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I Know When You're Going To Die
Leonardo Cantrell is a painfully shy sixteen-year-old who cannot look people in the eye. One night while he’s volunteering at a homeless shelter, an old man forces eye contact and gives Leo the power to see Death.
His best, and only, friend—J.C. Rivera—thinks this new power is cool until Leo accidentally looks into J.C.’s eyes and “sees” his murder, a murder that will occur in less than two weeks. Stunned and shaken, the two boys sift through clues in Leo’s “vision” in a desperate effort to find the killer and stop him before he can strike.
Aided by feisty new-girl-at-school, Laura, the boys uncover evidence suggesting the identity of the murderer. However, their plan to trap the would-be killer goes horribly awry and reveals a truth that could kill them all.
His best, and only, friend—J.C. Rivera—thinks this new power is cool until Leo accidentally looks into J.C.’s eyes and “sees” his murder, a murder that will occur in less than two weeks. Stunned and shaken, the two boys sift through clues in Leo’s “vision” in a desperate effort to find the killer and stop him before he can strike.
Aided by feisty new-girl-at-school, Laura, the boys uncover evidence suggesting the identity of the murderer. However, their plan to trap the would-be killer goes horribly awry and reveals a truth that could kill them all.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2020
16 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Michael J. Bowler
20 books311 followersMichael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California for many years, both in general education and students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing you can find him volunteering as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, volunteering within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles, or caring for his newly adopted son. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, and hopes his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.
You can find Michael at:
Website: www.michaeljbowler.com
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You can find Michael at:
Website: www.michaeljbowler.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Michael-J.-Bowler/e/B0...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaeljbowlerauthor
Twitter: twitter.com/BradleyWallaceM
tumblr: michaeljbowler.tumblr.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/michaelbowler
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stuntshark
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 6, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Among the ranks of superheroes, seeing the future has always carried more of a burden. In the book “I Know When You’re Going to Die,” this gift takes an even darker turn.
In his town, Leo, the main character, is known as “Shy Boy” or “Ninja Turtle.” He’s painfully shy, and among the ranks of his equally rich peers, Leo sticks out like a sore thumb. He isn’t popular in the least, and prioritises using his privilege and wealth as a reminder to help others instead of using it to his benefit. Every week, Leo volunteers at a homeless shelter.
One night, as he’s dying, an elderly man looks Leo in the eyes and passes on a gift that will challenge Leo and push him more than ever before, with all the odds stacked up against him. Leo doesn’t look most people in the eye, too shy to do so, so Leo’s new ability is tinged with irony. When he looks someone in the eye, he knows when they’re going to die.
J.C is Leo’s best friend. In many ways, he is just like the kids that Leo refuses to be like. He’s rich, snarky, materialistic. But he’s different, because he is Leo’s friend. Leo’s only friend. Instead of seeking popularity, he has Leo’s back and Leo has his. When J.C finds out about Leo’s new power, he thinks it’s really cool. At least, until Leo looks into J.C’s eyes and finds out that J.C will be murdered in two weeks time.
Enter Laura. She’s the new girl at school, and she doesn’t care about what anyone thinks. She’s very genuine and true to herself, and calls out everyone when they aren’t acting right, even her friends. Leo, J.C, and Laura band together, desperately trying to make meaning of Leo’s vision to prevent a brutal end to J.C’s life.
This is a wonderful suspense and mystery book, tinged with a bit of a supernatural element. The beginning starts off a little slow, but it’s a natural progression to the rest of the action packed book. The author is able to weave in these amazingly subtle clues that blow up later and support a wrenching series of twists in the climax of the book. I’m usually able to see the hidden surprises coming in mystery books, but this book definitely took me for a ride.
My one critique of this book is that the characters seemed a little two-dimensional at times, and the writing could be a little repetitive. However, the character growth and the plot, as well as seeing the characters’ dynamic develop, more than made up for this.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the book was the way it approached J.C and Leo’s close friendship. In the media, most male friendships are either distant or unsupportive, and this book debunked all those stereotypes with J.C and Leo’s open, healthy friendship, even though they face a lot of hate for it at times. I enjoyed seeing the diversity that was subtly and naturally worked into this book, and it successfully tackled issues like racism, and homophobia.
I Know When You’re Going To Die is a book that you won’t be able to put down, and a book that will make your mind reel with the absolute brilliance of all the plot twists. A clever, original, mystery with an interesting supernatural addition.
Among the ranks of superheroes, seeing the future has always carried more of a burden. In the book “I Know When You’re Going to Die,” this gift takes an even darker turn.
In his town, Leo, the main character, is known as “Shy Boy” or “Ninja Turtle.” He’s painfully shy, and among the ranks of his equally rich peers, Leo sticks out like a sore thumb. He isn’t popular in the least, and prioritises using his privilege and wealth as a reminder to help others instead of using it to his benefit. Every week, Leo volunteers at a homeless shelter.
One night, as he’s dying, an elderly man looks Leo in the eyes and passes on a gift that will challenge Leo and push him more than ever before, with all the odds stacked up against him. Leo doesn’t look most people in the eye, too shy to do so, so Leo’s new ability is tinged with irony. When he looks someone in the eye, he knows when they’re going to die.
J.C is Leo’s best friend. In many ways, he is just like the kids that Leo refuses to be like. He’s rich, snarky, materialistic. But he’s different, because he is Leo’s friend. Leo’s only friend. Instead of seeking popularity, he has Leo’s back and Leo has his. When J.C finds out about Leo’s new power, he thinks it’s really cool. At least, until Leo looks into J.C’s eyes and finds out that J.C will be murdered in two weeks time.
Enter Laura. She’s the new girl at school, and she doesn’t care about what anyone thinks. She’s very genuine and true to herself, and calls out everyone when they aren’t acting right, even her friends. Leo, J.C, and Laura band together, desperately trying to make meaning of Leo’s vision to prevent a brutal end to J.C’s life.
This is a wonderful suspense and mystery book, tinged with a bit of a supernatural element. The beginning starts off a little slow, but it’s a natural progression to the rest of the action packed book. The author is able to weave in these amazingly subtle clues that blow up later and support a wrenching series of twists in the climax of the book. I’m usually able to see the hidden surprises coming in mystery books, but this book definitely took me for a ride.
My one critique of this book is that the characters seemed a little two-dimensional at times, and the writing could be a little repetitive. However, the character growth and the plot, as well as seeing the characters’ dynamic develop, more than made up for this.
Another thing I really enjoyed about the book was the way it approached J.C and Leo’s close friendship. In the media, most male friendships are either distant or unsupportive, and this book debunked all those stereotypes with J.C and Leo’s open, healthy friendship, even though they face a lot of hate for it at times. I enjoyed seeing the diversity that was subtly and naturally worked into this book, and it successfully tackled issues like racism, and homophobia.
I Know When You’re Going To Die is a book that you won’t be able to put down, and a book that will make your mind reel with the absolute brilliance of all the plot twists. A clever, original, mystery with an interesting supernatural addition.
February 12, 2021
A young boy named Leo is given a gift to see people's futures. Unfortunately it is a curse because he knows when people die. When he accidentally looks into his best friend J.C.'s eyes, he can see him murdered. Can Leo save his friend before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good YA thriller. If you enjoy stories about friendship and more, be sure to check this book out wherever books and ebooks are sold.
This was a pretty good YA thriller. If you enjoy stories about friendship and more, be sure to check this book out wherever books and ebooks are sold.
