Exit

Keeping it short…. BUY IT. It’s an amazing thriller, Bauer’s best yet. Full of twists, humour and tension. Just… There are no words. Bauer is a genius.

I loved the humour with such a difficult subject. Brilliant

‘It was never supposed to be murder’ - ‘Exit’ cover tag line.

My thanks to Penguin Random House U.K. Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, via NetGalley, of ‘Exit’ by Belinda Bauer. It is narrated by Tim McInnerny and has a running time of 9 hours, 43 minutes at 1x speed.

Pensioner Felix Pink is a member of the Exiteers, a group of discreet volunteers who serve as witnesses for terminally ill people that have chosen to end their lives. They also tidy up, ensuring that the deaths appear to have been by natural causes.

Accompanied by Amanda, a new Exiteer, Felix goes to Number 3 Black Lane where they will keep a dying man company as he takes his final breath . . . Yet fifteen minutes later, after something goes terribly wrong, Felix instructs Amanda to quietly leave while he goes on the run.

Felix realises that he must find out if he's really to blame, or if something much more sinister is at play. All while keeping one shaky step ahead of the law.

This was my first experience of Belinda Bauer’s work and it proved quite a surprise. I came to it with little prior knowledge of the plot, as I prefer to read mysteries and thrillers ‘cold’. I hadn’t realised that despite it being crime fiction, dealing with a sensitive subject, that there would be a strong comedic element running throughout. Still, the choice of Tim McInnerny, well known for his work in comedy, as the narrator for the audiobook should have been a clue.

I loved this novel from the start! It was packed with quirky, memorable characters combined with a charming plot that was also thought-provoking. There were also some great twists. I appreciated the idea of the Exiteers, serving as quiet companions for the final moments of life.

With respect to the audiobook, I thought that Tim McInnerny was brilliant; capturing the novel’s wide variety of characters and range of moods from broad comedy, through to thrills, and poignant reflections on ageing, loneliness, death, and dying.

Overall, an intelligent, well written novel. I was very impressed by Belinda Bauer’s writing and plan to seek out her other books.

It is the kind of novel that I expect will appeal to reading groups for its highly engaging plot, the gentle humour, strong characterisations, and the opportunity it provides for discussion on a range of topics. I also feel that Mabel, Felix’s scrubbing-brush of a mongrel, will prove a huge hit with readers. She certainly won a place in my heart as did Felix himself.

Highly recommended.