I had high hopes for By the Book. A murder mystery with a literary theme is right up my alley. Unfortunately, the poor choices and irrational actions of the characters turned me off. TBH, if I didn't owe Netgalley an honest review for getting this advance reader's copy into my hands, By the Book would be a dnf for me.
Unprofessional police. Characters overreacting and jumping to conclusions. It was too much for me to overcome.

When a body is discovered in an abandoned barn near a small college campus in Oregon. Detective Ian Carter and his partner are assigned the case. Both can see that the body dump was staged but neither is sure what the staging implies.

Luckily, Ian is scheduled to attend an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite art where he meets literature professor Emma Reilly. The two enjoy the exhibit and each other enough to plan a date. The date which consists of dinner at Ian's house allows Emma to accidentally see the crime scene photos. She recognizes the staging as being Ophelia from Shakespeare. She provides a valuable clue and wants to help with the investigation, but Ian doesn't want to let her since he had a confidential informant die in an undercover operation he blames himself for.

But Emma isn't able to just forget about the investigation. Her mind doesn't work that way. She reads like a very high-functioning person on the autism spectrum. She doesn't necessarily catch social clues, is very introverted, and puts on a personality in order to face her classes.

Emma gathers herself a posse including Rory who is a former boyfriend turned department chair, Carolyn who is Rory's administrative assistant, Charlie who is an intern at the local newspaper and Carolyn's roommate, and Niall who teaches psychology at the college. Together they hash out the clues of the first death and the other two that quickly follow. While they are supposed to stay away from actual physical investigations, the do find themselves exploring the various crime scenes.

The mystery was very literary in that there were lots of references to classical literature and classical art and various quotations from literature form some of the clues. But it was also a fast-packed thriller with lots of action and danger especially for Emma.

I enjoyed this one.

Emma Reilly, a literature professor at a small college campus, attends an art event and meets a local homicide detective. As she leaves the event, she is mugged. Ian Carter, the homicide detective, gets involved and they discover that they both have an interest in art, literature, and each other.

When a coed is found murdered and posed as Ophelia from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Emma decides she might have knowledge that could help with his case. Because of something from his past, he discourages her. He doesn’t want to see her get hurt. This causes a rift between them.

When the second student is found dead, also posed as a character from the Pre-Raphaelite art era, Emma pushes to get involved.

A handful of Emma’s college friends try to help. One is the Dean of the college and an art expert. Ian’s decision to push Emma away to protect her makes him jealous when he sees her interact with her old boyfriend, the college Dean.

Ian, with the help of his partner Mike and Emma, eventually is led in the right direction but can he catch the murderer before other lives are lost?

Amie Schaumberg has crafted an interesting story with an academic setting. This is her debut, and I think it shows promise. My only negative is that I guessed who the villain was before the end, and I think the ending dragged on a little longer than it needed. I think the actual reveal could have happened with the climax at the storm cellar and maybe one more scene after that to give a hint about a possible love interest between Ian and Emma.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries especially ones with a literary twist.

This book will be released August 19th.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mira for this advanced reader copy for my honest review.

Academia is my job and sometimes I want to connect with characters like myself or who have lives while in similar roles; however, I rarely want to have to research more in order to understand a book, particularly when I use reading as my mental getaway. Don’t get me wrong, I love putting pieces together in a thriller but I don’t want to have to analyze everything at a deeper level. I get too much of that in my life to call it fun.

But I do want to congratulate the writer for her expansive research and knowledge! Wow!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the advanced reader copy.

2.5 stars

When a female college student is murdered, Detective Ian Carter is stumped. Not only is there no forensics left behind but the student has been posed like a historic literary character, complete with a Shakespearean quote left behind. Then Ian meets Emma Reilly, a literature professor at the college, whose focus is exactly what Ian might need to help him solve what's becoming a serial killing case, and a potential love interest. But, in an effort to protect her by pushing her away from the details of the case, Ian sends Emma into the arms of a new group of friends (who also work at the college), including her ex-boyfriend, who are all game to try and help the police. The closer Ian and Emma get to finding out who is killing young women, the more danger they both find themselves in.