February 11, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book
this is about a gift being passed to someone deserving or not...depending on how you view the gift of being able to see when someone dies and how they die...
leo is just any ordinary young adult, still attending school but in his spare time he helps the homeless and he gives to the poor, so when one of the down and outs asks for him, he stops what he is doing and goes in search of this man...and what follows is the most extraordinary thing to ever happen to him...he is given a gift or a curse depends on how he views it...
at first he is sceptical and doesnt realise what he can do...also leo is very shy a bit of a loner and only has one friend
this story also covers bullying and social media used at its worst..and social pressures....but the story is one that grips you as you want to see where it takes him...and how he can overcome his shyness...its very well thought out and written well for anyone else that feels out of the loop and not included in the in crowd...
i did enjoy this book even though i felt it was aimed at young adults
this is about a gift being passed to someone deserving or not...depending on how you view the gift of being able to see when someone dies and how they die...
leo is just any ordinary young adult, still attending school but in his spare time he helps the homeless and he gives to the poor, so when one of the down and outs asks for him, he stops what he is doing and goes in search of this man...and what follows is the most extraordinary thing to ever happen to him...he is given a gift or a curse depends on how he views it...
at first he is sceptical and doesnt realise what he can do...also leo is very shy a bit of a loner and only has one friend
this story also covers bullying and social media used at its worst..and social pressures....but the story is one that grips you as you want to see where it takes him...and how he can overcome his shyness...its very well thought out and written well for anyone else that feels out of the loop and not included in the in crowd...
i did enjoy this book even though i felt it was aimed at young adults
May 11, 2020
Ooh okay.
So where to begin with this review since I absolutely adored EVERYTHING about this book.
Leo isn’t like his classmates. Instead of worrying about material things and selfies, he spends his time helping out the less fortunate. That’s how he meets a homeless man who changes his life by giving him the ability to see when people are going to die. Leo reasons that as long as he doesn’t look into anyone’s eyes, he’ll be fine. Then, he accidentally looks into his best friend’s eyes and sees he’ll be murdered in a week.
For me, this was one of those books that you think about long after you reach the end. It had a lot of themes: good versus evil, life and death, and bullying. Every character in this book was very well fleshed out and it led to the themes of the story. I loved Leonardo. He was a very relatable character with a good heart and a soft-spoken nature. His best friend, J.C. was his exact opposite. I think it was for that reason that they got along so well. I loved the roller-coaster of ups and downs their friendship went through. I think everyone needs a friendship like they shared.
I liked Laura’s character too. She was a fantastic addition to the story with her intuitive ways and unique insight into the situation. Even the school bully, Chet, had a wonderfully tragic background. The kind that actually makes you understand why he is the way that he is. In the end, I loved the way the author had these characters interact and each one was strengthened by what they went through.
The entire death and life aspect is what kept me thinking though. If we had the power to see when someone was to die, would it be a good thing to interfere or let it happen? Throughout this book, I thought of the Final Destination movie franchises, and even the author made a reference in the story. Saving someone who is destined to die leaves ripples, but I love the decision that Leo made at the end of the story. I feel like that’s a fitting end to this story though it still leaves the reader with a bit of wonder.
Narration was wonderful. It seemed as if every character had their own voice, and it added to the immersiveness of the audiobook. Loved this combination of author and narrator.
Highly recommended audiobook!
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
So where to begin with this review since I absolutely adored EVERYTHING about this book.
Leo isn’t like his classmates. Instead of worrying about material things and selfies, he spends his time helping out the less fortunate. That’s how he meets a homeless man who changes his life by giving him the ability to see when people are going to die. Leo reasons that as long as he doesn’t look into anyone’s eyes, he’ll be fine. Then, he accidentally looks into his best friend’s eyes and sees he’ll be murdered in a week.
For me, this was one of those books that you think about long after you reach the end. It had a lot of themes: good versus evil, life and death, and bullying. Every character in this book was very well fleshed out and it led to the themes of the story. I loved Leonardo. He was a very relatable character with a good heart and a soft-spoken nature. His best friend, J.C. was his exact opposite. I think it was for that reason that they got along so well. I loved the roller-coaster of ups and downs their friendship went through. I think everyone needs a friendship like they shared.
I liked Laura’s character too. She was a fantastic addition to the story with her intuitive ways and unique insight into the situation. Even the school bully, Chet, had a wonderfully tragic background. The kind that actually makes you understand why he is the way that he is. In the end, I loved the way the author had these characters interact and each one was strengthened by what they went through.
The entire death and life aspect is what kept me thinking though. If we had the power to see when someone was to die, would it be a good thing to interfere or let it happen? Throughout this book, I thought of the Final Destination movie franchises, and even the author made a reference in the story. Saving someone who is destined to die leaves ripples, but I love the decision that Leo made at the end of the story. I feel like that’s a fitting end to this story though it still leaves the reader with a bit of wonder.
Narration was wonderful. It seemed as if every character had their own voice, and it added to the immersiveness of the audiobook. Loved this combination of author and narrator.
Highly recommended audiobook!
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
April 26, 2021
This review is also available on my blog,
Unsupervised in a Bookstore
.
Michael J Bowler's tightly paced thriller begins with a gift. Leo is volunteering at homeless shelter, when one of the men gives him the power to see someone's death when he looks into their eyes. The old man tells him to make wise choices, assures Leo that he's the right person to take on this gift, and then dies, leaving Leo without guidance or advice. I would call this book 'wholesome teen horror' - and I realise I'm going to have to explain myself!
Leo is a shy rich kid in a school of rich students. He never looks anyone in the eye, so it takes effort to test his gift for the first time. His best friend Juan Carlos (J.C.) encourages him to look into the eyes of strangers on the street and in shops, testing his visions and trying to decide whether Leo can really see what he claims to see. The proof arrives uncomfortably quickly, and the boys must decide what to do with the information Leo has discovered. Can they stop a murder, or could getting involved be the trigger for a deadly shooting? When Leo accidentally looks into his friend's eyes, they need to work together to uncover the circumstances of J.C.'s death, and find out whether they can prevent it.
There are plenty of twists and scares as the story progresses, and the two boys come up with a plan. With their friend Laura, fellow victim of the school bully, they piece together a way to keep J.C. safe, while setting a trap for the would-be killer. The climax of the story is exciting and scary, and with the identity of the killer in doubt, the friends must work together to protect each other and figure out who they need protection from.
So that's the horror part - there's a supernatural gift, genuine peril, and a haunted house - but what about the wholesome aspect of the story? Throughout the book, Leo, J.C. and Laura all demonstrate ideal behaviours, and their actions are contrasted with bullies, emotionally absent parents, a school principle who blames them for being bullied, kids who are more interested in partying than helping their community, and with the various killers and would-be killers Leo uncovers with his gift. They support each other, they defend each other from bullying, and they build strong relationships without any sexual overtones (Laura has a girlfriend, and Leo and J.C. have a strong, trusting friendship). The ending is emotional, putting their actions, and Leo's ability, into a larger context, and there are consequences for the bad guys.
This is an exciting story. Michael J Bowler is a screenwriter as well as a novelist, and as I read the action sequences I could easily imagine them playing out on a movie screen. I loved the premise of Leo's power, and the mysterious man who chooses him to receive it. The tension between Leo's vision of J.C.'s death and their attempts to understand and prevent it keeps the pages turning. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and the positive representation of young people helping their communities and giving up their time to help others. There's a strong moral steer in this book, but it doesn't feel preachy. The engaging story presents the relatable characters as role models without making them perfect, providing a balance with the genuinely scary elements of the book. If thrilling cinematic wholesome teen horror appeals to you, this is a great place to start!
Michael J Bowler's tightly paced thriller begins with a gift. Leo is volunteering at homeless shelter, when one of the men gives him the power to see someone's death when he looks into their eyes. The old man tells him to make wise choices, assures Leo that he's the right person to take on this gift, and then dies, leaving Leo without guidance or advice. I would call this book 'wholesome teen horror' - and I realise I'm going to have to explain myself!
Leo is a shy rich kid in a school of rich students. He never looks anyone in the eye, so it takes effort to test his gift for the first time. His best friend Juan Carlos (J.C.) encourages him to look into the eyes of strangers on the street and in shops, testing his visions and trying to decide whether Leo can really see what he claims to see. The proof arrives uncomfortably quickly, and the boys must decide what to do with the information Leo has discovered. Can they stop a murder, or could getting involved be the trigger for a deadly shooting? When Leo accidentally looks into his friend's eyes, they need to work together to uncover the circumstances of J.C.'s death, and find out whether they can prevent it.
There are plenty of twists and scares as the story progresses, and the two boys come up with a plan. With their friend Laura, fellow victim of the school bully, they piece together a way to keep J.C. safe, while setting a trap for the would-be killer. The climax of the story is exciting and scary, and with the identity of the killer in doubt, the friends must work together to protect each other and figure out who they need protection from.
So that's the horror part - there's a supernatural gift, genuine peril, and a haunted house - but what about the wholesome aspect of the story? Throughout the book, Leo, J.C. and Laura all demonstrate ideal behaviours, and their actions are contrasted with bullies, emotionally absent parents, a school principle who blames them for being bullied, kids who are more interested in partying than helping their community, and with the various killers and would-be killers Leo uncovers with his gift. They support each other, they defend each other from bullying, and they build strong relationships without any sexual overtones (Laura has a girlfriend, and Leo and J.C. have a strong, trusting friendship). The ending is emotional, putting their actions, and Leo's ability, into a larger context, and there are consequences for the bad guys.
This is an exciting story. Michael J Bowler is a screenwriter as well as a novelist, and as I read the action sequences I could easily imagine them playing out on a movie screen. I loved the premise of Leo's power, and the mysterious man who chooses him to receive it. The tension between Leo's vision of J.C.'s death and their attempts to understand and prevent it keeps the pages turning. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and the positive representation of young people helping their communities and giving up their time to help others. There's a strong moral steer in this book, but it doesn't feel preachy. The engaging story presents the relatable characters as role models without making them perfect, providing a balance with the genuinely scary elements of the book. If thrilling cinematic wholesome teen horror appeals to you, this is a great place to start!
July 1, 2020
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: I Know When You’re Going To Die
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Cool book! I liked the premise which I thought was very original. I also thought the three characters worked well together. Fast-paced, perfect for YA.’ Boy, aged 15
‘The way the relationships work between the characters, particularly when they are dealing with such a strange problem, is intriguing. I think this author knows what teenager like reading. I was hooked after reading the blurb.’ Boy, aged 15
‘Gritty, exciting page-turner.’ Girl, aged 16
‘Leo is the best character in it. He’s sort of shy but with a big heart.’ Boy, aged 13
‘I love paranormal books so this was perfect for me. I enjoyed it totally. It was exciting, fun, even scary in parts. The author is amazing. I will read all of his books.’ Girl, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly written YA novel, packed full of suspense and mystery. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: I Know When You’re Going To Die
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 16 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
16 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
16 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Cool book! I liked the premise which I thought was very original. I also thought the three characters worked well together. Fast-paced, perfect for YA.’ Boy, aged 15
‘The way the relationships work between the characters, particularly when they are dealing with such a strange problem, is intriguing. I think this author knows what teenager like reading. I was hooked after reading the blurb.’ Boy, aged 15
‘Gritty, exciting page-turner.’ Girl, aged 16
‘Leo is the best character in it. He’s sort of shy but with a big heart.’ Boy, aged 13
‘I love paranormal books so this was perfect for me. I enjoyed it totally. It was exciting, fun, even scary in parts. The author is amazing. I will read all of his books.’ Girl, aged 15
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly written YA novel, packed full of suspense and mystery. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
July 17, 2020
Language: R (71 swears, 0 “f” + Spanish swears); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
Sixteen-year-old Leo isn’t like the other rich kids in the community, as illustrated by his nickname Shy Boy and having a grand total of one friend. Having a hard time even looking people in the eye, Leo prefers to stay in the background anyway. However, when he’s given the power to see when people will die, Leo has a choice: let someone be murdered or find the courage to stop it.
The premise of Leo’s story is fun, though the execution could be cheesy at times, especially at the end. I enjoyed the suspense and how Bowler crafted the foreshadowing. While I’m disappointed that readers can’t figure out who the bad guy is on their own, the foreshadowing allowed me to feel a sense having figured other details out before the grand reveal at the climax. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, mentions of groping, and illegal activity. The violence rating is for knife and gun use, blood and gore, and murder.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Sixteen-year-old Leo isn’t like the other rich kids in the community, as illustrated by his nickname Shy Boy and having a grand total of one friend. Having a hard time even looking people in the eye, Leo prefers to stay in the background anyway. However, when he’s given the power to see when people will die, Leo has a choice: let someone be murdered or find the courage to stop it.
The premise of Leo’s story is fun, though the execution could be cheesy at times, especially at the end. I enjoyed the suspense and how Bowler crafted the foreshadowing. While I’m disappointed that readers can’t figure out who the bad guy is on their own, the foreshadowing allowed me to feel a sense having figured other details out before the grand reveal at the climax. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, mentions of groping, and illegal activity. The violence rating is for knife and gun use, blood and gore, and murder.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
April 29, 2020
Another win for Bowler
Michael does it again. Doesn't seem to matter if it's Fantasy, Mystery or Horror. Michael once again shows himself to be a master of any genre he decided to tackle.
"I Know When You're Going To Die" is a wonderful roller coaster ride with a twist I never saw coming, and a wonderful moral to boot: "Not everyone is what they seem to be." And brings into wonderful perspective the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover."
Another book I would highly recommend should be in EVERY school library.
Michael does it again. Doesn't seem to matter if it's Fantasy, Mystery or Horror. Michael once again shows himself to be a master of any genre he decided to tackle.
"I Know When You're Going To Die" is a wonderful roller coaster ride with a twist I never saw coming, and a wonderful moral to boot: "Not everyone is what they seem to be." And brings into wonderful perspective the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover."
Another book I would highly recommend should be in EVERY school library.
March 16, 2020
What if you were given the ability to see how and when people were going to die, and you had the chance to stop it from happening to your best friend? This is exclty that case of what happens to Leo and his friend J.C. Leo is one of the quiet shy kids at Costa High who is a kind soul and spends his time volunteering at soups kitchens, it is here that he encounters a homeless man who bestow onto Leo his ability allowing him to pass on and die safe in the knowledge that someone worthy of it is going to take it over.
This was a fantastic read, and when Leo looks into this friends JC eyes and see how he is going to die he swears to protect his friend and stop it from happening, JC is a bit of a mouthy kid but who would actually want to kill him leaves the boys drawing a blank other than the school bully Chet, but as the story reaches it peak you soon realises there are more people than anyone actually realised.
The story flowed well and held my attention from the start, and i did not foresee the outcome!
5 stars
This was a fantastic read, and when Leo looks into this friends JC eyes and see how he is going to die he swears to protect his friend and stop it from happening, JC is a bit of a mouthy kid but who would actually want to kill him leaves the boys drawing a blank other than the school bully Chet, but as the story reaches it peak you soon realises there are more people than anyone actually realised.
The story flowed well and held my attention from the start, and i did not foresee the outcome!
5 stars
February 29, 2020
OH MY HELL! Michael J. Bowler is a new to me author, and despite this possibly sounding weird, I'm in love! AND I make no apologies because male authors need love too! I Know When You're Going to Die was completely original, uniquely compelling story that I couldn't get enough of. If you want to know a lot of details, then you'll have to read the Blurb, as it was full of suspense, and I'm not about spoilers. Leo is a boy who gets a new gift to see things surrounding death. Unfortunately, this takes him on a high stress levels of a journey to solve a murder before it happens! And the f-bomb worthy twists start coming out of the woodwork, keeping my heart rate up, while I sat on the edge of my seat cover to cover. Leo & his best friend, JC, and the newcomer, Laura, all are teenagers developing into a tight knit trio while racing against time, since the murder about to happen is to JC. So, buckle up, and get ready to ride with this feisty group of friends! I really want Mr. Bowler to actually make this into a series (hint hint) and HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
February 19, 2020
Such a unique and fascinating book! Fantastically written full of mystery, suspense, friendship, and murder, it's a 'who-done-it' before it's done! I thoroughly enjoyed the first-person point of view from Leo. It helped me understand what was going through his mind and how he was really dealing with the whole concept of knowing when people are going to die. You usually see multiple POV's these days so it was unique and refreshing. I loved that he visited the homeless shelters and those in great need - another rarity. I also loved the friendship that developed between Leo, JC, and Laura. What a great and fiesty trio they made!
This book was chock-a-block full of details, making it a fun and exciting read. There are some graphic details and a little bit of language but less that kids hear every day at school. I highly recommend this amazing book to teens everywhere!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this complimentary book upon request and am leaving my review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
This book was chock-a-block full of details, making it a fun and exciting read. There are some graphic details and a little bit of language but less that kids hear every day at school. I highly recommend this amazing book to teens everywhere!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this complimentary book upon request and am leaving my review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2020
Can you imagine knowing when people will die? Would it be a curse or a blessing? Would you help people or let them die? Well, that is exactly what Leo was challenged with. He’s usually shy anyway, but now he has a real reason to not look people in the eye. When an enemy causes Leo to accidentally look into his best friend's eyes, he sees the worst of all! His friend is going to die in a week by MURDER! The only detail he sees is a jacket with a cobra and his friend with a knife in him. After some long nights of searching and horrible texts, the day finally comes for J.C. to die. Does he die? Does he live for another year? Read the book to find out.
Opinion:
I Know When You're Going to Die by Michael J. Bowler is an amazingly written book full of suspense, friendship, and murder. This genre is my favorite, so I loved the book. The characters were easy to relate to with some things but not others. I loved the friendship J.C. had with his two best friends, and I liked how his enemy was always in the way. This book had so many details, which made it fun to read. I definitely recommend I Know When You're Going to Die to teens because there are some graphic details, but besides that and a little bit of language, the book is AMAZING!
Opinion:
I Know When You're Going to Die by Michael J. Bowler is an amazingly written book full of suspense, friendship, and murder. This genre is my favorite, so I loved the book. The characters were easy to relate to with some things but not others. I loved the friendship J.C. had with his two best friends, and I liked how his enemy was always in the way. This book had so many details, which made it fun to read. I definitely recommend I Know When You're Going to Die to teens because there are some graphic details, but besides that and a little bit of language, the book is AMAZING!
February 16, 2020
Outstanding read that captures you attention with it's mystery, intrigue and erie undertone. The characters are wonderfully written and quite complex in their own way. Based on a gift or a curse, young Leo's life has changed, but is it for the better or for the worse? These characters are high school students at a school for the wealthy, where prestige is everything and the weak are targets for the bully and his cronies. Where image is everything and not everyone is what they appear to be.
An edge of your seat read that will hold your attention right to the very end, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
An edge of your seat read that will hold your attention right to the very end, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
June 15, 2021
I Know When You're Going To Die by Michael J Bowler is a fabulous story with an incredibly unique plot. Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. Leonardo Cantrell is a painfully shy sixteen-year-old who cannot look people in the eye. One night while he's volunteering at a homeless shelter, an old man forces eye contact and gives Leo the power to see Death.
The entire death and life aspect is what kept me thinking though. If we had the power to see when someone was to die, would it be a good thing to interfere or let it happen? Throughout this book, I thought of the Final Destination movie franchises, and even the author made a reference in the story. Saving someone who is destined to die leaves ripples, but I love the decision that Leo made at the end of the story. I feel like that’s a fitting end to this story though it still leaves the reader with a bit of wonder.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime story, or a good superhero story. You absolutely have to read it if you enjoy both. Narration was wonderful. It seemed as if every character had their own voice, and it added to the immersiveness of the audiobook. Loved this combination of author and narrator
The entire death and life aspect is what kept me thinking though. If we had the power to see when someone was to die, would it be a good thing to interfere or let it happen? Throughout this book, I thought of the Final Destination movie franchises, and even the author made a reference in the story. Saving someone who is destined to die leaves ripples, but I love the decision that Leo made at the end of the story. I feel like that’s a fitting end to this story though it still leaves the reader with a bit of wonder.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime story, or a good superhero story. You absolutely have to read it if you enjoy both. Narration was wonderful. It seemed as if every character had their own voice, and it added to the immersiveness of the audiobook. Loved this combination of author and narrator
May 14, 2020
I was given this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read it. I don't know if I need to switch up genres or what, but horror/thriller has always been my go to fav genre. But the last few I've read (especially frustrating because it looks like I only give bad reviews on Netgalley!) I just am laboring right finish. Don't get be wrong, this book was well written good plot and had plenty of good parts, but overall, I feel like the genre has become one of try to write the most outlandish, unbelievable story possible. I love to be scared and the fact that this book is not even remotely possible in the real world means for me it's almost silly.
March 21, 2021
i can't believe this took me so long. what can i say other than: it was painful ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(i would like to add that i saw this for less than one euro on amazon or smt and i got more or less exactly what i expected, and then i had to read at the back of the book that the author actually has several novels published and won awards for some thing or other. not what i was expecting, ok.......)
i will definitely have to write a blog post about this, just because.... like... so much issue... so many pain.... i just.... i.... what?
(i would like to add that i saw this for less than one euro on amazon or smt and i got more or less exactly what i expected, and then i had to read at the back of the book that the author actually has several novels published and won awards for some thing or other. not what i was expecting, ok.......)
i will definitely have to write a blog post about this, just because.... like... so much issue... so many pain.... i just.... i.... what?
March 4, 2020
Michael J. Bowler’s “I Know When You’re Going To Die” follows sixteen-year-old Leonardo Cantrell. One night, while volunteering at a local homeless shelter, Leo has a mysterious encounter with one of the shelter’s residents that will change his life forever. The strange old man ‘gifts’ Leo with a magic power that will allow him to see when another person is going to die just by making eye contact. At first, Leo isn’t sure what he’s supposed to do with this newfound superpower, but then the unthinkable happens: he accidentally sees his best friend’s murder. Now Leo, his best friend J.C., and new-girl Laura have to race against time to figure out why J.C. is going to be killed and change the future before it is too late.
The idea for Bowler’s novel is certainly unique. I read a lot of Young Adult literature, and it was quite refreshing to read a book with a story idea that I have never seen before anywhere else. I think one thing that Bowler really conveyed well with this book was that how we treat other people day-to-day can really affect our future well-being. Leo and his friends live in a wealthy part of the city, go to a prominent school, and come from powerful, wealthy families. Despite the glamorous exterior, however, each of their lives is rife with deceit, tense home lives, and competition to own the latest, coolest gadgets, get “in” with the “right” people, and fit into stereotypes put on them by their surrounding community.
What I really liked about Bowler’s characters, especially the protagonist, Leo, was that readers were presented with a young man who, despite his material wealth, strives to make sure that people see him for who he is inside, rather than the things he owns or because of his powerful, rich, movie-mogul mother. In fact, one of Leo’s greatest joys is helping out at the homeless shelter, where he feels more at home than at his own house and with his own parent. The emphasis on a young teenager wanting to spend time helping others is a powerful image that more kids need to be exposed to, and one of the best ways to do that is through Young Adult literature.
While the idea for the story and the characters were certainly unique and interesting, I found that the presentation of the story left a little to be desired. I think the biggest thing that got in the way of really getting engrossed in the book was that the tone felt just a little forced. The dialogue did not always feel authentic as things that teenagers would actually say, and it seemed like part of the problem with the dialogue feeling forced or not authentic is that the speaking characteristics of the characters were hard to differentiate between each other. When I read, usually I identify certain quirks or trademarks in a character’s dialogue that really helps highlight their individuality, and I did not quite feel this with “I Know You’re Going to Die.” I also think that the pacing of the story leaves room for improvement could be. The story moved very fast.
Based on the current style of the writing, however, I do think that Bowler’s book could be catered well to a younger teen or middle grade audience. The tone of the story on the whole had a Percy Jackson-like air to it. I can see it being a book that could be well marketed to young teenage boys, in particular, between the ages of about 12 to 14. This is an age group where reading is either avoided at all costs or makes up a large part of a kid’s leisure time. Stories like Bowler’s could be great incentives to get more younger teenage boys more interested in reading.
The idea for Bowler’s novel is certainly unique. I read a lot of Young Adult literature, and it was quite refreshing to read a book with a story idea that I have never seen before anywhere else. I think one thing that Bowler really conveyed well with this book was that how we treat other people day-to-day can really affect our future well-being. Leo and his friends live in a wealthy part of the city, go to a prominent school, and come from powerful, wealthy families. Despite the glamorous exterior, however, each of their lives is rife with deceit, tense home lives, and competition to own the latest, coolest gadgets, get “in” with the “right” people, and fit into stereotypes put on them by their surrounding community.
What I really liked about Bowler’s characters, especially the protagonist, Leo, was that readers were presented with a young man who, despite his material wealth, strives to make sure that people see him for who he is inside, rather than the things he owns or because of his powerful, rich, movie-mogul mother. In fact, one of Leo’s greatest joys is helping out at the homeless shelter, where he feels more at home than at his own house and with his own parent. The emphasis on a young teenager wanting to spend time helping others is a powerful image that more kids need to be exposed to, and one of the best ways to do that is through Young Adult literature.
While the idea for the story and the characters were certainly unique and interesting, I found that the presentation of the story left a little to be desired. I think the biggest thing that got in the way of really getting engrossed in the book was that the tone felt just a little forced. The dialogue did not always feel authentic as things that teenagers would actually say, and it seemed like part of the problem with the dialogue feeling forced or not authentic is that the speaking characteristics of the characters were hard to differentiate between each other. When I read, usually I identify certain quirks or trademarks in a character’s dialogue that really helps highlight their individuality, and I did not quite feel this with “I Know You’re Going to Die.” I also think that the pacing of the story leaves room for improvement could be. The story moved very fast.
Based on the current style of the writing, however, I do think that Bowler’s book could be catered well to a younger teen or middle grade audience. The tone of the story on the whole had a Percy Jackson-like air to it. I can see it being a book that could be well marketed to young teenage boys, in particular, between the ages of about 12 to 14. This is an age group where reading is either avoided at all costs or makes up a large part of a kid’s leisure time. Stories like Bowler’s could be great incentives to get more younger teenage boys more interested in reading.
November 10, 2022
HATED the main character/narrator. He was annoyingly pretentious and self conscious yet also judging other people all of the time. Because it was 1st person, he was self conscious/self deprecating, but would then describe himself as impressive because of his skills.
He also was very judgmental toward his supposed best friend.
He sucks.
He also was very judgmental toward his supposed best friend.
He sucks.
October 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this book, definitely a page turner. Teen issues were covered, does involve some gay reference, and bullying, although I feel the author handled this well. Love the mystery, changed my mind about who the killer was multiple times! Lots of action twists and turns.
July 27, 2023
Gift?
This book has an amazing story that is very thought provoking and will keep you hooked until the end. The friendship portrayed is really neat as well.
This book has an amazing story that is very thought provoking and will keep you hooked until the end. The friendship portrayed is really neat as well.
December 2, 2019
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
I know where you're going to die is a very peculiar and unique book. Leo, the main character, is terribly shy, he suffers from social anxiety. He's rich, lives in a beautiful house, his mother is a movie bigwig and he's surrounded by superficial and spoiled people, like his classmates. The only one who gets him, they really get and understand each other, is J.C., his best friend, more outgoing and fan of stylish and designed things. Both of them suffer because their mothers don't care about them, they are emotionally detached from their sons and both of them are bullied at school: J.C. because he's Mexican, even though being the mayor's son protect him, somehow, Leo because his social anxiety and shyness.
Leo's life changes during a shift at the Skid Row's rescue missions, where he goes to take care of poor and homeless people. Before dying man clasps his hands and Leo feels something being passed to him. Since then everytime he looks into another person's eyes he'll be able to tell when he's going to die. Shocked and traumatized when his first predictions come true, Leo's resolve to never look into another person's eyes is disrupted when, preventing a fight between J,C. and the school bullies, he sees his friend's death, after few days. Helped by the new girl, Laura, Leo decides to do anything in his power to save J.C's life. Or die trying.
I really liked this book, it's unique, interesting. Narrated from Leo's POV in first person, the reader is really involved in the story. What impressed me the most is the fierce friendship between Leo and J.C. Since they were kids, they were inseparable, understanding each other, loving one other fiercely. I adore how they support each other, balancing and completing one other, Leo with his shyness, J.C. with his insecurities, his need to be accepted, to be see as somebody. They live into a society, a school where being rich meant being entitled and spoiled and both of them, mostly Leo, are different from the others, they don't relate to their classmates, so indifferent and many times cruel.
Leo, with his anxiety, his shyness, is a strong and supportive friend, first and foremost for J.C., then for Laura, too. This gift, or curse, turns his world upside down, forcing him to chose what to do. Intervene? Tell someone? Try to prevent it and maybe making it happen? What should you do if you knew someone is going to die? At first shocked and skeptic, Leo decided to try everything to save his best friend's life and I really love their relationship, so genuine. I liked reading about their investigation with Laura, their suspicions, their pursuits, while, in the meantime, fighting against the school bullies, like Chet Hamilton and his posse. It was interesting reading about the main bully, too, how he was contextualized and not seen as the bully stereotype.
Leo, J.C. and Laura starts right away to like each other, becoming friends. After being forced away from her girlfriend, moved there by her homophobic parents, Laura joins them in their investigation.
Interesting the twists, the discoveries and the whole inquiry, it was really fun and an emotional rollercoaster reading it.
I found Leo really relatable as character and I loved reading about him. He's complex, shy, frustrated by his mother and family situation, loyal, stubborn. I like J.C., too, because, like Leo, he's an amazing friend, loyal, funny and insecure, too, even though he concealed well.
It annoyed me the constant assumption he and J.C. were boyfriend (even though I still suspected, because there was totally bromance in this book), above all from the adults. I found it a bit boring, since it was reiterated, but it was believable too, reading about the constant bullying and assumptions.
It was curious that the parents, save from the mothers and Laura's dad, were completely absent. Even when they were "present" they were distant, "useless". Absent mothers and cruel and homophobic father. I guess that was deliberate, for the author to focalize the story on the boys and how they were left to take care of themselves alone, maybe only helped by the governesses. To show rich kids' life, all golden from the outside, but concealing difficulties, rage and pain. It was brilliant and I love how the author showed it.
In that kind of society, where being rich rarely meant doing something good for the others, it was comforting reading about Leo, taking care of poor people or Chet's helping that family. Or, among absent family members Leo, J.C. managed to find one other and grow up better together.
With a touch of paranormal, this book set in rich society, shows its members, moral conundrum, strong friendship and how they can be decent people, good people in a corrupt society.
I found inspiring Leo and J.C.'s friendship, how they were always for each other, their love strong and pure, ready to do anything for one other.
I know where you're going to die is a very peculiar and unique book. Leo, the main character, is terribly shy, he suffers from social anxiety. He's rich, lives in a beautiful house, his mother is a movie bigwig and he's surrounded by superficial and spoiled people, like his classmates. The only one who gets him, they really get and understand each other, is J.C., his best friend, more outgoing and fan of stylish and designed things. Both of them suffer because their mothers don't care about them, they are emotionally detached from their sons and both of them are bullied at school: J.C. because he's Mexican, even though being the mayor's son protect him, somehow, Leo because his social anxiety and shyness.
Leo's life changes during a shift at the Skid Row's rescue missions, where he goes to take care of poor and homeless people. Before dying man clasps his hands and Leo feels something being passed to him. Since then everytime he looks into another person's eyes he'll be able to tell when he's going to die. Shocked and traumatized when his first predictions come true, Leo's resolve to never look into another person's eyes is disrupted when, preventing a fight between J,C. and the school bullies, he sees his friend's death, after few days. Helped by the new girl, Laura, Leo decides to do anything in his power to save J.C's life. Or die trying.
I really liked this book, it's unique, interesting. Narrated from Leo's POV in first person, the reader is really involved in the story. What impressed me the most is the fierce friendship between Leo and J.C. Since they were kids, they were inseparable, understanding each other, loving one other fiercely. I adore how they support each other, balancing and completing one other, Leo with his shyness, J.C. with his insecurities, his need to be accepted, to be see as somebody. They live into a society, a school where being rich meant being entitled and spoiled and both of them, mostly Leo, are different from the others, they don't relate to their classmates, so indifferent and many times cruel.
Leo, with his anxiety, his shyness, is a strong and supportive friend, first and foremost for J.C., then for Laura, too. This gift, or curse, turns his world upside down, forcing him to chose what to do. Intervene? Tell someone? Try to prevent it and maybe making it happen? What should you do if you knew someone is going to die? At first shocked and skeptic, Leo decided to try everything to save his best friend's life and I really love their relationship, so genuine. I liked reading about their investigation with Laura, their suspicions, their pursuits, while, in the meantime, fighting against the school bullies, like Chet Hamilton and his posse. It was interesting reading about the main bully, too, how he was contextualized and not seen as the bully stereotype.
Leo, J.C. and Laura starts right away to like each other, becoming friends. After being forced away from her girlfriend, moved there by her homophobic parents, Laura joins them in their investigation.
Interesting the twists, the discoveries and the whole inquiry, it was really fun and an emotional rollercoaster reading it.
I found Leo really relatable as character and I loved reading about him. He's complex, shy, frustrated by his mother and family situation, loyal, stubborn. I like J.C., too, because, like Leo, he's an amazing friend, loyal, funny and insecure, too, even though he concealed well.
It annoyed me the constant assumption he and J.C. were boyfriend (even though I still suspected, because there was totally bromance in this book), above all from the adults. I found it a bit boring, since it was reiterated, but it was believable too, reading about the constant bullying and assumptions.
It was curious that the parents, save from the mothers and Laura's dad, were completely absent. Even when they were "present" they were distant, "useless". Absent mothers and cruel and homophobic father. I guess that was deliberate, for the author to focalize the story on the boys and how they were left to take care of themselves alone, maybe only helped by the governesses. To show rich kids' life, all golden from the outside, but concealing difficulties, rage and pain. It was brilliant and I love how the author showed it.
In that kind of society, where being rich rarely meant doing something good for the others, it was comforting reading about Leo, taking care of poor people or Chet's helping that family. Or, among absent family members Leo, J.C. managed to find one other and grow up better together.
With a touch of paranormal, this book set in rich society, shows its members, moral conundrum, strong friendship and how they can be decent people, good people in a corrupt society.
I found inspiring Leo and J.C.'s friendship, how they were always for each other, their love strong and pure, ready to do anything for one other.
February 27, 2020
In the cleverly titled I know When You’re Going to Die, Michael J Bowler begins with a fascinating premise and delivers a taut and unpredictable tale. I raced through it.
The concept of needing to solve a murder before it happens is an interesting one. I’ve seen it elsewhere in science fiction, but the idea of having a “superpower” to know when others will die is unique, as far as I know, and the whole idea of solving a crime to prevent it is well executed here.
The pacing is perfect. The suspense builds throughout the story and Bowler keeps the reader turning the pages without overloading or exhausting them.
Other pluses include Leo, Bowler’s clinically shy good-guy protagonist, who is a hero for all. (Seriously, if you can’t cheer this guy on, consider seeking professional help.) And, the underlying messages of friendship, tolerance and kindness are a refreshing bonus.
This is a genre crime novel, so the reader knows the mystery will be solved just in time, but the ending is sufficiently convoluted and unexpected. It feels worth the wait.
I think my minor issues with this book stem from it being a young adult novel, one in which all of the protagonists are high school students. So, my recommendation to read it comes with the caveat of not expecting the story to go outside the scope of YA.
For example, I felt too many of the adult characters were not well-fleshed out. The story included not one, but three moms who cared little about their teenage children. Hard for me to believe, but maybe not so hard for a teen-aged reader.
The complicated relationship between close same-gender friends during the teen years and early sexual attraction and exploration is central to the story, and yet the author shies away from resolving issues. Again, I suspect the young age of the intended audience is the reason, so I gave him a pass on this one.
The premise behind the plot brings up major philosophical questions about predetermination, death and even cause and effect. I’d have loved to see some of this stuff tackled … but again…..
None-the-less, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime story, or a good superhero story. You absolutely have to read it if you enjoy both.
The concept of needing to solve a murder before it happens is an interesting one. I’ve seen it elsewhere in science fiction, but the idea of having a “superpower” to know when others will die is unique, as far as I know, and the whole idea of solving a crime to prevent it is well executed here.
The pacing is perfect. The suspense builds throughout the story and Bowler keeps the reader turning the pages without overloading or exhausting them.
Other pluses include Leo, Bowler’s clinically shy good-guy protagonist, who is a hero for all. (Seriously, if you can’t cheer this guy on, consider seeking professional help.) And, the underlying messages of friendship, tolerance and kindness are a refreshing bonus.
This is a genre crime novel, so the reader knows the mystery will be solved just in time, but the ending is sufficiently convoluted and unexpected. It feels worth the wait.
I think my minor issues with this book stem from it being a young adult novel, one in which all of the protagonists are high school students. So, my recommendation to read it comes with the caveat of not expecting the story to go outside the scope of YA.
For example, I felt too many of the adult characters were not well-fleshed out. The story included not one, but three moms who cared little about their teenage children. Hard for me to believe, but maybe not so hard for a teen-aged reader.
The complicated relationship between close same-gender friends during the teen years and early sexual attraction and exploration is central to the story, and yet the author shies away from resolving issues. Again, I suspect the young age of the intended audience is the reason, so I gave him a pass on this one.
The premise behind the plot brings up major philosophical questions about predetermination, death and even cause and effect. I’d have loved to see some of this stuff tackled … but again…..
None-the-less, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime story, or a good superhero story. You absolutely have to read it if you enjoy both.
March 10, 2020
17-year old Leo has been volunteering at a homeless shelter for the last three years. One night, he comes across a homeless man who’s been watching him, saying that he’s “the one.” Leo took his hand and stared into the vagrant’s eyes and…suddenly everything changed. The man gave him a gift…or a curse. He couldn’t be sure, but he couldn’t die until he passed it along.
Now, every time Leo looks into someone’s eyes, he knows when that person is going to die. Ooh, chilling! Imagine knowing the exact date that someone will die. What would you do? Would it be wise or foolish to warn that person? But wouldn’t that interfere with death’s plan?
Obviously, Leo doesn’t know what to do with this new power. But what’s worse was that he looked into his best friend’s eyes and saw his death. What to do now?
Story was easy to get into. The reader can engage so well with the character as he traverses through high school with the weight and uncertainly of this new burden. There were some lagging areas here and there, but, ultimately, this was a worthy read.
Now, every time Leo looks into someone’s eyes, he knows when that person is going to die. Ooh, chilling! Imagine knowing the exact date that someone will die. What would you do? Would it be wise or foolish to warn that person? But wouldn’t that interfere with death’s plan?
Obviously, Leo doesn’t know what to do with this new power. But what’s worse was that he looked into his best friend’s eyes and saw his death. What to do now?
Story was easy to get into. The reader can engage so well with the character as he traverses through high school with the weight and uncertainly of this new burden. There were some lagging areas here and there, but, ultimately, this was a worthy read.
March 3, 2020
4.25 stars
“I Know When You’re Going to Die” by Michael J. Bowler follows sixteen-year-old Leonardo (Leo) Cantrell as he navigates life more interested in serving the less fortunate than keeping up with the latest fashion trends. An unexpected “gift” results in his being able to foretell a person’s death after looking into their eyes. Facing bullies at school and trying to come to terms with his newfound power, Leo must discover a way to change the outcome of his visions or risk losing his best friend permanently.
This young adult story provides a unique twist on the angst of teen existence as Leo battles not only peer pressure, bullying, entitlement, abandonment, and discriminatory behavior, but also has to deal with the horrendous responsibility conferred upon him by an elderly man. The story is told in first person point of view in the present tense, so it was a little challenging for me to get used to at first, but eventually I became caught up in the action. One of the things I was fascinated by was the glimpse of my city through Leo’s eyes. Of course, I have never traveled in those “entitled” circles, but I have definitely driven down some of the streets mentioned, so it was fun to read about the kids’ adventures in familiar areas.
I like the thought-provoking question of cause and effect and the twists and turns of Leo’s adventures, but I would have liked to have a little more depth to the characters. Those who are squeamish should be warned that there is a bit of carnage and death in the story, plus some spookiness, but the action escalates and keeps one enthralled and cheering for the good guys to win.
