Review of Death Has None

[Michael Valentine]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Death Has None" by Mahdis Marzooghian.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Death Has None by Mahdis Marzooghian is the story of an Iranian immigrant, Sohreb Nezami, who had moved with his family to the United States and the fate they found.

Cyrus, a fifteen-year-old boy, is suddenly tossed into a world of uncertainty and loss after his mother is killed and his father is arrested. Confused, hurt, and grieving, he struggles to be an elder brother to his brother and handle schooling as well. Named after Cyrus the Great, a Persian Emperor of great power and strength, Cyrus tries to reconcile the stories of his namesake and his reality. Cyrus finds himself torn between the overwhelming evidence against his father and his belief in his innocence. How does a man completely in love with his wife go from being a loving father to being a murderer?

Death Has None is a very absorbing narrative, capturing the highs and lows of a young boy caught in a sequence of horrible events. I loved, in particular, the character of Cyrus; he was so beautifully portrayed. We clearly witness him being a teenager and trying hard to be strong for his family. So even though he tries to be mature, we catch glimpses of the young boy he really is. I also liked how the Farsi language, which was the language of the characters, was liberally infused into the book alongside their interpretation. Apart from strengthening the authenticity of the characters, I found the interpretation really helpful and easy to follow. The book was also well edited, and I found no errors in it.

One thing I did not appreciate about the book was that it took a while for me, as the reader, to catch up with all of the gist of the story. For instance, we learn what happened to his father in the first chapter, but it is not until the 8th chapter that we find out the exact reason for it. It also came as a shock to me when I found out in the 7th chapter about recent information about his mother. This meant that it took a while before I could comfortably flow with the book.

Despite the reasons stated, I would not deduct any stars and rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. There was no reason to rate it lower. This is a five-star book, regardless of the negatives.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books about crimes, especially murders, as well as thrillers.

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Death Has None
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[Lilo n Stitch]

The book sounds like a real emotional rollercoaster with Cyrus navigating through some heavy family drama. The Farsi infusion and the portrayal of Cyrus as a teen trying to be strong made the story interesting. Your review hinted at some plot reveal delays but I think that's part of making the story more exciting. Thank you for this detailed review

[Azaz Raja]

Thank you for the detailed review of "Death Has None" by Mahdis Marzooghian. Your insights into the characters, particularly Cyrus, and the infusion of Farsi into the narrative offer a compelling perspective on the book. While you noted a slight pacing issue, your overall positive rating highlights the book's strengths. It seems like a captivating read for fans of crime thrillers and mysteries. Great review!