I really, really wanted to like this book -- the cozy Scottish whodunnit setting, the unique triad POV that's also like the authors' gameplan -- it all sounded interesting to me. But everything just moved so slowly... I thought the whodunnit would move a bit faster, but only the short police interviews felt like they were moving the plot along. Everything else in between felt like the story was on pause at times. I did like how unique each character was and how each chapter flowed together despite there being multiple authors. There was no disjointed writing. For that alone I give it a few stars, but unfortunately I don't have much else great to say because I found it to be overall a slow, anticlimactic ride.

This was a clever collaboration. A book by three authors... about three authors who are writing a book together! Enjoyable read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the digital review copy of this title.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I was honestly just bored. The characters lack depth and the plot was ridiculous.

I hope others love this one.

This was our #winingdownbookclub pick for January and we received the book from @bookclubgirl!

I had high hopes for this book since I loved all of these authors and it’s a departure from their usual style. I liked the three POVs of the different writers within the book and I especially loved the Scottish manor setting. It had a lot of humorous parts and I did enjoy the way that we find out that they aren’t really friends at all, but they grow into the friendship by the end.

This book's premise had a lot to offer: A little romance, a little mystery and a great setting in a Scottish Castle with three authors. However, I struggled with the cadence of the book - I thought having three authors write would be interesting and it was but it was also jarring as their voices were very distinct.

There were some funny moments, but the predictable characters and the disjoined pace made me enjoy it less than I thought I would

Thank you, Net Galley and William Morrow, for the ARC of this book

I had the hardest time finishing this book — not sure if it was a reading slump or just the way in which it was written. I loved how each of the 3 main characters got their own chapter and insight into their minds and the clever way the book began with the detective interviews. However, as I began reading more and more, the rest of the narrative fell flat for me. The collaboration was very ambitious, but at times, I couldn’t quite relate or keep up with the plot. I may give it another chance down the line!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White is a delightful and suspenseful read that brings together mystery, charm, and a dash of humor in a story that will keep readers hooked. The collaboration of these three talented authors creates a wonderfully layered narrative filled with intrigue, wit, and an unforgettable cast of characters.

Set against the backdrop of the world of historical fiction authors, the story follows a group of writers who find themselves entangled in a real-life murder mystery. The pacing is quick, with plenty of twists and turns, making for an engaging and entertaining ride. The dynamic between the characters—each with their own quirks and personalities—adds heart to the plot, making it as much about friendship and personal growth as it is about solving the mystery.

While the story is fun and easy to read, some may find the mystery a bit predictable at times. However, the charm and camaraderie among the characters more than make up for this, and the overall narrative remains thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

The Author's Guide to Murder is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a historical twist and those who enjoy reading about writers navigating both the ups and downs of their careers and lives. It’s a perfect blend of suspense, humor, and heart, and it’s a must-read for fans of Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

I love this group of authors! I think this present-day mystery is a good mix-up of what they usually write. And the meta aspect of the three authors/"besties"-turned-besties camaraderie was so much fun!

The mystery aspect is a little trite-- you only get the partial story of each of the three narrators, which is kind of annoying. And there is lots of false "I've figured it out!" moments that feel a little old-school detective bluster-- not something I expect from this group of authors. But, overall, I enjoyed this story!

I love Beatriz Williams which is what brought my attention to this book. I found this to be a cozy and delightful mystery. I adored the setting of Scotland! It was also quite humorous which I always enjoy in a murder mystery story for levity.

This book is too long!! I stopped caring and skimmed the last 25% of the book. Even the Epilogue was too long and went on too many tangents.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

I am a longtime fan of all three authors, especially when they collaborate, and this was no exception! This playful satire of the publishing industry is full of quirky characters and set in a Scottish castle, what more could you want!

SYNOPSIS:

There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead—under bizarre circumstances—in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems, the castle has done him in…or, possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for literary Americans, finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists.

The prime suspects are Kat de Noir, a slinky erotica writer; Cassie Pringle, a Southern mom of six juggling multiple cozy mystery series; and Emma Endicott, a New England blue blood and author of critically acclaimed historical fiction. The women claim to be best friends writing a book together, but the authors’ stories about how they know Brett Saffron Presley don’t quite line up, and the detective is getting increasingly suspicious.

Why did the authors really come to Castle Kinloch? And what really happened the night of the great Kinloch ceilidh, when Brett Saffron Presley skipped the folk dancing for a rendezvous with death?

Thank you to Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White, and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Very fun! Lots of laughs! A good mystery too! I enjoyed the characters and look forward to a new adventure with them. It was a real page turner and a quick read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Authors Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White!

I love all 3 of these authors and their individual books but their collaborations are always great great reads!!!

This one is a little different from their previous collabs and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. 3 writers go to a writer's retreat in Scotland to work on their latest novels. When the leader of the retreat (that nobody likes) turns up dead the 3 writers work together to solve the murder.

Great great read!!!

This wasn’t a winner for me. The story lines felt forced, a little far fetched and jumbled. I was so excited to read a collaboration with Beatriz Williams but this fell flat to me!

This book had a really fun premise and the execution was also fun. It was almost too fun at times. It worked best when I read it as a satire. I never really felt connected to the characters or the plot, but the book was still entertaining. It's a decent read if you're looking for something like that.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Murder, mischief and a castle full of secrets — what could go wrong? “The Author’s Guide to Murder” (William Morrow, $30) by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and literary satire, where three very different authors retreat to a Scottish castle for a writing getaway, only to find themselves entangled in a real-life whodunit when a literary superstar turns up dead.

With secret passageways, scandalous pasts and a grumpy detective who’d rather be anywhere else, this locked-room mystery is as witty as it is twisty. Packed with snark, suspense and just the right amount of plaid, grab a cuppa and enjoy the chaos​ of this charming crime fiction with a bite.

Scottish tropes, amateur sleuths, and romcom hijinks abound in this hilarious book! Three BFF authors head over the pond for a writers retreat hosted by a reclusive famous writer. Each one writes in a different genre, and their personalities match in a way that shows the influence of the three IRL authors. I'll read any and every murder mystery, but was pleasantly surprised that this one was so comedic, AND I didn't guess the villain!

Brava, ladies! Well played!

This is a bit too "women's fiction" for my tastes, but it's fine. Three women writers go on a retreat in Scotland to write a book together. There is a writers retreat taking place and some old mysteries to investigate at a gothic castle. Someone ends up dead, and the hot cop might think one of the three of them has something to do with it, so they band together to figure it out.

I didn't much care about the mystery (and found the solution a bit obvious). I probably will skip on the others from this trio.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased for my library and shared.

If you would have told me before reading this that I would dislike it so much, I never would have believed you. I have seen other reviewers complain about the metaness of the story, but that was not what bothered me at all. I just felt like the tone was all wrong. I usually love humor like what is used here, but this just did not work. Also, this is nothing like Christie like the blurb tells you. The characters were so underdeveloped that I couldn't tell one from the other.

Thank you to William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.