Alex McKenna and Death is Not the Beginning

Alex McKenna #4

by Vicki-Ann Bush

In the fourth and final installment for the series, Alex faces his most difficult case the school bully.

For two years, Kyle had no qualms making Alex's life even more complicated than it already was.

Choosing to single him out for his psychic abilities, the angry teen took every chance to undermine Alex's well-being. But When Kyle is unexpectedly murdered, his ghost seeks out Alex for the very power he'd been stigmatized for.

Despite their fraught history, Alex must set aside old wounds to help a soul in need. Searching for the killer, Alex uncovers why Kyle had victimized him so intensely, and it's not what he ever could have expected. The truth, it turns out, will set them both free.

250 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

Born Vicki Ann Guidice, her journey into the realm of the spiritual and supernatural was initiated at birth. Her early years were spent in Queens, New York known for having more people passed on than alive, as well as having several Gothic cemeteries within walking distance of its communities. At the age of 15, she moved to Los Angeles California taking her fertile imagination with her. After meeting her future husband, Ronald Bush, her new homeland became Las Vegas, Nevada.

As a mother of two, her first published book in 2008, Winslow Willow the Woodland Fairy, took her love of fantasy and spun it into a heartwarming children’s book. The progression to the young adult literary market took root in her novels that captured the haunting qualities of the Las Vegas desert surrounding her, but it was New York that called her home. Alex McKenna, the main character in the book series first published in 2019, is the embodiment of her Italian-American roots, memories of adolescent outsider status, and the strength it takes to live an authentic life.

Ms. Bush is a co-founder of Coffee House Tours, an events-based collaboration between local bookstores and coffee shops allowing authors to represent themselves and their works. Additionally, she is a frequent podcast literary guest and has a special relationship with The Center LGBTQIA+ Las Vegas where Alex McKenna has been an inspirational focus as a transgender Paranormal teen. Now starring in the short film Alex and Margret’s Beginning, inspired by the book series, Ms. Bush is now an award winning short screenplay writer and Producer. Bringing her moving and unique storyline and character to a broader audience.

Reviews

[S.C. Alban · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Death Is Not the Beginning, Vicki-Ann Bush delivers an emotional conclusion to the Alex McKenna series. The dialogue is one of the novel’s strongest elements. It’s authentic, heartfelt, and perfectly attuned to each character’s emotional state. Every exchange feels intentional, revealing truths about love, loss, and identity.

Bush’s storytelling unfolds with fluidity, allowing the mystery and emotion to intertwine seamlessly. The pacing is measured yet magnetic, each revelation building naturally toward a resolution that feels inevitable and profound. What begins as a search for justice evolves into a moving exploration of redemption and the enduring connection between souls.

Death Is Not the Beginning reminds readers that even in darkness, compassion and understanding can transcend the boundaries of life and death in this satisfying conclusion to the series.

[Diane Billas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading the Alex McKenna books since the beginning and I enjoyed seeing Alex's growth throughout the series and this book wraps things up really well. It was great seeing some of the other characters show up from the other books in one epic conclusion. Margaret is my favorite side character and her and Alex have such great chemistry. Another nice thing about this book is that it could be read as a standalone, you don't need to have read the other ones to understand what is going on. If you like paranormal teen stories, check out the Alex McKenna series.

[Samanta Simão · Rating 5 out of 5]

When fate gives him an unexpected chance, Alex must decide whether to take revenge for the pain of the past or stay true to what he has always believed. Upon encountering Kyle again, he discovers that even the greatest enemies can carry hidden secrets — and that the real danger may lie not in them, but in the choices we make about who we want to be.

[Delilah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting and amazing read I was so hooked. The plot was so interesting given the fact I didn’t have the pleasure of reading the first 3 in the series , but omg I tell you what this was an absolute masterpiece and the characters was just as amazing. The writing style was also great