Frances Adams spent nearly sixty years collecting the secrets of everyone around her, trying to pre-solve her own murder. As a teenager a fortune teller had foretold that she would be betrayed and murdered.

Annie Adams is summoned by her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances's lawyer for a meeting. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead.
Part of Frances's will involves having her heirs complete against the local cops and each other to solve her murder. Annie is willing, but Frances has discovered a mulitude of secrets and motives for her own murder.

Why I started this book: Eye catching title on Netgalley that I requested on impulse.

Why I finished it: This book grabbed me within a couple of chapters and I was eager to solve the mystery too. Great characters and I'm really intrigued that this is being marked on Goodreads as part of a series. Where does Annie go from here?

This was fun cozy mystery, I was intrigued by the premise and title and liked the writing style and characters of Annie and Frances. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

“My favorite chess saying is very simple: You can play without a plan, but you’ll probably lose.”

Kristin Perrin’s adult debut How to Solve Your Own Murder is a mysterious tale for fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series, the movie Knives Out, and Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series.

Synopsis:
Told partially in old diary entries from the murder victim’s teenage years and the present-day perspective of her great-niece tasked with solving her murder, Perrin manages to put her own spin on the classic who-dunnit story; after all, the victim, an extremely wealthy—and paranoid—octogenarian, was warned of her death decades ago in a prophecy told to her when she was a teenager. Decades after that cursed summer, Frances has still desperately been trying to solve her murder before it happens.

Unfortunately Frances fails, which brings our narrator, Annie, into the fray. As Frances’ great-niece, Annie has been tasked by her late aunt to solve her murder in the week following her death. The catch? She has to solve it before the local detective AND Frances’ step-nephew, Saxon, who deems himself the rightful heir to Frances’ fortune, given that his late uncle was the reason she had any money.

Armed with only her failed career as a mystery author and her aunt’s old diaries, Annie has to race against Saxon and the clock to solve Frances’ murder. The stakes are high, and Annie is out of her element, seeing as she’s never been to Castle Knoll—or met Great-Aunt Frances—befofe. But secrets can’t stay hidden long, especially in a small town, and Annie is determined to uncover what truly happened that summer when everything changed. After all, the prophecy was merely a tipping point in a summer of misfortune for Castle Knoll.

Thoughts:
While I enjoyed Perrin’s debut adult mystery greatly, I did find the story lagging at times, and certain elements were hard to follow with such a large cast of secondary characters. That being said, I did love the quirky English setting of Castle Knoll; I could clearly picture the quaint village and all its oddities, right down to the seventy-year-old pot dealer. I also really liked that both narrators were strong female leads, independent and fiery in their own ways as they each attempted to solve a crime that no one believed in.

Perrin does a great job setting herself up for a series set in Castle Knoll, which I can picture following a similar format to the Finlay Donovan books (another great series featuring a badass mystery-writer-turned-detective). I will say that I found the final twist quite shocking, although more from lack of set up than genuine suspense. I look forward to the Castle Knoll Files #2, and selfishly I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a romance between Annie and Detective Crane!

4.5

I’m surprised by all the four star reviews, or rather the lack of five star ones. Or, is it just the romcom readers that tend to rate everything so highly? Regardless, I loved this book. I more hated how everything is compared to “Knives Out” or “Thursday Murder Club” and don’t see the latter much at all.
It’s not a perfect book, but the excitement, the complexity of the game and mystery, and, though not at first, the story of Frances circa 1965, captivated my attention.

Like “Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone”, as I was reading, I couldn’t imagine how this could possibly be made into a series. I was still surprised then, to see that this is the case, though the opportunity for more stories is initiated at the end of the book. Also, one of the things that you expect to happen at the end doesn’t, which implies a drawn-out inter-character development.

I did like Annie. Though not at first with her obsession,I also liked the Francis we got to know, and I did like Crane…well, until I read the part about his beard at the end of the book, which deducted points from his score.

