I love a book with rich people behaving badly and this sure nailed it! Will you like any character? Probably not but you will have a great time reading about their antics. Everyone in this is hiding something and willing to do whatever it takes to keep their secrets buried. However, there is character growth that feels both appropriate and realistic. This needs a tv adaptation stat - it has everything you’d want!

The first thing I noticed about this book was the title and cover; I was definitely drawn to it. I love how scandalous this thriller was, it kept me so entertained. I mean this book is packed with tea and I couldn’t stop sipping. There’s something about southern housewives that automatically makes me suspicious. Definitely worth the read!

In Atlanta's elite Buckhead neighborhood, where manicured lawns and monogrammed everything hide secrets and simmering resentments, the sudden murder of beloved little league coach Anderson Tupper shocks the community. Found dead in a dugout, Anderson's murder cracks the polished veneer of southern hospitality, revealing a tangled web of ambition and betrayal. Enter Detective Shay Claypool, an overworked and underpaid single mother from the other side of town. Tasked with solving the case, she must Infiltrate the Buckhead Betties, a clique of high-powered, well connected mothers. As Shay navigates the foreign world of the Betties she begins to uncover more than just motive. She finds herself questioning her own assumptions about race, privilege, and motherhood.

Leigh Dunlap knocks it out of the park with this debut! Equal parts murder mystery and social commentary, Bless Your Heart will have you hooked! Dunlap really excels with her dialogue and steady pacing throughout the book! The prose is punchy and clever, filled with sardonic wit and cutting observations about modern womanhood and privilege. The mystery is engaging and twisty enough to keep the pages turning. But the real highlight is the characters, and all of the alternating POVs really stand out and drive the story forward. Overall, Bless Your Heart is more than just a bingeable whodunnit, it is a sharp and timely exploration of the masks women wear and what happens when they crack! A worthy addition to your TBR!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Leigh Dunlap, Crooked Lane Books and Megan Beattie Communications for this eARC and physical copy! Publication date was August 12th 2025.

Move over, Texas Hunting Wives and Manhattan Mean Moms!

Atlanta's elite Buckhead Betties —sophisticated, wealthy, self-centered, dysfunctional, cutthroat, and troubled, wrapped in privilege—might reveal surprising layers beneath their polished exteriors when it comes to the darker realms of murder, sports rivalries, motherhood, and the fierce protection of their children.

Mix in a tenacious black working-class Homicide Detective, LaShay Claypool from OTP (outside the perimeter), who may be more like the Buckhead Betties than she thought, for a highly entertaining, scandalous, satirical murder mystery whodunit.

In her impressive debut novel, BLESS YOUR HEART, screenwriter Leigh Dunlap pulls out all the stops, masterfully weaving an irresistible and scandalous narrative of class and privilege— a wicked mom-com satire whodunit brimming with intriguing characters.

About...

Anderson Tupper, handsome and charming, a member of Atlanta's elite Buckhead and volunteer Little League baseball coach, is MURDERED at Chastain Park field.

Detective Shay Claypool, a single city mother from the other side of town, is tasked with finding his killer. She despises the Buckhead Betties and does not like rich and uppity people who think they are better than her and the folks from South Atlanta. The investigation is led by her and her partner, Sergeant Dub Rattigan (white/country).

Shay was a single mom who had managed to send her son to college (Ivy League) with a scholarship and owned her own home, and rose through the ranks of the Atlanta Police Department to become a senior detective. But being in Buckhead made her feel like she had somehow failed in life. She did not like being around this group of snobs. But she would find the murderer.

Anderson Tupper has plenty of enemies, but which Buckhead Bettie, or parent of the little league team, disliked him enough to murder him, or was it one of his enemies from the crooked financial world he created? OR possibly his brother, Chatam or Marcus Wiley, former football star and local car dealer? Was he an evil man who deserved to be murdered?

Or something more sinister?

Cleverly told in three different timelines: months before the murder, days before the murder, and days after the murder.

From multiple POVs, we get to meet the team moms (Buckhead Betties), Kira, Birdie, Amelia, Sutton, and Venita, as well as Shay and another detective on the case, and the team.

