Death Actually: Death. Love. And In Between.

by Rosy Fenwicke

Maggie never wanted to go into the family business, but when her parents die suddenly and her husband has just abandoned her and their two small children, what choice does she have? With the support of her best friend Elka and her mentor Betty, she had to accept becoming a funeral director. Now Kate and Nick are grown and Maggie faces the prospect of a future without them.

It’s the middle of winter and Queenstown is full of skiers. Betty has just died and Elka needs surgery. Kate, back from London where she was an up and coming chef, won’t get out of bed. Nick feels guilty delivering fast food to an ex-champion skier, Lizzie, who is bitter about the injury which robbed her of glory. There is a movie star on location nearby who won’t listen to advice, and Maggie can’t seem to put a foot right with the new doctor in town.

People are dying and life goes on.

Genres: Fiction

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2018

Reviews

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update 31.01.19: I recommended this to a colleague who has started coming to me for book suggestions, so was very chuffed to hear that she asked her local library, and they bought it for her!

This lovely book is written by another former Wellington GP, although I never met her, and have not read her previous novel, but will be looking out for it.

Maggie Potter, fortyish, is an undertaker - excuse me, funeral director, in Queenstown, New Zealand (for my overseas friends, it’s a resort town in the South Island, probably one of the most beautiful towns in the world.)
Maggie has had a tough life, married too young, she was left with two very young children when her husband skedaddled, having to take over the family funeral business when her parents were killed in an accident. Now settled into her role, with good friends and a comfortable life, she is quite content, but life, and death, keep getting in the way. First her daughter returns from working as a chef in London, and won’t get out of bed. Her son is working as a food delivery driver, visiting an old friend who is a morbidly obese recluse following an injury, and a movie star is in town, causing chaos. Then a close friend dies, followed by a stranger who appears to have drunk herself to death, and Maggie has to hide her feelings under her professionalism. Her other good friend, Elka, is having an operation, and she keeps running in to, or being nearly run over, by the town’s hunky doctor...

Despite the focus on death, in all it’s forms, this book is neither too dark and heavy, nor too light and fluffy. I really liked the characters - Maggie is realistically flawed but sympathetic, Nick a brave and kind yet cheeky young man, Lizzie believable in her battle with depression and chronic pain. While not particularly funny, there are some clever in jokes and amusing moments. I loved the thinly disguised parodies of a well known NZ broadcaster (even the name rhymes) and movie star (and again, part of the name is similar.)
There are enough subplots to keep it interesting without becoming confusing, and some serious issues are dealt with sensitively. I was interested in the details of the funeral industry, which one doesn’t often read about, and loved all the NZ details.

My only criticism is that the romance (which to me was unnecessary) was terribly cliched - did it have to be with a handsome rich doctor, and followed the same course (antagonism, attraction, misunderstanding, shared drama, true love, yawn...) I understand that the plot needed a doctor, but it would’ve been great to see a less conventional love story. Even so, am giving it 5 stars as it’s well written and a great read.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, it is a treasure. After scanning previous reviews, I was reminded how we see things through the lens of our own life. Some people saw too many characters. I saw a tapestry of lives, all woven around each other. The main character, Maggie, is a funeral director in a small town, of course she knows most everyone. The author portrays funeral service realistically. She knows people well too, and is a keen observer. as shown in her writing. Maggie's service to friends, acquaintances and strangers when they die is a joy to read. But there is much more to this story. All the individuals who live, work, play, and cross paths contribute to the tapestry woven by Ms. Fenwicke. Some people take, some people give. There is failure and growth, wealth, greed and poverty, past and present, misogyny, selfishness, grief, joy and redemption. The stuff life is made of.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hopeful when I started this book with it having 2, 5 star reviews but I didn’t get it. There are too many characters to keep track of and i couldn’t keep track of all stories going on throughout the book, DNF at 20% even though I tried to stick with it. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Mary Christoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Actually does an excellent job of weaving together the stories of Maggie, her two children Nick and Kate, and their friends and neighbors. Rosy Fenwicke crafts characters who are interesting and complex, from the funeral director and single mother, Maggie, to her German and cancer-stricken best friend Elka, to the Hollywood actor Tim Loomis who is both irritating and charming at the same time. Overall, this novel was a fast and enjoyable read, and I was sad to say goodbye to many of the characters by the end. I look forward to reading more works by this author.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/18/2020)! 🎁

[Avalon · Rating 5 out of 5]

NZ Author

Based in Queenstown so most kiwis will be familiar with the places mentioned in this page turning novel. Thoroughly enjoyable and the characters endearing. Highly recommend. Thankyou Rosy Fenwicke

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is one ever allowed to say that a book was honest if they know it's a work of fiction?
Well, the details, dialogues and characters were so real and vivid in how they went about their lives that I couldn't help but empathize with Maggie when the new doctor-Ben, comes into town and she cannot help but be hot and cold around him. There are also Kate and Nick who in their own way model her strength as a single parent.
So, thank you NetGalley for the eARC, this was a heartfelt read anyone who's ever loved, lived and cherished a moment or two with great people would enjoy this book.

