Thank you, @murdercutehq, @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the gifted ARC!

📖 He's to Die For by Erin Dunn
✍️ June 3, 2025
📚 Romance | Mystery | LGBT | Adult
⚠️ CW: Anxiety/Panic Disorder (including panic attacks), Murder, Death, Gun Violence, Discussion of A Possible Suicide

BLURB
Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive in this sparkling romantic murder it's murder cute in the first degree when a detective finds himself falling for the lead suspect in a career-making case.

At 29, Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member of the NYPD’s homicide squad, and his future looks bright. He may be a bit of an outsider in the department – an ivy-league educated gay Brit with a weakness for designer suits – but his meteoric rise and solve rate prove he belongs.

So when his CO assigns him lead on the high-profile murder of a record executive, Rav is ready for action. He won’t be distracted by TV crews, tabloids, or what’s trending on social media, nor by the ridiculously hot rock star with a clear motive and no alibi.

This is it, his shot, and he is not going to screw it up—certainly not by falling in love with his number one suspect…

TROPES
🎸 Rock Star Romance
🕵️‍♂️ Detective/Suspect Dynamic
😬 Enemies to Lovers
🌈 Queer Romance
🏙️ Big City Setting
📺 Media Frenzy
🔥 Slow Burn
❤️‍🩹 Grumpy Meets Flirty
🚔 Murder Mystery with a Romantic Twist

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a wonderful debut! He's to Die For masterfully blends a sharp murder mystery with a deliciously forbidden slow-burn romance between a dapper detective and his prime suspect. Rav is delightfully posh, while Jack is far more grounded and genuine than his rock star image implies. The mystery takes center stage and keeps the reader guessing, while flirty text exchanges and sizzling tension add just the right dose of fun. I did lose track of a few side characters and would've loved more backstory on Rav’s personal life, fingers crossed for a sequel!

I am so happy I got the eARC and ALC for this book. The narrators, the story, the writing was all so enjoyable and kept me entertained!

I highly recommend!

He’s To Die For by Erin Dunn, Rafe was born to an American mother in Brooklyn but was raised with his Prime Minister father in England he is now a New York detective and by all accounts he’s a really good one. he and his partner will are givin a high profile case and the lead suspectis Jack the lead singer of The Next Knickerbockers an Uber famous rock group. When Rafe goes to interview Jack he almost loses his composure the attraction is so strong. Before he knows it he is swept up and has a crush something totally unsuited to his nature and it seems Jack feels the same way because of his job with the NYPD he must maintain his dignity as to not tarnished the case. soon however’ they’re taken off the case and the FBI starts investigating but he cannot let it go. with his most trusted informant he continues to dig for clues at the same time starting a relationship with the ever distant Jack but it doesn’t stop Rafe from falling head over heels. The Crimes are blamed on a conspiracy theorist super fan in while Rafe after a few starts and stops falls deeper in love with Jack he also is searching for the real culprit and before it’s over him and Jack will risk life and limb to get to the truth. OK let me start by saying I absolutely 190% loved this book no scratch that I 1000% loved this book I would’ve given it five stars but now there really was no backstory or origin story for Jack or Rafe. The only reason I found this to be a negative is because just from the meeting I could feel the chemistry between them and knowing who they were beyond their character would’ve made it so much more swoonier. I found the book to be hilarious romantic there was a bit of a lack of tension in the adventure but still absolutely so worth reading I really did love this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestreview, #ErinDunn, #He’sToDieFor,

There seems to be a bit of a trend for books that are a combination of romance and mystery as is the case here in a story about a murdered record executive. The two genres can mesh well and they do here.

In these pages, readers meet a gay detective who is attracted to one of his (male) suspects. Rav is a bit of a fish out of water. He is with the NYPD and is also an Oxford educated Brit. And then...there's the rock star. Will they get together or will solving the case come between them? Readers can be fairly sure of the answer; the fun is in watching events unfold..

This book will surely appeal to its intended audience. Many will look forward to this author's next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press-Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this. Once it got going, I did not want to put it down. I had my own hunch about the mystery aspect and I was sort of right, so while technically I guess that’s not a good thing, it’s a win for me. One of my favorite parts of mysteries is trying to figure it out myself. I love Rav, and Jack. I would love a book about Will to be honest!! I’m so thankful I was invited to read this, highly recommended.

This is an enjoyable new mystery just in time for summer. What happens when you have a stylish,gay, British expat, NYPD detective in charge of a high profile case? Better read it to find out!

