A very interesting story that will likely keep you guessing for a while who exactly the culprit is. In this case it might as well be true that it "has a twist you did not see coming". I got my guess about halfway through - and "yay, I was right about it" -, but it was still a very fun read from there on out to find out <i>if</i> I actually was right or not.

I loved the quirky and rather unique cast of characters, especially the quite obviously ND-coded Ash warmed my [ND] heart. And the dog, of course. OMG, the dog (and his plushie dragon Smaug)! 🥰 But also the Wiccans next boat, the ex-navy guy Paul, and the floating-bookshop owner India.

Some seem to be thrown off by the multiple POVs in this story, I cannot say that this affected me in any negative way. I found it to be quite an easy read.

I never read any of the author's other mysteries, she's been a new discovery for me. But I certainly will read those somewhen in the [near-ish] future. I loved the atmosphere and the way Melinda portrayed her characters.

I can absolutely recommend this to anybody who wants an intriguing, yet fun and quirky [murder] mystery with cosy tendencies (but I wouldn't call it a 100% cosy mystery - maybe 75% cosy).

Absolutely loved this! A witty, twisty cozy mystery with charming characters and a delightfully clever plot. Maeve and her eccentric friends (and that unforgettable dog!) kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Smart, funny, and full of surprises—this was a five-star read for me!

Maeve ghostwrites mystery novels for a living. The Simon Hills series are thriving but she seems to have a writing blank. Living on a houseboat, amicable neighbours, peaceful surroundings doesn’t seem to help. Until the actual mystery hits her personally. Discovering fifty thousand pounds hidden on the boat, followed closely by the discovery of her ex husbands body floating beside the boat, plus the fact that she is the beneficiary of a fat insurance policy. Arrested on suspicion, it seems the detective in charge wants to get a conviction as conveniently as possible and move on.

Maeve has good friends who rally around and set up their own detection to try to unravel the mess which leads to underhand dealings, sub standard construction and the biggest surprise a corrupt detective right at the top.

A very lovely setting, quirky characters made this an enjoyable read.

A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet is a well-written cozy mystery with a vivid London backdrop. The amateur sleuth is Maeve Gardner, a ghostwriter who kills people for a living (in books anyway).

Maeve has been plotting ways to kill people on the page for years, but is quite shocked when she gets pulled into a real-life murder mystery after discovering the body of her dodgy ex-boyfriend in London's Regent's Canal where she lives on a houseboat with her dog, Captain Jack.

Maeve looks rather suspicious and becomes suspect number one. Afraid she will be imprisoned for life for a crime she didn't commit, she commits to solving the mystery. Fortunately, she has the help of her found family: bookseller India, ex-cop Ash, and pub owner Paul.

All four characters are delightful and bring a special skill to the story. The setting is also a bit of a character itself. I enjoyed reading about the colorful houseboats and their inhabitants.

The mystery is clever and suspenseful with plenty of good suspects and red herrings. (Fans of Richard Osman's books will likely enjoy this mystery.)

I am really hoping this book turns into a series. I would love to revisit this setting and the cast.

I read an arc of this book (thanks to Net Galley and the publisher Crooked Lane Books) and also got the audio version from my library. I particularly like the audio version since it was read by multiple narrators.

Interesting premise but this one failed to hold my attention. There’s nothing wrong with it; it just wasn’t for me. The dual POV didn’t work for me and it made it difficult to connect with the characters, who I also had a difficult time keeping straight. It all seemed formulaic. There were some TSTL moments in the beginning that made this difficult and eventually I gave up. I tried to get through it but DNF at 70%, not even invested enough to skip ahead and find out who the guilty party was.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Ghostwriter Maeve Gardner writes the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, so she is an expert at planning murders from her houseboat on London’s Regent’s Canal. What she is not an expert at is finding dead bodies, especially when they are floating near her boat, and even more so when it is her cheating ex-boyfriend doing the floating. While it may be a great plot for a book, it is terrifying in real life, particularly when the police come to your boat to arrest you.

Maeve needs to plot a way out of this drama that not only includes her dead ex but also missing money, drugs, blackmail, collusion, corruption, and more. WWSD – What would Simon do? It doesn’t take long for her friends and neighbors to rally around to help her. With her own band of amateur sleuths, they set out to find the answers they need to clear Maeve of any crime thrown at her, knowing that the killer could be watching every step they take.

Melina Mullet has introduced a marvelous cast of characters in A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder. Maeve Gardner moved onto the houseboat with her frisky fifty-two-pound canine, Captain Jack, when she and Gavin parted ways. She loves her compact home on the water and is happy to ghostwrite the Simon Hills mysteries, but she hopes to publish under her own name soon. Rowan and her partner, Sage, are Irish ladies “berthed next door” and “fancied themselves as Wiccans”. Her friend, India, owns a unique floating bookshop with a popular area for children and children’s books. Paul owns The Anchor, an old-fashioned local pub where Maeve, India, and Captain Jack visit often. It has a special nook they favor. Ashley inhabits the houseboat on the other side of Maeve. He is pretty quiet, a gamer who does something techy from his boat at all hours of the day and night. The murder forces him to venture out in public to help Maeve. I found the houseboat/canal life, as well as the people who live there, very interesting.

