Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy ♥️
How to Solve Your Own Murder" by Kristen Perrin is a captivating mystery novel that delves into the complex and intriguing concept of solving one's own murder. The story follows the protagonist, who finds themselves in a unique predicament - they are dead, and it's up to them to figure out who killed them and why.
One of the strengths of this book is its original and imaginative plot. Perrin has crafted a story that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural, creating a thrilling and unpredictable ride for readers. The pacing is well-balanced, with a steady flow of clues, twists, and revelations that keep you engaged and curious.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrina is a delightful thoroughly engrossing murder mystery set in an English country village. In 1965, a teenage Frances, and her two best friends, attended the local country fair. Frances’s life is forever changed by a fortune teller’s prediction of her future murder. She takes the prediction seriously, but her concerns are dismissed. Frances spends the rest of life viewing the world with suspicion, collecting clues, uncovering secrets, with the intent of solving her murder.

Fast forward to the present, Frances’s great-niece Annie, an aspiring mystery writer, is summoned to a meeting with her very wealthy great-aunt. She travels to the small country village where Frances’s estate is located but before they can meet Frances is found murdered. So, the prediction does come true, and Frances was right all along. At the reading of the will, Annie, along with the other heir, Saxon, is given one week to solve Frances’s murder. The first one to solve the murder inherits the estate and all its resources. If neither are successful, the entire estate will be given to developers. Annie feels a strong connection to her great-aunt and is determined to solve her murder and give her justice.

Overall, this was a fun, suspenseful read. The mystery focused on Annie’s solving her great aunt’s murder within a time frame specified by the will before the other prospective heir. The plot has a couple mysteries, and the question became how they were connected. The story goes back and forth between the past and the present. Frances’s diary gives voice to the past, allowing a view into her frame of mind and what was going on in her world. Annie’s narrative represents the present. Annie’s investigation is aided by her discovery of Frances’s diary, the reservoir of information Frances has collected over the years, her interactions with the many quirky characters and collaboration with the local detective to uncover the murderer. I enjoyed how Annie used the diary and the clues to solve the mystery surrounding Frances’s death.

I so loved reading this book, its quaint English country village setting and the wonderfully quirky characters. There were lots of clues and I loved trying to piece them together to solve the murders. I look forward to more books by Kristen Perrina.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy of this book.

This was my first book by Kristen Perrin. In fact, I had never even heard of her until seeing this book on NetGalley. I was intrigued by the title and the charming, ethereal cover art. Spoiler alert: This ended up in my top 10 reads of 2023!! This was a mystery wrapped inside a mystery and I loved the dual investigations!

At first I wasn't sure how I was going to like this as the story is told in a dual timeline format (that, for the most part I try to avoid), but it definitely worked in this book and I did not feel confused at any point.

In "How To Solve Your Own Murder", our character Annie, is hellbent on trying to solve the murder of her great aunt, Frances, while also trying to figure out what happened to her childhood friend, Emily, who disappeared shortly after her, Frances and their friend, Rose, go to see a fortune teller at a fair where Frances is the unfortunate recipient of bad news-she is going to be murdered one day! Not great. After receiving this devastating news, Frances goes on a life-long mission trying to solve her own murder *before* it happens, while also looking for Emily. Talk about multi-tasking!

This is one of the most unique premises I have ever read in any mystery book and probably in *any* genre. I absolutely LOVED the characters, their stories, and I was extremely impressed by how Perrin managed to skillfully weave the past into the present day. This REALLY helped me connect with Frances which was a huge deal because I usually find myself feeling distant/disconnected from characters when reading books that are told in dual timelines.

I read this book in ONE sitting, and at one point in the book I was *ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED* that I had figured it out, but NOPE! I was soooooo wrong. The last time I enjoyed being this wrong was when I read Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd", and that's about as best of a compliment I think any author could receive.

This was an EASY 5 stars. This was an an absolut blast. I will absolutely be buying this for my home library when it comes out (i LOVE this cover so PLEASE PLEASE do not change it!) and I will be recommending it to my mystery-loving reader friends.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read such a fantastic and fun book. I already want to do a re-read and see what I might have missed on first read!

Set mainly in a rural English village, this story takes you on a journey through two timelines, both filled with suspense and intrigue. In the present you see Annie investigating her Great Aunt Frances’s murder and you get a glimpse into Frances’s teen years in the 1960s through her diary entries. The story had me hooked from the very beginning and had a clever ending. Highly recommend!