There is a lot of set up to this book, so the solving of the mystery moves somewhat quickly when it really gets going. There are some surprising leaps that the narrator pulls together somewhat unimaginably like some other mystery sleuthes, which is a bit annoying. I guess that makes sense given that sharing theories could be disastrous to both Annie and the community as a whole!

I have been looking for a good mystery, and having reread too many to get that lately (it’s a good thing I forget a lot of what I’ve read back when), I am so happy to have a new book to share, not to mention the first of multiple books. I am glad that Perrin eventually moved in this direction rather than the YA version or, especially, middle-grade comedies about vampires. The Annie from Chelsea was definitely the right daughter!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for giving me a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for providing an unbiased review.

How to Solve Your Own Murder
By: Kristen Perrin

“For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club, an enormously fun mystery about a woman who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later, when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate.... Now it’s up to her great-niece to catch the killer.”

LESS THAN ONE WEEK UNTIL PUB DAY!🤩

I found it very easy to escape into this murder/mystery story. I really loved the clue-like concept and the dual timeline element of this story. Frances’s journal entries were actually some of my favorite chapters and I kept trying to identify the clues within. I changed my mind about who the killer was so many times, and could not put this book down until it was revealed.

I thought Perrin’s writing was eloquent and detailed with the perfect amount of quirk and banter to update this timeless genre. Each setting and scene depicted is vivid and the sense of time, place and mood was always strong (I could smell the fair described in the book). Overall, Perrin’s update on the classic murder mystery was witty, fresh, and kept me guessing until the very end.

Thank you to @netgalley and @kristenperrinwrites for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I cannot wait to see what happens next in Castle Knoll!

PS: The fashion alone would be enough to turn this into a screenplay!

#bookreview #arc #advancedreaderscopy #bookstagram #murdermystery #whodunnit #howtosolveyourownmurder #netgalley #duttonbooks #bookishmama

Annie is called to the country as heir to her great aunt’s estate - whom she’s never met. Before the will can be explained, great aunt Frances is found murdered. Before Annie can claim her inheritance, she must solve Frances’s murder within a week and before the police or Frances’s nephew find the killer.

This novel has several interesting takes including a 60 year old fortune and missing girl, Frances’s diary and the intertwined relationships of a small village.

There were too many characters to keep track of - three generations worth! The beginning had quite a few repetitive bits. Frances didn’t solve her own murder or help to solve it (outside of leaving behind a diary) so the title, while catchy, is inaccurate.

"For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club , an enormously fun mystery about a woman who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later, when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate... Now it's up to her great-niece to catch the killer."
What a fun mystery in the Gravestone Estate!! The story alternates between present and past. In 1965, Francis Adams as a teenager sought out a fortune teller at a county fair. What she finds out will haunt her for 60 years. The bone chilling prediction: "One day Frances will be murdered." She spent a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn't happened. She compiled dirt on every person who crossed her path.

Annie, her great niece, travels to the estate for a meeting. When she looks through the notes she has compiled, as well as a diary and photos, she finds out every village person has a motive for her great aunt's murder. The reading of the will becomes a game play with riddles and challenges, which I thought was a clever take. There were a lot of suspects since she spent a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hadn't happened yet. I thought this was a fun and entertaining book that the people she knew and lived around were all capable of being the culprit.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for this delightful ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a delightful time cozying up with this murder mystery and unraveling an age old drama between three best friends from a quaint countryside village of Castle Knoll in 1965. The story begins with an unsettling and grim prediction of the death of Frances Adams who later on obsesses over the misfortune and spends an entire lifetime trying to solve her own murder. Eventually it comes to pass and in an odd twist of fate her grand niece, Annabelle Adams, is summoned by a mysterious inheritance and then immediately tasked in solving the riddle. Will Annie succeed in finding the murderer or would dredging up the past only lead her to the same ill-fate as Frances?

