(Actual: 3.5⭐) This was a very cozy, Agatha Christie-esque mystery that I found to be easily engaging, especially if you're new/a novice to the genre! And that isn't to say that the story is overly predictable or lacking in nuanced intelligence either, because that is most certainly NOT the case.... however, I don't really think it's fair to throw out comparisons between this book to films such as "Knives Out," because the only real similarity in that regard is that.... I don't know, there are lots of people involved, I guess? And there is clearly a mystery that needs to be solved? I just— that literally can be said of any mystery novel, yeah? And I DO understand why publishing houses write blurbs that include the example I noted above (or similar) in order to drum up reader engagement, but those same people who are drawn to the book based off said comparisons may find themselves sorely disappointed when they realize that it's only "true" in a very broad, very general sense. And while I, personally, wasn't *too* disappointed upon reading/finishing this novel, I clearly remembered the KO comparison having been mentioned prior, and so it struck me enough to have to debunk it here now. That being said, I did enjoy the alternating POVs and the added epistolary aspect in regards to the former; admittedly, though, I did prefer reading Annie's POV more, what with all her many eccentricities, as opposed to Frances'... Annie just felt more developed as a character to me, idk ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Overall, I'd still recommend this book to those who love cozy mysteries &/or those who are looking to get more into the genre itself – because I mean it when I say this book IS fun and clever and charming – with my only small caveat being to peter your expectations a bit prior to reading & DON'T go into it having any sort of comparison in mind!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristen Perrin, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton for the ARC of this book! I appreciate the chance to share my honest review.

Such a fun whodunit! I loved this story, constantly guessing and reguessing who might be the guilty party!

A young woman looking to find her way, thrust into a murder mystery that keeps you guessing the whole way through!

While the story jumps back and forth between granddaughter and mysterious grandmother, the premise is reminiscent of Agatha Christie, and it keeps you on your toes.

I’d highly recommend this twisty tale of deception and deceit.

"How to Solve Your Own Murder" goes back and forth between two timelines: when Frances was told about her pending murder with the ensuing events and when her granddaughter Annie is notified of her Grandmother Frances' murder that seems to have finally taken place.

Annie is one player in a "whodunnit" game with much to be gained - or lost - if the murder can be solved.

I enjoyed the contrasting perspectives and the characters at play in each timeline. At times, the pace would slow and descriptions would become laborious but, generally, the pace picked back up and details served a purpose.

If you enjoy trying to solve mysteries, with the details you're given, before the big reveal, I believe you'll enjoy this read.

It was slow and uninteresting to me, did not connect with characters easily and it just didn’t seem as fun as I thought it was going to be.

3/5 ⭐️’s - Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, & Kristen Perrin for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I can see why some say you’d like this book if you like Knives Out & Agatha Christie. It was definitely entertaining, although it did get somewhat confusing towards the climax. I would say it's a bit slow getting into it at first, but once the revelations begin it does get more interesting. I did not suspect who the killer was, which is always a plus for me. Overall, it was a fun book to read and perfect for any murder mystery lover.

This started off pretty strong, but after a while, it ended up not living up to its FANTASTIC premise - and title! It was just ok for me, but I can see other people loving it.

This was such a fun and cozy murder mystery read. I have to say, I really had no clue who to suspect - there were lots of red herrings. But that made me enjoy it even more. I'm just seeing now that it's the first in a series and I can't wait for the next one.

What a fun ride! I love a cozy mystery and HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER was just what I needed. This book was fun, twisty, and lighthearted enough in the face of an intense murder plot. The dual timelines were reminiscent of my favorite thrillers and were a nice touch to keep the suspense going. Annie was an incredibly compelling main character. I loved to be inside of her mind as she solved the mystery, and I liked her quick wit and sensitivity. If you are a fan of cozy mystery a la FINLAY DONOVAN or something with a bit more sleuthing than your traditional thriller, I would highly recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for an e-ARC in exchange for a review. Rating: 4/5 stars

Frances received a fortune when she was a teenager and it has consumed her life. From that moment forward, she became obsessed with discovering who is going to murder her. Sixty years later, Annie has the chance to receive her great aunt’s fortune but she needs to figure out who was responsible for her death.
This book was full of twists and turns! It was such a fun read and I could not put the book down!

3.5 stars

Mystery/Thrillers are not usually my genre but the premise of this one sounded interesting. When Frances was a teenager she visited a fortune teller that gave clues to her future and potential murder. Cut to Present day and Annie is summoned to Frances estate and when she gets there they find that Frances has died and in order for Annie to inherit the estate she has to solve the murder in 5 days. What I really liked about this book was the main characters in Frances’s generation. I think that Annie and some current day characters needed a little more fleshing out. That being said – I didn’t see who did it until the end when it was revealed. I liked the setting and will probably read the next book in the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the advanced reader copy.