Can five women keep a secret?

My thoughts...

Screenwriter and debut author of BLESS YOUR HEART, Leigh Dunlap, brilliantly crafts and serves up an irresistible, scandalous, and highly entertaining, wickedly delicious satire mom com murder mystery featuring five different women that will keep you glued to the pages until the explosive, satisfying conclusion.

At the heart of this thrilling tale is LaShay Claypool, a determined and skilled black homicide detective searching for a killer. As LaShay delves into the enigmatic world of the Betties, she begins to uncover surprising similarities that blur the lines between their lives.

Each of the five women is uniquely crafted, drawing readers into their lives and conflicts, ensuring readers remain on the edge of their seats until the story reaches its explosive, wicked, surprising, and satisfying conclusion.

WICKED SOUTHERN FUN! Full of wit, scandal, and lots of misbehaving, these women can be ruthless, but do they have a heart when it comes to what matters?

Being a long-time resident of Buckhead, Vinings, and Midtown before retiring to Florida, I know plenty of Buckhead Betties, and the author nailed every personality, landmark, and social commentary. Not sure I will ever think of Chastain Park the same after reading. :) I have never laughed so hard.

MOVIE-WORTHY! This highly entertaining and captivating tale is ripe for the screen, and I would be thrilled to see it brought to life on either the big or small screen!

Get ready for a wild roller coaster ride and jaw-dropping twists. I loved it! The ending was KILLER Good!

Recs...

BLESS YOUR HEART is an enthralling read crafted for fans of gripping psychological thrillers. If you enjoyed May Cobb's "The Hunting Wives" or "Desperate Housewives," with its tantalizing exploration of suburban intrigue, or Emma Rosenblum's sharp and witty "Mean Moms," which shines a spotlight on the hidden dynamics of motherhood, this book promises to captivate you. Step into the world of "Big Little Lies" and "Your Friends and Neighbors," where dark secrets simmer beneath polished exteriors, or indulge in the complex relationships portrayed in "The Perfect Couple" and "Grosse Pointe Garden Society."

An author to watch, this dazzling thriller will resonate with those who appreciate the humor and works of esteemed authors like Kaira Rouda, Victoria Helen Stone, Liv Constantine, Jeneva Rose, Sally Hepworth, and Freida McFadden (favs). Each of these writers masterfully uncovers the sinister undercurrents of seemingly mundane lives, drawing readers into a web of suspense and intrigue that keeps them on the edge of their seats. Prepare for a journey that reveals the shadows and secrets lurking behind the façade of everyday life.

Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing a gifted digital review copy for my honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 12, 2025
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I found this book to be humorous. It was full of stereotypical rich people who felt that they owned the world. When the baseball coach is murdered, there are so many possible suspects. Twists and turns throughout, very entertaining and I will be sure to watch for more books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the complementary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion.

Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap is a killer debut!
The characters are messy! The writing is amazing.
It’s intricately plotted, fast-paced, gripping psychological thriller of secrets, lies, mystery, power, and murder with a twist that will keep readers guessing until the conclusion.
A hit!

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Megan Beatie Communications for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of the debut novel by Leigh Dunlap. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Anderson Tupper, a member of one of Atlanta’s richest families, has been murdered in the dugout of the Little League field where he was a volunteer coach, and it’s up to Detective Shay Claypool, a single mother from the other side of town, to find his killer. But to do that, she has to deal with the Buckhead Betties, the entitled women of Georgia's most affluent zip code. One of them may be a murdered, but which one? Because everyone has secrets and lies.

I love domestic suspense/thrillers and this one was entertaining from the first page to that shocking ending. While there are plenty of themes of entitled people, classism, and racism, this is just some downright fun. Plus, the southern setting was so real, you can tell that the author used to live there. Detectives Shay and Dub are great characters too. There's still plenty of summer time left to enjoy this juicy book! Can't wait to see what this author will come up with next, but sign me up now!

I loved this book. Watch out Real Housewivesnof Atlanta these Buckhead Betties are seriously sneaky.