I enjoyed the steady pacing of this mystery-drama as it was told in duel timelines. The diary from the reclusive Frances drew me in with each successive entry and I relished in the village rumors and speculations surrounding the disappearance of one her friends. It was conceivable that anyone who knew Frances or even Emily for that matter could have easily been the culprit. The suspect list was extensive and I had my inklings but still did not manage to arrive at the correct conclusion. It felt like a murderous season of Dawson’s Creek with the secrets, lies, and betrayal found among a tight-knit group of friends and then a squeaky clean wrap up in its finale. The set in Gravesdown Hall also gave me instant Clue vibes as to who, what, where, and when. It was absolutely delightful to solve-along and overall a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me an advance reader copy and to Kristin Perrin for an engaging mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kristen Perrin for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

I was so excited to receive this ARC, and it did not disappoint! I love a mystery novel where all the clues are there in retrospect but the ending still surprises me, and this was exactly that. I cannot wait to see what happens next in Castle Knoll!

Frances Adams has been trying to avoid/prepare for her own murder since she was a teen. She's gathered dirt on everyone she's ever known in her small country village in an effort to solve a crime before it's been committed. For sixty years no one believed Frances, now it seems she was right all along, when she's found murdered in her own home.
Enter her great-niece Annie Adams, a writer and determined woman. Once Annie finds out her Aunt Frances was murdered she becomes determined to solve the crime. Unfortunately, the sleepy village is hiding its share of secrets and the locals all seem to have motive...

I loved this mystery novel! Once I started I could not stop reading. The pacing was perfect and hooked me in right away, The view points switch each chapter or so, from Frances's files and diary of the past to Annie's perspective in the present. The twists were great and Annie was a lot of fun to follow through her investigation. There were several funny moments and the descriptions of each scene felt lush and real. The book wrapped up rather well, with just enough room for a possible sequel. I do hope to read more from Kristen Perrin as How to Solve Your Own Murder was a wild ride and just the mystery novel I wanted.

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 3/26

The story begins in 1965 when a fortune teller tells Frances Adams that she’s going to be murdered. This chilling prophecy haunts her and she spends the next 60 years compiling information on everyone she meets to figure out who her murderer could be. When Frances really is murdered in her home, her great-niece, Annie, finds herself embroiled in a web of secrets and lies as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding Frances's death. With a fortune at stake, Annie dives headfirst into France’s world, racing against time to uncover the truth.

This cozy mystery is clever and has quite a few twists I didn’t see coming. With her determination and wit, Annie makes for a compelling MC, while Frances's intriguing journals offer glimpses into the past. The past chapters were my favorite, where we find out more about Frances and who could have wanted her dead.

This is a must-read for fans of classic mysteries and anyone looking for a “whodunit” with a modern twist. Perrin's storytelling prowess shines through in this gripping tale of secrets and betrayal.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dutton for my advanced copy.

DNF @ 23%

Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me, I had a really hard time connecting with any of the characters and just wasn't invested in the mystery presented.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a highly satisfying cozy mystery that will hopefully be the first in a long series. Frances Adams entire life has been dedicated to solving her own murder—which was foretold by a fortuneteller when she was 17 years old. She was told that after a series of events had come to pass, she would be killed. And she was.

Her great-niece Annie had only heard about crazy aunt Frances. But when Frances summoned Annie to her home to discuss changing her will, Annie headed off to meet her great aunt at last. Unfortunately she arrived just in time to discover her aunt’s body. Regretting that she had not gotten to meet Frances in life, Annie is determined to find out who killed Frances. And she would use the clues Frances left in her murder room to do it. Annie has another incentive. To ensure that her murderer would be caught, Frances’ will specifies that her vast estate would go to whichever of her potential heirs was able to solve the murder—Annie or her late husband’s nephew, Saxon. And, they are given just one week to solve the crime.

This book was such a fun read. The premise is original, the story moves along at a great pace, the characters are enjoyable, and the ending is satisfying. This is the kind of book you want to take to read on the beach. However, it is also the kind of book that makes you forget about time, so wear plenty of sunscreen!

