FATAL FAREWELLS : A HISTORY OF UNUSUAL DEATHS VOLUME 1

by Matthew Climpson

Step into the strange and shadowy corners of history with Fatal A History of Unusual Deaths - Volume 1. This gripping collection delves into the most peculiar, shocking, and downright bizarre ways people have met their end throughout the ages. From freak accidents to ironic twists of fate, these tales are as fascinating as they are unsettling. Each entry uncovers a new story of life’s final moments, exploring the unexpected and often absurd circumstances that have claimed lives across different eras and cultures. Whether it’s a death by falling over a turnip, dying from excessive laughter, or a tragic mishap involving a man buried alive on national TV, Fatal Farewells offers a macabre yet captivating look at the unpredictability of life—and death. Perfect for fans of history, all things strange, this book is a compelling reminder of the fragility of existence and the strange ways fate can intervene. With meticulously researched accounts and a touch of dark humor, Fatal Farewells is a must-read for anyone who loves history with a twist—or just a good tale to make you say, “Wait, that really happened?!”

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2025

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy this, I read it in a Kindle format that had a few issues.

It started off fairly well, but by the end, a lot of titles were bunched onto the end of the stories, which took away from the feeling of a new kind of death.

The stories were good but just felt a bit flat, I wish maybe there had been a small bit more to each story to create a connection, make me care the people had died in such a weird or unknown manner. I didn't like the tact on did you know portion. To me, it felt like a cop out on writing another story. They should have been their own. The ending felt weird and unfinished with the countdown of items. Again, they could have been their own short stories instead.

I am interested in volume 2, and I think the author did a decent job of his research for all the stories, and volume 1 was entertaining.

[Heather Chesna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Loving the bite-sized anecdotes of weird deaths. I love how much it covered and look forward to reading the second one!

[Kerry Poultney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book both engaging and highly informative. It presents a wealth of factual content and offers insight into some of the most significant and dramatic stages of death throughout history.

It's clear that the author dedicated considerable effort to researching and compiling the material, resulting in a compelling and impactful read.

While I would have preferred more in-depth storytelling and additional detail in some sections, this is a matter of personal preference.

Overall, this is an impressive debut, and I believe the author has made a strong start to his writing career. I'm looking forward to seeing how his work evolves in future publications.

[Fran (freddycartersleftfoot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

💫: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧: “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive” (Stayin’ Alive; Bee Gees)
⏳: 4 days

🎁 (gifted)

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This filled the Horrible Histories shaped gap I’ve had since they changed the format

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Fatal Farewells is a book all about peculiar deaths throughout history, and if you were always obsessed with the “Stupid Deaths” section of Horrible Histories, this book should IMMEDIATELY become your next read!!

Filled with lots of strange deaths, Did You Know? sections, and rounding off with Morbid Trivia, Matthew Climpson is able to tell the story of many different people’s deaths with wit and statistics; what I see as the perfect combo for any non-fiction book!

[Brianna (Briasbookishthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good little read, with extra interesting sections; 'Did you know?' And 'Morbid trivia'.

Overall I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a short read to get them out of a slump, pass time, or to just enjoy the madness of our world.

Happy reading lovelies x

[James Chesna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome read of unusual deaths that I never heard before! It is informative and well written. I love the extra facts about similar deaths at the end of some stories and morbid trivia at the end of the book!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

People die in some unfortunate, unusual ways. This book was well researched and written.

[Tina Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read. Factual book without all the fillers. Just the facts nice and straightforward. Some surprising deaths!