Thank you NetGalley and the Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC.

The name of this book is what drew me in, it was definitely misleading. This book was a bit to slow of a mystery for my taste but the writing overall/story was great.

The way the story flipped flopped between two timelines was done very well.

Seventeen-year-old Frances Adams lives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll where she attended a Country Fair with her two closest friends. In 1965, a fortune teller saddles Frances with the evil portent of her eventual murder. This life changing event for Frances becomes her obsession so that she suspects everyone around her keeping files of their secrets and indiscretions. In present day time, Frances lives in a stately home, Gravesdown Estate where she rules the roost.

Annie Adams, a grand-niece, has grown up living in a London townhouse along with her artist mother thanks to her Great Aunt Francis’s largess. When called to attend an important meeting with the Great Aunt she has never met, Annie arrives to find the worst has happened a murder has indeed occurred. Annie and one other of Francis’ heirs, Saxon who is the local coroner, have been tasked with finding out who the killer is if either one is to inherit the 40 million pounds and her country estate. With only one week to solve the mystery or lose out to a developer with big plans, Annie must figure out which of the myriad of locals might be guilty.

Annie is not sure who to trust except for a local police Detective Crane, who seems to be on her side and not only the professional here, but in the competition according to the will for solving the murder. This is really two stories in one as a lot of the plot comes from Frances’ youthful diary which contains another unsolved mystery about a disappearance. Annie is a bit of an ersatz, sometimes bumbling, Miss Marple wannabe who takes some wild chances putting herself at considerable risk. Viewing the locals through her eyes as well as reading the diary along with Annie, readers will have many characters and motivations to wade through to figure out who is the culprit in both mysteries. While an enjoyable read for the most part, the book seems to drag out at times with the dual timelines bogging it down. This tale looks to be the start of a series with possible future mysteries to unfurl and a budding romance between Annie and Detective Crane.

“Oh my god, an estranged aunt in a sleepy countryside village? A mysterious inheritance? Annie, your life is turning into a novel.”

Frances spends her entire life convinced that the fortune predicting her murder would come true, only to be proven right 60 years later. And now her great-niece is tasked with finding her killer…

This is the coziest of cozy mysteries that you are going to want to add to your TBR if you like Knives Out, puzzles and fortunes, dual timelines, Agatha Christie, parallel murders, everyone hiding secrets, and all the questions/loose ends wrapped up with a neat little bow at the end.

I loved this debut novel from Kristen Perrin and I’m going to be recommending it to everyone for a cozy fall (or sooner!) read — it’s out March 26! Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the e-arc.

I loved the strong writing in How To Solve Your Own Murder in this murder mystery. The character development was great, too. This is the type of book that has something for everyone. This had a clue-like vibe to it. I would describe this as a cozy murder mystery.
In 1965, Frances went to a fair where she went to the fortune tellers booth, who told her she'd be murdered. Frances talked about this all throughout the years and no one believed her when she would profess that it would happen. They finally realized she was correct when she was found murdered.
The book cuts to the present when Frances great niece, Annie arrives in London for the will reading. Whoever solves the murder inherits Frances estate and fortune.

This book started a bit slow for me - but once it picked up it was a great murder mystery. I feel like it took a while to figure out who was who - especially with the present day Anne, and the diary entries from 1965 written by Frances.

Annie is a murder mystery writer, put into a "game" where she has to solve her great aunts death within a week. Her own great aunt had been leaving clues for YEARS about how she would die due to an earlier given fortune.

I didn't see the ending coming - which I LOVE!

This is a nice cozy mystery. It’s a little bit slow paced which is not my typical read. I usually prefer a sitting on the edge of your seat thriller, but this book was cute. The characters didn’t really resonate with me, they didn’t seem like people I would “know” but more like fictional characters. Maybe you will enjoy it more than I did, but if you’re a fan of fast paced books I would not recommend this one.

