4.5 stars and hilarious! I hope there will be a series of Luella van Horn mysteries for years to come! Marie Jones is a social worker who has a secret identity as Luella van Horn, P.I. Luella is everything Marie is not but a recent botched case has her taking a break from sleuthing. She takes solace in her favorite reality tv show, Sex Island. However, her favorite contestant seems to have disappeared from the show and when the producers call Luella to take the case, she can't say no.
This was hysterical and absurd and I loved every minute of it! Make this a series please!!!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for this digital e-arc.*

A fast funny satire of reality tv. Marie, who is posing as a PI, takes the job of looking for missing contestant and discovers there's more to the game than the viewer knows. Some of this is over the top. I also suspect that those who watch reality tv will enjoy it more than I did as some of the tropes escaped me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I was not familiar with Firestone but she's got a wicked wit.

Thank you to NetGalley, @RandomHouseGroup and @BantamBooksUk for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on Sex Island is exactly the kind of off-the-wall, slightly unhinged story I didn’t know I needed in my life. It’s funny, ridiculous, self-aware, and somehow still manages to be a legit murder mystery underneath all the chaos.

A contestant goes missing from the infamous reality show Sex Island, and the producers desperate to avoid bad press bring in “Luella van Horn,” a so called detective, to go undercover and solve the case. What they don’t know is that Luella is really Marie Jones, a recently divorced former social worker who’s pretending to be a glamorous PI... mostly because she’s obsessed with the show.

Marie as Luella is a total mess in the best way. She bumbles through clue-hunting while trying to survive the drama, backstabbing, and absurdity that is Sex Island, all while trying to keep her cover. The contestants are wild, the producers are shady, and every chapter gets more chaotic in the best kind of way.

This book is definitely more comedy/satire than serious mystery, but it has heart too. Marie’s personal journey adds a nice emotional thread through all the madness. It’s quirky, clever, and just a lot of fun. If you like reality TV and murder mysteries with a twist, this one's a great time.

3.95 Stars rounded to 4!

#NetGalley, #MurderOnSexIsland, #JoFirestone, #BantamBooks, #RandomHousePublishing

3 stars- for those needing something to fill the love island void between episodes, this silly love island esque novel is the perfect reprieve. laughed out loud while reading by the pool. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

3 out of 5 Stars!

Luella van Horn is called onto the hit reality show, Sex Island, to investigate a disappearance when one of their contestants goes missing. But little do the producers know, Luella van Horn is just a cover. Her real name is Marie Jones, a divorced ex-social worker from Staten Island wanting a double life as a private investigator. Luella was a hit back in Staten Island, until her last case went terribly wrong. Sex Island is Marie’s favorite television show, so she cannot refuse when they ask her to come investigate a disappearance. Little does she know, Sex Island is darker than it appears. There are shady producers, sleazy directors, and contestants willing to do whatever they are to win the $100,000 grand prize. Will she find the killer?

First off, what a plot! When I read the synopsis of “Murder on Sex Island” by Jo Firestone, I was so excited to read something with humor and mystery. I am a huge fan of trashy reality television, so I thought this would be perfect to combine with my love of reading. Prior to reading this book, I was told it would be refreshing and humorous, which I can confirm it was!

Throughout the entire novel, I was laughing out loud at Maria/Luella and all the characters. Gosh, her inner and outer dialogue was something I had never read before. She was so funny and witty. Even though this book is shorter, it was still bold with a big personality. Speaking of the characters, I loved getting to know all of them in “Murder on Sex Island”. A lot of the characters had interesting backstories that added another level of interest when reading.

I was really devoted to the book, until up to 80% complete. There were a lot of twists, turns, and investigative work going on to keep my interest. But after a while, I got annoyed at Marie/Luella because there was a lot of talking and not a lot of action. When we finally solved the case, it felt very rushed. I also felt like there were still some unanswered questions at the end, which frustrates me as a reader. Even though I understood what happened, I still had lots of questions. Because of these things, I had to give the book a 3 out of 5.

