Harry is a retired widower who recently took a fall that requires extra care. Emma is a spunky young nurse not sure if she wants to remain in the profession. Together they make a great investigate team when a neighbor is murdered. Wonderful duo.

4.25/5 stars

It's thrilling when you read several great books in a row. This was one of those books you start at 10pm, realize what an utter mistake that was because you can't put it down, and finally go to bed at 1am regretting nothing because it was such a pleasure to read.

The story centers around a cranky old widow, who has recently had some health scares and a fall, resulting in the need of a home caregiver. Harry used to be a globetrotter, but is struggling to accept his new life bereft of adventure. His caregiver, Emma, is committed to helping him back to full health. During this time, Harry's neighbor dies. With her last breaths, she calls him with a haunting message: "poison." Fueled by the belief that Sue's death is not just an unfortunate case of mistakenly consuming poisonous mushrooms, Harry investigates, pulling Emma along for the ride. Before long, the two bond over their unique situation and partnership investigations.

I came for the mystery, but I stayed for the incredibly compassionate portrayal of Harry and Emma. Harry grapples with his desire for independence alongside his recognition of his new limitations, and Emma has a plethora of personal issues to deal with, including a pushy fiance, and an indecision about what to do with her life after quitting nursing. I really, really connected with the characters and their growing relationship. I strongly recommend this book, and eagerly await future novels. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for this advanced reader copy!

Reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, an older man with a hip fracture and his caregiver stumble across the murder of a neighbor. Michelle introduces us to Harry and Emma, the next great sleuths. Their characterization was very well done, and the mystery of the novel kept me invested. It was a fun, cozy read that made me want to burn through it until the end.

This was such a charming and enjoyable cozy mystery. What I loved most was the unlikely sleuthing duo of Harry and Emma. Harry, grumpy and recovering from a fractured hip, brings dry humor and sharp observations, while Emma gradually finds her confidence and voice throughout the story. Their relationship feels warm and authentic, sometimes like a father–daughter bond, sometimes like true partners, and their dynamic adds so much heart to the mystery.

The murder itself is set in a small community brimming with secrets and eccentric neighbors. There are plenty of suspects and clues to sift through, and while the pacing is a bit slow in the first half, the gradual buildup worked well once the pieces started to fall into place. It reminded me of classic detective fiction, with shades of Miss Marple or even The Thursday Murder Club.

Overall, this is a calm yet engaging whodunit, more about the characters and their journey than shocking twists. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with gentle humor, emotional warmth, and a touch of old-school charm, this one is definitely worth picking up.

It was a good and pleasant read overall and I liked the humour and chemistry that the characters had. However, the pacing was a bit slow for me so it didn't keep me quite as hooked as I had hoped which is a shame.

unfortunately this is a dnf on chapter 3 💀 it seems interesting i guess…but the mc is nonstop casually mentioning pagan things and witchcraft and whatnot so imma pass
thank you to netgalley for the arc though!

No longer being a globetrotting anthropologist was something Harry Lancaster thought he could handle until his beloved wife, Margaret, died, his daughter and her family moved to India, and he had a fall resulting in a broken hip! Depressed and lonely, he watches his neighbours from his window, but his caregiver, Emma, is gradually getting him to step outside his front door. The sudden death of an unpopular neighbour seems to change everything, and Harry soon discovers everyone in his neighbourhood is hiding something. As he gets more mobile he and Emma begin investigating, much to the dismay of Detective Nate Bradford, and they're sure things are falling into place until there's another attack and things get a little muddled! Determined to discover the person responsible once and for all Harry and Emma double their efforts, but secrets abound in Lakeview Lane and no-one is as they seem. In fact, someone might be down right lethal!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is the author's debut novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The two main protagonists are easy to like, as is Detective Bradford, and I was rooting for them throughout. There are quite a few characters here, but I didn't find it difficult to follow even though I wasn't at all sure who the killer would turn out to be! Once I had read a couple of chapters, I was hooked, and the whole book was a pleasure. I shall definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen. The book is to be published on January 27, 2026.

Harry is a widower dealing with a fractured hip. Emma is the caregiver he hired to get him back on his feet. A neighbour in the HOA, Sue, is murdered and Harry is the last one to speak with her as she calls him for assistance. Emma, formerly a nurse, runs over and finds that Sue is already deceased.

The case is closed as an accidental death but Harry and Emma join forces to solve the murder as the facts just don’t add up.

This has been a well written, fast-paced, engaging murder mystery with a unique cast of characters in the HOA. There are lots of suspects in this quaint community.

Harry and Emma show us that two people from differing generations can connect and work well with one another. Though Harry is described as cranky, he is an intelligent, sincere, thoughtful, endearing and charming father-figure and grandfather-figure, especially in the way he dotes on Emma like a daughter.

If you enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman, you will definitely enjoy this one. This was a quick read and an easy five stars! I’d love to see the author make a series out of this to see what’s next for Harry and Emma.

Harry is recovering from a hip injury. He and his new caretaker, Emma, stumble upon a murder in the community. It was a good read overall and I liked the humour in this cozy. However, the pacing was a bit slow so it didn't keep me quite as hooked as I had hoped

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - a solid 4/5 star!

have y'all seen that Anne Hathaway movie with Robert De Niro, "The Intern"? now take that, add a murder mystery, and make Robert's character under Anne's care. it's very much giving that as they become amateur detectives in this murder mystery. (or maybe it's just because i happened to have that movie playing in the background at one point, so they kind of fit this book. 😅)

it's a cozy, mystery read. so if you're expecting a suspenseful, fast-paced thriller... this isn't that. but it's for sure a fun read. there's an eccentric cast of characters/neighbors that get introduced to the reader as both Harry and Emma try to solve the whodunit. they all tend to kind of blur together at first, but you get the hang of it somewhere in the middle, and some of them are quite interesting.

i initially fell in love with the premise of this book because i used to be a caregiver for the elderly. i know how tough they can be to handle at times. Harry's character stayed true to that in some of the most amusing ways, and it made him lovable tbh. Emma's character growth was real, believable, and refreshing. when you're a caregiver, you learn a lot about life from the people you take care of. it doesn't matter how much older they are than you, or even younger. Emma's proximity to Harry gave her the confidence she never thought she had. i loved that for her.

would i recommend this? absolutely! it was such a pleasure to read this. it's a well-written story about more than just solving a mystery. it's got heart and humor from an unlikely duo sent out to solve a mystery. their journey as individuals, and as a team, make the story what it is. and i loved it!

thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Field Guide to Murder is a clever, engaging amateur detective mystery that had me hooked from start to finish. Emma and Harry form an unlikely but compelling team, using sharp observation, logic, and life experience to untangle a web of secrets in their community. The story is full of small clues, twists, and surprises that keep you guessing right up until the end. Emma’s growth and newfound confidence are as satisfying to watch as Harry’s gentle guidance and “dad” energy. The characters feel real, likable, and well-developed, and the interplay between them adds warmth to the suspense. If you enjoy a calm yet thrilling whodunit with playful charm and clever plotting, this is a must-read.

I really enjoyed reading this murder mystery, and honestly, I almost couldn’t guess who the murderer was. It was such a rollercoaster; a fun, exciting ride from start to finish.

I loved meeting all the characters and getting to know them. Harry was such a “dad” in the best way, which was refreshing to see. Emma’s character was another highlight for me; watching her grow, find her voice, and become more confident was so satisfying.

Overall, this was a calm yet engaging murder mystery. If you’re looking for something quick, exciting, and suspenseful without being too tense, this is a great pick.

It’s a classic, cozy HOA (house owners association) whodunnit that keeps you on your toes.

I was immediately drawn to the premise of this book as one similar to Thursday Murder Club. The vibes were very similar but A Field Guide also has its own unique lens. I found the storyline to be fun and playful with characters who work well together in an unlikely team. Cullen provides a fun read and overall an enjoyable book!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was okay - it had everything you'd expect from a cozy: an unlikely sleuthing duo, a quaint community full of secrets, and a murder with some twists and turns

I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a romance between Harry and Emma. It felt like enemies to lovers since they start out as cautious tolerance and grow into genuine camaraderie, and their back and forth banter was like a slow burn fondness. But I think he's supposed to be too old for her? It was hard to tell.

