'It may sound a bit gloomy but Timor Mortis (literally 'fear of death') could hardly be more timely as we worry about the quality of end-of-life care for everyone we care about. Coker probes death's complexities from different perspectives: biological, psychological, moral and historical'

– New Scientist, A Best New Popular Science Book, July 2026

'Coker dissects death and our fear of it with a scholarly scalpel drawing from a range of disciplines. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the subject of death and the assisted dying debate today' 

– Baroness Anne Marie Rafferty, Former president of the Royal College of Nursing

'Timor Mortis evaluates our final bodily transaction. Public health doctor Coker blends humour and profound wisdom in this rambunctious book. Grief, ageism, end-of-life decision, disease, shame, the sheer cost of corpse disposal – this could easily have been a depressing read, but is instead strangely life-affirming' An Independent Book of the Month

– Independent

'As medical students we are taught how to prevent, or at least delay death. Yet the complexities of that death – what it means for the patient, their loved ones, their clinicians – are hardly touched upon. Timor Mortis fills that gap. As someone about to embark on a career during which I will, no doubt, encounter much death, this book has given me the opportunity to reflect on what that truly means.'

– Amaan Ullah, final year medical student, King’s College London

'A thoughtful, brilliantly researched and, at times, surprisingly funny look at the final moment that comes to us all, but which we find so hard to think and talk about. It’s one of those books so packed full of great quotes and fascinating facts, that you constantly want to turn to the person next to you and say, “Did you know…”. I enjoyed it immensely and was left feeling both enlightened and somehow reassured in equal measure'

– Dominic Hughes, BBC Health Correspondent

'Timor Mortis is a timely reflection on what it means to live in the shadow of our own death in the 21st century. By blending his own experiences with current social commentary, Coker examines how our relationship with death has been outsourced to institutions and shaped by the systems designed to manage it. He then investigates how knowledge of our own death shapes our lives, and in the final chapters challenges us to take back control. It is a candid, necessary investigation into the ethics of ageing and the machinery of dying in the 21st century'

– David Heymann, senior fellow, Global Health Programme, Chatham House

'Richard Coker brings long clinical experience, historical insights and moral clarity to a subject too often avoided. He discusses compassion and the cruelty, sadness and humour in a highly readable book that challenges how we think about dying in an era of modern medicine'

– Martin McKee, former President of the British Medical Association

'I was looking for a book exactly like this, to make the taboo topic of death accessible. You’ll laugh, maybe cry and certainly be enriched by Richard’s diverse encounters with death. I read this book slowly, even though it was very engaging, because it gave me so much to reflect on – about death, illness, ageing and the values we hold as a society. Highly recommend'

– Mishal Khan, Professor of International Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

'Part memoir, part meditation, Richard Coker guides us through the works of an astonishingly diverse array of writers and thinkers, brought to life by historical and recent examples and all set within a disarmingly honest and brave account of his personal journey'

– Sir Nick Black, professor of health services research, London School of Tropical Hygiene & Medicine

'Drawing on his extensive first-hand experiences as a doctor, public health practitioner, academic and human being during some of the darkest years of the AIDS pandemic, Richard Coker gives us an insightful and comprehensive analysis of the medical, philosophical, ethical and sociological complexities of death and dying. Especially topical in today’s world, Richard’s engaging and intimate writing – part memoir, part academic analysis – brings life and energy to a complex and under-discussed subject that affects every one of us'

– Jane Anderson, chair of the National AIDS Trust