The premise of this book isn't new but I do enjoy the genre of academic mystery/thriller. MURDER BY THE BOOK has some things going for it: the idea of a killer going through all the trouble to get the details of each posed scene adds layers to what the killer is trying to get across and the setting (a small college town in Oregon) provides good atmosphere and makes some of the plot elements more probable. What didn't work for me was 1) how convoluted the literary elements became, 2) the unbelievability of the relationship between Ian and Emma, and 3) how obvious the killer is.
1) The killer leaves behind quotes from several different literary writers and has posed his victims in ways that correspond. The story spends a lot of time showing how Emma is the key to finding out why the murders are happening and what they mean. But Emma mostly seems to bumble through doing a literary analysis of each scene without confidently coming to many conclusions
2) Ian and Emma have a moment where it seems they might begin a romantic relationship but it gets thwarted, leaving the wake of romantic tension between them. Given how much time they've spent together by the time the story of the murders really gets going, Ian's response to Emma throughout the book felt overly done and even made him seem unhinged at points
3) I'm a great reader for mystery writers, in that while I can be engaged and making guesses about who I think "did it" I'm usually surprised at the end; in this book the murderer felt very obvious to me about halfway through and there wasn't anything that really added surprise or other layers to make the reveal feel fresh.
Overall, MURDER BY THE BOOK has some enjoyable elements but if you're looking for a great academic mystery/thriller, this might not be the book for you.

Murder by the Book is out August 19, 2025

I enjoyed this twisty, dark academia mystery! I enjoyed all the connections to classic art and literature and watching the main character (Emma) come into herself throughout the story. I did get a little frustrated by the way the Ian treated her, but I do think that was symbolic of Emma needing to own her voice. And while I did guess the ending, and wish the very end had been fleshed out a bit more, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and tangled web of this mystery. And I loved that Emma was neurodivergent! Overall, a captivating read!

When murder scenes mimic Shakespeare's works, who better to help solve the crime than an literature professor!

I enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing what else this author comes up with.

Amie Schaumberg has created an incredible new amateur sleuth in literature professor Dr. Emma Reilly, the intelligent and delightful protagonist at the centre of Murder By The Book.

A Pacific Northwest college student has been found dead, posed as Ophelia with lines from Hamlet found in her mouth, the police are stumped and soon Dr Emma Reilly and some of her colleagues are drawn into the case, attracting the attention of a vicious killer as more dead bodies pile up posed as literary figures.

Murder By The Book delves into this twisty and quite dark case in a way that grabbed my attention quickly and didn't let go, while the book's brief synopsis and description of the protagonist suggested that it would be a cozy mystery, this story was in fact much darker than I was expecting but Schaumberg's excellent character work developing both Emma and police detective/love interest Dectective Ian Carter into people worth rooting for takes some of the edge off especially in some of their more charming moments together.

The premise and core mystery were intriguing, and the novel was jam-packed with literary references and fantastic explanations that will help the audience understand, no matter how much or how little previous exposure they've had to the referenced material.

The only disappointing aspect of the novel was how predictable some of the twists were; there weren't a large number of suspects in the novel, and the conclusion left me wanting a bit more, especially given the uniqueness of the murders. Schauberg uses a lot of foreshadowing throughout the book and I think she went a little bit too far with it to set up the final "twist". Despite my slight disappointment with the ending, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope that the adventures of Professor Reilly and Detective Carter continue in a sequel and/or series.

Murder By The Book was a genuinely fun read, and I'm happy to give it 4/5 stars and recommend it to many of my friends and followers.

Thank You to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Mira for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

In a small college town, a serial killer is on the loose targetting college girls and posing them to replicate death scenes from literaly classics. Detective Ian Carter is assigned to the case to find the killer before he strikes again. Profession Emma Reilly, a literature professor at the univeristy, believes that she can help solve the murders since she has studies these classics and can bring out the secrets of the crime scenes that the killer has left. She is especially driven after one of her students is found dead.

