4 stars ARC book review
Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess is a fun combination of genres. We have a fictional cozy mystery within the book, a real mystery, and a romance. The story follows Cath, who learns that her mother, who recently died, had bought tickets for them to attend a murder mystery week in England. She is truly perplexed as to why her flighty, absentee mother would do that, but decides to go at the urging of friends. What follows is a fun whodunit combined with a story about her learning about her past and meeting a new group of friends.

What I enjoyed most in this book was the cast of characters as well as the setting. The pretend murder mystery within the story was so much fun to follow along with, as I am a fan of Agatha Christie and many of the parts of what make a good Christie mystery were in evidence. Cath’s cottage roommates for the week, Wyatt and Amity, were great, as were the other participants and the town folk cast playing parts in the murder mystery.

I struggled with two parts of the book. First, I unfortunately didn’t really like Cath. I found that she came across really young to be in her 30’s and she was often quite negative. I also felt at times it was a bit much to have all three things going on (both the real and faux mysteries and the romance storyline).

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and recommend it for fellow cozy mystery fans. Thank you to the publisher Gallery Books | Gallery/Scout Press, author Karen Dukess, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

As a lifelong British mystery lover, I thoroughly enjoyed all the nods to classic and modern British mystery books and television shows! I was a little disappointed this wasn't a typical mystery (no actual murder that needed solving), but there were two other mystery subplots that I soon became interested in (solving the Mystery Week game & the mystery of Cath's mother). Overall, a fun book that I would readily recommend to British mystery lovers!

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Karen Dukess for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ this was a slow start for me and honestly, I kept going on my audiobook versus grabbing for this. But, once I got like 25% in I was more into it.

This is a cozy mystery- the book is based around a woman who’s semi-estranged mom passes away and while going through her things she finds tickets to a murder mystery week in England that her mom intended to bring her on.

She ends up going on her own and participating in the mystery challenge but doesn’t understand why her mom wanted to do this. As she spends time there, little connections to her mom are clicking into place. Along with her housemates and detective partners they work to solve the fake murder along with figuring out why her mom was invested in coming to this town and the questions she was trying to answer.

A lot of references to older popular books and authors that unfortunately went right over my head, if you are well versed in that - I think you’ll enjoy it even more.

I felt like I needed a little more growth or development from our main character but overall a cozy mystery that is appropriate for a lot of readers.

When Cath Little was going through her mother’s effects, she came across a surprising discovery. She hadn’t been particularly close to her mother, who had a penchant for leaving. Cath had mostly been raised by her grandmother, who stayed in one place and taught Cath everything she knew about being an optician. After her death, Cath had stayed on in her house and taken over her optometry business, helping people find the glasses that work best for them.

When Cath had been a kid, she had loved the time she got to spend with her mother, but her mother would leave after only a few days. She would chase another dream, another relationship. And Cath would be left behind, longing for the love that only a mother can give. After her mother’s death, Cath had been going through the few personal items she had of her mother’s, and that’s when she found the tickets. They were to England, to the village of Willowthrop in the Peak District, where Cath and her mother were to participate in a weeklong murder mystery sponsored by the tiny town. The tickets were non-refundable.

When Cath explained to the woman running the murder mystery, she was happy to refund Cath’s mother’s ticket and change Cath’s accommodations, since she would be on her own. But she refused to refund Cath’s ticket and encouraged her to come. She said she had corresponded with Cath’s mother, and she had been excited about the trip. And that’s how Cath found herself on a plane to England, traveling to Willowthrop to solve a fake murder mystery with her two housemates.

Wyatt was married to a man who loved birdwatching and owned a business that catered to other bird lovers. Wyatt loved his husband and helped with the business, but he needed a new spark in his life. Amity was a romance writer whose marriage had dissolved, leaving her wondering if she still wanted to write about budding relationships. Together the three of them would be a team in the race to solve the murder mystery.

But as they go around town, questioning suspects in and looking for clues to try to find out who murdered the village hairdresser and why, Cath finds herself puzzling out her own mystery. As she moves around the village, she finds herself noticing things that resemble the stories her mother told her when she was a child. There are flowers that remind her of her mother, a church spire, a favorite children’s book. She tells Wyatt and Amity about these things, and they set up two murder boards in their house, one for the murder of the hairdresser and the other for the clues about Cath’s mom.

As Cath is trying to put the pieces together on who she is and why she’s in the Peak District, she’s also developing feelings for a handsome bartender who makes his own artisanal gin. Her heart feels drawn to Willowthrop, but she has spent her life refusing to give in to the feelings of wanderlust that constantly took her mother on paths away from her. Once the murder is solved and it’s time for Cath to head back home, what will she do about the connections she’s been growing in England? Will she follow her head, or will she follow her heart and put down new roots?

Welcome to Murder Week is a clever take on an English village murder mystery. The murder simulation storyline dips into classic mystery literature like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle all the way to current television series like Father Brown and Agatha Raisin. The mystery that this small town created is complex and nuanced, and adding in the mystery of Cath’s and her mother takes this novel to another level. It’s fast paced, with great characters and a strong sense of place. Anyone looking for a solid mystery that’s smart and unique should make plans to spend time with this book.

I had the best time in Willowthrop. Welcome to Murder Week is a dynamite book, with humor and intelligence and romance. It has a solid mystery (or two), but overall the story feels like a hug. It is warm and comforting, sweet and funny, and over way too soon.

Egalleys for Welcome to Murder Week were provided by Gallery/Scout Press through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

WELCOME TO MURDER WEEK by Karen Dukess is a delightfully quirky, frothy offering which combines mystery and romance set in England's Peak District. After the death of her often-estranged Mom, Cath Little heads to the UK to participate in a pretend murder contest. No one knows why her Mom had purchased the tickets without telling Cath. Soon, however, Cath and her detective team (roommates Wyatt, struggling in his marriage to a birding shopkeeper, and Amity, a romance author with writer's block), are investigating not only the supposed death of local resident Tracy Penny, but also a series of strange coincidences involving Cath, her childhood, and her Mom. The tiny village of Willowthrop is also home to several memorable characters, including handsome barman and artisanal gin crafter named Dev who is attracted to Cath. This entertaining tale fulfills the author's description: "Murder, revenge, lies, abandonment - they're a respite from the mess and confusion of our own lives. Fictional chaos is a holiday, a beautiful distraction. We can go along for the ride and shiver from the danger without worrying that we'll get hurt." WELCOME TO MURDER WEEK received a starred review from Library Journal ("just the thing for a rainy afternoon and a cup of tea"). Enjoy.

A cute, cozy mystery that sees a daughter going on her dead mother's English murder mystery vacation in her place and discovering her mom had been hiding more secrets than she knew. Fans of cozy mysteries, romance and emotionally deep mother-daughter stories will enjoy this new book from Karen Dukess. I thought it was good on audio and an entertaining read that kept me guessing and had a cast of colorful characters. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, What a fun read! Who wouldn’t love a fake murder mystery with a real-life puzzler woven into the story?

After her mother’s death, Cath undergoes the task of cleaning out the poor woman’s belongings. They were not particularly close, so Cath just wants to finish the job as quickly as possible. Among mom’s trash and treasures, Cath finds a ticket to England for two, a murder mystery week that Mom had planned for the two of them. What? And now I’m hooked!

Once in English, two great characters, Wyatt and Amity, are paired with Cath, and the team of three work to solve the make-believe murder. At the same time, Cath wants to find out why dear Mom wanted them to visit this place together.

I enjoyed this delightful and witty read.

I adored this delightful mystery novel that was absolutely full of charm, adventure and fun. The premise of this felt really fresh to me, and I enjoyed the play on traditional cozy mysteries through the village event as well as slowly unraveling the mystery of Cath's mother. The characters were lovable and brought so much heart to the novel. I've been in a bit of a reading slump and this is the book that finally pulled me out! Highly recommend to mystery lovers or anyone looking for a summer read with heart and humor in addition to a bit of mystery!

