This is the first book I have read by Belinda Bauer, although I am familiar with her name and aware that she has won awards as an author including the CWA Dagger award for crime fiction.

I found the book to be a book of two halves. The first half is a little slow, but with lots of characters introduced, some of whom are using two names, so also confusing! Felix, who also goes by the name of John, is an exiteer. The exiteers sit with people as they take their own lives and when the person is dead, they leave, taking the evidence away along with their waiver form. One day, Felix goes to a job and something goes wrong. That is the concept and I quite liked it. It seems credible. You can imagine that something like that might happen in today's society.

The second half is a bit more police procedural. I'm not sure if this is the first novel featuring DC Calvin Bridges or if there has been a previous one - it's not obvious, I've done a quick search and can't find a previous novel. But it reads like a book which could be part of a series featuring this character.

Overall, it's good. It was engaging enough to keep me turning the pages and reading to the end. I felt that it lacked tension and that it wasn't as twisty and fast paced as other crime fiction which Ive read recently. I liked it but I didn't love it. It's lighthearted and humorous, despite being based on a murder and would make a good easy read for a summer holiday.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a book I would usually pick, but I was intrigued by the description. I am so glad I was.

The story seemed very original right from the start, and I really engaged with the characters. It has some really sweet bits to it as well. I could see this being turned into a TV drama and I would definitely watch it.

Exit was not what I expected but it was good, It Is a crime story but it has an Ealing comedy style to it, with twists and turns a plenty, it’s main character is John/Felix a 75 year old man who is very unassuming but Unbeknown to any one helps people die, he does this with a group called the Exiteers, they arrange the customer’s suicide in a way to look like a natural death, easy enough until by accident the wrong man dies. Felix is now a murderer but doesn’t know what to do or who to turn to. Exit is a great easy read and has well rounded, likeable characters, They should make this into a movie.

Welcome to the double-lives of ‘The Exiteers’, a group of discreet individuals who provide the unusual service of assisted suicide.

Let’s face it, such a morally delicate subject is not something you’d see advertised in the local paper next to Garden Services and Skip Hire. For most people it wouldn’t even crop up in conversation – at least not until they sadly found themselves facing a relentless and debilitating illness, or, more tragically, wanting that illness to end and embracing the stark reality alone.

Word of mouth is how the Exiteers step in and Felix Pink, aka John, is a model example of one of them. He’s a true professional and offers the ‘client’ a dignified, unrushed, and entirely legal exit from this world – that is until one day he walks into No. 3, Black Lane with his conscience intact only to walk out with it in tatters.

After making an unforgivable but perfectly understandable error, this elderly widower risks losing his morals, his freedom, and his sanity. Undoubtedly, Felix and his little dog Mabel are the stars of the show. His endearing and upstanding morals are a rare quality indeed, as is his relationship with his deceased wife whom he refers to when he gets himself into a bit of a muddle.

‘Skipper’ Cann is a multi-layered old chap too. In fact the personal circumstances of the Cann family coupled with the wider community connections are cleverly played. Yet the police were a step short of a pantomime. Most of the time they’d bumble merrily along until the Station’s robbing vending machine failed to dispense its wares, in which case they’d rugby tackle it immediately to get their confectionery fix!

It’s not what I’d describe as a heart-pounding read, but it did keep my attention with all the good, the bad, and the ugly that would naturally accompany such a difficult topic. More than anything it reiterated that old adage “don’t judge a book its cover” as its contents might surprise you. The story’s ‘Exit’ provided a touching and impressively apt end too.

(I received a digital copy of this title courtesy of the published via Netgalley, with my thanks, which is was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review.)

Exit is a brilliant read and quite different from the usual books about euthanasia.It is quirky ,entertaining with great characters especially Felix Pink and DC Calvin Bridge and Skipper .I found this book a very heartwarming read with humour in all the right places very enjoyable .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review

Exit is one of those books that is completely unrealistic and cliche, but is also funny, poignant and in some places, sad. It’s a book which is easy to read – is comforting almost – and one which will almost definitely draw you in.

The premise is simple but good. Felix Pink, 75 years old, works for an organisation called ‘The Exiteers,’ who, to put it bluntly, provide people who wish to die with the means to do so and accompany them through the time of their passing.

Sounds simple, and it is, until one day, Felix and his companion Amanda, discover to their utmost horror, that they’ve killed the wrong person. Next ensues a whirlwind of events as Felix finds himself on the run from the police who want him for murder.

Felix has good intentions and intends to hand himself in, but things keep getting in the way…

I must admit, although the premise sounds pretty depressing, the author did an excellent job of inserting humour into the right places to keep the tone of the novel upbeat. I laughed in more than a few different places! There were also some incredibly touching moments throughout.

