Well, Katie Marsh, as soon as your characters began self-medicating with Nutella, you had me!

This wasn't necessarily my "go-to" genre - I love a thriller, but I don't usually go for ones like this, with the additional light-hearted, element in terms of the female characters and their long-standing friendship, but I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Clio, Amber and Jeanie are wonderfully feisty and funny, with unbreakable loyalty. They are all completely relatable; a Mum with an almost grown up daughter, a happily child-free woman and a mum of baby twins (been there!).

Add in a body and off we go! I thought the concept of hearing from the victim in the run up to his death was brilliant and something that set this story apart. The plot was well thought out and although I did guess the killer fairly early on, there was a further twist in their identity that I would never have seen coming.

Bring on the next instalment!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Katie Marsh and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

What’s a girl to do when her horrible no good ex is found dead on her doorstep. And she can’t remember a thing about the night before? Knowing that she didn’t kill Gary, Clio got to clear her name. Otherwise, Gary has taken every last, single thing he could from her.

Reading this cozy was absolutely fun! I found myself sleuthing and laughing the entire time. I can’t wait for more in this series to come out. Add this to your reading list now. You won’t be sorry.

Thank-you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Katie Marsh for the eARC!

This was just not for me. Not a single likeable character to be found (in my opinion, at least), and it was fairly formulaic and predictable. However, I know the exact type of demographic that would likely enjoy it, so it's good to have in the back of my mind if I get people at work looking for recs.

What a fun story! Yes, there is a murder, but he was not a very likeable guy, so there is that.

This book is labeled as The Bad Girls Detective Agency Book 1, so that means there will be more to come of this team of three lovely women in their 40’s who have been life-long friends. Each of their strengths support the other’s weaknesses.

I enjoyed getting to know Clio, Amber and Jeanie as they navigated through research and clues to find the guilty party. I have to say it took me a while to figure out who-done-it, but the light bulb went off before it was revealed, and I felt proud that I was correct!

This was my first book read written by Katie Marsh, but will not be the last. I definitely will continue to read this series. I see she has written many other books also!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Thanks for the advance copy of the novel. I enjoyed the friendship between Clio, Jen and Amber. The story was well written and enjoyed every page.

Well written with a compelling and perfectly paced story line and well developed characters. Funny and twisty it kept me laughing and guessing until the end.

How Not to Murder Your Ex may be billed as cosy crime, but actually it's a cut above your typical groups of OAPs investigating a murder. This time, one of the group of (middle aged) friends Clio is prime suspect, when her ex husband Gary turns up dead on the doorstep of her caravan. Up steps best friends Amber and Jeannie, with the help of another of Clio's exes, to try and prove her innocence.

What's great about the book is the flashbacks, which slowly slowly lead you up to what really happened. You'll find yourself truly disliking despicable Gary, who had plenty of people wanting to cause him harm!

It's an enjoyable read, with a cast of really relatable characters and a plot that twists and turns all over the place.

It's an excellent start to the Bad Girl Detective Agency series and I can't wait for more,

"On the many occasions Clio had imagined murdering her husband, it had never been anything like this."

Okay so for legal reasons, I’ll say I’ve never killed any of my exes - but if Clio’s ex didn’t die at the start of this book I wouldn’t blame her for killing him. I loved her from the moment we met her, even though she potentially could be a murderer - she was funny, witty, relatable and just a little bit jaded but in an understandable way.

Crossing a twisty murder mystery with a coming of age story and an ensemble action - this made for a sharp and strangely compelling read, with investigation, dead bodies, affairs, plots and an unforgettable birthday all weaving together for an exciting story told by a narrator whose eye rolls you could hear through her words.

Our group of haphazard vigilante investigators were fabulous— they kept the story moving at a steady pace, taking us back for little bits of backstory but always finding themselves in the strangest predicaments and making terrible choices, the women taking turns telling the story from their perspective and letting us see it from all angles; although even with that there was still so much intensity and mystery around Gary and his death, with everything being suspicious and a potential twist around every corner.

A darkly exciting story of revenge and renewal that was an absolute delight.

Clio celebrates her 45th birthday with her two best friends one night and a hungover Clio discovers her ex-husband dead on her doorstep. Her ex was the lowest of the low in human beings, but she wouldn't kill him. Or would she? She just can't remember much from the previous night. It's a whodunnit for the ages and the three women take turns in telling the story from their own perspectives. All three currently have various difficulties in their lives but they eventually do work to find out what really happened. It helps that one of them is a former police officer, with a fair bit of know-how at this investigating stuff.