'Welcome to Murder Week' is a delightful mystery novel! The story reminds me of the movie 'Austenland', with its larger-than-life characters and theatrical British setting, yet the plot feels fresh and well-written. This book not only avoids many typical cozy mystery clichés (though I love the genre), but it also playfully acknowledges them through the amateur sleuths on their murder mystery vacation.

I loved Cath, Wyatt, and Amity's unlikely friendship—they bring humor and heart to every scene. Cath's love interest adds a fun dynamic, though just a note: there is a bit of spice. Cath's relationship with her mother grounds the story as she navigates conflicting emotions. There are multiple puzzles throughout, offering a satisfying challenge without the unease of suspense. I'll gladly explore more of Karen Dukess' works.

Special thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cath’s mother hasn’t played a significant role in her life for so long that Cath is ambivalent when her mother dies. But when she forces herself to go through her mother’s things, she finds a pair of tickets for an upcoming ‘murder week’ in England – an entire town is staging a fake murder for its participants to solve. Intrigued, Cath decides to take the trip, if only to find out why her mother wanted the two of them to go. Her two cottage-mates are both avid mystery lovers, and while the three of them set out to solve the (staged) murder, Cath learns a few things about her mother – and herself – along the way.

I’ve never read anything by this author before, but this book hooked me almost from the very first page. Although my mother and I were close (and we both devoured mystery books!), I was intrigued by Cath’s situation and her search to learn more about her mother. I’m not sure I’d want to do undertake such a quest with a handful of strangers, but maybe being surrounded by strangers and away from her comfortable life at home actually gave her the freedom for such an endeavour?

I like the way the book was structured, and enjoyed traipsing around the English countryside with Cath, Wyatt and Amity as they looked for clues to the murder. Along with them, I tried to decide which of the villagers were part of the plot and which were red herrings. I landed on the correct suspect, and even the motive, but I’m not sure how :)

It seems unlikely that this will turn into a series, but I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author. And if this *does turn into a series, I’ll be eager to read the next book.

Cath steps into a murder mystery vacation set in the English countryside in place of her late mother, learning more about her mother and the village as her team solve the whodunnit. Full of adventure, charm, heart and a bit of romance perfect beach read. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy for an honest review.

ARC Review!!
Cath finds out that her mom booked them both a trip to a small town in England but to a Murder Mystery week. Cath's mother has since passed and Cath has no clue why her mother would book them both a trip to a small town in England when none of them liked mysteries.
Cath is convinced by her friends that she needs to take this trip and goes. When she arrives in England, she meets 2 other lone travelers and teams up with them to solve the murder mystery. As the week progresses, Cath comes to realize stories her mother has told her add up to certain things in this small town in England.
The revelation that Cath did not know her mother and is slowly finding out things from her past sends her for a tale spin. The murder mystery aspect of the story was good and the reveal of Cath's mother at the same time was nicely done.
3 stars!!!

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess has a good premise, but I found the story to be on the bland side. Catherine, or Cath as she prefers to be called, is a lackluster character. She is not excited when she discovers her deceased mother paid for two tickets to a murder week in Willowthrop, England (I would be thrilled). It turns out that Cath is not interested in English mysteries nor does she read mystery novels (she does not know what she is missing). Overcoming grief, healing childhood wounds, a self-discover journey, and having an adventure are on the agenda for Cath. Cath is having trouble after the death of her mother even though they were not close (look up absentee parent online and you will find a picture of Cath’s mother). There were some quirky characters in Willowthrop (Cath could take a page or two from their books). I never felt a connection between Cath and her deceased mother (I wanted there to be an emotional tie). Cath seemed more connected to Mr. Groberg, her mentor and renter. You could tell that Cath cared about Mr. Groberg. The pacing was lethargic, which was not helped by the long-winded descriptions. The picturesque depictions paint a picture, but they slow down the story. The mystery game was not as much fun as I thought it be. I wish the whodunit had been more engaging and fun. It lacked excitement and suspense. The emotional moments were not quite right. They are slightly off (like a person missing their mark on the stage) and they lack depth. Of course, no vacation would be complete without a romance. The story had an uplifting ending. Welcome to Murder Week was cute but nothing to write home about.

