THE PICKERINGS' LAST TANGO

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.