But maybe it's because the overall pacing is super slow, especially in the first half, and there were way tooooooooooo-o many neighbors making them all kinda blur together. While the mystery has enough clues to keep you engaged, it’s fairly easy to spot the killer before the reveal.

If you enjoy a slower cozy with gentle humor and a cross-generational friendship or possibly romance at its heart, this is worth a read — but if you prefer your mysteries snappier and more high-stakes, it might feel a bit sluggish.

"A Field Guide to Murder" is an amateur detective mystery novel. It's a clue-based puzzle mystery. Emma and Harry were both very observant (noticing even small details) and were logical in how they considered the things they heard and observed. Harry used his life experience in observing people and discovering what motivated them along with his skill in leading people in casual conversation to provide the information he desired. It seemed like everyone in the community had secrets so there were many potential clues to expose and sort through. I was certain of whodunit several chapters before Harry figured it out, but I didn't identified whodunit until near the end of the book.

The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. There was actual character development, too. Emma was engaged to a handsome, successful man who was nice but who had different goals in life. Emma wanted to use her skills to help people, but he wanted to primarily make money. Harry tried to help her find the confidence to chose the life she really wanted while she tried to get him engaged with life again rather than feeling like a has-been. They were a good team.

There were only a few uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable puzzle mystery.

What a fun book!

Harry Lancaster, a widower recovering from a fractured hip, and his caregiver Emma stumble into a murder case. This book follows the two as they subtly question members of Harry's community, trying to uncover the truth behind what happened to Harry's neighbor, Sue.

I love reading from the perspective of older main characters, and this book reminded me of the joy I get from watching and reading about Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Harry and Emma make a wonderful team, and their interactions throughout the story are wholesome and heartwarming as their friendship gradually deepens.

I found the pacing at the beginning to be a bit slow, and it tended to remain that way at times throughout the book. It was also a bit difficult to keep track of all the characters as they were introduced, but that mostly resolved itself about halfway through.

Overall, I enjoyed this book!

Thank you to Michelle L. Cullen, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

#AFieldGuidetoMurder #NetGalley is a unique cozy mystery featuring two main characters, Harry and Emma, and not your typical pair of sleuths.
Harry is recovering from hip surgery and his cranky demeanor seems off putting in the beginning.
Harry spends his days spying on his neighbors, worrying about falling again, as well as trying not to feel like a burden. Once a strong man with an exciting career, Harry hates depending on others, even though his caretaker seems content helping him.
Emma, now responsible for Harry, was a nurse previously, but she's decided that career is no longer what she wants.
Taking care of Harry isn't bad, he's stubborn, but she cares about him and wants him to be independent again.
Harry's neighbors are very odd, and when one of them calls him, gasping for breath and asking for help, he and Emma embark on a wild investigation of possible murder.

There were parts that seemed to drag on, but overall I liked the book, and Harry and Emma made quite the team.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Several years after the death of his wife, Harry is still mourning her in the condo they bought together in an upscale retirement community. Due to a recent fall, Harry has very limited mobility, so he spends most of his time looking out the window, observing the comings and goings of his neighbors. He has a young home health nurse, Emma, who has problems of her own. Emma has recently left her job as a trauma nurse due to all the death and suffering she witnessed. She's enjoying helping Harry, but her personal life is a mess. She's recently become engaged to Blake, who is a doctor, but she feels the relationship is moving too fast. Then she learns that, without informing her, Blake is looking to move to St. Louis and take up a residency. He's going on ahead to scout out apartments. Emma doesn't want to move, but with her mother and Blake's mother busily getting the wedding details in order, she feels powerless to stop the wedding planning train. Then one of Harry's neighbors is discovered dead in her kitchen. The police are quick to dismiss the death as accidental, but as Harry and Emma start looking into the dead woman's past, they begin to suspect that there was more than one person in the neighborhood who had reason to want her dead.

I liked the relationship between Harry and Emma, but the book moved at a glacial pace. Harry was forever sat in his chair spying on the neighbors and worrying about falling again, while Emma was fighting her desire for sweets as well as trying to figure out how to break up with Blake. The various neighbors (and suspects) were a bit hard to tell apart, and the investigations didn't really seem to lead much of anywhere.