Shaking Hands with Elvis: Check out anytime you like at the Grand Euthanasia Hotel

by Paul Carroll

Check Out Any Time You Like at the Grand Euthanasia Hotel

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS...

When assisted dying is legalised following the government’s sell-off of the NHS, where does the killing stop?

The sick and the old no longer have to feel they’re a burden on society and a nuisance to their families, the nation’s healthcare budget is slashed at a stroke, and there is money to be made in offering ever more inventive ways to lawfully shuffle off your mortal coil.

When Geraldine, Dawn, Jeffrey and Woody, each having a different reason for giving up the ghost, book appointments for their final journeys, they discover not everything at Go Gently’s state-of-the-art Charon House clinic lives up to the brochure.

As the clock ticks down to their appointed hour, is it really the end of the line for the gang of four, or is there life in the old dogs yet?

Genres: Fiction

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

Writing that puts the ‘stab’ into establishment.

Paul’s novels consistently let fly at the latest social trends in an entertaining mix of cutting observation, human drama, dark humour and compassion.

Born and brought up in Leeds, Paul has a degree in English Language and English Literature from the University of Manchester, and worked in PR for many years before becoming a full-time author. Paul lives in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

A marketing gamekeeper-turned-poacher, Paul is to be found peering behind the curtains of ‘the next big thing’ when he’s not writing.

Be Here Now (2025) is Paul Carroll’s sixth following Shaking Hands with Elvis (2024), Don’t Ask (2021), Trouble Brewing (2017), Written Off (2016) and A Matter of Life and Death (2012).

Reviews

[Zara Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goodness does this book make you stop and think! And the scary thing is, you can almost imagine it becoming a real thing in the future with how health care in the UK is going! Such a bunch of wonderful characters, each with their own unique story to tell as to why they are there, every one of them believable and so real. This is down as a dark humour read, and there are some bits that did make me giggle, but the concept itself was very emotionally charged. I think this would make a fantastic book club read as there would be so much to discuss and find out what people thought going through the pages! Also just a brilliant book to really get yourself contemplating the different sides to the debate, food for thought!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book this is, a sort of dark fiction blended with speculative fiction and done to create such an amazing story. The author brings the idea of euthanasia into this story. The NHS is not as good as it was and a new bill has been passed to help those wanting to leave their lives on their own terms. Hence the reason for Charon House, a facility whereby those who can, choose a package so they don't have to suffer their lives any longer.

The book is set around just a few characters and the author gently brings them together, allowing their stories to emerge and their reasons for wanting to "Go Gently" into the ether. Along with these, there is also a worker, some family, an owner and of course a government minister. Each character has a very good reason for being in the book as you will discover. The author brings various arguments for and against euthanasia into this story and also gives some other things that, while making sense, also allude to a much darker side.

There is a brilliant reference from The Eagles and as soon as I read it, it stayed with me throughout the book, ironic, on point and very suitable. Even now I am still humming it to myself.

The book gives food for thought and brings the idea of how euthanasia can be used. We often tell ourselves that we wouldn't let an animal suffer and be in pain when referring to a loved one. The author uses this effectively in his book as an argument for and against. He also brings in some emotions, there are the obvious ones, but then there are also some that the characters suddenly become more aware of.

The story is one that I absolutely adored. Yes, I suppose it has that morbid sense to it as it does concern how people could potentially choose how they want to die. But it is also about more than that and this is something that emerges through the reading and getting to know the cast. There is also a wonderful dark humour nestled and I had to snigger and smirk on the occasions when it occurred.

This is one for those who like a book with something different, it is not fast-paced or a thriller as such, but moves along at just the right pace. There is so much more I want to express about the story and what happens, but that would just ruin it for others. It is a book that book clubs would be able to have a great discussion about. It is one I would definitely recommend.

