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Life Sentence
Why are we here? Did we come from a supreme being, or evolve from some ancient organism? Or did we come from somewhere else? Do we have a set time here?Katelyn Marie Lang has two near-death experiences in her life. While legally dead, she encounters deceased relatives who say she will understand everything once she goes through “the door.” Now, after being twice revived, two strange men in black are trying to take her back to the afterlife. But Kate was given a She knows when they are coming. Kate survives numerous, increasingly terrifying attempts on her life, until it becomes apparent that the only way to find answers is to go through “the door.”
322 pages, Hardcover
Published May 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 2, 2026
fantastic ending to a book
Finished ✅
34-year-old Kate Marie Lang or Kate for short, has near death experiences, which have a damming impact on her life, especially after returning from seeing the brilliant light and a waiting room with a special door. Let me take you straight to the end of this book. Oh my word, I never expected this outcome in a million years. How clever, how original, and how it leaves you wondering about life. Kate‘s dreams and her life, blend into one when she continues to see two men in Black suits who are trying to take her life, but why? To find out, go grab yourself a copy of “Life Sentence,” by Karen Walker Brodick. You will end up thinking could this be true?
Great read, great ending 😃
Well done 👏
Finished ✅
34-year-old Kate Marie Lang or Kate for short, has near death experiences, which have a damming impact on her life, especially after returning from seeing the brilliant light and a waiting room with a special door. Let me take you straight to the end of this book. Oh my word, I never expected this outcome in a million years. How clever, how original, and how it leaves you wondering about life. Kate‘s dreams and her life, blend into one when she continues to see two men in Black suits who are trying to take her life, but why? To find out, go grab yourself a copy of “Life Sentence,” by Karen Walker Brodick. You will end up thinking could this be true?
Great read, great ending 😃
Well done 👏
April 29, 2026
Life Sentence by Karen Walker Brodniak is a paranormal mystery centered on 34-year-old Kate Lang. After a second near-death experience (NDE), Kate wakes up and tries to process what happened. Unfortunately, she ends up with more questions than answers.
To further complicate things, Kate is haunted and guided by spirits telling her it is time to go, is hunted by the Men in Black, and has a newfound ability to foresee her pursuers' arrival. This leads to a series of high-stakes cat and mouse games. All this takes place while Kate struggles to physically recover and reclaim a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
The author establishes Kate early on with a manageable dose of background, helping put the novel’s events in perspective. Her responses and thirst for understanding are believable based on her background of NDEs and other issues. Through these challenges, I could understand her apprehension and self-doubt at times, along with understanding her perseverance and resilience at other times.
The Men in Black and their associates creep in and out of Kate’s reality, thoughts, and dreams. They are far from the alien-chasing funny fellows from the films. These Men in Black are not to be trifled with and keep everything unsettling. From the opening chapters, their behavior and interactions with Kate made me want to learn more about what was happening and why. The chilling managerial relationship with the Authority and other parties was quite spooky.
Besides an engaging story, I found myself pondering Heaven and Hell, the afterlife, predetermination, and other topics that came into the novel. The Outer Limits and Twilight Zone-like ending caught me off guard. It was well done, and I didn’t see it coming.
I highly recommend this for fans of paranormal thrillers and suspense/mystery novels. I also recommend Life Sentence for anyone ages 14 and up interested in the subject matter or simply a good read.
To further complicate things, Kate is haunted and guided by spirits telling her it is time to go, is hunted by the Men in Black, and has a newfound ability to foresee her pursuers' arrival. This leads to a series of high-stakes cat and mouse games. All this takes place while Kate struggles to physically recover and reclaim a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
The author establishes Kate early on with a manageable dose of background, helping put the novel’s events in perspective. Her responses and thirst for understanding are believable based on her background of NDEs and other issues. Through these challenges, I could understand her apprehension and self-doubt at times, along with understanding her perseverance and resilience at other times.
The Men in Black and their associates creep in and out of Kate’s reality, thoughts, and dreams. They are far from the alien-chasing funny fellows from the films. These Men in Black are not to be trifled with and keep everything unsettling. From the opening chapters, their behavior and interactions with Kate made me want to learn more about what was happening and why. The chilling managerial relationship with the Authority and other parties was quite spooky.
Besides an engaging story, I found myself pondering Heaven and Hell, the afterlife, predetermination, and other topics that came into the novel. The Outer Limits and Twilight Zone-like ending caught me off guard. It was well done, and I didn’t see it coming.
I highly recommend this for fans of paranormal thrillers and suspense/mystery novels. I also recommend Life Sentence for anyone ages 14 and up interested in the subject matter or simply a good read.
November 16, 2025
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE THRILLER!
LIFE SENTENCE by Karen Walker Brodniak has a very intriguing premise, focusing on Near-Death Experiences, and explores the meaning of life through supernatural lenses. The story was easy to follow and engaging throughout. I particularly enjoyed the parts involving Kate, the main character, as she reached the point where she was dreaming and avoiding her own violent deaths while evading the Men in Black (MIBs) at every turn.
I had a problem with the ending, where new information was suddenly revealed in the last few pages to explain everything that had been concealed from Kate and the reader. Since the villainous MIBs and the Authority had scenes of plotting scattered throughout, some of the final revelations should have been introduced earlier.
There was also a concern regarding the book’s page count. (I don’t blame this on the author.) At one point, the book was listed as being 551 pages, which discouraged me from reading it. However, when I downloaded the Kindle version, it showed 312 pages. The Amazon description now states 324 pages. Honestly, this story could have benefited from editing to condense it to around 275 pages, as there was considerable repetition in both word choice and plot points.
Great effort! I will be watching for more works from this author.
LIFE SENTENCE by Karen Walker Brodniak has a very intriguing premise, focusing on Near-Death Experiences, and explores the meaning of life through supernatural lenses. The story was easy to follow and engaging throughout. I particularly enjoyed the parts involving Kate, the main character, as she reached the point where she was dreaming and avoiding her own violent deaths while evading the Men in Black (MIBs) at every turn.
I had a problem with the ending, where new information was suddenly revealed in the last few pages to explain everything that had been concealed from Kate and the reader. Since the villainous MIBs and the Authority had scenes of plotting scattered throughout, some of the final revelations should have been introduced earlier.
There was also a concern regarding the book’s page count. (I don’t blame this on the author.) At one point, the book was listed as being 551 pages, which discouraged me from reading it. However, when I downloaded the Kindle version, it showed 312 pages. The Amazon description now states 324 pages. Honestly, this story could have benefited from editing to condense it to around 275 pages, as there was considerable repetition in both word choice and plot points.
Great effort! I will be watching for more works from this author.
October 6, 2025
Life Sentence by Karen Brodniak is a spellbinding blend of supernatural suspense and emotional depth that keeps you turning pages long into the night. Katelyn Marie Lang’s near-death experiences open the door to a haunting mystery between life and the afterlife and her fight for survival becomes a powerful journey of courage, faith, and destiny.
February 4, 2026
Life Sentence blends metaphysical suspense with emotional urgency, using near-death experiences not as spectacle but as a narrative engine for fear, fate, and choice. Karen Walker Brodniak keeps the tension personal and intimate, letting unanswered questions about life, death, and agency drive the story forward in unsettling ways.
March 17, 2025
An absolutely gripping read! The mix of near-death experiences, supernatural encounters, and a thrilling chase had me hooked. Kate’s journey is both terrifying and thought-provoking—highly recommended
September 28, 2025
Honestly pretty creepy with an ending I wasn't expecting!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews