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    Exit
    Ebook369 pages6 hours

    Exit

    By Belinda Bauer

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    From the award-winning author of Snap and Rubbernecker, Exit is the story of Felix Pink, an older man with a group that helps people who have chosen to die with dignity. But there’s been a mistake, and Felix’s life is about to change forever.

    Belinda Bauer is “Britain’s most original crime writer” (Crime Scene), one of the few authors in the genre to be longlisted for the Man Booker prize. Now she returns with a heart-pounding, heartbreaking, and often hilarious new crime novel in which it’s never too late for life to go fatally wrong.

    Felix Pink is retired. Widowed for more than a decade, a painfully literal thinker, he has led a life of routine and is, not unhappily, waiting to die a hopefully boring death. He occupies himself volunteering as an Exiteer—someone who sits with terminally ill people as they die by suicide, assisting with logistics and lending moral support, then removing the evidence so that family and friends are not implicated in the death. When Felix lets himself in to Number 3 Black Lane, he’s there to perform an act of kindness and charity: to keep a dying man company as he takes his final breath.

    But just fifteen minutes later Felix is on the run from the police—after making the biggest mistake of his life. Now his routine world is turned upside down as he tries to discover whether what went wrong was a simple mistake—or deliberate. Murder.

    Belinda Bauer continues to redefine the boundaries of crime fiction, with a novel that is part murder mystery, part coming-of-old-age story—however short that future may be. With the compassion and dark humor of Jonas Jonasson and the twisted thriller plotting of Rear Window, Exit is a novel readers will not soon forget.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtlantic Monthly Press
    Release dateFeb 2, 2021
    ISBN9780802157904
    Author

    Belinda Bauer

    Belinda Bauer grew up in England and South Africa. She has worked as a journalist and screenwriter, and her script The Locker Room earned her the Carl Foreman/Bafta Award for Young British Screenwriters, an award that was presented to her by Sidney Poitier. She was a runner-up in the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition for “Mysterious Ways,” about a girl stranded on a desert island with 30,000 Bibles. Belinda now lives in Wales. Her latest novel, Snap, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. 

