It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair - the night that a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a murder that’s supposed to happen to her. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.

In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But the meeting is derailed when Frances is found dead. Annie is determined to catch the elusive killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up everyone’s secrets and lies, it seems every benign villager might just have a motive for her murder.

WOW. It’s as if The Birdcage and Clue: The Board Game was mashed up into a wonderfully captivating murder-mystery.

The best part was that I truly could not predict how the plot would twist and turn so frequently and kept me on my toes! I find that my least favorite part about murder-mysteries is that they get predictable after reaching a certain section in almost every novel and you’re already so invested in it that you just finish it anyways, even though it’s not very satisfying.

This book was a fast-paced, un-put-down-able page-turner. I enjoyed every minute of reading it! I may even go so far as to say it’s a new favorite….

The book switches from past to present, and apparently, I'm in the minority because I enjoyed it. I actually found myself enjoying the past more than the present. This is a very slow burn of a book. It took me a while to get into it, and considered DNFing a few times. Give it time; it'll grow on you, or at the very least, you'll want to figure out who did it. I really enjoyed the premise of the book but did feel like it fell short in some areas. After about halfway through, I did find myself more engaged with it. So, just be aware that it's a very slow burn, but overall kind of fun!

Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton for the ARC!

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.

If you loved Knives Out, this is the book for you! What a fun read. I enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read and review this upcoming novel. I have some mixed feelings reviewing this one. I myself love a good murder mystery plot, but this one fell short. The main character is tasked with finding out who murdered their great aunt, a woman she herself has never met. Beyond just the thrill of solving the riddle presented from the very beginning, and a chance to inherit what sounds to be a pretty penny, there is no personal motivation.

I have no qualms with the writing style, though it was a bit lacking. The same can be said about the plot. There were so many plot points introduced that had the potential to really influence the story, but many of those points were not flushed out and merely mentioned, which just adds unnecessary detail.

I did not deduce the overall killer, so that did surprise me, but the reveal and overall arrest was lackluster. Overall, this story left me wanting more from it. I'm conflicted as to if I'll read more in the future, because the way it looks, it'll be series in some effect. Guess I'll just see when/if the time comes.

A perfectly lovely and cozy mystery with a unique twist that is revealed upfront. I love murder mysteries like this where just enough breadcrumbs are left so the reader can play along and try to solve the murder as the story progresses. Like such, there isn't a huge twist or surprise at the end, but everything is tied up nicely and leaves you feeling satisfied with the outcome. I wish there was a bit more character development outside of the murder storyline, but still a fun read nonetheless!

The premise made it sound as though this book would be fantastic. Unfortunately, I was unable to read very far, because it is written in both present tense and in first person, a combination that rarely (if ever) succeeds with me.
Thank you anyway for the ARC. I’m sure that many other readers will find this much more up their alley.

A lighthearted Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery. I started this book thinking I was going to read a couple of chapters before bed but ended up staying up until 3 AM to finish this book. The book was compelling, refreshing and kept me guessing until the end. I can definitely say I will be purchasing this book once it is released to put on my book shelf and will be reading any other books Kristen Perrin releases.

I had a mixed reaction to this book. The constant switching to past and present just felt terribly executed, to me, at least. I do think that it could work if it was more thought out, but it wasn't a pleasure to read and I found myself skipping every other chapter. It is a solid mystery book, however, and was fairly engaging in the sections of the book that took place in the present. I think that some readers will enjoy this book, but it certainly isn't for everyone.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Kristen Perrin for providing me with an ARC. I was not required to write a review, and all thoughts presented in the review above are my own.

I have heard patrons at the library already asking for ‘How to Solve your own Murder’ and I will be recommending it whenever I can!
It is a clever, witty, well written book full of great characters who twist and turn through the book which effortlessly travels back and forth between the present day where Great Aunt Frances needs her murder solved back to the diaries written in the 60’s by Frances herself.
A satisfying read with a rewarding ending.

There is much to enjoy about Kristen Perrin's How To Solve Your Own Murder. In a clear and compelling voice, Perrin introduces us to present day Annie Adams who through a series of maneuvers by her Great Aunt Frances stands to inherit her aunt's fortune if she can solve her aunt's murder. Through a diary found by Annie, we are also introduced to a young Frances, who spends her life chasing the shadow of a fortune teller who dooms her to a life wondering when she will be murdered. If this sounds a bit convoluted, it is is, but it is also enjoyable, clever and fast-paced. I would have benefited from a cast of characters to keep them all straight - present day and past - but a small quibble for an otherwise enjoyable mystery. Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm going back to the mystery genre because this was just brilliant.

I consider this book as Katrin Perrin’s debut because her others - which I think are short stories - are in another language and only a few people read them. And as a debut, it has its flaws, but it's also pretty great.