This was such a fun book to read. I really liked the dynamic of Ian and Emma and because it was just a taste of what their relationship could have been, it really left me wanting more. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery While I did see some of it coming, there were may things that were3 a surprise. I also really liked that they chapters went back and forth from Emma annd Ian's prespective.

The middle of the book did seem to drag a little. There was a lull in the middle where I was really waiting for something to happen but there was nothing. I also wish there was a little more character development in other characters then Emma and Ian.

But overall I thought this was a great debut novel by Amie Schaumberg and I thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

Thank you, NetGaley for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are mine and freely given

The title of this book is what drew me in first. But I thoroughly loved this book. You have a homicide detective that meets a enlisgh professor one night at an art event. Then a students body is discovered and it is posed like one of Shakespeare's characters.

Bring in an art professor, a pychology professor, an admin and a journalist to investigate the murder, since the homicide dectective doesn't want them involved.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing as to who the murderer was.

I look forward to reading more books by this author!

A murdered woman on a college campus is posed like Ophelia from Hamlet. This leads a detective to pair up with a professor, especially when other bodies turn up posed in literature deaths as well.

There are a lot of literature references throughout, which you don't need to know to read the book, but might help with the reader's enjoyment of it. It was also a very slow burn for a mystery for me. My biggest problem though is the writing felt so overly written. For instance, in the first chapter, it says "he was reminded grotesquely of a passage from a Raymond Chandler novel..." Even in the less commonly used way of the word grotesquely, it is just weird here. This was just a lot of the book for me, which made it really hard to enjoy.

Schaumburg’s debut will undoubtedly fit solidly in the mystery/thriller shelf, perfect for lovers of dark academia and bibliomysteries.

Set in a dark-academia–tinged college town, literature professor Emma Reilly and detective Ian Carter chase a killer who recreates literary tableaux—Ophelia from Hamlet, the Lady of Shalott, and more—posing students as grisly living art. It takes the expertise of Detective and Professor to solve the case.

The trope of literary tableaux as murder scenes is clever, well-executed, and ripe for meta-literary commentary.

The small-college milieu, infused with gothic undertones and academic obsession, gave me Da Vinci Code vibes but not as complex or action packed. It’s a comfort zone thriller.

The dynamic between the earnest, bookish Emma and the buttoned-up Detective Carter was a bit gritty but there was some definite tension there.

Its compelling, keeps you guessing, delivers some intellectual satisfaction and occasionally has some visceral thrills.

I wouldn’t say you need to know Hamlet by any means to enjoy this one but it would be more resonant if you did.

If you relish puzzles layered with literary trivia, atmospheric tension on a college campus, and smart, dialogue-driven sleuthing, this one’s built for you. It offers the comfort of familiar mystery conventions alongside the thrill of an intellectual chase. Even scholars might find themselves racing to the end.

I was interested in trying this book because of the academic angle and the idea of a literature professor helping with an investigation seemed intriguing. But the execution didn't work for me at all. The characters seemed to be under the control of the plot or something - they didn't come to life for me, and Emma's emotional life just didn't seem consistent or rational. I also wasn't keen on the romance (that's on me - I'm not really a romance fan) and I had the killer pegged before anyone even died. Interesting concept, but the writing style didn't deliver, at least for me.

The cover is a banger, though! Kudos to the artist.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an e-book ARC.

This is the debut novel for Amie Schaumberg, a nice little cozy mystery/thriller: A student is found murdered and posed like Ophelia from Hamlet, sparking a chilling case for Detective Ian Carter. When literature professor Emma Reilly accidentally deciphers a clue, she’s drawn into the investigation. As more victims are found staged like tragic literary figures, Emma must use her knowledge to stop a killer turning classic tales into real-life horror.

The story made me think of The Davinci Code in a sense it was a professor deciphering the hints..where Dan Brown's professor Langdon is a symbologist, Amie Schaumberg's Emma is a literature professor.

I think this would be good for readers who really enjoy the slow reveal. The 'scooby gang' (I'm calling them that, it's not used in the book) where they were putting heads together to interpret and figure out motive/clues was interesting.