[Fay Flude · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darkly comic social satire that is entertaining, original and hilarious.
It is easy to read, full of supremely well drawn characters from Adil a refugee guest license worker to the aspiring to be Prime Minister Lawrence Pestel and the dubious Dr Callan Clay.
Charon House offers its guests a hotel stay with a difference. Checking out doesn't involve handing your room card key back and settling the bill. You leave in a laundry van in a coffin!
The NHS is long gone and assisted dying has been made legal. We meet 4 very different characters all destined for their Final Journey.
What ensues is a mix of thought provoking commentary wrapped up in a madcap adventure to escape. What better way to make a reader ponder such a big issue under the guise of a race-through-the-pages laugh out loud story?
Pestel and Clay are abhorrent, relatives' motivations are highly questionable, the Peregrine Pod and Polaris (the latter for prisoners only) are each shatteringly similar to how the Nazis operated and on top of all that you have an ice cream van, a lot of salt, and two avenging Sacrosanct angels on bicycles.
Make any sense? You'll have to read the book and find out!
Thanks to the author Paul Carroll, the publisher and Pigeonhole for serialising the book.
It's been a blast!

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in the future where the government has finally done it, they've sold off the NHS and it's all privatised healthcare for everyone. There is no worry about dying and leaving your family with nothing. There is assisted dying as it has been legalised and there are some bonuses for the family, all you have to do is decide when the time is right for you. Even though the book was serious, it still had a sense of humour in places. Just wait to the end for a twist that you won't be expecting. I have to say this book does make you think 'what if it goes like this?

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so stunned by this that I don’t really know where to begin. I’ve never been sure about assisted dying, but then I listen to someone like Dame Esther Rantzen talking about joining Dignitas. “The 83-year-old, who has stage four lung cancer, is campaigning for people who have physical illnesses, and a life expectancy of six months or less, to have the right to choose when they die.

“Assisted dying is illegal in England, Northern Ireland and Wales – and anyone who travels abroad with a person who ends their life could be prosecuted when they return.” – Sky News

Fair enough. It’s very sad, but I get it. Dame Esther Rantzen was a huge influence on my early life and I shall hate to see her go. However, in Shaking Hands With Elvis, we have gone way beyond that. The NHS has been disbanded (let’s hope that’s not going to happen any time soon or ever) and ‘assisted dying’ looks like a good option for anyone who is past their sell by date. But now we have the age-old questions – are they being pushed before they can jump? Does money/inheritance come into it? And is it a way to bring the population down (good for the environment is a selling point), by culling those who don’t want to be here anyway?

Put like that – the last part only – it sounds like a good idea. But it is so open to abuse, that I refer to my initial comment about being on the fence. Because in the words of Hotel California, “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Once you’ve bought your ticket, it’s a one-way trip, Hit The Road Jack, Goodnight Irene, and other cliched songs.

But back to the book. It revolves around our intrepid gang of four. Geraldine is lonely, Dawn is in constant pain, Jeffery has dementia, and Woody is on a totally different path. But Callan Clay doesn’t care. He’s an entrepreneur and he just sees a business opportunity and a way to make more money. And vile secretary of state for ‘wellbeing’ (ha!) Lawrence Pestel is looking for a fast track route to Number 10. And between them, they dress it up as being given a choice blah blah.

I’m not sure how many times I gasped at some of the things that happened, or were suggested by Clay and Pestel. It’s dark humour at its best. Yes it is really funny even though it shouldn’t be.

There are so many ethical questions, which only get worse as the story progresses. And I was devastated by the ending, but I can’t say anymore. Anyone who is unsure about assisted dying should read this, though it probably won’t help you make up your mind!

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

I genuinely couldn’t put this book down once I got started and read it through from beginning to end in one night!

The plotline is terrifyingly plausible – the UK NHS has been completely deconstructed and the poor, the elderly, the disabled (basically anyone not contributing to the current or future workforce) is gently encouraged to go quietly into that good night, via Go Gently’s spa-and-euthanasia clinic.

We hear the story from the narrative viewpoints of some of the temporary residents of the clinic, there due to illness, despair or unfortunate life choices, and one undercover carer who attempts to filter information to those resisting this backdoor population cull but who is slowly realising that it’s one thing to despise a legal-but-unethical practice and altogether another to actually take action.

It took me only a few pages before I was thoroughly invested in the survival of Geraldine, Dawn, Jeffrey and Woody against already overwhelming odds, and wracked with anxiety as I watched the political and financial machinations of those in power stacking those odds ever higher without a thought to the human cost involved. Or, at least, without a care about it.

Darkly funny and scathingly satirical, Paul Carroll effectively skewers the capitalist attitude to life and death as mere balance sheet transactions – with individual people reduced to either assets or liabilities – while also managing to provide an entertaining near-end-of-life adventure story. My only criticism, but it is a big concern, is that this novel might provide a handy blueprint for those in power; it is all too believable that this fiction could become fact in the near future!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Fatguyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaking Hands with Elvis is a book which is set in the future where the government has finally sold the NHS and healthcare is completely privatised for all.
Another current controversial subject, assisted dying is now legal and so you can now choose your own departure from this mortal coil.

A little about the story. Four people sign up to assisted dying with "Go Gently", the British version of Dignitas.

What follows is just a brilliant black comedy set in a dystopian UK.

So it's compassionate, it's humerous, it's thought-provoking and I read this in two sittings.

I found the pace to be just great and the characters had good depth.

The storyline flowed well and had some brilliant twists.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[Neil Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Carroll is back after 2021's Don't ask with another timely satirical take on a weighty moral and social topic of our times, this time the subject being the end of life and assisted dying, a debate which polarizes opinion and which is set to be projected even more forcefully into the public domain in the UK with the presumptive labor government-in-waiting promising a free parliamentary vote on assisted dying.

Just as Don't ask dealt with the perils of genealogy testing, another hot-button thorny moral question, Shaking hands takes on euthanasia heads on with no-holds barred. The setting is the tranquil grounds of Charon House (sounding uncomfortably like Charnel House), the assisted dying center of operations of Go Gently, a very much for-profit assisted dying organization whose public image is more akin to a cruise liner, high end spa or club med resort rather than the glorified extermination center it is. Think White Lotus staffed by the SS. The novel's 4 characters have gathered here in anticipation of their final journeys, and so the story commences. As the cover's tag line goes, you can check out anytime but you can never leave.

Shaking hands is a political satire par excellence, getting a good right-footed dig in at the Tories, who, after almost 15 years in power, would left unchecked lead us down paths similar to those depicted in the novel, all hyperbole aside. We see a state bordering on the dystopian where the NHS has been dismantled, the death penalty introduced for crimes including anti-government protests, economic policy is laissez-faire in its purest form and Orwellian-sounding ministries like the department of organized labor and department of wellbeing abound. His is a bleak vision of an uncaring society where the old and infirm are unwanted and uncared for and the less well to do are encouraged to spend their meager savings on their own dispatch before they become a burden on society. The function of dystopian literature is to inhabit the future while addressing the present, and Paul achieves this skillfully through irony, satire and dark dark humor, his vitriol for the forces that would lead us down this road barely concealed.

As well as being a dig at unchecked Toryism, this is also a well placed kick at crass predatory commercialism with it's nauseating corporate-speak and euphemism-laden dialogue. Executioners are anesthetists, assisted dying is the final journey. With it's talk of assisted dying being a "final solution" to many of society's "ills" like dementia, terminal illness and criminality, Go Gently and it's callous founder, an Elon Musk meets Bond-Villain scientist named Callan Clay takes the corporatespeak to a level that would have made the Nazi eugenics crowd proud. Black humor aside, there is disturbing and uncomfortable imagery of industrial scale killing to come.

Despite all this, the heart of the book is not the political satire but rather an impassioned rhetorical debate about the nature of assisted dying itself. This is reflected through the inner musings of the characters about to take the momentous step. At first glance, the characters may appear slightly unbelievable and too casual, too "normal" given the weight of what they are contemplating, but on closer examination one begins to feel that this is exactly how people who have arrived at this threshold would act, behave and communicate. Psychologists observe that persons approaching death often lose their inhibitions and concerns about societal conventions, reverting to the version of whom they've been all along. At the core of the euthanasia debate is the belief that there are worse things than death. Paul's novel at it's heart is a celebration of life, how life is precious and how every day is worth living for. The reader cannot help but sense that his personal experience has helped shaped his conclusions and which side he has come down on in this weightiest of debates.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant subversive satire-that's-almost-not on our current national assisted dying policy.

