In Heide’s Florida-set novel, a devoted husband promises his wife a dignified death but struggles to deliver it.
In 2007, Dorothy Pickering, a “feisty” 68-year-old grandmother with a penchant for off-color jokes, reminds her spouse,
Guy, of his vow to help her die after her terminal cancer diagnosis threatens their life together. Flashbacks into Guy and
Dorothy’s relationship from childhood to adulthood reveal their romantic history of defying social norms. Their deep,
enduring bond demands that he follow her wishes, no matter how difficult—or farcical. After all, Guy reflects, “We’ve
always done things our way. Why stop now?” He decides to perish together with her and makes plans for a “picnic”—their
code word to keep their 40-year-old daughter, Heather, from finding out their secret. Dark, comedic action ensues as
Guy’s attempts to finish their “last tango” turn into misadventures of epic proportions: “You’re not good at this, are you?”
Dorothy observes, even as she’s touched by his devotion. Satirically broad secondary characters provide moments of
hilarity to the narrative, framed by Guy’s salt-of-the-earth dry humor and pithy understatements; neighbor Izetta Tooney
(“A rotund figure in a shiny daisy-patterned spandex halter top and matching shorts”) couldn’t possibly understand how the
main characters’ love might prompt them to take their final steps together. Despite its controversial themes, the narrative
develops a poignancy that provokes both laughter and tears. The grim realities of aging and grief hit hard without
sacrificing the authenticity of the portrayal of the Pickerings’ lifelong love or the comedic gold of their last outing.
A brilliantly balanced dark comedy that addresses euthanasia with humor and empathy.

Clarion Review GENERAL FICTION
The Pickerings' Last Tango: A Very Different Love Story
John Grayson Heide
River Grove Books
(334pp)
978-1-966629-80-1
The Pickerings’ Last Tango is a bittersweet, affecting novel about grief and the power of true love.
In John Grayson Heide’s moving novel The Pickerings’ Last Tango, a grieving husband makes the difficult choice to
leave the world alongside his suffering wife.
Guy and Dorothy are a perfect couple. Their childhood romance grew into a loving marriage. In their sunset years,
their doctor tells Guy that Dorothy has weeks left to live. Guy recalls a promise they made years ago to help each
other die on their own terms. Faced with this grim reality, Guy decides that he wants to pass away beside his
soulmate. What follows is a comedy of errors in which Guy’s private, painful decision is publicized and a media storm
erupts around the dying couple.
Dorothy’s personality is the highlight of the book and the reason for its evocative pull. Described by her doctor as
“feisty and special,” Dorothy has a lively, if inappropriate, sense of humor, charming yet off-putting bluntness, and an
indignant, sharp wit. Her brute force of will and stubborn persistence inform her painful decision to die on her own
terms, and her vibrant personality makes Guy’s decision to follow through even harder. Indeed, her magnetic charm
causes Guy to think he cannot live without her, making his decision to die alongside his wife make perfect sense.
The supporting cast includes overzealous reporters and Guy and Dorothy’s children (a business-focused divorced
father of a teenager and a doting, worried daughter with young children of her own) and grandchildren. Guy worries
about leaving them behind, a conundrum that escalates once his lost teenage grandson, Alex, comes to help him take
care of Dorothy. Alex—who narrates the novel alongside his grandfather—grows closer to his grandparents; in doing
so, he finds himself, adding a coming-of-age subplot to this family-focused tale. In fact, Guy’s loving family is his
biggest obstacle, making the story suspenseful and heartwarming in equal turns, including at its heart-pounding
conclusion.
The story is bittersweet and emotive from the start, as Guy is faced with Dorothy’s mortality and his impending
promise. Occasional flashbacks to Guy and Dorothy’s childhood and courtship further flesh out the couple and the
depth of their relationship, though they sometimes distract from the suspense of the main timeline. Guy’s internal
turmoil, combined with his being forced to navigate his loved ones’ feelings while planning a murder-suicide, makes
the story equal parts devastating, humorous, and philosophical—a delightful combination that makes the novel a
standout example of literary suspense.
The prose is gorgeous, with decadent descriptions of people and places alongside Guy’s and Alex’s internal
monologues. Guy and Dorothy’s house, for example, is a singular entity in the midst of a cookie-cutter housing
development, sticking “out like a dusty farm truck amid a fleet of shiny sedans.” This writing style displays mastery
over figurative language and a rejection of clichés; its rhythm is lyrical, making the book entertaining and cohesive
from start to finish.
A grieving husband dodges his loving family members while trying to plan a peaceful death for his terminal wife in the
deeply felt novel The Pickerings’ Last Tango.
LEAH BLOCK (December 4, 2025)