The mystery was very well-plotted, and each of the core characters brings a unique talent, connections, or perspective to the mix. They go to great lengths to get to the truth, while at times putting themselves in danger. Gavin had a life, Maeve had no idea about, or didn’t understand, that ran deep within the dark side of London with friends in high places. The police seem to be going in circles to lock down the proof to charge and jail Maeve, so it is imperative that the merry band of sleuthers, who are basically going in circles as well, come up with additional suspects with their motive to kill as quickly as possible. I enjoyed how the story was told from multiple points of view, allowing readers to follow each as they made their way around town trying to find out about the real Gavin and what he did to warrant being murdered.

Ms. Mullet’s attention to detail brought the whole canal area to life. The well-crafted characters and that detail pulled me into the story. I could visualize everything like I was watching the story unfold on a screen. I think it was wonderful that she played with her strengths. She uses her knowledge of writing and publishing as she created Maeve’s world, complete with writing exercises, writer’s block, index cards, and outlines. She also knows the joy of having a canine companion and all it entails, from the aggressive chewing to the wagging tails and the genuine reactions when their person appears, whether they have been gone for minutes, hours, or days.

A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder is a compelling mystery filled with twists, turns, and red herrings. The characters are authentic, quirky, and relatable. I found it easy to get invested in their lives. The setting was unique and charming. This series is off to a splendid start. I am eager to see what Ms. Mullet has in store for Maeve and her “pride of lions” in the future. A Perfect Escape!

Maeve Gardner makes her living writing crime… but nothing could have prepared her for becoming a prime suspect in a real-life murder. When her ex-boyfriend turns up dead in the canal beside her London houseboat, Maeve finds herself at the top of the police’s suspect list - especially with an officer eager to close the case quickly. Luckily, she’s not alone. Backed by her loyal dog and a trio of friends - India, Paul, and Ash - Maeve dives into her own investigation, determined to clear her name. Along the way, she crosses paths with a shady property developer, a dangerous drug boss, a menacing local enforcer, and a whole tangle of red herrings.

This mystery ticks every cozy box: engaging characters, a lovable dog, a charming and vividly described setting, and just enough danger to keep you tense through the final chapters. The alternating POVs - four in total - are handled impressively well, with each character’s unique strengths, flaws, and voice making you root for them (and worry for them) as the stakes rise.

I’ll admit the opening took me a couple of tries to fully sink into, but once I got past that early stretch, the pacing picked up and I was hooked. The story unfolds like a proper murder mystery should: a dead body, an understaffed and possibly corrupt police department, wrong turns, dangerous discoveries, and a satisfying conclusion that ties up enough loose ends while leaving room for more.

Quick, clever, and atmospheric, this was a very enjoyable read - and I’m absolutely on board (pun intended) for more Maeve mischief in what could easily become a great series.

Maeve Gardner writes crime for a living but unfortunately she gets caught up in it in real life when her ex boyfriend is found dead, in the canal right next to her houseboat. She is an obvious choice for prime suspect in the murder especially when the police officer in charge of the case is looking for a quick closure. Luckily she has good friends who come to her aid in investigating the case.

Engaging characters, a delightful dog and a charming house boat setting made this a very enjoyable and worthwhile read. I am looking forward to a second book.

The entertaining part of mysteries that feature mystery writers as characters is that they know all the tricks of the genre and can exploit that knowledge to solve their own cases. This is entertaining, interesting, has a fun houseboat setting that plays a big role, and has an excellent cast of characters I'd happily follow in a series.

Maeve Gardner is a ghost writer who wants to write her own stories someday. She lives on a boat and one day her dog finds hidden money. When she brings the police out, they discover a body in the water that she has ties to. She becomes a suspect and she and her friends have to clear her name. Melinda Mullet is a new author to me and I really enjoyed this book. I will be checking out her other work. This held my attention from the start and I hope to this is the start of a series.

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

Quirky characters are a plus, but the dialect at times made it difficult to understand, which hindered my enjoyment of the book. The plot frequently shifted from exciting to boring, leaving me wanting more stability. As it stands, it’s an average mystery.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

A richly atmospheric London-set mystery with canalside charm, A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder delivers a satisfyingly layered whodunit with four POVs, a wrongful conviction, and a small, scrappy team determined to uncover the truth. From its vivid opening chapter to its tense, twisty conclusion, Melinda Mullet blends traditional mystery elements with a slow-burn thriller edge.

The writing is elegant and immersive, with beautifully detailed settings that bring the British backdrop to life: accents, idiosyncrasies, and all. Juggling four narrators is a bold move for a mystery, but it works surprisingly well here, giving the cast nuance and keeping the narrative fresh.