This was a fun read and it had me guessing well into the book. In the end it was quite entertaining, and I give it 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the advanced reader copy. I have provided this review under no obligation.

In this charming cozy mystery, author Katie Marsh weaves a delightful tale centred around Clio, a witty and relatable protagonist celebrating her 45th birthday in a most unexpected way. As she opens her door, she discovers the lifeless body of her ex-husband, Gary, setting off a chain of events that turns her special day into a whirlwind of chaos.

Falsely accused of murder, Clio enlists the help of her two quirky and loyal friends to unravel the mystery surrounding Gary's demise. The narrative unfolds through alternating chapters, each dedicated to a character's perspective, offering readers a multi-dimensional view of the investigation. The past is seamlessly interwoven into the present, with flashbacks from Gary's point of view, shedding light on the events leading up to his unfortunate end.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Marsh maintains a light-hearted tone, infusing humour and camaraderie into the story. The trio's escapades and witty banter add a touch of levity to the investigation, turning what could be a grim tale into an engaging and enjoyable read.

This book is a celebration of friendship, resilience, and the bonds that strengthen in times of crisis. With its clever storytelling and endearing characters, this cozy mystery is a delightful journey that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages until the final reveal.

#HowNotToMurderYourEx #NetGalley is a fantastic book that will leave the reader wanting more.
Clio nay wish her ex to be was dead, but when she discovers his dead body, she falls apart, not sure why this is happening to her.
Her friends Jeanie and Amber do their best to help Clio uncover the truth and their friendship really shows throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

I adored this book. Clio, Jeanie and Amber were great characters and their relationship as a group was one of the many highlights of the story.

The writing was simple to follow but there were plenty of clues and mini cliff hangers to keep things interesting.

I would love more mysteries for these three to solve.

I really enjoyed this murder mystery! It was such an entertaining book and I loved the dual timelines from different POV’s. Especially from the POV of the victim. I think there will be other books in the series and I can’t wait to read them!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

✨ 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ✨

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: How Not To Murder Your Ex
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Katie Marsh
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4/5

“𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦: 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦.”

🩸 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆
🥂𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻
🩸 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
🥂 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶 𝗣𝗢𝗩
🩸 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰
🥂 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁

Do you ever feel the need to read a book where the ending will simultaneously surprise you and yet be exactly what you want? Let me introduce you to How Not To Murder Your Ex, a magnetic and menopausal murder mystery that manages to both defy and embrace middle aged women clichés.

This whodunnit could be described as cosy and chaotic; humorous and heartfelt. The small seaside town and the caravan site as a crime scene certainly has a cosy feel to it, whilst the characters themselves are more than up for getting into trouble (or getting out of it). The humour has a touch of mania to it which adds to the desperation of the situation Clio has found herself in: being the prime suspect in her ex-husbands murder. And the heartfelt bonds between the three female friends, Clio, Amber and Jeanie—who are also gifted their own POVs—provide sustenance for any reader in this fast paced and fun read.

I really enjoyed this. I read it in a matter of hours and whilst I did guess who the killer was—despite the multiple red herrings—I genuinely loved the ending. This book is full of emotion, grudges, friendship, and hangovers, and proved an excellent way to pass the time.

—Kayleigh🤍

unputdownable, situational-humor, verbal-humor, ex-cop, divorcing, friendship, friends, alcohol-issues, theft, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, local law enforcement****

Three loopy forty something women friends with bad hangovers that suddenly got beyond worse when one of them woke up to find her almost ex-husband dead of blunt force trauma on the steps of her trailer home. The man was a loser, a people user, and stole his stepdaughter's funds so there was no dearth of suspects. Good mystery with characters who certainly are and a twisty plot full of almost convincing sneaky red herrings. Laughed my sox off!
I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thanks!