The government have done it, sold off the NHS and privatised healthcare. Assisted dying has been legalised and it's already a Business in all but name. Now you can fill in some paperwork and receive some bonuses for your family and literally 'check out', when you feel your time is up. It might be because you're sick, but this isn't necessary anymore.

But what if you change your mind? And what if the national strategy is ripe for widening scope and scoring a few political points? I mean, using chemicals to end lives is expensive - are there more cost-effective methods?

My goodness, this was dark! But also very funny. And also rather terrifying as it seemed much too close to the bone of today's political messages, personalities and directions.

For politics, it's celebrated as being able to "widen choice for the individual..." For the business leader it's "a consumer market and our primary job was to offer choice and value for money," (packages are available for various budgets). Assisted dying is no longer the word of choice, it's now discussing a client's "final journey".

It's broadened out to readers through four individuals who all find themselves at Go Gently' establishment (hilariously named in itself - the poem begs you to 'rage rage against the dying of the light', does it not? when not shortened...): Charon House (oh boy, another reference, transporting souls of the dead in Greek myths). Dawn, Geraldine, Jeffrey and Woody each have a reason for being there, some more under their own steam than others. But each represents a different arc as to why a person may end up in this no-way-back position.

And that's not because they might not want to turn the clock back. Because surely we can all take back that decision and change our minds.... can't we?

With political higher ups, immigrant workers and Resistance-type organisations all having their opinions on assisted dying and what is both 'right' and 'best', the story takes the foursome on a bit of an adventure as they strive to make their own choices in their own time.

Oh boy does this get dark, with black humour throughout which I won't spoil here by quoting.

The four characters at the heart of the plot are wonderful, each very vivid and likeable, with those pushing the political agenda equally DISlikeable. This could be quite upsetting to read but taken in the right light it's a powerful discussion piece, cleverly constructed to make the author's presumed points in a very entertaining way.

I can see this making it onto the screen quite quickly. I'll be watching.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[Caroline Kerdouci · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing title, a highly contentious premise, superb characterisation and deadly dark humour all combine to make this satirical, speculative, thought provoking piece of fiction highly entertaining and bizarrely enjoyable.

Set in a future that is sadly not implausible (in terms of healthcare at least) Paul Carroll tackles the emotive subject of assisted dying. Sounds heavy and serious?? Think again! It’s more a cross between Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club and Joanna Nell’s The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home with a dash of John Marrs thrown in for good measure.

For me the author has struck the right note in terms of tone and dialogue, blending compassion and food for thought with wit and satire. I felt a myriad of emotions whilst following the story of the few unlucky souls who find themselves at the mercy of the combined forces of a “euthanasia entrepreneur” and a ruthless power hungry politician. Feelings of horror,disgust and revulsion alternated with waves of sadness, despite an ever present air of hopefulness and a sense of empowerment lurking in the background. However it is the humour, dark and oh so clever, that carries the reader effortlessly through the pages with plenty of scenes which had me snorting (and coffin!) with laughter.

Paul Carroll has nailed characterisation to the extent that I loved all the main characters, good and bad. His portrayal of a slimy, egotistical, headline grabbing, cost cutting, stop at nothing politician (Lawrence Pestel) is particularly brilliant, a figure who stands out for all the wrong reasons alongside unscrupulous scientist Dr Clay. I thoroughly enjoyed despising both of them! The Gang of Four who compliment each other nicely are ably assisted by Charon House guest worker Adil, a most unexpected but welcome knight in shining armour (or should that be hospital scrubs?)

