I was looking forward to this book but I feel it fell a little flat. The characters didn't grab me and the side characters were hard to differentiate in between. I felt the plot drug a little bit. It took me way to long to read this book and I considered DNFing. Not being able to get wrapped up in the plot and finish this book quickly hinder my ability to like this book because the gaps in between reading made it hard to follow the small threads of mystery. The last 20% picked up the pace and it was easier to finish but didn't feel like a big twist.


Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers for the chance to read the book for review.

The Author’s Guide to Murder follows three American authors who come together to collaborate on a novel.
This novel is very entertaining. I just loved it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for a chance to read and review the eARC.

THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White is a LibraryReads selection for November, but I did not care for it and frankly stopped reading. That is unusual because I have read and enjoyed novels by each of these authors, and have praised their past collaborations like The Lost Summers of Newport or All the Ways We Said Goodbye. Sadly, THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER felt like each may have been trying to be more outlandish than the other, resulting in a novel that features a barely clad murder victim who curated a museum filled with Edwardian sex toys. In its starred review, Library Journal said, "a fun send-up of the publishing industry .... Readers who recognize and like satire will enjoy." Guess readers have to be in the mood.

A murder in the Scottish Highlands. 3 very different American writers as susoects. One dead unlikeable writer and a long list of suspects.

What a fun romp on a Scottish island!
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading a book written by multiple authors about multiple authors trying to solve a murder!
This book had a little bit of everything to keep me entertained. A mystery with a bit or romance. Back stories for all the characters and a satisfying conclusion.
All in all, bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital ARC.

What a terrific escapist read! The book combines a whodunit with a revenge plot, a touch of romance, and plenty of sass. Did I have to suspend some belief? Yes, but that's precisely what makes escapist reading so enjoyable.

Three American authors fake a best friendship and co-authorship of a new novel to gain entry to a prestigious writing retreat in Scotland. However, when the host is found dead, the authors quickly find themselves as prime suspects in the investigation.

I loved the personalities of our authors. Kat, our erotica fantasy writer, commands attention with her witty humor and her over-the-top sex kitten persona, complete with eye-catching pantaboots. Emma, our historical fiction expert, excels at unearthing the past, and when emotions run high, she entertains us by singing the wrong lyrics. Lastly, Cassie, our cozy mystery writer, boasts an impressive knowledge of poisons and channels her nerves into baking delightful sweets at the castle.

I am genuinely impressed by the book's lighthearted, almost cozy mystery vibe, especially given some darker themes (please reference trigger warnings on SG). I thoroughly enjoyed how the authors unraveled the secrets within the walls of Castle Kinloch, allowing them to bond and ultimately become friends.

Other highlights: Literary references, isolated Scottish island, gothic castle, interesting side characters

Given that I've enjoyed these author's individually, I shouldn't be surprised how much I loved 'The Author's Guide to Murder' so much. It's a fun, closed door murder mystery on a remote Scottish Island, filled with sheep, plaid, lairds, and more sheep. This book is hilarious. I had so much fun trying to guess how much of themselves the authors were putting into the book, and really appreciated the continual commentary on the modern publishing industry.

Thank you to Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White, and William Morrow for the ARC of 'The Author's Guide to Murder' in exchange for an honest review.

I had such a great time reading this book! The setting of Castle Kinloch, with its gothic vibe and remote Scottish location, created such an intriguing backdrop for the mystery. The murder of famous writer Brett Saffron Presley really pulls you in, and the fact that the suspects are three very different American authors makes the whole thing even more interesting.

I absolutely loved the trio of Kat, Cassie, and Emma. They each have their own unique personalities—Kat, the sultry erotica writer; Cassie, the Southern mom of six juggling cozy mysteries; and Emma, the meticulous historical fiction author. Despite their differences, they form such an interesting and often hilarious bond. I think Emma was my favorite, but honestly, all three characters were so enjoyable to read. I especially appreciated the witty discussions about writing and the hilarious commentary on their genres.