This was what I would call a good story. It was nothing amazing, it did nothing new, it didn’t feel especially believable, but it excelled at entertaining me. In light of that I would highly recommend this book to those looking for an easy, yet entertaining and lighthearted read, which also provokes some interesting topics for discussion.

Thank you for NetGalley and Bantam Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

After reading Snap I requested this from Netgalley and was lucky enough to receive an ARC. I mention Snap as I think was expecting something similar so I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Felix is an Exiteer. A team of like minded people who sit with ill people who wish to end their lives with dignity. Teamed up with a new partner, Amanda, they arrive at a job like any other but this one turns out to be anything of the sort. So begins a twisty, turny tail that had me guessing all the way through.

I didn’t really know where to start with this as it wasn’t what I was expecting. A subject matter I would never have thought of (well done Belinda Baur) and I am lost at how to describe it. Funny, dark, touching, thoughtful to name but a few.

Highly recommend 5 stars. Thank you Netgalley

This book started off really promising but I struggled to keep up the momentum and by the end I wasn’t impressed, struggled with it a lot.

This starts off well, with Felix and his accomplice working as Exiteers (these are folk who sit with individuals whilst they commit suicide, thus, acting as witnesses and a sort of silent support).

Then, something goes wrong and the wrong individual 'exits'.

Unfortunately, for me, the story then meandered and I lost interest as it went along. It's a bit convoluted.

A 2* OK read. I didn't dislike the book, just found it hard to maintain interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

The plot of this story is a great idea and it is really well written. It is laugh out loud funny in places and a compelling read, I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The Exiteers are a secret group who go round to terminally ill patients and help them to die. According to their leader, Geoffrey, their work is vital but must be secret. Each Exiteer has a partner they work with and they always use pseudonyms, Felix Pink is a retired accountant who is very proud of the work he does. Felix carries out his duties strictly to the letter and ensures he collects the signed waiver and copy of the will. He never assists the client but sits waiting patiently drinking tea and eating his jam sandwiches while they gently pass over. Well all that is perfectly fine until something goes wrong and you’re laying low from the police accused of murder.
Once again Belinda Bauer has written a fabulously amusing novel that takes the rather controversial topic of assisted suicide down a very unique path. You can’t help but love the characters she creates, even the obviously dull retired accountant who has lived such a sheltered life that it’s not until in his late 70’s that he suddenly realises he’s boring. At this time, in the middle of a pandemic, to laugh out loud as you read is a wonderful thing. Highly recommend this to all readers, you cannot help but read it with a smile on your face and joy in your heart, who could ask for more.

Having read other books by this author and loved them, I struggled a bit with this one, maybe because of the storyline wasn’t for me right at this time. It is a very well written story of Felix Pink, a man who has led a fairly ordinary life, he is 75 years old, he has never sought out adventure, or taken risks in his life. He lost his son, and then watched his wife die a slow death. After that he joined a group known as the Exiteers, a secret group of people who witness suicides in the terminally ill. They don’t assist in any way in the suicides, they just watch and then clean up afterwards, to make it look like the person has died of natural causes.

But when Felix finds himself one day working with a new Exiteer, something goes badly wrong, and Felix finds himself in trouble with the law.

The story is told through Felix and PC Calvin Bridge, who is a young detective wondering if he just has what it takes to become a detective. The book is written in three parts, the first bit I found a little slow, but as you got further in the story picks up. The humour kicks in, with a great conclusion.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #TransworldDigital for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest unbiased review.
Felix Pink is unlike any killer I've encountered in a book before, in fact he isn't really a killer.
Seventy something year old Felix Pink isn't in fact a killer, he's an Exiteer, and sits with those choosing to end their own lives. A routine job one day with a new Exiteer goes horribly wrong and Felix's life spirals out of control.
Good strong likeable (in the main) characters, this publication was an easy at times amusing read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

“The Exiteers existed to support people with terminal illnesses and for whom pain meant their lives were no longer bearable” That is the premise in this wonderful, gentle quintessential English crime novel. Felix Pink is in his mid 70’s, tragically his wife and son have both passed. In order to inject some purpose into his daily routine (apart from walking Mabel his canine companion) he volunteers some time to “Exit” and by do doing hopes that his presence, together with a co Exeteer brings some peace and tranquillity to their client as he/she travels from this world to the next. As our story opens Felix and Amanda are attending the bed of Albert Cann, in his final moments. Their role is passive, they are not there to aid or help but rather silent observers awaiting Albert’s final intake of breath. Unfortunately a mistake occurs and the proceeding drama not only affects are volunteers but a number of residents in this sleepy Devon hamlet.