I saw the B99 comparison and said - I need this. This book was a delight. Rav Trivedi is a young detective who is eager to prove himself. It’s too bad that rock star, Jack Vale, is a murder suspect when they first meet. These two couldn’t be more different. We have a posh detective with a soft spot for designer suits. And then there’s the sensitive rock star, who was ill prepared for his rise to fame. Despite their unconventional meeting, these two cannot deny their connection. I loved watching these two connect despite the actual murder mystery going on. The police work doesn’t take a back seat to the romance, it’s an equal story line. This book really worked for me. I enjoyed the characters, the romance, and the mystery. I hope we get more in this world- there’s side characters I’d love to learn more about!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is being released at exactly the right time for a summer mystery romance - it's a book with real summer vibes (and let's be honest, there is something very fun about summer in New York City.)

Rav has always stood out in the homicide department of the NYPD - too young, too British. But when he has chemistry with a suspect, superstar rocker Jack Vale, he begins to stand out for his connection with a suspect....

The love story in this book is very sweet, but I have to say that my favorite relationships were Rav's relationship with his squad - his partner (who is a more traditional NYPD officer out of Law & Order), his captain, and his friend Ana, who polices in a different way. Rav is estranged from his family, but he builds a family around him, who both love him and call him out when he is not thinking so clearly. I would love to see this book continued as a series - Rav's partner and colleagues deserve love too!

This is a book as much about being kind to yourself and making peace with your messiness as it is about falling in love with another person. This is a great addition for Pride month or any month, and I'd recommend to fans of JD Robb or Kristen Ashley.

As both a British expat and openly gay man, Rav has worked hard to make it at as a homicide detective at the NYPD. When he ends up investigating the death of a high profile record executive Ravdoes not expect to end up developing a connection with lead suspect and band frontman Jack Vale. As Rav continues to interview Vale and his band mates Rav realizes the person behind the deadly attacks may be someone right under his nose. Even after an arrest and his personal relationship with Vale are revealed, Rav can’t stop until the true culprit has a been caught.

With humor, witty banter and a murder mystery I found this romance refreshingly enjoyable.

This book is the perfect mix of romance and mystery. I enjoy a good genre bending book! The author did a great job intertwining the 2 genres and keeping me interested.

Both Rav and Jack were well crafted characters. They both were caring and compassionate. Both are hard workers and put their all into their work. They both are broken and need some healing. It made for a great story with these MCs and how supportive they were of each other.

The mystery part kept me wanting to read more and to see if my theory was correct. While I guessed who did it I was still surprised by the twist. I also need to talk about Rav's friends and support. They were all brilliant and his partner Will was exactly who Rav needed in the force. Aisha and Ana were funny and smart kick ass women.

If you are looking for a mystery romance with cops and rock stars; this is the book for you!

I liked it overall and it was very sweet. I highlighted a LOT. Tab and Jack ms relationship was cute and I very much wanted them to be together. I liked the plot and found it funny, but also sensitive of Jack’s mental health and serious issues he found himself involved with.

But it’s 2025. No more HP references in books. I read an eARC so I’m not sure if it’s in the final copy… but we do not need to give that woman any attention. Trans lives matter more than HP.

Thank you Minotaur Books for an advanced copy to review.

What do you get when you mix a stylish, overconfident British homicide detective, a murder mystery in the heart of New York City’s music scene, and a romance that simmers with banter and chemistry? You get He’s to Die For — a fun, fast-paced queer rom-com murder mystery that’s equal parts sharp and swoony.

Rav, the youngest detective on the NYPD’s Homicide Squad, is thrown into the spotlight when a record executive is found dead—and the lead suspect is Jack, a messy, magnetic rock star with a whole lot of attitude (and secrets). Cue the twists, tension, and just enough flirtation to make things delightfully complicated.

The mystery itself? Solid. It kept me on my toes without going overboard with twists. I appreciated how the romance never overshadowed the investigation but wove through it naturally. Rav and Jack’s chemistry crackled, especially for anyone who loves a couple that can spar as well as they can smolder.

One of my favorite elements was the mental health rep—it felt intentional and grounded, adding real depth to the characters and their choices. Told in third person but focused tightly on Rav’s perspective, the story stays grounded even when the stakes heat up.

A mash-up like this could’ve easily gone off the rails, but Dunn keeps things on track with charm, clever writing, and heart. I had so much fun with this book—and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next!

Their meet cute was at a murder investigation . One was the suspect and one was the cop. The investigator,Rav is an ivy league educated son of a lord-the suspect, Jack is an anxiety ridden rock star.
This mystery has lots of twists and turns with a slew of characters that keep it interesting. But the best parts are Rav and Jacks careful yet swoony interactions. I believe this may be a debut author who wrote this romantic mystery Thank you net galley and Martins Press

I really adored this book. Rav is a British detective with the NYPD who gets put on a murder case. One suspect is the lead in a hot rock band, Jack Vale. Yes, there’s a lot of murder plot here, so if you like mysteries, this will keep you entertained, but honestly, I could have cared less about that (mysteries aren’t typically my thing). What endeared this book to me was Jack and Rav’s relationship. They share so much about their fears, traumas, and wishes for the future together. It’s really sweet. And they also have great sexual chemistry. It was really interesting to hear about how rock stars live as well as how detectives work. There are also some wonderful side characters too, particularly Rav’s partner detective who is his opposite in so many ways, but who is a great friend to Rav. This is my first book my Erica Dunn, but she really sold me on this one. I would gladly read more of her work.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read! It’s a queer romcom murder mystery suspense thriller…I know, it sounds like a lot but it works so well together!! It was so easy to root for Ravi and Jack - and the mystery was really good too - it kept me guessing!

