Review of Just Die

[Anaïs Quesson]

The story idea sounds intriguing, but I'm a bit concerned about its execution, as you pointed out. I might give it a read to see for myself. Thanks for sharing your candid review.

I'm curious about reading your thoughts on this if you ever read it. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!

[Anastasia Baglay]

I did also had a mixed feelings about this book. It does not offer any new concept, yet it is written well. Yet there are a lot of things the author did not imagined well. Anyway. thank you for your honest review! Your critique looks grounded.

[Anaïs Quesson]

I did also had a mixed feelings about this book. It does not offer any new concept, yet it is written well. Yet there are a lot of things the author did not imagined well. Anyway. thank you for your honest review! Your critique looks grounded.

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, Anastasia.

[Runan]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Just Die" by E Alan Fleischauer.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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“Now, it’s okay to be annoyed, but instead of showing your irritation, just point discreetly at the person and say the words, ‘Just die.’”

Imagine waking up with the ability to kill any living being with nothing more than a couple of words.

During a dinner with his friends and fiancée, as he’s celebrating the recent sale of his business, Jake Silver suddenly has a stroke. When he wakes up in the hospital, he recovers extraordinarily quickly. Thanks to a new experimental treatment, Jake immediately talks and behaves normally. He's ready to leave the hospital within forty-eight hours.
The day before his discharge, another patient is brought to share his room. The poor man also suffered from a stroke but is less fortunate than Jake. He keeps muttering in gibberish, moaning and coughing. In the middle of the night, this annoying roommate is still keeping Jake up. There is no way for him to change rooms. Remembering what his mother taught him when he was only a teenager, he points at the man and whispers two words under his breath: ‘Just die.’ Before Jake can even react, the monitors go flat as his roommate dies on the spot.
His new abilities are soon confirmed by the sudden death of a cyclist right by his house. Jake now has the power to kill any animal and human being he lays his eyes on. What will become of him when the police start investigating what seems like an unfortunate bike accident? How will Jake and his relatives use his newfound powers? What would happen if the government heard of the story? Read Just Die, by E. Alan Fleischauer, to find out.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

Let's start with the plot.
Jake’s power over the living is what made me read this book in the first place. I wondered whether he would use his abilities for good or end up going berserk. After all, how do you deal with such power? The initial idea has so much potential. It could have been an amazing book but it was poorly executed.
I disliked how Jake's actions seemed to have no consequences. He kills people, including high-graded officers, in the blink of an eye. However, he’s never held accountable. Why? Because he's an American patriot who serves his country and gets rid of ‘bad guys’. Every incident is resolved in a disappointingly happy way. I was hoping for a more nuanced storyline.
The book is very short, and some parts could have been more detailed. For example, the medical aspects could have been thoroughly explained. How did Jake’s treatment cause such powers? How are his abilities tested by TJ’s team?

The characters’ backstories are explored through multiple flashbacks, such as Jake’s childhood memories or Omar’s past as an NFL player. I enjoyed the depth it brings to the characters. It makes them slightly more realistic and often explains the way they act in the present time.
Yet, there are so many things I can’t fathom. Why would Jake’s mother wish that people die rather than flipping them off? It seems so extreme to me. And why on Earth would Jake walk around and tell total strangers about his power? The whole book is based on such decisions that make no sense to me.

When it comes to writing style, Fleischauer’s writing is unadorned and straightforward. It is consistent and fits this genre perfectly. Be aware that this book includes a few profanities and racial slurs, as well as various sensitive topics.
The author based his story on precise locations in the United States. I enjoyed looking up the places on the Internet to picture them better.
However, there are many things I disliked about the way this book is written. The dialogue is dull and lifeless. Several of the interactions between characters made me roll my eyes because of how unrealistic they sounded. The story could also benefit from a better organization. The chapters are divided into multiple parts and various points of view. Some chapters include almost ten of these. It sped up the pace of the story too much. Jumping from one character to another prevented me from building feelings for any of them.
Surely, this book is well-written and feels like watching a movie. I just did not care much about what was happening.

I end up giving Just Die a conflicted rating of 3 out of 5 stars (40%).
I can’t deny the fact that this book is very well written, with a diverse cast of characters and an interesting starting point. However, I was not emotionally invested and I found many incoherences in the storytelling. Every negative I mentioned above causes me to significantly lower my rating.
I still think this is a good book, it was just not the right fit for me. If you usually like fast-paced thrillers and enjoy a sparkle of supernatural abilities, I recommend you to read Just Die and see for yourselves.

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Just Die
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Your review is brilliant. You have underlined important points about this book. Your rating is justified. Actions should come with consequences. One should not take the law into their own hands. Some of the characters decisions do not seem to be in line with their character and do not make sense. That’s the main point that bothered me about the story in your review.

[Anaïs Quesson]

Your review is brilliant. You have underlined important points about this book. Your rating is justified. Actions should come with consequences. One should not take the law into their own hands. Some of the characters decisions do not seem to be in line with their character and do not make sense. That’s the main point that bothered me about the story in your review.

Thank you so much for your kind words, Runan!

[Agatha 4_life]

I think Just Die is about my favorite book since I became a reviewer. Alan Fleischauer is a genius.

[Julie Basil]

I appreciate this very detailed and honest review. I too would take issue with a main character who kills others so flippantly and faces no consequences for his actions. I will not be reading this book. Keep up the good work!

[RJ Reviews]

I was debating about picking up this book. But your honest review gave me a pause. Good dialogues elevate a book to the next level and absence of it is regrettable. The ability to bond with characters is pertinent to great reading experience and this book seems too fast paced for that. I found your review really helpful. Thank you.

[Anaïs Quesson]

I think Just Die is about my favorite book since I became a reviewer. Alan Fleischauer is a genius.

I'm curious to read your review. I'm glad you liked it!

[Anaïs Quesson]

I appreciate this very detailed and honest review. I too would take issue with a main character who kills others so flippantly and faces no consequences for his actions. I will not be reading this book. Keep up the good work!

Thank you for your kind words, Julie

[Anaïs Quesson]

I was debating about picking up this book. But your honest review gave me a pause. Good dialogues elevate a book to the next level and absence of it is regrettable. The ability to bond with characters is pertinent to great reading experience and this book seems too fast paced for that. I found your review really helpful. Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment on my review, RJ. If you're after strong and well-built characters, this book might indeed not be a good fit for you. The pace is too fast to really create such a bond with the reader.
I hope you will find another book you will enjoy!