Peter Pulaski Must Pay by Jen Lancaster was a twisty, fun, humorous novel. I’ve been a Bitter since day one so I was honored to be able to read this arc. I very much enjoyed this as I have her other literary fiction novels. I found Jen’s humor coming through and enjoyed the pop culture references. There were mystery and thriller elements in addition to touching friendships who could hope to have.

I've been hearing some things about this author's books for a while, and now I decided to give it a go. Maybe I didn't pick the 'right book' by this author? Or maybe this book simply doesn't work for me?
Thing is: I didn't truly enjoy my reading experience. The plot itself appeals to me, but the execution ended up not working with me. I didn't connect or care about the protagonists, and there are, in my opinion, too many characters to pay attention to. I'd say that, except for the protagonist couple, the other characters are not well developed. This is not a long book, maybe it could have been a bit longer so the other characters could shine better.
Jen Lancaster's writing is fine with me. I had no issues with her writing itself. I just didn't love the execution. I'm pretty sure other readers will enjoy this book better than I did.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for allowing me to read this eARC.

Peter Pulaski Must Pay centers around the “Friday Night Doom Crew,” so named since they are an eclectic mix of members united in their passion for true crimes. This passionate group of junior sleuths recently discovered a mystery they are determined to solve - a mystery around member, Diana’s, husband who seems to be involved in illegal activities. They are determined to come together as a Doom Crew to find out what Peter Pulaski is up to and ensure that he pays. And the Doom Crew must make Peter pay with out losing their friend Diana.

Peter Pulaski was written with the humor that I’ve come to expect from my favorite Jen Lancaster books, but this one also isn’t afraid to shy away from the serious issues (this is true of some of the recent books as well, it’s just worth noting). She managed to create a book that manages to address complicated issues in marriage and friendships while also identifying the lighter side of the situation. When this group of amateurs start “investigating” they get themselves in a pickle or two (I won’t spoil it for you, I’ll only say “trash bags.”). Peter Pulaski was definitely worth the read, especially for anyone who is a self-proclaimed crime junkie, or who just enjoys a good read.

I typically love this author's work - and this is no exception - but this one had too many characters for me to fully invest in any of them.

I have loved Jen Lancaster since she first started writing her hilarious memoirs and of course, I've read every one of them. Once she started writing fiction, I was skeptical because some of the novels didn't live up to her usual humor. However, this book totally reminded me of why I started reading Jen Lancaster in the first place! It was full of her funny banter. The story was told from various points of views and each of the characters, had their unique, hilarious personality. I literally laughed out loud at many points throughout the story. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a light, funny book about getting revenge.

Peter Pulaski Must Pay
By Jen Lancaster
Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opini0n.
They’re an eclectic group of true-crime enthusiasts—a forensic psychologist, historian, and popular Instagram presence among them—dedicated to sleuthing out nefarious offenders and doing whatever it takes to set things right. But when dark secrets threaten one of their own, the Doom Crew grapples with how far they are willing to go to protect her.
I wanted to like this book more because I like the author and could hear her voice as a I read. But there was too much focus on pop culture, and it just was a miss for me.

This was such a fun little cozy mystery. From the very first chapter, I was hooked by the premise: a group of true crime obsessed friends, connected online during the pandemic, who now meet weekly to discuss cold cases and conspiracy theories.

The Doom Crew: Eli, Frankie, Carmen, Stella, Jazz, and Diana, are an eclectic bunch with wildly different lives but an unshakable bond. What starts as a fun, quirky friend group dynamic takes a sharp left turn when the crew begins to suspect Diana’s husband, Peter, is not just a jerk but possibly something much worse.

Inspired by a Japanese trend where everyday people deliver justice for petty crimes, the crew begins investigating Peter and what they uncover is wild. Think illegal double life, shady secrets, and some deeply satisfying sleuthing.

What’s not to love here: the group dynamic is creative, witty, loyal, and hilarious. The storyline is twisty, fun, with lots of drama.

If you love true crime with a bit of revenge-ish vibes, and found family, then this might be a really good pick for you.

A random group of true crime enthusiasts come together when the husband of one of their members is found to be a criminal himself. I wanted to like this book because I like the author. I could hear her voice in each of the characters. There was way too much description and pop culture references for each of the characters. And the ending came together in such a weird and random way. This reminded me of the author’s other book “The Anti-Heroes” with a group of people coming together to fight a wrong.

Jen Lancaster is one of my absolute favorites. I just finished reading Peter Pulaski Must Pay, and this title is no exception.

The book introduces the DOOM crew, a group of true crime aficionados who raise funds for victim advocacy. They investigate cold cases with the hope of solving the cases. In this book, they become interested in a Japanese method of punishing the perpetrator of a crime by returning the bad karma to that person using non-lethal means.

Dr. Peter Pulaski is the husband of Diana, the group's social media manager extraordinaire. Diana is a lovely person, always volunteering, bringing treats to friends and neighbors, and rescuing unadoptable animals. Peter is a scumbag of the highest order, and the group decides he must pay for his sins.

I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to any and all cosy mystery lovers, as well as Jen Lancaster fans.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this book from Net Galley.

#PeterPulaskiMustPay#JenLancaster#NetGalley

Peter Pulaski Must Pay by Jen Lancaster offers an engaging take on the mystery genre, deftly blending sharp humor, vibrant character dynamics, and moments of genuine emotions. The novel and a delightfully lively energy and doe not take itself too seriously. The Friday Night Doom Crew is a diverse group of true crime enthusiasts bound by a shared love for justice. When the group learns that Diana’s husband, Peter Pulaski, is both unfaithful and entangled in a medical fraud scheme, they decide that he must face consequences. Their commitment to righting this personal wrong evolves into a series of delightfully chaotic escapades, underscored by witty dialogue and clever interplay.