While I didn't mind the book, where it faltered for me was that I *really* would have liked it more if there was more background between Emma and Ian. Like, Ian meets Emma 3 times and she quite aggressively inserts herself into a murder case and holds a grudge when he is telling her that it's police business.. I mean... If they knew each other longer or maybe she was sought out for her expertise?

There was also terminology used quite early on in the book I would have used different word choices for, for example: Sotto voce. I could see if Emma was using it in conversation, but as a description in third p.o.v I was like... really?
Some other ones: Sartorial
Sonorous
Palimpsest.

I also would have preferred quicker pacing to the book. At times it did feel very long.

All in all though, I could totally see Emma in another book on another mystery.

Murder by the Book by Amie Schaumberg is a light, cozy mystery set in a charming small-town bookstore. The premise is appealing — a bookish sleuth uncovering secrets while juggling local drama — and Schaumberg does a good job creating a warm, quirky setting.

The mystery itself is mildly suspenseful, though not overly complex. The pacing starts slow but picks up in the second half, and while some plot points feel predictable, there are a few clever twists. The main character is likable, if a bit underdeveloped, and the supporting cast adds personality.

Overall, it’s a pleasant read for fans of cozy mysteries, especially those who love stories set among books. It may not be groundbreaking, but it delivers comfort and intrigue in equal measure.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Near a quiet college campus, a young woman is discovered strangled in an abandoned barn on the town's outskirts. Her body is eerily arranged to mimic a painting of Ophelia from Hamlet, leaving the police baffled by cryptic messages left at the scene. Detective Ian Carter, a by-the-book officer, finds himself rattled by the gruesome display—until a fateful encounter with an endearingly awkward literature professor reveals an unexpected breakthrough: she inadvertently deciphers a clue left by the killer.
Professor Emma Reilly suspects that the classic literature she cherishes may hold the key to understanding the murderer’s twisted motives especially after a second victim is found posed as the Lady of Shalott. But when a third student is killed, one from her own class, Emma is forced to confront the harsh truth that her sheltered world isn’t as safe as it once seemed. Now, she must summon the courage to stop a killer who is turning beloved literary scenes into grim tableaus of death.
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
It took a while for this book to really pull me in; I even had to take a break from it before continuing. The way it incorporates literary references is a strong point, but the pacing felt off at times. The middle section, in particular, seemed to drag with too much repetitive back-and-forth. Additionally, several characters felt too similar, almost like the same person with different names. That said, I found myself more engaged as the story moved toward the end, and I did enjoy the conclusion. Overall, I’d still suggest giving the book a chance. It has its merits, and while it may not have completely clicked with me, it could resonate more with other readers.

Thank You @netgalley and @Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC

Reviewed for NetGalley:

When a Detective finds a young college student murdered, and posed in the style reminiscent of a famous literary character, he doesn't know where to turn to solve the case.

But when a Literature Professor finds some of his crime scene photos while in the midst of a date, fate has brought them together to find the murderer before it's too late.

A quick, thrilling, overall enjoyable read.

Where do I begin? I absolutely loved this book. It had everything I love, mystery, a University setting, Shakespeare, Literature and Art, and a bit of romance. Emma is a Professor at a small University and gets involved in a murder mystery (or three) and the detective investigating them. She and her friends try and figure out what’s happening to a few of the female students on campus much to the dismay to the detective and his colleagues. I loved this book and look forward to more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This was such a good book. I've been on a real string of misses with mystery/thriller books and really needed a hit and this book provided just that. 

The mystery is engaging and has lots of twists and turns. I saw some of it coming, but it still had several surprises for me. 

I really loved the love story. Emma and Ian had such good banter and chemistry. I really wish we got to see them be happy a little bit more before everything goes wrong, but I did love all the yearning throughout the story.

The story had a beautiful ending, I really enjoyed the last chapter. 

The literary and artistic connection were so fun and so well done. 

This book was just exactly what I needed and exactly what I wanted it to be and that makes me so happy.

Professor Emma helps Detective Ian solve the case of murdered young women who are being staged in literature settings. Creepy but also a good story. The clues lead to several red herrings until the creepy murderer is exposed. Liked this one and would highly recommend it.