Belinda Bauer is wonderful at leading an unexpected reader down a certain path confronting and revealing the perpetrator of this dreadful crime….or so you thought :) …because just at that moment you are totally within her playful grasp, and the person you are about to confront is nothing but an innocent bystander! This is writing of the highest order, as soothing as English breakfast tea and Devon scones with jam! The pace is slow, unhurried, characters gently introduced and their role fully explored and explained. Belinda Bauer is such a vital and important addition to British crime writing. Her penmanship is fresh, her storytelling exquisite interspaced with gentle humour. Exit is a joy to read. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

Although set in present day I felt I was reading a Josephine Tey crime novel. Perhaps it was because of the age of the main characters. Not a bad thing I hasten to addd., Felix/John is a wonderful game old codger, Skipper a dour old salt and the Pringle scoffing Hayley are so well drawn. Loved the plot which was such a farce it could be on the stage.. Very entertaining all the way through.

Retired accountant Felix Pink, 75 has a hobby. He witnesses the deaths of people who wish to take their own lives. All is going well for Felix until one day when things go dramatically wrong.

Exit got off to an exciting and shocking start. Unknown to Belinda when she wrote her novel, the coronavirus has kicked off around the world and here in the UK. To read about characters as they took their last drastic breaths from behind CPAP masks was a shock for me and a little too close to home and reality. My wife Gail wears a CPAP mask for her Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and the thought of her taking her last breaths next to me in our bed really chilled me.

I liked how Exit mentioned the stress involved for visitors when they tried to deal with hospital car parking. I particularly liked when Belinda dealt with the feelings elderly people have with their wardrobe when she wrote…

His days of buying clothes were over. He had bought his last three-pack of Y-fronts a year ago, and the socks he had now would see him out. It was a strange feeling - that he would be outlived by his socks.

… After the initial shock, Exit became a farce as Felix and the local police buffooned around North Devon to establish what went wrong on that fateful day. Belinda Bauer has written many novels that have won a collection of awards but Exit is the first novel from her that I have read.

I found Exit to be a frustrating read and my interest faded as I worked my way through this book. If this was a television programme I would have been quite happy to turn over to another channel part way through. The story flitted about from character to character and this became rather irritating as this tale plodded along. The twists and turns were generated by trying to find out who moved the instrument on death and their motives. Laboriously the story lumbered on until the culprit was revealed. I lacked empathy for the characters because of the mistakes they were all making. I did not engage with the characters and my interest was fading fast. Although Exit got off to a very good start, I was disappointed and saddened by the lack of realism to this story. I found Exit to be quite a dull read and NOT a thriller. I think Exit is a POOR read and it gets just 2 stars from me.

Felix Pink - one of the most adorably unexpected murderers in print.

Belinda Bauer does it again with her take on another left field tale of crime. I've decided that she would be one of the best dinner party guests ever.

The sense of humour shines with every beautiful observation of everyday life on the 'mean streets' of Devon and the way the dominoes fall, brings a real life feel to the "fact stranger than fiction" saying. I know what I mean, anyway, as Felix might say.

The extent of sheer joy of reading a book can be measured in how many quotable lines I want to highlight and there are so many in Exit. It's a laugh out loud, just enough twists to keep you guessing, hugely likeable protagonist type read and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Especially to those who may not read crime or thrillers as a general rule. Cleverly conceived. constructed and climaxed, a total joy.

And to finish, a couple of quotes which did make me laugh out loud:

'Abbotsham was a twenty minute drive from Barnstaple. Felix made it in forty.'

'He had the red face, buggy blue eyes and tight yellow curls of a cherub who'd outdrunk his child-star status.'

Classic Bauer! Bring on the next one soon. Please.

Thankyou to NetGalley, the publishers and the author, Belinda Bauer, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Exit in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
The premise of the storyline was definitely thought provoking. Having read this author in the past, I was hesitant initially about this book. Am glad I went with it though, as it was a really good read. 3.5 stars.
Worth a read.

When I first started reading this, I wasn’t sure if I was going to last the whole book as it covers the subject of assisted suicide....something that I find quite emotional. However, I’m so pleased I continued, even if I did shed a couple of tears by the end! This is by far my favourite Belinda Bauer book I’ve read. Keeps you guessing all the way through and throws in a few good twist. Felix has quickly become one of my favourite characters!

So I was really excited to read this book based on the description. Having never read any previous books by Belinda Bauer I wasn’t sure what to expect but was intrigued by the synopsis.

It tells the story of 75 year old Felix Pink who has a very unusual job, working to assist people to die - what they call in the book an Exiteer. When he enters the house with a new partner for what is supposed to be a normal ‘job’ everything suddenly takes a turn for the worst when the unthinkable happens...

Unfortunately the lure of the premise of the story was more captivating than the story itself and it did not keep me enthralled. I must admit I even got to a point three quarters in when I didn’t know if I actually cared how it ended but persevered all the same!

Yes there are a few twists along the way but I just don’t feel the story is believable, too many turns and a little bit too far-fetched at times, and a bit all over the place with linking character, doesn’t seem to flow and keep the readers interest. Disappointing I’m afraid!

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