I could not put this book down, the who done it aspect had me completely hooked!

These two characters were a delight, and I loved the mystery aspect to the entire book. Both of them had baggage, and were genuinely invested in each other. I was smiling throughout the book.

This book was a little light on the romance, and I wish we would have gotten dual points of view, but a definite solid book, that I could not put down!

He's to Die For is a fun and fresh contemporary romance/mystery, between a NYC detective and a celebrity musician suspected of murder. Despite the numerous hesitations and red flags, the two start up a flirtation that leads to more. I found their slow burn attraction/relationship charming. It had character depth, humor, and drama, and also growth and purpose. Sexy times were subtle, yet really impactful and well written. This was a really enjoyable read for me, and it appears to be Dunn's debut novel. Well done. I would absolutely read her again.

ARC received from Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

When I saw this book advertised for fans of Brooklyn 99, I had to check it out. Sadly, I’m not really sure where that comparison came from because this book was not funny and I kept waiting for the humor to kick in. It was enjoyable once you got into the meat of the story/case, but it took a while.

Rav Trivedi is a young detective in the Homicide division, trying to prove himself time and time again. When he and his partner are assigned a high-profile case, it leads to him crossing paths with Jack Vale, lead singer of The New Knickerbockers, time and time again. Even though them being together was complicated, it wasn’t illegal. They have an instant chemistry and their connection is sweet in a way I didn’t expect from a rockstar and a high-born detective.

This story took a while to pull me in, just when I thought I was going to call it, it finally got me invested for good. But, I think this book being advertised as a romance isn’t correct. Rav and Jack were adorable together, yes, however the crime dominated the story. It was interesting but had a lot of players and moving pieces to keep straight and I’m not so sure it accomplished wrapping things up as well as I hoped. I was interested and invested but wanted more of the Rav and Jack storyline and less of the crime in the end.

Rav Trivedi, the youngest member of the NYPD homicide squad, is assigned to work the death of a record executive. Rav is used to standing out being British and Ivy-league educated but his world is turned upside down when he meets a hot rock star associated with the case, Jack. As the case heats up so does the tension between Rav and Jack. But is Jack a suspect or someone Rav can trust?

I had so much fun with this book. It had a really great mix of romance and mystery. This is a little darker and much steamier than a cozy mystery but still doesn't get too heavy with murder mystery parts. I did enjoy the mystery itself. It had some really interesting twists and turns. I loved Rav and Jack's relationship. They were very sweet and had a ton of chemistry. This was my first Erin Dunn book. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

He’s To Die For is my first read by Erin Dunn, and I loved the romance/mystery blend of this novel. It’s difficult to blend any two genres, but both the romance and the mystery were well-developed, evenly paced and compelling. I was drawn into the mystery in particular and finished the book very quickly. The story has many twists and turns which made it nearly impossible for me to put down.

Rav is a queer British NYPD detective whose first case is investigating the homicide of a music industry executive. Things get interesting when one of the potential suspects is a hot musician, Jack Vale, who Rav is immediately attracted to. The case has many ups and downs, and the Rav’s partner and other officers he works with are funny and have good banter.

When Jack is cleared as a suspect, he and Rav start texting and end up spending the night together after a stalker attempts to shoot Jack. They have great chemistry and many deep conversations that lead to both developing feelings for each other. The situation takes a dramatic turn when Jack once again becomes the lead suspect in the murder, and Rav is suspended from his job. Rav works tirelessly to solve the crime with the help of his partner and a quirky hacker.

Rav has a great sense of humor and his POV is snarky and fun. I would have loved to have a dual POV narration here with Jack. That would have really strengthened the romance to know more about what Jack was thinking. Both characters seem to be falling in love, but Jack was sometimes distant and it wasn’t clear that they both felt the same way.

This story had many funny and great characters. The plot and mystery were complicated and really held my interest. I really felt the attraction and connection between the two main characters and was cheering for them throughout the story. This was a great read and debut novel.

Thank you to Erin Dunn, Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rav is our NYPD Detective that is polished, well-spoken, dressed to the 9s and openly gay. He also happens to be the son of a lord so every chance his co-workers get they are ribbing him about it.

Jack is our lead singer of the band that Rav is investigating for the murder of a character Jack is closely linked to and he is reportedly bisexual.

Rav and Jack's situation-ship evolves over the investigation because Jack is Rav's number one suspect.

