Book Review: A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

 

Goodreads Summary: Sometimes it takes working with the dead to start living.
Kathy Valence is forty-two, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her ex's baby. She's also a modern-day grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), but frankly, that's the easiest part of her life right now. Or at least it was, until her latest client's soul goes missing.

When she finally tracks down seventeen-year-old Conner Ortiz, he angrily denies he died of natural causes, despite what his file says. He insists that someone at S.C.Y.T.H.E. murdered him, and he demands Kathy find out who and why.

Kathy has only forty-five days to figure out what happened to Conner and help him move on before the boy's soul is doomed to roam the Earth as a ghost forever. She’s forced to rely on the help of her retired mentor, her almost ex-husband, and some sneaky moves by Conner himself. This is the wildest case of her career... and one wrong move could cost Kathy her job, not to mention her life.

Goodreads Rating: 3.80 stars with over 8,900 ratings

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Cozy Mystery 

Goodreads/Storygraph Challenge: 4/48

2026 Reading Challenge: #22 Read a book with a pastel cover (Find the entire challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, Readers! I hope everyone is doing well. It is a rainy evening here in Indiana, which is a perfect night for reading! I'm on vacation for the rest of the week, so I'm hoping I get at least one more book in while I'm off. We'll see, though. I'm at 4 books for the year, which is a solid start. 

Anyway, on to my two cents about A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara. I really liked the concept of being a Grim Reaper being more of a corporation and exploring those avenues. I would have liked to get more into the science of the world Maxie Dara created for S.C.Y.T.H.E., but I get the impression that it's going to come up more in future books. 

Kathy took a while to warm up to, which fit with her background. I did like her dynamic with Conner. Jo was a really fun character, and I hope we get to see more of her in future books. The relationship with Simon felt like page filler, as did the pregnancy. That plot line could have been removed, and I really don't think the story would have changed much.

I thought that Dara provided a decent amount of clues as well as red herrings for the mystery. I didn't predict the culprit correctly, but also didn't feel surprised once they were revealed. I just felt it made sense. I wanted more on the motivation, and I felt like that was a bit rushed. This also ties in with more of the science I was wanting out of the book. I'm really hoping the series explores it more. 

I didn't love the book, but I didn't hate it either. It was cute and entertaining. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants a paranormal/cozy mystery. If I saw more of the series on sale, I'd pick it up and give it a read. 

Book Review: Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

 

Goodreads Summary:  Brimming with Chambers' signature blend of heart-warming character relationships and dazzling adventure, Record of a Spaceborn few is the third standalone installment of the Wayfarers series, set in the sprawling universe of the Galactic Commons, and following a new motley crew on a journey to another corner corner of the cosmos—one often mentioned, but not yet explored.

Return to the sprawling universe of the Galactic Commons, as humans, artificial intelligence, aliens, and some beings yet undiscovered explore what it means to be a community in this exciting third adventure in the acclaimed and multi-award-nominated science fiction Wayfarers series, brimming with heartwarming characters and dazzling space adventure.

Hundreds of years ago, the last humans on Earth boarded the Exodus Fleet in search of a new home among the stars. After centuries spent wandering empty space, their descendants were eventually accepted by the well-established species that govern the Milky Way.

But that was long ago. Today, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, the birthplace of many, yet a place few outsiders have ever visited. While the Exodans take great pride in their original community and traditions, their culture has been influenced by others beyond their bulkheads. As many Exodans leave for alien cities or terrestrial colonies, those who remain are left to ponder their own lives and futures: What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination? Why remain in space when there are habitable worlds available to live? What is the price of sustaining their carefully balanced way of life—and is it worth saving at all?

A young apprentice, a lifelong spacer with young children, a planet-raised traveler, an alien academic, a caretaker for the dead, and an Archivist whose mission is to ensure no one’s story is forgotten, wrestle with these profound universal questions. The answers may seem small on the galactic scale, but to these individuals, it could mean everything.

Genre Listing: Science Fiction, Fiction, Space Opera, LGBT

Goodreads/StoryGraph Challenge: 2/48

2026 Reading Challenge:  #47 Read a Space Opera (See the full challenge here)

Book Review:

Hello, readers! It’s the first post of 2026, and I’m trying to get back into the swing of writing actual book reviews. I probably won't do one for every book like I used to, but I’m going to try to do them more consistently. Anyway, let’s get into Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers.