5⭐️

In 1965, Frances Adams had her fortune read at the county fair that predicted that her death will be from murder and it has haunted her ever since. She seemed to believe the fortune to be true once one of her best friends went missing as a teen, fulfilling part of the prophecy. She has spent her entire life trying to predict who would be her murderer. She kept filing cabinets full of files on local towns people and their motives and has been known to call the police and hospitals about the most mundane things believing it is an attempt on her life. No one takes her serious until Frances is found murdered at 60 years later.

Annie Adams had never met her great aunt Frances and was surprised when she was summoned to the village of Castle Knoll for a meeting with Frances and other people features in her will. But by the time Annie and the rest of the people invited arrive to the meeting, Frances is dead. Using the clues that Frances has collected for years, Annie is determined to find her great aunt's murderer and uncovers a cold case at the same time.

I'm going to preference this with the fact that I love dramatic mysteries like Clue, Knives Out and Murder, She Wrote, so this book was right up my alley. I love that pretty much the whole village is a suspect and if they aren't a suspect they have information regarding to the case. I also love when the main character is left threats to scare them away from investigating and this had all of that. I really liked Annie as a main character and that since she had never met Frances, she was removed enough from the situation to behave rationally.

I especially liked the inclusion of Frances journal from her childhood, labeled as "The Castle Knoll Files." I think inserting these journal entries between each chapter really gives you a lot of background information as well as some intense red herrings of sinister behavior that had innocent explanations. I spent the book trying to figure out the case with Annie and hadn't quite figured it out when the killer was revealed, which was nice.

Thank you Netgalley and Dutton for providing this ARC to me!

This is a delightful English mystery perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club. We will be buying for our libraries.

How to Solve Your Own Murder resparked my love for mysteries and Nancy Drew-Esque novels.

France’s is given a terrible fortune at a fair when she is seventeen. She will be murdered someday. After the disappearance of her best friend, she develops the obsession to solve her own murder… before it happens.

Annie Adam’s is summoned to her Great Aunt France’s estate, an aunt she’s never met. Unfortunately the beauty of the estate is immediately marred by the discover of the body of Great Aunt Frances.

Now Annie is tasked with using the pieces of her aunt investigations to solve the murder…or lose the estate for good.


This novel was a quick and fun read that is perfect for the fall. I would recommend this novel for people who loved Nancy Drew like myself. I’ve honestly stayed away from the murder mystery genre for a while because of how repetitive it gets. But Kirstin Perrin’s writing rekindled a love for mystery. With her wonderful prose and well developed characters, I couldn’t put this novel down.


Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel. It will be released 26 March 2024.

This was a clever mystery with dual timelines set in a delightful English village. There was so much to like about the book, starting with the two main characters. I’m counting Great Aunt Frances as a main character because, even though she’s murdered at the beginning of the book, she is very much alive in the earlier timeline and is still a strong presence in the current one. She certainly was not what I was expecting and, like Annie, I would love to know more about her life. As for Annie, she was a joy to read about. She actually seemed liked a real person.

The murders were interesting, the paths taken to solve them twisting and fun to follow. I had no idea who the murderer was. But, the clues were there. The ending was solid.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

***This review, expressing my honest opinion, is voluntary, and I extend my gratitude to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton and NetGalley for providing the ARC of "How to Solve Your Own Murder.***

This Agatha Christie-esque mystery, brimming with intelligence and captivation, instantly seizes your attention from the opening scene. It introduces the relatable and engaging young protagonist, Annie Adams. The plot unfolds with the tale of Annie's eccentric great-aunt, Frances, a wealthy figure who has spent nearly six decades anticipating her own murder, driven by a fortuneteller's eerily accurate prophecy.

This book invites readers to dive in without delay, promising an enthralling murder mystery and a challenging guessing game. The riveting pace sustains suspense until the final pages, warranting a solid 5-star rating.

At the outset, we meet Annie Adams, a mystery author who recently left her day job. An invitation from her eccentric great-aunt, Frances, sets the stage for a unique narrative. Frances, fixated on solving her future murder, appoints Annie as her heir, intertwining her fate with a fortuneteller's enigmatic prediction. The plot takes a twist when Frances is found lifeless at Castle Knoll, prompting the question: natural causes or a long-awaited murder?

The story unfolds with Annie navigating a web of dysfunctional relationships surrounding Frances. Competing for Frances's estate, Annie faces off against rivals like Saxon, determined to claim what he believes is rightfully his, and Detective Crane, armed with experience and resources. Annie, seemingly the underdog, connects with Frances through an old diary, activating her determination to pursue justice.