I will say I felt like the story dragged on a bit as there was a lot of over explanation and sometimes I forgot they were in the middle of a murder case because of the behaviors exhibited. I did enjoy the well crafted mystery which aligned with the story perfectly. I just felt like there was something missing with the pacing. It felt a bit slow, IMO. I also enjoyed the banter between the two main characters. It felt witty and swoon-worthy.

Overall, a 4 Star due me not really vibing with the POV, that is my only gripe with this novel.

This debut M/M romance from a Canadian born but NYC native gave off the best cross between Brooklyn 99 and Eve Dallas vibes. Part police procedural, part queer romance, this had lots of intrigue, emotional depth and kept me guessing until the end. The interracial romance between the British Indian homicide detective and the famous white rock star was believable (if a tad fast) and was good on audio too narrated by Sid Sager. Highly recommended for fans of Alison Cochrun's The charm offensive. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

He’s to Die For
By: Erin Dunn

Thank you to @minotaurbooks and @smpromance for free book and #smppartner All opinions are my own.

“I feel like the waves keep tossing us back into each other. Like the universe won’t take no for an answer.”

Homicide detective, Rav Trivedi, has a weakness for designer suits and a penchant for throwing caution to the wind if someone is in trouble. When he is assigned the high-profile murder of a record executive he must focus on the task at hand and not become distracted by the gorgeous rock star with the heart of gold who just happens to have a clear motive and no alibi.

If you are looking for a true to life police procedural then be aware that this is not it. There are lots of twists and turns but overall it is a super cute romance with just the right mix of mystery and spice. Rav is the sweetest MMC. He and Jack have quite a push and pull for most of the story but I enjoyed their journey very much! If I had to sum this one up with one word, it would be: charming

He’s to Die For is a fun and entertaining romance-filled whodunit. If that is your vibe then this is a great one to add to your list!

Read if you like:
Whodunits
Text/Phone flirting
Anxiety Rep
Rock star romance
LGBTQ+ rep
Some spice

Detective Rav Trivedi has been working his way to the top for years, despite less than stellar treatment from the older detectives in the precinct. Apparently being a lord's son, dressing fabulously, and having a penchant for following his own gut instead of senior officers advice, doesn't make you many friends. This time a massive case involving the murder of a record executive lands in his hands, and he's thrilled to do everything he can to solve it and hit the big leagues.

*****

I really wanted to love this book. The setup of being similar to Brooklyn 99 immediately had me snatching it up and diving into it. Unfortunately, it didn't feel anything even similar to the punchy, topically-relevant cop program that dives heavily into social issues and diversity struggles. From the get-go the author relied way too much on current day cultural references to try to get that feel, instead of digging into relatable social call-outs instead. There were references to X/Twitter, QAnon, Bridgerton, Brooklyn 99, current day movie stars, etc. We also are constantly inundated with brand names and designer labels as fill-in descriptors to highlight quality. The writing relied so much on cultural references (his LT is described as like female Captain Holt, and his partner as an off-brand Tom Brady) that it was limiting for someone who would have to look up that information to figure out what a character looked and acted like, instead of just having them properly described.

The third POV also felt like an interesting choice for the novel. Along with it we had so much tell and not show that I felt a distance between the two leads as a romantic couple. We get told they talk on the phone for hours, yet we get a quick flash of the start of the convo, if anything. We get intimate scenes that start fully detailed and then quickly get extremely vague and jump ahead. It's like the author was torn between open door and fade to black and blended them together for intimate scenes with odd gaps in them. Overall it left me not invested in the leads as a couple, as their growth wasn't really on page.

For the mystery element, it started out great and then stalled when the story switched to highlight Rav falling for Jack instead. It seemed like the balance between the two plots of the story was barely present, and it dragged through until the last 20% when things finally start happening. If this hadn't had been an ARC, I most likely would have DNF'd by the 60% mark because I just wasn't interested in any of it, nor did Jack seem at all interested in Rav outside of the physcial.

It's also an extremely dialogue-heavy novel. As someone who prefers balance of a rich world along with great dialogue and banter, this just felt overly heavy-handed on conversations, and less so on world building.

All in all, it was an okay book, with slower pacing. If you're up to date on current cultural references you may enjoy it moreso than I did.

*****

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really fun book. The action part of the plot was very fast paced and page turning while the romance was very sweet and cute. I genuinely enjoyed these characters and the setting. Also, found I was surprised at the ending! Definitely a strong 4 stars!

