A police detective falls for a suspect, the suspect is the lead singer for one of the most popular bands in the world. Rav is a NYPD detective The on page chemistry is great, the banter between Rav and his police partner is spot on. Rav is a witty and charming main character. The spice is minimal, the murder mystery flows well. Nicely paced and engaging.

I was surprised to find that He's to Die For is a debut!

The book is funny, especially in its descriptions of Rav's personality—he's what some might call . . . fussy. Some might, more graciously, call him particular. Regardless, Rav is appealing and human. I enjoyed his inner monologue. The book is also sweet and sexy. The first kiss (and more) doesn't come until around the 35% mark, so it's neither quite instalove nor a slow burn. My favorite supporting character is absolutely Aisha Khan—Rav's cybersecurity expert (hacker). I'm not convinced that readers are fed enough information to support the conclusion. Still, I'm open to reading more of Dunn's work in the future.

Content warnings include murder, explicit sex, emotionally neglectful and manipulative parents, and substance abuse.

Sid Sagar is a new-to-me narrator. I enjoyed both his British and American English voices.

3.5⭐

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for early copy for review*

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Sid Sagar did a fantastic with character voices in this. Our main character Rav, is British Indian, similar to the narrator so you got a genuine British accent for him. The rest of the character are American and he did a great job at differentiating the voices.

The story was really good with Rav focusing so much on his job, being a young gay detective, than his personal life. When he meets and connects with Jack, a rock star he has to question about the death of another man, he feels drawn to him. I loved the banter between the two and the excuses to meet each other. While they fall for each other Rav still focuses on the mystery thats bigger than he first thought.

If you enjoy police procedurals that are filled with drama from the detectives and queer love stories you should check this out. I had a great time listening to it.

Erin Dunn’s debut novel, He's to Die For, is a delightful blend of romantic comedy and murder mystery that offers an engaging, character-driven narrative. Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, the story introduces readers to Detective Rav Trivedi, a sharply dressed, Ivy League-educated Brit navigating the complexities of the NYPD. When he's assigned to investigate the high-profile murder of a record executive, Rav finds himself entangled with Jack Vale, the charismatic lead singer of a popular rock band and the prime suspect in the case.

What Works:

Dunn skillfully balances humor and suspense, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The chemistry between Rav and Jack is palpable, with their interactions providing both tension and tenderness. Rav's internal struggles—balancing his professional responsibilities with personal feelings—add depth to his character and drive the story forward. The supporting cast, including Rav's colleagues and Jack's bandmates, enrich the narrative, offering additional layers of intrigue and warmth.

What Falls Short:

While the novel's length allows for detailed character development, it occasionally leads to pacing issues. Some readers may find that the central mystery becomes overshadowed by the romantic subplot, with the investigation taking a backseat at times. This shift in focus might disappoint those seeking a more traditional whodunit experience.

Final Verdict:

He's to Die For is a charming and witty debut that successfully merges elements of romance and mystery. Despite its occasional pacing issues and the mystery sometimes being eclipsed by the romance, the novel offers a satisfying read for fans of character-driven stories with a touch of suspense.

Sometimes, you just need a break from epic quests and galaxy-spanning dilemmas. Enter He’s to Die For, a delightfully romantic romp set against the backdrop of a crime procedural, and exactly the palate cleanser I didn’t know I needed.

As someone who usually dives headfirst into 700-page fantasy tomes, twisty, high-concept sci-fi, or intense historical fiction, I found this book to be a refreshing change of pace. It’s smart and engaging, but also fun, flirty, and emotionally rewarding in a way that feels effortless. The mystery adds a bit of structure and suspense, but the real heart of the story is the romance—sparkling, heartfelt, and brimming with chemistry.

Rav and Jack are the kind of characters you can’t help but root for. Rav is all posh charm with layers of vulnerability, while Jack is anxious, tender, and quietly fierce in his loyalty. Their connection feels genuine and gradual, and the emotional beats hit just right without veering into melodrama.

He’s to Die For blends genres in a way that keeps things interesting without ever feeling heavy. It’s cozy, clever, and the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after the final page. A perfect pick when you want to trade world-building maps and quantum theories for sharp banter, stolen glances, and a touch of murder. Highly recommend for fellow genre-hoppers looking for a good time.

Thank you Erin Dunn, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley!

Reading Journal Details
Book: He's to Die For by Erin Dunn
Format Read: Audiobook (~9 hours, 55 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

My Quick Take Review
He's to Die For is a fun, fast-paced mystery with heart, humor, and a memorable main character. A strong debut from Erin Dunn, and I'm definitely looking forward to delving into whatever she writes next.

My Full Review
Erin Dunn's debut, He's to Die For is a delightful and memorable murder mystery that mixes intrigue, humor, and splashes of romance. Its quirky charm and upbeat vibe gave me major Brooklyn Nine-Nine feels, making it an enjoyable and refreshing read.

The main character, Ravi Trivedi, is a lovable and charismatic character. He's confidently himself, even when making morally gray choices, and balances ambition and professionalism very well. His lively personality truly shines and makes him a standout character for me.

Then there's Jack, the main suspect, who's a literal rock star. He's also one of the sweetest characters you'll come across; think of him like a cinnamon roll with an anxiety glaze and lots of wide-eyed curiosity. His gentle, kind nature adds a softness to the story that nicely balances Ravi's bold confidence.

I feel the murder's resolution could have been a little clearer. A lot of the finale depends on backstories that weren't fully fleshed out earlier in the narrative, so it made the ending a little fuzzy. I liked the added depth those backgrounds brought, but weaving move of that history into the main plot would have made the conclusion feel more complete.

Huge shoutout to narrator Sig Sagar, who was an excellent match for the audiobook, perfectly capturing Ravi's charm and energy! His performance enriched the story and made both the funny and emotional parts even more enjoyable.

I loved this book! I found this story to but such a unique and creative one as recently ive been finding so much repetition in plots and tropes but this book stood out from the rest for sure! the characters were well developed and the mystery was a complex one that kept me guessing the whole time!

ALC Review
He's To Die For by Erin Dunn
Narrated by: Sid Sagar

This was a fun to listen to romance that focused on a murder investigation. The mystery was definitely the main focus of this story, with underlying undertones of some romance. It appeared that their chemistry was instant. This was a low spice novel but it really didn't feel like it. There was a lot of emotional connection.

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
* MM Romance
* British NY Detective x Murder suspect Rockstar
* Crime mystery with a bit of romance
* Single POV - 3rd person

Rising NYPD homicide detective Rav Trivedi investigates the murder of a record executive. He’s drawn to the charismatic—and possibly guilty—rock star suspect, placing both his career and his heart on the line.

I loved this mystery rom-com from the beginning. It’s fun and fast-paced with lovable characters and off-the-charts chemistry. The romance is swoony, while the mystery is intriguing and full of twists. The audiobook narration fits the novel perfectly.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I thoroughly enjoyed “He’s to Die For” from start to finish. This was the perfect mix of mystery and romance (that didn’t detract from the suspense), laugh out loud moments, moments of pathos, and characters that intrigued with their breadth and depth. The dynamics between Rav and Jack are in stark contrast to their chosen careers and I find their lifestyles and back stories very interesting and appealing. The primary focus of #hestodiefor is the murder mystery with all the ins and outs of dealing with a high profile case while also coping with an attraction for the ages that complicates things on so many levels. Thanks to Dunn’s immersive writing skills I have a vision in my mind of each of the characters and can see myself attending a Knickerbockers’ concert.

I’d love to see this book become a series with Rav as detective and seeing how his future prospects turn out. I feel like Rav’s story has just begun to have the surface scratched that I’d definitely come back so I could keep abreast of what adventures are next. And of course this would have a whole lot more of both Rav and Jack’s journey after this book ends along with the computer hacking skills of Aisha.

I genuinely loved this book and will be looking for more titles to come from Erin Dunn. I switched between the two formats though loved Sid Sagar’s narration so much that I primarily read the audio. Debut Canadian author Erin Dunn has cemented her place as an author to watch for with writing that is light and airy that will sweep you away with her characters.

Thank you to @macmillanaudio and @minotaurbooks @stmartinspress for the advance complimentary #alc and #drc of this title that I read on @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Available everywhere June 3, 2025.

#minotaurbooks #stmartinspress #macmillanaudio #netgalley #erindunn #debutauthor #canadianauthor #mysterybooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

4.25 stars

A fun yet suspenseful romance full of twists and turns and intrigue! The case was interesting and kept me engaged throughout. The romance was swoony and believable despite the issues of an investigator and a person of interest in a case. I felt those concerns were addressed and handled in a realistic way.i do think the twist at the end was maybe a little too dramatic in what happens after the case is solved but it feels fairly standard for the genre.