This is the third book in the Wayfarers series, a Space Opera series I’ve really enjoyed. Since I didn’t post much last year, I don’t think I’ve talked about this series at all! Each book is set in the same universe but focuses on different, loosely connected characters. While the connection between books one and two is more obvious, book three follows the sister of a character from the first book. Other characters might be connected as well, but I don't quite remember the details.

I love the world Becky Chambers has created. The first two books focus more on planet dwellers, whereas book three follows those residing in the fleet. Society in this series is very accepting and accommodating of other species (for the most part). Unlike many stories, the plot isn't driven by simple misunderstandings; instead, the characters have well-developed conversations about acceptance, consent, and purpose. The series is also very pro-LGBTQA+, written in a way that feels natural rather than forced.

At first, the characters in Record of a Spaceborn Few don't seem connected, but their stories intertwine as the plot evolves. It results in a beautiful connection, and I enjoyed the book immensely. I’m already planning to make the fourth book my next audiobook listen.

Speaking of audiobooks, I really enjoy Rachel Dulude’s narration. Her voice is clear, and she uses a variety of distinct character voices that make the experience immersive. I highly recommend Record of a Spaceborn Few to anyone who wants an interesting Sci-Fi story where the stakes feel more aligned with the 'Cozy' genre.

Also, as a fun treat, I noticed this on the Audiobook. The chapter titles form a poem. 

"From The Beginning

We Have Wandered

To This Day, We Wander Still

But For Our Travels

We Are Not Lost

We Fly With Courage

And Will Undying"

2025: A Year in books

 

Hello, Readers! Happy New Year's Eve! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. I don't do things on NYE, so I figured I'd go ahead and be a good little blogger and write up my end-of-year post. The picture of the cats is from a few weeks ago. Aren't they adorable?

I have some good news today: my final paper has been passed! So I am officially done with degree #4 and now hold an MBA. I'm hoping that means that things will calm down a bit and I can get back to reading as well as writing. I really want to start sharing the little fictional worlds I've created with the public. We'll see if 2026 is the year I finally stop talking about it and actually do it. Anyway, that's all for future me to talk about. 

Because life got so crazy this past year, I was really lax on posting reviews of books. I tried, but I just couldn't bring myself to commit to it. I'll try to give some thoughts on books in this post, if I remember any details about what I read. As I predicted, most of my books were audiobooks. It was a lot easier to listen to a book than find the time to sit down and read it. I ended up reading 33* books this year, and a significant portion of those were LITRPG. A lot of Wandering Inn, He Who Fights With Monsters, and a dash of Beware of Chicken. 

I always find it fascinating to write these end-of-year posts, as I tend to forget most of the books I've read throughout the year. I'm giving my read number a * this year because Goodreads says 33, StoryGraph says 31, and my own records indicate 29. I'm pretty sure the discrepancy is due to He Who Fights Monsters, as I've burned through half the series this year. Anyway, I was looking at my list, and I completely forgot I reread Scythe. I am going to do this Tier by Tier for my own sanity, which is probably terrible for yours. Sorry. The books I read will be blue; the ones I bothered to do posts about are hyperlinked. 

Level 1: Book of the Month Club

1 Read a book you got for free - Dune by Frank Herbert

2 Read a book that is under 350 pages- The Rule of Three by Sam Ripley

3 Read or reread a book you consider to be an 'easy read' - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

4 Read a book with a green cover

5 Read a cozy mystery

6 Read a book that was recommended to you on social media/by a friend- Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

7 Read a book with a person's name in the title - Pushing Daisy by Scott Baron

8 Read a book that takes place in the future- Daisy's War by Scott Baron

9 Read a book published in 2020 (5 years ago)

10 A book suggested by https://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/

11 Read a book by Jules Verne

12 Free Space! Pick any book - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet- Becky Chambers

Tier one thoughts: I watched the Dune movies before reading the book, and I'll be honest, I lost interest in the latter part of the book. I have no clue if I'll ever finish the series. If I do, it'll probably be because of peer pressure. I really liked The Clockwork Chimera series by Scott Baron. It was my first real dive into that type of Science Fiction. Similarly, really enjoyed Becky Chaber's Sci-Fi series. Mistborn has been on my brain a lot lately, so I'll probably dive back into that series this year.

