A dark comedy about how to live your best life, even when you're dead.

Stacey was trying to live her best life, but now she’s dead. But why hasn't she passed on? Could it be her fatal car accident was actually murder?

Detectives Ed Beaufontaine and Rosie Garafino certainly think so. They have a long list of suspects, chief among them Stacey's fiancé, Liam. His business dealings and new relationship with Emily Jackson are raising a few eyebrows. As the detectives dig deeper, so does Stacey. With nothing but time on her hands, she forensically examines her past relationships – her pathological ex, unreliable father, controlling psychologist, and toxic girlfriends – realising she might have been better off without them. She's hoping she can steer the detectives in the right direction before she's doomed to wander for eternity. Because in the city of angels and 12-step programs, even the dead need a little help from time to time.

Praise for Twelve Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death

‘Such a wry and deft interweaving of the real and unreal. A unique voice. I loved it.’ – Rachel Ward

'Half thriller, half ghost story, 100% page turner, Sarah Smith’s brilliant debut novel has more precarious twists and turns than its Mulholland Drive setting!' – Kym Wilson

'A really great mystery. Loved it!' – Rebecca Gibney

‘A whip-smart and twisty debut that will keep you up all night.’ – Rose Hartley, author of Maggie’s Going Nowhere

‘Part detective story, part dark comedy and ghost story, Twelve Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death has plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to keep readers guessing ... this is a fun ride for fans of Richard Osman or Janet Evanovich.’ – Books + Publishing