DID NOT FINISH @15%

What a disappointment. I really enjoy this author [she is one of my "must read" authors] and since I get her newsletters, have followed the progress of this book with baited breath and was so excited to get the ARC [AND audiobook ARC!!] for this book.
Yeah....no.
This was just so....meh. An extremely whiny MC [who's ex is names after LETTUCE; every time they said his name I rolled my eyes], who, even though she has to move back home, has a place to live AND A JOB [I was lucky to have a place to live, but it took over a year to get a job] and still whines. She's heartbroken, but also thinking about dating...ugh. My biggest takeaway is that this was such a waster of a fantastic narrator and I can only hope that I get to listen to Ms. Daniels again in another book [since I absolutely could not finish this one].
What a huge disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies, and Tantor Media for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

“An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder” is the fun first book in Lynn Cahoon’s Bainbridge Island Cozy Mystery series. Cahoon has created a great main character in Meg Gates – a 26 year old who was just dumped by her fiancé, dropped out of college only to lose the job she left college for, and forced to move back home from Seattle to Bainbridge Island. Hoping to turn her life around she has taken on a couple of part time jobs including as an assistant to a local mystery writer which inspires her to write her own book. She is just settling in when a murder occurs and a couple of people close to her are suspects. She decides to solve the crime but runs into a few surprises along the way. All of this is well done – we get to know and like Meg as a character and discover her relationships with those close to her. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects – I figured out whodunit right about the time Meg did which is exactly what I want in a cozy mystery. All in all a promising start to what looks to be a great series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lynn Cahoon for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder coming out June 24, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a few books by this author. I really enjoy cozy mysteries. I was excited to check out a new series by her. This one was really fun. I think amateur sleuths are really an exciting category for me. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

Fans of cozy mysteries will really enjoy this one! The murder victim was a real piece of work, the other characters are all likeable with secrets, and the sleuth is starting over again back home at a small town bookstore after her life fell apart. And there's a dog named Watson!

I really enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters, as well as the setting of Bainbridge Island, close to but definitely not the big city of Seattle. Meg is the main detective, whose fiance left her for someone she thought was a close friend. I would read another book in these series to see how she progresses back at home, working at her mom's bookstore, but also working on her own writing. I also really enjoyed the characters in the community - it's definitely tight-knit, and there is also the sense that there are secrets below the surface to explore in future instalments of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! I really enjoyed it!

An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder is book #1 in the Bainbridge Island Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon.

This is an entertaining new series. Meg is dealing with breakup - her fiancé took a bridesmaid on what was supposed to be her honeymoon. She moves back home to live with her family which feels like a failure. She has a job working for her mother and as a researcher for a famous author. I thought it was funny how Meg had all these images in her mind of what her job would be working for the famous author versus what it really was. The characters seemed pretty well developed, which isn’t always the case to start with in a new series. I really liked following along as Megan was investigating and writing her book. I’m anxious for the next book!

Thank you to the author, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder is the first cozy mystery in the Bainbridge Island Mystery series. Meg Gates has hit a dead end in her life. Her fiancé just took off with one of her bridesmaids and Meg is leaving her old life behind. Saying goodbye to Seattle, Meg moved back home to Bainbridge Island and tries to get her life back on track. She’s working with a well known mystery writer doing research for her books while also working on a book of her own, a guide to solving crime. In the middle of all of this Meg becomes involved in a murder investigation, will she be able to use her own guide book to solve this case?

I have enjoyed all of the cozy mystery series I’ve read by Lynn Cahoon and knew I needed to check this one out. I enjoyed Meg and her story from the beginning and found it easy to dive into this story. The characters were likable and easy to get to know. The mystery pulled me in and had me guessing along the way. I think books really set up this series nicely and I look forward to seeing what comes next for Meg. This is a promising start to a new cozy mystery series.

Perfectly cozy small town island setting creating the atmosphere? Yep. A charming young sleuth getting a fresh start after her life fell to pieces? Check! A bookstore and an author needing research help? Ideal additions to the story. Lynn Cahoon is a prolific cozy author, and it's impressive how many unique and fun series she has, and this is a great addition to her list. I will look forward to more!

An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder is the first book in the Bainbridge Mystery Series by Lynn Cahoon. The amateur sleuth is Meg Gates, a twenty-something who has been unlucky in school, love, and her career.

Meg's fiance just ran off with her bridesmaid, so she moves back home to Bainbridge Island, where she gets a job as an assistant for a bestselling mystery author. Meg decides to use her spare time to write a guidebook about solving mysteries for amateur sleuths. She ends up needing the strategies in the guidebook to solve a mystery after her new boss is accused of murder.

Lynn Cahoon has created a winning new series with a relatable sleuth who is easy to root for. Meg is a longtime mystery lover with a sharp mind, an overbearing mother, a supportive island bestie, a rescue golden retriever named Watson, and a potential love interest who works on the ferry that goes back and forth to the mainland.

An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder is a brilliant meta mystery. Meg's tips and tricks for solving a mystery appear at the beginning of the story and double as clever chapter titles. The mystery is very well done, with several credible suspects with equally good motives for murder.

Lynn Cahoon's writing is a pleasure to read. The setting is perfect for a cozy: a quiet island with a close-knit community and just enough outsiders to shake things up.

I tore through the book rather quickly and feel excited to continue on with the series.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for the ARC.

Meg is starting over. Her ex-fiancé has left her just before their marriage taking his new girlfriend on Meg’s planned honeymoon, her job at the failed startup is finished, and she has to move back home. Home is an island off the coast of Seattle.where she has childhood friends, and an apartment of her aunt and uncle’s to live. There’s the job at her mother’s bookstore and best of all a part time job working for a bestselling author. As Meg sorts through her new life, a murder occurs on the otherwise quiet island. Meg draws her high school friends back into their former detective group to solve this mystery. A promising new series with wonderful characters and a great setting. Looking forward to more.

