This novel had an unusual and complicated format for the locked room mystery, which just did not work for me. I wanted to like this book better than I did. It is probably one of those "love it or dislike it" kind of novels.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

West Heart Kill is an homage to the classic murder mystery, specifically reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. There were parts that I really loved, and some that did not work well. I really enjoyed the 1970s time period, the setting and the cast of characters, especially our main character. I admire the unusual format, including the many asides and the partial screenplay. And I do appreciate when the narrator breaks the fourth wall, though I did not think it worked as well here as it did in Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. The large cast of characters, while entertaining, were a little difficult to keep straight and the mystery itself felt a bit overcomplicated. Overall this a strong debut and while it did not completely work for me, I would be interested in what he does next. 3,5 stars, rounded down to 3. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced digital copy.

I always love a good murder mystery. My favorite board game is clue and I usually pride myself on being able to guess what is happening but this one did keep me guessing just a little bit. If you enjoy authors such as Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett then this book is right up your alley!

I enjoyed this and it's a very different format then most mysteries, but there was something missing for me.

This book is a whodunit, but its like no other whodunit that I've read before. To describe it would ruin the range of emotion you experience while reading this wonderful book.

Maybe locked room mysteries aren't my thing, But I loved Anxious People by Fredrik Backman so I thought I would love this. It was okay. It didn't keep me super engaged and I found a lot of the writing hard to follow, the characters unlikable, and the setting boring. The writing style was beautiful and I would love to try more from this author because I truly think its perhaps the type of book vs the actual writing itself.

"West Heart Kill" by Dann McDorman addresses the classic mystery novel tropes and attempts to trick the reader by sidestepping them. I didn't find myself interested in the cast of characters that McDorman assembles and was a little bored of the on-the-nose plot. Other mystery readers might like this one, but it just didn't interest me.

An author takes a risk when breaking the fourth wall. Here, there is not only a brief aside to the reader but a whole attempted dialog. I found it tedious and didn't finish the book.

When I first started reading West Heart Kill, a book within a book or a story within a story…I was enthralled. I enjoy reading books with different writing styles and I thought this book had a great idea and great promise. Thumbs up for sure. As I got further into the book the addition of the extraneous pages that didn’t relate to the murder mystery became more tedious and less interesting and my thumbs up began to droop a little. When I realized that I was losing the thread of the mystery I became concerned. But, the final blow was the last few chapters and the ending. Then my thumb completely curled up.

West Heart Kill is a book that tries to be clever and, at first, succeeds quite well. However, it would seem that the author wanted to write a book that people wouldn’t easily forget and the book itself would be deemed very unique and groundbreaking. These are lofty goals that could be difficult to attain. Instead, I think it was a fail.

It was probably fun to write this book but, as a reader ,I found it to be lengthy, filled with unappealing and distasteful characters, chapters with random information and observations that seemed out of place, and then final chapter was a slap in the face. I’m not interested or impressed with a cutesy ending, when it’s apparent that an author is capable of doing so much better.

In the end, West Heart Kill was definitely not my kind of book but I will give it two stars because the author, in the beginning, had a good idea and, for a time, executed it well. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

This is a classic locked-room murder mystery that comes across as a contrived response to an assignment in a MFA creative writing class. All the elements are there - a remote hunting lodge, a cast of unlikeable and suspicious characters, a race to figure out the mystery - but it didn't work for me. Another reviewer said "this felt a bit like being cornered by the know-it-all at a cocktail party" and I totally agree. The structural weirdness was annoying - think I'll stick with Agatha Christie.

The writing is solid, creating a vivid atmosphere, but the plot is a mix of captivating moments and predictability. Characters are well-developed, though some lack depth. Pacing fluctuates, making it a decent but not outstanding read.

If you enjoy twisty plots; a group of characters that all have secrets, intertwined relationships, and motives for bad behavior; and a secluded setting perfect for dark deeds - then try out West Heart Kill. The detective makes up stories to suit his audience, changing tack as it becomes necessary to gain confidences and fit in. Readers are left wondering exactly who he is and why he is there.

The narrator often interrupts the story to comment on the conventions of detective fiction, or address the reader directly. For instance, within the first chapter: "You are alert - as a veteran of murder, you know that one of these new characters is likely to be the killer, but which one?" The reader's knowledge of the usual methods used by writers to drop clues that are easy to overlook or to point the attention elsewhere through sleight of hand are acknowledged, but also exploited to mislead and complicate.

As Adam, our sleuth, moves deeper into the tangle of current situations and vendettas from the past, the number of affairs, grudges, and lies multiplies. And then the deaths start. We find out about earlier deaths, attempted suicides, and a tradition of keeping things within the group and hidden from the outside world. Who has sent Adam (or invited him in) and what do they expect him to find?

A Peyton Place in the woods with firearms, alcohol, drugs, sex, fireworks, and something darker simmering beneath it all, stirred and seasoned by an author determined to keep us guessing until the very end - and perhaps beyond.

