Owen is a retired minister whose wife died after they had been together for 45 years. He has shared the journey of bereavement with others, and travelled the road himself. The first two chapters brilliantly take us through the biblical view of death and the afterlife, before moving on to the concept of the soul. Later chapters explore early death, and death in disaster and war. Owen faces the issues of fear and faith, solace in grief, and reminds us that heaven awaits.

Each chapter has a short and thoughtful introduction followed by reflections and prayers from various sources. Owen rightly says that bereaved people are helped by reflecting on what others have written. However, the content and style left me unsure about whom the book is aimed at and when it would best be read. Perhaps some will want to dip in to the places they feel drawn to when the time feels right. I warmed to the author. Perhaps it is a compliment to him that I wanted his thoughts, reflections and prayers.