I found it challenging to connect with the characters. I wish the author had provided more insight into Rav’s backstory. The murder investigation and the relationship between Rav and Jack left me unimpressed. Overall, this book was not for me.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

I loved this book. It's such a unique concept for a gay romance. We need more gay romance like this. Thank you St. Martin's for publishing books like this!

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to receive this book in exchange for my honest opinion .

I found this story cute , mm - romantic - murder mystery with Brooklyn 99 vibes definitely drew me in . This book was in 3rd person , singular POV and I feel it would have been nice in dual POV . And I find I struggle with 3rd person stories to begin with but that’s a me problem . The premise was good but I felt like I had a hard time picking it up . I will and plan to recommend this to friends .

I usually don’t love stuff centering around cops and law enforcement but this gave me that escapism feeling that something like Brooklyn 99 gave me. This was a really cute romance novel. I loved the chemistry between the leads. Loved that there was still a detective story at the center of it too. This was a good time overall

"He's To Die For" delivers an exhilarating blend of murder mystery and heartwarming queer rom-com. It's a true gem, masterfully weaving together suspense, humor, and a compelling romance.

At the heart of the story is Rav Trivedi, his impeccable style is only outshone by his brilliant detective work and his wonderfully light-hearted banter. Rav isn't just smart; he's charming, witty, and an absolute joy to follow. He serves as the perfect foil for his anxious and broody paramour, Jack, the lead singer of a rock band and the main suspect in Rav's murder case. Their dynamic is a highlight, providing both comedic relief and genuine emotional depth that enriches the entire narrative.

The mystery itself is a triumph. It kept me guessing at every turn, the unfolding of the plot a rush, a thrilling ride that culminated in a truly great final act. The resolution felt earned and satisfying, a testament to the clever plotting.

I would absolutely read more about Det. Trevedi and his vibrant cast of supporting characters solving mysteries, I highly recommend this book!

4.5 ⭐️

Rav is a NYPD detective investigating the murder of a music executive. Jack is the sexy rock star that becomes Rav’s main suspect. What happens when duty and attraction collide?

I enjoyed this book so much that it has become one of my favorite reads of the year. The chemistry and light banter between Rav and Jack was written so well. I also adored some of the secondary characters and their quirky personalities. I was just as invested in the murder mystery as I was in the budding romance between Rav and Jack. As we find out who is responsible for the murder, another devastating secret comes to light.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC.

Queer rom-com murder mystery. He’s to Die For was such a fun read.

The book follows Rav, the youngest detective on the NYPD’s Homicide Squad, who is British, sharp, stylish, gay, and maybe a bit too confident. When a record executive turns up dead, Rav is assigned the case, and the prime suspect is none other Jack, the lead singer of a rock band in the middle of a label feud.

The mystery itself was super solid — enough twists to keep me guessing, but not so many that it got confusing. The romance was balanced well with the murder mystery. I liked the chemistry between Rav and Jack, and especially love a couple with good banter. Bonus points for thoughtful mental health representation.

3.75 - I would describe this as a mash up of a rom-com and murder mystery. Fun concept that I felt was executed well. It’s third person, single character POV. Usually this doesn’t bother me, but I would’ve liked being able to experience parts of the romance through Jack’s eyes. This didn’t take away from the sorry, it just could’ve added more depth for me.

Super fast-paced mystery packed with SWOONY romance that included the hottest clear communication ever! These two made me giggle and kick my feet. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would recommend to anyone. Big thanks for NetGalley and SMP for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised to find that He's to Die For is a debut!

The book is funny, especially in its descriptions of Rav's personality—he's what some might call . . . fussy. Some might, more graciously, call him particular. Regardless, Rav is appealing and human. I enjoyed his inner monologue. The book is also sweet and sexy. The first kiss (and more) doesn't come until around the 35% mark, so it's neither quite instalove nor a slow burn. My favorite supporting character is absolutely Aisha Khan—Rav's cybersecurity expert (hacker). I'm not convinced that readers are fed enough information to support the conclusion. Still, I'm open to reading more of Dunn's work in the future.

Content warnings include murder, explicit sex, emotionally neglectful and manipulative parents, and substance abuse.

3.5⭐

This was a quick, fun queer romcom debut. There is a good balance of romance and mystery. I loved the banter between the characters. The investigation into the murder was interesting and kept me guessing. This just the bill for a fun (and funny), entertaining, comforting read. I always love a book set in NYC, so that was a definite plus too. I'll be looking forward to future books by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.