Don’t Tell Me How to Die

Coming March 4, 2025

I have one thing to do before I die.
And time is running out.

I had it all: fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then at the age of 43, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died at 43. I was 17, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.
I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants”?

After I finished the final draft of Don’t Tell Me How To Die I sent the manuscript to 50 people, and asked them to text me with their gut reaction as they were reading. Here are some of their responses…

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BOOK TRAILER

PRAISE FOR DON’T TELL ME HOW TO DIE

“What begins as a mystery-tinted character study transforms into a full-bore thriller, with a spate of jaw-dropping twists that recast the entire narrative. Readers should be prepared to stay up all night.”
Publishers Weekly
“I’ve lost track of time. Thanks to Marshall Karp’s deft storytelling, his likable, unpredictable characters, and the hairpin curves I never saw coming, Don’t Tell Me How to Die gripped me from page one to the end in a single two-day binge. I wanted more.”
—Maxine Paetro, #1 NYT bestselling author, the Women’s Murder Club series

“A razor-sharp domestic thriller about a dying woman’s desperate mission to handpick her husband’s next wife—and she’ll stop at nothing to get the job done. Marshall Karp displays every skill as one of the greatest storytellers of our generation.”
—Joe Donahue, host of NPR’s Book Show

“Marshall Karp had me in the palm of his hands. A riveting narrative that pulls the rug out from under you with every twist. Storytelling doesn’t get better than this.”
—Peter James, # 1 bestselling author

Don’t Tell Me How to Die is a departure from typical crime thrillers as it ventures down the lane of a family drama before it switches gears and hightails into an intense and creepy story all the while keeping you guessing as to what is really going on. Marshall Karp does not disappoint.”
The Best Thriller Books

“An engrossing confluence of humor, emotion, and suspense that never lets readers’ attention stray…Don’t Tell Me How to Die is more than the usual thriller; it is a candid look at family ties and love and the things we do to protect those in our lives we cherish most. This is must-reading for fans of smart storytelling and deep emotional resonance—a showcase for the unquestionable talent of Karp.”
Suspense Magazine

“This riveting page-turner has all the suspense, twists, and sly humor one enjoys in a Marshall Karp thriller…You may pick up this book for the joy ride of the plot, but you’ll be haunted by the humanity of the characters.”
—Glynnis Campbell, USA Today bestselling author

“The narrative goes from 0-100 in the blink of an eye.”
—Kashif Hussein, The Best Thriller Books

“Marshall Karp will keep you riveted page after page, twist after twist, until delivering a stunning blow in the final five words.”
—Marie Sutro, award-winning author

“A wild ride. This book twists and turns with such cunning, you’d swear Marshall wrote it with a corkscrew. We at Blackstone are proud to champion this masterpiece.”
—Anthony Goff, President of Blackstone Publishing

BOOK TRAILERS