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    Reviews for Exit

    4/5

    82 ratings13 reviews

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    • 3/5
      What a fun read. Surprised by the 'who did it'.
    • 4/5
      Felix Pink is an ‘exiteer’ - he doesn’t exactly help the dying exit this life, but he keeps them company while they are helping themselves. Exiteers are supposed to stay on the side of the law - just - but when Felix is working with a new and inexperienced partner he is horrified when she provides the little bit of assistance that is all the would be suicide needs. And he is even more horrified to discover that the man that they are supposed to have assisted is not the person who is actually dead… In the front bedroom an old man was leaning out of a bed by the window, trying to reach a walking stick that had apparently fallen on to the wooden floor. He propped himself on an elbow, glared at Felix and grumbled: ‘You took your time!’ Felix froze. Took in the gaunt, grey face, the frail body, the bedside table filled with pills … Then he stepped backwards out of the room and pulled the door smartly shut behind him. Amanda was at his shoulder now. ‘What is it?’ she said, but Felix couldn’t speak because all the words he’d ever known seemed to be whirling around inside his skull like bingo balls. The ones he needed finally dropped slowly from his numb lips. ‘We killed the wrong man.’ As a man in his late seventies whose wife and son are dead, Felix feels it is for him to take the blame, rather than his young partner Amanda. But things get more and more complicated…This was a good light read (despite the subject matter) and one that I enjoyed. Until the final denouement that is, which I have to say was just plain stupid in my opinion! But I might try another book by this author.
    • 4/5
      I've enjoyed almost all of the books by Belinda Bauer that I've read--I've read 4 or 5. I'd describe them as psychological thrillers/crime novels, and that's how I'd describe this one.Felix an elderly retired gentleman in a country village belongs to a group called the Exiteers. Members of this group assist terminally ill people who have chosen suicide to end their lives. By the rules of the organization (and the law), they cannot provide affirmative assistance in the execution of the act, and they can only be there to offer moral support and comfort to the person committing suicide.As the novel opens, Felix is accompanied by a new member of the Exiteers to the home of a terminally ill man who wishes to die. Unfortunately, the new recruit, perhaps because of inexperience, accidentally does something that might be considered affirmative assistance, and then to Felix's horror, they learn that the man who dies was not the person who requested the help of the Exiteers. Suddenly, Felix finds himself wanted by the police in a murder investigation.The novel is full of twists and turns, and made for compelling reading. Another excellent book from Bauer.Recommended.3 1/2 stars
    • 5/5
      This was quirky and moving, and the plot kept me guessing. What it doesn't really do is explore the issue of assisted suicide in any depth.
    • 5/5
      Felix Pink is a retired widower whose experiences have led him into becoming an exiteer, a volunteer who keeps the terminally ill and dying company when they decide to end their own lives, saving their families from legal jeopardy and providing comfort, but no physical assistance. The day Felix is paired with a new young partner named Amanda, things go badly wrong and the wrong man dies. Felix sees that the police are getting nowhere and he realizes that he will have to step in and figure out who set them up, while protecting both his one-time fellow volunteer and keeping a promise he makes to the man who should have died. This book features the same detectives as Belinda Bauer's Booker-nominated novel, Snap, but as in that novel, they are secondary to the story being told. This read, to my utter delight, a lot like a Jackson Brodie mystery, only without Jackson Brodie. There's that same sense of a tangle of threads being eased apart and that moment when everything falls into place. Bauer has written some very engaging characters and interjected humor into the story without sacrificing verisimilitude or the impact of a murder on the people affected. Felix is a wonderful protagonist, a cranky octogenarian who misses his wife deeply and brings his dog Mabel along with him wherever he can. He's determined to do the right thing but isn't really sure what that is, and until he figures that out, he'll rectify the smaller harms.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed “Rubbernecker” and couldn’t wait to read “Exit”, the latest by Belinda Bauer. I was not disappointed! This book is great fun, a rollicking romp that is very reminiscent of classic P.G. Wodehouse with its dry humor, intricately plotted spiraling mayhem, sweetly comical characters, and bad guys that deserve everything they get. The story follows the “Exiteers”, a group of earnest volunteers who work, within a very fine legal line, to provide end-of-life emotional support, but no actual assistance, to the terminally ill. The story follows an Exiteer, - our main protagonist, Felix, an elderly gentleman himself, who is a total charmer (along with his adorably determined pup Mabel). Needless to say, things do not turn out as planned for Felix, whose unshakeable sense of integrity sets him on a path that is both heart-breakingly tense for the reader, and laugh-out-loud funny.I found this collection of big-hearted misfits and evil villains (it’s up to you to sort out who is who as the plot unfolds) delightfully entertaining, - that’s now two for two and I’m looking forward to reading more of this author.A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an advance review copy of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
