Such a fun book. Chapters from the dead and chapters from the living. It might keep you guessing, it might not. But it’s charming along the way.

Having loved How to Kill Your Family I had high hopes for What a Way to Go and I wasn't disappointed. Anthony Wistern dies during his 60th birthday party in strange circumstances and whilst he watches from a post death holding centre while he tries to remember how he dies he watches families reactions to his passing. As the family argue and back bite suspects are plentiful as mere days after Anthony's death it is revealed that he was running a massive ponzi scheme that has come crashing down. As Anthony desperately tries to remember how he died or who murdered him his list of suspects grows ever longer.

Anthony and his family were incredibly unlikeable who were all selfish and greedy so it was a little difficult to have empathy of any of the characters but I loved the dark humour and the aspect of Anthony watching his family on a TV from the afterlife. A suspenseful but dark thrilling read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read! I enjoyed the varied perspectives and how they all merged together, and I very much enjoyed Mackie’s imaginings of limbo. I felt this needed a slightly tighter edit (there are a few parts that are repeated and I genuinely couldn’t tell if it was meant to show us the self-importance held by the characters or if it was an error) and it didn’t have quite as much to say about class in Britain as it thinks it did. I’ll still be reading Mackie’s next one!

👀 Let’s just say… this one didn’t hit like How to Kill Your Family.

I wanted to love this. The premise? So promising. The vibes? Right up my alley. But the execution? Sadly… not it 😬

Now listen — I have no problem with unlikable characters. In fact, I usually love a morally grey mess. But this family? The Wisterns? They make “loathsome” look like a compliment. Think ultra-privileged, snobby, and painfully hard to care about.

It started strong, but the plot began to drag, and I found myself not really caring who did what or why. The true crime sleuth’s POV had potential, but lacked the depth needed to really hook me. Olivia and Anthony? Flat. Forgettable.

And those “brilliant twists” and “dark humour” the blurb promised? Yeah… didn’t feel it. At all. The multiple POVs didn’t bother me personally, but I can see it being overwhelming for some.

🔍 In short: cool concept, underwhelming delivery. If you’re picking this up because you loved How to Kill Your Family, just know — it’s not giving the same energy.

One of the best thrillers out there and Bella Mackie is a brilliant writer.

It's such a different concept that I haven't really read before and it works!

I ADORED How To Kill Your Family so was super excited to see What A Way To Go on the horizon!

Super late to leave my review but I’ve recommended and handsold this A LOT in my shop in both paperback and hardback, along with HTKYF!

“Bella Mackie is the Queen of darkly comedic crime novels! Toxic and selfish with zero redeeming qualities, you'll love to hate the Wisterns and their more-money-than-sense attitudes.”

Devious and deliciously dark! I loved Bella’s first novel, How to Kill Your Family, so was excited to dive into What a Way to Go – a twisted tale of murder, greed, and family dysfunction.

Loathsome and stinking rich, patriarch Anthony Wistern is found dead at his 60th birthday party… and his equally hideous family all quickly become suspects as their secrets begin to unravel.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints of the characters, who are mostly unlikeable (which is the point!). It’s a fresh and original story, full of twists and turns and Mackie’s sharp wit. Loved.

If you like a lighthearted murder mystery with twists and unlikeable characters, this is the book for you.

Anthony is found dead during his birthday party. Everyone in the family is a suspect. While Anthony’s ex-wife is true crime obsessed. The plot slowly unfolds and the author reveals true facade of each character. Narrated from multiple povs. You will find yourself pulled in the Anthony’s world. Each character is distinct and each of them has a reason. His death seems like an accident but is it truly an accident? As the author takes us deep in his mystery, the truth comes out. This is a good lighthearted mystery.

Thanks to the Publisher

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy!
I was excited for this one. I hadn't got around to Mackie's How to Kill Your Family which I'd heard great things about so jumped at the chance to read this one. The idea was interesting to me but unfortunately it didn't hit the spot. I understand that most of the characters aren't supposed to be likeable but I found them downright annoying. With the quote "I was immensely grateful that despite the gruesome wag my husband died he'd done it with his clothes on" I was expecting at least a couple of laugh out loud funny moments but I didn't find the book that funny at all.
All in the premise sounded very good but I felt the book overall just fell a bit flat with what felt like an almost rushed explanation of how Anthony died.

Thank you Harper Collins UK for this great opportunity!