I really enjoyed this fun little cozy mystery. It was imaginative and amusing with so much heart and emotion. I loved the setting, the mystery, the characters and the deeper meanings. Overall quite an entertaining read.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I didn’t know what to make of this book for the first part. It was interesting and I was intrigued. Yet, it was a bit slow paced. I decided to dig in and I am SO GLAD I did. The second half cracked wide open, revealing more of the main plot/story but also a whole other, emotional and interesting story. In addition, there was the cutest romance that fit perfectly.

Overall, really good and I’m glad I pushed through the beginning.

Advanced reader copy provided by Gallery and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess was an absolute amazing murder mystery.
A cozy, heartwarming and fun story that kept me glued to this book.
The author's writing is both engaging and precise.
I can’t wait to read more of Dukess’ next book.

TY to Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

Y’all, I was so bored reading this book. It’s such a fun concept — a murder mystery game in a charming British town where contestants work together to solve a staged murder. Think grown-up sleepaway camp meets Midsomer murders. But the execution is painfully dull.

There are two main plotlines: one follows the murder game itself, and the other digs into the main character’s late, estranged mother — why she booked this trip for them shortly before her death and why the town feels oddly familiar. I won’t spoil anything, but the mom storyline was the more compelling plot by a mile. I found myself actually getting lost in the story during those sections and really wish they had featured more prominently earlier on.

Overall, it’s not BAD, and if you like slow burn cozy British murder mysteries, this might work for you! If you’re looking for something more fast paced, this isn’t it.

Audio: I liked the narrator! Carlotta Brentan has a soothing voice (maybe too soothing, snooze) with solid pacing and delivery. Her performance matched the vibe of the book well. I hope to listen to more of her performances in the future!

When Cath loses her absentee mother, she is shocked to find two tickets to “murder week.” When the company only offers to refund one ticket, Cath decides to go on the trip and see what it’s all about. What happens is something Cath could have never expected. With her two cabin mates, Cath sets out to solve the murder, and finds out some interesting facts about her mother along the way.

I really enjoyed this story with multi level mysteries! It was cozy, yet mysterious, with a side of found family, and it had me listening nonstop! I really want to go to a murder week now, so if something could throw one that would be greatly appreciated! I did this one on audio and really loved the narration! This book was different than I expected, but I enjoyed every second!

Thank you to @gallerybooks and @simon.audio for my gifted copy of this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and to Simon Audio for the audiobook alc.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a bit of heart and humor, look no further than this book. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and the wonderful characters in it. I am not sure I have read anything quite like this before, and it was a nice change of pace from the heavy duty thrillers that I read sometimes. Furthermore, Carlotta Brentan does a fabulous job with the narration (especially the British accents!) and I think she was the perfect choice to narrate this book. Additionally, if you are a huge Finlay Donovan fan like I am, I am sure you will love this book!

This was very sweet, very hopeful. Solving a British murder mystery IRL as well as a family mystery with the bonus of a budding romance?! You will find it all in this book, which I found to be just as much about friendship and finding yourself as romance. It will make you long for the British countryside and a spot of tea.

Welcome to Murder Week comes out next week on June 10, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

Buffalo may have been an accident for my mother, but for me it has been the source of everything good. Here was love and consistency. Here was my beloved paternal grandmother Raya, who stepped up when my mother left. Who took me to the public library every week, attended my parent-teacher conferences, combed the knots out of my thick hair, suffered my brief stint playing the oboe, and indulged my love of Polly Pockets. Who taught me how to bake challah, make a sundial, hang wallpaper, and catch and cook a brown trout. Who told me stories about my father, who used to read to me every morning and every night from the same books she'd read to him when he was a child.