I really wish I liked this book. I enjoy trying different kinds of storytelling and I liked the premise of this unique structure to tell this particular story. However it was a little *too* clever for me and I never really sunk into the story.

This novel promises a unique and thrilling whodunit that defies the conventions of the genre. It blends elements of a diabolical locked-room mystery with a fascinating exploration of the form itself. Readers can expect a suspenseful and fun read that keeps them guessing until the very end.

This book sounded excellent. The first half was excellent. I loved the setup of a private eye conning his way into a hunting weekend at a secretive private club in the middle of the woods. Especially when everyone’s secrets started coming out. I liked the quirky anecdotes about Agatha Christie’s writing habits.

The second half was something out of a quaalude-filled theoretical writer’s dreams. It was barely readable. There was no consistent perspective (seriously, it hit first/second/third person and then more I didn’t even know existed). It was part narrative, part script, part history of murder writing, part nonsense? And there wasn’t an ending. Or a resolution. The book kind of abruptly stopped and said “there’s your answer…or not.”

Not for me. Maybe it will be for you?

The first word that comes to mind when looking back at West Heart Kill is definitely “unique”. After being hired to spend time investigating the high class hunting club, West Heart, detective Adam McAnnis finds himself thoroughly embroiled in the drama of the current members. The formula of this book is unlike anything I have ever read. The narration style and perspective changes often, from first person to third, from story narration to factual expression of information, making it a wild ride of a story.

The unique storytelling started strong and remained throughout the entire book. Whenever a moment started to lag, the style would change and bring everything back to action once again. The moments of stereotypical storytelling were strong and easy to follow, the more factual insertions were still easy to follow, but not always easy to understand why they were there in the first place. This is probably the first novel I have ever read that taught me about the process of mystery writing and the history of some of the greatest mystery writers of all time all while still maintaining my interest in the fictional mystery.

The stylization made it difficult to get to know any of the characters. While all the information needed to solve the mystery was provided, it was difficult to pick out what was relevant. Usually, by getting to know the characters, it’s easier to breakdown some of the facts based on personality traits. This was not the case in this book due to the writing style as well as the sheer number of characters involved in the case. The beginning of the book consisted of a constant stream of character introductions that while handy to look back on, were also overwhelming.

This book is definitely recommended for someone who is looking for something different in their mystery reading. Someone looking to feel challenged and ready to learn will love the different aspects of this book. It really has some great potential, and I can’t wait to see what comes next from Dann McDorman.

⅗ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was a truly unique book to kick off 2023. My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

West Heart Kill is part whodoneit, part character study and part locked room murder mystery. Taking place at a remote hunting club named West Heart Kill, Adam McAnnis is a detective assigned by a mysterious benefactor to investigate the club. He easily scores an invite to the club via his former college buddy and is soon sent into a world full of infidelity, jealousy, lies and murder. The members of West Heart are several elite, uppercrust, intertwined families that have been members for generations. As their secrets and lies become exposed by Adam, members begin to drop like flies and it's a race to the finish to stop the murderer among them.

The book is told from the POV of Adam, but also breaks the fourth wall and is told from the POV of a mystery person. Could it be the writer of the book, another member of West Heart or, perhaps, the murderer? When the fourth wall is broken, the narrator throws in interesting quips about the origin of murder, the writers of murder mysteries, and speculation as to who/what/where/when or why these events are occurring.

Again, this was a truly unique read unlike anything I've read in the past few years. Overall, I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the characters' lives, but the end could be considered a bit polarizing ( I literally had to Google the ending to get a better understanding) which is why I rated it 3.5 stars.

dnf @40%
i somewhat enjoyed the setup and mystery itself, but i’m realizing that i am really not a fan of tongue-in-cheek writing in this genre (i wasn’t a fan of Everyone in my family… either). author thinks it’s funny and clever but i find it eyeroll-inducing

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely something. I'm not sure what, but it was something. I wasn't able to finish it in it's entirety. I think the issue is trying to read it as an ebook through a phone just did not translate to the best experience for consuming this book. I maybe be inclined to pick it up from the library soon and give it another shot.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Edit:

Please see below for my initial review of this book.

So, I ended up returning to WEST HEART KILL but via audiobook. And, while listening to this book was definitely a superior experience, I'm still not sure I'm the target audience for this book. It's clever, well written, and thoroughly researched (I think I learned more about the mystery genre than I ever expected to learn)... there was something smarmy about the book that I couldn't get past.

I stand by my initial statement that you will either LOVE or hate this book, unfortunately I fall into the latter group.

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The publisher has advertised this book as a unique take on the mystery genre, and from page one WEST HEART KILL delivers. With a biting, and arguably omniscient narrator, McDorman has created a voice of his own in the mystery genre and, I’m sure, a strong following already.

Unfortunately, I will not be rating this book because I was not the target audience. From the very beginning, this book seemed more suited to be a screenplay or audiobook and I personally found it difficult to follow at the best of times.

However, if you enjoy unique narrative styles and a mystery– I encourage you to read a sample of this book and decide for yourself whether or not this book is intriguing!