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S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery #3
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice
He’s been charged with possession before, but never like this.
Jack McCoy was a thief and a liar. Then he died.
Margaret Chen transported souls for the biggest afterlife collection company in North America. Then she met Jack.
Possession isn’t really supposed to be possible, but Jack McCoy never let a little thing like reality stop him. Now he’s committing the ultimate identity theft, living a new life in Margaret’s body while his own lies six feet under. Keeping up appearances as a geriatric grim reaper for S.C.Y.T.H.E. is a full-time job, but when Jack is sent to collect the soul of an old friend, his criminal past catches up with him and suddenly he’s planning the heist of his (after)life with a gang of misfits he never thought he’d see again.
Now the only woman he’s ever loved depends on his success in stealing a priceless list of souls from S.C.Y.T.H.E., but someone keeps beating him at his own game. Time is running out. If Jack puts one bunioned foot out of line it will cost him not only the people who matter most but also his second chance at life...
Jack McCoy was a thief and a liar. Then he died.
Margaret Chen transported souls for the biggest afterlife collection company in North America. Then she met Jack.
Possession isn’t really supposed to be possible, but Jack McCoy never let a little thing like reality stop him. Now he’s committing the ultimate identity theft, living a new life in Margaret’s body while his own lies six feet under. Keeping up appearances as a geriatric grim reaper for S.C.Y.T.H.E. is a full-time job, but when Jack is sent to collect the soul of an old friend, his criminal past catches up with him and suddenly he’s planning the heist of his (after)life with a gang of misfits he never thought he’d see again.
Now the only woman he’s ever loved depends on his success in stealing a priceless list of souls from S.C.Y.T.H.E., but someone keeps beating him at his own game. Time is running out. If Jack puts one bunioned foot out of line it will cost him not only the people who matter most but also his second chance at life...
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First published November 3, 2026
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July 4, 2026💀🖤 A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice 🖤💀
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Paranormal Mystery
• Grim Reapers
• Body Swap
• Second Chance
• Found Family
• Magical Heist
• Supernatural Adventure
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 3, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Paranormal Mystery
• Grim Reapers
• Body Swap
• Second Chance
• Found Family
• Magical Heist
• Supernatural Adventure
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 3, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC by NetGalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 336 pages
⏱ Duration: 5 hours
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
🏷️ Publisher name: Berkley
I am a huge fan of Maxie Dara. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. series and was really looking forward to this third one. A soul possessing a living person to escape the afterlife is such a unique concept, and I couldn’t wait to see how Maxie Dara would bring it to life. Unfortunately, the execution did not live up to my expectations.
Jack McCoy is presented as a thief who can manipulate anyone with ease. That is not the character I met on the page. Yes, his friends say it too, but being told doesn’t make up for how he was built. His lackluster personality makes for bland reading, and the supporting characters don’t have enough weight to carry the story in his place.
I have to be honest: I didn’t read it fully. I skipped a lot and jumped to the end to see if it was all worth it. It wasn’t. The ending was just as lackluster as Jack.
I still believe in Maxie Dara. This is one blip in a run of excellent books, and it won’t make me forgo her other work. I will keep looking out for her new releases and keep championing her writing.
Would I recommend it?
I adore Maxie Dara, which makes A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice a tough one to rate. The possession concept is wonderfully original, but Jack McCoy never felt like the slick thief he’s meant to be, and the supporting cast couldn’t pick up the slack. I skimmed through much of it, and the ending didn’t redeem anything. I’ll be first in line for her next book, but you can skip this one.
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 336 pages
⏱ Duration: 5 hours
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
🏷️ Publisher name: Berkley
I am a huge fan of Maxie Dara. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. series and was really looking forward to this third one. A soul possessing a living person to escape the afterlife is such a unique concept, and I couldn’t wait to see how Maxie Dara would bring it to life. Unfortunately, the execution did not live up to my expectations.
Jack McCoy is presented as a thief who can manipulate anyone with ease. That is not the character I met on the page. Yes, his friends say it too, but being told doesn’t make up for how he was built. His lackluster personality makes for bland reading, and the supporting characters don’t have enough weight to carry the story in his place.
I have to be honest: I didn’t read it fully. I skipped a lot and jumped to the end to see if it was all worth it. It wasn’t. The ending was just as lackluster as Jack.
I still believe in Maxie Dara. This is one blip in a run of excellent books, and it won’t make me forgo her other work. I will keep looking out for her new releases and keep championing her writing.
Would I recommend it?
I adore Maxie Dara, which makes A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice a tough one to rate. The possession concept is wonderfully original, but Jack McCoy never felt like the slick thief he’s meant to be, and the supporting cast couldn’t pick up the slack. I skimmed through much of it, and the ending didn’t redeem anything. I’ll be first in line for her next book, but you can skip this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery series is always entertaining because every book manages to feel completely different while still being set in the same fascinating world. In this universe, Grim Reaper agents collect the souls of the deceased so they can move on. I really enjoy how every story is connected through the company itself, yet each installment takes the concept in a completely different direction.
This time, we meet Jack, who has just died and, never one to pass up an opportunity, immediately breaks what is believed to be a rule by inhabiting the body of the woman sent to transport him. Jack has spent his entire life chasing the next big score, and when his best friend also dies and Jack's host is sent to collect his soul, Jack hatches a scheme that could lead to one final payday for the whole crew. Naturally, things do not go according to plan.
One of the most entertaining aspects of the story is that Jack spends the entire book appearing as a geriatric woman. It adds plenty of humor and chaos to an already chaotic mystery. As the story unfolds, you cannot help but root for Jack as he tries to turn an impossible situation into a big payday for the crew that means so much to him.
Jack and the rest of the cast are engaging characters, and everyone seems to be hiding a few secrets. The characters are varied and memorable, the setting is both familiar and interesting, and the pace keeps the story moving as events continue to shift and evolve. There is also some satisfying character growth for Jack along the way, which helps balance the humor and mystery.