    • 4/5
      Felix Pink works as a so called Exiteer which means he accompanies people during their last hours to decently transit from this to another world. Normally, they work in pairs and so far everything has gone quite smoothly. They do not leave any clues about their presence and don’t use their real names even with their colleagues. When Felix is called to his next client, it is his first job together with Amanda who is new to the business. When they have accomplished their task, a bit more demanding since the old man this time seems to have become reluctant to die in the last second, they are about to leave the house. At this moment, somebody shouts for them, obviously, they haven’t been alone in the house as expected, but there was a witness – waiting for them to assist his suicide. Felix and Amanda have made a huge mistake and have to face reality: they have just killed somebody and the police are already on their way.“He had made a terrible mistake, but hoped there was a good reason why. He just hadn’t found it yet.”I was first allured by the idea of the Exiteer business since assisted suicide has been fiercely discussed and surely isn’t an easy topic. However, Belinda Bauer’s novel turned out quite differently than expected. From the rather serious and gloomy start, an incredible plot develops which is full of fine irony and humour, wonderful characters who are diligently drawn and all the absurdities life can offer. “‘Bloody hell,’ said Pete. ‘I did not see that coming.’ Calvin thought that spoke well of Pete, because you’d have to be pretty sick to see that coming.”Felix Pink is a decent elderly widower who is a bit lonesome but as Exiteer has found a task which gives him the feeling of being helpful. Finding himself suddenly in the middle of a crime is something he absolutely cannot cope with. He is full of pangs of conscience which leads him to worsen the situation even more. Yet, it is not only the Exiteer who is breath-taking to observe but also the dead man’s family – consisting of his son Reggie and his father Skipper – who have quite some story to offer and also the police is a set of extraordinary characters.A remarkable plot which offers quite some surprises one surely cannot see coming.
    • 5/5
      Felix Pink is seventy-five years and is a witness as terminally ill people take their own lives. One day, a mistake is made and he witnesses the "suicide" of someone who did not intend to take their own life. Since he considers himself to be steadfast and boring, he cannot forget this incident and proceeds to try to understand what happened. Along the way, he interacts with many people; many of them eccentric and charming. The combination of quirky characters and the situations they found themselves in made me laugh out loud at some points. Developing friendships added depth to the the story. The plot was well thought-out and kept me guessing until the end.
    • 3/5
      Although I didn't love the characters or writing, Bauer's plot is excellent.
    • 5/5
      Belinda Bauer’s Exit is a delightful, offbeat murder mystery novel.“Felix Pink found the predictability comforting – even if the predictable outcome was death.”Seventy-five year old Felix Pink is an ‘Exiteer’, a volunteer with a secret group that aids, but does not assist, terminally ill people to end their own lives. A minor breach in protocol by Felix’s new partner, Amanda, seems innocent enough until they discover that they have in fact witnessed the death of the wrong man.What follows veers between tragedy and comedy as Felix tries to understand how such a mistake could have been made. It soon becomes clear that the Exiteer’s were set up, but by who, and why? The answer is far more complicated than one might expect, and I’m loathe to spoil the smart twists of the plot that implicates more than one person.Felix is a charming protagonist, he lives with his dog Mabel, enjoys puzzles, and considers himself boring but steadfast. The loss of both his wife and son is his motivation for joining the Exiteers and he believes he is doing important work. When he realises a mistake has been made he is horrified, eager to protect his partner, the group, and make to amends. There are several other characters of importance to the story including the Exiteer’s group leader, Geoffrey, Amanda, the family of the dead man, and the investigating officers, DCI Kirsty King and DC Calvin Bridge who astute readers may recognise from Bauer’s previous works. This is a well crafted tale with a unique hook. Witty, clever and engaging, I really enjoyed Exit.
    • 4/5
      Another winner from Belinda Bauer! As with all the her books, there is a bit of a lighthearted feel and tone that is undercoated with incredibly dark subject matter. I found this one to be immensely engrossing and also found the plotting super on point. The lighthearted tone was supported by really likable characters and some great humor. It's a skilled writer I think, that can write about the most excruciating last moments of death and have the reader experiencing it as if it was a 'feel good' kind of book. And there are two very adorable dogs and a big cat that no harm comes to, in fact they seem to come out better in the end :) My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read advanced copy. This opinion is my own.
