I loved this! I'm not generally a huge romance reader, and the mystery aspect really helped me stay engaged in the story. While the ending leaned a bit dramatic for my tastes, I think it fit the overall vibe of the story!

Both of the MCs grew on me in different ways - I love how confident Rav is in who he is, and how much he cares about the people he loves. Jack made me feel so seen and his journey throughout the book felt real and raw. Their romance was just so charming and sweet!

A final note: I really appreciated that the author took time to acknowledge some of the problematic elements of a career in law enforcement in America, and the prison industrial complex. Without that, I don’t think that I could have rated a cop romance so highly!

The narration by Sid Sagar was wonderfully done and he really captured Rav's personality.

The plot of this book really interested me and that’s why I wanted to listen to it but the only thing I was not sure about is the comparison to Brooklyn 99 (unpopular opinion, I dislike the show very much). I wanted to give it a shot anyway and I am so glad that I did! For starters I loved the narrating and the British accent (I’m a sucker for one 😍)! That really made the book amazing and then the romance between a detective and a rockstar?! LOVED IT! I was laughing out loud at parts and so happy for them at others! I really enjoyed the mystery part of it as well because I was really not expecting the killer to be who it was!! I throughly enjoyed the story and the only reason I did not give a full 5-stars is that there were parts that I thought were kind of lack luster and did not have the spark that the rest of the book had. Other than that I truly enjoyed the story and loved them becoming a couple in the end! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this book and give my honest feedback!

*I'm very grateful to have received an audiobook ARC from Netgalley.
My thoughts are my own, honest and unbiased*

How to be swept up in a romance mystery, surrounded by murders, conspiracy theories and fame?
Here is your answer: read this book!

An Indian Brit Detective from the NYPD falls in love with the front man of a very famous band who happens to be the main suspect in the murder investigation of their producer, a vicious man hated by all (band and fans alike) because he wouldn't sell back to the band the masters of their first albums (Swifties out there will relate).
Of course, both the murder and this (slightly unprofessional-at-first?) infatuation will have their repercussions on both Rav and Jack's lives.

I'm very sorry to say but no, I really do not get the Brooklyn Nine Nine tag line in the synopsis as there was nothing that made me think of B99 while listening to the audiobook, apart from the MC being a NYPD detective and, perhaps, a bit of his dry humor and daddy issues?
Detective Rav Trivedi is an Indian Brit, rich, dresses in fancy suits and is, well, a tinsy bit spoiled and unashamedly appreciative of life's small luxuries - so he really didn't strike me as a Jake Peralta.

BUT, all that being said, I did not enjoy this book any less!
There were murders and an actual mystery to solve, there was a lot of romance and swooning and makeout sessions and I appreciated how the mystery and the romance were equally balanced (maybe a 55/45 in favour of romance?), one never quite overpowering the other and fairly alternating without affecting the overall pace of the book.

I also appreciated how - without making the book heavier than what it should be considering it's a lighthearted mystery romcom - it was acknowledged that the police force has lots of problems (very fairly) associated with it but if all the good cops left, and nobody tried to make a change from within, where would we end up? *shudder*
And hey, for once it's the gays who are rich, get to fly on a private plane, "get away with" being romantically involved in a suspect (after paying some fair consequences, of course) and win over a rockstar's heart!

If you're looking for a love-conquers-all queer romance shaken with a murder investigation, stirred with conspiracy theories and extravagant dresses and fancy hotels... this is it!

This was such an unexpectedly amazing novel! I listened to the audiobook for this one and while it was one narrator, he did the accents so well that it was easy to tell who was speaking. He was so relaxing to listen to that I finished the audiobook in a single day because I didn’t want it to stop! Both MMC were so unique but so complex and fun to get to know at the same time. I loved the mystery to this novel and genuinely did not figure it out! It was such a good plot motivator without making the book scary (which is why I avoid thrillers!). A NYC cop with a rockstar is such and unexpected pairing, but feels natural somehow in this novel. I adored the mental health representation and the theme of becoming yourself (without outside/parental influences). I enjoyed the diversity of the cast and all the supporting characters. It really made the mystery throughout this so much more interesting. In reading this, I kept thinking it would make such an excellent movie! This is such a worthwhile read and even though I know the answer to the mystery, I want to go back to catch all the clues along the way now! Absolutely a favorite from this year! 5⭐️, 2🌶

This is not my favourite genre but I loved it. The banter is cute and funny and just what I love. The plot is interesting but again not my favourite genre as I’m more of a sports fan but do love a MM story.

My only issue is that I prefer dual POV but I’m not opposed to a single POV. I do love the narrator and the accent doing both male parts.

He's to Die For is the m*rder cute between Rav Trivdei, a NYPD homicide detective, and Jack Vale the front man of a wildly popular rock band, The New Knickerbockers...who is also the main suspect in Rav's latest case involving a dead music agent that swiped the masters of The Nicks first two albums out from right under their noses.