This mystery is definitely a bit chaotic, but in a fun way. Overall, this was another entertaining and distinctive entry in a series that continues to surprise me with how different each installment can be while still feeling at home in the world of S.C.Y.T.H.E.
This time, we meet Jack, who has just died and, never one to pass up an opportunity, immediately breaks what is believed to be a rule by inhabiting the body of the woman sent to transport him. Jack has spent his entire life chasing the next big score, and when his best friend also dies and Jack's host is sent to collect his soul, Jack hatches a scheme that could lead to one final payday for the whole crew. Naturally, things do not go according to plan.
One of the most entertaining aspects of the story is that Jack spends the entire book appearing as a geriatric woman. It adds plenty of humor and chaos to an already chaotic mystery. As the story unfolds, you cannot help but root for Jack as he tries to turn an impossible situation into a big payday for the crew that means so much to him.
Jack and the rest of the cast are engaging characters, and everyone seems to be hiding a few secrets. The characters are varied and memorable, the setting is both familiar and interesting, and the pace keeps the story moving as events continue to shift and evolve. There is also some satisfying character growth for Jack along the way, which helps balance the humor and mystery.
This mystery is definitely a bit chaotic, but in a fun way. Overall, this was another entertaining and distinctive entry in a series that continues to surprise me with how different each installment can be while still feeling at home in the world of S.C.Y.T.H.E.
November 5, 2026
Jack McCoy is technically dead and according to S.C.Y.T.H.E. possession isn’t possible. Yet somehow Jack was able to possess collection agent Margaret Chen, now learning the ropes and blending in with the living. When his old friend is killed and left uncollected, they scheme up a heist right under death’s nose.
I’m a fan of this world and series! I think the characters are so fun. This installment in particular felt very nostalgic, I liked Jack and the band of misfits- Greer, Eli, and Carter. There were wholesome moments that made me care for their wellbeing, while the mystery and timeline jumps made me invested in the bigger story. I lowkey love Margaret and maybe they can keep working together? 👀 All the new revelations with death glitches and past book character name drop have me looking forward to continuing the series!
Thank you to Berkley for the free review copy.
I’m a fan of this world and series! I think the characters are so fun. This installment in particular felt very nostalgic, I liked Jack and the band of misfits- Greer, Eli, and Carter. There were wholesome moments that made me care for their wellbeing, while the mystery and timeline jumps made me invested in the bigger story. I lowkey love Margaret and maybe they can keep working together? 👀 All the new revelations with death glitches and past book character name drop have me looking forward to continuing the series!
Thank you to Berkley for the free review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a great read leading up to Halloween! A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice by Maxie Dara is a fun, quirky paranormal mystery with a very unique premise. Following Jack McCoy, a thief who finds himself possessing the body of a grim reaper, this story is packed with supernatural chaos, humor, and unexpected twists.
I absolutely loved the creative worldbuilding surrounding S.C.Y.T.H.E., the eccentric cast of characters, and the way the story explores second chances, friendship, and redemption. Jack makes for such an entertaining protagonist, and his journey is filled with plenty of heart. With humorous moments, clever twists, cozy vibes, and lots of emotion this was a fun read that I really enjoyed!
This is the third book in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced copy!
I absolutely loved the creative worldbuilding surrounding S.C.Y.T.H.E., the eccentric cast of characters, and the way the story explores second chances, friendship, and redemption. Jack makes for such an entertaining protagonist, and his journey is filled with plenty of heart. With humorous moments, clever twists, cozy vibes, and lots of emotion this was a fun read that I really enjoyed!
This is the third book in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The SCYTHE series started with great potential. The idea, the detailed premise was fun, new - add a murder mystery it had huge potential.
Then the second book came out and struggled to hold the narrative and the third book in this series really dropped the ball.
For something as haunting and wacky as a (male) con artist/thief possessing the body of an (female)octogenarian, you would be expecting old age-related hijinks and a fun out of body humor to drive the plot. Instead, we dive right into an Ocean's Thirteen set up where Jack continuous forgets he is dead and feels wrongedthat his plans are not working, blames everyone there and still nothing. I struggled to hold attention and still can't tell what this book actually wants to talk about.
I loved the idea more and would probably read about the orgs internal rules and policies rather than a story about its reapers.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this advance reader copy. All reviews and opinions are my own.
Then the second book came out and struggled to hold the narrative and the third book in this series really dropped the ball.
For something as haunting and wacky as a (male) con artist/thief possessing the body of an (female)octogenarian, you would be expecting old age-related hijinks and a fun out of body humor to drive the plot. Instead, we dive right into an Ocean's Thirteen set up where Jack continuous forgets he is dead and feels wrongedthat his plans are not working, blames everyone there and still nothing. I struggled to hold attention and still can't tell what this book actually wants to talk about.
I loved the idea more and would probably read about the orgs internal rules and policies rather than a story about its reapers.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this advance reader copy. All reviews and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★★★ ¼
THANK YOU NETGALLEY & MAXIE DARA!!
❤️🪦🔎🔪👻
It took off right from the start, and the plot was definitely more enticing than the second book and honestly, maybe even the first. There was so much happening that it kept me hooked and even when the pace slowed down juuust a tad, it didn't last long before things picked right back up.
This was such a fun, fast paced read and I feel like I was starting to dip into a reading slump before this came along and completely pulled me out of it. I flew through this one and I think it might even be my favorite of the series so far. It had everything I was looking for and reminded me why I love this series in the first place.
So, if you're wondering whether you should start this series, or whether you should pick up this book, this is your sign to DO IT! You won't regret it.
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★★★ ¼
THANK YOU NETGALLEY & MAXIE DARA!!
❤️🪦🔎🔪👻
It took off right from the start, and the plot was definitely more enticing than the second book and honestly, maybe even the first. There was so much happening that it kept me hooked and even when the pace slowed down juuust a tad, it didn't last long before things picked right back up.
