This is a quick, easy read thriller with a few lighthearted moments on the way.
The characters are a bit basic, and honestly, not very likeable. This isn’t a dealbreaker when it comes to enjoying the story, but in this instance it didn’t help it.
I would say, give this a go. I finished it, it was ok, but it’s probably not one that’ll stick with me in the future.

a twisty, wild ride that kept me guessing and insanely confused. overall it was a quick, short read that was a bit creepy, scary and insanely entertaining, I wlll definitely be tuning in for the next one!

Kelli Amari is obsessed with true crime, so obsessed she solved her own serial killer case and now wants to solve another right on her doorstep.

But there is something not quite right with Kelli. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was to start with but as I got to know her better, I understood more about this true crime obsessive. The more Kelli told me, the more I frowned at her so to speak.

There are most definitely some comic, even laugh-out-loud, moments. Kelli has some really fun entertaining friends around her – Polly’s comment about Postman Pat made me snort! But as the book went on, it got darker with less comedy and more of me catching a breath as Barnett threw an extra twist in my direction.

How To Get Away With Murder is a cracking thriller. Barnett has written an excellent debut novel with a questionable narrator who at times I doubted but I’d immediately liked so didn’t want to question her (needs must). This author is one to watch based on this first offering!!

I found this book an easy enough and decent enough read, however unfortunately for me it was rather slow for the most part. There was not enough to grip me with the storyline until right towards the end of the book. If the while read had been as good all way through, it would have easily had me on tenterhooks! Worth a read? Maybe if you like this genre.

Fantastic premise and there were plenty of twists and turns. A very quick read with a few too many unlikeable characters for me. I love that the killer was a surprise to me.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC ebook.

How To Get Away With Murder by Tam Barnett is a novel that certainly takes the reader for a ride. Our FMC, Kelli, is both unreliable and very unlikeable. It’s always interesting to root for the main character’s downfall. Kelli, a former journalist is obsessed with serial killers, actually rose to fame for catching Dick, the White Widower. Down on our luck, she’s befriended him and is writing a book about the case that started it all for her. Now there’s another killer on the loose in her neighborhood and Kelli is determined to solve the case.

I split my time between the audio book (very well narrated—Kelli is a bit unhinged, and the audio book does a great job capturing her personality) and the e-book. The pacing was consistent, and the characters that were needed to drive the story were developed enough. There is some backstory for Kelli, who witnesses her father murders a pedophile that attacked her. For most of the book, she states it was Danny (her brother) who was attacked, not her—almost until the last quarter of the novel. I don’t think there’s much development/emphasis on her backstory because the reader isn’t meant to root for her or feel for her. She’s obsessed with serial killers—to the point that she’s close with a serial killer (and at times there are some very uncomfortable bits of sexual tension between her and Dick – gross). She watches violent porn, takes intense sleeping pills to sleep, and when the murders begin and she’s convinced she’s doing it—she gets rid of evidence! She even kills her neighbor’s cat who she doesn’t like (to see if she can kill in cold blood).

The final quarter of the book gets craziest with the arrest of Kelli’s boyfriend, Ben, subsequent discovery: the framing of her boyfriend (the killer is her best friend). Then the plotting with her best friend to get Ben out of jail and frame Polly’s abusive partner, Todd for the murders. AND finally, Kelli’s determination to commit the murder and make it to where her best friend is discovered to be the true murder. There are so many times that Kelli is unbearable throughout the book—not compassionate/caring, and is very self-absorbed. The ending was *delicious* however, because Kelli seems to be getting the happy ending (she doesn’t deserve) and then she sees Dick one last time and confesses everything (on tape)! The ending for me is what wrapped the book up perfectly—I initially didn’t enjoy it, Kelli just…sucks. I didn’t care about her very much and didn’t like how she viewed characters that were so supportive of her (her mother, Ben, former colleague Rob Grayson). So, when Kelli loses it all so ironically—absolute perfection and brought my rating up a star.

This was such a gripping story! The mystery, the eeriness, and the plot twists were all amazing. I was hooked right from the beginning, and even though the main character isn’t likable, the plot is great!

Unlikeable characters made this difficult to get into. It was slow to start and I wasn’t quite sure what exactly this was about. Add in my dislike for journalists and how they are portrayed and this just isn’t for me. It does pick up towards the end and gets interesting but I had a difficult time connecting with any of the characters so the ending is somewhat lost on me. Without the connection, I don’t get the need for the crimes or the blind loyalty that is portrayed. Fans of thrillers and true crime podcasts might enjoy this but there wasn’t enough character development for me.

This story was very intriguing, I liked the premise a lot and it keeps you on your toes, guessing and failing again and again.

Sadly, after a few chapters I kind of lost interest, it felt like a forced relationship, where you go out with someone cause in paper they’re perfect, but the spark is not there, you know what I mean?