[Callie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Queenstown, New Zealand, Death Actually is an omniscient third-person narrative that tells the story of Maggie, a strong independent woman who has had to be both a mother and father to her two children, Kate and Nick. As a funeral director, she is far from stereo-typical, adding to her well-rounded and three-dimensional characterisation.

This well-written story is full of different characters; there is plenty of action and the author doesn’t shy away from some real gritty issues. As well as being both sad and funny, this is also an inspirational tale of making the best out of life before it’s too late. Whilst there is plenty going on, its linear structure makes for an uncomplicated and chillaxy read and I would recommend this for anybody who likes Jill Mansell or Carole Matthews.

I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars within its genre of Women’s contemporary fiction.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Observe, Remember, Compare. It can be applied to almost anything."
This is an amazing book of family, love, hope, grief and resilience.
The Main character Maggie Porter is a funeral director. She has two children who are finding their ways as they approach adulthood, and Maggie has friends who help her find her dreams.
I loved the characters, the descriptions and the real life dilemma's in each chapter.
Tissues are needed at times, but laughing is included and you won't want to miss this novel!

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a satisfying, interesting and very well written book! I loved this story and all of this characters. I strongly recommend this to absolutely anyone! This will be a terrific beach read, but you might not want to put it down to go in the water!

[Felicity Cuzens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

Excellent spell binding book written extremely well with characters that you want to know yourself. Great read and thought provoking ...

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Queenstown, New Zealand, Death Actually tells the story of Maggie, woman who has had to be both a mother and father to her two children, Kate and Nick, when her husband abandoned them.
The sudden death of both her parents leads to her returning home to New Zealand from Australia with her young children, to take over the family business when her brother took off overseas following his parents’ accident. With the support of her best friend Elka and her mentor Betty, Maggie had to accept becoming a funeral director and has become very much part of the Queenstown community.
The reader is taken into the lives of the people who are important to Maggie with the author’s clever characterisation of Lizzie, Elka and Betty making the plot almost real and I really felt part of the Queenstown lifestyle. Nick and Kate lend a hand and support their mother and her friends but there are some secrets in the background, which add complications and the new doctor in town is at times an irritation to Maggie.
Set in winter when the ski season is at its height in Queenstown there is death actually in the book and I found the role and tasks undertaken by the funeral director was extensive and at times challenging but the author has written with sensitivity and grace.
And of course a modern day story set in the resort would not be complete without a jet boat accident, a movie on location nearby and the dramas which accompany these activities.
The author has gently moulded the strands of the story together with humour and it moves along at a brisk pace with some very satisfactory outcomes from the twists and turns she created among the characters.
Like any good book there is sorrow as well as celebration, but friendship and love is an important thread entwined throughout the pages and anyone who likes an inspiring family drama of modern living will find this a good read and like me, they will find the vivid descriptions around Queenstown to be captivating. The underlining theme highlights strength, reliance and hope while looking to the future, “Alexander Benjamin Potter was born normally, at nine twenty-one on a dark and stormy night in early spring, in the back of his grandmother’s hearse, in a paddock in central Otago. He weighed 7 lbs 13ozs, and was full of fight and noise, much to everyone’s relief and joy.”
Rosy Fenwick is a doctor, writer and mother of three adult children living in Martinborough. In 2017 she released her first novel, Hot Flush, which received excellent reviews, and which I would be keen to read to see if I enjoyed it as much as Death Actually.

[ANNE PRITCHARD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Queenstown, New Zealand, Death Actually tells the story of Maggie who is a funeral director; a tapestry of lives is uncovered, all woven around each other, in the beautiful resort town in the South Island.
Maggie, now fortyish, married very young and has had a tough life; she was left with two very young children when her husband moved out and had to take over the family funeral business when her parents were killed in an accident.
She is settled with good friends, has best friend, Elka and mentor Betty and has a comfortable life; she is quite content but life and death seem to regularly cross her path and keep getting in the way.
This story has enough subplots to keep it interesting without it becoming confusing; interestingly it raises some serious issues which are dealt with sensitively. Readers may be interested to read about the details of the funeral industry which are not often written about.
Amongst all the drama is the telling of a romance which leads a conventional course; the author has crafted characters who are interesting and complex; they all live, work, play, and cross paths as they contribute to the tapestry which is the story; there are real life dilemmas in each chapter which may bring a tear to the eyes of those reading at times.
By the end of the novel, through a series of events, all the characters finally come together, none particularly happy, which in turn leads them to truly knowing and understanding one another; they weave through each other's lives being both supportive to each other and reacting differently to the events that confront them.
It is a thought-provoking read, set in winter, when the ski season is at its height in Queenstown; the resort and New Zealand are well described and the descriptive passages may tempt readers to visit after finishing the story.
There are some twists and turns along the way and a very strong ending that ties up all the loose ends perfectly, I found it both entertaining and well-written; it will be a book many readers will be unable to put down and will invoke an array of emotions they may not be prepared for.