Level 2: Casual Reader Club

13 Read a book listed on The Greatest Books of All Time List https://thegreatestbooks.org The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri 

14 Read the book that's been on your TBR the longest- The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham

15 Read a Young Adult novel

16 Read a book with a three-word title- Garden of Sanctuary by Pirateaba

17 Read a book with a cantankerous main character- Monster by A. Lee Martinez

18 Read a book that has books on the cover

19 Read a book by an author who shares your initials- Mother Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear

20 Read a Standalone Novel

21 Read a book involving a detective or police officer

22 Read a self-published book

23 Read a book that takes place somewhere warm - He Who Fights with Monsters Book 1 by Shirtaloon

24 Free Space! Pick any book Grave Song by Pirateaba

Tier Two thoughts: I think with The Divine Comedy, I only read Dante's Inferno. I'm really glad it was a short audiobook because, wow, do I have a hard time with "classics". I remember nothing about The Lines We Leave Behind, other than it was on my Kindle for a long time. If you'd like to learn my thoughts on that one, I actually wrote a review about it. I enjoyed Monster by A. Lee Martinez quite a bit, but I have yet to meet a book of his that I haven't enjoyed. Mother Rome was beautiful, and you can read my thoughts about it in that post. And given I'm on a LITRPG kick, I burned through He Who Fights With Monsters 1-6. I also just about drop what I'm reading when a new Pirateaba book comes out. I'm currently listening to Book 17. Lady of Fire? I think is the title.

Level 3: Dedicated Reader Club

25 Read book 1 in a trilogy

26 Read book 2 in the same trilogy

27 Read book 3 in the same trilogy

28 Read a book you meant to read on last year's challenge - Scyth by Neal Shusterman (Meant to use for a reread prompt)

29 Read a book by an author named Joe/Joseph/Josephine or a variant

30 Read a romance novel - A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

31 A book that you judged by its cover (either positively or negatively)

32 Read a book set in a country you've been to

33 Read a book with a title that starts with the letter "N." -Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

34 Read a book that has a war or battle in it - Daisy's Gambit by Scott Baron

35 A book from Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2024 https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2024

36 Free Space! Pick any book -He Who Fights With Monsters 3

Tier Three Thoughts: I had intended to use the Hades X Persephone series for the trilogy, but I believe it now consists of more books. I don't know. I live under a rock most of the time. I enjoyed it and will probably read more of the books. Before the interwebs freaks out at me, I read Norse Mythology before I knew about Neil Gaiman's controversies. It's also the only one of his books I've read and actually liked.

Level 4: Speed Reader Club

37 A book with the word "song" in the title - Huntsong by Pirateaba

38 The Great Taylor Swift Category - read a book about Taylor Swift *or* a book with the same title as one of her songs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_by_Taylor_Swift

39 Read a book by an author you've met or spoken to online - Pawn's Gambit by Darin Kennedy

40 Read a book with an animal in the title - Beware of Chicken by CasualFarmer

41 Read a book written from the villain/antagonist's perspective - The Asylum Confessions: Patient 974 by Jack Steen

42 Read a reluctant hero story - He Who Fights With Monsters 6 by Shirtaloon

43 Read a book by an author using a pseudonym - The House Witch 2 - Delemhach

44 Read a book that references a TV show or movie - Daisy's Run by Scott Baron

45 Read a book that involves a game (board, card, video game) - King of Duels by Pirateaba

46 Read a Fantasy novel - Blood & Steel, by Helen Scheuerer

47 Read a book with a secret society trope

48 Free Space! Pick any book - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Tier Four Thoughts: Pawn's Gambit was a really interesting concept, and that's without me knowing anything about Chess. Also, Darin is just a genuinely awesome person. I met him at JordanCon a few years ago, and he asked me to show off his second book in the Trilogy Queen's Peril when I was dressed up as the Evil Queen. So we ended up talking a bit for the weekend. I actually had really wanted to get a lot of the amazing folks from JordanCon on the Challenge this year, but alas. I did not.

Level 5: Overachiever Club

49 Read a book that is over 500 pages long

50 Read a book published in 1985 (40 years ago)

51 Read a book that has the word "begin" or the word "end" in the title

52 Read a book with a mask on the cover

53 Read a book by Lawrence Block (or one of his pseudonyms) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Block_bibliography

54 Read a book with a title that contains the letter "X."

55 Read a book that involves amnesia or memory manipulation- Chasing Daisy by Scott Baron

56 Read a cursed object story

57 Read a book by an author named Pat/Patrick/Patricia or a variant

58 A book that takes place in a school setting

59 Read a book with a bear on the cover

60 Free Space! Pick any book - He Who Fights with Monsters 2 by Shirtaloon

Tier Five Thoughts: *Cricket Noises* 

So yeah. That was what I read in 2025. We've released the 2026 challenge, so feel free to check it out here. I love receiving comments on my posts, and please let me know which prompts you've enjoyed the most. I'm really hoping that for the 10-year anniversary of the challenge, we can create a fan favorite list.