I'm not blind to the many issues other people have had with this story, its many, not-very-developed characters are the main reason behind the complaints, but I’m following my heart on this, and I loved it. Even if it didn't understand much.
The said characters are an annoying aspect, for example, but if you don't consider the weird circumstance of the murder and how convenient is for the main character to be an aspirant mystery author, the second place of things to correct would be how quick was Annie to solve not only the muster surrounding her great aunt’s death but the much older mystery involving her great aunt’s best friend’s disappearing.

Long story short, Annie got everything right and then had to explain to us - and the Detective assigned to the case -, because she was the only one able to figure out what happened in all this mess of characters playing games with each other, many suspects on the background just for show, and a piece of the puzzle always missing.
She did win an exceptional inheritance for her heavy work, so good for her.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I liked the conceptual idea for this book. Having said that, I have mixed opinions about the writing. The general writing style wasn’t bad, and I thought the first person present tense was interesting. But the dialogue felt very artificial and awkward, (rather than flowing naturally) like you would see in a play. Also, there were a lot of portions where we were being told a lot of information in quick succession and it was a bit overwhelming.

Side note, it started to get on my nerves everytime the protagonist said “Great Aunt Frances” because why do you have to say her entire title? Especially when the people you’re talking to already know who she is.

All in all, this book wasn’t really for me (in terms of grabbing my attention) but it’s quirky and cute and I’m sure others will enjoy it more.

Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for this DRC

“How to solve your own murder” is a fun and intriguing mystery about a girl named Annabelle Adams who travels to an estate meeting set up by her Great Aunt Francis Adams for her estate. Francis is fixated on a prediction told by a fortune teller of her murder. Her fortune unfortunately comes true, and Annie is left to solve not only the murder of Francis but a mystery that had been left unsolved for 60 years.

This book kept me guessing about all of the potential suspects, although it was a little challenging to keep up with all of the characters. The twist at the end was a bit underwhelming, and the pacing lagged towards the end. I would recommend it but would encourage note-taking.

I want to thank Net Galley and Penguin Group Dutton for this Arc for a review.

Fantastic book! Loads of characters- I didn’t get a chance to see if there was an available audiobook for this, but I’d imagine a full cast would be amazing.

Loads of characters, so for my fellow note takers- take note to keep track!

Fun, modern sort of twist to a classic whodunnit vibe, without being too modern. The author hit the mark with this, and I want more! I can’t say much as to not give spoilers, but this would be a great book club book and I’m looking forward to an audio version!

This was such a fun, mystery read! Annie goes to a quaint village to meet her great aunt and inherit her fortune. Or so she thinks. Unfortunately the first time she lays eyes on her great aunt she is dead. Annie also finds out the only way she is to inherit the fortune is to solve her great aunt’s murder.

I really enjoyed so much about this book. I loved the main character, Annie. I loved the setting and all the side characters. I always enjoy POVs from different media, so I really liked Great Aunt Frances’ journal entries from the past. I totally was picturing a British murder mystery in my head the whole time. I enjoyed the ending but it felt kind of rushed. Also, I wish I could have gotten to know the side characters a little more. But maybe that was to help not figure out the mystery. There are actually 2 mysteries to solve in the book. Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!

Thank you so much Penguin (my fav animal) group and NetGalley for the copy of this book!

It’s giving Agatha Christie. This was an engaging read with a unique premise. There were entirely too many characters for me to wrap my head around though.

This book was amazing. Just the premise is so intriguing and I wasn’t sure how it could actually be written about, but the author did an amazing job from cover to cover.
First off, I really love Annie, our main character. She is witty and fearless without being annoying.
Secondly, this book kept me guessing, I really mean it. At certain points in the book she would write about a certain chat tarts more which made you wonder if that was the murderer or just another clue.
Lastly, the use of past and present timelines with two POVs was so much fun to read about and try to price it together yourself

I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This book had classic murder mystery vibes. It was slightly hard to keep all the characters straight but I felt the mystery resolved itself nicely.

Reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple mysteries, “How to Solve Your Own Murder” is a cozy mystery with quirky characters and tame action scenes. If you’re a Christie fan so much of this novel will feel more than familiar, from the English setting to the gathering of the suspects to the dialogue. Perfect book to curl up by the fire with a cuppa tea and a roaring fireplace while it rains outside.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was fine. The dual narratives was interesting but the resolution to the murders was a bit unsatisfying to me. The big cast of characters was a little difficult to keep track of and they all felt a little flat. Still, if this continues as a series, there's potential to expand the universe and flesh out the characters more. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this title to those not already interested in the mystery genre, but for those that are already mystery-lovers, this one will suffice.