A really fun murder mystery with essentially two plot lines and two murders to solve at once. The characters were good although keeping all the family connections straight was a little tough. The plot kept me guessing until the end! My only complaint was that the romantic tension between Annie and the detective didn’t get resolved but I suppose that’s what sequels are for.

Really cute cozy mystery. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, I prefer a little more on the edge of your seat reading, but super fun for what it was! Definitely will be recommending it to people who prefer these types of books :)

A compelling dual timeline murder mystery with interesting characters full of family secrets. I really enjoyed this first in a new cozy mystery series set in England as the heir to an inheritance finds herself solving her great aunt's murder while also falling into the sights of her killer too. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like The Thursday murder club. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. I'm interested to see what happens in the next book!

4.5 stars! This book absolutely hooked me. I was a bit nervous going into it because I was worried that it was going to be too similar to other books I have read in the past, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. I loved the little excerpts from Frances' diary. I also loved that all the clues I needed to solve the murder were presented to me. That being said, I still was thrown a curveball with that twist. I see that Goodreads has this listed as #1 in the series, but felt this one wrapped up really nicely. I am anxious to see what book 2 is about after enjoying book 1 so much!

Thank you @NetGalley, Dutton, and @penguinbooks for my free copy to read and review! I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading the arc.

LOVED, LOVED this exciting cozy murder mystery! Fans of Riley Sager and Agatha Christie will really enjoy this read!

1965, teenager Frances Adams is read her fortune that foretells of her future murderous demise. When D-day finally approaches, Frances wills her estate to the heir that solves her death.

In comes Annie Adams, an aspiring mystery novelist, eager to get to know her great-Aunt through her writings and by solving all the mysteries of Frances’ life and death. First mystery being the discovery of a trunk of bones, human bones — decades old. Bones belonging to Frances’ missing childhood friend, Emily.

Annie works to solve both murders before time runs out, all while, trying to remain safe herself. As Annie discovers many truths, the murderer is revealed, one that is truly SHOCKING!

How to solve your own murder is a cozy mystery that has Clue vibes. Great Aunt Frances receives a fortune at 16 about how her life will end. She spends the rest of her life being obsessed with solving her murder, but ultimately dies before she can solve it. Here her great niece, Annie Adams comes in. Annie becomes obsessed with solving her Great Aunt Frances murder and things become quite dangerous along the way as well as some secrets being revealed.

I really liked the dual timelines and POVs that are narrated by Frances and Annie. The plot twist and the murderers I did not see coming! It was a little slow at first but when the action really started in France’s diary timeline, I became more invested. Keeping up with the suspects that are in both timelines with their family tree became a little confusing. I wish we would have gotten a sneak peek of Frances married life. Overall, I enjoyed reading Frances and Annie’s murder mystery journey.

What would you do if you have been told that you will get murdered?

This is what happen to France when she go to fortune teller at the Country Fair with her two best friend, France believed the fortune teller prediction and become obsessed and paranoid over her upcoming death. No one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, Frances is found murdered. Annie, France's great niece determined to find her murderer before its too late.

How to Solve Your Murder is a historical, cozy small town mysteries told in dual timeline: Past (1965-1966) and Present in which we get both woman POVs. I like that the past timelines is in a diary format, it helps to get to know her characters and understand the way she is. We also learn more about France's background, how her life after the fortune told, and how the betrayal happens. The present timelines is mostly about Annie trying to figure out the truth behind France death as well as getting to know France's acquaintance.

I have a love-hate relationship with dual timeline. Some make me feel disconnected with the story but this one was well done. I truly enjoyed the true 'whodunnit' of this book, The character doesn't feel one dimensional, it felt real. The betrayal, the rage and hatred. I also enjoy some of the twist at the end. However, some parts are quite dragged and feels too long.

Overall, I would definitely recommend it if you love friendship secrets, family fortune and small town mystery. Giving it 3.8. Thank you Dutton books and Netgalley for gifting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!