I really wanted to love this book because the premise is so intriguing—AI, smart homes, and a murder mystery all rolled into ones sounded really interesting. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

The story started off strong with an intriguing setup, but I quickly found myself struggling to stay engaged. The dialogue often felt unnatural, like it didn’t match how people actually talk, which kept pulling me out of the story. There were also several subplots or details that didn’t seem relevant or add much value, making the narrative feel a bit scattered.

The mystery itself was a disappointment. I figured out who was behind it halfway through, and when the reveal finally came at the very end, it felt anticlimactic. It wasn’t because the characters solved the case in a clever way—they more or less stumbled on the answer, which made the ending feel unsatisfying.

I did like the concept of an AI-driven murder and thought the premise had so much promise. The main characters were likable enough, but they didn’t really stick with me after I finished. Overall, this book just didn’t deliver the gripping, tech-savvy thriller I was hoping for, and I couldn’t help but feel let down.

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

3.5!?

The idea of this book was super intriguing!
It is something that we might start fearing soon with AI and how it can be used for evil.. and no its NOT science fiction

PROS:
1- The plot idea was new, and adds a new fear or let's say, allows you to think about things you might not have thought about before

2- the several suspects introduced were interesting, and the way we had no idea where any of this was leading at first was good

3- the final plot twist was a good one - can be guessed if you are really attentive honestly, there have been a few hints thrown in here and there, personality, ideas, methods, suspicions,, etc! (( i could see it the minute the character was introduces))

CONS:
1- the writing is bland and has an amateur kick to it. i did not care for the characters, I did not care for the suspects, i did not care for the case... nothing!

2- the dialogue was something out of a children's book at times. they preach a lot, and there are so many "understanding', "good manners", and unnecessary comments I think the author was going for "banter" but it was missed entirely!

3- also the case itself follows suit... bland, and amateurish in a way!

I wish the idea were executed better, and I wish it were revised better!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for the free ARC in return for an honest review.

This was very thought provoking! AI is such a different concept for me- as a millennial. I know AI is taking over but its so crazy! This book revealed how we truly can never have anything that doesn't get turned around and used for evil! Crazyyyy and riveting book!

THE TWIST!!! DID NOT GUESS!!! WOW!

This is the first Heather Graham novel that I’ve read. I really like the concept relating to AI (as let’s face it, that’s the direction our world is headed), but it was very hard for me to get through the story. Personally this was not a favorite. At times it felt like so much information was given at once. This made it confusing and I found myself re-reading the same pages. The Murder Machine almost landed in my DNF list, but I really wanted to give it a chance. I’m glad I saw it through to the end, but it’s just not my kind of book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for the opportunity to read The Murder machine in exchange for my honest review.

I’m sorry but the lack of editing done on this so far really took me out of the story. Character names were misspelled frequently, and every other sentence ended with an exclamation point, so it felt like they were yelling all the time. As for the story, it felt like a bad police procedural. Too much of this was unbelievable, and the main characters were thrown into mortal danger at the end of every chapter and they always escaped it. Everything always works in their favour. I guessed the culprit halfway through the book, which was finally revealed in the last 10 pages. And the main characters just kind of happen to figure it out by accident, even though it was predicable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!!!

I don’t believe I have read any of this author’s books before. Personally, it was not a favorite of mine. I think the premise was very intriguing with the intricacies of A. I. The main thing that I could not get over was the dialogue. The characters were constantly cutting each other off, or speaking in a way that is just not very realistic. The scene would change from like house to car with no real transition either.

I considered DNF’ing the book, but just couldn’t bring myself to do that. It might be someone else’s cup of tea, but not mine at all.

A interesting and scary concept. AI is one of those things that is creepy. This story just goes to show you why technology is not always a good thing.

I didn't finish this, which really surprised me as I usually enjoy the author. I gave up at about 40% because I just didn't care for it. I didn't care for our characters or the way they spoke or their relationships or just how bland everything seemed.

Maybe it's because the concept isn't a new one and it lacked some of the edge and science and horror that usually comes with it.

Just not for me.

Four stars! A gripping read with engaging characters and a twisty plot. While the AI element didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of realism, it didn’t overshadow my enjoyment of the story overall. A solid mix of mystery and suspense.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Published on goodreads.
Will publish on Amazon and other retail and indie sites on day of publication.