A new series from one of my favorite authors! A quick easy read that's great for a relaxing time. Meg and Watson are excellent characters. At first I felt so bad for Meg since her fiance dumped her but she ends up doing really well. I'm excited to see her character grow and develop in upcoming books. Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

This is the first in a series by one of my favorite authors, Lynn Cahoon.

Meg Gates was dumped by her fiancé. If that wasn't bad enough, he was now on their honeymoon with one of her bridesmaids. So Meg spent her evening drinking wine and cutting her wedding gown into tiny pieces. Then it was time to start her new life.

The next morning Meg was joined by family and friends to help her move from her Seattle apartment. She was born and raised on Bainbridge Island so naturally that's where she would return. Her aunt had an over-garage apartment for her to rent and her mother hired her to work part time in the family bookstore. Meg's aunt arranged a second part time job as an assistant to a local author. And that's how it begins.

Meg is going to start her new life by returning to college, writing a novel and solving a murder... all with the help of her life-long besties.

Solving a murder is first on her to do list.

Great book! I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this fun trip to Bainbridge Island so if we ever get out west again, I might have a new bucket list place to visit. I liked Meg and her friends’ characters a lot, as well as the older generation especially Aunt Melody. Her sister Felicia who was Meg’s mom was just a little too uptight and eager for Meg to go back to a previous relationship that didn’t work out. I was proud of Meg for how she finally told the guy she was done. Would’ve loved to’ve seen the look on his face when she told him what she did with the ring!

I hadn’t guessed the correct killer at all and enjoyed that the arrest took place off page but it was after tons of sleuthing by Meg, Dalton and Natasha, aka the Mystery Crew. The ending was awesome since they all celebrated at the bookshop with food and fellowship—all provided by Meg’s new boss Lilly since Meg and her friends had worked tirelessly to prove Lilly for one was innocent. Natasha was another one being looked at, but the three friends weren’t having that, lol. I’m super eager to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

to date, so it was a no-brainer when I saw she had a new series. I expected, it is fabulous!

I love our protagonist, Meg, and Watson! Wow, this was a quick read, I felt like I was spending time making a new friend while working to solve a mystery. I just cannot wait for more in this series, I can never get enough of Lynn Cahoon’s work!

Good start to a new series. I like the setting and the characters, though they weren’t quite as developed as I would have liked. The mystery was intriguing and the solution kept me guessing, mainly because the investigation was bogged down with so many other things going on in Meg’s life. The one thing that didn’t make sense to me was the fact that she was writing a guide on how to investigate when all she had done was read mysteries. Other than that, this was a quick easy read and I may continue with the series.

I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lynn Cahoon does it again with lovely characters that you feel a connection with. I can't wait for the next book in. this series to comet. Five stars!

Outstanding new cozy from a fan favorite author! Lynn Cahoon has hit it out of the park with this new series and I can't wait to see what she has in store for the characters in coming books! Meg, our curious main character, is back home after heartbreak or maybe not so much and reunited with her best friends and former school yard amateur sleuths! They're all adults now and each carrying their own baggage to work through, but that just makes them all the more realistic. While getting back in rhythm with each other, they also end up solving the island's newest mystery, a murder! Meg is learning that everyone must be looked at through the suspect lens, even those closest to you if you really want to find the truth! I absolutely loved the plot. It was entertaining, engaging, thoughtful and fun! I will definitely be watching for the next book to come out so I can get some more island time with Meg and crew!

Thank you to the publishers, to Net Galley and the author for the opportunity for review. My review opinions are my own.
Lynn Cahoon is one of my top favorite authors I read cover to cover. This is a new series debut that is a delight to read. This is the first in the new Bainbridge Island Mystery Series.
Our protagonist Meg has returned to Bainbridge Island where she had grown up after a series of unfortunate life events. She takes a part time job doing research for a famous reclusive mystery writer when she discovered she wants to write a book about doing a investigation. The author has included fun tips on investigation in each chapter. This is a fun part of this book for mystery fans. .
With her new responsibilities Meg connects with family and old friends. The small island community welcomes her back. When a murder occurs Meg is involved with solving red Herrings as clues abound through the small community.
The author has written another winning series with wonderful friendships, great characters and mysterious sleuthing. I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery fans.

I loooooved this. What a fabulous start to a series that is now cannot wait to continue. Meg, you are strong and smart and I am so proud of you for being true to yourself. It is scarily easy to let people that you care about manipulate you or to subconsciously change yourself to fit some mold.  Meg is lucky (well after the horrible way she was treated) that she got away from her selfish uncaring fiance and reunited with her ADORABLE hometown, great family and awesome friends. I had so much fun following her and her sleuthing companion pup Watson.  I enjoyed seeing her and her oldest friends team up to help her (and maybe some romance in the air?!)  I would live on this island in a heartbeat thanks to the writing and descriptions!  I looooved the ending and how everything was handled (in both the mystery and Meg's personal life). She is a better person than I would be for sure!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.

A grown-up Nancy Drew mystery? Yes, this is what An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder is exactly that.
Meg Gates had a Nancy Drew group of friends growing up and when she needs to return home to Bainbridge Island, Washington after being left by her fiancée. Upon return to the island the group gets to solve a real murder mystery when a book agent is killed.
What I loved was the setting of a Seattle island, Meg reuniting with family and friends and that she wants to write a book on how to solve a mystery. This is a great start to a new series.
I received a complimentary copy thanks to Kensington Publishing and Net Galley, but all opinions are my own.