I loved the multiple points of view in this one.

It’s a perfect thriller with loads of morally gray characters.

When Anderson, a member of Atlanta’s richest family, is found murdered it’s up to Detective Shay to find his killer. This requires her dive into the lives of the Buckhead Betties, a group of entitled, affluent women. Shay may be used to drug dealers and prostitutes, but she is certainly not familiar with this type of group.

I loved the ending of this one and how the mystery turned out. It ended up having a depth that I was not expecting. The writing style takes a little time in the beginning but once you get hooked and know all the characters, it starts to go a lot faster. I loved all the women and how even with their wealth and privilege, they kept their convictions. It was refreshing because a lot of books about this class of women paint them all as vapid and malicious.

“It’s almost always about drugs, sex, or money.”

Bless Your Heart comes out 8/12.

This book is an absolute delight, deserving a full 5 stars! Leigh Dunlap's "Bless Your Heart" offers a wonderfully engaging and truly entertaining journey into Atlanta's affluent Buckhead community. From the outset, I was captivated by the sharp wit and the expertly crafted murder mystery that ultimately delivers one of the most satisfying conclusions I've encountered in the genre. The prose is exceptional, and the cast of characters, both diverse and vividly portrayed, are simply outstanding.

The plot twists and turns with delightful unpredictability, yet always remains centered on its compelling personalities. Beneath the surface of the "whodunit," a brilliant social satire binds the entire narrative together, making for an utterly absorbing experience. Dunlap’s debut masterfully intertwines themes of crime, family, social status, and relationships within a powerful tale of female camaraderie and resilience, all infused with a wonderfully dry, comedic touch.

At its heart lies the puzzling murder of Anderson Tupper, a man so widely disliked, the question isn't who might have wanted him dead, but rather who didn't. Yet, what truly elevates "Bless Your Heart" are its multifaceted characters, especially Winnie, and her friends Milly, Margot, and Vera—a group of privileged yet relatable women—along with the astute Detective Shay Claypool. Their intricate lives, individual motivations, and fierce devotion to their children create a rich tapestry that drives the story forward. This is a charming and surprising read that excels not just as a mystery, but as a compelling character study. I was thoroughly engrossed from beginning to end!

My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

"Bless You Heart" is my third 10-star book of the year. It is a murder mystery that I don't think anyone will be able to figure out, and it was just wonderful. Most people who love books say they can't put it down and just have to keep reading until they are done. Me? I needed to prolong my pleasure for as long as I could.



This is Ms. Dunlap's debut novel, and I hope I will soon be reading another book by this author. As a matter of fact, I would love to see this become a series, perhaps featuring some of the other Buckhead Betties as well as Shay and Dub!

This book has everything I and so many others enjoy about Southern Fiction - it's not to say that Northern women can't be like this, but those Northern women don't seem to have the same panache with their back-stabbing/back-biting, bless their little hearts!

This book is filled with mean men, bitchy women, rude children, and a murder mystery (or two!)
The people you are going to dislike the most will get their just desserts, and the twist in this novel you will never see coming.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The characters are incredibly real, the descriptions are spot on, and everything about this book is truly unique.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Crooked Lane Books, the author, and NetGalley as well as Edelweiss/ATTL.

Buckhead society, such as it is, is shocked by the murder of volunteer Little League coach Anderson Tupper. Tupper is handsome, wealthy, flirtatious and has been beaten to death in the team dugout. Now Senior Homicide Detective Shay Claypool, a black woman from a very different neighborhood, has to find the killer in a sea of politics, warring personalities, wealth and envy. This will not be an easy job.

Bless Your Heart is narrated by Shay, the Little League mothers, Birdie, Venita, Kira, Sutton and Amelia, and others. The plot moves seamlessly between three different timelines - months before the murder, days before the murder and the days after. Everyone is a suspect but the final few pages will surprise all readers.

