What Makes Life Worth Living: A Guest Post by Veronika Dapunt

Meet Death in this darkly funny and thrilling murder mystery from a debut author. Read on for an exclusive essay from Veronika Dapunt on writing Death and Other Occupational Hazards.

I’ve always been a big reader of mythology, particularly stories that reimagine ancient figures in a modern, humorous context. Works like Good Omens, Lucifer or Supernatural subvert our expectations of iconic characters like Death or the Devil, portraying them as flawed, witty and deeply human, rather than distant or terrifying.

What I noticed, though, was that novels featuring a female Death as the main character were rare, and this was the catalyst for me to start writing Death and Other Occupational Hazards. I wanted my Death to be everything traditional assumptions about the Grim Reaper were not. She’s a woman, she’s young, she’s funny and she loves bright colours; like so many of us, she has a job which is necessary but not everyone’s cup of tea (to put it mildly), and she’s always tried to do it well— yet it’s never appreciated. The story begins because she’s finally had enough and decides to take a sabbatical in modern-day London, only to find this rudely interrupted by a string of unexpected murders.

From the outset, Death’s voice was strong. I hadn’t set out to write a funny book, but her perspective felt naturally comedic. After existing for billions of years, I felt that she would have developed a dark sense of humour as a way of coping with the enormity of her role. Once I found her voice, the story began to take shape around it. While I always knew there would be darker themes underpinning the novel, what I really wanted to explore was the complexity of life itself, and the way in which light and dark coexist.

That idea led to the creation of Death’s sister, Life. To me, it made sense that if Death were personified, her counterpart should be as well. I have a sister myself, and sibling relationships are rarely simple; they can contain rivalry, frustration, love, and loyalty all at once. Although mortality is a central theme in the book, I consciously wanted to show Death not as something separate from life but as a natural part of it, and to reflect on how making peace with this can ultimately lead to a more fulfilled existence.

Many of the other characters appeared without much planning, especially the rats and the dog. I’m a huge animal lover, and my own dog, Cosette, is my most faithful writing companion. Whenever I write, she lies next to me for hours, patiently, despite probably thinking how strange humans are for doing what they do.

At its heart — and this is not something I planned, but it emerged naturally — I would say my book explores what makes life worth living. It’s about love in all its forms: family, romantic relationships, friendships, the deep bonds we share with our pets, and how far we will go to protect and cherish those we love.