Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch A Killer by Bellamy Rose

This book follows Pomona Afton — think Paris Hilton or Elle Woods — as she attempts to solve her second murder case. Determined to be taken more seriously, Pomona is working hard to turn her life around, starting with launching her own foundation. Everything seems to be going well until, at her very first gala, one of the guests of honor is murdered. Now Pomona must prove her first solved case wasn’t just a fluke — she’s ready to catch a killer again.

It took me a few chapters to really get into the story and the characters, but by the end, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Pomona reminds me a lot of Paris Hilton or Elle Woods — which can be a bit much at times — but that’s exactly the kind of character she is, and the author does a great job portraying her.

While I had fun reading the book, I do wish the plot had been a bit more fleshed out. Some parts felt glossed over, and I would have loved to explore them more. On the other hand, a few chapters that didn’t contribute much to the plot felt like they dragged a bit.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, fun, and light-hearted read. If you’re a fan of funny murder mysteries (think Vera Wong) or love the vibe of Legally Blonde, this might be right up your alley. I’d definitely read another Pomona Afton book in the future!


I also plan to share this review to my Instagram closer to the book release date.

Pomona Afton returns! Picking up not long after the epilogue of book one, our MC is planning her first gala with the assistance of friend-turned-foe-turned-friend Vienna. I loved seeing the continued repair and growth of their friendship. Unfortunately for Pom, a wealthy donor dies at her gala, and Vienna looks likes she's hiding something.

Once again, we have a good mystery. I had an idea of which character might be guilty as the book went on, but wasn't fully confident on the why. There are clues, but it's got complexities! Pomona finds an even more dramatic way to confront the murderer than last time. Top entertainment!

Pomona herself seemed to take a step back in the beginning of the book, with selfish internal thoughts and disgust at the idea of taking the subway. If she gets too insufferable, it really does help to picture her as Alexis from Schitt's Creek. She does find her footing and more personal growth as the story goes on. Related, I was happy to see some tension introduced to her relationship with Gabe. It would have been unrealistic for people from such different worlds to not struggle a bit.

Per guidelines, I will share this review to my Storygraph closer to pub date. Thanks, Atria, for my first ARC!

Just finished Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer and OMG this was such a fun ride 😍✨. Imagine if Clueless met Only Murders in the Building—that’s Pomona: glamorous, dramatic, and totally unprepared to find a dead body at her own gala. The mystery is cozy, the romance is adorable (the banter had me giggling), and Pom’s growth from spoiled heiress to relatable, lovable sleuth is so satisfying. If you want something witty, fashionable, and murderously fun, this needs to be on your TBR 💕🔎👠.

I really like Pomona as a character. The quickness we're introduced to side characters was still an issue for me. Plus, like the last book, I figured out the murder but not the MO. I felt like this one was pretty weak. Still, this is such a fun series and I'm all in.

I read the first book in this series, Pomona Afton Can So Solve A Murder, last year and found it a fun, frothy time. Pomona is a party girl heiress who finds herself getting involved in solving murders. In the first book, she solves the murder of her grandmother. In this one, she’s solving the murder of one of the biggest donors to her foundation. Pomona is silly and out-of-touch, but with a good heart. There’s not much character-building in this - Pomona remains mostly the same person she was at the beginning. I don’t necessarily know that this series is doing anything super unique, but it’s fun and light-hearted and an easy way to spend a few hours. Something I liked about this one is that it reintroduces characters and storylines from the first novel is a pretty seamless way - sometimes with sequels, the table-setting is all forced into the first few pages of the book, but Rose spreads little easter eggs to the first novel throughout this one. It does spoil the murderer of the first one, so beware! This knows what it is and isn’t trying to be something it’s not, and if you go into it expecting a fun mystery with low stakes, you’ll pleased.

I really enjoyed the first Pomona Afton book, so I went into this sequel with high hopes. While Pom is still as charming, funny, and over-the-top as ever, this one felt a bit like a retread of the first. Her inner monologue is always entertaining, I laughed at her self-centered antics and her complete lack of awareness about how “normal” people live, but after a while, her fixation on appearances and what others think of her started to wear thin.

The setup is fun: Pomona throwing another lavish event, only to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation again. I enjoyed the satire of high society, the new cast,especially Bibi, and the gorgeous worldbuilding that jumps off the page. But the mystery itself wasn’t as gripping this time around, and the relationship drama I expected with Gabe fizzled since he was barely around.

That said, I did enjoy Pom’s moments of self-reflection, and I liked the way the ending tied things together with a cute twist that leaves the door open for more adventures. This was a decent follow-up with lots of witty, glitzy fun, but it didn’t grab me quite as much as the first book did.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I got to read both books in this series as arcs and I am sad I have to wait for the third to come out

Heiress
Quick easy fun read

Good storyline for the second book. Couldn’t figure out the killer until the end. Hope to read more of Pomona Afton!

I’ve said it before but sequels are hard, especially when I enjoyed the first book so much. There is definitely a lot to like in this book and the mystery is solid, but I found Pom a bit less charming this time around.

She shows growth after losing access to her money in the first book and it’s great she opened her bakery, but she seems to have reverted back to the rich, selfish, out of touch version of herself now. And it isn’t really clear why she is dating Gabe still when she seems to not really like him or treat him well. I know a book needs some drama but I found that challenging.

However, I still largely enjoyed the book and would read more.