Bless Your Heart is Leigh Dunlap’s first novel and I hope it won’t be her last. It’s a delicious mix of social climbing, adultery, divorce and casual drug use. However, layered through out are the serious issues - prejudice, assault, alcoholism and others. Strong characterization makes the five mothers who, at first, are definitely not likeable into sympathetic characters. The plot is multilayered, complex and totally intriguing. It’s a must read! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Leigh Dunlap for this ARC.

A Gripping, Twisty Debut Read for Me!

This was my first book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What starts off as a slow burn quickly gains momentum, evolving into a suspenseful, twist-filled story that keeps you turning the pages.

The narrative masterfully weaves together multiple timelines, gradually building tension and mystery. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the big “whodunnit” moment lands—and trust me, your jaw will drop.

A compelling and entertaining read from start to finish.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, MBC Books and Leigh Dunlap for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Leigh Dunlap traded Hollywood scripts for Southern secrets in her explosive debut thriller, Bless Your Heart, and what a delicious trade it was. The screenwriter behind A Cinderella Story proves she knows exactly how to serve up murder with a side of sweet tea.

When Anderson Tupper’s body turns up in one of Atlanta’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, five women’s lives collide in spectacular fashion. At the center of this storm is a working-class detective who must wade through the treacherous waters of Atlanta’s high society, where “bless your heart” is less a blessing and more a beautifully wrapped threat.

Dunlap’s experience crafting blockbuster scripts shines through in every scene. The story moves with the precision of a well-oiled machine, each revelation more shocking than the last. But what really sets this book apart is its razor-sharp take on privilege, power, and the peculiar dynamics of Southern motherhood circles.

The five women at the heart of this story aren’t just characters – they’re forces of nature, each hiding enough secrets to fill a Sunday church confession. As their carefully manicured lives unravel, Dunlap peels back the layers of Southern politeness to reveal the rot beneath the roses.

Written during the twin storms of the pandemic and the writer’s strike, Bless Your Heart reads like a love child of Big Little Lies and Gone Girl, but with more sweet tea and passive-aggressive compliments. It’s the kind of book that keeps you up at night, not just because of the mystery, but because of how uncomfortably close it cuts to the truth about wealth, status, and the price of keeping up appearances.

If you like your thrillers smart, sophisticated, and served with a side of social commentary, this book belongs on your shelf. Just remember: in Dunlap’s Atlanta, nothing is quite as dangerous as a woman with a secret and a Southern accent.

3.5/5 stars – A masterful debut that proves the most lethal weapon in the South isn’t a gun – it’s a smile and a “bless your heart.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Anderson Tupper, a member of one of Atlanta’s richest families, has been murdered in the dugout of the Little League field where he was a volunteer coach, and it’s up to Detective Shay Claypool, a single mother from the other side of town, to find his killer.

Whew, what started as a slow burn ended with a bang and a jaw dropping moment! This story is told in 3 timelines, months before the murder, days before the murder, and days after the murder. It’s also told in multiple POVs, the mothers of the little league team (Kira, Birdie, Amelia, Sutton, and and Venita), the detective on the case (Shay), and a POV I won’t reveal.

The story did bounce around a lot, so it was hard getting to know each character or remembering who was who. Something that all characters did, along with me, was make assumptions about everyone. You would make assumptions as to “who done it” only to be proven wrong.

The story had 3 “twists” and I had a feeling about the first one. The two twists that came after, well one of them my jaw dropped and the last one, I smiled and said “good for her.” Overall, a slower paced book but worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a guilty pleasure of southern elite stereotypes. Set in a privileged Little League Atlanta, detectives are faced with solving the murder of Coach Anderson Tupper while surrounded by Gucci loafers and Cocoa Cola sponsorships. So money. But when you are part of one of the richest families in Georgia, enemies can be plenty.

Multiple point of view, including flat and one note Shay, Kira the new girl and out of the loop simpleton but recognizes the name brands, and the many little league moms of Sutton, Venita, and Birdie. A few too many to follow but setting the scene for all the possible who done it’s. So very formulaic. And welcome to Stepford, with lots of focus on name brands but maybe spread it out from all the Gucci references.

