Mystery, murder, and romance all in one. I am here for it! Cop falling for the suspect is serving. This was a quick read as like Elle Cosamino's series it is fast paced with the forbidden love aspect. While I do which this was dual POV this was juicy and a fun quick read I do not regret requesting and it will become my personality!

I haven’t read nearly enough romantic mysteries, and the ones I have read are usually historical. But there have been some exciting contemporary romantic mysteries lately, including He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn. It just came out earlier this week and I loved it!

What I Liked:
- Music-industry mystery. If you’ve read many of my reviews, you’ll anticipate what I’m about to say again: I love books about music! Here, the mystery revolves around a vicious label executive who was murdered hours before signing away the rights of a popular band’s entire music catalogue. This guy had plenty of enemies, but chief among them may have been the New Knickerbockers, especially their lead singer, Jack. The music industry can be a sleazy place, and this mystery really leans into the worst sides of it.
- The pop punk emo band, the New Knickerbockers! Rav apparently doesn’t know anything about modern music, and certainly not about this entire genre of music. So despite how popular this band is, Rav has never heard of them. I loved how his feelings for Jack started to flourish when Rav started listening to his band’s songs. Cute!
- Combating stereotypes in their respective careers. Police don’t have the greatest reputation, and Rav—a gay man of color—feels like he must prove that he’s more than a DEI hire. (Ugh, that feels so loaded right now. DEI is a *good* thing; we should keep it; that is all.) Rav isn’t your typical macho cop; he’s pushing the boundaries of what law enforcement can look like. Similarly, Jack isn’t the kind of rock star who’s all ego and attitude. Quite the contrary, he’s a sensitive introvert.
- And their little off-limits romance! I love how both Rav and Jack are so unalike, and so different from the stereotypes, yet they balance each other out perfectly. Of course, it’s not exactly recommend to fall for your #1 suspect in a murder case… but that’s neither here nor there. Love knows no bounds!

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- The mystery ended up being a bit convoluted. Complex mysteries are fun to read about, but some aspects of this felt a bit too far afield.

Final Thoughts
He’s to Die For is such a fun read that’s equal parts mystery and contemporary romance. Rav is a character full of personality, so he made an engaging POV (third person) to follow throughout the novel. It tackles family dynamics, grief over a previous loss, career struggles, and the darker side of celebrity, but the story is infused with a lightness and quickness that holds readers’ attention. I look forward to reading more from Erin Dunn.

TL/DR: So the synopsis gives you the general idea. This was a great debut novel. It has a great story, an intriguing mystery with a homicide, turned multiple homicide investigations, real friendships and a really sweet and sometimes spicy M/M romance. Did I mention one of them is one of the investigating detectives and the other one is a gorgeous rock star?

So Rav, one of the MMC, is very posh, the son of His Lordship and a supermodel. He is an American citizen but spent most of his youth overseas, summers in the States. He dresses in bespoke suits and even when he is “dressing down”, he is still overdressed.

During a murder investigation, he meets our second MMC, Jack Vale, from the rock group, The Knickerbocker’s. Sparks fly, but of course they are both professional, until Jack is cleared and then they are anything but professional.

As much as Jack likes Rav he is aware how crazy his life is. He even has anxiety/panic attacks and there are rumors that the former frontman un-alived himself because it became too much.

Enter paparazzi, hacked accounts, deep fakes and a murder investigation that has more questions than answers and also leads to more bodies.

This story has something for everyone in it and if you can figure out who did it, I tip my hat to you. I totally recommend this book for any of the reasons states above and I hope to read more from this author in the future.

I would like to thank the author, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always I wish you happy reading!

Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member of the NYPD’s homicide squad and has an incredible solve rate. As an ivy-league educated gay Brit wearing designer suits he doesn't quite fit in, but he's always eager to prove himself. Now he gets the lead position on the high-profile murder of a record executive. The main suspect is a hot rock star with a clear motive and no alibi, and unfortunately, Rav seems to be falling in love with him.

Rav is the only son of a model and British Lord, so he looks the part even as he tries to solve crimes and be a good cop despite what people think of police officers. He was continually raised to be the best and not make his father look bad, and the impulse transferred to his supervisor to some degree. He trusts his instincts as well as his training, at least until this case. He tries to stay on the legal side of things and stick to investigating murder; we get a good amount of detail into the steps he takes as a detective. The murder victim has no end of enemies, including the very hot lead singer, Jack, and half of the internet for holding the band's masters hostage. Jack and Rav hit it off right away, and both try to ignore the attraction.

I liked seeing the pair with each other and with the main people in their lives. They complement each other well, and try to do what they can to protect each other. I appreciated that side of them, as well as the actual investigating and solution at the close of the novel. It's more of a romance than a murder mystery, so the tension isn't as heightened as it would be in a thriller. We have our happily ever after for everyone involved, and lovely hope for the future.

2.5 STARS - He's To Die For has an interesting plot that's a blend of LGBTQIA2S+ romance and mystery and has some good banter but as much as I tried, I never felt invested in this story.

Touted in the blurb as "Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive", it felt like this book was trying to do too much and didn't quite succeed leaving me wanting more romance, mystery and humour.

The mystery dominated the story and felt convoluted with too many characters and way too many pop culture references (many of which I didn't get). The romance between Jack, the hot rockstar and Rav, the British police detective was sweet (with a sprinkle of spice) and an InstaLove feel. But we only get Rav's POV, and the story is told with a 'tell instead of show' vibe and a lot of dialogue which slowed the pacing.

Rav and Jack were a cute couple but when two of the tertiary characters (Rav's BFF and the sassy hacker) make more of an impression, you know it's not going to be a book or couple that will stick with you.

I expected to love this book, but this was a miss for me, and I don't think the blurb did this book any favours with its comparison to Brooklyn 99 or The Charm Offensive. Please know I'm in the vast minority with my feelings for this book. If you enjoy mystery, lots of pop culture references and a sweet with a little heat romance, pick this book up! It's in stores now.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Minotaur Books for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

He’s To Die For by Erin Dunn is a first novel, as far as I can tell. And for that reason, I am impressed. It is basically a police procedural/romance. The lead detective is Rav Trivedi whose parents are different, to say the least. The story takes place in New York but his father lives in England and his mother flits around; England right now. He has a British accent, money, and is young. Because of the money and his background, he is a sharp dresser, which doesn’t earn him many points in the squad room. He is the lead on this case, and his colleagues are not happy. The victim is a very rich man, also in the music business and not very popular. Now he is dead. Witnesses explain he had had a very public argument with the lead singer of the New Nicks, which is apparently a popular band. Rav has no idea. When they venture to the hotel to speak with the man the spark between he and Rav is instantaneous and totally inappropriate.

Rav is a good character. I hope we see more of him. He is a clever detective, but has few friends, as he values their quality more than the quantity. He is gay. The love scenes are gay but not super graphic, het full of passion. He has never been in love before and he has some trouble navigating it, especially under the circumstances, plus, a celebrity? He knows Vale is not guilty, but who is? Quite a good mystery. Good plot. Good characters, almost as if she’s been in a band. Touching romance. Altogether, a good read.

I was invited to read He’s to Die For by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #ErinDunn #HesToDieFor

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.