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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
ruth_power's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
I'd recommend this to anybody who likes crime-comedy novels with laugh out loud moments. Some charming characters, especially the protagonist Felix, with a light writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Terminal illness, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Cancer, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism
kirstycarson1's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Murder, Terminal illness, Grief, Death, Chronic illness, and Cancer
thelibraryofanna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Terminal illness, Addiction, and Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
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