What if you were contracted to kill someone, but killed the wrong guy? Belinda Bauer’s newest book, Exit, unfolds exactly this when bumbling pensioner Felix Pink and a ‘co-worker’ Amanda manage to accidentally kill the wrong person.
The book focuses on two perspectives: Calvin, a police officer, and Felix Pink, who works as an Exiteer, which is a person who helps someone basically helps out with assisted euthanasia, without bending any legal rules. After learning that the wrong person had died, he goes to figure out why it happens and ultimately finds that he was set up. This leads him to ask several questions towards his co-worker and boss, and befriends the old guy who was meant to die. Calvin’s perspective serves to link up the gambling background and the other ordinary life details in the town where this is set.
I enjoyed how this book explored the grey morality of Felix, and the other themes of death, ageing, loyalty, and friendship. These themes are rather broad, but Bauer brought them together in a neat package that was extremely palatable but also complemented the story well. I also very much enjoyed how Calvin’s past and family are also morally grey, and is alluded to throughout, giving sometimes a needed break between segments of Felix’s story.
The writing was crisp and direct, and made for delight for reading, as there wasn’t much to get swamped out in detail. The way that the perspectives were initially separated, I enjoyed seeing how both were meshed into one excellently woven story. There were elements of world and character building, as well as the plot being fleshed out well- which made me glide through the book! There was also some comic relief in there, and I felt that was a nice touch to an otherwise heavy book. The book was also paced slower in the first half before going to full power by the end- and I felt like I ended up with book whiplash over it.
The book’s concept was definitely somewhat original, and was executed in a way that did not make the storyline sound exaggerated at all. The way Bauer wrote in a way that was sensitive, but also real enough was something I actually did not think could be pulled off so well. However, I was left absolutely surprised by it.
What I felt was lacking though was the lack of story given to the character Amanda, given her role in the Exiteers. I felt like I wanted more of her side of the story, and at times I feel like she was sometimes forgotten, even though she plays a key role in Calvin’s investigation. I also felt that Felix was sometimes too likeable for someone in the Exiteer business, despite essentially being described as a bumbling old man.
I also was definitely intrigued in how the story tied its loose ends so neatly, it actually made me question if I missed anything (I’m pretty sure I did not).
I recommend this very original book for those who like a bit of a different mystery or crime book, and those who are a fan of the ‘who did it and why did they do it’ stories.
Exit is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 21st 2021.
Will you be picking up Exit? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE MURDER . . .
Pensioner Felix Pink is about to find out that it’s never too late . . . for life to go horribly wrong.
When Felix lets himself in to Number 3 Black Lane, he’s there to perform an act of kindness and charity: to keep a dying man company as he takes his final breath . . .
But just fifteen minutes later Felix is on the run from the police – after making the biggest mistake of his life.
Now his routine world is turned upside down as he tries to discover what went wrong, while staying one step ahead of the law.
Exit is the heart-pounding, heart-breaking, and often hilarious new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Belinda Bauer.
