I could not get into this book. It started too slowly and I didn’t care about the characters. Also the point of view seemed off.

West Heart Kill just did not do it for me. Private Detective Adam McAnnis is the ersatz narrator, or is he? The books skips across every imaginable POV to college drama class essays to a screenplay that may or not be the mystery we are supposed to be reading. There were parts that made me laugh, parts that made me roll my eyes, but the finale left much to be desired. I nearly DNF’d but wanted to know what happened – too bad that doesn’t happen.

While I appreciated the attempt at genre-bending writing style, it unfortunately resulted in feeling incredibly disconnected from the characters in the story. I didn't care who died, who did it, or the solution to any of the mysteries presented. To be honest, I hated the ending. It was just bizarre, and felt more for shock or to be unique versus making sense to the story. I did enjoy the meta conversations about the mystery genre, but they also contributed to the disjointed narrative, and per some other reviews, it seems that the information presented in these sections may not even be accurate, which is disappointing that no fact checking was done before publishing.

This was a great thriller/mystery. Rooted in the deep south. Absolutely loved the ending! I would like to read more by this author so I hope they continue pushing out novels!

This is a good book to add to my list of mysteries with unusual structure. It is part mystery, part love letter to the genre, part grad school thesis on the history of the detective novel. Recommended for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Stuart Turton, and Knives Out, and Christopher Nolan movies.

For readers that use the little grey cells, this book is like a love letter to the Agatha Christie obsessions. I was apprehensive to dive into this book at first after hearing very conflicting reviews. I found the book unconventional in the best ways possible. Geeking out about murder mysteries with me? Yes, please! I will recommend this book highly to any of my fellow murder mystery lovers, but it might be too much for those dipping their toe into the world of mystery.

Set in the 1970s, the novel revolves around the members of an exclusive hunting club in upstate New York. Long-standing members gather to discuss and disagree on the club’s finances, the admission of a new member and much more. Joining them for the Bicentennial weekend is a detective who manipulates his old college friend whose family is among the members to invite him along. Unbeknownst to the friend or the others, the detective has been hired to gather information about the club and its members and report back on the goings-on to his client, whose identity is gradually revealed. The weekend festivities take a sinister turn when the club turns into the scene of crime for a series of deaths. With inclement weather cutting them off from outside assistance, it is up to the members to find the killer in their midst. As the narrative progresses, it becomes evident that more than one person has secrets they would kill to protect and nobody is above suspicion.

West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman is an interesting locked-room murder mystery that certainly keeps you guessing till the very end (and beyond). The novel pays homage to Golden Age murder mysteries with a few twists added to the mix, adding a touch of uniqueness. Shared from the perspective of the detective in the first part and an unknown narrator (we assume to be one of the guests) in the other also, the narrative is shared from multiple perspectives switching from the first-person to the third person, also featuring a metafictional element in the form of the author’s commentary, directly addressing the reader, interspersed throughout the narrative. Atmospheric and suspenseful with a healthy dose of wry humor thrown into the mix, the plot development was well executed, but I can’t say the same about the dénouement. While I can appreciate the author’s use of multiple formats to tell the story, the ending leaves much to the reader’s interpretation and imagination. I also had a few issues with the structure of this novel. I enjoyed reading the segments on classic mystery writers, the discussions on the format and tropes used in crafting stories in this genre and the author’s musings on the same. However, these segments interspersed throughout the primary narrative of this novel impacted the flow of the story, often distracting the reader. It is evident the author is a skillful storyteller who knows much about his craft and has not hesitated to demonstrate the same, but that does not necessarily translate into a particularly satisfying reading experience.

In short, while I did have fun following the mystery, I can’t say that I enjoyed this book in its entirety.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the digital review copy via NetGalley and the gifted hardcover edition. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

“West Heart Kill” by Damn McDorman is a gripping thriller that immerses readers in a world of danger and deception. The novel is filled with suspenseful twists and turns that keep the pages turning, and the author’s descriptive prose vividly brings the setting to life.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, each with their own motivations and secrets that add depth to the story. McDorman’s ability to create complex characters adds an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative, making it easy for readers to become invested in their fates.

However, while “West Heart Kill” is an entertaining read, it does have its flaws. The pacing can be uneven at times, with certain sections dragging on while others rush by too quickly. Additionally, some plot points feel contrived or overly convenient, stretching the reader’s suspension of disbelief.

