- A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
- Published on October 1st, 2024 by Berkley
- Genres: Fiction, Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Murder Mystery
- Tropes: Found Family, Hyper-Independent Person in a Dangerous Job, Mental Health Struggles, Ghost With Unfinished Business
- Spice Level: No spice detected
- Anne’s Rating: 7 out of 10
Soul collections are routine and straight-forward. You put on the silver name tag that allows you to be unnoticable by civilians, you go to where the deceased’s body is, you get the spirit to follow you to your car, and you take it to processing for the next step in the afterlife. Like Lyft for the undead. It’s a process 42-year-old Kathy Valence has been following since she started working at S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences). Only this time when Kathy arrives on the scene, the person she’s there to collect is nowhere to be found. When she finally tracks down the soul of 17-year-old Connor Ortiz, he tells her that his death wasn’t from natural causes like his file says – he was murdered.
Kathy agrees to help Connor find his killer and unravel the mystery of what happened to him in the 45 days he has left before he gets stuck Earth-side as a ghost forever. As the clock ticks down, seemingly harmless coworkers look more and more like potential murderers. Kathy finds herself in the line of danger, which is especially bad considering she’s 7 months pregnant with her soon-to-be ex-husband Simon’s baby. Kathy loves Simon, but is convinced that she will ruin his life with her Sidam touch (Midas spelled backwards) and that leaving is the best thing she can do for him. Will Kathy realize that despite what she’s always thought, she’s a good person who deserves to be seen fully? Will she find Conner’s killer? And, most importantly, will she be able to save his soul before time runs out?
If you’ve ever read Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, you’ll find aspects of this story familiar: an independent woman in an interesting & dangerous career who’s dealing with relationship issues and personal drama. It’s a very enjoyable format, and I liked seeing a different spin on the trope. Dara’s writing is fast paced and funny, and the story is easy to follow. I did have a hard time understanding exactly what the Big Bad was actually doing at the end, but perhaps that’s a plot point that will be expanded upon in subsequent books (which I do hope are coming!).
What I wasn’t expecting from this book is the emotional depth and subtleties dealing with not only death, but mental health. I saw a lot of myself in Kathy – she’s a person who is so sure that everything she touches turns to shit that she self-sabotages in the name of protecting the people she loves. She’s hidden the full picture of who she is from Simon because she’s certain that if he saw the real her, his love and devotion would vanish. While clearly not healthy, it’s a method of protecting herself. In her mind the pain is always going to come, so it’s better to control it and hurt yourself than let someone else do it.
Kathy ends up learning a lot by taking Conner – the surly, ghost teenager – under her wing. He helps her to tear down the wall she’s built around herself, and shows her that her view of herself is completely wrong. That she is a person capable of greatness, who has a deep well of emotion and love for those she surrounds herself with. I found myself tearing up quite a bit near the end of this story, watching Kathy realize her true self and claim the life that she wants and deserves. A Grim Reaper’s Guide To Catching A Killer is a great, fun story that packs an emotional punch. It’s the perfect book for when you’re wanting a murder mystery that isn’t super heavy and leaves you feeling hopeful at the end.
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