I've been reading a lot of romances lately and I needed something different so I picked up He's to Die For. It was exactly what I needed. It's a mystery/thriller wrapped up in a romance and I loved it. Homicide Detective Rev is a good at his job but young so he feels like he always has something to prove. He gets assigned a high profile murder case of music executive and the pressure is on. However when he meets Jack- things get complicated because the chemistry is through the ROOF. The problem for Rav is, well Jack is his main suspect in the murder investigation. Seriously, loved this!

This was a good book. The pacing was fast, and the chemistry between the two main characters was one of the best parts of the book, which is the most important part of the a book like this but the pacing, personalities, and dialogue helped to shape the story and created a well rounded story and romance.

So cute! I really liked it and just in time for pride month 💕this made me laugh and smile so much. I love the witty banter and that it was also a murder mystery ? Like we never see that! I had a great time and I think it’s a must have for your collection.

He's to Die For is a romance with a strong mystery in the center. I loved the combination of romance and mystery in this story - both elements were done extremely well and propelled me to keep picking up the book.

Rav is an extremely posh homicide detective working a murder case that leads him to suspect Jack, the anxious and sweet lead singer of a popular band. Rav and Jack had a really lovely dynamic. Rav, in particular, was an extremely unique character and I appreciated how Dunn explored why Rav became a cop and had him considering whether that was really where he belonged.

When it came to the mystery, I was sometimes on track with my guesses and other times off, but it came together in a way that made sense. I dislike when mysteries try to trick readers by making the outcome be something they could never guess, and Dunn did a great job keeping me guessing while leaving breadcrumbs.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This. Was. SO. GOOD. Oh my gosh, once I started I genuinely couldn't stop. I was up until 2am trying to finish this, but sadly sleep won and I had to finish the next day. But wow! I loved the mystery the author created, and the little clues everywhere that helped lead to the end result, which really kept me guessing until genuine end. Rav and Vale's chemistry was intense and loving, and I love how the author progressed their relationship throughout the novel. By the end I was honestly wanting more of ALL of these characters. The author knows how to tell a joke, too, I laughed so hard I genuinely cried at points. Overall, I definitely recommend this to all.

NYPD detective Rav Trivedi finds himself in the middle of a high profile murder investigation, One of the suspects is a famous musician and Rav finds himself suddenly and wildly attracted to him. Not the best way to solve the case. Cute rom-com.

Erin Dunn’s He's to Die For is an irresistible blend of murder mystery and sizzling queer romance—equal parts thrilling and heartwarming.

At the center of the story is Detective Rav Trivedi: sharp, stylish, Ivy-educated, and navigating life as a gay man of color on the NYPD. When Rav is assigned to investigate the murder of a powerful record executive, his prime suspect turns out to be none other than Jack Vale, the smoldering, magnetic frontman of a rising pop-punk band. The plot heats up as Rav and Jack’s paths intertwine—not just through the investigation, but through undeniable personal chemistry that threatens Rav’s objectivity at every turn.

Dunn masterfully balances genres here. The mystery is fast-paced and well-plotted, with enough twists and red herrings to keep readers guessing. Meanwhile, the romance unfolds with just the right blend of tension and tenderness, never shying away from the challenges these characters face in reconciling their feelings with the messy realities of their lives.

Rav is a standout protagonist—his wit, vulnerability, and relentless sense of style make him both relatable and aspirational. Jack’s portrayal, too, goes deeper than typical "bad boy rockstar" tropes, revealing layers of heart and humanity beneath the leather jacket.

Set against a vivid backdrop of New York’s music industry, He's to Die For brings energy and atmosphere to every page. The dialogue sparkles, the pacing hums, and the heat between Rav and Jack is palpable.

A few minor quibbles: the mystery occasionally edges into slightly convoluted territory, but the characters and chemistry more than make up for it. Fans of romantic suspense, queer fiction, and witty crime procedurals will find plenty to love here.

Overall, He's to Die For is a confident, sexy debut from Erin Dunn that hits all the right notes. Highly recommended for your summer reading list!

I don’t always love a celeb romance, sometimes they feel unrealistic and the paparazzi makes me feel anxious, but He’s To Die For was pretty cute overall. It felt so “modern” (maybe I’m just old tho) with all the techie talk and “deep fake” social media stuff. The romance was a little instalove, but eventually our leading men had some genuine chemistry. I’d read from this author again.

Tropes:
🚔detective x rockstar
🎬mm romance
🚔rom com, but make it murder?
🎬mental health rep
🚔celebrity

homicide detective, rav, is put on his first big lead for a case, investigating a high-profile murder of a music executive, and the prime suspect, rock star, Jack. The two instantly hit it off, both friendship and romantically-wise, despite the...unusual circumstances that they met. but, they of course can't be together, because jack had sooo much to gain with the exec's death, and rav is *supposed* to be finding his killer....right?

this book was fun! it took me a while to get into, but i loved the brooklyn 99-esque nature of the story. the plot moved well, albeit it a little unhinged as the story moved forward. the pacing felt off throughout the story, with everything really happening in the last 100 or so pages, when it could've been more consistent throughout. but overall, a fun read.

thank you to erin and Minotaur Books for the earc.

