tell Me How to Die is a fast-paced, thrilling, and emotionally resonant novel that will leave readers thinking long after the last page is turned. With its compelling premise, unpredictable twists, and sharp character development, Marshall Karp delivers a book that is both thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining. Don’t miss this one—it’s a wild, unforgettable journey.

I struggled to get into this story and connect. It has a promising plot line but it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

I loved this audiobook!

At first, I was like how is this a thriller? Don’t get me wrong, I loved the storyline and the characters! Even if it wasn’t a thriller, I thought to myself, it is a great book! It’s about friendship, grief, loss, and love! Well… I was correct for about the first 70% of the book. After, it was in fact a thriller and a good one at that!

I needed to know what was going on! I sat in my car and just listened after work. It was THAT good. This book makes you feel all of the emotions.

I listened at 1.75x and the narrator was fabulous as always!

Highly recommend this thriller, love story with grief and friendship mixed in there.

Definitely a different type of thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Darkly humorous and full of unexpected twists as Maggie learns her illness (which she has been screening for for years as it took her mother's life) is terminal. She is a woman on a mission to find the perfect replacement wife and mother for Alex and her children before her time is up.

Told in dual timeline of present day Maggie dealing with months to live to her teen years when her mother was nearing the end of her life, it gives you an understanding of why she wants to set her family up with someone to step into her shoes.

Lots of twists and turns and an ending that had me wide eyed!

The narrators did a great job and Maggie on the audio made me laugh multiple times.

Thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing for an eARC and Blackstone Audio for an ALC.

More of a family drama than a thriller, with an interesting premise. This one grabbed my attention in the beginning, then seemed to stutter out a bit in the middle and picked back up at the end. I found some of the plot twists predictable and others surprising. The narrator of the audio version did an excellent job.

I loved this book. Super creative concept. I’ve never read anything like it. Such an intriguing story that’s takes you on a wild ride.

This is my first book by Marshall Karp and I’m going to pick up other books he has written. January LaVoy did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly I had to dnf at 31%

This book already has so many good reviews on good reads so I’m definitely in the minority but I couldn’t get into the story. On top of me not enjoying the story line there were some quotes I found odd for lack of a better term.

Thank you to the publisher for gifing me this alc

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a different read for once, really found this page turner hard to put down

I go into most books blind and this was no exception. I was a bit confused as I was listening because I thought it was a thriller (it is). The first part of the novel we see the FMC talk about the meaning of family, grief, and death. Her mother had a rare blood disease, and then Maggie (FMC) gets the news, just when she is at the peak of her career, a mom, and a wife, that she is dying from the same rare blood disease. As she processes all of this, we watch her go through some of the stages of grief...until she makes a grave realization and that is when the crazy twists and turns begin. There were so many surprises, but I absolutely loved all of them! There is a reason this book is getting a ton of 5 star reviews!

It was not what I was expecting from Marshall Karp, and at first I wasn't sure I would like it. Once I got into it, I really enjoyed it, and it had some great twists, which I love. So, don't give up on this one too soon, you will regret it.