Clare O’Dea’s newest book out with a signing this Thursday in Payot Geneva

Published: 02 November 2025

In 2021 knowitall.ch published an article about Clare O’Dea’s book, Voting Day, at this link. We just found out that she has just published a new novel, Before the Leaves Fall, set in Switzerland.

What is this novel about?
Before the Leaves Fall is the story of Margrit and Ruedi who meet again by chance after many years. Their paths cross for the most important of reasons: Margrit is planning to die with an assisted suicide organisation and Ruedi is the facilitator sent to help her through the process. When they realise their past connection, an unexpected bond forms, one that will illuminate both their lives.

What was the inspiration behind this novel?
You can’t help hearing about assisted dying when you live in Switzerland, which now accounts for two to three per cent of all deaths. It is quite easily accessible and has become almost an ordinary thing to do, just another aspect of Swiss self-determination. But it is extraordinary to have that power to remove the mystery of how and when we will die. And it is a different experience for loved ones compared to a natural death.

Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
Ever I since I first reported on the subject as a journalist, I was interested in the reasons why some people chose this path while others, who might objectively be suffering more, did not want to miss a minute of their lives. Behind each decision is a unique life story and that’s what I wanted to explore with the character Margrit.

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