Godden, Salena: Mrs Death Misses Death

LONGLISTED FOR THE GORDON BURN PRIZE Mrs Death tells her intoxicating story in this life-affirming fire-starter of a novel Mrs Death has had enough. She is exhausted from an eternity of her job and now seeks someone to unburden her conscience to. Wolf Willeford, a troubled young writer, is well acquainted with death, but until now hadn't met Death in person: a black, working-class woman who shape-shifts and does her work unseen. Enthralled by her stories, Wolf begins to write Mrs Death's memoirs. Together they travel across time and place to witness deaths of past and present. As the t wo reflect on the losses they have experienced (or facilitated) their friendship grows into a surprising affirmation of hope, resilience and love. All the while, despite her world-weariness, Death must continue to hold humans' fates in her hands, appearing in our lives when we least expect her . . .