Overall, “West Heart Kill” is a solid thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it may not be without its flaws, it offers enough suspense and excitement to make it worth the read. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns, “West Heart Kill” won’t disappoint.

I liked how this book was written. The way it was written kept my attention. I can understand how it might be difficult for some to follow along. It was written like a mix of a screenplay and a book. This is definitely unique and I appreciated it! That is what stuck out to me the most.

Unfortunately, it was hard for me to stay focused on the storyline because it was a bit slow. I read this one and listened to the audiobook. I'm uber behind on my NetGalley shelf. 🙈 I preferred the audiobook over the e-book. 🎧

The book was okay but didn’t hold my attention around the question , who’s the murder? The theme of the unhappy ultra rich and decadent characters was banal.

I love a good cozy mystery, but this one wasn't for me. If you're looking for a cerebral mystery (think Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the helm), this one is for you! I think if I knew the narrator was a little more polished than your typical cozy MC going into it, I'd like it more and plan to try it again.

I love a good murder mystery and I thought this sounded so interesting ! I think the writing style was creative but I don’t think it was for me. It was just kind of hard to follow and think I would have preferred a basic style and would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the eARC in exchange for a review!

Ok, I WANTED to love this, but for me the narrator who kept hopping in and out of the story was so distracting! It also annoyed me because the narrator was so egotistical. I just couldn't stand him. I know that that was sort of the point, but still. The way it was written completely took me out of the story.

The book was a let-down based on the summary that I read and seeing the cover. I didn't like the world building of the book and the writing felt obnoxious to me. I stopped after around 77 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I found this book to be disappointing: rambling plot, unappealing characters and a poor ending.
Felt like I was reading a book while receiving a lesson on writing a specific genre of book…wouldn’t recommend.

This book had the best “Clue” type vibes! I loved the who-dunnit style story. One of the things that did stand out was the constantly pov switch. While I normally do like POV switches there were times where it felt like a bit much. Overall this was a fun and engaging story that kept me guessing in all sorts of directions.

West Heart Kill is a great locked room mystery read with a fresh twist. I loved the narration and the fresh take on an old trope. I had fun reading this one and I recommend it.

thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.


An unusual and twisty mystery that is told from an odd point of view. The story is told by an complete outsider who sort of guides you along and narrates the story and explains and unfolds what a mystery consists of. I found it to be helpful but also a bit annoying. Most of the time I just wanted to get along with the story and I often lost track because of the interruptions.
Overall a neat murder mystery but probably not one I would revisit or like to see repeated.

This was a quirky book.The style of writing made it difficult for me to read. It was almost like reading a script of a radio show or TV show. I definitely think there is a certain audience that would love the style of storytelling. Overall the story was good and I liked the 1970s setting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 3

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 💭: I struggled with this book and debated whether I wanted to review it at all.
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The cover and description give the vibe of an old-school-murder-mystery, which grabbed me immediately. ⁣⁣
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Unfortunately, the story takes a totally different direction. In fact, it takes about 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 different directions. 🙄 ⁣⁣
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I wasn't bothered when the author continued to break through the fourth wall, repeatedly speaking to "𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳..." I wasn't even bothered by the sudden change to screenplay format 75% through, even though most reviewers disliked this. ⁣⁣
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What DID bother me, was the constant breaks from the story to give random nonfiction accounts (such as: the history of the word "murder," popular "rules" authors use when writing murder mysteries, and tons of info on Agatha Christie 🤷‍♀️). I skimmed over most of this, as it felt unnecessary to the plot and I wanted to read a murder mystery, not a research paper. 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦 of this would have bothered me, though, if the core story turned out to be brilliant. But there was nothing original about the mystery itself. 90% of the plot was revealing who amongst the suspects was sleeping with another suspect's husband/wife. And the ending was....nonexistent? If it was meant to be groundbreaking or thought-provoking, it was not. All I felt at the end was like I'd been duped into reading a book with no real conclusion. ⁣⁣
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As a reader, I don't need my books to be overly ambitious. I don't need them to redefine a genre. I certainly dont need cheap gimmicks. What I need is a good story I can get into, well developed characters I can root for (or hate), and an ending that satisfies.⁣⁣
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This story let me down on all three points. ⁣⁣
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That said, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the writing itself. I can't help but feel as though the author was led astray by an editor/publishing team on this one, which is a shame. With the proper guidance, this might have been great. 😒