Death, Just Grinn and Bear It
Christopher Hooley (@ChrisHooley2020)
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)
‘What do you mean I’m dead?’ said the half-naked corpse hanging from the ceiling. ‘Well… I don’t really know another way of putting this so try and keep up, you’re dead. Wait actually this is another way of staying it… your life has ended…. How about this? Your time is up?’
Dear reader – thank you for your application to become a Grinn and Bear It representative, we are a well-established business which is thriving despite, or maybe even because of the current unstable situation the world finds itself in.
Death is the universal, it was what Disney referred to as ‘a tale as old as time’ – oh wait – according to my legal team that might not actually be true. But death is certainly something of a growth business that’s for sure. I’d like to introduce you to Jack, he’s one of our employees and he’ll be your buddy / guide as you get to know the job.
Jack: ‘Hey reader, you’re going to love this well-paid job, being a ‘Grinn and Bear It’ rep is what’s more commonly known as a ‘Grimm reaper’. Think of it as the ultimate afterlife induction facility – simplified to just picking which door you want to step through into eternity…’
The mastermind behind this whole set-up is the literary deviant Christopher Hooley who has taken a winning idea and written up some kind of adventure that is not far from the wonderful tomes of Douglas Adams. Getting to meet characters at their deaths makes for a fun and somewhat poignant ride. If you’re a prude, then best note that there is an adult tale, and the adult characters do adult sexy things to each other, there is all sorts of sweaty sensual ‘action’, oh they also cuss in realistic ways so be aware of what you’re getting into!?
One might call Death, Just Grinn and Bear It a rom-tragi-com with spooky overtones (due to the sheer subject matter). It’ll make you laugh, it might make you cry and it will certainly keep you amused and engaged throughout.
Hooley is great writer, shaping his tale with more thought and nuance than the outlandish plot devices might initially warrant. If you enjoy the macabre end of contemporary fiction – sprinkled with some spice and wrapped around a heart - this really should be your next read!
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