At this point in the series, you should know that there will be lots of dying. With most of it not being permanent. And the "most" is what the plot centers around - getting someone to kill you so you don't die.

But people still die under suspicious circumstances.

The new and unique spin of this installment (pandemic references aside) is the very naked moral tale being told. Scalzi is not subtle here. Which does not spoil when the villains get their comeuppance one bit.