    • 5/5
      “The Exiteers existed to support people with terminal illnesses and for whom pain meant their lives were no longer bearable” That is the premise in this wonderful, gentle quintessential English crime novel. Felix Pink is in his mid 70’s, tragically his wife and son have both passed. In order to inject some purpose into his daily routine (apart from walking Mabel his canine companion) he volunteers some time to “Exit” and by do doing hopes that his presence, together with a co Exeteer brings some peace and tranquillity to their client as he/she travels from this world to the next. As our story opens Felix and Amanda are attending the bed of Albert Cann, in his final moments. Their role is passive, they are not there to aid or help but rather silent observers awaiting Albert’s final intake of breath. Unfortunately a mistake occurs and the proceeding drama not only affects are volunteers but a number of residents in this sleepy Devon hamlet.Belinda Bauer is wonderful at leading an unexpected reader down a certain path confronting and revealing the perpetrator of this dreadful crime….or so you thought :) …because just at that moment you are totally within her playful grasp, and the person you are about to confront is nothing but an innocent bystander! This is writing of the highest order, as soothing as English breakfast tea and Devon scones with jam! The pace is slow, unhurried, characters gently introduced and their role fully explored and explained. Belinda Bauer is such a vital and important addition to British crime writing. Her penmanship is fresh, her storytelling exquisite interspaced with gentle humour. Exit is a joy to read. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written
    • 4/5
      Recently I wrote about how my carefully crafted reading schedule goes up in flames every time I get a book by Sharon Bolton. Well, you’ll be relieved to know I gave myself a stern talking to. There’s a proper list to be followed so like a responsible adult I reached for the next book in the queue. Then I got the latest from Belinda Bauer. *Sigh*….Here’s my review.I should begin with a trigger warning for those of you passionate about garden gnomes. The book contains a scene that can only be described as utter lawn ornament carnage & it’s not pretty. So maybe skim that part. You’re welcome.This is the story of how one simple mistake alters the lives of a handful of residents in the small village of Bideford. The cast is a mixture of decent folk & quirky oddballs who all weigh in as the book progresses. But the 2 main narrators are Felix Pink & PC Calvin Bridge.Felix is a 75 year old widower. He lives a quiet, orderly life & has always played by the rules. After watching his wife lose a slow battle with dementia, Felix became an Exiteer…..one of a small group who witness the death of those who have chosen to end their suffering with assisted suicide. They work in pairs & for his next assignment, Felix is accompanied by new recruit Amanda. They travel to the home of Charles Cann, an elderly man with cancer. One look & Felix knows it will be a short visit. In fact, he’s more worried about Amanda. Ah well, the first time is always the toughest. All they have to do is sit there so really, what could go wrong? Oh ye Gods, where to start…In the blink of an eye, Felix goes from upstanding citizen to man on the run. Worse yet, someone called the cops which brings PC Calvin Bridge to the Cann residence.Calvin is a 27 year old guy who is trying to remember why he became a cop. After a brief stint as a detective under DCI Kirsty King, he’s happy to be back in uniform & patrolling the streets. He knows the local criminal element well so when he gets a call about a home invasion, he figures he’ll have it solved by tea time. And he might have…if only he hadn’t found a body.This is one of those reads where you should go in knowing as little as possible about the plot so I’ll quit while I’m ahead. But what you’ll find is a story that is just as much about the characters as who-dun-it. Compared to the author’s previous book, this is a slower paced tale full of warmth, humour & surprising twists.It all kicks off with the body. Then we meet the cast & learn of the events & people that have shaped their lives. The MC’s are 2 men at very different stages but as the story progresses, both begin to reflect on the choices they’ve made. I particularly enjoyed Felix’s journey. When we first meet, he’s a man who is awaiting his own demise as he helps others on their way. But a funny thing happens as events spin out of control. He’s not allowed to passively stand by & is forced to participate in his life. Bauer excels at characterization & with just a few sentences, even minor characters jump off the page. The dialogue is sharp & economical & as the pace picks up in the second half, it becomes an entertaining mix of mayhem & misunderstandings as characters race to either find or avoid each other.It’s much more than a cleverly constructed murder mystery. Interspersed with devious twists & wry humour are moments that are poignant & all too familiar for those of us with elderly family members. Through Felix & Charles, we feel the heartache of losing someone bit by bit & frustration over the small things we gradually surrender with age. Multiple story lines eventually intersect & there are plenty of surprises in store. The ending brings the story full circle & I thought it was perfect. Wishing you red skies every night, Skipper.Oops, I forgot to include a warning for those fond of vending machines. Oh well, you’ll get over it. Now, where did I put that reading list….