Death and the Taxman - Paperback

by David Hankins (Author)

2024 Book of the Year for Outstanding Humor/Comedy (Independent Author Network)

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel of 2024 (Critters Readers' Poll)

The Grim Reaper, trapped in an IRS Agent's dying body, must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgment for his original sin.

Never trust a dying auditor.

Allies are few and hijinks are many in this hilarious race against time as the Grim Reaper himself tries to cheat death and avoid an audit by Hell's Auditor and the Office of Micromanagement.

After sharing an ill-advised cup of tea with IRS auditor Frank Totmann, Grim finds himself trapped in Frank's life amid a world of dangers: love, betrayal, reckless cabbies, implacable demon hunters, and the incessant needs that keep his body ticking . . . for now.

But what happens when Death isn't shepherding souls to their final destinations? When bodies refuse to die in a world-wide epidemic of miraculous survivals? Grim has seen this once before. He knows what's coming, and it's not good . . .

Written in the witty comedic styles of Sir Terry Pratchett and Piers Anthony, Death and the Taxman is a lighthearted contemporary fantasy that began as an award-winning short story of the same name published in Writers of the Future Volume 39. Acclaim for that short story by readers and critics alike called it "brilliant and hilarious," "delightful and quirky," and "laugh-out-loud funny."

"A wry look at humankind from the outside, Death and the Taxman takes the reader on a fast-moving journey they won't want to stop until they have finished the last page."

- Jody Lynn Nye, NYT and USA Today Best-Selling author of the Myth-Adventures of Aahz and Skeeve.

"Two enthusiastic thumbs up. This was wildly fun!"

​​​​​​​- Jennifer M. Eaton, USA Today Best-Selling Author of The Star Bandits Series