Close to Death: a Mind-Bending Murder Mystery from the Sunday Times Bestseller
Product description
Readers who want a straightforward crime story may look for a different sort of mystery from those who enjoy being kept guessing. Close to Death is presented as a mind-bending murder mystery, with twists central to its appeal. It is a collectors' edition published on 11 April 2024. Buyer feedback points to an engaging read, though opinions on its pace are not unanimous.
Best use cases
This book is suited to readers who enjoy murder mysteries built around surprises and a plot that gives them reasons to revise their guesses. The description identifies it as a crime mystery, while buyer comments highlight twists that continue to surprise towards the end. That makes it a natural choice for a quiet evening or a longer reading session when you want a story to hold your attention, rather than a book picked mainly for practical reference or brief, self-contained reading.
The title describes it as a Sunday Times bestseller from a bestselling crime writer, but no author name or details about the plot are supplied here. If you already follow the series, buyers describe this instalment as one of its strongest. If you are new to it, the available information does not establish whether it works best as a first entry, so readers who prefer to begin a series in order may want to take that into account. Worth considering if twists and an absorbing mystery matter more to you than a uniformly brisk pace.
Technical overview
- Name: Close to Death
- Type: Murder mystery book
- Edition: Collectors' edition
- Publication date: 11 April 2024
- Dimensions: 6.42 x 1.5 x 9.53 inches
- Reference: 978-1529904239
The supplied details do not give a reliable print-length figure, so there is no page count to use when judging how substantial the book is. The listed dimensions may help when considering shelf or bag space, but other physical details, including weight, are not provided.
Pros
The strongest reason to choose this title is its twist-led mystery. Buyers describe the story as intriguing and entertaining, and several comments praise the way its surprises keep arriving late in the book. Others find it easy to read and engaging, with some saying the story held their attention for a long stretch. These are reader impressions rather than a guarantee that every reader will find the same pace or payoff.
There is a clear contrast with a more conventional crime read that prioritises a steady, predictable investigation: this one is pitched towards readers who enjoy uncertainty and changing expectations. Feedback on the writing is positive, but reactions to pacing are mixed. Some readers found it hard to put down, others felt it moved slowly. That difference is worth weighing if you usually choose mysteries for a fast, consistent tempo.
Is it worth it?
Close to Death looks most appealing for readers who want a twist-heavy murder mystery and are happy to let the story unfold at its own pace. The buyers' positive comments about its plot and entertainment value support that case, while the divided response to pacing is a genuine point to consider rather than a detail to overlook. It’s not for you if you need every crime novel to move quickly and consistently, as that experience is not shared by all readers.
The collectors' edition is the specific edition identified in the product details, there is no information here about extra content or special physical features, so those should not be assumed. Choose it for the mystery and the reported surprises, not on the basis of unlisted extras or a page count. For readers already invested in the series, buyer feedback is particularly encouraging, for someone choosing a first book in a series, the missing reading-order information may make a little more research useful.