At first, I was really enjoying this book. I thought the premise was neat with changing narrators and breaking the fourth wall. I was able to guess one of the victims at one point (mostly a lucky guess 😆). I was flying through the pages. But about two-thirds through it started dragging for me and I found myself setting it down for days at a time. I slogged through the end, and had some regret after doing so.

Bottom line; started off promising, but fell (very) flat for me in the second half.

Written in a unique style, McDorman takes a locked room mystery in an entirely new direction, one that will either thrill you or annoy you. Being in the latter category, I wasn’t overly fond of this book although others will thoroughly enjoy it. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Look, so, my problem isn't the format, which was at least interesting. It isn't the quasi resolution that was and wasn't. My issue is the goddamn Nazi's. How fucking cheap.

I loved Detective McAnnis and his strange ways and he made this story all the more enjoyable. Set in a very rural hiring lodge with its own quirks, this murder mystery sets an interesting pace. Told from two distinctly different points of view is is more of Clue style mystery where the focus is on who did it than the suspense beholding to it. Loved this new to me genre of murder mysteries

Unfortunately this one was not for me. I was intrigued by the unique structure of this murder mystery at the beginning but as it went on it was harder for me to get through it. I'm not sure if the problem was the structure or the pacing but something just felt *off.* The mystery was interesting at the beginning as I'm a huge fan of locked room mysteries and secluded settings. I was not a fan of the ending at all. Perhaps this one was a little too unique for me as I'm more of a regular mystery person. I did like the references to Agatha Christie and other classic books and authors.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This had so much promise - a fun, creative structure and interesting time of year... But in the end, this was so disjointed and I thought the anti-semitism was merely a plot device rather than meaningfully explored by any of the perspectives we became privy to!

As a mystery lover, I really tried with this book. Despite not getting into it by the first 75 pages, I kept going thinking I’d become interested, but I never did. There were a lot of characters and this book was just too meta for me. This just didn’t have the typical suspense that I seek in my mysteries and I just found myself trying to make it through. 2 stars for this one.

This reminded me of the Anthony Horowitz Magpie Murders series, only those books are a whole lot more fun. This book leaned to the academic side and reminded me of a one-credit seminar class that I took in order to graduate, using cowboy literature.

I didn’t enjoy the book but I know someone who would and she’s the person who introduced me to many of the titles that McDorman referenced.. Those books and authors, like Agatha Christie’s Murder of Roger Ackroyd are in the catalog of original mysteries. I enjoyed seeing the book through her eyes. I’ve browsed many a used bookstore with her.

My favorite part were the academic lectures. I just don’t think the author had made up his mind what kind of book he was writing.

He concludes “this murder mystery, like all murder mysteries, ends with what readers understand to be it’s denouement, the revelation, or refusal of revelation, in which the problems are resolved, or not—for in truth, there are neither rules nor betrayals for this kind of story. All we have you and I are these guilty memories of bloody crimes in which we are both complicit; for every writer is a murdered, and every reader a sleuth.”

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I was looking forward to the non- traditional writing with the walls between the reader and characters being torn down. My issue is I kept getting confused with who was talking and what actually happened.

This is a fun, kind of wild read! I think for people who like a whodunit, this is a great recommendation to give them a little something different. McDorman brings an originality that's fun and hard to forget.

Enjoyable and fun however the narration and flip flopping of tense caught me off guard and reminded me that I am reading which was a new experience and I’m not sure it was quite my cup of tea. Nonetheless I enjoyed the setting and know that while it wasn’t a hit for me, this will definitely be a hit for others and its unique experience alone will be an attention grabber for fans of other works similar in writing, or anyone who is a fan of murder mysteries in general, but especially of this similar structure.

West Heart Kill is a completely original mystery set in a remote hunting lodge. Adam McAnnis joins his old college friend at his family home in the exclusive West Heart Kill enclave. As Adam gets to know the other members of the club he begins to see some cracks in the facade of this once great community. Tensions are palpable as he discovers that some members want to sell the club because they need the money but others are against it. Adam is a private investigator but no one knows who or why he is investigating at the club. When there is a murder and then another murder everyone becomes a suspect even the private investigator and the reader becomes part of the story, too.