The ending of things is always a tricky business, especially so when it comes to the life of a loved one. In 2007, as Dorothy Pickering faces a grim cancer prognosis, her husband Guy struggles both with his role as caregiver and his promise to assist her with a death by suicide. Heide’s bittersweet comic romance explores, with heart and surprises, the lengths people will go to to care for each other, as well as the question of just what exactly makes life worth living. Complicating an already fraught situation: the arrival of grandson Alex at the Pickerings’ Orlando home, sent by his mother ostensibly to help Guy care for Dorothy, though Guy suspects the visit is truly about keeping an eye on Guy. That accelerates Guy’s timeline for “the deed,” with disastrous—and funny—results. Guy’s increasingly absurd failed attempts at carrying out his wife’s wishes are interspersed with flashbacks of the couple’s early years of romance, illustrating how deep and enduring their love is, and the charming banality of life happily lived.
The novel teeters between the humorous and sentimental with ease, never dipping too deeply into the maudlin or macabre, and Heide has crafted a cast of substantive characters whose thoughts and experiences feel vivid and honest. What starts as a simple and melancholic tale of an elderly couple grappling with end-of-life affairs transforms into a surprisingly action-packed adventure, with wacky turns that emphasize how very Florida the whole story is. Heide indulges in a few moments of implausible caricature in his depiction of both journalists and the military, but the third act is an exhilarating ride that, for all its twists, never loses sight of the relationship at its heart.
Heide does a wonderful job always driving the story forward while littering in sparse glances of profundity, understanding exactly when a heartstring needs plucking or a belly
needs laughing. The Pickerings’ Last Tango is a heartwarming breeze—and like too few things in life it ends well.
Takeaway: Heartwarming comedy of Florida couple’s end-of-life dilemma.
Comparable Titles: Annie Lyons’s The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, Sigrid Nunez’s What Are You Going Through
Production grades Cover: A- Design and typography: A Editing: A- Marketing copy: A

It’s a VERY good read!! 

5 out of 5 stars
A wild and crazy tale.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2026
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase

Like the reviewers above, I enjoyed reading John's novel the "PLT." It was very funny, I burst out loud laughing on a number of pages, and being somewhat of an incurable romantic, I liked the love story, which seemed very sweet and real. And turning that wheel a second time with his grandson, Alex and the young girl, Amy's blooming relationship was delightful. The characters were richly drawn, engaging, and if I have one quip.--it would be that perhaps John used a few too many similes. Sometimes the sentence can just end with a period. But I also agree with the reviewer who said this could be a great movie. I'd go see it.

Fantastic read.
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2026
Format: Kindle
Verified Purchase

What a story! Lifetime love right up to the end. Funny and tear jerking at the same time. The Pickering's leave a lasting impression long after finishing the book. It's a timely tale for our times.

5 out of 5 stars
I highly recommend this book
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2026
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase

This book was a complete joy to read because it encompassed everything from tender emotional experiences to deeply funny moments and so much more about life’s journey. It’s a real page turner.

Fun and touching Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2026
Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase

This was a fun and sweet and zany story. Touching on love and end of life and family and relationships. Our Book Club read it and had a very good discussion with the Author!

Enjoyable Book !
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2026
Format: Kindle
Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was laugh out loud funny. I felt like I knew the characters . The subject (end of life) was handled very well, with warmth and humor. I love the way the story unfolds. It was exciting with twists and yet charming and heartfelt. The relationship that Guy and Dorothy have is love at its best. This story would be a great Movie.

Dying can be humorous
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026
Format: Paperback

A fun, yet tender, approach to the dilemma of dying. The main characters, Guy and Dorothy Pickering, are sweet, funny, and down-to-earth. I enjoyed spending a few days in their company.