The mystery itself was solid and kept me guessing. I really liked how the book blended the murder with the history of the castle and the old unsolved crime. It kept me on my toes! The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is that I felt the epilogue could’ve been a little more fleshed out—it left me wanting just a bit more closure.

This book was a great mix of cozy mystery, humor, and a bit of suspense. If you love stories set in Scotland or enjoy books about the publishing world, this would definitely be a great pick!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is quite an intriguing and entertaining mystery about three mystery authors invited by the owner of a Scottish castle, to collaborate and write a mystery novel! When a murder is committed shortly after they arrive, they find themselves being interrogated as possible suspects. The three barely knew each other on arrival but soon realize they will need to work together to actually solve the murder, rather than to write a mystery novel. Unable to leave while the investigation proceeds, the three uncover long buried secrets swirling around the estate and its owners and discover that all three of them have been victimized by the castle's owner in the past. Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White have written a complex mystery, with unexpected twists, with a focus on the exploitation of women, past and present. As the friendship of Kat, Cassie, and Emma grow, they find strength in each other and use their mystery author's expertise to investigate! This is a locked "castle" mystery with a gothic feel, at times chilling, but with a touch of humor, and a little romance that is centered on the strength of women's friendships! I enjoyed the book! Thank you to the authors, publishers, and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of my review are my own.

This is one of those books where so much is going on, you’re not sure what to make of it in the end.

The Author’s Guide to Murder is a collaboration between 3 authors: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. The book itself is about 3 female authors collaborating on a book… very meta. The book takes place in an atmospheric Scottish castle and is told in a multiple POV, nonlinear narrative.

I believe it is the authors’ intent for the book to be over the top in a comedic way, but perhaps this is a “too many cooks in the kitchen” situation. To keep track of such a large cast of characters, the compromise ends up being that all of them become one-dimensional. So even when serious topics are covered, it’s hard to care because it’s hard to feel invested in any of the MCs’ lives. The buildup to the murder is passable, but the climax of the reveal is just… confusing. I still can’t tell if I understand the whodunnit or how any of the characters ended up where they ended up in the first place.

Regardless of all that, I think this story would make for a much better movie than a novel. The setting is captivating and watching the characters onscreen might make them more entertaining than on the written page.

Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Author’s Guide to Murder is available everywhere now.

Unfortunately this one was not for me! I felt like it was very SATC coded. We had Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda and were just missing Carrie. I felt like this had a lot of promise but at the end of the day, it was a bit off for me!

This was a clever idea but it didn't work for me. The characters and the story felt disjointed to me. I felt like the pacing was off, the first 75% dragged and then the last 25% had a ton going on. 2.5 stars

A book about three author best friends writing a book together at a retreat in Scotland, written by three author besties, what could be more fun? Art imitates life, right? Well, hopefully not! The three don’t seem as close as they are pretending to be as they investigate the history of the castle and the death of its laird. The castle was leased by a popular author who offers writing retreats while working on his autobiography and preparing the castle to reopen as a tourist spot based on the former laird’s scandalous past. When said author is found dead, the authors become the center of the investigation and realize that they need to work together to find the true murderer.
Full of interesting characters, twists, and a remote Scottish Island, a fun story written by three author friends, each of whom writes one of the main characters: Emma, Kat, and Cassie. It’s fun to try and guess which author wrote which character. I have an idea, but I am not completely sure. An entertaining story, the ending and final twist were the cherry on top.
I love reading novels by each of the authors, and their collaborations are just as delightful. THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER isn’t their usual style, but just as pleasurable.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Didn't love this book, it seemed very disjointed. The concept was solid but the execution didn't work for me.

This is a fun female centered not quite cozy romantic mystery. Definitely fun to read and hits on all the issues of contemporary women. Wasn't thrilled with the ending, but I enjoyed the ride, which is what I was looking for.