This was such a fun, fast paced read and I feel like I was starting to dip into a reading slump before this came along and completely pulled me out of it. I flew through this one and I think it might even be my favorite of the series so far. It had everything I was looking for and reminded me why I love this series in the first place.
So, if you're wondering whether you should start this series, or whether you should pick up this book, this is your sign to DO IT! You won't regret it.
November 9, 2026
✨️ One sentence review: A young man navigating the afterlife in an older woman's body, a heist gone wrong, and a mystery involving a stolen death list...this series just keeps getting more fun!
This is easily one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I love that each of the three books so far has introduced us to a different protagonist. It's been so much fun getting to know each of them, and Jack was no exception!
The idea of Jack, a young man, living his afterlife as Margaret, an older woman, was fantastic. Watching him try to do things he could easily manage in his own body but struggle with in Margaret's had me giggling more than once. Whether it was not being able to run away quickly or having arthritis get in the way of using his hands, there were some wonderfully funny moments. As someone in her 40s who is starting to feel the effects of aging, I found these moments especially entertaining!
I also really loved the flashbacks to Jack's younger years. They added so much depth to his backstory and his friendships, and by the end, I felt like I really knew all the characters.
While this wasn't your typical cozy mystery (there's no murder to solve!), I had a lot of fun with the different take. A heist, discovering what they stole was actually fake, and then trying to figure out who originally stole the master death list? It was such a fun twist on the usual cozy mystery formula.
And that ending! It hints at a much bigger problem within S.C.Y.T.H.E., and I'm really hoping it means we'll eventually see the protagonists from all three books coming together. I can't wait to see where Maxie Dara takes this series next. Fingers crossed we get a fourth book!
✨️ Would I recommend? Absolutely! If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little supernatural fun, quirky characters, and plenty of humor, this series is a must-read. I'd recommend starting from the beginning so you can get to know all three protagonists!
What to Expect:
• Afterlife shenanigans
• A heist gone wrong
• A stolen death list
• Life-long friendships
• Supernatural cozy mystery
This is easily one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I love that each of the three books so far has introduced us to a different protagonist. It's been so much fun getting to know each of them, and Jack was no exception!
The idea of Jack, a young man, living his afterlife as Margaret, an older woman, was fantastic. Watching him try to do things he could easily manage in his own body but struggle with in Margaret's had me giggling more than once. Whether it was not being able to run away quickly or having arthritis get in the way of using his hands, there were some wonderfully funny moments. As someone in her 40s who is starting to feel the effects of aging, I found these moments especially entertaining!
I also really loved the flashbacks to Jack's younger years. They added so much depth to his backstory and his friendships, and by the end, I felt like I really knew all the characters.
While this wasn't your typical cozy mystery (there's no murder to solve!), I had a lot of fun with the different take. A heist, discovering what they stole was actually fake, and then trying to figure out who originally stole the master death list? It was such a fun twist on the usual cozy mystery formula.
And that ending! It hints at a much bigger problem within S.C.Y.T.H.E., and I'm really hoping it means we'll eventually see the protagonists from all three books coming together. I can't wait to see where Maxie Dara takes this series next. Fingers crossed we get a fourth book!
✨️ Would I recommend? Absolutely! If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little supernatural fun, quirky characters, and plenty of humor, this series is a must-read. I'd recommend starting from the beginning so you can get to know all three protagonists!
What to Expect:
• Afterlife shenanigans
• A heist gone wrong
• A stolen death list
• Life-long friendships
• Supernatural cozy mystery
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jack McCoy works as a “Collections Agent” at S.C.Y.T.H.E. Or Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences. Employees list their current workplace as a transportation corporation on LinkedIn. Why not proudly proclaim that you’re an employee of SCYTHE, you ask?Because it’s a super secret operation to collect soul of the recently departed and quickly send them on their way to whatever comes next within 45 days or the soul becomes a ghost of earth doomed to be stuck it that state forever. Jack works in the Murder Dept., so he collects the souls of recent murder victims. Souls tend to hang around their former bodies for a while, grappling with the fact that they are dead. Jack was one such murder victim when 80-something Mrs. Chen, Murder Collections Agent comes for him. But, Jack wasn’t ready to die and being the opportunist he always was in life, he saw a way out….possess Mrs. Chen’s body. Going from a mid-thirties man to living in his new body allowed him to keep experiencing the world, but he had to get used to things like manicures and control top panty hose. His most recent “collection” is Dale and old pal and part of his slightly felonious gang Jack started in grade school. Dale isn’t ready to move on so, in a serious breach of protocol, Jack takes Dale’s soul to his/Mrs. Chen’s house to watch sports and Love Island all day. Dale asks Jack how he knows who to collect and Jack realizes that he knows nothing about where the names come from…only that the name on the file will die sometime that day. Through some kinda smarmy sleuthing, Jack finds out that a master list of those to die is sent to SCYTHE daily. Of course Jack sees a way to monetize that list and for various reasons (no spoilers) gets the old gang back together to pull one last spectacular heist. Of course nothing could go wrong…. Be forewarned, this book ends with a cliff hanger. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
With humor and heart, each standalone book in this series, set in a corporate, bureaucratic afterlife, blends a paranormal element with a mystery trope, and this one features a supernatural heist.
The books also feature flawed, everyday characters. This one features Jack, a recently deceased con man who does what the corporation says is impossible, he takes possession of another body. The body of 80-year-old Margaret Chen, the corporate grim reaper who came to collect him. Now, after pretending to be Margaret and working at and learning about S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), he's assembling his old crew to pull off a daring supernatural heist.
Humor comes as Jack struggles to cope with being Margaret, from her pantyhose to her arthritic knees. Plus, Jack and his old crew trade plenty of fun banter. The chapters are short, and the stakes are high. The pacing does slow a bit midway, but by the second half, things move at a faster clip, and the ending has me eagerly anticipating book 4! Beneath the heist planning and body-swap humor, there are heartwarming messages about redemption, mortality, selflessness, and found family. I am very excited for the next one!
