Release: August 26, 2025
Author: Peter Rosch
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Rating: 4 ★ 

After a plane crash kills everyone on board except a toddler named Ethan, his late parents watch over him from the afterlife. Ethan is left in the care of family friends, but their struggles and secrets put him in danger. Amanda, his mother, becomes dangerously obsessed with getting her son back—even if it means harming him. As she learns to possess the living, Ethan’s father, Tag, must fight to protect their child, even if it costs him everything. This intense psychological thriller blends supernatural elements and suspense, exploring grief, obsession, and the lengths parents will go to for their child.

What the Dead Can Do offers a fresh and chilling take on grief, love, and the afterlife, blending psychological thriller with supernatural elements. The story is compelling, centered on a toddler who survives a plane crash while his deceased parents watch over him from another plane of existence. The characters, especially Amanda and Tag, are well-developed and relatable, making their struggles deeply emotional and thought-provoking.
That said, the book’s pacing can be uneven. The middle sections tend to slow down with introspective and self-reflective passages that sometimes drag and pull you out of the main storyline. Some readers might find this focus on internal dialogue excessive, though it does add depth to the characters’ motivations.
The concept of the “Second Plane” is unique and creatively imagined, though some found its bleakness unsettling to the point of not wanting to dwell on it. The thriller elements kick in more strongly toward the end, with suspenseful twists and moral conflicts that keep you hooked.
Overall, this debut novel showcases Peter Rosch’s imaginative storytelling and willingness to explore dark, complex themes. If you enjoy stories that mix horror, family drama, and metaphysical questions with emotional depth, this book is worth your time—even if it requires patience during its slower parts. It’s a haunting read that lingers long after the last page.

Favorite Quote:
"the dead may leave us, but their presence lingers in ways we can't always understand."

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Peter Rosch, and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The premise of this book sounded so different to anything I have ever read before so I was really intrigued to read it.

Up until around the 30% mark, I struggled to feel invested in the characters, but once other characters were introduced and things started happening, I was quite simply hooked and could not stop reading.

Books with a supernatural/paranormal element can sometimes be tricky to get along with as they can feel a little gimmicky, but this one was done so well. Will definitely recommend this to others!

I was so excitited to read this book as the plot sounded amazing. It was just okay. I struggled through the first of the book as I found it very slow, but did enjoy second half of the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for ARC.

A bit to slow for me, sad to say, because the plot sounds so interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an eARC of What the Dead Can Do in exchange for my honest review!

This supernatural thriller effectively weighs me down with the heaviness of grief and love, making for a tale that's compelling to follow over the course of its slow-burn path. I really do feel so awfully for Amanda as she tumbles deeper and deeper into her obsessive spiral, desperately wishing that she could be back together with her beloved son Ethan. But oh no, oh no, her commitment to that quest steers us down an increasingly worrisome and somber path. Sure, I do think some parts of the narrative could have been more fleshed-out, but instead, they get taken along a relatively formulaic route. And I wouldn't tell people to dive into this expecting a book that's full of high tension and shocking twists. It goes for something much different than that. It's much more of a gradual buildup that explores the ways in which its characters process loss, struggle with addiction, and value life. I additionally appreciate the worldbuilding of the afterlife, which comes across in this novel as such a lonely and daunting place. It's the sort of landscape that expands beyond my mortal mind and makes me feel like I can't properly imagine all of it from my earthly plane here, which is a sensation that meshes well with the afterlife's depiction.

Overall, I'm officially rating What the Dead Can Do 3.75 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 stars. I'll keep an eye out for more of Peter Rosch's work, and I'm glad to see that he's gotten off to a good start with this debut novel of his.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, Peter Rosch, and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is my first NetGalley ARC and I am so excited to be a part of the community. Now, on with the review!

''A young child’s fate is at stake in a deadly battle between his deceased parents in this gripping and profoundly original psychological thriller'' is how this book was described, and the description is spot on. I was expecting something darker, but was pleasantly surprised that this wasn't 'just another paranormal fiction novel'. The short version - Mum and dad die, their 2 year old son survives, and mum is NOT HAPPY. Time to get the family back together!

