I found the characters interesting The mystery kept me guessing.

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

This was my first time reading Katarina Bivald, and I had a great time with this quirky, book-centered mystery. The humor worked well, and I liked how the plot leaned into the charm and chaos of small-town life. Some pacing dips made the story feel a little uneven, but overall, I enjoyed the clever writing and creative approach to the murder mystery genre. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Just Another Dead Author has a lot of the things I really loved in a mystery. A book about writers, a retreat. Sign me up. That being said I did struggle through the first half to two-thirds of the book. It was painfully slow and drawn out. There is a large cast of characters and it could be a little bit difficult to keep track of who was doing what with whom. But I felt like the story really came together towards the end. I picked this not realizing it is part of an ongoing series. I can say with confidence that you can read this book without having read the first and you aren't missing anything. The original story is mentioned a few times. But in areas of character development you don't feel like you have no idea who the character is because you missed the original. And for story development it's the same. Enough details are provided that you aren't left feeling like you walked into the middle of something.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first book in this series (The Murders in Great Diddling is the first book, this is the second) that I have read. I adored the author's previous book, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, so I had high hopes for this one, and I wasn't disappointed! Berit is not only a mystery author, she a true nosey parker who likes to help her local constabulary. But here in France, she doesn't expect to have to- after all its writing, food and sunshine for days- a true working vacation. But not everyone attending the conference has that in mind! Soon the one with the biggest ego is murdered and there are too many suspects, and the police need an inside man, and Berit fits the bill. And when her police friend from home shows up, well the more the merrier to solve this puzzle of red herrings! A fun read, you'll be wanting to read the previous book after you finish this one!

In this second book in a cozy series featuring successful mystery author, Berit Gardner, we’re in France where Berit is one of two featured authors at a mystery writer’s retreat. When the first dead body appears, the writers seek every opportunity to mine the situation for their writing. After all, how often can an author see an actual murder investigation firsthand?
Berit is less than thrilled as she doesn’t need this kind of “help” in her writing, particularly when she despises the dead man, fellow author John Wright.
Dealing with French Police Commissaire Roche doesn’t make resolving this easily. This is especially true when a second retreat participant is also killed.
This is a cleverly written book and a setting with a finite end (the one week retreat) to force the action. The cast of characters is large and the first third of the book is used to define them and the environment. At intervals, writings by the murderer are used to convey their thoughts although their identity remains a mystery until the book’s finale. This is a slower paced book and an excellent look at the world of writers, publishers, agents and the inherent tensions between them all.
I found this book as interesting as the first in the series and look forward to the next.

Berit is out of Great Diddling and at a writer's retreat in France where she is a featured speaker. Sally is there too, hoping to discover the next big thing. When a renowned, prickly author is poisoned, Berit can't rely on her knowledge of life in her small town to guide her, but she's not going to let that stand in her way. We get good insight into the local investigative team, and they feel fully real and fleshed out. I wonder if Berit will have another adventure on the continent, or if the next body will find her back in her hometown.

Katarina Bivald’s Just Another Dead Author has author Berit Gardner attending a creative writing workshop in France. The people there are either professionals (writers, agents, etc) or students / would-be writers. One of the professional authors – in fact, by far the biggest name there – is a vile, spiteful man, which means there is no shortage of suspects when he dies, presumed murdered.

I loved the ways in which the author emphasised the students’ prioritisation of colour and copy over mourning. One really gets a sense of how professional writers will use their experience to inform their books. Berit is one of the few witnesses who can step aside and realise that a murder implies a murderer; and that identifying the murderer and arresting them is much more important than observing what’s happening.

The characters are very well drawn. The local police inspector, Béatrice Roche, has been saddled with a trainee, who happens to be the Mayor’s son. While it may have been tempting to show the son as an incompetent idiot who is only there because of his father’s influence, Bivald gives us a much more realistic picture of, yes, an inexperienced trainee who makes mistakes and needs a lot of guidance, but who learns and offers a different perspective from Roche.

Although the writing is witty and there are undoubtedly moments of humour, I wouldn’t call this a “cosy” mystery. The murderer is clever and evades identification and capture, making us empathise with Berit’s fear and frustration. All in all, this is a very well written book and I recommend it with any reservations.

#JustAnotherDeadAuthor #NetGalley

Unfortunately I DNF’d at 12%. I felt like I was missing an entire backstory to the characters…. Is this part of a series that I missed? There were so many characters and relationships but the narrative was written as if I should’ve know their backstories? And a situation would happen but then we didn’t get the depth or resolution I was expecting. Like, the transitions between paragraphs and chapters was really jagged.

Berit Gardner attends a writer's conference in the idyllic French countryside, looking forward to more than just the conference. But the keynote speaker drops dead and there is gossip.... Is this a murder?

This was/is a book that kept me turning the pages and a book I just couldn't put down. Although it was a bit slow to start it did build as the story moved along, Once it really got into the murder and the investigation it really stepped up a notch. With great, quirky and interesting characters, a good storyline and plenty of secrets, twists and turns, this book will get you hooked. You just have to wait for it and you will enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was such a page tuner I read fast so I was up all night trying to get to the last page no sleep was in my vision because I enjoyed this book so much thank you !!!




When mystery author Berit Gardner agrees to attend a writer's conference in the idyllic French countryside, she dreams of basking in the sun and nurturing budding talent. But her vacation takes a dark turn when the keynote speaker—a notorious literary titan known for his biting critiques—drops dead at the end of her lecture. As whispers of foul play swirl, Berit quickly realizes she's stepped into a tangled web of jealousy, betrayal, and long-held grudges.