That said, not all the characters are particularly lovable, and at times the plot meanders, much like one of its own characters laments, it can feel like you’re going in circles. Still, once the story finds its footing, the final chapters build real momentum, leaving just the right amount of resolution and room for more.

If you're looking for a longer, character-driven mystery with strong prose, a classic British tone, and just a pinch of thriller flair, this is one to check out, and the series is off to a promising start.

A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder was a solid mystery story.

This story falls somewhere between a cozy and a gritty murder mystery. On the cozy side, our sleuthers were amateurs, but what made it less cozy was the nature of the crime. This mystery has crime bosses, corruption, and bookies turned shady real estate moguls.

Typically, in a cozy, our amateur sleuther finds them self in danger as they try to solve the case, and while it can be quite tense, it usually isn't anything too graphic. But, in this story, our main character finds herself in deep danger, and it leads to some really heartpouding moments.

The mystery in this story was interesting. There were a few potential suspects. I had an idea of the plot twist at the end, but I wasn't completely sure.

The characters were great. I enjoyed their unlikely friendships and how they pulled together to help solve the mystery.

I would put A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder in the same category as a Richard Osman mystery. Not quite the same wit to it and a little grittier, but it definitely had that same feel.

Maeve Gardiner is a ghostwriter, writing stories for Simon Hills, a well-known and successful author who is now too demented to write them himself. Sure, his books are formulaic but the job helps pay the bills until she finds the time to write and publish her own stories, under her own name.

When Maeve's ex-boyfriend turns up dead and floating on the river just outside her house boat, the police naturally suspect Maeve is involved. With the help of her friends, Maeve is determined to find out who is responsible and save herself.

A fun, relatively light-hearted story with an empathetic protagonist struggling with her career as a budding writer while living on a houseboat with her enormous dog. Maeve's likeable friends are an eclectic group with great chemistry who work well to help solve the murder mystery. If there are more books in this series, I will definitely be reading them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A GHOSTWRITER’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Melinda Mullet sounded like a fun mystery, complete with a houseboat near London and a cast of colorful characters. I downloaded my preview copy at least a month before this week's publication date, but I am sad to see that it is no longer accessible on my Kindle. Hence, my neutral rating of 3 stars.

A nice start to a new cozy series. And it's clever. Maeve is a ghostwriter who lives on a houseboat and now she's on the spot for the murder of her ex. Of course she didn't do it but who did. She bands together with her eclectic group of pals to find the villain. The bones of this are pretty standard fare for the genre but this steps it up with the setting and the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fine historical mystery and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Maeve Gardner is familiar with murder, as the ghostwriter of a cozy mystery series set in the 1950's. But when her ex is found floating face down in the water beside her houseboat, she finds herself getting some first-hand experience as a murder suspect. Maeve realizes that the police are happy with an easy suspect, so if she wants to clear her name she'll have to do it herself, with her loyal friends lending an investigative hand. The story is told from their multiple POVs and each character is interesting in their own right. It looks like this is the start of a series, and after enjoying A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder, I will definitely be looking for book 2!

This is an enjoyable cozy mystery., The setting is unique, the characters are fun and quirky and the mystery offers plenty of twists to keep readers guessing. The story is told from multiple points of view, with each of those characters playing a role in trying to find the evidence that will point to the real killer. This plot device makes for a unique storytelling experience.

A fresh take on the cozy mystery, A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder delivers a twisty, red-herring-filled plot that keeps you guessing. The quirky cast of characters adds charm and intrigue, even if the protagonist occasionally fades into the background. Still, the unique storyline and clever premise make for a thoroughly entertaining read. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for an eARC ♥️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Wickedly Fun Murder Mystery with Heart (and Houseboats!)

Maeve Gardner is my new favorite amateur sleuth❤️‍🔥—sharp, sarcastic, and stuck in the middle of a real-life murder plot that even she couldn’t have dreamed up. As the ghostwriter for a famous detective series, Maeve knows all about crafting the perfect crime… until her cheating ex turns up dead in the canal outside her houseboat, and suddenly, she’s the prime suspect. 😳
Maeve’s makeshift investigation team—a floating bookshop owner, a distractingly hot pub landlord, and a nerdy neighbor with secrets—steals the show. Their banter is gold, and I loved how their loyalty (and occasional bickering) kept the story grounded even as the stakes got higher.
The pacing is perfect, the red herrings had me guessing until the end, and Maeve’s voice is so fresh and funny that I’d happily read her grocery lists. Plus, the houseboat community is such a vivid backdrop—I now desperately want to live on one (minus the murders, obviously).
Perfect for you if:🤩
🥰 You love mysteries with humor and heart
🥰 You enjoy quirky settings and found-family dynamics
🥰 You’ve ever fantasized about living on a houseboat (or writing murder plots for a living)
Final verdict:A clever, charming, and utterly addictive debut. Maeve Gardner better get a sequel—I need more of her chaotic detective skills!
P.S. If the phrase "ghostwriter-turned-sleuth" doesn’t hook you, I don’t know what will. Read this book😍