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.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the authors did an excellent job with the characters and story line. This was a fun read with a locked room mystery at a remote Scottish estate. Need I say more?! It has the eccentric characters, authors and plenty of suspects to make you question if you really know who it is while you are reading. I can't wait to read more from this author. I absolutely recommend this book to mystery/ cozy mystery readers.

Thank you Net Galley, William Morrow, and Authors.

A fun, literary-world gossipy mystery that takes place on a remote Scottish estate. The eccentric owner is murdered, and several authors are suspects. It's a locked-room mystery, which is always popular, and this one is no exception. I look forward to recommending this to readers who like mysteries on the cozy side, but with some sophistication.

This one was not for me. It started off strong and had some humorous moments but ended up really dragging. I just wanted them to get to the investigation and instead we got insta-love and a lot more information about the characters’ lives and histories than we did an investigation into the murder mystery.

None of the characters were particularly likable. Cassie was the nicest person who has ever walked the earth and she always had something in her bag to help in any situation. I’ve seen some big bags/totes, but hers must have been the biggest that anyone's ever carried with everything she had in there. Emma couldn’t get through five minutes without spouting a historical fact or getting hyper-focused and correcting the most trivial errors made by others, and Kat couldn’t say one word without that word containing sexual innuendos. That pretty much sums up their entire personalities. It’s hard to feel invested and root for characters when they all feel like caricatures.

As for the murder and the investigation, it wasn’t a big shock when the culprit was revealed. Based on the relationships between different characters and the roles they played in the story it was somewhat easy to narrow it down to who was most likely to have committed the murder.

Ultimately, this felt like it was confused about what it was supposed to be. Yes, it was a locked room mystery, but it turned out to be less about the murder and subsequent investigation and more a book about self-discovery, personal growth and overcoming past traumas, with romance thrown in.

The premise was compelling, but the execution fell short. Handled differently this could have been an amazing story.

Giving it two stars because it did start off well and had some funny moments.

Thanks NetGally and William Morrow for the advanced copy.

THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER is a plaid-covered mystery with well-placed reveals, witty banter, and even a little revenge on the side. Together, Williams, Willig, and White crafted a brilliantly addictive read.

Set in the Highlands of Scotland, three writers are visiting a historic castle to research a new novel, or at least that is how it all begins. As the pages flip by, the reader begins to realize that there is much more going on with Kat, Cassie, and Emma than is on the surface. With twists, turns, and, of course, a suspicious death, these ladies begin to shed their pretenses and hunt for what really happened to Brett Saffron Presley to clear all their names.

Having read books by all three authors, I was thrilled to learn about this book. From beginning to end, it did not disappoint. The way their writing seamlessly blends into one voice is perfection. And then you have the characters they created. Kat, Cassie, and Emma, along with the rest of the cast, jump off the page and feel very real. Their emotions, flaws, past experiences, and humorous interactions all round out who these characters are. I absolutely adored spending time with them. For this mystery-loving reader, this Scottish-themed cozy whodunit was completely entertaining. Can I request a second book featuring these three ladies? Pretty please?

When three unlikely authors came together to craft a book, they never anticipated the intertwining of murder both on and off the page. The Author's Guide to Murder evokes the enchanting vibe of Agatha Christie while drawing upon the captivating lore of the Scottish Highlands. Although the three protagonists do provide insights into the contrasts between public personas and private selves, their perspectives ultimately hinder the story's flow and burden the characters. Much of the depth given to them makes them insufferable, relegating the murder mystery and the plot to the background. As a result, the book often feels long and tediously drawn out.