Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of the audiobook. Sid Sager did a good job on this one. A few British words slipped through on the American main but they were amusing. He was definitely the right choice for this story.

This was solid but the Brooklyn 99 comparison is unfair. This is upbeat without being comedic and I don’t mean this in a bad way just an observation way.

I enjoyed this but I did struggle. The two prominent female characters were Eloise and Erica (I’m now questioning myself on this name but it was an E name either way). Men had a bunch of M names: Moe, Miller, Manafort, etc. Every time there was a big reveal I’d have to take a long second to remember who that even was.

They were sweet together. I would recommend this one.

4.25

This was incredibly cute and very fun!

I don't know what I expected going in but it wasn't this wholesome romance with a heavy dose of murder mystery and a bit of angst.

A cop that tries to solve a murder and a suspect that is also a rockstar for a special rockstar romance angle, a conspiracy theory, ...What could've gone very wrong, ended up being an immaculate mix of tropes that worked much better than I they should have.

I love both Rav and Jack, their dynamic and the way they orbit around each other from the very first moment was beautiful to watch. There are so many layers, so much information that needs uncovering and in perfect murder mystery fashion, Rav went on the hunt for clues that should have felt more urgent but actually was quite fun.

Their romance plot was honestly so beautiful, not least because it was somewhat realistic (beyond the rockstar x cop situation).

I also very much liked the side characters, the depth they had where needed without taking away from the main characters. And in a book where almost everyone could be a suspect, it's so much fun how the author slowly revealed more and more while always keeping my wanting, well... more.
And I have to admit that until shortly before Rav figures it out, I did NOT have a clue who did it.

The narration was so good, too, Sid Sagar really brought in all the emotion and did a great job at giving the characters life with the individual voices.

On top of that, He's to Die For doesn't only get away with pop culture references (which can easily disrupt a story in my opinion), it very much profited from them! They were like fun little easter eggs that added an extra level of humour.

The writing was great! The way the author crafted this plot around the solving of the case, made it easy enough to follow and not overshadow the romance while still allowing for it to be multi faceted and layered enough to naturally draw out the actual resolution? Amazing!

I mean, the book feels low stakes although someone got killed in the first chapter and the love interest is a suspect. :D

Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Dunn and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book

Finished this in one day because I really wanted to know who the culprit was!!! The narrator did a fantastic job with this story. His voice is so soothing 😂 anyways there are some twists and turns in this story that kept me interested! You think you have it all figured out but when you keep going you’re absolutely wrong. At one point it’s actually hard to figure out who to trust 😅 this story is a good blend of suspense, romance and some humor!

Thank you so much for the early ALC!

This book really did it for me! The characters were compelling, and I enjoyed both the love story and the mystery. There were quite a lot of characters to keep track of in the beginning, but otherwise it was highly listenable and entertaining. The humor was just right, and I liked seeing the MCs get together. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

With the exception of some misplaced British pronunciations in the mouths of American characters, the narration was excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to other books narrated by Sid Sagar.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this ALC and provide honest feedback.

He’s to Die For
By Erin Dunn
Narrated by Sid Sagar
4 ⭐️

I found this story to be sweet, entertaining, and dreamy. The MCs are very lovable; they had me rooting for them immediately. I also enjoyed the mystery aspect as well. It took backseat to the romance in my experience. It gave some surprising turns at the reveal. I do think the show:tell ratio is a little off here and there with a bit too much tell vs show happening for my preference. Not a huge issue but definitely noticeable.

I combo read this one via the ebook and audiobook. Both options were solid. I don’t think anyone will be shocked when I say I lean towards the audiobook. Sagar has a smooth voice that is easy to listen to and lets the reader get lost in the story. This is a yes on the recommendation list for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Dunn, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan audio for the eARC and audiobook ARC. 🎶

One night stand. Detective x suspect. Cop x rockstar.

"It's not the first time he's been attracted to someone he shouldn't be. Attraction is a primal thing; you can't control it. You can only control your actions, and he's always been pretty disciplined about that.”

The beginning had me hooked but the lack of communication just bugged me so much (this is a personal preference thing).

Overall the book was fun and enjoyable.

4 stars

Oh, this is the romance of 2025 so far. Get your hands on it ASAP.

Rav is a fantastic character, and for me, he MADE this book. He's the youngest member of the NYPD homicide squad, he's British, and he's queer, and this is just scratching the surface. When Rav gets a pretty high profile case with even higher profile suspects and ancillary parties, he's driven by his sense of right to find justice, but he's also driven by other parts of himself to find...what I'll call here romance.

Lately, I've been really burned by some of these "for fans of..." comparisons, but in this case, the _Brooklyn 99_ and _The Charm Offensive_ mashup is a fair pitch. I will admit that this one did not grip me as intensely as Cochrun's work, but it is absolutely a respectable runner up. I'd LOVE to see this build into a series.

This was a fun listen (absolutely recommend the audio version when and where accessible), and I recommend this one to those looking for a fun romance featuring a compelling lead.