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How To Be Dead (The 'How To Be Dead' Grim Reaper Comedy Horror Series Book 1) Kindle Edition
His life is going nowhere until he has a Near Death Experience - though Death thinks of it as a Near Dave Experience. He discovers gifts he never knew he possessed and a world he never dreamed existed. A world where the Grim Reaper is a hard drinking, grumpy Billy Joel fan and the undead are bored, lonely and dangerous.
How To Be Dead is the first part in a series of best-selling funny urban fantasy novellas that tells the story of Death and his friends protecting humanity from ghosts, zombies, vampires and medium-sized apocalypses.
After a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
What Amazon readers are saying about the How To Be Dead series:
★★★★★ “Dave Turner is a funny man and ‘How To Be Dead’ is a brilliant read.”
★★★★★ “If Neil Gaiman and Simon Pegg sat down to write a story together they might come up with something like this.”
★★★★★ “Hilarious and unexpectedly moving.”
★★★★★ “Laugh out loud funny… It’s been a while since an author has made me laugh more than Pratchett does.”
★★★★★ "Each part of this trilogy is a compelling story which seems to gather pace."
★★★★★ "If you like Tom Holt, Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett, Dave Turner's books will fit perfectly into your collection."
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateDecember 1, 2013
- File size2.5 MB
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See full series- Kindle Price:$10.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
- Kindle Price:$23.94By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 5 books.
This option includes 6 books.
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Product details
- ASIN : B00H17V7OS
- Publisher : Aim For The Head
- Publication date : December 1, 2013
- Language : English
- File size : 2.5 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 89 pages
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 1 of 6 : The 'How To Be Dead' Grim Reaper Comedy Horror Series
- Best Sellers Rank: #243,002 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #249 in Horror Comedy
- #295 in British Horror Fiction
- #576 in Two-Hour Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Reads
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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Dave Turner is an award-winning writer of science-fiction, fantasy and comedy whose work has featured on the websites of BBC News, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Times and The Huffington Post.
He won the Best Screenplay Award at London Screenwriters' Festival with his short film script 'Everything You Need'. After selling various screenplays which you will note you have not seen as films at your local multiplex, he created Aim For The Head books to publish his work. He lives in the south of England with his wife, three children and a vague sense of ennui.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's snarky sense of humor and find it wonderfully written. The story is refreshing and thought-provoking, with likeable characters and a quick pace. One customer particularly appreciates how the storyline of ghosts and the grim reaper is handled in a cute way.
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Customers enjoy the book's humor, particularly the author's snarky sense of humor and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
"I had a lot of fun reading this book. It’s well written and funny. Looking forward to the next book." Read more
"...This breaks up the monotony, and this book was no shelf turd, something I would certainly pick up again." Read more
"...Mostly in How To Be Dead I loved the layering of truths and interlacing of humor...." Read more
"...The characters are perfect, the Grim Reaper a delight, I know weird description for a Reaper but he really is...." Read more
Customers praise the writing style of the book.
"I had a lot of fun reading this book. It’s well written and funny. Looking forward to the next book." Read more
"Looking for a new author and what a fabulous find!! I was completely captivated by the first chapter and couldn't put the book down...." Read more
"...Masterfully done. Not to mention that was the most satisfying ending or beginning? ... to a love story I've read in a long time...." Read more
"I love this book. I love the writing style. The humor is spot on. Reminded me of William Goldman (Princess Bride) - which is pretty high praise...." Read more
Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, finding it refreshing and thought-provoking, with one customer noting how the storyline of ghosts and the grim reaper is handled in a cute way.
"...Mostly in How To Be Dead I loved the layering of truths and interlacing of humor...." Read more
"...I was completely captivated by the first chapter and couldn't put the book down...." Read more
"...but there's just the right balance between humor, sarcasm, pop culture symbolism and some serious philosophical exploration. Masterfully done...." Read more
"Interesting start to a series. The corporate slog and grind that everyone has been exposed to, is given perspective in this first book of the series." Read more
Customers enjoy the characters in the book, finding them likeable.
"Dave Marwood is a great character. For a lot of people doing nothing is the easiest way to live, but Dave works hard at his apathy...." Read more
"...The characters are perfect, the Grim Reaper a delight, I know weird description for a Reaper but he really is...." Read more
"Dave is an apathetic character and one you can come to love much in the same vein as in The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy...." Read more
"...The character of Death is overwhelmed and adept at an occasional mistake. The reference to Keith Richards caused me to have a good belly laugh...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's pacing, describing it as quick and masterfully done.
"...It’s a quick read , get in or get on, you’ll stay for the full ride." Read more
"...Nothing too scary, nice pacing, and moments that made me smile. Definitely recommend!" Read more
"This was a fun read, very quick wish it was longer. Corky Characters that I’m excited to learn more about." Read more
"...I loved the wise guy humor. Fun and quick read. Looking forward to the rest of the series." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2025I had a lot of fun reading this book. It’s well written and funny. Looking forward to the next book.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2022I love reading light books like this. They tend to keep the flow of my reading on course since a lot of the books I tend to read are far more serious. This breaks up the monotony, and this book was no shelf turd, something I would certainly pick up again.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2014Dave Marwood is a great character. For a lot of people doing nothing is the easiest way to live, but Dave works hard at his apathy. We see in the novel a character that is willing to think of others before himself even in the most extreme situations. He is a guy who is living and feeling despite his efforts to the contrary. Dave has seen ghosts since he was a small child, and he seems comfortable and at peace with them—they seem rather stubbornly married to their earthly existence contrary to what other popular fiction might tell us. Dave is ideally situated to fill the job that Death proposes to him.