Enter the French commissaire, who is less than thrilled to have a curious author meddling in her investigation. But as the suspects pile up—each with their own motive for wanting the egotistical writer dead—she reluctantly recognizes Berit's sharp instincts could crack the case wide open. With a colorful cast of authors, agents, and aspiring writers all hiding secrets, the stakes rise higher with every clue uncovered.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Katarina Bivald for letting me dive into this ARC early!

Imagine a sun-drenched château in the French countryside, a perfect setting for a writer’s retreat, until the keynote speaker keels over dead at the end of Berit Gardner’s lecture. Talk about an unforgettable plot twist!

Berit is such a delight: calm, curious, and resourceful in her sleuthing. She's not only smart and capable, but also warm and relatable. Watching her navigate the tension with the skeptical French commissaire, then gradually earn her respect, is a real treat. And the reporter vying to beat her to the story brings just the right mix of rivalry and tension.

What stands out is Bivald’s ability to craft a cozy mystery that’s both atmospheric and smart. The retreat attendees. Authors, critics, aspiring writers, are quirky and secret-keeping in all the best ways. Each one seems to have a motive, which keeps the suspects pile-up intriguing.

The story takes its time at the start, setting up the characters and setting beautifully. It moves more slowly than some thrillers, but once the mystery begins to unfold, it grips you. A few subplot threads don’t fully resolve, but the main whodunit has a satisfying and twisty payoff.

In short, this is a charming, clever mystery with literary flair. If you enjoy author-themed cozy mysteries, as in the vein of The Thursday Murder Club or The Murders in Great Diddling, this one’s for you.

This who dunnit mystery set at a writing retreat in France has an author trying to solve the mystery and I was there for it. Filled with misdirection and lots of motive as the crime is the death of a successful writer that no one liked. The writers instead of being upset are using the investigation as fodder for their manuscripts. Berit Gardner is determined to figure it out and offers her assistance to the local police. But is she getting too close to the truth? The characters were interesting and full of motives that kept me guessing. I especially liked Berit and her ability to see things that others missed. This has everything I enjoy in a cozy mystery, a beautiful setting, an interesting cast of characters, and a mystery that kept me guessing. I hope that there will be more books with Berit. I highly recommend this to readers that enjoy mysteries, especially ones set in the world of books.

This was my first mystery of this type and it definitely took some time to get into, but once the murders started happening I was definitely more hooked.

I felt like the pace was a little slower than I prefer but I really enjoyed the plot and loved that I had actually guessed the killer before the plot made me second guess myself!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review

I love books about mystery writers, and this one delivered a whole cast of them, each with quirks, egos, and secrets that made the retreat in a French castle entertaining. I wished I was there! The story started out a bit slow, but once it got going, I had fun.

The first half of this book was very slow for me and I couldn’t get fully immersed. The second half was much better but I found the characters to be too much and not very likeable.

3.75 stars

This is the second mystery featuring Swedish mystery author Berit Gardner. The setting is a French chateau, where she is attending/appearing at a writer's workshop and retreat, mostly to help out an old friend who is struggling after losing her bookshop.

The main draw for the conference is a celebrity/famous mystery writer who is much revered in writing circles. There has been controversy with his agent and his publishing company and he has a reputation for being difficult.

It isn't long before the first body appears. The French police don't know quite what to make of all the writers who appear more interested in turning their experiences into books than solving the crime. The plot is nicely done but what is the most fun is the various interactions, between the members of the police team, among the writers who have different life circumstances and between Berit and the other authors. She is an offbeat character who doesn't care much for what others think but who also is empathetic in her own way. And her straightforward and honest demeanor turns out to be quite successful in eliciting information. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this cozy murder mystery. It takes place during a writers retreat at a French castle. A famous author dies during a lecture filled with aspiring writers. Author, Berit Gardner, suspects one of the eager writers is to blame. As the police start their investigation she begins forming an investigation of her own. This story has many twists and turns. You won’t be able to put it down! Add this to your TBR!

I found the first half of this book very slow, but then it got better. If you like whodunnit reads then this is for you. Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just Another Dead Author is a clever mystery that had me hooked from the start. When bestselling author R.J. Wright turns up dead under suspicious circumstances at a small literary festival, an amateur sleuth with a sharp sense of humor can’t help getting involved in the investigation.

I loved the layered look at the publishing world, rivalries and messes. The author balances real clues with plenty of fun about the industry, making it feel both authentic and entertaining.

The main character is witty but also vulnerable, which made her easy to root for. The supporting cast is great too, with believable motives that kept me guessing until the end.

If I had any complaint, it would be that the middle slowed down a little with a few too many red herrings. But the reveal was satisfying and tied things together well.

Overall, this is a really fun mystery with strong characters, a great sense of place, and plenty of charm. I would definitely read more from this author

This book gave me Murder She Wrote meets Emily in Paris energy…..if Emily had a typewriter, murder suspects, and the patience of a seasoned cozy mystery sleuth. Berit Gardner is the kind of nosy, clever heroine I’d follow anywhere, especially into a murder investigation wrapped in writerly egos and simmering secrets.

The French countryside setting? Chef’s kiss. The mystery? Twisty enough to keep me side-eyeing everyone. And the cast? A delightful chaos of writers, agents, and one very exasperated commissaire. Bonus points for the snarky journalist frenemy situation, I’d read a whole spin-off about her.

It’s a fun, clever whodunnit with a literary flair and just the right amount of sass and suspense. Would recommend for fans of closed-circle mysteries, bookish drama, and fictional authors who accidentally become crime-solvers on vacation.