I have read only one other book by Bella Mackie and that was how to kill your family and loved that book, I finished it so quick so much happened in that book and loved how fast paced it was. Now I got the chance to read what a way to go and I finished that in a day and a half. I’m happy to say this book is exactly what I expected. I love every second of this book, I didn’t guess the plot twist, it had my heart racing and so many emotions. Thank you HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, for approving this for me. I can’t wait to see what else Bella Mackie brings out!

What a Way to Go is a darkly funny novel about Anthony Wistern, a wealthy man who dies during his lavish 60th birthday party. After his death, Anthony finds himself in a strange afterlife, watching his dysfunctional family scramble for his fortune. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Anthony’s own, his icy ex-wife Olivia, and a true-crime podcaster determined to uncover the truth behind his death. Bella Mackie delivers a sharp satire of the ultra-rich, blending mystery with biting humor. The characters are delightfully unlikable, making their antics both shocking and entertaining. If you enjoy stories that poke fun at wealth and privilege, this book offers a witty and engaging read.

Bella Mackie did it again! I really enjoyed this one—especially the use of multiple points of view. I’m a sucker for dual POVs, and this time we get three, offering a layered look into each character’s mind (for better or worse!).

The premise is fantastic, and the cast is exactly what you’d hope for in a book like this: some you'll love, others you’ll absolutely love to hate. It’s a slow burn for sure—it took me a little while to settle into the rhythm—but once I did, I was hooked.

This is dark humour at its best: sharp, witty, and filled with characters who all seem perfectly capable of something awful. It’s clever and biting, with just enough charm sprinkled in to keep things interesting. If you enjoy watching rich, smug, and arrogant people spiral toward their inevitable downfall, this one’s for you.

A promising story but struggled to get into it or connect with the characters, possible just not for me sadly.

Firstly, a big thank you to Harper Collins, UK and Net Galley for the ARC.

This was a 3⭐️ read for me. I loved the premise of this book, and I loved the unique concept of what happens to us once we die. But unfortunately, I ended up being very 50\50 with this book.

Looking at the positives first, I loved the use of multiple perspectives, especially as we got a perspective of someone from outside of the family - an internet sleuth. We get three very different perspectives which gives the story a good structure, and makes it really engaging.

The author created a cast of characters that you’ll just love to hate. On one hand, this was great because as a reader, you’re just hanging on waiting to see their downfall, but on the other hand, too many irritating characters can hinder the reading experience and have you rolling your eyes one too many times. We have a family that have no clue how to not be rich, and that has a toxic dynamic between them because of the obsession with money.

This book was quite slow paced, and it did take a while for me to get into the book. Some scenes were a bit surreal, and had me a bit perplexed, but ultimately, that often makes for a good, gripping story. We had a good handful of twists and turns, and things don’t play out exactly as you’d expect them to.

Ultimately, this wasn’t the best murder mystery I’ve ever read, but with its dark humour and plenty of surprises lurking in the shadows, it was still a relatively enjoyable read.

After LOVING the debut, I was so keen to read this, I perhaps hyped it a little too much in my head.

I enjoyed, especially the last 30% but it took me a while to get into it

I think Bella Mackie deserves more credit for the recent trend of "I am a murderer and isn't it fun" trend that has overtaken book shops in recent years. I loved her "How to Kill Your Family", which was quite cutting edge and was funny and sharp.

I didn't like this one as much- it seemed a bit more route one and without as much of the wit of her first. That said, it was still engaging and enjoyable, and I suspect will keep her at the front of bookshops for a few years to come!

Not a book for me this one, I thought it was an easy read, but the plot didn’t really keep my interest.

Can a book about murder be fun? It can now! I love a book where every single character is awful in some way, so you’re never rooting for any of them. That was certainly the case with the Wisterns and co. Uber rich and truly terrible, we follow the family after their father has died and we try to work out how. It’s shocking, funny, with a lot of schadenfreude, very much in a similar way to How to Kill Your Family.

Also just realised the author wrote ‘Jog On’ which I have but haven’t read - I know what book’s up next!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I became a fan of Bella Mackie with her book 'Jog On' even though running isn't my thing. This was further cemented with 'How to Kill Your Family'. I knew this new book would be a great read.

It opens with Anthony dying at his 60th birthday party. He then looks down from above to see how his family react to what has happened. His wife, Olivia's perspective is also shown too. Plus there is a local 'sleuth' who wants to solve this mystery.

It is an utterly enjoyable read.

Brilliant read. Once again it so different from what i normally read.

Well written page turner.

Can't wait to read her other books.