Death threats, a race against time, and mounting pressure propel Annie to fight for justice while safeguarding her mother's home and Gravesdown Estate. The narrative expertly weaves psychological games, danger, and alliances, creating an unputdownable, clever, and twist-laden whodunit deserving of its 5-star rating.

The execution of the mystery is superb, with each character's journey captivating the reader. The anticipation of sequels, featuring more unopened diaries from great-aunt Frances and the promising amateur detective, Annie Adams, adds an extra layer of intrigue. In summary, this book stands out as an engaging read in the cozy mystery genre.

One of the most refreshing books I have read in a while.
The plot was good and it kept me engrossed all the way throughout...which is something that rarely happens for me with a book nowadays.
Annie Adam's was a smart, sensible protagonist who actually had the ability to read situations, and who didn't just stumble onto clues randomly and coincidentally. The plot and storyline were very well thought out and provided me with just enough suspense to keep guessing who the murderer was (My opinion kept changing.)
The switches between Annie's and her aunt's POV were very well timed and motivated me to read faster in order to put together that next little bit piece of the puzzle.
The imagery was also very lovely and there was not much info-dumping. At times, it was a bit difficult to remember who were the various characters, but they were all described so well that it didn't take long to remember who was who.
This was a real gem of a story, and if the author happens to continue the series, I'll definitely be tuning in!
(Received this book as an ARC from NetGalley)
5/5 rating

This was a cozy mystery that utilized dual timelines. It worked well to set up the mystery and helped to piece it together as the story unfolded. A good whodunit,

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book.

This was probably one of the best mystery/thriller books I have read this year. I was hooked from the very first page and read it in just a few hours. I thought this book gave Pretty Little Liars meets The Inheritance Games and I look forward to reading more from this author.

How to Solve Your Own Murder
by Kristen Perrin
Pub Date: March 26, 2024
Penguin Dutton
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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.
Great mystery! I enjoyed reading it.
4 stars

A fairly interesting mystery that switches between two time periods. A bit unrealistic and didn't care for the characters much, but it was ok. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This was a fun small town murder mystery! I found that the characters were likable and somewhat relatable. The plot was great and easy to follow which isn’t always the case with these types of books. It was hard to put the book down once I started it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I love a good mystery. This one was no exception, and the introduction to another country was fantastic.

I loved this book. It has perfect amount of quirk and the author does a great job alternating between the past and present day as Annie works to solve the murder of her great aunt. Some of the descriptions of this book compare it to Knives Out and Clue and I agree that it has that vibe. I very much enjoyed Annie's search for answers and her interactions with family and local residents.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. It is a fun read.

Perhaps my favorite book of the year! Top 3 without question! Annie is tasked with solving her Aunt Frances' murder in order to inherit her estate. But Annie never met her aunt, how would she even know where to begin to figure out who would want to kill her?! Luckily, Frances has believed since she was a teenager that she would be murdered and has kept notes (clues) ever since. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and unique story and should be added to everyone's TBR!

I enjoyed reading this book. I have not read anything else by this author, but will certainly seek her other works now. This book is about the past and present and unintended consequences. A daughter attends her great aunt's funeral and stands to inherit millions if she is able to unspool the mystery behind the murder of her aunt. To complicate things, she is competing with her aunt's nephew from marriage for the inheritance. There is also the element of a fortune told decades ago to the aunt which predicted her demise and betrayal.

The overall mystery was fun, I enjoyed the aunt's diary entries more so than what was happening in the present. some of the motivations of characters was not clear to me, but it did not bother me as much as I enjoyed reading the book.

In 1965, teenage Frances Adams gets a harrowing fortune at an English country fair that changes the course of her life. One day she will be murdered but she doesn't know by who. She spends her lifetime trying to solve a crime that has not been committed yet. With no one taking her seriously, Frances turns into the reclusive rich woman of the village. In present day, Frances great-niece, Annie, finds out that her mother has been removed from Frances will and that she has been summoned to have a meeting at Frances estate with her lawyer. Only, when Annie gets there, Frances is dead. She is murdered just like her fortune claimed. To become Frances heir, Annie has to solve her murder before the cops and Frances's weird nephew.

I enjoyed the parts where it went back in time to look at the dynamics of Frances and her friends when they were teenagers. I thought it was interesting to see how that would tie in to the main mystery of how Frances died. I wasn't as interested in how Annie would figure out the mystery, because I ultimately knew she would.