So now onto the negatives. I have two criticisms. One, the comedy capers become farcical as the plot progresses and secondly I wasn’t a fan of the abrupt ending. It’s one that will divide readers that’s for sure, but on the plus side it will spark conversation making it a great book club choice. It’s a shame as for most of the way through I was of the opinion Shaking Hands with Elvis would be a five star read.

Overall I would definitely recommend and urge you to check out this title! My thanks go to the author Paul Carroll and Pigeonhole for giving me the opportunity to read.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book. It started with the cover, that was a conversation/thought opener for sure, with its candy floss colours and cute design, which is different to the blurb on the back, which had an almost quirky,.topsy turvy feel to its outlook on the end of life. 

I was so glad I took a leap with this book, as I wasn't sure what I was going to think of it, but something just pulled at me and told me I was going to like it. It was definitely one that had me thinking about a lot of things. Even from the first few chapters, as we made our was over with Geraldine, the slightly grim way we had to make our way up, whilst dealing with Mark, there were so many outlooks on life and ways to move into the new location.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and see a little bit about them, before we looked into where the change in law would allow them to finish. It was really quite a somber, yet someone odd sense of humor way to look at it all. 

Overall, this was a unique book and definitely not one I think will have many others try to compete with it. It is definitely one you should read and have a think about. 

[Megz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so glad I persisted with this book. The majority of Shaking Hands with Elvis reads like a staunch thesis against physician-assisted suicide. After the initial, well-balanced chapters, it began to take the form of a novel written with the purpose to be a slippery slope - to scare the bejeezus out of anyone who might be on the fence about PAS-legislation.

Because I really dislike books so blatantly written to further a political agenda, and that’s the impression the book gives, there are many points that could have been opportunities for deep thought, but as the reader I was too irritated to act on it.

Anyways (and I don’t think it’s really a spoiler to say it), right near the end, a twist reveals a much less hard-and-fast take on assisted dying, and the reader no longer feels quite as coerced into one specific view. The balance unfortunately arrives a little late. A story that could have been oddly cozy and darkly-sweet, with its sweet old people and one kindly "Guest Worker", comes across so much as a political treatise that it spoils much of the reading experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for providing an eARC.

[Mags Schofield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult subject to tackle, but Paul does this very well. I gasped many times, especially in the first half of the book when the premise of assisted dying is explored, and exploited.
Everyone needs to make their own mind up about this emotive subject - which is the exact message that Paul wants to get across.
We meet four characters who, for their own reasons, have decided to use the services of Go Gently. But much like the Hotel California, they can't check out, but want to leave.
There is an element of The Famous Five blended with a Brian Rix farce about their escape place, but the humorous comments mixed with real black humour and irony lightens the subject load for me.
The ending - really not sure if I liked it, or how it could have been better. It isn't a book where everything should end very neatly, tied up with a big red bow, so perhaps this is fitting?
Thank you so much Paul for sharing your work, and to fellow Pigeons for reading along and making the comments I wanted to write.

[Tyler Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul killed this book...pun intended.

Who knew a book about assisted death could be so humorous, after reading the blurb I was super intrigued to see where the author was going to take the storyline and I was more than delighted when I finished the book in one sitting and it was everything and more that I could of expected. Carroll takes us on a journey with these four characters and while this is light hearted it still makes you take a moment to think.

I really enjoyed the plot line and how unique this book was, I haven't read anything like it before! The characters were not only realistic but you could easily bond with them with how well their stories are portrayed. I don't know if its because of the current state of the NHS or how politics are but this whole concept didn't feel that far fetched to me at all and I think that's a factor that made me love this book even more. This is probably not a book most people would love and tell you you need to go buy it but I like darker fiction and when I say this is one that needs to be on your TBR im not kidding.