Death is an interesting guy. The way that Turner layers this immortal character is fascinating. Death is petulant. The human body is simply a meat puppet for the soul. They are silly and useless and yet he seems to care about making Dave understand his point of view. He needs that contact. Death is horribly busy but lives in time as though the eras are rooms in a house so that his hectic pace never ends. Death has had to distance himself from his friends and their ill-advised choices (Famine once took a wife!) so that he is only about work and chocolate biscuits. He is not infallible. As Turner says early in the novel, “Some days you are Godzilla. Other days you are Tokyo” (Kindle Location 63).
Mostly in How To Be Dead I loved the layering of truths and interlacing of humor. The style of writing speaks to Turner’s writing experience in the smooth flow and easy spirit of the characters. The ghost that Dave meets on the subway is quite happy to continue riding the train. He says that it makes him feels as though he’s alive which gives this spirit a contentment that is unique to the genre. That Dave isn’t the guy to push a subject to suit himself leaves this reader eagerly anticipating where this series will go next.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023I am excited to find a new Urban fantasy series to read. I will be looking forward to reading more of the adventures of Dave and Death.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023I have to say I have sympathy for the four horsemen. Tough gig.
I'm sure ennui is an issue for them.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2023Looking for a new author and what a fabulous find!! I was completely captivated by the first chapter and couldn't put the book down. The characters are perfect, the Grim Reaper a delight, I know weird description for a Reaper but he really is. This book is a perfect escape from a very hectic World. Give it a try and it will be your great new find.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2016Dave appreciates Death and who wouldn't after reading this brilliant introduction. For such a short story, How to be Dead it is packed with flashy little scenes and amazing metaphors, surprising twists and snappy dialogue. So witty and fun but yet incredibly deep with lots of nuggets to keep you thinking. Who would have thought Death could be such an interesting character ... and love chocolate biscuits. I often find this kind of tongue in cheek humor tiresome in a book after awhile, especially if the author insists on sticking with it on almost every page, but there's just the right balance between humor, sarcasm, pop culture symbolism and some serious philosophical exploration. Masterfully done. Not to mention that was the most satisfying ending or beginning? ... to a love story I've read in a long time. Immediately downloaded the second book. Dave Turner has a new fan. Five twinkling stars for this one.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2016I love this book. I love the writing style. The humor is spot on. Reminded me of William Goldman (Princess Bride) - which is pretty high praise. Droll humor, real human emotions, absurd situation. The only problem with the book is that it is too short. I loved it and wanted more. Of course it is a series and you get the full story with the addition of books 2 and 3. I just finished 2, haven't started 3 yet. Thinking of William Goldman, this would make a great move in the "Shaun of the Dead" vein - An average guy in way over his head so you do what you have to.
Top reviews from other countries
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Marco KornReviewed in Germany on March 11, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Eine lustig-morbide Geschichte
Skurril, frech, hintersinnig - hat was von Christopher Moore. Die Story nimmt schnell Fahrt auf und unterhält bis zum Schluss.
- NathanReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
Really enjoyable book, very easy to read, only a short book but a good start to the series. Definitely worth reading.
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in India on August 16, 2016
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Fun experience to read
- CJVReviewed in Canada on June 3, 2016
4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this book
I enjoyed this book, I wish it was a much longer, deeper novel as there was so much more that could have been said and done in the story. It was a fun read but it was over far too soon and I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series. The style of this reminded me somewhat of Good Omens by Gaiman and Prachett, so if that kind of humor is your thing, you will love this book as well!
- BeakyReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2019
4.0 out of 5 stars A Book That's Actually Funny Enough to Make You Laugh!
This is a very short book (less than a hundred pages) and is the first in what is currently a 5 book book long series.
The books protagonist is a man named Dave Marwood. Dave is a fairly predictable character, he works in an office in London, fancies his co-worker Melanie, and shares his apartment with a conspiracy theory obsessed, unemployed man named Gary. Nothing exciting or unusual seems to happen in his life, until Halloween night.
He goes out to celebrate Halloween with a friend when he runs into a drunk Melanie. He takes this opportunity to speak to her and hopefully work up the courage to ask her on a date. All is going well until Melanie drunkenly stumbles out in front of an oncoming vehicle. Dave pushes her out of the way to save her life, but he gets hit by the car and killed instead.
This is where we are introduced to the first of the Four Horsemen, Death. He loves tea and biscuits, believes that chocolate Hobnobs are humans best invention, and seems to be very very bad at his job. He grants Dave a second chance at life, and gives him his business card with the address of his office printed on it.
When Dave wakes up in hospital he tries to convince himself that it was all a dream, but as the days pass by it becomes increasingly obvious that was not the case.
I was originally expecting this to be a poor copy of Sir Terry Pratchett's work, but I was very wrong. This book may draw done influence from Discworld, but it definitely stands out on its own. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something silly and quite humerus, this is the only book to have ever made me laugh out loud! This was the first book I have read by Dave Turner but I have already dived into the second book in the series and will definitely read more of his work in the future.