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motherofladybirds's review against another edition
4.0
Set in Bideford Devon with an older protagonist and a great supporting cast. I enjoyed the characters and the humour in this book. There were moments that were sad and absurd and funny all at once. I loved the setting, and the pets.
bonnie_1986's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
azwahine_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
secre's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Exit is a funny yet poignant novel centred around the premise of an assisted suicide gone wrong. Felix, mid seventies, widower and Vilomah if we want to use the same Sanskrit basis for the description of a loss of a child. He's sat by many, many bedsides over the years. A comforting presence, but not one who can do anything but watch and wait. The problem first arises when his new colleague catches the canister, passing it to the man they are overseeing the death of, thereby making herself directly culpable in his death. The second problem that arises however is larger still; the man who died isn't the one who contracted them. The canister was in the wrong room.
Felix finds himself unexpectedly on the run from the police, even as he tries to piece together exactly what happened and why. DC Calvin Bridge is asking very similar questions and the answers aren't forthcoming. The plot thickens and both Felix and DC Bridge find themselves unearthing secrets somebody is keen to stay buried. What started as a murder investigation becomes much wider and Bauer does show case just how many ways in which assisted euthanasia can be manipulated and abused.
I genuinely found this both entertaining and well written, it's a dark topic and Bauer certainly doesn't shy away from it; Felix's own losses through his life are depicted well, as are the reasons he volunteers as an Exiteer. The depictions of ageing and wanting to die on your own terms are done well. The characterisations are excellent; not just that of Felix, but of many of the supporting characters. Where I felt the novel lost it's way slightly was how convoluted it got by the end; whilst it was still enjoyable, I think it could have been better without the detour down some rather more random garden paths. The message behind it would have been less obscured by the other aspects as well.
All in all though, this was a good read and one I firmly enjoyed. It's surprisingly funny for a book about assisted suicide, and I thought the more serious topics were handled well.
Felix finds himself unexpectedly on the run from the police, even as he tries to piece together exactly what happened and why. DC Calvin Bridge is asking very similar questions and the answers aren't forthcoming. The plot thickens and both Felix and DC Bridge find themselves unearthing secrets somebody is keen to stay buried. What started as a murder investigation becomes much wider and Bauer does show case just how many ways in which assisted euthanasia can be manipulated and abused.
I genuinely found this both entertaining and well written, it's a dark topic and Bauer certainly doesn't shy away from it; Felix's own losses through his life are depicted well, as are the reasons he volunteers as an Exiteer. The depictions of ageing and wanting to die on your own terms are done well. The characterisations are excellent; not just that of Felix, but of many of the supporting characters. Where I felt the novel lost it's way slightly was how convoluted it got by the end; whilst it was still enjoyable, I think it could have been better without the detour down some rather more random garden paths. The message behind it would have been less obscured by the other aspects as well.
All in all though, this was a good read and one I firmly enjoyed. It's surprisingly funny for a book about assisted suicide, and I thought the more serious topics were handled well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
In this charming thriller--despite the description, it is charming--an elderly man whose son and wife died painful deaths, volunteers for the Exiteers, a group that helps suffering people end their own lives. Felix has helped twenty-seven people on their way when the book starts, and the twenty-eighth visit goes wrong in a way he had never imagined. The local police in the small Devon town come into the picture as Felix tries to get out of it, but not until he understands what happened.
There are lots of lively characters in "Exit" including a young constable who enjoys the occasional flutter at the bookies. This brings him in contact with a number of people who will feature in the tale in a different way, sometimes beating them up. He has what he thinks is a guilty secret--but is it?
Belinda Bauer spins lots of different threads and manages to reel them all back in in a skillful and satisfying fashion.
This is a clever, amusing, and satisfying read, but why the dark description? Yes, it's about euthanasia (among other things)but readers looking for a darker story may be disappointed with "Exit."
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for access to this novel.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
There are lots of lively characters in "Exit" including a young constable who enjoys the occasional flutter at the bookies. This brings him in contact with a number of people who will feature in the tale in a different way, sometimes beating them up. He has what he thinks is a guilty secret--but is it?
Belinda Bauer spins lots of different threads and manages to reel them all back in in a skillful and satisfying fashion.
This is a clever, amusing, and satisfying read, but why the dark description? Yes, it's about euthanasia (among other things)but readers looking for a darker story may be disappointed with "Exit."
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for access to this novel.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
vshoenecke's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lhart2222's review against another edition
5.0
Felix Pink is part of a group called the Exiteers, they help elderly people whose lives are coming to an end, pass in peace and allow the family the comfort of a restful death for their loved ones. The group work in pairs and in no way do they aid the death, just provide support in the final moments and clear away the required requisites. Felix (Know as John to the rest of the Exiteers) has done this quite a few times, but when paired with a new recruit the seemingly straight forward task takes a turn. Now Felix is the prime suspect in a murder.
Wow… I loved it. The plot sounded great and after reading the book all I can say is it still manages to exceed my expectations. From the first to last page, the book had me hooked, not just to find out what happened but because the main character was so loveable I just couldn’t stop reading.
I was really allured by the brief description this book gave in the blurb, not knowing exactly what to expect it left a lot to be decided. After reading the book, I loved every second of it. Easy to read and not too over the top or complicated everything felt right, and I don’t think I’d change a thing.
With plenty of characters and several mini plots running alongside the main story, you won’t get bored reading chapter to chapter.
The characters in this book were all amazing, all with a place and adding something valuable no matter how inconsequential they might seem. Each with their own personalities, I could really picture each person as if they were real, making each moment mean that much more.
Like I previously said, Felix might just be one of my favourite protagonists of all time, and one of, if not the, most unlikely murder suspect in any book.
The book flows seamlessly, with everything, and everyone given time to affect the reader, not throwing things in for the sake of it. The book does it all, from serious, to touching and has a humorous undertone throughout, causing the reader to face many emotions during the story.
Overall, I couldn’t give this book anything other than a 5. Enjoyable from the first page, to the last, I don’t have a bad word to say about Exit, and I would highly recommend this read.
Wow… I loved it. The plot sounded great and after reading the book all I can say is it still manages to exceed my expectations. From the first to last page, the book had me hooked, not just to find out what happened but because the main character was so loveable I just couldn’t stop reading.
I was really allured by the brief description this book gave in the blurb, not knowing exactly what to expect it left a lot to be decided. After reading the book, I loved every second of it. Easy to read and not too over the top or complicated everything felt right, and I don’t think I’d change a thing.
With plenty of characters and several mini plots running alongside the main story, you won’t get bored reading chapter to chapter.
The characters in this book were all amazing, all with a place and adding something valuable no matter how inconsequential they might seem. Each with their own personalities, I could really picture each person as if they were real, making each moment mean that much more.
Like I previously said, Felix might just be one of my favourite protagonists of all time, and one of, if not the, most unlikely murder suspect in any book.
The book flows seamlessly, with everything, and everyone given time to affect the reader, not throwing things in for the sake of it. The book does it all, from serious, to touching and has a humorous undertone throughout, causing the reader to face many emotions during the story.
Overall, I couldn’t give this book anything other than a 5. Enjoyable from the first page, to the last, I don’t have a bad word to say about Exit, and I would highly recommend this read.
deedee25's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
coronationcorgi's review against another edition
It’s me, the time I’m reading this. I don’t want to pick it up. It has high ratings, the writing is great, it’s funny. I just am not feeling it at the moment. I would absolutely try it again.