[Susan Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to read this book after listening to the author speak on the radio ahead of the Assisted Dying bill first reading here in the UK. It describes four very different characters with very different reasons for arriving at Charon House, a luxury assisted dying facility. There's Geraldine, who's flown over from Ireland because she can't see any point in living any more, Dawn who has terminal cancer, Jeffrey who may or may not have dementia and Woody a prisoner who's been offered assisted dying as an alternative to serving his full term. Meanwhile, Adil a care worker and refugee is working undercover for an organisation that is against assisted dying, and an ambitious politician and the director of Charon House are working on plans to extend the scheme to more people. So these ingredients make for a read that is both thought-provoking and very funny. I only took a star off because it descends into silliness towards the end of the the story. This is the first novel I have read about assisted dying and, given the issue is so much in the news, I suspect it will not be the last.

[Nic S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this via online book group The Pigeonhole.

This started as darkly humorous with the controversial and thought provoking plot of people choosing assisted suicide, even when they are not terminally ill. For 75% of the book I thought it was very well written, and posed interesting questions about the sanctity of life and how the public can be politically manipulated into accepting polemic and distasteful ideas. The main characters were funny and believable, with the villains being suitably dastardly.

However, I did feel that the last quarter of the book let it down as it descended into farce, with a very abrupt and unexpected ending and a few loose ends left. I was left feeling a little bit meh, and would have preferred a more complex ending, it felt like it was quite a simplistic way to finish a story that had run out of steam.

Overall, it was a fun read and I enjoyed it, I just wish the ending had been a little less rushed.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I am almost speechless. This book is so believable it's frightening. In today's UK where continuous government cuts are one of life's certainties. The NHS and social care system are crumbling and money seems to be the only thing that matters. The ideas put forward in this book seem only too feasible. Despite the potentially very serious topic of the book, I love the way the author has balanced this with just the right amount of humour and occasional touches of the ridiculous. My mind jumped from horror to laughter multiple times whilst reading the book and the twists at the end are just brilliant! Shaking Hands With Elvis is my first Paul Carroll book but certainly won't be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Kim Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just getting over the final stave of Shaking Hands with Elvis by Paul Carroll, which I have been reading with The Pigeonhole. It’s a fast-paced book, with a mixture of dark humour, old-fashioned villainy, and poignant moments, all of which make for an emotional roller coaster. I’m so glad I went along for the ride. The premise of legalised assisted dying is very believable, as is the government’s sell-off of the NHS, and the two people, an entrepreneur and a government minister, who saw pound signs in helping the old and infirm to end their lives comfortably and of their own choice. But they didn’t reckon with Geraldine, Dawn, Jeffrey and Woody, or Adil, having found out that Go Gently’s Charon House clinic wasn’t what was offered in its brochure. I loved the dark humour, the believable but outrageously funny characters, and the edge of your seat suspense.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the future where the NHS has been privatised and assisted suicide is legal, we meet four people who are all set to end their lives at Charon House in Stalybridge. Geraldine and Dawn have made their own decisions to end their lives but Jeffrey, suffering from dementia, has been taken to Charon House by his son. The fourth person is Woody, a prisoner who cannot cope with being in jail and has opted to end his life rather than complete his sentence. This is quite a topical subject at present with an ongoing inquiry into assisted dying taking place. I enjoyed the book and, although I was expecting it to be very sad, it was actually very humorous. However I have to say I was a tad disappointed with the ending. Thanks to the Pigeonhole and the author for the opportunity of reading this book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the literal and metaphorical 'Last Resort', where patrons take advantage of a tailored 'expiration experience', or can the convenience of such a service take advantage of them?

This assisted dying caper (words I never thought I'd be stringing together) is both current and complex. The antics of the new arrivals, who reflect upon their rationale and the impetus for taking a permanent time out, as it were, demonstrate just a few of the innumerable reasons why conscience is infinitely more important than commerce and politics.

It's easy to identify with any one of the 'fab four', if not all, each realising there's is still more to achieve and believe, despite their imminent final countdowns.

Maybe not everyone's first choice of book, but I'd encourage everyone to just read it, as it's entertaining AND enlightening.