Zachary Chastain narrates the audiobook and does a fantastic job! He captures everything from Jack's slick swagger to his tenderness toward the woman he loves and his eventual emotional growth. Chastain really brings out each facet of the character. He also did a great job with the supporting characters, the humor, and the vibe at S.C.Y.T.H.E. headquarters. A quick, entertaining listen!
The books also feature flawed, everyday characters. This one features Jack, a recently deceased con man who does what the corporation says is impossible, he takes possession of another body. The body of 80-year-old Margaret Chen, the corporate grim reaper who came to collect him. Now, after pretending to be Margaret and working at and learning about S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), he's assembling his old crew to pull off a daring supernatural heist.
Humor comes as Jack struggles to cope with being Margaret, from her pantyhose to her arthritic knees. Plus, Jack and his old crew trade plenty of fun banter. The chapters are short, and the stakes are high. The pacing does slow a bit midway, but by the second half, things move at a faster clip, and the ending has me eagerly anticipating book 4! Beneath the heist planning and body-swap humor, there are heartwarming messages about redemption, mortality, selflessness, and found family. I am very excited for the next one!
Zachary Chastain narrates the audiobook and does a fantastic job! He captures everything from Jack's slick swagger to his tenderness toward the woman he loves and his eventual emotional growth. Chastain really brings out each facet of the character. He also did a great job with the supporting characters, the humor, and the vibe at S.C.Y.T.H.E. headquarters. A quick, entertaining listen!
September 28, 2026
Small-time crook Jack McCoy takes possession to the next level when he dies and his body is being shuttled to the afterlife. Octogenarian Margaret Chen transports souls for the biggest afterlife collection agency in North America. It is her job to transport Jack's essence, but instead she finds herself sharing her body with the thief.
Possession is not supposed to be possible, but Jack is quietly keeping up appearances in the S.C.Y.T.H.E office as the geriatric grim reaper. That is until he is tasked to transport the soul of an old criminal friend, and is convinced by him to pull off one last heist.
Together, Jack (Margaret), and his childhood gang of misfits plan to steal a priceless list of impending souls to sell, but someone is outmaneuvering the group at every turn. Will digging into the secrets of S.C.Y.T.H.E cost Jack is friends AND his second chance at life?
loved the premise of this book and as a reader of the other S.C.Y.T.H.E mystery books, and this being the third installment, I expected this one to blow me away, but it missed the mark for me. The storyline slowed just before the halfway mark, and was filled with moments inessential to the story's progression, which made it difficult to know what direction the story was headed. That said, it definitely had its enjoyable and humorous moments, and the last chapter hooked me into reading the series further.
Publishing Date: November 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Maxie Dara for the honor of reading this book ahead of publishing!!
Possession is not supposed to be possible, but Jack is quietly keeping up appearances in the S.C.Y.T.H.E office as the geriatric grim reaper. That is until he is tasked to transport the soul of an old criminal friend, and is convinced by him to pull off one last heist.
Together, Jack (Margaret), and his childhood gang of misfits plan to steal a priceless list of impending souls to sell, but someone is outmaneuvering the group at every turn. Will digging into the secrets of S.C.Y.T.H.E cost Jack is friends AND his second chance at life?
loved the premise of this book and as a reader of the other S.C.Y.T.H.E mystery books, and this being the third installment, I expected this one to blow me away, but it missed the mark for me. The storyline slowed just before the halfway mark, and was filled with moments inessential to the story's progression, which made it difficult to know what direction the story was headed. That said, it definitely had its enjoyable and humorous moments, and the last chapter hooked me into reading the series further.
Publishing Date: November 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Maxie Dara for the honor of reading this book ahead of publishing!!
November 9, 2026
I am torn about this review. I LOVE this series so much and the concept of SCYTHE. I've also loved the two previous protagonists. Jack definitely took more to connect with. I feel like it was hard to get a real read on him or connect with him as we only "got to know him" through his past hijinks with his friend as a teen. We didn't get to really see the whole picture of him as an adult, other than his current possession scheme. Also a lot of the drama of the plot is predicated on the relationships between his friends, and we are just thrown into the mix with them with immediate drama with bits of the past sprinkled in slowly. I loved the previous pranks, but still don't think they really showed us the essence of the characters (there was a lot more telling than showing). I do like the idea of the master souls list and the ending with it's twists and reveals finally got very interesting. This felt like a connector book to bring it full circle to the first book and set up for the next book to bring everyone together, which I would love. I just felt like this book lacked a lot of the magic of the previous 2.
Note: I did like the audiobook narration, but it was almost too laid back. even with the drama or emotions, the narrator had Jack and all the characters so chill that nothing felt like a big rush or heart racing drama.
Thanks to the publisher for a eARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Note: I did like the audiobook narration, but it was almost too laid back. even with the drama or emotions, the narrator had Jack and all the characters so chill that nothing felt like a big rush or heart racing drama.
Thanks to the publisher for a eARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
October 25, 2026
Once again, this series moves in a different direction from the previous book, and I’m one again enjoying the hell out of it. Reading about thirty-something felon Jack living with the body of an 80-something woman is hilarious, and I love that it’s not played up only for slapstick humor. And once again, we have a group of found family members, reuniting the old neighborhood gang but for good reasons this time. And author Maxie Dara has clearly tied the end of this book back to book one, so I can’t wait to see what happens next with this series.
November 10, 2026
This one took a longer time to get into than the previous books in the series. I had a difficult time reconciling Jack with Margaret, the body he possessed. Once I got it, this turned out to be humorous and touching in different ways. I loved the way Jack would do anything for his friends but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is selfless; in fact, I wasn’t really a fan of Jack at all but did admire the way he was willing to help. The story had some fun twists and turns, but it wasn’t my favorite of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is book 3 in the S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery Series and this is another very different story than the first two. I was thinking these were more standalones and all just taking place in the same world, HOWEVER...without spoilers....they are all connected and I'm looking forward to book 4!