I wish this hadn’t jumped around so quickly to so many different point of views; it left the feeling of not really getting the time to get to know the character or distinguish some from the others. And with so many characters, it would have been nice if one was likeable.

This is a novel when you’re itching for the gossipy storyline of a soap opera and leaves a little reminiscent of a Samantha Downing novel. Not as good but excited to see future stories possibly get there. The ending was great- and justified. But would have left off all the unnecessary character wrap ups and would have benefitted from one particular point of view we never got.

“Bless Your Heart” by Leigh Dunlap
Reviewed by Claire Hamner Matturro

“Bless Your Heart” (Crooked Lane Books, August 12, 2025) by Leigh Dunlap is a luscious, wickedly entertaining novel set in Atlanta’s rich Buckhead enclave that leads its readers on a merry chase to the finish. And what a finish: the book has one of the most satisfying resolutions of any murder-mystery novel readers are likely to have recently encountered. The writing is superb. The characters are appealingly diverse and equally well drawn. The plot twists and turns but stays mostly attuned to the characters. A social satire glosses over the whole tale, binding the parts together into one absorbing novel. Be prepared to be totally engrossed and totally entertained.

“Bless Your Heart” is Dunlap’s debut novel, and she is to be praised for the adept way she weaves murder, motherhood, social standing, and marriage into a female bonding tale of strength and mystery—all with that wonderful, droll satirical vibe. With her deft handling of the characters and their world, Dunlap manages to both skewer and honor her “Buckhead Betties,” the so-called name for the anxious, yet absurdly privileged women of Georgia’s richest zip code.

The murder mystery at the core of “Bless Your Heart” teases readers with secrets, clues, and intrigue. Born-rich, Hollywood-handsome Little League coach and financial planner Anderson Tupper is found beaten to death near the field where recently two people threatened him, and a former football star decked him. The question isn’t so much “who would want to kill him?” No, the bigger question is “who didn’t want him dead?” Even his own brother—surely as big a cad as ever graced a Southern novel—had dastardly reasons to want Anderson out of his way.
Yet, while that mystery is never forgotten in the tale, what makes “Bless Your Heart” such a disarmingly delightful novel are the wonderfully crafted, diverse characters. The “Buckhead Betties” most often hold center stage, yet their privileged but decent children and their often-hapless spouses provide added layers and depth.

Decidedly not a “Buckhead Betty,” Detective Shay Claypool, a Black, divorced mother, is the law enforcement officer charged with finding out who killed Anderson, and she needs to do it quickly due to the pressure of local politics. Her partner, a competent white man who is often her opposite but also complements her talents, and a team of young detectives are on board to help. Their interplay is another plus in the novel, and there is just enough “police procedural” to make the story authentic—but not enough to get in the way of the characters.

One of the more domineering of the Buckhead Betties is a loudmouth, opinionated woman determined to stay in her bad marriage and wholly devoted to her youngest son, Freddy. Birdie runs the Buckhead Betties to some degree, and people are cautious not to end up crossways with her. She is “nothing if not a ferociously protective mother” and “’tact’ was not a four-letter word in her arsenal.” While her husband is a socially adept, nice-looking lawyer, Birdie is the one with family money. She also threatens Anderson Tupper days before his body is found. And Freddy, bless his heart, is a chip off the old block. But beneath their bullying nature, Freddy and his mom prove they each have a righteous sense of justice.

Amelia Tupper is the divorced wife of the cad of a brother of the dead man. She’s broke and unfortunately also a spendthrift, her oldest daughter hates her, and her ex-husband is determined to utterly destroy and humiliate her. She appears at first to be weak, or maybe just gentle, but as the story develops, she proves herself determined, resilient, and more than a match in the battle of the sexes. She and Anderson also have a strange financial deal—and maybe more—that just might be connected to the motive for his murder.

Kira is the new kid in town, a best-selling novelist on a deadline who shows up months after her husband and two children have already moved to Buckhead. She fabricates a reason for staying behind in California, but the “Buckhead Betties” sense the lie. Her husband is angry with her, and her son and daughter appear to hate her. She lives not in the big house with them but in the pool house out back. She and Anderson were flirting lustily with each other from the get-go, raising eyebrows and jealousies. The night of his murder, the two engaged in an attention-drawing, seductive dance fueled by the date-rape drug GHB. But who drugged who—and why—is initially as closely guarded a plot twist as why Kira had lingered in California.

