“Over My Dead Body” by Maz Evans is a humorous and cozy mystery novel that follows the ghost of Dr. Miriam Price, who finds herself, quite inconveniently, dead. To add insult to injury, everyone believes she committed suicide. Condemned to half a century in Limbo as a “Death by Misadventure,” Miriam must prove she was murdered to move on. But there’s a slight problem: being a ghost makes investigating your own murder a tad challenging. She can’t communicate with the living. However, she discovers that her elderly next-door neighbour—and mortal enemy—Winnie can see, hear, and talk to her. The catch? Winnie is close to death herself, which is how she can interact with Miriam.
Despite their mutual dislike, Miriam manages to convince Winnie to form an unlikely detective duo. They worked together to solve Miriam’s murder and possibly prevent Winnie’s impending death. It is a race against time to uncover the truth before it’s too late for both of them.
Reading this book, I was instantly reminded of Richard Osman’s “The Thursday Murder Club.” The cast includes retirees, with Winnie being a 70-something ex-cop who always dreamed of becoming a detective. Winnie’s favourite show is Diagnosis: Murder, and she dreams of solving a case of her own. When Miriam’s ghost presents the challenge, Winnie’s dream suddenly comes true.
Miriam’s inner voice is hilarious and full of sarcasm. Her view of the world is a breath of fresh air, especially with her motto of never saying sorry. Her background story is solid, making you care about her character. By the end, you’ll find yourself rooting for her—the bad girl turned good.
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However, there were moments where I felt like I needed a recent dictionary of pop culture or slang, as the author drops terms and names that aren’t universally known. For instance, Miriam is an A&E consultant—turns out that means Accident & Emergency. There are numerous pop culture references that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Unlike the more universally accessible humour in “The Thursday Murder Club,” “Over My Dead Body” sometimes feels like a stand-up comedy routine that can be a bit much.
The banter between Miriam and Winnie is super entertaining and top notch. They could easily become your favourite crime-fighting duo because of their sheer silliness.
The plot twist is excellent, and I bet you won’t guess who Miriam’s murderer is until the very last page. This speaks to how well-crafted the plot is. There are also scenes that tug at your heartstrings, kudos to the author. I appreciated that Miriam learns how her family and friends cope after her passing, each with their own problems—very human and relatable.
What really stood out for me was the unique concept of the afterlife. People have compared it to “The Good Place,” but I haven’t watched that show. All I know is that this afterlife concept made me think of death as more comforting. The idea that there’s a waiting room where the recently deceased can sort things out before moving on is both amusing and oddly reassuring.
One of the book’s strengths is how it balances humour with more serious themes. The author deftly handles topics like grief, regret, and redemption without letting the story become too heavy. It’s this balance that keeps me engaged and invested in the characters’ journey.
In the end, “Over My Dead Body” is a blend of mystery and humour, with a lovely characters and engaging plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries and needs a good laugh. It’s a perfect pick-me-up read that combines the charm of a classic whodunnit with the witty banter of an unconventional ghostly detective duo.
About The Author
Maz Evans is the author of the bestselling Who Let the Gods Out?, Vi Spy and The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife series, which have received over 30 award nominations, including the Carnegie Medal, Branford Boase, Books Are My Bag, Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year, and Indie Children’s Book of the Year. Over My Dead Body is her first novel for adults.
Rating: 4 muse points. It’s like a ghostly version of a cowboy movie - minus the shootings, but with plenty of spirit (pun intended).
