Don’t Tell Me How to Die

A Novel

By: Marshall Karp

Narrated by: January LaVoy

“What begins as a mystery-tinted character study transforms into a full-bore thriller, with a spate of jaw-dropping twists that recast the entire narrative. Readers should be prepared to stay up all night.” —Publishers Weekly

“A razor-sharp domestic thriller about a dying woman’s desperate mission to handpick her husband’s next wife—and she’ll stop at nothing to get the job done. Darkly funny and relentlessly suspenseful, Karp displays every skill as one of the greatest storytellers of our generation.” —Joe Donahue, host of The Book Show on NPR

I have one thing to do before I die.
And time is running out.

I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died young. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.

I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You’re probably thinking, She’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants”?

From thriller writer Marshall Karp (cocreator with James Patterson of the #1 New York Times bestselling NYPD Red series), and rich with Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, Don’t Tell Me How to Die has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.

©2025 Mesa Films, Inc. (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

WHAT?!!

That was one of my favorite books ever! Full of twists and turns I did not see coming
Yes I will recommend this book if you like being surprised
I’m just sorry I finished it in one day

Great Narration and Story

I was hoping for more to be honest but it was a good overall story.

WOW!!!!

I have been listening to book tapes for many years and I think this is by far the best book I have ever listened to!!! Incredible writer and impeccable narration! You will not want to put this down so make sure you start early in the morning or you won’t be getting sleep that night, lol! There are so many twist and turns! You just can’t believe what is really going on. I had a lot of oh my gosh and I would’ve never guessed moments! GET THIS BOOK!!!

Loved the narration

Very interesting twists. Kept me engaged! I really like the narrator. I'm not a review writer so that should tell you I really enjoyed this book.

Holy cow

What a story!! Loved the narration and the crazy twists and turns. Was totally not expecting the way this went!!