*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2026
Finished in one sitting. Book three is usually where I know if I will be reading on and I will absolutely be reading on. What a world the author created and I’m excited for more.
ARC provided by publisher and NetGalley.
ARC provided by publisher and NetGalley.
November 4, 2026
Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Book three in the SCYTHE series is the perfect addition! Jack spent his life following criminal pursuits and this followed him to the after life. Everything is on the line, including his heart as he seeks a list of souls. These are fun paranormal books!
.
Book three in the SCYTHE series is the perfect addition! Jack spent his life following criminal pursuits and this followed him to the after life. Everything is on the line, including his heart as he seeks a list of souls. These are fun paranormal books!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have read the books before this so was excited to see this new title. Jack is our main character, and I must say he is definitely a character. I’m honest enough to admit I didn’t like him at first, but he grew on me and went through some growth that really helped me like him. There were a few places that felt a little bit slow, but overall, I enjoyed this latest installment. This is an interesting, unique, and fun addition to the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
November 5, 2026
Jack McCoy got through his life lying, cheating, and stealing. It started when he was young, one of a group of delinquents they called the You Agains, because when they got sent to detention, the teacher always said, “You again?” But now he’s dead, and even now he’s lying and cheating to keep death at arm’s length. But he did that by possessing the reaper who had come for him.
As Jack’s essence had hovered over his dead body, 83-year-old Margaret Chen had showed up to help usher his essence to its next home. But Jack wasn’t ready to go, and he jumped into Margaret’s body. It was surprising at first, with the bad eyesight and boobs, but Jack got used to it. It had been two months, and he had taken over Margaret’s home and job. She was still in there, and she was holding back information like her bank account, but he was managing to keep the disguise going. He didn’t think anyone at the S.C.Y.T.H.E offices knew. At least, no one had said anything.
So he kept moving forward, until he comes up with a new plan. Each day he goes to the office, finds out who Margaret is supposed to collect that day, and then heads out to rescue their essences. He stayed busy, working in the Murder Department. There was always plenty to do. And then he was assigned to collect Dale Keegan.
Dale was one of the You Agains, and despite it being Margaret’s body that came to his murder scene, Dale recognized Jack immediately. He figured that Jack was up to something. And he wanted in. It occurred to Dale that if Jack could get ahold of that list of people who were about to die, they could sell that information and make some crazy money. Jack’s only been at S.C.Y.T.H.E. for a couple of months and doesn’t know where to come by that information. But when he gets the rest of the You Agains back together, he finds out that Greer, the only woman he ever loved, needs the money. Her child is very sick, and she needs money to get the treatment.
And just like that, Jack is in.
But it’s not quite that easy. First he has to figure out where the list is kept. And then he needs to figure out how to make a copy and get it out of the building. And he has to do all that without getting found out as a rogue essence possessing the body of a little old lady. And just as he thinks he’s got it cracked, he finds out that someone else has stolen the list and sabotaged his chance of helping Greer.
Amidst the lies and deceptions, Jack has to figure out who is working against them and what that means. But will he figure that out in time to help Greer? Or will his second life get cut short before he can finally do the right thing?
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice is the third book in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. mystery series, about the employees who are tasked with rescuing the essences of those who have died and helping them to their next place. These stories are unusual and diverse, with each one starring a different reaper and a unique mystery.
I do think that the unusual nature of these S.C.Y.T.H.E. jobs meant that I had to pay extra attention to what was going on, as this is a truly different type of story. But there are also flashbacks to the hijinks of the You Agains when they were kids, so I could see how their relationships had developed back when they were in school together. And learning about what had brought them together and then what had driven them apart added a lot to the present story.
I enjoy these unconventional stories, and having read this one, I am especially excited to read the next one. I don’t know of any other books that are quite like these, so I can’t think of anything to compare them to, but they are clever, well plotted, and imaginative, so readers looking for a mystery series with a dark twist should consider giving these a try.
Egalleys for A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
As Jack’s essence had hovered over his dead body, 83-year-old Margaret Chen had showed up to help usher his essence to its next home. But Jack wasn’t ready to go, and he jumped into Margaret’s body. It was surprising at first, with the bad eyesight and boobs, but Jack got used to it. It had been two months, and he had taken over Margaret’s home and job. She was still in there, and she was holding back information like her bank account, but he was managing to keep the disguise going. He didn’t think anyone at the S.C.Y.T.H.E offices knew. At least, no one had said anything.
So he kept moving forward, until he comes up with a new plan. Each day he goes to the office, finds out who Margaret is supposed to collect that day, and then heads out to rescue their essences. He stayed busy, working in the Murder Department. There was always plenty to do. And then he was assigned to collect Dale Keegan.
Dale was one of the You Agains, and despite it being Margaret’s body that came to his murder scene, Dale recognized Jack immediately. He figured that Jack was up to something. And he wanted in. It occurred to Dale that if Jack could get ahold of that list of people who were about to die, they could sell that information and make some crazy money. Jack’s only been at S.C.Y.T.H.E. for a couple of months and doesn’t know where to come by that information. But when he gets the rest of the You Agains back together, he finds out that Greer, the only woman he ever loved, needs the money. Her child is very sick, and she needs money to get the treatment.
And just like that, Jack is in.
But it’s not quite that easy. First he has to figure out where the list is kept. And then he needs to figure out how to make a copy and get it out of the building. And he has to do all that without getting found out as a rogue essence possessing the body of a little old lady. And just as he thinks he’s got it cracked, he finds out that someone else has stolen the list and sabotaged his chance of helping Greer.
Amidst the lies and deceptions, Jack has to figure out who is working against them and what that means. But will he figure that out in time to help Greer? Or will his second life get cut short before he can finally do the right thing?
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice is the third book in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. mystery series, about the employees who are tasked with rescuing the essences of those who have died and helping them to their next place. These stories are unusual and diverse, with each one starring a different reaper and a unique mystery.
I do think that the unusual nature of these S.C.Y.T.H.E. jobs meant that I had to pay extra attention to what was going on, as this is a truly different type of story. But there are also flashbacks to the hijinks of the You Agains when they were kids, so I could see how their relationships had developed back when they were in school together. And learning about what had brought them together and then what had driven them apart added a lot to the present story.
I enjoy these unconventional stories, and having read this one, I am especially excited to read the next one. I don’t know of any other books that are quite like these, so I can’t think of anything to compare them to, but they are clever, well plotted, and imaginative, so readers looking for a mystery series with a dark twist should consider giving these a try.
Egalleys for A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
November 3, 2026
Maxi Dara chose an interesting premise in writing her new novel, A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice, being published November 3, 2026 by Berkley Publishing. I was intrigued by the title, but it was the wordplay that drew me in, and created a memorable reading journey.
The book begins with an excerpt from the "Collections Agent Training Manual" for the S.C.Y.T.H.E. company. S.C.Y.T.H.E stands for the Secure Collection, Yielding and Transportation of Human Essences, or one might say souls. The company deals in death as a business, and the collection and transport of recently released souls is their trade.
Jack McCoy is dead. However he is not done living. It's not possible to possess someone yet Jack did just that when he jumped from his dead body into that of his collection agent's body when she came to retrieve him for transport. Now the young version of Jack, a self made con artist is inhabiting the body of an Asian octogenarian by the name of Margaret Chen. Margaret is still in control of some of her memories, like access to her banking passwords, but Jack controls her body and mind. Jack wants to get his old gang together for one more major scheme, but many obstacles stand in his way. First he must convince his childhood friends that he is really Jack inside his eighty year old orthopedic shoes. Then he must sell them on the idea of stealing and selling a list of upcoming deaths before someone else steals it first.
Jacks friends have moved on with their lives, but he is as compelling as ever and it isn't long before he has their buy in. Even his dead friend Dale is on board with the plan. But every time they get close, someone beats them to the list. Will they be able to find the list and the buyer before it's too late?
Dara's story is rich in satire as she uses her talent of wordplay to create the world of the S.C.Y.T.H.E. corporation. I really enjoyed her subtle wit. It was fun to watch the character of Margaret Chen merge with Jack McCoy. How he dealt with a senior woman's body as a soul of a man in his thirties was funny. The other characters were well written as well, as they were slowly developed through vignettes of their past exploits in Jack's gang. The storyline jumps from present to past throughout the novel. I found the writing method enhancing, not distracting.
Finally, Dara set the reader up for another story at the conclusion of the book. It is a cliffhanger, but one is not dangling on a precipice of frustration. It simply leaves the reader wanting more.
I am rating A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice with 4 stars. I enjoyed the witty mystery and am recommending it for those interested in a lighthearted mystery, fantasy reading jaunt.
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing (a division of Penguin Random House), and Maxi Dara for the advanced reader's copy of A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishing #MaxiDara #AGrimReaper'sGuidetoLivingTwice
The book begins with an excerpt from the "Collections Agent Training Manual" for the S.C.Y.T.H.E. company. S.C.Y.T.H.E stands for the Secure Collection, Yielding and Transportation of Human Essences, or one might say souls. The company deals in death as a business, and the collection and transport of recently released souls is their trade.
Jack McCoy is dead. However he is not done living. It's not possible to possess someone yet Jack did just that when he jumped from his dead body into that of his collection agent's body when she came to retrieve him for transport. Now the young version of Jack, a self made con artist is inhabiting the body of an Asian octogenarian by the name of Margaret Chen. Margaret is still in control of some of her memories, like access to her banking passwords, but Jack controls her body and mind. Jack wants to get his old gang together for one more major scheme, but many obstacles stand in his way. First he must convince his childhood friends that he is really Jack inside his eighty year old orthopedic shoes. Then he must sell them on the idea of stealing and selling a list of upcoming deaths before someone else steals it first.
Jacks friends have moved on with their lives, but he is as compelling as ever and it isn't long before he has their buy in. Even his dead friend Dale is on board with the plan. But every time they get close, someone beats them to the list. Will they be able to find the list and the buyer before it's too late?
Dara's story is rich in satire as she uses her talent of wordplay to create the world of the S.C.Y.T.H.E. corporation. I really enjoyed her subtle wit. It was fun to watch the character of Margaret Chen merge with Jack McCoy. How he dealt with a senior woman's body as a soul of a man in his thirties was funny. The other characters were well written as well, as they were slowly developed through vignettes of their past exploits in Jack's gang. The storyline jumps from present to past throughout the novel. I found the writing method enhancing, not distracting.
Finally, Dara set the reader up for another story at the conclusion of the book. It is a cliffhanger, but one is not dangling on a precipice of frustration. It simply leaves the reader wanting more.
I am rating A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice with 4 stars. I enjoyed the witty mystery and am recommending it for those interested in a lighthearted mystery, fantasy reading jaunt.
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing (a division of Penguin Random House), and Maxi Dara for the advanced reader's copy of A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishing #MaxiDara #AGrimReaper'sGuidetoLivingTwice
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Amusing, crisp, and fun A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice was just the right balance I needed to hit the reset button this week. (I love how books can do that sometimes!📚)
If you've enjoyed the series so far chances are good, you will like this foray back into the world of S.C.Y.T.H.E. Secure Collection Yielding Transportation of Human Essences....or you know grim reapers who do NOT appreciate the term. This time around we are following the lives of different individuals impacted by death. We meet Jack a small-time thief who makes the ultimate score when he possesses the octogenarian reaper who shows up to collect his soul after his untimely demise. After committing such brazen identity theft, he has to step into her kitten heels and start living her life including showing up to usher the newly deceased to the afterlife. He arrives to collect a gunshot victim to find he is an old friend who convinces him to pull off one more heist. They assemble the old crew and hijinks ensue.
