This novel is truly an homage to both Agatha Christie and Jane Austen. A bit flirtatious and a bit whimsical, with a lot of humor thrown in, this book is a winner! Ms. Healy keeps you guessing throughout as to who the killer or killers might be.

The heroine as sleuths is a bit farfetched, but then, the story is whimsical. In her we find a young woman who is looking for romance and adventure. So, why can't she be a detective in her own story?

I found the writing charming, the plot intriguing, the other characters as interesting as our heroine, and the twists and turns delicious. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

This book was a bit odd for me. I could see what the author was trying to achieve, but it often felt forced—almost like a historical-themed episode of a modern TV show. Billie started off as an interesting and promising main character, but her sudden loss of interest in the investigation (only to randomly pick it up again after bumping into the next victim) felt disjointed. I also didn’t really connect with Avery. Overall, the book had potential, but it just didn’t quite land for me.

Eastport, Maine, summer 1964 and college graduate Wilhelmina (aka Billie) McCadie is living with her grandparents, longing for something interesting to happen in her life. She graduated in cultural linguistics and is applying all over the country for her dream job in a library translating old books, but meanwhile fills her days at a sewing machine fixing and altering women’s clothing.

The ‘town people’ like Billie don’t normally mix with the wealthy ‘summer people’ who swan in and out of town, but on her lunch break one day Billie meets handsome, eligible bachelor Avery Webster, scion of one of the wealthiest summer families, who invites her to a party. At the party she witnesses Gertrude, an elegant, beautiful socialite arguing with her fiancé and then later finds her sprawled dead and bleeding on a priceless carpet in the parlor.

This is a fun, twisty, cosy mystery. It was a little slow to get going but I enjoyed getting to know Billie, especially once her curiosity gradually draws her into wanting to find Gertrude’s murderer after she receives some letters meant for her, especially as the police don’t seem to be getting anywhere with their investigation. At the same time she’s also drawn to Avery, even though his family may be dangerous.

Although Billie’s parents died in a car crash a few years ago, she remembers the lessons on etiquette taught to her by her mother. Each chapter starts, almost tongue in cheek, with a statement on the etiquette required for each situation, but even though she’s a bit of an introvert, she is an original thinker and follows her own ideas on what constitutes acceptable behaviour when it comes to sleuthing and finding a killer. This enjoyable mystery with a small town vibe would be perfect for a summer beach read.

3.5stars!
This is my first book for Anna Fitzgerald Healy and I am going to say that it might not be the last. I love the writing style overall! I was captivated at the beginning because it was full of wit and humor and it was adorably delightful. As Billie started her quest with her personal investigation , I found myself drifting from the story. I lost the wit and not a lot of humor to keep me hooked. I still finished the book and was entertained nonetheless!

Billie is a young woman in a small town in Maine. It's 1964, she's been rejected by all the jobs she's applied for out in the big world of academia and she is stuck in her small town dreaming of bigger things. When she meets one of the wealthy summer people and is invited to a party at his parents' mansion she thinks maybe her life is about to get more exciting. What she doesn't expect is a murder at the party and getting sucked into the excitement of investigating it. When there is a second murder and she gets deeper into her investigation she starts receiving threats and it looks like she may be next. Witty and original, this is a mystery full of twists.

Murder, manners, and misdelivered mail—what more could you want? In Etiquette for Lovers and Killers, bored seamstress Billie McCadie stumbles into high society scandal when a random love letter and engagement ring land her smack in the middle of a murder mystery. Set in 1960s coastal Maine (think lobster rolls with a side of lies), this book is part cozy mystery, part snarky etiquette guide, and entirely delightful.

Anna Fitzgerald Healy serves up sharp wit, blackmail, and just enough social climbing to make you clutch your pearls. Billie may not know who the killer is, but she’s got great instincts—and even better one-liners. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie with a sense of humor and a fondness for vintage vibes.

Thank you so much for the ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review. Sadly, I was not able to complete this book. Initially, I loved the snarky comments at the beginnings of the chapters and felt like I was really going to click with the writing. Sadly, the more I read, the less I was able to enjoy the writing style, and I also found the main character to be very insipid. I was not going to be able to stay in her head for the entire book. I am confident there are many readers that will be a better fit. Because I was not able to finish, I will not be leaving a public review.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Billie is an interesting and quirky character, but I grew tired of her by a third of the way into the book. The mystery felt unnecessarily convoluted, with too many dead ends, false answers, and personal grudges that seem tangential to moving the narrative forward. A novel with a lot of potential that ultimately fell flat for me.