I was immediately invested in these characters - Ravi is a younger NYPD homicide detective who doesn’t quite fit in - he’s British and loves his designer suits and is “too smug” at times - but is really good at his job. He is assigned a high profile case and meets Jack. Jack is a rockstar and nothing like his persona in the press - he’s a little shy and has anxiety and is very sweet…and also a suspect!

As Ravi investigates he tries to focus solely on the case. But there is something about Jack. They have such great banter and chemistry and start to have feelings for each other…but there is case that needs solved!

I loved the secondary characters and the drama and sense of suspense. I would call this more of a cozy read, but does have some tougher moments too. Overall I loved this story and will definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author!

✨What To Expect:
🔍Romantic Murder Mystery
⁉️Romantic Suspense
🏳️‍🌈Queer Rom Com
🚔NYPD Officer x Suspect
🎸He’s A Rockstar
🌪️Twists & Turns
🩵MM Romance
💜Anxiety Rep
🗽NYC Setting

I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity

Firstly, SO sad I wasn't able to get this review out in time for this book's release. But that's life with chronic illness haha

Rav Trivedi is a member of NYPD's homicide squad, although a bit of an outsider in the department due to being gay, the youngest member, British, and a love of designer suits. However, he is able to prove himself with his high success rates and his need for the truth. When he's assigned a high-profile case, he's excited to prove himself to his team. He's grown up with the media following him due to his family, so he's not worried about being distracted by cameras and reporters.

What he didn't plan for, however, is the pretty-boy rockstar who makes him feel safe, and happens to be his #1 suspect with no alibi the night of the murder.

I loved this book. This was such a fun read and I truly adored seeing how both Vale and Rav navigated their relationship as well as the murders and mystery surrounding them. One of my favorite parts of this book was how Rav was so COMPETENT. I've spent so many thriller novels gripping my Kindle like my life depended on it because I was so stressed over the characters' lack of competency. But I did not have to worry about that here! Rav was competent and truly wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening, regardless of the cost to his professional life.

I really liked all of the characters we learn about, I typically have trouble remembering who is who but I had little to no trouble here! I grew really attached to each an every one of them, and since finishing it, have found myself being reminded of them with songs and the like.

I loved that this was a mix of a romance and a murder mystery. The entire story evolved so much over the course of the book, and I did not guess the major twists until the main character did! Some heavy topics are definitely touched upon, but this was still a very fun read.

Thanks to Minotaur Books for an early copy!

This read offers a captivating blend of crime thriller and romantic suspense. Detective Rav Trivedi, a young, ambitious, and openly gay British detective in the NYPD, finds himself investigating the murder of a record executive. The case is high-profile, attracting media attention and complicating the investigation. Adding to the complexity is the prime suspect: a strikingly attractive rock star with a clear motive but a seemingly airtight alibi. The synopsis hints at a compelling central conflict: Rav's professional ambition versus his undeniable attraction to the suspect. This intriguing premise promises a fast-paced narrative filled with suspense, romance, and the challenges of navigating a high-stakes investigation. The unique perspective of a gay, British detective in the American police force adds an interesting layer to the story, promising a fresh take on the genre.

🚨 NYPD Detective Rav Trivedi is assigned a high profile murder case that leads him directly to the penthouse suite of rock star Jack Vale. He and Jack have instant chemistry but a relationship is out of the question because Jack is the main suspect and Rav can’t chance damaging his career for a casual fling. But as their feelings intensify, Rav will risk everything to solve the case and protect Jack from the real perpetrator.

Happy Pride month y’all! Apparently I’m in my romantic mystery era.

Gripping, witty, and deeply sensual, I could not put this captivating debut novel down. The varied cast of characters who served as suspects kept me guessing until the very end, with a twist I did not see coming. Plus, Rav and Jack are absolutely swoon-worthy. Their relationship had an unexpected tenderness and heat that was simply irresistible. I loved the way these two fought for each other despite the odds stacked against them.

Check this one out if you like a tender rockstar romance with a bit of mystery and characters who do the right thing even when it’s the hard thing. Pairs well with a whiskey and an episode of Brooklyn 99.

Thanks to St. Martin's for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review! This book has a great murder meet cute and I have complex feelings about any police-adjacent main character, but posh lordling turned detective Rav falling for Jack, the rock star at the heart of the murder he’s trying to solve, was such a good time. A little suspense, a little glam, a lot of sizzle - perfect for the summer!