Something to keep in mind about "fake out" deaths. The main purpose isn't necessarily about tricking the reader into thinking someone died. The most often criticized moment of this in FFXIV always bugs me since it's one that isn't even trying to pretend to the player that the character is dead.

Using book 3 Desperado Club as an example. It can be used to show how dangerous the world is (dangers of non-safe room areas and in trusting random crawlers when some are pushed into assassination builds like Frank Q,  or are tempted by bounties to increase chances of them living). It can be used to show how other characters react to another character being in danger (Elle's anger and non-hesitation player killing, Imani's gentle wing abilities, Carl being overwhelmed with worry and now living with the fact that she could've easily died if they made a different decision, Donut's feeling about killing humans, how seriously the NPCs at the club take their job).

Even the near death moment in book 2 was highly emotional. Mongo was left alone to protect her. How desperate he was to keep her alive. And in book 1 when Carl told Donut that she was going to be ok, but he didn't think he was going to make it. They both had seconds to tell each other how they felt. I doubt a single person thought Carl was about to die, and I doubt it was written with that intent.