Venita, a lawyer and forceful personality in her own right, is married to a much-beloved Georgia football player and Heisman Trophy winner, Marcus. They are both Black and have but one child, a son notoriously unathletic but utterly adored. They are the “Apache helicopter of helicopter parents.” Venita has adeptly managed Marcus’s career and their lives, but she makes a serious mistake in trusting Anderson Tupper and his alleged talents as a financial advisor. Thus, when their net worth plummets thanks to Anderson, Marcus knocks Anderson out in front of an audience. As a result, Marcus becomes a prominent suspect—but so too does his wife. Venita and Marcus are the only married couple in the novel with a good, solid, loving marriage, but that will be tested.

The trophy wife in the group, Sutton, is married to a much (much) older man, and she must remain married a little while longer before earning the millions the pre-nup promised her if the marriage lasts 15 years. The problem is that the husband now wants a divorce. She’s not about to lose that money—she earned it the hard way. Her husband has to pay her for each sexual act between them—it’s in the pre-nup. To supplement her income, she also sells some drugs on the side to other “Buckhead Betties.” Neither as sophisticated nor as smart as the other women in the group, she has her charms and though devious, she often operates as a kind of comic relief in the tale. Despite her social climbing and greed, she too is a devoted mother and proves herself to be far more capable than the other women might first have thought.

What these women have in common—besides their zip code and Little League—is that they are uncompromising in their love of their children and their determination to protect them at any cost. These women may be flawed, but they are good, devoted mothers. And as Detective Shay knows, “A strong nuclear interaction is said to be the most powerful force in the universe. …Yet any woman knows it pales in comparison to the supernova of a mother’s love for her child.”

All in all, “Bless Your Heart” is a totally charming book—perhaps more cozy than thriller—but the “whodunit” plot twists around here and there before landing with its surprising and gratifying climax. But oh, it’s the “Buckhead Betties” and Detective Shay that truly make this book a standout.
Leigh Dunlap, who admits to once having lived in Atlanta, is the screenwriter of the hit Warner Bros. movie A Cinderella Story, as well as other movies. A native of Los Angeles, she attended film school at the University of Southern California. She now lives part-time in South Carolina. This is her first published novel. Visit her at https://leighdunlapwrites.com/.

I love the housewives franchise and this book is a thriller with alot of rich housewives. That many I got confused at times. I did enjoy the story. Thanks to Netgalley and Crookled Lane Books for ARC.

3.5 ⭐️

Bless Your Heart was a fast paced southern charm mystery thriller. Leigh Dunlap’s debut novel had a lot of rich housewives, drama, social satire.

When a member of one of Atlanta's richest families, Anderson Tupper, was found murdered in the dugout of the Little League field where he had volunteered as a coach, Detective Shay, a single mother from the other side of town, was determined to find his killer among a group of wealthy mothers where secrets and lies were as plentiful as their luxurious handbags.

Leigh Dunlap is new author to the literary world. She wove together a story that was equal parts murder mystery and social satire. I appreciated how she considered heavier issues such as race, class, and money while delivering a light peripheral dialogue. The plot was unique and had me intrigued enough to read in its entirety. The characters were relatable but many had the personalities that you couldn’t help but love to hate.

Despite this not being one of my favorite debuts, I was intrigued by this new author and how her novel challenged everyone’s assumptions about privilege and justice.

Collectively, Bless Your Heart was a fun and entertaining read from the start and had me waiting on edge to ascertain who was the culprit until the very end. I will be keeping a look out for more entertaining novels by Leigh Dunlap. If you are a fan of May Cobb or enjoy a mix of social sarcasm and murder mystery, you will want to check out this one.

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A juicy thriller set in Atlanta's wealthy Buckhead neighborhood. I couldn't put it down. And as for the ending...I never saw it coming!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!