Lancaster excels in crafting characters whose quirks and imperfections strengthen the story. As the group tries to orchestrate Peter’s downfall the entertaining story did not lose sight of the groups friendship as a source of strength and mischief. Beneath the comedic surface, the novel explores the complexities of loyalty and the unpredictable path of vengeance, all with a tone of warmth, humor, and a refreshingly human touch.

The novel concludes with a twist that was both surprising and satisfying. It is a fitting end to a story that grounded itself it chaos and celebrates camaraderie.

Thank you NetGalley and Little A for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I’ve been a Jen Lancaster fan for a long time. While I prefer her memoirs to her fictional works, I will happily read anything she writes. Peter Pulaski Must Pay is a light, fun novel set in Chicago and its suburbs with a little dark and twisty thrown in for good measure. I loved all of the local and pop culture references. The characters and the plot were a little over the top, but that’s what made it fun. I enjoyed reading this but I could also see this being a very entertaining movie. Keep writing, Jen, and I’ll keep reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

**Peter Pulaski Must Pay** by Jen Lancaster is a whip-smart, hilariously dark romp that keeps you hooked from the first twist. The story follows Diana Pulaski and her ragtag “Friday Night Doom Crew”—a group of true-crime junkies—as they unmask her husband Peter’s illegal pill mill scheme and brazen affair . Lancaster’s signature wit shines in the chaos of amateur sleuthing, blending snarky banter with genuine emotional stakes. It’s equal parts revenge comedy and heartfelt drama, a binge-worthy mix of chaos, loyalty, and justice served—perfect for readers craving laughs alongside a satisfying moral reckoning.

Dr. Pulaski is not as perfect as he appears to be. The book starts fun and lighthearted but ends up covering pretty heavy topics. Good plot but so much character building! The descriptions of the characters' life, what they think and do, goes on and on. We are presented with details and descriptions of most minute things. Sometimes i got lost in a story by all the fluff. Also how did Diana become a maid? Cooks for dinner veal piccata followed by chicken dinner (since the teenager doesn't eat veal anymore) and finishes the meal with cooking a fish for Peter since that's what he wants! In what world Diana??? In 21st century no women keeps a restaurant at home!
Solid 4 star read for me.

The story centers on Diana Pulaski, who at first seems like the kind of suburban wife who alphabetizes her spice rack—but when her perfect doctor husband turns out to be cheating and running a shady pill mill? Oh, it’s game on. Enter the “Friday Night Doom Crew”—a gang of smart, snarky women who love true crime a little too much—and suddenly we’re in revenge territory. But not your typical revenge. This is revenge with spreadsheets, disguises, and psychological warfare

I've been reading Jen Lancaster's books since her first (Bitter is the New Black) and have been a HUGE fan. I was excited when I saw her new book, Peter Pulaski Must Pay, was available on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Jen has done it again. Her last few books have been novels, as opposed to memoirs. I love them all. Peter Pulaski is a Doctor and the husband of Diana, one of the members of the "Doom Crew." The Doom Crew met during the pandemic and are true-crime officianados. Her fellow crew members realize her husband isn't treating Diana and their children as he should be and decide to scare him straight. Lancaster includes a lot of pop culture references, especially if you are Gen X. This is one of the things I enjoy most about her writing. This book won't disappoint!

I loved the premise of this book because - who doesn't love a huge plot twist? But unfortunately all of the different character POV got a little crazy - maybe we should have just stuck with Eli and Diana...

This book was not what I expected it would be. It was a fairly enjoyable read, and I found the plot gripping. However, the narrative voice felt more like the tone of a romance book than what ended up being a thriller. I am still not entirely sure what genre this book would be classified as. It felt like two completely different books - The first half was very jokey and light, with no real plot involved other than a group of friends hanging out. The second half completely shifted into a thriller/mystery covering some quite serious topics. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first and wish it had been like that from the beginning. The characters' friendship was very well portrayed; however, I felt like the characters themselves were caricatures, and most only had 1 main personality trait. It is also worth noting that there are a LOT of current references in this book (Taylor Swift lyrics, mentions of TikTok and COVID), so if those put you off, I would not recommend. Overall, I feel the tone was a bit off, but for the most part the plot was interesting and it got wrapped up well.

Another wonderful book by Jen Lancaster. I've been a fan of hers since "Bitter is the New Black," and I eagerly anticipate the release of each of her new books. A group of true-crime enthusiasts plan revenge on someone close to their group. The feeling of the book remains light-hearted even in the face of fairly serious revenge. Anyone familiar with Lancaster and Bosnak's hilarious podcast "Meet the Mess" will catch references from their show, and will of course hear Lancaster's signature snarky tone throughout the book. A truly enjoyable read!

Amateur sleuths called The Doom Crew coming together to nail a cheating husband and an illegal pill ring to a fellow member of the Crew? Yes, please!

This reminds me of Ashley Winstead's newest book, This Book Will Bury Me

Thank you so much NetGalley and Little A for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun quirky mystery albeit it is not a whodunit. The story starts with a true crime group (because why not). I glossed over what they did in their DoomCon because it was a super huge info dump at the beginning. It was challenging to get to know who is who due to this.

But later the book picked up really well. It's funny and quirky and about friendships. I wish we had heard more from Lilly in the story as she is shown rarely!