There is a mix of humor and heart eliciting the feel of a light cozy read with high entertainment value. The chapters fly by and watching a guy like Jack navigate the world of S.C.Y.T.H.E. kept me engaged. I love how the next novel is set up toward the end and I am already looking forward to it!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you've enjoyed the series so far chances are good, you will like this foray back into the world of S.C.Y.T.H.E. Secure Collection Yielding Transportation of Human Essences....or you know grim reapers who do NOT appreciate the term. This time around we are following the lives of different individuals impacted by death. We meet Jack a small-time thief who makes the ultimate score when he possesses the octogenarian reaper who shows up to collect his soul after his untimely demise. After committing such brazen identity theft, he has to step into her kitten heels and start living her life including showing up to usher the newly deceased to the afterlife. He arrives to collect a gunshot victim to find he is an old friend who convinces him to pull off one more heist. They assemble the old crew and hijinks ensue.
There is a mix of humor and heart eliciting the feel of a light cozy read with high entertainment value. The chapters fly by and watching a guy like Jack navigate the world of S.C.Y.T.H.E. kept me engaged. I love how the next novel is set up toward the end and I am already looking forward to it!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the opportunity to read A Grim Reaper's Guide to Living Twice by Maxie Dara in exchange for my honest review.
Jack McCoy takes identity theft to a whole new level when he dies and somehow ends up possessing the body of Margaret Chen, an octogenarian grim reaper. 😂 Now he's trying to keep up appearances at S.C.Y.T.H.E., but when an old criminal friend convinces him to pull off one last heist, things get complicated.
I absolutely love the premise of this one! The afterlife world Maxie Dara has created is incredibly interesting, and I was excited to jump back in for the third installment. Unfortunately, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
The story started off with an interesting setup, and the pacing seemed to be moving along, but honestly, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. I'd get halfway through a chapter and realize I couldn't tell you what had happened because I'd been thinking about anything but the story. More than once, my mind wandered, and I even found myself picking up other books instead.
I think I'm starting to realize that while I love the world and the creativity behind this series, I struggle to connect with some of the characters. It might just be that Maxie Dara's writing style isn't the best fit for me.
Such a fun concept, and I really wanted to love this one, but ultimately, I enjoyed the idea of the story more than the actual reading experience.
Jack McCoy takes identity theft to a whole new level when he dies and somehow ends up possessing the body of Margaret Chen, an octogenarian grim reaper. 😂 Now he's trying to keep up appearances at S.C.Y.T.H.E., but when an old criminal friend convinces him to pull off one last heist, things get complicated.
I absolutely love the premise of this one! The afterlife world Maxie Dara has created is incredibly interesting, and I was excited to jump back in for the third installment. Unfortunately, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
The story started off with an interesting setup, and the pacing seemed to be moving along, but honestly, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. I'd get halfway through a chapter and realize I couldn't tell you what had happened because I'd been thinking about anything but the story. More than once, my mind wandered, and I even found myself picking up other books instead.
I think I'm starting to realize that while I love the world and the creativity behind this series, I struggle to connect with some of the characters. It might just be that Maxie Dara's writing style isn't the best fit for me.
Such a fun concept, and I really wanted to love this one, but ultimately, I enjoyed the idea of the story more than the actual reading experience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice was no exception! This was fun, wonderfully quirky, and super entertaining! I loved the unique premise of Jack, a thief who manages to cheat death by possessing the elderly grim reaper sent to collect his soul. The idea of him navigating his new afterlife while pretending to be Margaret and carrying out his reaper duties made for plenty of hilarious moments, and then when you add in an old friend, one last heist, and a cast of misfits... there was never a shortage of chaos!
Jack took a little time to grow on me, and while I wasn't immediately invested in him, I enjoyed watching his character develop throughout the story. The found family aspect, friendships, humor, and themes of redemption and second chances added the perfect amount of emotional undertones to this supernatural mystery. I also enjoyed getting to explore more of the S.C.Y.T.H.E. world and seeing the twists and turns unfold. There were a few slower moments, but the overall story was engaging and full of personality.
This was a creative, lighthearted, and wonderfully entertaining addition to the series. I loved the blend of paranormal mystery, humor, and heartfelt moments, and the ending left me curious about what comes next!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jack took a little time to grow on me, and while I wasn't immediately invested in him, I enjoyed watching his character develop throughout the story. The found family aspect, friendships, humor, and themes of redemption and second chances added the perfect amount of emotional undertones to this supernatural mystery. I also enjoyed getting to explore more of the S.C.Y.T.H.E. world and seeing the twists and turns unfold. There were a few slower moments, but the overall story was engaging and full of personality.
This was a creative, lighthearted, and wonderfully entertaining addition to the series. I loved the blend of paranormal mystery, humor, and heartfelt moments, and the ending left me curious about what comes next!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 4, 2026
Jack McCoy was a con man and hooligan. His newest crime of possession is one he could never have expected. On the day of his death, Jack manages to jump into the body of his elderly reaper Margaret Chen and proceeds with identity theft. When a familiar name pops up on his list of souls to reap, Jack gets the gang back together for one final heist. As they attempt to steal the S.C.Y.T.H.E. souls master list, Jack will have to confront his past and how his friends truly felt about him, along with the role of death.
I struggled a bit with Jack, who came across as a caricature of a young delinquent with many schemes and without any layers for his misbehaviour and selfish tendencies. The premise and situations got the comedic punchlines, but as for an endearing character, he was not as likeable or relatable as Kathy nor Nora. Sure he had swagger and his lifelong crush was sweet as a motive, but he read much younger than he was.
As for the heist itself, this was the most unrealistic situation in the series, and that is saying something given the paranormal concepts 😂. I could not believe they would not have gotten caught in the office, nor that no one could see Jack’s soul given the rules of reapers. This remains an original and fun series, but this instalment lacked the heartfelt charm and sweet relationships I really enjoyed in the first two books.