I recently received an ARC copy of Etiquette for Lovers and Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy, a twisty and hilarious mystery set in the 1960’s in Maine. Our heroine is basically my new favorite person, Wilhelmina ‘Billie’ McCadie, a woman in her mid-twenties who has graduated college and is searching for a job and getting rejection letters daily. She lives in a summer resort town all year long with her quirky grandparents and is dreaming of diversion and adventure.
One day while on break from her boring job altering clothing, Billie visits her PO box to hope for good news on the job front when she finds a love letter addressed to someone named Gertrude and containing an engagement ring. She then meets Avery, a very wealthy summer person, who invites her to a party at his huge mansion and proceeds to mess with her head for the rest of the book. She decides to attend and while there, meets the Gertrude from the letter, who is eventually murdered at the party. Sure.
This sets Billie off into amateur detective mode, where she suspects everyone and annoys the police and gets herself into all kinds of trouble. I love her. I want 4-6 more books with her as the protagonist. The chapters are all set against etiquette lessons which were really humorous to read and the setting is so vivid.
Thank you to NetGallley for a copy of the ARC, this is scheduled to be published in July of 2025.

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?

A little bit different than your typical history mystery. I think it would have been better if it had been shorter. At its current length, the pacing drags a bit and there's some unnecessary filler. If only the novel had been tightened, it would have been a delightful read. The author does a great job with the setting and time period, and the witty tone works well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

3.5 stars

This was a different sort of mystery, odd and witty. Billie McCadie is trying to survive the mostly-staid early 60s in her small town in Maine. She lives with her grandparents in a strange and unbalanced situation. Billie is smart as a whip and has a degree in linguistics but despite sending in dozens and dozens of job applications all over the country, is forced to take a job at a clothing alteration shop.

So, bored Billie is intrigued when a local rich boy shows an interest. Soon she is involved in a quirky semi-relationship and is on the scene when a woman is murdered. Things run in all directions from there. The victim's circle of "friends" is strange, and the woman herself was highly unusual.

Billie leaps in and is soon taking a lot of chances: learning how to wiretap phones, obtaining fake I.D. so she can claim the murdered woman's belongings, spying on suspects. She is definitely in over her head.

The ending has a couple of unexpected if not shocking surprises. A fun read if you are looking for something a bit different. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rounded to 4.

I am sure for the right audience, this book will be fantastic. For me, it was ok. I love the cover, the 1960s time period, and the premise. It was just very slow, not as in slow burn, just slow. A lot of filler which if that is your style, it will be great. The story is there just lacks urgency.

Verrrry quirky but verrrrry intriguing. I enjoyed it 😅

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!

the time setting and the lingo was a little much for me but I enjoyed it otherwise!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

A quick and cozy mystery set in the 1960's in Maine. It kept me interested enough but not my favorite read this year.

I wanted to love this—really, I did. A 1960s Maine setting, a bored young woman yearning for excitement, and a murder mystery wrapped in vintage charm? It sounded like exactly my kind of book. But at just 14% in, I’ve groaned more than I’ve smiled. The premise is clever, and there’s real potential in the atmosphere and plot setup, but the relentless stream of cheesy quips and forced witticisms has made it hard to stay engaged.

Rather than feeling like a sharp or sly homage to classic mysteries, the tone comes off as trying too hard to be clever, which undercuts any real tension or emotional connection. I can see how some readers might enjoy the campy style, but it’s not working for me. I may not stick around to find out who the killer is.

This was very witty and fun! I loved how deeply unserious the narrator came across while in the middle of a murder investigation. It was such a nice change from the usual dark thrillers I read. The little etiquette tips at the beginning of each chapter were a nice little touch, too.

A whitty, fun, campy thriller book to read for some popcorn thrills. This one did not disappoint and I'm so glad I read it! If you are looking for a break in the dark thriller books please give this read you will love every minute of it. Solid 3.75

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This one was veryyy different than my usual read. Interesting and compelling, it definitely wasn’t my normal pick but it was a good change of pace.