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November 23, 2020
Lonely widower Felix Pink, the protagonist of this droll whodunit from British author Bauer (Snap), belongs to a right-to-die group, the Exiteers, whose members assist the terminally ill who are in pain and discomfort, and quietly sit with them when they die. The families of those ailing give permission to the Exiteers to witness the self-administering of nitrous oxide through a mask, ensuring a peaceful death. Arriving at the home of a client, Albert Cann, Felix finds the key under the doormat as promised, and the oxygen mask and cylinder on the nightstand. But an unintentional mistake sends Felix into hiding from the Bideford, England, police as a murder suspect, and the Cann family looks for answers—and Albert’s will. In the subsequent investigation, Constable Calvin Bridge interviews the Cann house cleaner and the Exiteers’ founder, among others. Felix’s caring neighbor, Miss Knott, gently insinuates herself into his life, supporting his innocence and suggesting the possibility of new romance. Each distinctive character has a sense of humor sure to prompt belly laughs from the reader. Bauer knows how to entertain. Agent: Jane Gregory, David Higham Assoc. (U.K.).

November 15, 2020
In Bauer's darkly comic thriller, an elderly widower discovers no good deed goes unpunished when his act of charity goes horribly wrong. As a member of the Exiteers, an anonymous, secret group in Devon that supports the right to die, 75-year-old widower Felix Pink witnesses the suicides of terminally ill patients. Afterward he disposes of the evidence to ensure that the deaths appear natural. But on an outing with new partner Amanda, a normally smooth operation quickly turns disastrous when the duo accidentally helps the wrong patient to die. Was it an accident or a setup for murder? After urging Amanda to leave so he can take the blame, Felix awaits the police before remembering his dog at home. "But he couldn't be arrested. Not yet. Not until he had made sure Mabel would be alright." The septuagenarian flees over a garden fence just as PC Calvin Bridge and his partner arrive to investigate. The unambitious Calvin is happy to be back in uniform after a brief stint as a plainclothes detective, despite DCI Kirsty King's belief in his investigative talent. But this odd case forces him to leave his comfort zone. Bauer's lively and amusing comedy-of-errors narrative alternates between Felix's and Calvin's perspectives as both men seek answers. In the process, the endearing, gentlemanly Felix, who has stocked his own nitrous oxide cylinders for the day he joins his wife and son in the cemetery, gains a new interest in life, and Calvin, long ashamed of his family's criminal history, develops confidence in his abilities. A supporting cast of well-drawn, oddball characters adds interest. A touching crime novel that explores the nature of life and death with heart and soul.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2020
With health and bioethics on our minds, the time is ripe for a mystery involving assisted suicide. Bauer (The Beautiful Dead, 2017; Snap, 2018) introduces the secretive Exiteers, a group that helps terminally ill patients end it all. John (not his real name) has been a member for awhile with no hiccups until he and new partner Chris (not her real name, either) help an elderly cancer patient hasten his end, only to discover that they've made a terrible mistake. Finding out how the error happened and whether it was an evil maneuver planned by someone else not only unearths deception and greed, but also shows readers that kindness and yearning for good sometimes undergird everyday life. Bauer's lively writing brings a mixed bag of Bristol, England, residents to life, and readers are sure to identify with characters who range from a put-upon grandson to a well-meaning neighbor who could be more. Readers who enjoy explorations of the underside of human nature are the perfect audience for this one, as are fans of John Marrs and his tales of science gone awry.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.