I struggled a bit with Jack, who came across as a caricature of a young delinquent with many schemes and without any layers for his misbehaviour and selfish tendencies. The premise and situations got the comedic punchlines, but as for an endearing character, he was not as likeable or relatable as Kathy nor Nora. Sure he had swagger and his lifelong crush was sweet as a motive, but he read much younger than he was.
As for the heist itself, this was the most unrealistic situation in the series, and that is saying something given the paranormal concepts 😂. I could not believe they would not have gotten caught in the office, nor that no one could see Jack’s soul given the rules of reapers. This remains an original and fun series, but this instalment lacked the heartfelt charm and sweet relationships I really enjoyed in the first two books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun read! S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection Yielding Transportation of Human Essences) has been infiltrated, but no one seems to notice. Since possession is not supposed to be possible, nobody in the company is questioning a things after elderly little Margaret goes to work to collect Jack for the afterlife. Little do they know, Jack has actually possessed and taken over Margaret’s body. Extreme identity theft. When he’s sent to collect another soul, he quickly realizes that it is one of his small-time crime partners. So what better way to go out than with one more heist?? But Jack is looking a little different this time. I thought this was absolutely hilarious! It was fast paced and had plenty of twists! I loved the writing and the character development. There is also some character growth for Jack mixed in as well. I will admit, I had not read the other books in the series, but I don’t think that took away from this plot. Overall I loved this one and can’t wait to immediately start at the beginning of the series!
Thank you so much Maxie Dara and NetGalley for my gifted arc in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you so much Maxie Dara and NetGalley for my gifted arc in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice, we meet Jack who has outsmarted death by possessing the body of his Reaper, 80 year old Margaret. Now he has to get the old gang back together for a supernatural heist.
Reapers and heists! I was all in, but I’ll admit to being a little bored and taking quite a long time to warm up to Jack. He did not seem to be as smart and clever as all of his friends seemed to think that he was. But I was won over by the found family aspect of the story. There is a good amount of humor and touching moments as we learn more about the gang and their childhood interactions. I also really enjoyed the world building of death as a corporate entity.
This can definitely be read as a stand alone as I had no idea that this was the third in a series until I looked it up. I’m curious enough to consider reading the others in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC.
Reapers and heists! I was all in, but I’ll admit to being a little bored and taking quite a long time to warm up to Jack. He did not seem to be as smart and clever as all of his friends seemed to think that he was. But I was won over by the found family aspect of the story. There is a good amount of humor and touching moments as we learn more about the gang and their childhood interactions. I also really enjoyed the world building of death as a corporate entity.
This can definitely be read as a stand alone as I had no idea that this was the third in a series until I looked it up. I’m curious enough to consider reading the others in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An entertaining read that’s full of both humor and heart!
The scenes of Jack trying to pull off one last con while inhabiting the body of a geriatric Grim Reaper are hilarious. I also really enjoyed seeing him navigate his new (after)life while trying to relive and revive his past.
The shifting timelines between past and present were a nice touch, showing the parallels between the characters' childhood and adult cons while adding even more heart to their Goonies-like friendship.
This book has a little bit of everything—mystery, second chances, found family, high-stakes heists, and plenty of supernatural shenanigans. And that ending! An unexpected twist and a thrilling cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see where the fourth book takes us!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!
The scenes of Jack trying to pull off one last con while inhabiting the body of a geriatric Grim Reaper are hilarious. I also really enjoyed seeing him navigate his new (after)life while trying to relive and revive his past.
The shifting timelines between past and present were a nice touch, showing the parallels between the characters' childhood and adult cons while adding even more heart to their Goonies-like friendship.
This book has a little bit of everything—mystery, second chances, found family, high-stakes heists, and plenty of supernatural shenanigans. And that ending! An unexpected twist and a thrilling cliffhanger. I cannot wait to see where the fourth book takes us!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!
October 19, 2026
I had a hard time getting into this one. I found I was bored a good amount of the time and there were more characters involved than really necessary so it was hard to really know any of them in this short amount of pages. Also, I found the story tried to be “deeper” than I was wanting for a paranormal mystery. I was looking for more fun and humour but got more of a deep dive into the social dynamics of this group of friends.
I will say I it was definitely different than anything I’ve read and now that I’m 3 books in I am definitely curious as to how the next book is going to play out with how this one ended so I will be continuing but I’m hoping the next one will keep me a bit more engaged.
I will say I it was definitely different than anything I’ve read and now that I’m 3 books in I am definitely curious as to how the next book is going to play out with how this one ended so I will be continuing but I’m hoping the next one will keep me a bit more engaged.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved book one of this series and couldn’t help being disappointed when book two introduced new characters instead of following Kathy again. With book three, I was prepared for this fact and was hopeful I would love the new characters. I didn’t like Jack at first, but I’ll admit he grew on me as the story progressed, as did the supporting characters. This installment was entertaining from start to finish. I never saw the twist coming and the cliffhanger left me SOOO excited for the next book in the series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
Full disclosure, I haven't read the first two books in the series; I didn't even know this was a series when I requested it. I debated putting it off and reading the first two first, and I should have done that, especially with the way this one ends.
The pacing is slow, especially in the middle, and I'm not sure the reveal made a whole lot of sense. The main character isn't very self-aware and doesn't really grow a lot. But I enjoyed the concept, and the ending also makes me want to continue the series, even though I didn't love this one.
Full disclosure, I haven't read the first two books in the series; I didn't even know this was a series when I requested it. I debated putting it off and reading the first two first, and I should have done that, especially with the way this one ends.
The pacing is slow, especially in the middle, and I'm not sure the reveal made a whole lot of sense. The main character isn't very self-aware and doesn't really grow a lot. But I enjoyed the concept, and the ending also makes me want to continue the series, even though I didn't love this one.
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