I must say how much I enjoyed this who dunnit romp. To be perfectly honest, at the start I really did think about giving up. And the. Decided to put on my big girl pants and suck it up. I am so glad that I did. Clio’s soon to be ex-husband is found murdered on her caravan steps. With the aid of her besties, Amber and Jeanie they set out to find out who actually did the crime. Gary is a total scumbag, a serial cheater and has taken everything from Clio. She is the obvious candidate for prime suspect. The story is told through a countdown to Gary’s murder and then chapters from the perspective of the three main characters. Amber is a former police officer who has been sacked. Jeanie is the mother of twins and on maternity leave. The three 40 something women have been close friends since secondary school. Can the intrepid trio solve the crime and save Clio from a life sentence? The book is humorous and trots along at a good pace.

Clio hates her ex-husband. He’s annoying, he’s left her homeless and skint and everything in between and she’s had enough. She spends a night out with her friends and can’t remember much of it. She wakes up in the morning and finds her ex on the doorstep, only he's dead. Very dead. It's not a secret how much she loathed him and this would make her the prime suspect. She rallies a couple of her friends and they try to make a plan as they have to find out who really did it to save Clio from going to prison for something she perhaps wished for but most certainly did not do. Who really did want him dead and why?

This is a fun read right the way through with twists and turns to keep the plot moving nicely. I'm smiling while writing this. Clio and her friends are slightly (but believable) larger than life characters who want to do the best for everyone, and do their level best to investigate what is happening. Alternate chapters take the reader back to just before Gary’s death and what he was up to. Gary was rather a dreamer and thought he could sort everything out- if he “ borrowed” money he had a scheme to pay it back which of course nine times out of ten it didn't work but he never lost faith in himself. A wonderful, escapist read I thoroughly enjoyed and one with a smile.

For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog
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After celebrating her 45th birthday with her two best friends Amber and Jeanie, Clio is dismayed to discover the body of her unpleasant ex Gary on the doorstep of her caravan in the early hours of the following morning. She is even more dismayed when she recalls that the three friends had spent some time the previous night discussing how much they all hated him!

Mind you, after Gary stole all of Clio's money - forcing her to move into the caravan while managing her responsibilities as a single parent to her teenage daughter Nina - it could hardly be considered unreasonable of Clio to hate him. Not enough to kill him, obviously. But will the police believe that?

Amber and Jeanie have their own issues to contend with - the former having been ejected from the police force, and the latter being a new mother to twin babies. Still, it's up to the trio to find a way of clearing Clio. Dealing with Gary when he was alive was bad enough, but being blamed for his death is definitely a bridge too far!

The story is told from the perspective of the three women - and also, interestingly, from Gary's perspective in the period just before his death. This works reasonably well, but the mixed media approach that many thrillers have been using to good effect recently seems less well-suited to a cosy mystery. An story with an entertaining premise, a gentle humour permeates the story, adding to its appeal.

Brew yourself a cuppa and prepare to dive into a cosy whodunnit. Set against the backdrop of a dreary caravan park, we meet Clio, a single mum facing the mother of all hangovers on her 45th birthday—only to find her odious ex, Gary, stone dead on her doorstep. But hold your horses; this isn't any ordinary suburban murder tale; it's a thrilling kaleidoscope of suspects, motives, and unreliable memories.

Right from the off, the narrative pulls you in with Clio and her best mates, Amber and Jeanie, who are as loyal as they are prone to making dodgy life decisions. The author serves up a character buffet, each more tantalising than the last, with chapters switching perspectives faster than a British summer goes from sunny to sodding miserable. The storytelling deftly flits between the turbulent night of Gary's demise and its perplexing aftermath.

Adding a splash of digital sauce to the plot are sporadic texts and social media posts, which not only elevate the small-town gossip to epic proportions but also reveal the town's collective psyche. Imagine a place where people are aghast at the audacity of a murder yet secretly thrilled at the newfound attention.

Now, about that twist. Oh, you didn't see it coming, did you? The grand reveal is like a well-executed bluff in a game of poker—simultaneously astonishing yet retrospectively obvious. The standout stars, however, are Amber and Jeanie, whose grassroots investigation could give Sherlock and Watson a run for their money. I really enjoyed this book; there was an instant connection with the characters who drew you into the heart of the story. So, put the kettle on, grab a digestive, and prepare yourself for a brilliant ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cozy murder mystery and from the title alone I knew I wanted to read this book.

The main characters in this book were middle aged which was something I haven’t reality read before but for this story it fit so well as they have life experiences that younger people would never had and it helped to build their characters.

I thought I had it figured out about half way through but was left impressed with the twist at the end.

Overall, it was a fun read, albeit a bit slow-paced at times. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with quirky characters.