This novel is a historical fiction set in the 60s, a cozy mystery, and a romance all tied up into one book! And it's set in Maine as well. Billie McCadie lives with her grandparents and lives vicariously through the characters in the books she gets from the library. She loves epic love stories and mysteries. She is confused when she receives a letter addressed to Gertrude asking for her hand in marriage with a diamond ring. She is even more surprised when Gertrude is found dead and Billie is one of the last to see her alive.

Now her boring life becomes much more interesting, especially when she must take it upon herself to find the murderer. Everyone is hiding secrets, bodies are piling, and Billie is receiving concerning phone calls. Is she safe? Is she a suspect?

Why Jackie loves it

These characters are so much fun. They are unique and surprising, which makes this an easy read. I loved the glimpse into the 60s with the yachts and parties and the mystery was well-plotted. I had no idea who murdered Gertrude.

The prose is magnificent, I can't believe this is Healy's debut novel. Beware of bored women in the 60's... I know the theme is different but it kinda reminded me of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt. Perhaps witty female MC trying to solve a mystery in a small town...

“Etiquette for Lovers and Killers” is a historical fiction (set in 1964) mystery by Anna Fitzgerald Healy. I have really mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand - the Maine setting (I’ve been reading a lot of books set in Maine recently) felt rather real - especially set back in the 1960s, when life had a bit of a slower pace and where small towns were more “movie-feeling small town.” But, the pacing dragged - possibly reflecting the slower-paced time period, but I kept wanting to prod it along. I liked Billie’s decision to work at a museum and her interest in linguistics, though after a while some of the footnotes felt like a bit too much. I did like that Billie was smart and resourceful, but at the same time she came across as both naive and mature (if that’s a combo that occurs). In the end, the cover is great and the Maine-feeling was enjoyable, but for me this book was one I pushed through a number of times.

Billie McCadie is a classical linguist and an expert of etiquette. Her manners are impeccable and guide her through all sorts of situations. Her life is dull. It is 1964 and she is stuck in Eastport, Maine where she grew up. It is a town where the social elite "summer". She is not one of the elite. Every day she sends out applications for positions and checks her PO Box. It is usually full of rejection letters until one day. An envelope containing an engagement ring and a love letter addressed to Gertrude have been delivered to her PO Box. How intriguing, Who is Gertrude? Life is suddenly not so dull. Next she meets Avery, one of the summer people, who invites her to a party. Gertrude is at the party. Death, a provocative romance and investigation follow.

As a historical mystery, this is fun. But I did have trouble truly connecting with our main character. The pacing was a little weird as well and I found myself becoming distracted while reading.

This book was fun, and definitely out of a normal read for me. It has a little bit of everything from humor to murder. A good balance and intriguing read. Appreciate the ARC as I’ve never read anything by this author before!

A bit campy but with very unexpected twists, this historical mystery follows a recent college graduate working as a seamstress while she seeks a job as an archival language specialist. Billie is a "townie" in a Maine town where "summer people" with money return every year for lavish parties and decadent lifestyles. When she encounters Bucky, she enters his orbit of parties and yachts, only to become ensnared in a murder mystery, or three, as she falls for him and questions her own place in his life. Seemed a bit longer than necessary and at moments a bit slow, but a fun read with a great setting and time.

This book I could not put down loved it from beginning to end. I would highly recommend!! This isn't like something ie read before.

One afternoon when checking her mail, Billie discovers a love letter that was not meant for her, but for a woman named Gertrude in her PO Box. Included with the love letter is an engagement ring. She’s immediately intrigued.

Billie finds herself entangled at a high society party where she meets none other than the Gertrude, the woman the love letter was addressed to! The party comes to a screeching halt when the dead body of Gertrude is discovered. Billie is determined to discover who really killed Gertrude. Is the murdered who we’d least expect or someone standing right under her nose.

Perfect if you like:
Thriller/Mystery
Small Town Murders
Female Investigator
High Society

I loved Billie as an amateur detective. Her character was sweet but also very witty. Some parts of the book did seem to drag on a little but I felt like it only contributed to the plot. While the ending did feel a little predictable, I really enjoyed the overall story!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putman for the arc!

If you enjoy books written in a style reminiscent of Truman Capote, then I think you will love this book. The sarcasm was as thick as peanut butter, and the bantering was like watching a badminton match. This book was written as if it were the 1940s instead of the 1960s. I did enjoy the etiquette sessions, and the definitions were sometimes cute, but most of the time, annoying.

My favorite characters were Billie's (Willhemina) Grandparents!

The main characters were a little hard to define - now we have Billie, the female lead, and the quintessential naif from Down East Maine, and Avery, Mr. Ultra-Rich from the big wide world. Bilie was a bit over the top as far as some of her naivety, but it all comes together as the book progresses.

Avery invites Billie to a cookout at his parents' mansion, and naturally, a murder occurs. Billie being the nosy person she is starts poking around. Oy, there were so many suspects...then another murder and yet another. I was getting confused as to who-maybe-dunnit! I have to tell you that I never did figure it out until the last chapters.

This was a fun read, but I had a few issues with it, mainly the fact that the author tries too hard to emulate Truman Capote and the portrayal of Mainers from that era as imbeciles.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, the author, and NetGalley.

Once I learned the rhythm of the writing style it was easier to understand. I loved the banter of the main character and the love interest but it was a bit predictable.

When I saw "Etiquette for Lovers and Killers", I thought — this book was made just for me. It had interesting settings, an intriguing plot, a smart heroine, and a pinch of coziness for flavor. But — and I’m very sad to say this — it didn’t work for me. Something was missing, as if the portrait being painted lacked a spirit. I didn’t really connect with the main female character, and the central romance lacked a spark.
I’m truly sorry to feel this way; I know how much work and heart authors put into their writing.
I hope it’s just a case of personal taste, and that many other readers will love the book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy

I enjoyed this quirky mystery. The heroine is very self-centered and self-confident to treat others in the way she does along with believing she alone can solve murder mysteries. She’s unpredictable and eccentric as she works through the clues. A quick, beachy type of read to entertain and to not take too seriously.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Etiquette for Lovers and Killers has a charming 60's vibe that I enjoyed, especially since that era holds personal meaning for me. The cover is gorgeous, but unfortunately, the story didn't pull me in as much as I had hoped. A stylish read, but it lacked the spark I was looking for. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Penguin Group Putnam provided an early galley for review.

After reading the opening chapters of this novel, I would have been knocked over with a feather if I had been informed that this was Healy's debut novel (which it is). Through Billie's narration, with vibrant prose and energized dialogue the author brings us into the world of Eastport, Maine. I found the grin on my face broadening with each turn of a phrase she dishes out. This is a kind of writing I very much enjoy. It is fun and comes across as effortless (even though, as a writer, I know it often is not so easy produce).

The story is a bit drawn out with Billie bouncing between her investigation and her love life over the course of a year. One would think the police in a small town with only a single public phone booth would be able to solve a murder faster than that. It almost seems like Billie is the only one even trying to resolve the case. I can see where the author was going with the ending, though I personally did not find it to be fully satisfying. I give the book high marks on style even if the substance could have used a bit more polish.

I do have to nitpick a couple minor references dropped in: "Burt Reynolds mustache" (ch 2) which he did not sport until 1972 after filming Deliverance, a mention of watching Guiding Light (ch 4) and then Candid Camera (ch 5) on the same Saturday when they aired weekdays Monday through Friday and Sunday nights respectively. These might go by most readers' heads, but they stuck out to a pop culture fanatic like myself. As we always say in writing group: if you want to include real world references in fiction with historical foundations, you need to make sure they all are accurately presented.

This was such a fun book! I was drawn into the characters and especially Billie and how she wanted so much more out of life. The banter between Avery and Billie was my favorite and the mystery.....I never figured it out. The witty ending was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

📖 Bookish Thoughts
The premise really interested me! A quirky small town, and murder mystery vibes sounded perfect! But unfortunately, this one didn’t land for me. The pacing was just too slow, and I had a really hard time staying engaged. I do think there’s an audience for this, especially readers who enjoy a slow burn mystery with eccentric characters. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.

🗓 Pub Date: July 1, 2025
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Wilhelmina "Billie" McCadie is a young woman trying to figure out her place in the world. After losing both of her parents, Billie stays with her grandparents in the small town of Eastport, Maine, where she works as a seamstress while applying for linguistic and librarian positions. One day, Billie receives a letter with an engagement ring, but it's not for her. Then, she meets Avery Webster, a rich, young man summering in Maine and is invited to a clam bake. As a townie, Billie is intrigued by the wealthy who summer in Maine, and the lives of the rich and infamous. At the party, Billie witnesses more than she bargained for, and soon a woman is found dead. The woman whose engagement ring Billie received in the mail. Thus, Billie begins her plunge into the secrets of the wealthy, and ultimately the truth behind Gertrude's murder. But, Billie gets more than she bargained for, and soon becomes enthralled with the life and people to her detriment. Can Billie save herself and figure out who executed the perfect murder, or will she succumb to the life of luxury?

Etiquette for Lovers and Killers has great potential, but it is all over the board. Healy needed to focus her writing more to create a cohesive story. At times, things are going great, but then she calls back upon etiquette, or randomly references something from 1964-5 that takes away from the story. She needed to focus more on Billie and the deceased instead of trying to encapsulate the time period, feminism, etiquette, and whatever else was going on. Several times I was lost in the story because too much was being thrown in without any connection. Not enough was known about the victims to help guide the story, while too much time was spent on frivolous ideas that took away from the story. I would have liked Billie to receive the letter and engagement ring after the party; this would have added intrigue to the story instead of the mundane way she does receive it. More connections need to be made throughout. I did enjoy the use of the etiquette manual at the start of each chapter, but Healy should have just left it to the reader to connect instead of trying to explain everything in the chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this novel.

I honestly don’t know how to feel about this one. I thought the concept was interesting and I love the time period but I feel like something is missing. Billie was a fine main character but god sometimes she was just so “different”. A part of me gets her in a way, she’s 26 and horny in a time where it was acceptable to be so open with it. I just can’t believe how far she went for this, but at the same time were rich socialites were very interesting to be around.

Overall I really hope she got that bag.

"Set in 1960s Maine, a witty, twisty murder mystery following a young woman who just wishes something interesting would happen...until she stumbles across a crime of passion.

"What are the chances of receiving a love letter, engagement ring, and phone call for a stranger, only to see her murdered the next day?"

It's 1964 in the tiny town of Eastport, Maine, and Billie McCadie is bored to death. She's surrounded by dull people with more manners than sense, and no sign of the intrigue or romance that fills her beloved novels. That is, until an engagement ring and cryptic love letter turn up, addressed to 'Gertrude'. Until she meets yacht-club handsome Avery Webster. Until the unsettling phone calls and visits from a man in a fedora begin. Until she's one of the last people to see Gertrude alive...and the first to see her dead.

What follows is an intoxicating cocktail of stalking, blackmail, Jell-O salads, and champagne secrets, all served along the rocky Maine coastline. Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a secret. And (strangely) everyone has a boat. But who is willing to kiss and tell? As the body count rises and the danger nears, why does Billie feel like she's more than just a side character? After yearning to be in the action for so long, would it be terribly unladylike to have some fun of her own?

A love letter to uncivilized behavior, Etiquette for Lovers and Killers blends mystery and romance into a witty, twisty, murderous delight that aches for better manners."

I mean, it's Maine, of course everyone has a boat. Why they all have Jell-O is the real mystery. And don't say the times demanded it, no one demanded Jell-O!