A copy of this story was provided for review
“I Know When You’re Going to Die” by Michael J. Bowler follows sixteen-year-old Leonardo (Leo) Cantrell as he navigates life more interested in serving the less fortunate than keeping up with the latest fashion trends. An unexpected “gift” results in his being able to foretell a person’s death after looking into their eyes. Facing bullies at school and trying to come to terms with his newfound power, Leo must discover a way to change the outcome of his visions or risk losing his best friend permanently.
This young adult story provides a unique twist on the angst of teen existence as Leo battles not only peer pressure, bullying, entitlement, abandonment, and discriminatory behavior, but also has to deal with the horrendous responsibility conferred upon him by an elderly man. The story is told in first person point of view in the present tense, so it was a little challenging for me to get used to at first, but eventually I became caught up in the action. One of the things I was fascinated by was the glimpse of my city through Leo’s eyes. Of course, I have never traveled in those “entitled” circles, but I have definitely driven down some of the streets mentioned, so it was fun to read about the kids’ adventures in familiar areas.
I like the thought-provoking question of cause and effect and the twists and turns of Leo’s adventures, but I would have liked to have a little more depth to the characters. Those who are squeamish should be warned that there is a bit of carnage and death in the story, plus some spookiness, but the action escalates and keeps one enthralled and cheering for the good guys to win.
A copy of this story was provided for review
March 8, 2020
Shy sixteen-year-old Leonardo Cantrell is a rich kid whose mom wants to buy him everything he wants and then some. His mom works in Hollywood on movies. Being a shy kid Leo doesn’t have any friends well except for his one and only friend J.C. Rivera. J.C. and Leo have been friends since elementary school when J.C. was taken for a swirl by a bully.
Leo likes to keep to himself as he is too shy to look people in the eye. None of the kids at school seem to like Leo but that is probably because they have never taken the time to get to know him. They probably think he is unfriendly and stuck up with him being too shy to look people in the eye.
Other kids his age like to party and hang out at clubs but Leo likes to help people that are less fortunate than him by volunteering at a homeless shelter. One day while he is helping out at the shelter Leo visit an old man who gives him a gift or a curse - which is determined by the way you perceive it.
He Leo is given the gift or curse to see when someone is going to die by looking into their eyes. This shouldn’t be too hard for Leo as he has a problem with this any way right? I would imagine that by knowing this one fact probably made Leo want to look into someone’s eyes without even trying now.
Without really wanting to Leo happens to look into his best friend J.C.’s eyes one day and sees that he is going to be murdered. Leo makes a promise that his friend was not going to die on his watch so to speak.
When Leo receives a vision he doesn’t get a whole lot and has very little to go as to who the murder is. Leo runs the pictures of J.C,’s death through his mind over and over hoping to see something that will lead him to who the killer is and to find the clues he needs to save his friends life.
I loved the whole concept of looking into someone’s and knowing when and how they were going to die that was a nicely added paranormal feature. I also loves how the kids worked together to find the killer and save their friends life.
I liked how I Know When You’re Going To Die held on to its secrets not letting go of them until the end and let me tell you that ending was somewhat surprising to say the least I never saw it coming but I will have to say it was brilliant.
If you are into thrillers and mystery novels with a touch of paranormal then you are going to love I know When You’re Going To Die. One click your copy today!
Leo likes to keep to himself as he is too shy to look people in the eye. None of the kids at school seem to like Leo but that is probably because they have never taken the time to get to know him. They probably think he is unfriendly and stuck up with him being too shy to look people in the eye.
Other kids his age like to party and hang out at clubs but Leo likes to help people that are less fortunate than him by volunteering at a homeless shelter. One day while he is helping out at the shelter Leo visit an old man who gives him a gift or a curse - which is determined by the way you perceive it.
He Leo is given the gift or curse to see when someone is going to die by looking into their eyes. This shouldn’t be too hard for Leo as he has a problem with this any way right? I would imagine that by knowing this one fact probably made Leo want to look into someone’s eyes without even trying now.
Without really wanting to Leo happens to look into his best friend J.C.’s eyes one day and sees that he is going to be murdered. Leo makes a promise that his friend was not going to die on his watch so to speak.
When Leo receives a vision he doesn’t get a whole lot and has very little to go as to who the murder is. Leo runs the pictures of J.C,’s death through his mind over and over hoping to see something that will lead him to who the killer is and to find the clues he needs to save his friends life.
I loved the whole concept of looking into someone’s and knowing when and how they were going to die that was a nicely added paranormal feature. I also loves how the kids worked together to find the killer and save their friends life.
I liked how I Know When You’re Going To Die held on to its secrets not letting go of them until the end and let me tell you that ending was somewhat surprising to say the least I never saw it coming but I will have to say it was brilliant.
If you are into thrillers and mystery novels with a touch of paranormal then you are going to love I know When You’re Going To Die. One click your copy today!
March 6, 2020
Gift or curse? Either way, Leo is stuck with the power to see when people are going to die. The big question is what should he do about it? Until he sees his best friend's death. Figuring out the whodunit before they do it is an interesting concept, and it does a fair job of keeping the pages turning. In addition to the mystery, this story touches on friendship, diversity, and acceptance. The pacing is steady, the characters are interesting, and I did want to finish to see how it would all play out. That said, the story didn't quite get there for me in terms of what I expect in a thriller. Part of that could be that I'm probably not really the target audience for this one. I do think that older teens/young adults will enjoy it, and target audience or not, it was worth the read.
January 29, 2020
Title: I Know When You’re Going to Die
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Publisher: Michael J. Bowler
ISBN: B07Z48BHH4
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Leonardo Cantrell is a painfully shy sixteen-year-old who cannot look people in the eye. One night while he’s volunteering at a homeless shelter, an old man forces eye contact and gives Leo the power to see Death.
His best, and only, friend—J.C. Rivera—thinks this new power is cool until Leo accidentally looks into J.C.’s eyes and “sees” his murder, a murder that will occur in less than two weeks. Stunned and shaken, the two boys sift through clues in Leo’s “vision” in a desperate effort to find the killer and stop him before he can strike.
Aided by feisty new-girl-at-school, Laura, the boys uncover evidence suggesting the identity of the murderer. However, their plan to trap the would-be killer goes horribly awry and reveals a truth that could kill them all.
Total Score: 4/5
Summary:
Leonardo and J.C. have everything that money can buy except the love of their mothers. Now most rich kids are into the party life living for the moment, but not Leonardo. He spends his time staying in the shadows helping out at a homeless shelter. His best friend J.C. is a club kid, but he is willing to go with Leonardo to the shelter which means more to Leonardo can say. Everything changes when Leonardo is given the gift or curse of knowing when someone will die just by looking into their eyes. Imagine for someone who is already painfully shy and now he can’t even look directly at people.
This was a wonderful and suspenseful story that takes the characters on a terrifying journey to save J. C., but to find where it will end you will have to read the book. Now while I really enjoyed this book it has a lot of extra information that didn’t really advance the plot line. I enjoyed the relationship between Leonardo and J. C. IT was interesting how the other people in the school couldn’t understand that their friendship was just that. When they added Laura, a new girl at school, making their duo to a trio thing went full circle.
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Publisher: Michael J. Bowler
ISBN: B07Z48BHH4
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Leonardo Cantrell is a painfully shy sixteen-year-old who cannot look people in the eye. One night while he’s volunteering at a homeless shelter, an old man forces eye contact and gives Leo the power to see Death.
His best, and only, friend—J.C. Rivera—thinks this new power is cool until Leo accidentally looks into J.C.’s eyes and “sees” his murder, a murder that will occur in less than two weeks. Stunned and shaken, the two boys sift through clues in Leo’s “vision” in a desperate effort to find the killer and stop him before he can strike.
Aided by feisty new-girl-at-school, Laura, the boys uncover evidence suggesting the identity of the murderer. However, their plan to trap the would-be killer goes horribly awry and reveals a truth that could kill them all.
Total Score: 4/5
Summary:
Leonardo and J.C. have everything that money can buy except the love of their mothers. Now most rich kids are into the party life living for the moment, but not Leonardo. He spends his time staying in the shadows helping out at a homeless shelter. His best friend J.C. is a club kid, but he is willing to go with Leonardo to the shelter which means more to Leonardo can say. Everything changes when Leonardo is given the gift or curse of knowing when someone will die just by looking into their eyes. Imagine for someone who is already painfully shy and now he can’t even look directly at people.