[Mavman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Black Mirror style, Paul Carroll explores a world where assisted dying is not only legalized on a larger scale but has become a lucrative business. The book is a powerful commentary on the current trajectory of healthcare policies in ultra liberal countries while being a thoroughly entertaining read. Through a mix of chilling foresights and occasional feel-good moments, the story provokes thought and stirs deep emotions about our societal values. The characters, from the scheming politicians to the vulnerable elderly, are vividly portrayed, each adding depth to the unfolding drama. The novel is not just a story but a reflection on morality, choice, and the commodification of life’s end, making it a significant read for those intrigued by ethical dilemmas in modern governance.

[Steph Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very close to being a five star read for me... Part dystopian, part cosy comedy, part social commentary the book follows a life where assisted dying has been made legal in the UK. It's funny (gallows humour at its finest), sad, thought-provoking and with mostly loveable main characters.

It would make a great book discussion book.

The only let down for me was that the ending was too abrupt, and the author has confirmed that he has no current plans for a sequel.

Thanks to Pigeonhole and the author for the chance to read this.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read which tackles a difficult subject with the right degree of humour.

The characters are all genuinely believable as is the setting, an unspecified number of years in the future, where the NHS is no more and there seems to be little care for the older or more vulnerable members of the population.

This could have been a miserable read given the subject matter, but it is approached in an entertaining way.
I really enjoyed it.

I read this the The Pigeonhole and thanks to them and the author for the reading opportunity .

[Roland Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Topical subject - Assisted Dying - Carroll paints a possible (in the extreme) picture of a possible future where Assisted Dying is established and big business. The story follows four people who for differet reasons, find themselves making the decision to end it all. Funny at times, thought provoking, satirical. It may add to the conversations around the subject. I won't tell you the story. Carroll has what seems to me a clear view on the subject but I will let you decide for yourselves.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! Highly recommend this unique quirky story. You’ll fall in love with the characters guaranteed

[Pheadra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this through my online bookclub Pigeonhole, and for the most part, despite covering the serious topic of assisted dying, the story had an element of humour.

Go Gently is a project that enables those who want to check out an option of doing so in a pain-free, controlled way at Charon House . What those checking in to this program don't realize is that once they check in to check out, they can not, despite reassurance that they can, ever leave! Collaborating with the government, the creator of the program, and his counterpart in government are two unlikeable characters, with equally awful spouses.
There are four main characters Geraldine, Jeffrey, Dawn, and Woody, who opt in to the program.

Woody is a convict who has taken up the offer to prisoners of a few days of comfort prior to a pain-free death. This will save the government enormous amounts of money. After cottoning onto the shortcomings of the program, the four guests seek the assistance of Adil, a refugee working at the Charon House to assist them in their great escape.
Somewhat farcical and a rather abrupt ending left me with a dissatisfied feeling. 4 stars

[Gail Danks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this at the beginning but it’s descended into something ridiculous. The end was a real let down.

[Brooke H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about the end

[Christine Rennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaking Hands with Elvis by Paul Carroll is a chaotic book about euthanasia, when assisted dying is legalised following the government’s selling off of the NHS. The sick and the dying no longer have to feel a burden on society.
You can check into Go-Gently, the new state of the art Charon House clinic and shuffle off your mortal coil. However not all is as it seems, what happens if you change your mind and want to live?
An entertaining read.

[Krazyaboutbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book is set in a world where the NHS has been abolished and the UK has an insurance based system. Due to this people who are unable to afford medical care can opt to use services that allows them to choose voluntary death due to a new law passed called the 'Assisted Death' law; which is thought to be 'humane'. This story has a cast of characters: Geraldine - a retired teacher, Dawn - a widowed mum, Jeffrey - a man suffering from a medical condition, Woody - A prisoner, Dr. Callan - the proprietor of an assisted death clinic called Go Gently, Adil- an immigrant that works at the clinic and Pestel - an ambitious politician.

This story tackles many important topics such as: what happens when social services needed to look after the wellbeing of a population are left at the mercy of opportunistic politicians and businessmen, the need to address loneliness in elderly people, the burden that people with illness feel and a clash of religious/ personal beliefs and the need to make a living.

Overall an engrossing and quick read. I would recommend.