The description of this book really piqued my interest. The idea of AI being used for nefarious purposes really intrigued me. Particularly as my 14 year old granddaughter has said several times that AI is going to kill us all.

When a smart home goes berserk and kills its owner, FBI agents Jude Mackenzie and Victoria Tennant are charged with finding out what happened. They are soon embroiled into an investigation that involves a boat whose computer system is taken over and a judge's car that is hacked resulting in additional deaths.

While I enjoyed the twists and the overall story line, I found the dialogue to be almost forced and unrealistic. I'm not sure if this is the author's normal writing style or if it is because AI is a relatively new concept and the author felt it necessary to explain a lot to the reader.

Thank you to author Heather Graham, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of The Murder Machine.

The Murder Machine by Heather Graham is an engaging read from start to finish with a well developed plot and characters. A recommended read!

There will always be someone who takes something useful and uses it for evil.

Technology is a helpful thing, computerized homes, cars, even boats... but what happens when someone hacks into those computers and wreaks havoc? FBI agent Jude Mackenzie and his team are tasked with finding out how - and why - a hacker had committed a string of murders. Was it a murder for hire? Who are they and who hired them? And what do all these victims have in common?

It kept me reading, and I was surprised by the twist at the end.

I am a big fan of Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series, so even though I was excited to read this book. I was a tiny bit disappointed. The storyline is good, and I liked the characters, but the dialogue didn't sound like the way people really talk, and there were things added that didn't seem to pertain to the story or add anything of value. 

Overall, however, this was an entertaining, quick read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! Heather Graham is one of my favorite authors, and her writing is so enjoyable. Unfortunately for me this title was not. It could be the subject matter of AI and murder. While this is very eerie thing to think about happening It was not something that held my interest. In a world of technology and AI taking over everything I am just over the hype of it all. These characters were enjoyable. In a different story I could have fallen in love with this read. However I believe there is a market for this and will be popular for other readers. Just not a win for me.

If you loved the Disney movie Smart House as a kid and you like police/FBI procedural books, definitely pick this one up. I loved the murder by AI element along with the bit of romance. Heather Graham has a great writing style that is perfect for this kind of thriller.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

It took me a bit to get into this book but once I did I liked it. Murder by an AI controlled house and cars and boats taken over by an unidentified source. It’s up to FBI agents Jude and Victoria to solve the mystery. I also enjoyed the romance in the book. I

What a ride! Death by AI? This story takes us on a journey of putting all the clues together to figure out who is behind this murderous monster puppeteering any machines connected to tech. When you think you've figured out the killer, you will quickly find out things are never what they seem. The twisty end may surprise you.

I really wanted to like The Murder Machine, especially since I usually enjoy police procedural books. However, I found myself struggling to connect with this one. Despite the intriguing premise, I couldn't quite find my groove, and I'm not entirely sure if it was the characters, the writing style, or a combination of both. The plot had potential, but it didn't fully captivate me the way I expected. While other readers might enjoy it, it just didn’t hit the mark for me this time.

The Murder Machine by Heather Graham is a thought provoking and chilling mystery/thriller. Ideal for a time when A.I. is a prominent topic of discussion and debate.

A woman is found dead in a house completely controlled by A.I. Not only music and television but doors, appliances and water faucets. Virtually everything inside the home can be run by a simple request. Without evidence of a break in or anyone else being in the house, FBI Agent Jude Mackenzie feels it must be the result of a freak accident, possibly a suicide. When Special Agent Victoria Tennant arrives on the scene she informs him of other cases she is working on that may involve cybercrime and that what she has observed of the crime scene has her feeling the victim may also have been a target of the same type of crime. As more similar cases emerge time is slipping away. Are these crimes connected? Are they just unfortunate accidents or is something more sinister going on? Together they work to discover the link between the crimes and hopefully find who is behind the curtain, or rather computer, giving the instructions to turn machines into murderers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

How can a murder possibly occur in such a highly-protected, technologically-advanced home. When on FBI agent can find a clue, another is brought in become of the high tech aspects. Unfolding the case is the author’s experts, and once again the reader is entertained.