I couldn’t find myself enjoying the characters. They were all insufferable, especially our MC. That’s the risk with an unreliable narrator I guess, I rolled my eyes a few times and wanted the plot to go on without being in the protagonist’s head.

The twists were great, I was fascinated by her relationship with Dick, a serial killer whom she helped trap and then kept visiting in jail. The ENDING, OMG that was crazy! But yeah, all in all I don’t think I would reread this one.

I loved this book, it was the perfect amounts of comedic and darkness that made it a very addictive read.

This book was unusual, witty, dark but clever

A very easy to read book and a few surprises for sure

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books

Thank you to Tam Barnett, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The cover instantly grabbed my attention. But there was something about it that I just didn't like. I found myself reading and having to reread what I was supposed to be reading because it wasn't holding my attention.

But with that being said, it did surprise me to find out who the killer was.

The first bits with Kellie and her obsession with serial killers and murder shows and taking the test to see if she qualified as a psychopath were quite entertaining and had the right comedic touch. Even her continued communications with the serial killer she caught awhile were good. However, when the new killer came on the scene, it got a bit darker than I was ready for, with Kellie trying to figure it out and rise again in fame over that awful Dick Grayson who was always spouting headlines at her (so annoying he was!) and deal with the possibility it was someone she knew, or even herself.

It was a fast read and different than I was expecting, especially that ending and the twists but I liked it, even if I wasn't really a fan of the main character (she did have some interesting thoughts though).

As someone who loves a book that will keep me engaged until the very end, this book did exactly that. Every time I thought I had figured it out, the author put in another twist that I did not see coming. It was interesting having the main character not be a hero of the story, and I did have some mixed feelings about them, but I also think that is why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It was fun, entertaining, and the perfect amount of mystery.

I found this book really easy to get into. Also a huge plus that the main characters name was Kellie (my name is Kelli), I almost never read a book with that name. I’m not usually a huge fan of serial killer books but something about this book, I just found it very interesting. There were some really great twists and turns, I found myself guessing and asking myself questions throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book.

I loved the premise of this book, especially with the unreliable narrator as the POV. The first 100 pages were intriguing and a bit unsettling—I couldn’t wrap my head around how the FMC was so enamored with a serial killer. But as the story unfolded, it became clear that she was far more complex than she initially seemed.

The middle dragged, making the book feel longer than its 274 pages, and by the last couple of chapters, I had already guessed how it would end. While the book had some great moments of dark humor and mystery, the predictability of the conclusion dulled its impact.

Bottom line: no one truly got away with murder.

How to Get Away with Murder by Tam Barnett is unexpectedly hilarious. The last one can expect in a crime novel, right, but it suits very well the character and the story, and especially the voice of the main character.

The local curiosity and obsession with searching for the culprit may take tragi-comical turns, an example of both provincialism and limitations of the human nature. Thus, in addition to the search for the key of the crime, we are at the same time offered an exposure of a more generic nature that has to do with the human nature in general.

Barnett has an original voice and ideas that makes a difference in the literary landscape of crime writing. I was delighted to discover the book and spend time in its company, as made me think about how many options there are to write a crime novel, including by using the best of dark humour for challenging the ready-made ideas about writing crime novels.

Tam Barnett will have his readers laughing out loud with his darkly comic, pacy and entertaining novel, How to Get Away with Murder.

Kellie is passionate about true crime. Obsessed with the darker side of human nature, Kellie listens to every single podcast and watches all the documentaries. She simply cannot get enough of true crime and is thrilled when she discovers there’s a murderer on the loose right where she lives. Kellie cannot believe her luck – even if her reputation as a true crime aficionado has preceded her and her neighbours think that she is in fact the killer!

Is Kellie’s passion for murder and mayhem merely an unhealthy fascination? Or something much more sinister? Is Kellie a fan of the genre with far too much time on her hands? Or a dangerous psychopath with a deadly agenda? Kellie’s obsession is about to get her in a whole load of trouble. But she might just end up getting away with murder…

Tam Barnett’s How to Get Away with Murder is a fun crime novel that is so brilliantly compelling readers will devour it in one sitting. Quirky, wickedly witty and tension-filled, How to Get Away with Murder is a must-read for crime aficionados looking for something different that will keep them up all night.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers, and author for an ARC of How To Get Away With Murder.
4.5 stars
From the second I picked up this book, I was hooked. Following Kelli, obsessed with true crime but also haunted by true crime, this book had me suspecting every character we meet.
My only negative is that the book could have done without the last chapter.
Highly recommend

Bish bash bosh! Reflects the start middle and end of this book - well the end is a bit more bang! What a book! True crime journalism tick - "what happened" history themes tick - serial killer in our midst tick! Highly paced, highly character driven and highly entertaining. Would recommend, so as long you know a good read when you see one. Thank me later!

8/10

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