Thank you to net galley and publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Debut novelist Kristen Perrin has given us a wonderfully nostalgic murder mystery. The setting is familiar--a large English estate, an inheritance at risk, a medium cast of suspicious individuals, all with possible motive, and a clever young woman determined to find justice. But Perrin makes the tropes her own and manages to make a familiar story delightfully surprising. The clues are artfully rolled out in a way that steers toward an ending that is at once inevitable without being too predictable. While there are a few tense moments, overall, the book is gentle on the nervous system and will be popular for readers looking for cozy, comfortable reads. There's also plenty of humor, and the split timelines will delight readers who enjoy both modern sensibilities, and historical references. The acknowledgements hint at a film adaptation--I'll be looking forward to that. I am also featuring this title as my debut of the month in the March edition of my YouTube show Book Buzz, out March 4th through Oshkosh Public Library. A copy is already on order for my library's patrons.

I got 40% through this and gave up out of sheer boredom. The concept might be interesting, but reading it felt like listening to someone distractedly describe the actions they were taking as they played through a video game. There was no narrative tensions and I didn't care what happened next, both of which are kind of key for the mystery genre.

I would give this book a solid four stars. It was very enjoyable. A true whodunnit in the likeness of a Nancy Drew, Hercule Poirot, or Sherlock Holmes in that although you follow the clues along with the main character, you don't know the full scope of their investigation until all is revealed at the very end. It's an easy, lite read. I noted one or two grammatical errors but overall, very well edited.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The book did not feel long at all as the plot was very fast-paced - I could not put it down. I think the writing with the current timeline and also Frances' journal entries made the story really compelling and I really loved that there were 2 murders that were being solved and how they were all connected. The characters and the secrets around Castle Knoll kept me guessing for this who-dun-it.

Just like Annie, I felt like Frances was a companion for the entire story even though she is murdered at the beginning. The ending made me sad knowing that we were finally saying goodbye to her as well but at the same time very uplifting when Annie decides to pick up her pen and start her own journalling.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton & NetGalley for approving this ARC.

How To Solve Your Own Murder follows Annie Adams, who was invited to her Great Aunt Frances’ estate to update her will, only to find that Frances was murdered. Years ago, when Frances was a teenager, she got her fortune told which spoke of her murder. After spending years obsessed with finding her murderer before they struck but ultimately being unsuccessful, it’s now up to Annie to figure out what happened to her mysterious great aunt.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. It felt a lot like Knives Out but it was also a really unique plot for a murder mystery. I found it to be a bit slow, though, and it didn’t capture my interest the entire time. Ultimately I’m glad I finished it because it picked up for me in the end and kept me interested.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton, Kristen Perrin, and NetGalley for the eARC!

I could not put this book down! From the beginning, the story was fast paced enough to keep me hooked without leaving my behind. I didn’t see the twist coming, and at times it was hard to keep all the people straight when switching from reading about them as teenagers and now adults. This book left no questions unanswered and I really enjoyed it!

Envoking the classic brilliance of Agatha Christie, this small-town mystery shines with intelligence and charm, easily securing a well-deserved 4.5-star rating. The narrative effortlessly draws readers into a captivating world, where the endearing Annie Adam takes center stage, making the unfolding events thoroughly engaging to read.

The mystery at the heart of the story is nothing short of chilling, with a cast of characters that adds depth and charm to the overall narrative. Annie's connection to her eccentric great-aunt Frances and the lingering prophecy, spanning six decades, creates an atmosphere of suspense that captures the reader's imagination from the very start.

The storyline unfolds with precision, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Annie navigates through intricate family dynamics and the ominous specter of murder. The pacing is impeccable, delivering a thrilling experience that builds anticipation until the final, unexpected resolution. The clever execution of the plot, filled with twists and turns, adds an extra layer of intrigue.

Beyond the captivating mystery, the narrative introduces compelling elements such as the fate of Gravesdown Estate, psychological games orchestrated by rivals, and Annie's collaboration with the charismatic Detective Crane. These elements contribute to the story's depth, creating a multifaceted and exciting reading experience.