When a kinder, more compassionate Pom 2.0 hosts a charity gala where one of the guests ends up dead, she’s once again on the case to find a killer. Can she do it? Spoiler alert: Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch A Killer. Thank you Bellamy Rose/ Amanda Elliot, Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced copy of this book.

Out April 14th, 2026 Second book in the Pomona Afton series
In this book the stakes are higher, the suspects more slippery, and Pomona herself. Still a hurricane in high-tops, armed with intuition, caffeine, and a questionable understanding of boundaries. “I didn’t mean to interrogate him. I just asked if he liked jazz and he cried.”

The plot zips along with the same fizzy energy as before, but now there’s a deeper emotional undercurrent that sneaks up on you like a cat in a library. Relationships evolve, secrets unravel, and Pomona’s knack for stumbling into danger remains delightfully intact. The town is still a character in its own right—quirky, cozy, and just a little cursed. “There was a goat in the mayor’s office, and no one was surprised.”

This sequel doesn’t just deliver—it dances on the table while doing it. With laugh-out-loud moments, a mystery that keeps you guessing, and a heroine whose equal parts chaos and charm, it’s the kind of book that makes you want to solve crimes with your best friend and a backpack full of snacks. You’ll finish it thinking: “Wait… was that clue in the lasagna?"

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC!

Who doesnt love a little mystery? This one hooked me by the cover, but the story kept me reading. Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for this ARC.

Pomona Afton is back to solve another murder & this time it happens at her very first nonprofit gala where everyone who’s everyone, attends. Desperate to show society that she’s not just some rich party heiress but someone who has changed & wants to help underprivileged students, she can’t help when those around her are obsessed with her past. When Mr. Phlume is murdered at the gala, Pomona once again decides she’s going to be the one to solve his murder, not only to clear her bffs name, but to also preserve herself from societal ruin.

At times, I found Pomona to be mean and rude but I guess that comes with Rich Heiress territory. She didn’t seem too “reformed” from when she lost access to her trust fund and money in the first book. She’s incredibly self centered, but honestly, I can’t be too mad at her 🤣

I don’t think I connected with this authors writing style. While this book is a quick read, I didn’t find the writing to be very good. I liked the murder mystery aspect the most and that’s what I stuck around for.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC-

Love coming along on Pom’s adventure as she grows up a little bit more. Starting a charity, running a bakery, handling her parents, throwing shade in a conversation, and solving a murder- Pom can do it all!

This was fun and light but still carries enough bite to make you crave a twisted cake stick from the Queens Night Market.

What will befall Pom next?

This book was both witty and a delight! If you’re looking for a quick, fun read then look no further! I would describe this as a cozy mystery that has fun, quirky side characters. None of them take themselves too seriously and it was just such a fun time!

This was a fun book! I loved the first one and I was happy to see Pom’s story continue. I think that this book didn’t have as many twists and turns as the first book but I really enjoyed it. I liked how Pom caught the killer and I did actually guess who it was so that was fun for me! I also enjoyed seeing how Pom and Gabe’s relationship has grown. Overall, I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoyed the first book!

This was a quick and enjoyable follow up to <i>Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder</i>. I was invested immediately and had trouble putting the book down.

The setting of the murder was definitely interesting and I had so many questions by the time the murder was committed and they were all answered by the end of the book.

I liked Pomona's character but I will say that she irritated me a lot more in this book than the previous one. She almost seems more selfish than she was in the first book. A lot of the things she said in her head baffled me or gave me the ick.
Loved Gabe as much as I did before and my heart ached for him at times. He deserves the world.

I would recommend this to those who read the previous book and are interested in seeing what happens next with Pomona.

<i> Thank you to Atria and NeGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. </i>

I had so much fun walking back into Pom’s world! There is something so heartening about her — it’s the Cher Horowitz of it all. Pom is so in her own head and in her own world most of the time, but she’s also growing so much. It’s been so meaningful to see how she’s changed from the beginning of book one to now. But, like she realized in this book, there are parts of the Old Pom to hold on to — which is a good lesson for us all! I wish there had been more Gabe (who I adore), but regardless, watching them sleuth their way through yet another murder was so entertaining and so edge-of-my-seat-inducing. Hoping and praying we see more from them (and Bellamy Rose) soon — knowing Pom, I’m sure she’ll find herself in the midst of another mystery soon enough!

*Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer* by Bellamy Rose is such a fun, clever mystery with a heroine you can’t help but root for. Pomona’s wit, determination, and knack for finding herself in the most bizarre situations had me turning pages just to see what she’d get into next. It’s equal parts charming, twisty, and laugh-out-loud funny—perfect if you like your mysteries with a side of sass.

This book was pure chaotic, clever, small-town mystery gold. Bellamy Rose gives us a heroine you can’t help but root for—Pomona Afton—whose sharp wit, lovable awkwardness, and unshakable determination make her one of the most relatable amateur sleuths I’ve ever read.

When a murder shakes her quiet town, Pomona is all in—armed with questionable plans, a knack for stumbling into suspicious situations, and a “totally under control” approach to investigating (read: absolutely not under control). The blend of humor, small-town gossip, and genuine stakes makes the mystery addictive without losing its cozy charm.

The suspects were layered and interesting, the clues sprinkled in so perfectly that I was sure I had it figured out… until the reveal blindsided me. The banter was sharp, the pacing kept me hooked, and I found myself laughing one moment and speed-flipping pages the next.

✨ If you love cozy mysteries with big personality, hilarious hijinks, and a heroine who’s equal parts determined and delightfully human—Pomona Afton is your girl.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.