I really enjoyed He's to Die For. It was a perfect blend of high-stakes mystery with a little bit of swoony steamy romance.

Rav Trivedi, polished gay NYPD homicide detective, is a risk-taker, and he finds himself in the middle of a murder case involving a very popular band -- with a very hot frontman -- complete with conspiracy theories, FBI involvement, puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together. Plus that very hot frontman, Jack Vale. He's falling for Jack, but he also can't let this case go, even when it's out of his jurisdiction. So he recruits his underground hacker friend, his partner, and Jack Vale's bodyguard to help him figure out what's going on.

I really enjoyed the mystery component of this. There's a lot of action, and it's a well laid out mystery that you as the reader can follow along with. Everything makes sense, but I was still on my toes trying to figure it out the whole time. And I loved the romance part of this too. It makes Rav feel like a whole person. And I really liked the writing, with funny asides or snarky remarks that are mentioned.

My only critiques are that 1) there were some occasional nods to the "being a cop is complicated especially in this climate" that are so valid and also felt a little like hitting the reader over the head with a moral club, and 2) I just wish female authors would write F/F stories more than M/M stories.

I really hope this becomes a series, because I would totally read another book about Rav (and maybe Mo?) solving crime with Jack by his side. Or at least, I'm excited to read whatever Erin Dunn writes in the future!

Narrative: 📕📘📗📓
Angst: Moderate
Spice: 🌶🌶
Humor: 😆😆
Heart: 💧💧💧💧
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Burn Time: Moderate

What if James Bond was Indian-British, of political royalty, and had looks that could stop traffic, but didn't really know it. Well that's Rav, but when he meets a case he can't crack because of all the noise, and a rock star he can't stop thinking about it becomes a magnificent romantic thriller with so many potential suspects that it's amazing if anyone can shake out the truth before it crumbles right in front of them.

The thrilling who-dun-it is great, the MCs are adorable, it's a little more reader friendly with light spice, and the ease at which the MCs handle time and distance in their budding Romance is refreshing.

This felt like a cozy mystery but set in the Big Apple. It had a sweet romance at its heart and enough twists to keep readers wanting to turn the page.

Rav is a talented NYPD detective who becomes the lead investigator on a high-profile murder case. He ends up meeting Jack, the frontman for a popular rock band, but their chemistry has to be put on the back burner due to Jack being a suspect.

Rav has a suave confidence that makes you want to be best friends with him. Jack is a sensitive soul and you root for the two from the onset. I wish there were more scenes with the two of them together because their romance was the big draw for me to this book.

I received an ARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mehhhh. Fun premise but all around just didn’t work for me. The relationship was lacking as was the whole mystery aspect. Sure some parts were funny but all around the lack of depth made me wanting so much more. Like somehow it felt like there were two totally different stories going on. Also got super confused with one of the characters thinking they were two different people til I realized it was the same person lol. Somehow the romance and the mystery part didn’t blend either when I feel like they absolutely should in a romantic mystery. Just kind of a strange execution? Not sure how to explain it.

Intriguing premise, sharp writing, interesting MCs, but I could not get into this book to save my life.

The narrative is third-person, singular POV, which I find limiting and dull, regardless of the genre (but especially so when it comes to romance).

Rav is a fun character. Unfortunately, his narration wasn't enough to carry the book for me. I wish Jack had been given a voice as well. As is, his personality was all tell, no show.

Never mind that the romance played second-fiddle to everything else. The relationship was behind the scenes, and Jack never crawled out of his self-imposed hidey-hole.

The mystery felt manufactured, and while I enjoyed the snarky humor and the banter between Rav and his NYPD partner, it didn't quite fit the plot.

There were also too many references to pop culture for my liking. I had vague One Direction fanfic vibes while reading He's to Die For. I haven't read a lot of fanfic though, so I may be wrong,

I really really enjoyed this! I love queer books but this one hit different. The characters were very fleshed out and the character dynamics were interesting. I loved that it didn’t just focus on the romance, but there was a whole mystery/investigation plot as well.

This is a lovely and enduring story of two people who the world has ideas of how they should act and present themselves, but the truth doesn’t always match expectations. In fact, the people they truly are complete each other and complement each other in a way they have never experienced before. Rav isn’t one to fall in love easily. So, the fact he is drawn to someone he is investigating throws him. But the more he gets to know Jake the more he gets to see the person that the rest of the world doesn’t always see. Yes, he can be aloof, but he isn’t your typical rock star. This is a lovely love story with a mystery thrown in. Can Rav figure out who is out to destroy Jake and his band before it is to late.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This was a fun read. A bit more murder mystery than romance but overall a great combo! I liked that there were lots of twists and turns in the case but also lots of music and love to fill it out!

Cw: lots of alcohol use

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for a copy provided for an honest review.

This murder mystery is told in third person and follows NYPD detective Rav Trivedi. While born in New York, Rav sports a British accent, an Ivy league education and designer suits, which often causes commentary in the bullpen, some good-hearted, some not. The son of a famous model and British politician, Rav has a complicated relationship with his parents. I found Rav to be a well-rounded, multi-faceted character. The story begins with an incident at a club where a popular rock band is performing.

Rav and his NYPD partner, Will, later catch a murder case involving a record executive in the midst of a court battle with the same rock band from the club incident. I loved Rav’s relationship with Will. Their banter and friendship shown as they investigated the case even when they were at odds over some of the details. At the center of their investigation is the current lead singer, Jake, who is a bit of an enigma throughout the novel. He’s a suspect, then he’s not, then he is again. I loved the did he do it or didn’t he vibes that were threaded through the story as the threads unraveled and Rav was falling for him despite his suspicions.

