The Will to Die

Starred review from June 1, 2020
This book is recommended by BlueInk Review, a fee-based review service devoted exclusively to self-published books. Booklist is happy to partner with BlueInk to bring you the best self-published titles for adults and youth. Stars reflect the decisions of BlueInk reviewers and editors.Pulizzi's mystery introduces Will Pollitt, son of funeral home owner Abe. When Will learns that Abe has died of a heart attack, he heads to his hometown of Sandusky, Ohio, whose waterfront district has been recently redeveloped by a business group originally founded by Abe and other town leaders. Will meets members of the Sandusky Alliance, or SA, who offer to buy the family business at above-market prices. Soon, though, Will begins to wonder about his father's death and ponders unsettling questions about Sandusky, such as: How do SA members know about Will's messy finances? And why does he see so few minorities in the city? Pulizzi is a breezy, easy-to-read writer, and the narrative races along, driven by snappy dialogue, engaging backstories, and pop culture references. Describing the colorful reception area of a marketing company, he writes: The whole experience was Willy Wonka meets Elon Musk. All told, The Will to Die presents fresh and surprising plot twists sure to keep readers riveted until the shocking conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)