This one took a while to find its stride, but then it found its footing and kept the surprises coming. I do wish that it picked up the pace a little, as I did struggle to get past some of the long descriptions, but all in all a great story, with interesting characters

I was not able to finish the book and therefore do not feel that I can give an unbiased review about the book, its plot, characters, or the author's work. I might revisit this book at a later time and finish it then, but not right now.

This book hooked me! I love a good fortune, flashback/dual POV plotlines, and a main character struggling with her own writing career. Throw in a hot detective and a glamorous country estate and I couldn’t put this one down after getting to the 30% mark. The writing was charming, with phrases that really stick with you, and the last line nearly made me cry. A super fun, engaging, lightly emotional read.

What a refreshing storyline! I was hooked from the first chapter all the way through. It had many twists and turns but ultimately the end surprised me and caught me off guard. I thoroughly enjoyed!

Imagine Knives Out and Clue blended together. Great Aunt Frances is obsessed with a fortune she receives when she's 17 years old that ends up coming true sixty years later. Great Niece Annie is tasked with solving Frances' murder or else Frances' fortune will get squandered away. This was a fast-paced, charming, cozy, murder mystery that had me hooked from the get-go. I enjoyed Frances' diary entries more than I cared about Annie's point of view. But not enough to put the book down.

Read if you love:
Multiple POVs
Murder mystery
Gothic setting

Thank you to Kristen Perrin, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: March 24, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this book! This is a murder mystery that had all of the elements for a fun and engaging read but it fell short for me. I was by no means a bad book, just not one of the best I have ever read. I would still recommend this for someone wanting a cozy mystery.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a twisty mystery told between two timelines and perspectives- Great Aunt Frances in the 60’s and her grandniece Annie in present day. There are a lot of red herrings and twists in both timelines. Something about it reminded me of the movie Knives Out, but I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why. Whatever it is, it’s a compliment, because it’s a great movie. I did not predict the end- it was a surprise ending that was believable, which is pretty rare I think. Overall, I loved this one. It’s an immersive read you won’t want to put down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

I loved the writing and the characters in this murder mystery. The main character Frances attends a fair with her two friends and they visit a fortune teller. Frances is told she would be murdered. She spends her entire life investigating and accumulating evidence until one day she actually is murdered in her home.
Frances great niece Annie arrives to a meeting and gets involved in solving Frances murder to win her inheritance.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy of this book.

Such a fun and intriguing read.

I was immediately drawn in & really enjoyed the switching between present and past.

But, I thought the characters were lacking. Annie especially felt under developed which took away from the story.

Overall it was a cozy mystery, but lacking.

this book was such a delight. it was the perfect amount of cozy and solid mystery. I know it only comes out in March but it's a great spooky season read. I didn't figure out the murdered on my own and the twists and turns were so solid. I actually enjoyed both timelines which made this tough to put down. I would definitely read more from this author, especially in this world.

All I wanted to do was read this book and solve this mystery! It had everything I’d want in a story this time of year - a quaint English setting, an eccentric great aunt, a fortune teller’s prophecy, a murder, an elaborate competition to solve said murder, and a cast of very suspect suspects.

Thanks for letting me read and love this novel, NetGalley/Penguin Group Dutton/Kristen Perrin

How to Solve Your Own Murder takes the classic construct of a British murder mystery and freshens it up with dynamic female protagonists. Perrin has created complex, three-dimensional characters who bring the small town of Castle Knoll to life. They're realistic people with interesting relationships, and you can easily form an emotional connection with them, especially Annie and Frances, through her writing. Perrin also keeps you on your toes - I couldn't figure out the mystery until the very end! Would definitely recommend to fans of the genre.

Annie, an aspiring mystery writer, receives an invitation to a meeting with her great aunt Frances to discuss her estate, but she and the lawyer arrive to find her aunt dead. In fact, Frances was murdered, a fate foretold by a fairground medium almost sixty years prior, and a mystery that Frances has been trying to solve ever since. The new will has stipulations and Annie is pitted against some of her less likable relations to solve the mystery of Frances’ long-awaited murder in order to inherit the fortune she left behind. This story is everything a reader could want in a cozy murder mystery complete with a light, slow-burning romance and just a touch of obliquely referenced violence.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Annie comes the Castle Knoll to meet with her Great Aunt Frances & her attorney. She’s quickly swept up into solving 2 mysteries. One in the past and one in the present.

This book kept me engaged & I finished it quickly. There are quite a few characters to keep straight but you get into the rhythm of the story after a bit. I look forward to reading more from this author

This book was a cute, quick, and fun read!

Annie Adams is trying to solve the murder of her Aunt Frances, who has been thinking about her eventual murder ever since a fortune-teller told her about it in her youth. Now up against others with Frances' fortune on the line, it is a race to figure out whodunit!

4 star read for me.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Annie Adams arrives at the country estate of her wealthy and enigmatic great-aunt Frances only to find her dead. Frances, who has been convinced of her eventual murder due to a fortune she received as a teenager, posthumously pits Annie and other family members and friends against one another to solve her murder. Annie reads Frances' diary and attempts to uncover old and new mysteries in the quaint village of Castle Knoll.

I found the ending a but too rushed but overall found this book entertaining,

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. I love a good mystery/ thriller book. And this didn’t disappoint. Grab my attention when it mentioned that it was for fans of knives out and I would say that’s pretty accurate.

This story was delightful and well-paced. I really enjoyed the dual POV and the now-and-then storytelling. The author made a smart decision by having the story unfold as our heroine/detective Annie sets out to find her great-aunt Frances killer by reviewing her old journal and files. I thought the town characters were colorful and was glad we were not overwhelmed with characters. I did find it odd that there was a hint of a romantic relationship for the heroine with the local police detective, for me it was a bit stressed and unfulfilled towards the end. However, based on the last chapter it seems the hope is this will have at least a sequel. I think a sequel may work but it would require just as much “suspend your disbelief” as in the first book. Overall this was an enjoyable book and the premise was very well laid out. 4/5

I’ve always been a huge mystery reader & this standalone thriller was a pleasure to read! It had just enough suspense without being overly convoluted. It’s a pet peeve of mine when the reader has to jump through hoops to make sense of how everything wrapped up. This story had lots of interesting family dynamics and a town with lots of secrets. I definitely recommend this book coming out in March 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

This grabbed my interest as it says that the fans of Knives Out would love this. And i love that movie so i was really interested in it.
This did not disappoint!
It is pretty much a classic whodunit, because the first to solve the murder will inherit frances' estate. And that is the plot.
I enjoyed this one very much!
4/5