What A Way to Go by Bella Mackie - Review

I read Bella's first book How to Kill Your Family back in 2022 so was interested to read her second book. I found it quite similar to the first one in that all the characters are highly unlikeable but the narrative is compelling anyway. I read this a while ago so please forgive me as I remind myself of what happened in the book... 

Oh yes so the book is about the Wistern family. The patriarch, multi millionaire Anthony, is turning sixty and his wife Olivia is throwing him a lavish party. They have four children, all of whom are terrible, but it's hard not to have some sympathy for the youngest, Clara. The eldest, Jemima, is married to Will, who is a bit likeable but caught up in this terrible family. She is terrible, though, and her other sister is too. Anthony is a ruthless capitalistic person. Olivia loathes him and is basically very materialistic. There's any number of rich 'friends' of the family who have been invited. It's all a massive thing. And then Anthony's body is found in the pond. The family turn on each other, pointing the finger for murder, but what really might have happened? 

Meanwhile, Anthony is in a place that's like purgatory or something. He can watch his family as they go about their lives, and he has to work out how his death happened, and then he will get to go on to the next place. He has to present his findings to the management in this place, but he keeps getting it wrong. Was it his wife? His business partner? Who knows. 

There's also a local young person who is obsessed with true crime and spends a lot of time online talking about true crime, and so when this case lands on her doorstep, she becomes obsessed. She basically starts stalking the family, in their massive country house, and soon begins to irritate them. She keeps going viral with her posts, so she won't stop any time soon either. 

I liked t he premise of the book but just didn't feel like it was pulled off properly. I can't really explain it, but this didn't have me thrilled and it's quite forgettable a month later. I'm giving it three out of five. 

I am so sorry it's been so quiet on this blog recently. I've been reading lots as usual but just haven't been blogging as I've been busy unpacking the house. I've got tons of posts to catch up on so keep a look out!