As tension escalates and the race against time intensifies, Annie's journey becomes not only a quest for justice but also a fight for her own survival. The book seamlessly weaves together these elements, resulting in a addicting whodunit that merits its impressive 4.5-star rating.

In conclusion, this fanastic mystery showcases the author's storytelling abilities while leaving this reader eagerly anticipating further adventures with the remarkable Annie Adams.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing a digital reviewer copy of this outstanding book in exchange for an honest and enthusiastic review.

How to Solve Your Own Murder felt like a Knives Out book. It was a little slow in the beginning, but I was soon invested in the story and needed to know "who dun it." I thought the characters were well flushed out and I really enjoyed the aspect of getting to see them throughout time and aging. It was a unique twist.

Annie has never met her great-aunt Frances, but she knows all about how a creepy prophecy she heard as a teen led her to obsess over her own murder. It took decades, but in the end her paranoia and cataloging of her neighbors' sins caused someone to snap and kill her. Now Annie has a week to solve the case and inherit a fortune. Frances helps her from beyond the grave via her teenage diary, which is full of juicy gossip about the villagers. They all still live in the area . . . except for Emily, whose disappearance was never solved. An enjoyable double mystery.

I highly recommend this cozy mystery. It had an excellent mix of who done it type vibes and character development. I found the pacing steady throughout and really enjoyed the integration of past and future story lines. Also, I think the writing was great - easy to read but descriptive enough to clearly picture the story unfolding.

I cannot wait for the author to write another mystery.

This book is Agatha Christie and Knives Out with the small town feel of The Ex Hex. I absolutely adored it.

From the very first pages you are introduced to a young Frances and transported back to the 1960s. You are immediately intertwined in her fortune and want to protect Frances from what is to come in her life. Her young niece is called to the small town of Castle Knoll to meet her great aunt for the first time, but by the time she gets there she is too late. It is up to Annie to solve the mystery of her great-aunts death. What she finds through her investigation is that small towns are full of big secrets.

I loved the fast pace of this book. Each new piece of evidence led me to believe I was finally on the right track, but I never was. (I must admit though, I am not very good at solving these mysteries). Nonetheless, the ending was a big shock to me.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was getting to see the growth in Annie, and I must say, I am a big fan of her being a murder mystery author! To me, she embodied what it is to be a strong woman in a long line of strong women. She was driven, smart and courageous. Qualities that made her the perfect pick to help solve this mystery.

I would recommend when reading this to cozy up by a fireplace with a cup of warm tea- it will really set the mood. Especially for those flashback chapters- I loved feeling transported into the big library near the fire.

Overall, I wanted to rate this book 5/5. The only reason I ended up rating it 4.5 is because the dates on the flashbacks confused me. I am not sure if they were supposed to line up with the events they were discussing or not. I would recommend ignoring the dates and just looking at the flashbacks as "when Frances was young." I did round up and give this book a 5/5 on Goodreads.

4.25 stars!

This was a really enjoyable, well plotted cozy mystery! I found our main character, Annie, very endearing and easy to root for. I especially enjoyed the chapters from Frances's diary; the dual timelines and plots were very interesting and I loved trying to piece everything together. Most importantly, all the clues are presented to the reader at the same time as Annie yet the ultimate "whodunit" was still truly a surprise!

There was a loose end or two left at the end, but maybe they're a set up for more books to come? If so, I fully plan on reading them to see what else our characters get up to.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and the author for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a classic cozy who-done-it murder mystery that blended flashbacks, an old unsolved case, and a current day killing that had been predicted decades before.
While the characters didn't fully grab my attention and the plot felt a bit overladen at times, this was still an enjoyable and easy read! If you want to curl up in a big chair during a cold rainy night with a mystery that isn't scary, this is a good pick.

Thanks NetGalley for the book!

I loved this multigenerational murder mystery! It was cozy and engaging at the same time-it kept me guessing and I was really invested in Frances & Annie as narrators. Would definitely recommend!