Review: How Not to Die Alone

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How Not to Die Alone is a funny and poignant novel about love and loss and rebuilding hope and heart. Andrew works with his town's council. He's had various jobs in the past but his present job is handling death matters for those who die alone, without family, and who go unnoticed, sometimes for months. After discovery Andrew goes through the deceased's assets, both tangible and financial property, trying to find enough to cover the cost of a funeral which the UK has mandated councils arrange for the deceased. When we meet Andrew he'd arranged twenty-five in the previous year and attended all of them. To say it's a sobering job would be an understatement, as the cynicism about other people is broadened by such work. People always show up and pretend to have been acquainted with the deceased who, don't you know, just happened to owe them money or wanted to leave them that lovely vase, or whatever. Not work that makes you happy. And on that note, Cameron, Andrew's boss, wants to build a sense of team spirit by having each member of the death council team host a dinner party at their home. Cameron is hosting first (a disastrous event, by the way) but eventually, it will be Andrew's turn. And that is going to be a disaster. Because Cameron has never met Diane, Andrew's wife, and Steph and David, his two children. And there's a reason for that. Andrew lives alone with only Ella Fitzgerald's songs for solace. His sister Sally is pressing him to date someone and connect with life and love, but since he and Sally have their own complicated history, he doesn't listen to any of her advice. His life becomes even more complicated when the irrepressible Peggy joins the council team. Andrew is equal parts attracted to her and terrified of his attraction.

This is a lovely, poignant book that has passages that make the reader laugh out loud with their humor. Andrew's story is so much more than what the reader thinks at the start. This book is a fast read and a perfect weekend novel. I listened to the audiobook, performed by the delightful Simon Vance.

I received a Digital Review Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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