The mystery was just what I was looking for in a romantic suspense with various threads and seemingly unconnected events that later weave into an intricate web that surprised me in the end. A complex mystery with interesting characters. This was a great debut and I’m looking forward to seeing what this author writes next.

Recommended to readers that enjoy the combination of investigative police mysteries and romance.

i’ve been on a major mystery-romance kick in 2025 and this was… adequate! it scratched the itch! the MC was a delight to read, though both the mystery and romance aspects weren’t very compelling.

This was adorable!!

Humorous, romantic, & filled with whodunit moments, this was a refreshing read. I really enjoyed the Brooklyn 99 comparisons/inspirations.

Rav & Jack's banter was swoony and comforting.

Read this if you love Brooklyn 99.

Thank you Netgalley & Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early!

A murder mystery with a romantic subplot? That premise had my full attention, and I was really looking forward to diving in. Unfortunately, the story didn’t quite land for me the way I’d hoped.

While the concept was compelling, the execution felt a bit underwhelming. The main characters were given moments that seemed intended to build depth and emotional resonance, but they didn’t quite connect or leave a lasting impact. There were stretches where the pacing dragged, and I found myself struggling to stay fully engaged.

It’s not a bad debut by any means—the pieces were there, and I can see potential in the author’s voice. But overall, it lacked the spark or intensity I look for in both mystery and romance. I wanted to feel more: more suspense, more chemistry, more urgency. For whatever reason, those elements just didn’t quite come through for me in this one.

That said, I know others may find something here that clicks more than it did for me.

Erin Dunn’s He's To Die For masterfully intertwines romance and murder mystery, creating an enthralling. The plot is filled with suspenseful twists that blend seamlessly with heartfelt romantic moments, making it a compelling page-turner for fans of both genres.

The standout feature of this novel is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is intricately crafted with distinct personalities, compelling backstories, and authentic motivations. The chemistry between the protagonists is electric, adding depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. The secondary characters also shine, contributing to the story’s rich, immersive world.

Overall, He's To Die For is an engaging read with a perfect balance of romance and mystery. Its dynamic characters and thrilling plot make it a standout novel.

Queer Brooklyn 99! This is a mystery/romance book about a detective who has a case involving a famous rockstar. There's also a budding romance with a fellow cop.

I absolutely adored this book so much! I like to keep my feedback on Netgalley more constructive since my public reviews can also be read and just full of praise, but I genuinely can not think of anything constructive to say I loved this book so much. It was the perfect intersection of my favorite genres. I am actually absolutely obsessed with it.

So I am using this to please beg for more. I need more from Erin Dunn already. Please make this a series,. give me more about Will or more about anything. I absolutely loved the writing style, the comedy was perfectly placed, the romance was believable and not overpowering of the mystery. There was an appropriate criticism of the state of the world.

PLEASE GIVE ME MORE

As a NYC girlie I will buy this book and throw it at everyone in the city to read what an incredible love story to NYC. Please please please if you need anyone for anything to do with this book I am your girl. I am about to scream about it incessantly and make everyone read it.

"Colliding is the right word for it. Ricocheting off one another in the margins of violent incidents. If it’s fate, it’s a strange kind."

Detective Ravi is investigating a murder case that has rockstar, Jack, as the prime suspect.

Let me tell you that I laughed out loud, squealed, kicked my feet and giggled while reading this book. It was just so sweet and wholesome and I just want to hug both of them.

We are in the POV of Ravi and he's such an interesting character. I love his dry wit, humor and just overall sarcasm. He's just like me, for real for real. Jack, on the otherhand was a gentle soul that has more substance than the usual rockstar.

"A cynic is just a brokenhearted romantic."

The romance was burning, it was simmering, it was perfect for both of them. This is what I was looking for when I said, "I want a good MM romance". This book was perfect, and I am always down for a cop MMC.

“I’m your hotline, remember?” “You’re a fcking lifeline.”

He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn, was a quick read as I needed to know the ending. The writing flows, the characters are developed, and the mix of humor and mystery, makes this debut novel a fun and fast read. The main character, Rav, has duel citizenship as he was born in NYC, but his father is a British Lord. Rav is working as a NYC detective on a case which has twists and turns to keep the mystery. I’m hoping that there is a sequel as I love Rav and want to see the next steps in his journey. Definitely a 4.5 read, maybe even a 5.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read He’s to Die For. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

A gay detective finds his newest case going in an unexpected way when one of the suspects is a hot rock star... with no alibi and he's falling for him. This book was definitely an easy read... but it just was a boring one for me. I just never found myself all that invested in the romance between the two characters. I was hoping for more on both the rom com side and the mystery side of this. The romance just didn't really fell all there for me and the overall book felt slow. I just was dragging myself through to the end. As a fan of Brooklyn 99 as well as someone who had fun reading The Charm Offensive... this was just not it for me. There were a ton of pop culture references as well and I do think that it could be a fun read for someone else... just not me.

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Enjoyed this rom-com from the beginning. It’s fun and fast-paced with lovable characters and off-the-charts chemistry. The romance is swoony and the interaction between the characters had me smiling though out the book.

I loved this book! I found this story to but such a unique and creative one as recently ive been finding so much repetition in plots and tropes but this book stood out from the rest for sure! the characters were well developed and the mystery was a complex one that kept me guessing the whole time!