Erin Dunn wrote such a charming mystery romance! The romance between Rav and Jack was tender, but I thought He's to Die For's strongest suit was the mystery aspect which truly kept me interested throughout the entire novel. She sets up what seems like a relatively straightforward m*rder plot and spends the remainder of the book keeping the reader on their toes to figure out who done it.

I began reading the ALC with my earballs, but was so invested I had to switch over to eyeball reading which I can do a lot faster. The book is incredibly well written and I thought the audio narrator had genuinely great comedic timing while telling this story, so you really cannot go wrong with either version!

I think will be a great read for the diehard Law & Order folks who love a fun crime procedural.

I received copies of this ARC and ALC from the publisher. All opinions are honest and my own.

He’s to Die For follows Rav, a homicide detective who's smart, polished, and in over his head with a murder case and one very attractive suspect. Think murder mystery meets slow-burn romance, with great banter, plot twists, and a lead character you’ll absolutely root for.

Perfect for fans of queer romance, whodunits with personality, or anyone who loves a detective who can catch a killer and rock a designer suit.

One quirky detail I noticed in the audiobook: the narrator occasionally slipped into British pronunciations even when voicing American characters. It wasn’t a deal breaker, but it did stand out, especially in contrast to the otherwise polished narration. A small hiccup in an otherwise engaging performance.

I really wanted to love this! The summary and the cover immediately caught my attention, but something just wasn’t working for me. I’m not sure if it was the story just felt boring to me or if i couldn’t connect to the narration of the audio, but after 6 days of attempting to get past 50% i have decided to soft DNF. I’m hoping to come back to this, but right now I feel pushing through will make me hear the book even if i don’t hate it!

He’s to Die For is a delightful romance that is part celebrity romance/part murder mystery. Both plots take equal focus, one never suffering for the sake of the other. For those looking for more plot to their novels, this would be the perfect pick.

Sid Sagar does an outstanding job with the narration. Who doesn’t love an accent?

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

He's To Die For is incredibly charming. A deft blend of mystery, friendship, and romance, it offers clever dialogue and surprising plot twists. I appreciated the cast of side characters who had distinct identities and individual agency, and with the depth of personal backstory we got about the central couple, especially Rav. I didn't expect this much nuance from the blurb! A sweet, snarky, sneaky delight.

He’s to Die For was exactly the kind of book I didn’t know I needed to break me out of a reading slump. A twisty murder mystery paired with a swoonworthy, slow-burn MM romance? Say less. The balance between solving murders and building real romantic tension was so well done, it never felt like one overshadowed the other. Rav, our fashion-forward detective, was such a refreshing take on the genre, and his chemistry with rockstar Jack was instant but still emotionally layered. The humor? Top tier. I actually laughed out loud multiple times, not in a cringe way, but in a “wow, this dialogue is hilarious and feels real” way.

Also, huge shoutout to Sid Sagar, who absolutely nailed the audiobook narration. He did an amazing job switching between characters so seamlessly while still capturing all the tension, emotion, and chemistry between Rav and Jack. His performance really brought the story to life and made the experience even more addictive. If you love murder mysteries, messy-but-tender relationships, and characters who feel genuinely human, definitely pick this one up.

Okay but this was actually really great. It kind of annoys me that it is advertised as a murder cute (meet cute) because honestly sure their relationship was sweet but mostly this was a murder mystery novel. Maybe not an incredibly dark and gritty one, but there was a lot of detective work and policing going on. Rav was a very fu main character and I loved his fancy clothes and aesthetic. Jack was actually a really lovely partner for him as well. I do so enjoy the reluctant superstar. Overall this was a really interesting story and I was surprised at all of the twists and turns the story took. Overall a great read.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this audioARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a kick ass debut. Part murder mystery detective novel, part gay Rockstar romance, 100% engaging and adorable. I adored Raj, such a well written, layered, funny character.

This was a really fun listen, the narrator did a phenomenal job with all the characters. The story itself was a lot of fun and the characters were all spectacular. It was the right amount of hilarious and serious throughout for me, and I don't think I could have asked for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for letting me listen to this early!

I received an audiobook arc from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I knew I would love it when the blurb mentions Brooklyn 99. Just imagine holt but British. The romance is the main focus with the murder mystery being second. The murder mystery was definitely predictable so I think romance lovers will prefer this more. I consider this as a cozy mystery. I do like that the book is LGBT and there is a lack of LGBT main characters in the murder mystery genres. The audiobook was great!

Rav is the youngest homicide detective in NYPD and he is determined to prove himself. This proves difficult when he meets Jack, a rock star who is a murder suspect in his current case. Rav tries to keep it professional, but his chemistry with Jack is off the charts.

This is a great mix of romance and mystery. A bit of a slow burn romance wise but the banter was top notch. The twists and turns of the story kept me intrigued, always wanting to know what happens next.

The narrator did a phenomenal job with great accents and tone that really added to the humor and intrigue of the story.

Tropes:
* Celebrity Romance
* Murder Mystery
* Forbidden Romance
* Anxiety Rep

4 stars

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.