I do not post reviews with spoilers, but I am happy to provide some cheeky hints for you:
* The education you can gain if you are given 24/7 viewing access to someone you thought you knew very well - None of us knows the REAL version of anyone else, now, do we? We all act differently when we think we aren't being watched!
* Excerpts from a Beetlejuice-esque book containing helpful instructions and guidance for newly dead humans!
* Emotional turmoil around themes such as bereavement, denial, surviving a life changing event, alcoholism and mental illness, family dynamics and above all else: Keeping to your moral code, as questionable as that code may be!
* This book contains humans, ghosts and one very determined serial killer, who isn't the only one in charge of his decision-making and travel choices.

I am confident that anyone who is intrigued by these clues will enjoy this book! I look forward to buying myself a physical copy when it is released!

The synopsis and general theme of this book is what peaked my interest. However, the author gets tangled in the minutiae of self dialogue too often for my taste. While some of that minutiae is necessary for plot development, the pacing and structure of its execution took away from the development of the overarching story and left me wanting less details. I initially enjoyed the mystery behind “second plane”, however, that mystery quickly faded after discovering just how bleak inhabiting that space would be. What an absolutely terrible existence “second plane” would be. It’s such a terrible existence, in fact, that I didn’t care to know more about it. However layered that existence would be, I’d prefer nothingness in its stead. If this was the author’s intention then well done.

A very interesting plot built around grief and how it hits us all differently, and the lengths we'll go for those we love. I thought the characters were excellent—very relatable, especially Amanda. By the time this story hit its boiling point, for one reason or another, I felt close to them all, even the baddies. Emotionally, it puts you through a lot. I'll be thinking about this book for a long while. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview What The Dead Can Do is a debut novel. This is quite different and is a mystery with a supernatural origin.
A lone survivor of a plane crash is a very young boy. He parents have asked their friends to be his guardian in the case of their demise. The child’s parents have perished in this crash.
The next part of this book is based on this boys parents who are now in another world. They want to be part of their sons life from the beyond.
But they may want more than is possible and the boy who is still among the living has no idea how much his dead parents miss him. And what that sorrow means or what it can mean is quite ‘scary’.
A good debut. A bit slow in the beginning but different and well written.
3 stars

When Tag and Amanda Littlefield die in a plane crash, they are confronted with the Text, guidelines to navigate the Second Plane, though they disagree on its merits.

Meanwhile, their young son, Ethan, the lone survivor of the crash, goes on to live with the family of Tag’s best friend. A circumstance nobody could have predicted still bares guilt for Tag as he watches his son being raised in conditions less than ideal.

Eager to change the circumstances from beyond, Amanda will go to extremes that Tag is unsure he can support.

Riveting, surprising, thought provoking, metaphysical and thrilling. This book is impossible to put down. Highly recommend it!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was immediately intrigued by this book's description and appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC via Net Galley.
I love books with original and wildly creative plots and Peter Rosch does not disappoint. This was a truly unique take on what happens after death that it had me hooked the entire time. The characters were well developed- some I loved, some I hated. My favorite was Emily but Tag had the best character arc. The pacing was perfect and the ending was thoroughly satisfying.

Pretty good story from Rosch about a couple who dies in a place crash where their young son is the only survivor and is given to their friends who had previously agreed to care for him if anything bad happened to both. While in a place called Second Plane (religion is frowned upon in this book), the dead mom starts to miss the son and plots to possess a body back on Earth and kill the boy so he can come join her and the dad in the otherworld. Dad, however, is not a fan of the plan and tries to stop her. It's a very interesting premise which isn't quite executed as well as it could have been. At times awkwardly written, and it takes a bit of a while to really kick in, but it eventually becomes rather gripping and moves towards a solid ending. Definitely worth a read if you give it time and get around some of the narrative issues. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first half of this book resembles the characters Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam (Alec Baldwin) from the original Beetlejuice movie. There is even a version of Juno (Sylvia Sidney). It also has the “Text of the Dead” instead of the “Handbook for the Recently Deceased”. However, the second half of the book was so different and took a nice turn into becoming a thriller! It was unique and suspenseful! You’ll find yourself invested in all the characters and will feel conflicted on who to root for in the end! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

What the Dead Can Do has an intriguing, original idea of life after death. There is focus on grief and loss throughout the novel and the lengths to which one might go to escape the pain. I thought it was a brilliant idea.

Most of the action occurs in the first and last parts of the novel. Much of the middle is introspection from the characters, and although it gave a lot of insight into their hearts and minds, I found that it pulled me out of the story somewhat.

I think this debut novel from Rosch shows his talent for story development and thinking outside the box. I look forward to more of his stories in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

If you’ve read any of Rosch’s works, including but not limited to his full length novels, you’d recognize his writing style inside What the Dead Can Do. If you enjoy his prose, this won’t disappoint. In fact, it is my opinion that this is his best work. Rating Rosch’s specific brand of storytelling from 0-10, I give it an 11. Just the right amount of character development, with levels of suspense perhaps slightly above what you believe you’ve prepared for.

A tale of possession from the afterlife in which those who remain here to pick up the pieces are just trying to do their best. But their best isn’t good enough for the possessor, and her plan to relieve them from the equation is unique, to state it mildly. The characters are relatable, especially to anyone with addiction issues (or family members with same), children, or just a general sense of right and wrong in a difficult to handle situation. Rosch’s brain is burning pure gasoline as he lets loose his dark brand of creativity, exploring a fresh perspective on how things work in Second Plane, after you’ve left this one. The book’s title is as much a commentary on the departed’s abilities here in the present as it is a concept of what they are allowed to do once gone from this earth. You’ll begin to understand the rules, just as you learn how they can be broken.

This book affected me. After finishing it, I thankfully had the wherewithal to sit with it mentally for a few days before giving a review. It deserved a well constructed assessment, and I had hoped to collect myself first. In retrospect, I wish I’d captured the emotions I’d been feeling upon completion of the story, and during the last several chapters leading up to the book’s conclusion. My heart literally pounded, actual tears welled in my eyes. I’ll never be able to accurately convey my in-the-moment sentiments, but I’m glad I waited long enough to realize that what I really wished for was more of the story. I even considered starting it over the next day.

Once I started this story, I found it difficult to put it down. I loved the characters and the afterlife, Second Plane, and its rules that Mr. Rosch created.

What the Dead Can Do is a chilling and unforgettable thriller that blends grief, obsession, and the supernatural in a way that had me hooked from the first page. The story of Ethan—the sole survivor of a plane crash—quickly spirals into a haunting battle between love and madness from beyond the grave. I was deeply unsettled (in the best way) by Amanda’s descent into darkness and the terrifying lengths she’s willing to go to be with her son. The emotional weight of Tag’s struggle to protect Ethan adds depth to the suspense, making the stakes feel heartbreakingly real. It’s a smart, eerie read with psychological layers and just the right touch of horror. This is the kind of book that lingers in your thoughts long after you finish it. ❤️💜

I appreciate for the opportunity to read and review this book. However, it just didn't resonate with me. I found it a slow read after the first chapter. The writing was done well but it was slightly boring in my opinion. 🤷‍♀️. I found myself not invested in the story or the characters.

The concept was definitely unique. I went into it with high expectations because it was a different take on the thriller genre and the supernatural. It just fell slight flat with me. 💔

This book was a remarkable read, offering a distinctive and engaging narrative. My thanks go to NetGalley for providing me with an advance review copy. At the heart of the story is Little Ethan, who survives a plane crash and is taken in by his godparents, while his parents watch from another plane. The author skillfully examines the complex interplay between grief and love, as seen through the eyes of a mother grappling with the loss of her son. The themes of addiction and suspense are expertly woven throughout the narrative, making for a compelling read from start to finish. I highly recommend this book

Peter Rosch’s What the Dead Can Do is a gripping and unpredictable blend of paranormal horror, psychological thriller, and family drama that completely defies expectations. It begins with a tragedy when a devastating plane crash leaves only one toddler as the sole survivor. From there, the story takes a dark and unexpected turn into a chilling and mind-bending journey that keeps you on edge until the very last page.

This book truly has it all. Addiction struggles, supernatural elements, deep-seated family conflicts, and a mystery that constantly shifts in ways you would never see coming. The twists were genuinely shocking and left me stunned multiple times. Rosch’s writing is immersive, and his storytelling is nothing short of creative genius. He masterfully weaves suspense and horror, making this an unforgettable read.

If you are looking for a book that blends multiple genres seamlessly while keeping you completely hooked, What the Dead Can Do is a must-read. It is eerie, intense, and utterly captivating. This is a story that lingers long after you have finished it. 4.5 ⭐