This was a wonderful and suspenseful story that takes the characters on a terrifying journey to save J. C., but to find where it will end you will have to read the book. Now while I really enjoyed this book it has a lot of extra information that didn’t really advance the plot line. I enjoyed the relationship between Leonardo and J. C. IT was interesting how the other people in the school couldn’t understand that their friendship was just that. When they added Laura, a new girl at school, making their duo to a trio thing went full circle.
December 31, 2019
Rate: ⭐️ ⭐️
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Publish Date: February 25, 2020
Series: N/A
Blog
Thank you so much to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Michae J. Bowler for giving me an ARC of the author’s I Know When You’re Going To Die via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What if you are given the power to know when people are going to die? What would you do? Leo is a shy, rich kid. Unlike his peers, he does not live a lavish life, and instead focuses on helping the poor and needy. That is where an old man comes and bestows Leo a power where if he looks into a person’s eyes, he can see when they will die. And when he accidentally looks on his best friend’s eyes, Leo swears J.C will never meet death.
I Know When You’re Going To Die is a story of friendship and kindness. Leo has social anxiety, which I can relate to. His friendship with J.C. is cute. And his kindness is far more than the teens his age.
But that stops there. The concept of the book is interesting, but the execution fell flat. I feel like the story wanted to show some awareness (homophobia? Bullying?), but it doesn’t fall through. Instead, it sounds downright homophobic and cringy. It doesn’t have a thrill, and while I do give the author a thumbs up for not being predictable, the whole scene of everyone in the haunted house is just disgusting and cringy. I found myself just skimming past 60% just to see who really is the killer.
This book was not what I anticipated. It’s teen drama, and while I do love teen dramas, this one is not the teen drama I love. There are a lot of ways this could have gone, but the fact that it focused on them being non-white and “maybe gay” (even theall adults tease the kids and advice them to reach out to other sex, to my disbelief) just did not sit well with me. Two stars for the kindness, friendship and for not being predictable. Other than that, I cannot recommend this book at all.
Author: Michael J. Bowler
Publish Date: February 25, 2020
Series: N/A
Blog
Thank you so much to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Michae J. Bowler for giving me an ARC of the author’s I Know When You’re Going To Die via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What if you are given the power to know when people are going to die? What would you do? Leo is a shy, rich kid. Unlike his peers, he does not live a lavish life, and instead focuses on helping the poor and needy. That is where an old man comes and bestows Leo a power where if he looks into a person’s eyes, he can see when they will die. And when he accidentally looks on his best friend’s eyes, Leo swears J.C will never meet death.
I Know When You’re Going To Die is a story of friendship and kindness. Leo has social anxiety, which I can relate to. His friendship with J.C. is cute. And his kindness is far more than the teens his age.
But that stops there. The concept of the book is interesting, but the execution fell flat. I feel like the story wanted to show some awareness (homophobia? Bullying?), but it doesn’t fall through. Instead, it sounds downright homophobic and cringy. It doesn’t have a thrill, and while I do give the author a thumbs up for not being predictable, the whole scene of everyone in the haunted house is just disgusting and cringy. I found myself just skimming past 60% just to see who really is the killer.
This book was not what I anticipated. It’s teen drama, and while I do love teen dramas, this one is not the teen drama I love. There are a lot of ways this could have gone, but the fact that it focused on them being non-white and “maybe gay” (even the
February 25, 2020
I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
This book’s premise grabbed my attention, and I’m very glad I chose to review it. This is a great read about friendship and the power of hatred. It also packs a mind-blowing mystery and just a hint of the supernatural. In short, it’s got bunches of things I love, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Leo and J.C.’s relationship is fantastic. Fiction needs more guy best friends. Girls can braid each other’s hair and all kinds of stuff, and no one blinks. Guys get close, and they must be gay. Or…maybe they are just friends who don’t have space issues? Or, maybe they are gay, but I honestly don’t care which is the case for Leo and J.C. Both were extremely well-developed characters, and I found myself pulling for them. Laura found a place in my heart, too, especially when Leo and J.C. were having relationship drama. And Laura was all like “guys, priorities. J.C.’s going to be murdered. Can you freak out about this later?” High-five, girl!
The mystery kept me fixated from beginning to end. I love reverse mysteries, where we know the crime but not how it will happen. This book brought up a big philosophical question: if you know something’s going to happen, do you take different actions that actually bring about those events? There’s no real answer to that, but for the purposes of the book, I don’t mind. I just sat back and watched. The ending wasn’t a complete surprise, but there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming. The few non-surprises didn’t ruin anything for me at all.
In short, I will repeat that I’m so glad I read this. I will also be checking out whatever else this author has out there. This is good stuff, and I highly recommend it.
Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
This book’s premise grabbed my attention, and I’m very glad I chose to review it. This is a great read about friendship and the power of hatred. It also packs a mind-blowing mystery and just a hint of the supernatural. In short, it’s got bunches of things I love, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Leo and J.C.’s relationship is fantastic. Fiction needs more guy best friends. Girls can braid each other’s hair and all kinds of stuff, and no one blinks. Guys get close, and they must be gay. Or…maybe they are just friends who don’t have space issues? Or, maybe they are gay, but I honestly don’t care which is the case for Leo and J.C. Both were extremely well-developed characters, and I found myself pulling for them. Laura found a place in my heart, too, especially when Leo and J.C. were having relationship drama. And Laura was all like “guys, priorities. J.C.’s going to be murdered. Can you freak out about this later?” High-five, girl!
The mystery kept me fixated from beginning to end. I love reverse mysteries, where we know the crime but not how it will happen. This book brought up a big philosophical question: if you know something’s going to happen, do you take different actions that actually bring about those events? There’s no real answer to that, but for the purposes of the book, I don’t mind. I just sat back and watched. The ending wasn’t a complete surprise, but there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming. The few non-surprises didn’t ruin anything for me at all.
In short, I will repeat that I’m so glad I read this. I will also be checking out whatever else this author has out there. This is good stuff, and I highly recommend it.
February 6, 2020
I Know When You're Going to Die follows Leonard Cantrell (Leo), who has a mysterious power that allows him to know exactly when a person is going to die by looking into their eyes. Leo drives a beat-up Prius and spends every weekend volunteering at homeless shelters. While working his usual shift, a homeless man requests to talk to Leo. The homeless man persuades Leo to look into his eyes and forces the magical power on Leo. Leo's friend J.C. thinks it's a really cool power, but Leo perceives it as more of a curse because he cannot stop seeing other people's deaths. One day at school, Leo accidentally looks into J.C.'s eyes and sees that he will die in just a couple of weeks. Now, Leo and J.C., with the help of the new girl, Laura, must desperately try to prevent J.C.'s impending death. After discovering evidence that hints at the possible killer, the gang plans a trap to stop the potential perpetrator on the night of J.C.'s imminent death. Unfortunately, the trap fails and the situation takes a turn for the worse. What will happen? Will this trio be able to save J.C. in time? Find out in this amazing book!
Michael J. Bowler's sci-fi-esque thriller not only entertains, but it also teaches a lesson at the same time. It portrays racism in school while also demonstrating that being rich doesn't always mean you can have everything you want. Even though Leo's ability to predict death is fictional, the entire book just feels real in a way many books don't. You learn that not everyone is who they seem to be on the surface and that you shouldn't immediately judge people based on their outward cover. The book flows seamlessly from one chapter to the next and leaves you feeling as if you were right alongside Leo and his friends. I recommend this book for ages 10 and up.
Michael J. Bowler's sci-fi-esque thriller not only entertains, but it also teaches a lesson at the same time. It portrays racism in school while also demonstrating that being rich doesn't always mean you can have everything you want. Even though Leo's ability to predict death is fictional, the entire book just feels real in a way many books don't. You learn that not everyone is who they seem to be on the surface and that you shouldn't immediately judge people based on their outward cover. The book flows seamlessly from one chapter to the next and leaves you feeling as if you were right alongside Leo and his friends. I recommend this book for ages 10 and up.
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