If you are looking for a quick, humorous book, then look no further! “Murder on Sex Island” comes out June 24th, 2025!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, Jo Firestone, and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is as ridiculous as the title makes it seem like it will be (compliment). It's very funny, with an absolutely over the top reality show ("Sex Island") at the center of it. If you come to this looking for an entertaining mystery that doesn't take itself or the genre too seriously, this is a good pick.

Marie Jones is attempting to find her way in life after her divorce. She has created an alter ego named Luella van Horn and is running a private eye business. Producers from Sex Island, a popular reality tv show, come to Luella to investigate when one of their contestants goes missing. Marie must become a contestant under her Luella alter ego to investigate the disappearance. She soon learns there are many shady people involved with the production and the stakes are raised when the formerly missing contestant is found dead.

I had such a good time with this book. It is a perfect book for the summertime and was a nice quick read. I was so intrigued by the title. It may be provocative but the book is still is very much on the cozy side of mysteries. I really enjoyed Marie and her alter ego Luella. She is sharp and funny. I enjoyed the mystery itself. It had some good twists. The reality show satire aspect of the book was great. I am a big fan of them so it was fun to read this while Love Island is just getting started for the year! It does appear this will be a series so I will be keeping my eye out for the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC from NetGalley. The book just came out June 24th so you can grab your own copy now. It was a hit for me right from page 1! If you like a good murder mystery with some zany characters you'll like this one too. Marie Jones was fed up with her life so she quit her job and decided to become an amateur detective named Luella Van Horn (complete with fake teeth and wigs). She loves the reality show Sex Island and is surprised to get a phone call hiring her to look for one of the contestants that has gone missing. Luella specializes in finding lost dogs but can't pass up the chance to prove to herself and everyone else that she can do this job. Once on the island Luella meets a variety of characters-- the whole cast and crew all seem pretty suspicious. She's expected to act as the latest reality star added to the show and tries to juggle the unrealistic demands of the show while also doing some sleuthing on the side. She struggles to narrow down her suspect list and keep herself out of the killer's crosshairs. I did not want to put this one down because I really wanted to know how it all ended!

*to be published on July 3rd, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
This is a cute cozy little mystery, with a twist.
Luella Van Horn was asked to come and investigate a murder on the set of her favorite realty TV show, Sex Island (which is exactly what you think it is). But with so many suspects/characters, who really did it?
I liked this one as a palette cleanser for me, it cute, funny and written like the voice(s) in my head.
Luella/Maria is a fresh face compared to most of the other participates in the show. Just don't be quick to judge some yet trust your judgement on others.

I am obessed with reality tv so as soon as I read the premise of this book, I requested it. I felt like I was watching a trashy reality show as I was reading the book and I loved every second of it. this was completely for me!

Murder on Sex Island is an outrageous, razor-sharp romp that blends satire, mystery, and reality TV chaos into one wildly entertaining package. Jo Firestone’s Luella van Horn, aka Marie Jones, is a gloriously flawed, middle-aged amateur sleuth who brings both heart and hilarity to a case that’s equal parts murder investigation and emotional unraveling. As bodies drop and tensions rise on the absurdly addictive set of Sex Island, Firestone skewers pop culture, gender roles, and the true crime industrial complex with wit and warmth. Equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely suspenseful, this debut mystery is as smart as it is ridiculous, in the best possible way. A fresh, unforgettable whodunit for fans of reality TV and cozy crime with a bite.

I really love a cozy mystery and I read that the author is a comedian so I thought a good time waiting within this book. Unfortunately I was wrong. While there are few moments that were lol it the book did not hold up. I guess it is a play on reality tv but I just thought the show part would be it played with , the MC was a terrible P.I.. I hope this doesn’t become a series.

Not my favorite read. I have seen on many reviews that listening to the audiobook is recommended to really grasp the readers attention.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!

The “psycho-sexual-thriller” label alone had me curious—and it totally delivered on the intrigue.

The humor really stood out—sharp, smart, and genuinely funny without trying too hard. Despite a cast of characters that occasionally blurred together, the mystery was easy to track and cleverly constructed.

My only gripe? The ending felt a little shoehorned. It had that sudden twist vibe where the main character pulls off a surprise move we never saw coming—think late-movie flashback montage that rewrites everything. It didn’t quite feel earned and disrupted the flow a bit.

Still, it’s a bold, quirky story with a memorable lead. I’d happily follow them into another chaotic mystery.

Thank you for the early look NetGalley and Bantam for the early read.

Completing unexpected! This one takes you on a hysterically wild ride, and I just could not believe the stuff I was reading. This murder mystery takes place on a reality sex show. Enough said! It was a fun read, don't take it too seriously. Just enjoy the journey!

Murder on Sex Island by Jo Firestone is a funny and clever mystery. The story follows Marie, who pretends to be detective Luella on a reality TV show. She tries to solve a missing person case while keeping her secret. The book is full of jokes and surprises. Some parts are a bit silly, but it's a fun read. If you like mysteries with laughs, this book is a good choice

I ended up reading this because the reviews even state that it is comical and not smutty like you would think.

Marie needs income and she's not doing great. She goes undercover as Luella after being asked to investigate the disappearance of one of the reality stars on the show Sex Island. She is asked to play a part as one of the new contestants on their reality show. Then, it becomes a murder investigation when the missing person turns up dead in Marie's bathtub in her temporary apartment.

This murder mystery becomes a comical murder mystery when flukes happen constantly for Marie/Luella. I imagined myself in her situation having a difficult time trying to pretend I was on a show being a character I would never imagine myself playing. I could never wear a rhinestone G-string with my butt out in front of millions of viewers for example!

I could never figure out who was guilty the entire time. The book has you leading to believe that it could practically be any of the characters.

Enjoy a good laugh and a kick back read with this book. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I do love island reality show books, this one fell a little flat for me. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and as such i felt lost a lot of the time as to my frame of references.

⭐️ 3/5
Pub Date: June 24, 2025
First person POV, single narrative
Linear timeline
FMC: Luella van Horn
Setting: Remote, Tropical Island

Murder on Sex Island is narrated by the main character Luella van Horn (Marie Jones). The intimate POV gives the novel a strong comedic voice with her internal monologues, self-deprecating humor, and firsthand reactions as she navigates the ridiculous reality tv show setting.

The book has a unique, absurd premise; an amateur PI posing as a contestant on a raunchy reality dating show to solve a murder. However, I didn’t think that the execution fully lived up to the setup. The humor is quirky and the satire of reality TV is spot-on in parts, with plenty of zany characters and over-the-top situations.

Additionally, there’s just too much going on. Between the endless cast of contestants, behind-the-scenes drama, flashbacks, and fake identities, the story starts to feel chaotic. Despite all the moving parts, it lacks real depth and just felt shallow and immature. Character development is shallow, and many subplots are introduced only to fizzle out. The actual mystery takes a backseat, and the reason for the murder, when it’s finally revealed felt weak and super underwhelming.
Lastly, she kept referencing a previous experience where she let a murderer get away and quiet a few times in this book I thought there would be more of that storyline intertwined and end up being more of a thriller. However that did not happen so it left me with unresolved feelings.

It’s a silly, campy read that might work if you’re in the mood for something ridiculous and not too serious. But if you’re looking for a clever, tightly plotted mystery, this one might leave you wanting more.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Bantam for providing a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 Thank you NetGalley and Bantam for the eARC
Marie Jones is a divorced cat lady who is desperately trying to be a private investigator, using her alias Luella van Horn. She’s most notable for her ability to find missing dogs and, in her free time, she indulges in watching the reality tv show, Sex Island. After noticing that one of the cast members is gone, Luella is hired as a private eye. She’s great at finding dogs but can she solve the mystery of the missing nurse turned reality tv star?

This novel is perfect for lovers of reality tv and whodunits! Such an original concept, this was hilarious, a little raunchy, and I couldn’t put it down! Murder on Sex Island by Jo Firestone is a perfect read for the beach or when you have a book hangover. I’ll be patiently waiting for the next