The writing style is unusual as it often speaks to the reader. It took me awhile to get into this mystery but I stayed with it and I am glad I did. The twists and turns and the ending will surprise you. If you like unusual, atmospheric mysteries, give West Heart Kill a try.

Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

This is a closed-circle mystery set in upstate New York at a hunting lodge. It's isolated; the characters aren't nice; and people begin to die.

But that is where everything you think you know about the genre changes. It's unique and fun, and I highly recommend it.

Dann McDorman's WEST HEART KILL is a clever take on the murder-at-the-manor genre, complete with a compelling cast of characters and a great twist!

I've struggled with this review and have finally decided to tell you what I really think even though I gave it 4 stars. You know love-hate relationships, well I had a dislike-love-hate relationship with this book, long on the love part. I was warned that this book was different & that was putting it mildly. So it was oddly written which I disliked at first but pushed forward slowly. Then, the strangest thing happened, suddenly I loved the book. The narrator mentioned being in a theater at some point and before I knew it, the way it was written made me imagine I was sitting on the front row of an empty dark theater with the narrator standing at a podium to the side with a spotlight on him, and the characters on stage acting their parts out only when they were "speaking" and freezing in place when the narrator started again. It sounds weird and I've read thousands books and not once has this happened. I continue to love the book including the weird interruptions in the story, but then we get near the end and that's where the hate happens. The interruptions get longer and it's even mentioned that it could be a stalling tactic which is fine once or twice, but then there was so much of it, it annoyed me. Then, the writer did two unforgivable things. I will not give it away, but if I hadn't been reading an ebook, I would have thrown the book. What really made me mad was I felt like the author did it on purpose just to mess with the reader. I could be wrong, but it doesn't bode well for their career if I'm right. It was well written, but ended up frustrating me. I don't know if anyone will agree with me and oddly because of the large chunk of the book I loved, I hope others read it it too. Maybe the warning of frustration will prepare the next person, so they won't be so upset like me.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

A classic mystery feel with an original twist. Locked room mysteries are one of my favorite genres and I had so much fun reading this. I'll be recommending it to any patrons looking for a mystery.

this was probably the most unique book i’ve ever read! classic whodunit vibes but with a very unconventional twist - the story is written with multiple different narrative structures and povs throughout. it was a bit jarring at first, but once i got accustomed to this writing style i actually really started to enjoy it! i do think though that this style of book would be very polarizing to readers. the authors voice can at times seem patronizing to those who are incredibly familiar with the history of mystery and detective novels, but overall i enjoyed it. i’d be curious to read a future book by this author to see what he does next!

This book was not for me. The author comes across as a smug know-it-all and he probably will think I'm just not smart enough to appreciate this book. First of all, the lessons or dissertations about mystery authors, books, and styles were completely annoying. It constantly pulled me out of the story and I ended up skipping them near the end. And the ending was ridiculous and infuriating. What the hell was that play with the Reader and who writes a mystery without solving the murder?

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman in exchange for an honest review. This is a who-dunit with a new twist. Who killed one of a group of strangers? This is a fun mystery that's keeps the reader interested until the last page.

Diving into "West Heart Kill" was like embarking on an unpredictable rollercoaster of creativity and experimentation. Initially, I couldn't help but applaud author Dann McDorman's daring approach to storytelling. The narrative seemed poised to blend the intrigue of classic mysteries. It had me genuinely excited, at least until the final stretch.

The book has its moments—there are pockets of profound reflection that are both beautiful and insightful. At one point, everything seemed to click into place, promising a harmonious convergence of genres and tones. Yet, just when I thought I was in for a satisfying finale, the story took a turn, introducing a twist that felt questionable but salvageable. However, it wasn't the only plot twist thrown our way; the genre and tonal switch that followed, while potentially intriguing, left me bewildered.

The final chapters were a letdown. Instead of a fulfilling conclusion, it felt like the author was patting himself on the back, reveling in a sense of self-congratulation and pretentiousness. It was as if the primary goal was to showcase the author's literary gymnastics rather than craft a genuinely compelling narrative. The ending, particularly, left a bitter taste. After investing hours of my life, I was met with a conclusion that seemed more interested in making me feel foolish than providing a satisfying resolution. It wasn't earned, and the abrupt shift in tone felt more like a cheap shot than a clever twist.

I would like to express my gratitude to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.