[RoloPoloBookBlog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Death actually: Death. Love. And in between by Rosy Fenwicke
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 2½/5 stars

**Mini-Review**

The Bottom Line: I can’t say I liked or disliked this book, but I can say I finished it. How’s that for a rousing recommendation?? This is one of those reads that attempts to integrate several disparate stories/lives into one read. Unfortunately, that integration isn’t as successful as I would have liked it to have been. In truth, this book reads like a collection of stories all playing out in a single location with some feeble/tenuous connections between the characters. By the end of the novel, all the characters have finally come together through a series of events, none particularly happy, which have led them to truly knowing one another.

Lest you think I liked nothing about this book, let me assure you, I did like something. I liked and rather enjoyed the somewhat prolonged ending which gave me a better understanding of the characters and what happened to them in the time since all the tragedy. I am always a fan of knowing what has happened to a cast of characters and this book does an excellent job of laying out the aftermath. The ending, though prolonged is more carefully constructed and informative than This prolonged ending is what I wish the rest of the book had been.

[Tricia Hackney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Def not my usual go-to kinda book - but I ended up REALLY enjoying it!
My heart ached for Maggie!!! I mean, I can't say that I would want to be saddled with a family business such as this - but when it came down to it - she took the reigns and handled it like a champ!! Her brother is a jerk. Her ex and his mom are jerks. Her kids are pretty awesome. Her friends are pretty awesome. There are times where I felt that I could SEE what was coming - and was WRONG (thankful for that one lol). I really enjoyed this tale and was rewarded by all the emotions - sadness, weariness, happiness, heart break, new love, life & death - so yeah - it's all here. :) I was given a digital copy of Death Actually by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as a digital ARC from #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I agree with the reviewers who commented about the number of characters in this book. To me, there seemed far too many, that were not all relevant or necessary to the plot. This was very confusing initially and I almost didn't finish this book. I had to push past the 20% mark, and skim read chapters which were just involving the "unnecessary characters". However, that said it wasn't a bad read. It won't be one I want to read again, and it definitely won't be a book that stays with me for weeks afterwards. I think I will pretty quickly forget about the characters and this story.

[Tricia Hackney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart ached for Maggie!!! I mean, I can't say that I would want to be saddled with a family business such as this - but when it came down to it - she took the reigns and handled it like a champ!! Her brother is a jerk. Her ex and his mom are jerks. Her kids are pretty awesome. Her friends are pretty awesome. There are times where I felt that I could SEE what was coming - and was WRONG (thankful for that one lol). I really enjoyed this tale and was rewarded by all the emotions - sadness, weariness, happiness, heart break, new love, life & death - so yeah - it's all here. :) I was given a digital copy of Death Actually by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Georgie Fenwicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get your cuppa tea ready! I think this is my favourite Rosy Fenwicke novel. Set in Queenstown, a favourite place of mine - it's like Love Actually meets Crash but set on the other side of the world. Any script writers out there, take note - I think this would make a great Netflix or TVNZ series!

Why? The cast of character weave through each other's lives both supporting each other and reacting differently to the events that confront them. Life isn't always peachy, but Fenwicke finds ways to bring real kindness to tough situations. Plus there's also a great romantic narrative.

[Susan McKone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! A book about a funeral director in Queenstown, living the dramas that come from being in a high-end tourist high adventure Mecca as well as a rural setting, there is not a dull moment. Highly entertaining, funny, heart warming and a little sad. An easy read on a cold wet weekend!

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Zealand novelist Rosy Fenwicke's second novel is a pleasure. Warm and full of character, it's at times funny, occasionally sad, but always entertaining. It reminded me of the early novels by Anne Tyler, which is no small compliment.

[Cindyeme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, a master weaver of words!

This book captures you right at the start. The intermingled stories of the characters keeps you going. I loved how each character and their story developed. It was sad at times and thought provoking. I would highly recommend.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book.

Full of stories and characters that hold your interest and make you want to know each of them.
The author was magnificent in her description and depth of each person and story.
This book goes on my all time favorites list, and it is short.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were way too many characters which made it hard to keep track of who each person was. I believe some characters could have been left out.

[Ruth Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable book. This book had come highly recommended and it didn’t disappoint

[Jo Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story set in Queenstown with lots of characters. Very strong ending that ties up all the loose ends. Highly recommended.

[Julie Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully done!

A well written story with interesting characters. Storyline was engaging, and I loved Elka! A book that is well worth a read.

[Ann Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! I was caught up in the characters right away.

[Hamish Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky, but fun, with memorable characters, one of whom seems remarkably similar to a certain Mission Impossible star.

[Whitney Warrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect.