A mother who can't let go. Amanda and Tag are killed in a plane crash that is survived only by their small son Ethan. Amanda isn't happy with how Nicole and Matthew are raising him. Or, more specifically, with Nicole and Matthew's lives and she wants to bring Ethan into the eerie afterlife. This is creepy and thoughtful in its way as it turns a light on obsession and death. While it sags just a bit in the middle, there's a twist or two that will keep you reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good debut.

Thank you to OTRPR and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy!

“He imagined Second Plane, the power it wielded over the dead, having to fight to drag his wife away from their son.”

I was afraid of What the Dead Can Do going into it. I knew that this book would hurt, reading it as a mom with two small children. The initial premise of this book is why I’ve been too afraid to fly or travel without my kids. Hell, even WITH my kids. Nobody can love them like I can.

So it’s no wonder that this book absolutely gutted me. And this powerful work of paranormal fiction is world shattering. Peter Rosch’s writing is other worldly. Secondly Plane-ly, if you will. It was developed, riveting, thought provoking, and engaging. Incredible.

This book is about more than the absolute horror of grief. There is so much depth in the subject matter here that I savored the pages and took my time. It was a heavy read. Profound and heartbreaking in the reality of what it means to navigate life after loss. To navigate life with addiction. It was shattering. And I was horrified and on the edge of my seat for its entirety.

Don’t go into this one blind, especially if you’re more sensitive to the subject matter. But I highly recommend it for the transcendent writing and thriller/literary fiction-like plot. It was unique and mind bending in ways that sent me spiraling and straight for an existential crisis.

What the Dead Can Do offers a thought-provoking take on life after death. The novel explores themes of grief and loss, and the extraordinary lengths people will go to in order to escape emotional pain. It's a concept that feels both original and deeply human, which I enjoyed.

The story’s pacing is weighted toward the beginning and end, where most of the action unfolds. The middle section leans heavily into introspection, offering rich insight into the characters lives. Unfortunately, it slowed the momentum and pulled me out of the narrative.

Overall, I think this is a great debut novel for Rosche. He clearly has a talent for crafting bold and unconventional stories and I’m eager to see what he creates next.

Peter Rosch absolutely blew me away with What the Dead Can Do. This book is dark, deeply unsettling, and unlike anything I’ve read in a long time. I went in expecting a psychological thriller and came out feeling like I’d been through a full-on existential, emotional, supernatural rollercoaster and I mean that in the best way.

The story centers around a two year old boy, Ethan, who miraculously survives a plane crash that kills everyone else on board, including his parents. But this is not just a tragedy story. It’s what happens after, and I mean after in every sense. Because his parents are watching from the afterlife, and one of them is absolutely not done parenting.

The speculative, eerie premise takes on real emotional weight as Amanda, Ethan’s mother, spirals in grief and obsession, unable to let go, literally. I loved the way Rosch explored the afterlife, possession, and obsession without making it feel over the top. It was unsettling, atmospheric, and weirdly intimate. The horror elements are psychological and spiritual rather than gory, which made it even more haunting for me.

What really stuck with me was how real the emotional stakes felt. Yes, there are supernatural elements, but the themes, loss, grief, control, protection, and parental love are raw and human. The writing is smart, vivid, and unflinching, and the ending? Jaw. Dropping. I was left with goosebumps and a heavy heart.

If you’re a fan of books that live in that eerie, liminal space between thriller, horror, and speculative fiction, this one is for you. It’s one of those reads you’ll want to talk about immediately after finishing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

I have eagerly awaited the release of this book for as long as Peter Rosch has been talking about it on social media. The backstory of how his life and letters to his son inspired this novel grabbed my attention and I was eager to see how that played out. So let's talk about it.

Immediate Beetlejuice vibes. There's a handbook and a Juno and even a Beetlejuice-like character. There's a couple who died in a plane crash but stick around to watch over their son, who survived and is in the care of their best friends. At first it's just grief. They're having trouble moving on without him. But then it gets dark. Mom wants to bring her son to the afterlife with them. The son's new family is going through some things and this makes her even more determined to bring him to the afterlife. Yeah, mommy dearest wants to kill her little boy so they can be a happy little ghost family. This story that started out reminding me of one of my all time favorite movies turned into something much darker. It's grief horror. It's suspenseful. It's gripping. And it's unforgettable.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and it's definitely an interesting story. However, at times it just felt a little too long and slow. The writing was occasionally confusing and could've been polished up a bit. Once it picks back up after a lull in the middle it's pretty good, you just have to stick with it.

Tag & Amanda are thrilled to complete their beautiful family with their son Ethan. They do all the adulting/parental things that they can to protect him & his future, including asking their best friends to raise him if the worst were to happen. When two year old Ethan is the only survivor of a horrible plane crash, Matthew & Nicole step in to raise him as his parents requested. That is when an interesting story gets "twisty". It turns out "first mom & dad" are watching from the afterlife & are concerned...

This book is very unique- mixing up mystery, tragedy, & a paranormal afterlife all in one. It kept me intrigued even as I left on a trip that required three airplanes!

Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Random House & the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was a really interesting thriller, with a different kind of horror twist than the norm. We’re presented with a Beetlejuice-esque afterlife where we have a miracle child and a couple who have found themselves in the worst possible scenario.

While there are some parts of this that are a bit weirdly paced, as a whole it’s really well done. The twists, without spoiling too much, are surprising and well done. There is definitely an issue with the middle section which gets a little too long in the tooth with how ponderous it ends up being, but it’s still interesting, and provides a lot of food for thought.

The characters could have been a bit better developed, and I do feel like the female characters in particular got the short end of the stick, but all in all I enjoyed this one. Well worth the read, especially if you’re looking for something a little different in the thriller world!

3.5 stars. Straightaway the tone is set as we are thrown into a deep sense of tension, dread and horror- playing on the very real fears of dying in a commercial airliner and leaving a child behind. It’s a gut punch for anyone who has those specific fears or phobias (hint, I do- so this was great for building the horror). I loved the creativity and world-building of Prior Plane, Second Plane, and the glimpses of Third Plane. The descriptions Personally, I would have loved to see more of and spend more time in Second Plane, how it works, the connections, the Council. Generally, the writing is average- at times it felt dense, the pacing was unsteady and in the slumps I found myself disengaging to read other things or toward the end of part one and beginning part two, skimming. It did take me about 3x as long as it takes me to read other novels even longer than this one, BUT to its credit, I did keep coming back to re-engage and finish. And I’m glad I did because I was thrown and loved the twist/reveal towards the end.

Thematically, as a mother, some of the driving horror for me was Amanda’s sheer obsession with killing her son- which triggering that emotional response was blatantly the point of that theme. Moreso, I found, looking back upon finishing the book, that the author villainized every representation of a mother in the book- whether it was Amanda, Nicole (a failure as a result of addiction), Amanda’s mother- unable to care for Ethan as a result of dementia/senility, or even Lucinda. Ultimately, turning the tables on the typical narrative, the parenting “heroes” were the dads. Intentional or not, flipping the script, albeit uncomfortable, was refreshing.

Generally, I enjoyed this debut novel and hope to see more from the author.

I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with the ARC for “What The Dead Can Do” in exchange for my honest review.

Despite a pretty simple premise, "If you could, would you bring your child to the afterlife to be with you and away from earthly difficulties," this story is very layered. There are strong character arcs moving in different directions yet in parallel. I found the portrayals of all the characters to be authentically grounded despite circumstances that are obviously not of this world. If you are looking for a truly unique psychological thriller that goes to some pretty dark places, What The Dead Can Do is for you. Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

The beginning of this book had me intrigued by the interesting premise. What if there's an afterlife, but not in any way we thought. A family is separated when a plane crashes, and a young boy Ethan is the only survivor. We follow Tag and Amanda as they discover the rules of their afterlife, and we follow Ethan as he is brought to the care of relatives who may not be totally equipped to suddenly take on a new child.

The asides at the ends of the first chapters were so intriguing and I would have loved more a focus on that. I think this would have worked great as a tightly written short story. This did go on too long in my opinion and I didn't really enjoy the second half.

Thank you netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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