The narrator was fantastic with all of the different voices and accents he handled, no two characters sounded the same and were easy to differentiate as a reader. My only issue is when a narrator starts singing…it just almost never works since no melody is given and most people listen at a higher speed than 1x.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

Absolutely charming book.

Narrated by Sid Sager (amazing!), this follows NYPD Detective Rav Trivedi as he investigates the death of a music mogul. Rav is young for a detective, but he's also got a high clearance rate. He's smart, he's professional, he's good with witnesses, and he may be falling for the lead suspect of his case.

This was told so well. I was almost instantly engaged in the characters and what they were doing. The plot was cute but it was also well planned. I had an inkling where it was going by 50% but I didn't know who it was. And the romance was just adorable. More sex (graphic-ish) than I'd normally like in a book, but that's just me.

I'd like to see more mysteries about Detective Rav. It was truly a pleasure.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This book gave me Red, White, and Royal Blue vibes. Here for it. I loved the narration and characters. Highly recommend.

This is a fun, entertaining read. This book made me laugh and cry and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I enjoyed the romance and the mystery. Ravi and Jack are fun to spend time with. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. They also brough colour to the story with their quirkiness. The story is easy to read and get into.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a witty, funny, and adorable read. Rav and Jack are such a cute pairing that I couldn't stop smiling or laughing out loud. It's not typical that you find a LGTQIA+ romcom with a murder mystery twist. And there were definitely a couple twists I did not see coming. Highly recommend!

This was a super fun police procedural/romance. The story was intriguing with all the twists and turns you would get in a detective tv show with compelling characters and story. The romance was so cute and the main characters were broody and adorable. I could totally see this book as a Castle like tv show lol.
The narrator was great with different voices and accents for different characters that helped immerse me in the story. The pacing was great and he brought the story to life.

This was such a fun read. Really hit the mix between cozy and mystery well.

I will say right away that Rav reminded me of Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti from iZombie and in the movie of this book playing in my head the entire time, that's who I pictured. And because of that/a little because of his personality, Jack in my head was Blaine DeBeers. I use to WISH those two were cannon when watching the show so this scratched an itch I wasn't aware was still there lol.

The characters are cute, done well, and a person each all their own. Their personalities are so full and fun that you find it hard, or at least I did, to pick a favorite. The tiny details, like constantly finding out what brands Rav was wearing, were fun to me and added a little more to the experience of his POV. The plot moved right along without rushing. The mix of rom-com, murder mystery, cop drama, and band romance was excellent and the moment I scrolled past it on NetGalley I knew it was for me.

If life hadn't gotten in the way this would have been a one sitting read, but alas I had to break it up into two days.

The narrator for the audiobook version fit so very well.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'll be adding this one to my shelf when it comes out.

Rav Trivedi is all business; from his sharply dressed appearance to his constant need to work, he seems to never relax. Despite being born to an English Lord and a supermodel, to his parents' surprise, Rav has quickly climbed the ladder at his job as a detective. When he gets assigned a murder case and a primary suspect is the gorgeous rockstar, Jack Vale, things shift for Rav. As he learns more about surprisingly humble and anxious Jack, sparks fly and things quickly get complicated. Can Rav separate his feelings for Jack as he navigates a continuously twisting case, or will those feelings lend a new lens to determine the true criminal at large?

I enjoyed this book. As soon as I read the description comparing this to "The Charm Offensive," I knew I had to try it. The comparison was apt; the characters were funny yet complex, and the storyline was fun without being campy. This romcom was a nice balance of a deeper connection in an MM love story with a nice amount of spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio version of this book! The audio narrator was excellent, seamlessly moving between accents and perfectly incorporating feeling without it feeling cheesy. The narrator's voice was also pleasant to listen to.

Thank you, NetGalley & Macmillan Audio, for this audioARC and eARC in exchange for my honest review!

He's to Die For had such a fun premise, and while I immersive read this one, I just wasn’t very hooked. Crime thriller meets rom-com is a unique combo, but I realized this genre blend might not be for me. That said, it could absolutely be a hit for someone else who loves a little murder with their meet-cute. One thing I did love? Sid Sagar's audiobook narration—fantastic performance that brought the story to life!