Like Ocean's Eleven, "The Author's Guide to Murder" began with an all-star cast, and just like the movie, started off slowly, and at times, it felt a bit tedious. Then the pace picked up and it became hard to put the book down. I loved all the allusions (or at least the ones that registered). By the end, I was having as much fun as the authors. The only piece that was missing was a reference to the great Elizabeth Peters. Never fear, kind reader, my wish was fulfilled, as if the fates themselves had conspired in my favor.

This tongue-in-cheek murder mystery is a lot of fun, and the authors obviously had a lot of fun writing it together. Sending up many cozy mystery and romance tropes, the tale involves three female authors pretending to be best friends while attending a literary retreat in a remote part of Scotland. Each has a motive to wreak revenge on a slimy male bestselling author, also in attendance as the star of the show, who has done them all wrong. The novel has many a sly, humorous reference to the world of publishing, and the send-up of various literary types within that world is entertaining. The structure of the chapters, which alternate between police interviews in the present and action in the near past leading up to the murder, is effective in holding the reader's interest as the story progresses and the mismatched trio begin to form a real friendship. The narrative unfolds from the point of view each main character in turn, an effective device as the solution to the mystery is gradually revealed. The secondary characters are all pastiches of well-worn cozy mystery and romance stock characters, but with an edge. All in all, I found this a great light read.

Three female American authors come to a Scottish castle to enjoy time together, research local history, and collaborate on their joint effort. But are they working on their next novel, or murder?

The cast of characters reminds me a bit of Designing Women. Emma evokes Julia with her encyclopedia brain, sharp wit, classic fashion sense, and understated grace. Kat is Suzanne Sugarbaker on the outside - dripping with sex appeal, but with Mary Jo's insecurities on the inside. And rounding out the group is Charlene, or in this case, Cassie - the sweet, Southern, motherly type that's a tad on the innocent side. All three ladies are faced with either career or personal ruin and must join forces. The men, women, dogs and sheep they encounter at their writing retreat provide mystery and humor. The murder that occurs on castle grounds adds mystery and suspense.

I'm a huge fan of Beatriz Williams historical fiction. While there are some historical elements, it's not anything like her normal individual works. It's not quite a thriller either. This is more of a cozy mystery with romantic comedy.

Was it a work of literary art? Nope. It read like three authors worked together to write about three authors - there were some things that could use further explanation, but overall, it worked. It kept me entertained, guessing, and laughing. I loved the references to the cheesy 80s romance novels that we all secretly read in our youth. What a great reminder that a book doesn't have to win awards to win our love. Sometimes our favorite books are simply the ones that keep us entertained, and that's why I loved this one.

A murder mystery mixed in with a little romance - Sign me up. Exactly the kind of book I expected from Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White - enjoyed reading it in my hammock. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was so entertaining! It was funny, punny, with lots of romance novel jokes, and a murder mystery too. Gags about stiletto heels (and pantaboots), plaid, a small Scottish island with people wearing multiple hats: The barmaid is the island midwife and medical examiner as well as the local GP and the sister of the DCI - Detective Chief Inspector).

The concept is tongue in cheek – three actual authors collaborating on writing a book about three authors writing a book. Here’s how the real-life authors accurately describe their book: “The excruciating jokes, the atrocious Scottish accents, the tropes, the puns, the murder of nefarious male authors – all written with a wink and a nudge and a great deal of love, and maybe a teeny grain of truth.”

To be honest, it took me a few chapters in before everything clicked for me. The three main characters weren’t all that likable at first, but the more time I spent with them, the more endearing they became. And that went for the Scottish characters too, from Beatrice the sheep to Loren the dog as well as the humans. And then there’s a murder and the three American authors are the main suspects. They realize the best way to prove they didn’t do it is to find out who did.

If you’re in the mood for a feel-good murder mystery with some romance and lots of jokes, a few red herrings, an edge-of-your-seat climax, and a happily-ever-after ending with a Scottish location, this is the book for you.