4.5 stars!

Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member on the NYPD’s homicide unit, but he feels like a bit of an outsider within the department as an Ivy-league graduate and gay British man with a superior fashion sense. His commanding officer assigns him the lead on a high-profile murder and Rav is eager to prove he will succeed in closing the case, with hopes of the rest of the team accepting him.

The tagline for this book references it being a cross between Brooklyn 99 and The Charm Offensive, and usually I am very wary of this type of comparison, but I feel like it hit the mark here 🎯.

HE’S TO DIE FOR is told in Rav’s POV. Rav is a fashionable homicide detective who graduated from an Ivy-league university and who is quickly rising up the ranks. His solve rate on crimes is stellar, and he’s been handed a high-profile case to take the lead on and is hoping it will up his credibility amongst his peers in the homicide unit. I really loved Rav’s POV, he’s smart, hard-working, detail-oriented, and has great wit with an excellent sense of humour. I find that homicide detectives are often described as being rough around the edges, but Rav doesn’t fit into that description, he’s kind and compassionate, even with those who are prime suspects in his cases. He’s a true gentleman, honestly. His fashion sense is impeccable, and you’ll find him wearing big name labels more often than not. This aspect reminded me of Lucifer from the TV show Lucifer.

The novel is set in NYC which is truly one of the best settings. I loved the premise of the novel, quickly getting immersed into the murder mystery. I was intrigued as to how the investigation would play out and was able to figure out what happened just pages before it was revealed. Very cleverly done with a steady pace.

The romance is M/M and was such a treat to experience through Rav’s eyes. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, there’s just the right amount of pining, and some great fade-to-black spicy scenes. There’s some ups and downs, like with any relationship, but I loved how they navigated these. Both characters were kind and supportive of one another. I liked the nod to grief, anxiety, panic attacks, and mental health – this was done with good care. Do check the trigger warnings if these are topics that are sensitive to you.

As a debut, this is excellent, and I’ll be looking forward to whatever this author chooses to write next!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked this one! The pace kept moving at a good clip, the characters are well developed, and the mystery was well designed. It was an enjoyable read and I’d love more with Rav!

A police detective interviews a murder suspect, not expecting a forbidden attraction that quickly shifts to something real…

This mystery romance was so much fun!

Rav and Jack were absolutely adorable. Compassion and support were at the core of their romance—with some flirty banter and a dash of light spice thrown in.

Taking risks to do the right thing and protect the people they cared about made it easy to root for both MCs.

The supporting characters rounded out the tale and the investigation’s highs and lows kept things interesting from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

I came for the romance and got a really good mystery. The characters are interesting. The mystery is full of twists. The reveals were shocking. The romance was sexy and sweet with the right amount of angst. I wish there was more of the romance.

I fell in love with Rav. I really hope that he gets another book. He's such a great character. He's got a great sense of right and wrong. His background is intriguing. The friends of his that make appearances in the book are eclectic and help us learn more about him. The murder case he is working is interesting and has quite a few twists. I was surprised by the murderer. The pacing is good. I really liked the romance in the book too. It wasn't too over the top and thought the connection was strong between the two characters. The fact that he was a suspect added another layer to the emotions. I will definitely look for more books by this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, queer romance, and murder mysteries that keep you guessing until the end, He’s To Die For is a must-read. This debut sparkles with wit, heart, and just the right amount of heat—delivering a story that’s both thrilling and emotionally satisfying.

Think Brooklyn Nine-Nine meets The Charm Offensive, with a dash of Only Murders in the Building flair. Detective Rav Trivedi is a total standout: a sharp, stylish, Oxford-educated Brit working in the NYPD homicide squad, determined to prove himself in a high-profile murder case. Enter our charmingly chaotic rock star and prime suspect—with no alibi and a whole lot of chemistry with the lead investigator. Yes, please.

The detective elements are legit compelling—this isn’t just a romance with a mystery subplot. The investigation feels central, layered, and unpredictable. I was constantly guessing and still didn’t solve the case until the reveal, which made the journey that much more fun.

And the romance? Tender, validating, and delightfully the perfect amount of spice. The connection between Rav and the suspect (no spoilers here!) develops with genuine emotional beats, flirty tension, and just enough spice to make your heart flutter. It hits all the right notes without overpowering the mystery.

Bonus: the audiobook is fantastic. It features dual narration, and the actor voicing Rav has the perfect English accent that brings his character to life. I highly recommend experiencing this one in audio format if you can—it elevates an already strong book.

He’s To Die For blends high-stakes crime solving with a charming queer romance, and the result is an absolute delight. I’ll be watching for whatever Erin Dunn writes next.

“It’s not on you. I just forget what it’s like to feel safe sometimes. It’s okay, though, because you’re reminding me.”

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 / 5
Spice: 0.5🌶️ / 5

This book opened with a bang, and not the kind I’m usually raving about on my spicy little corner of the internet. I was laughing out loud in the first few paragraphs and loved the quick banter between Rav and his partner. As the mystery unfolds, there’s plenty of action to keep you turning the page. It’s a slow-ish burn and the chemistry between Rav and Jack is palpable. I appreciated how much of their conversations we got to be part of. Often, romances will gloss over the “work” of relationship building. This doesn’t, even if their romance is whirlwind, and I loved that.