Great for fans of cozy mysteries and/or the movie Knives Out! I had a bit of difficulty getting into the beginning, I felt there was too much bickering between the ladies in the beginning. But once Annie was introduced I was hooked.

Lately, I find myself burnt out with romance and fantasy, so I am leaning heavily into mysteries, which led me to pick up How to Solve Your Own Murder.

After a haunting fortune, Francis spends her entire life trying to prevent her murder. Her friends and family find it obsessive. Yet, she is proven right when she is found dead on her estate. Now, it's up to her great-niece to catch the killer. 

How to Solve Your Own Murder was a lot of fun. I loved the main characters and was excited to learn this could be a series. The mystery was well-plotted, and I was second-guessing myself for most of the book. There are a lot of characters and thus a lot of red herrings, but that didn't hurt my enjoyment of the story.

If you like cozy mysteries with a bit of absurdity, you may enjoy this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you so much to Dutton Books and Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This cozy mystery was not perfect, but I did enjoy reading it. I really liked Frances as a character and enjoyed her timeline more than Annie’s. Annie was a harder character to like. She was written to be this smart, bookish, independent girl but she was constantly doing dumb things and having to be rescued by handsome men 🙄.

Some of the plot twists were unexpected and well written, but the ending was rough. I guessed it early on and the motivations were even more ridiculous than I expected them to be.

I would definitely read more books by this author but I’m concerned about this being a series. This story was very much resolved and I don’t know where else it could go.

Frances saw a fortune teller as a teenager in the ‘60’s at a county fair, who told her that she would be murdered someday. Her friends don’t believe it and just think it was all in good fun, but Frances knew something didn’t feel right with it. From then on, she is consumed with trying to find her killer before she’s even dead. Fast-forward 60 years, Annie is summoned to attend a meeting at her great-aunt Frances’ estate in Castle Knoll. However, when she and the others arrive for the meeting, Frances is already dead. Annie becomes determined to find out what happened to Frances. As she gets closer to finding the truth, she’s met with wondering if she’ll have the same fate as great-aunt Frances.

As Annie dissects Frances’ journal entries from the ‘60’s and talks with the locals, we follow Annie as she tries to solve Frances’ murder. A classic who-done-it.

This was a fun read that kept me guessing then second, third, etc. guessing myself until I was so tangled up I just gave up and went along for the ride. It's a perfect summer read for those who grew up with Agatha Christie. The setting, mystery, characters, and twists are there to varying degrees. This is a must read!

3.5. This is a fun mystery that I wish had been fleshed out more, but I enjoyed the alternating POVs between Annie and Frances via excerpts from Frances' diary (though, truthfully, I preferred the diary entries to the present-day vignettes).

Frances Adams has known since she was a teenager that she would be murdered. This led to fraught relationships, constant watching, and a bit of paranoia throughout her life. So when her premonition finally came through, she left her years of research to members of her community and her great-niece, Annie. Those left living are set to figure out who actually murdered Frances, and why it took her full lifetime to do so.

I found myself picking up and putting down this book, but once I was committed I finished it quickly. It's a unique story that alternates between past and present, leaving clues to the ultimate demise of Frances. Overall, this was a cute read and would make for a great book club book.

This book was so much fun to read. I could not put it down once I started. I loved the dual mystery of not only who killed Frances but also who killed her friend Emily yeas earlier. The characters were very quirky and the book delivered on its Knives Out feel. I really enjoyed the back and forth of Frances’ diary and reading into that helping solve the murder. I was actually shocked and had many different ideas throughout my read. Can’t wait for more.of these characters and more mysteries from this fun little town.

If you love a good murder mystery, How to Solve Your Own Murder is for you! I read this book so fast. I simply could not put it down. Since Frances was told by a fortune teller when she was 17 that she would be murdered, she has been in a state of constant suspicion and vigilance, just knowing her murder could come at any moment. Now an old, eccentric woman, she calls her great niece, Annie, to come to her village and discuss a change in her future inheritance. When Annie arrives for their meeting, but instead finds Frances’s dead body. Always believing that she would meet a murderous end, Frances’s will stipulates that whoever solves her murder will inherit everything and they only have a week to do it.

This book was such a fun ride. It was structured beautifully, going back and forth between Annie in the present and Frances’s journal entries from the summer she was 17. The flow was perfect, and revealed the perfect amount of info to keep unraveling the mystery with a ton of good misdirection and red herrings. There were a ton of interesting characters and suspects, and I truly didn’t know where the story was going to end up. I am also a sucker for a small town scandal, and this one was GOOD. I highly recommend this quick and engaging read for any mystery lover. 4.5 stars.