He’s To Die For is the perfect book to kick off the month. It is the story of an NYPD detective investigating the murder of a music executive when he falls for the hot rock star involved in the case. This book totally gave me Brooklyn 99 vibes. It was such a fun mystery to solve in the middle of a romcom with the cutest couple ever sweet and hilarious side characters. Such a feel good book that made me smile and laugh out loud.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

It all starts with a musician who wants to buy back his masters. Wow, this was even more timely than the author, Erin Dunn, knew. The set up for this book is that Rav is a homicide detective, and his newest case brings him in contact with famous musician Jack.

I found this story a great blend of mystery, humor, and of course, romance. There's a strong tension around forbidden romance, and Jack is and is not a suspect. And there's so much to wonder about in terms of who did what and who is trustworthy. It's a mix of rom com and mystery that hit all the right notes (sorry - I had to).

And despite the overall light tone, I also felt it balanced in heavier themes well. In particular, I appreciated the conversation about policing; I needed that to enjoy a book with a police hero.

Sid Sagar did an amazing job narrating the many accents and voices. He was slightly less amazing with singing, but that's fair.

4.5 stars rounded up

This was a sweet romance and a good mystery/detective story combined. Definitely looking for more book by Erin Dunn in the future.

ARC Review: He's to Die For by Erin Dunn
Pub Date: June 3, 2025

So...for reasons I don't entirely understand, I did absolutely think this was a MM vampire romance. It is incredibly NOT that but I did still have a fun time!

This was a pretty quick and fun read! It's definitely a bit of a slow burn and while it's not totally fade to black it's definitely light on the descriptions. It didn't have quite as much romance as I'd prefer

Thanks to Minotaur books for the eARC and MacMillan Audio for the ALC.

📚He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn
💛mm romantic cozy mystery
💛detective x rock star
💛off-limits (he’s the lead suspect in a murder case)
💛low spice
💛singular pov (3rd person)
💛standalone

⚠️CWs for loss of a friend, suicide, grief/loss, complicated family dynamics, and more

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I enjoyed this for the most part! It definitely leans more cozy mystery with a romance in the background, but I found myself fairly invested in both. I found Rav and Jack to be a fun pair, and I loved the setup of a detective falling for the lead suspect in a murder case. I felt like the mystery itself was a little convoluted and didn’t really make sense or reel me in by the end. I really liked the side characters and would love to see some of them featured in future books in the series.

I do feel like this is a good example of why I hate the “xxx meets xxx” pitch for recommending books. For example, this book is pitched as “Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive”. I loved The Charm Offensive and actually feel like that's a fairly apt comparison, but I’m genuinely confused by the Brooklyn 99 mention. The only thing I can think of is that they both involve police in New York? I just feel like Brooklyn 99 suggests this will be a rompy police comedy, and that’s definitely not the case.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 💖

He’s to Die For is a quick, fun read. I thought I had read Erin Dunn before but this is a debut. Great characters, humor and a well plotted mystery, it’s hard to believe this is her first. I want more and I want more of the m/c Rav, his Texas sized ego and the next case that comes his way.

A little m/m romance. It’s not explicit, but just enough. Rav’s first big case and he falls for a suspect that is part of a band he’s investigating, ha! I love where this mystery is going and the ride was, well, just that. A fun loving bumpy ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy.

Thank you to Netgalley for sharing this ARC with me.

This was a good mystery. I wanted a little more mystery and a little less romance, since romance is not really my thing. Good writing, good characters and a twist at the end that I didn't expect.

#netgalley #ARC

Pick this one up if you like:

🎤 British Investigator
🎤 Cozy mystery
🎤 Romcom vibes
🎤 LBGTQ+ 🏳️‍🌈

He's to Die For is a fun mix of a romcom and a cozy mystery. I also love a good British mystery, so I'm sitting at the center for the Venn diagram of this book. Target audience.

The characters are great, the mystery is solid. If you like cozy mysteries, give this one a try!

MM Romance
Rock Star/Cop

DNF @ 52%


I loved the first part of this book but it’s lost steam as it’s progressed and I just cannot get back into it. I like the mystery aspect but I came for the romance and it’s just not working for me. I think this would have been better if it had been in both POVs but in just the one, it makes the rock star MC feel super one dimensional and it’s better I put this book down instead of having to rate it low.

Fun, flirty, and action-packed.
When NYPD homicide detective Rav Trivedi takes on the case of a murdered studio exec, he knows he'll have to talk to his clients. What Rav doesn't expect is that the world-famous rock star isn't what he seems. Softer and deeper than anyone truly knows, Jack Vale isn't your typical murder suspect. Or the kind of guy Rav typically falls for. But unfortunately for Rav, Jack is both.
From a murder-mystery standpoint, this book was great. Red herrings, multiple possibilities, and an ending to draw you in.
From a romance standpoint, this book was almost as good. While we only had Rav's POV, I do feel like Jack was too hot-and-cold, even with the deliberate arm's length. I wish we'd seen more of their long conversations, instead of everything happening off-page.
Still a great book.

It took me a few tries to get into this book, but once I got acquainted with the characters, I was off and sped through the rest of the book. I really enjoy this slice of the genre that doesn't quite feel cozy yet doesn't quite feel scary—it's slice-of-life mystery (so maybe it is cozy?)

There's a good balance of mystery and romance, combined with an entertaining cast of side characters. I also highly recommend the audiobook, as I listened to it in tandem with reading the ebook and physical copy!