There’s a rich cast of supporting characters, all with their own quirks and all lovable in their own ways. The mystery and romance plots were well-balanced. I saw some of the twists coming, though it was still wildly entertaining to officially find out “whodunit.” There’s also tons of pop culture references, most of which I got and a few that made me chuckle.

Along with the levity, I appreciated how Dunn handled sensitive topics. There are some heavy mental and emotional health storylines that are human and purposeful; it’s clear they’re not used for shock value but are critical to these characters’ growth.

And I’m not one to seek out a LEO/military romance often (for lots of reasons) but this one did it right. Rav’s not a cookie cutter cop. He’s the son of a British Lord with a big ol’ chip on his shoulder and a closet full of bespoke suits. He’s also got a huge moral compass alongside his dry humor and general irreverence. And sweet bb Jack? He’s bae.

When it comes to the spicy scenes, I’ll call the door cracked. There’s kissing and heavy petting in detail, and there’s enough description to know what else happened, but we don’t get the details or the naming of most parts. What’s there is full of tension and very hot, though I still found myself wanting all the salacious tidbits (as one does).

A note on POV for those who need it: I read both third and first person and like each in the right context. I would’ve enjoyed this more if it had been first. We got lots of Rav’s internal thoughts along the way, and there was a moment a little past 50% where I thought it might be shifting to Jack (and I got SO excited) but then it didn’t. And I wanted more. Either a deeper dive into Rav’s head or a hop into Jack’s. Absolutely possible to enjoy the story as written (I did!) but wanted to mention for those who are on the fence with third person POV.

All in all, I loved it and will absolutely be following Erin Dunn for future works.

If you love the wit and banter of contemporary MM authors like Saxon James and Onley James, layered with a crime noir feel and heartfelt romance, this one is for you.

📚Fast facts📚
✨ Detective / Rockstar
✨ Hurt / comfort
✨ Dry British humor & banter
✨ Murder mystery but make it romcom
✨ Different worlds
✨ Damsel / rockstar in distress
✨ Mental health rep
✨ (Mostly) closed door
✨ Contemporary MM
✨ Standalone
✨ Third person limited, single POV, present tense

I am so grateful to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley to have received an advanced copy of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.

I quite enjoyed this book as it was a murder mystery and romance in one and am starting to really like this genre. I really enjoyed Rav still having all the fine fits while being a detective... He was almost like the Elle Woods of policing. I enjoyed the twists and turns and trying to figure out what was happening as well as the blossoming romance between him and Jack. I really enjoyed the intimate moments they had which really propelled their relationship with moments of high vulnerability, paired with the feeling of inevitability between them. You see growth between the two characters over time. My issue was a bit with the length of it. Near the end I felt like some parts may not have been needed and I wasn't satisfied with the ending of the mystery portion. The romance part was 5⭐ while the mystery was 4⭐ but I'll round it up to 5!

Steam: 🔥🔥
Heart flutters: ❤️❤️

I found this book to be a really enjoyable read! It had a great mix of romance, mystery, and action. The love story was sweet and I loved the characters.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.
The humor, romance and suspense was so well done.
The banter, chemistry, and mystery I absolutely loved.

This was a fun merger of romcom and mystery. Rav, an NYPD detective, is investigating a murder - and one of the suspects is a dashing celebrity. Romance, intrigue, and an attempt to clear his name soon follow. Both characters are likable and easy to root for, though I wish Jack was a little better at picking up his phone! I could've used a little more pining, as once the romance came together, it came together pretty easily. Overall though, an easy fun read that makes for a great addition to your summer romance pile.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

😍😍 I saw Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive and immediately was intrigued!
This was a funny and cute read. I loved Rav so much. Jack was such a cutie. I felt so bad for him dealing with all the things he had going on. The romance in this is so stinkin cute! The banter and flirting had me kicking my feet. So cute!
For me, this romance felt more realistic and developed than a lot of other romance books…. for a cop and celeb mixed in a murder mystery anyways 😅
The mystery plot line was also interesting. Overall, such a fun book with great pacing and great characters! I would love if some of the side character got their own story, in particular Rav’s partner, Will!
🎧
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it! I believe it was my first time hearing the narrator, Sid Sagar, but I really enjoyed how he brought Rav to life. I think I loved Rav even more because of the narration. Def recommend!

He’s to Die For was an excellent romantic suspense novel with lots of twists and turns both in the mystery and Rav and Jack’s relationship.

With Rav being a no nonsense focused on the job person what happens when Jack turns his head even though he’s a suspect he in a murder investigation. What follows is a twisty turny investigation with multiple parts and red herrings as Jack and Rav’s relationship continues to develop echoing the starts and stops of the investigation.

Dunn’s debut is a great read with interesting characters and a fun mystery that leaves the reader desiring more books from Dunn.

I loved this part romance part mystery book! I loved both Rav and Jack, and thought they were so wholesome and sweet. I did want there to be a bit more pining, and the pacing felt off at times, but overall I really liked it. M

I will say, I’m usually not a fan of romantic suspense. I either want one or the other. But this one was done well. Rav is a NYPD detective on a high profile case. And the main suspect without an alibi is the famous lead singer of a popular band. There’s an instant connection between them, but what are the ethics involved? And what if he turns out to be the guy?

This is a fun and cute queer MM romance that I highly recommend!

Nice romcom murder mystery with good characters and an intriguing storyline. Not too much “Brooklyn 99”ish but it had some funny moments. A solid read.

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.