i lovedddd this book!! great characters and surprising ending!! i was hooked the whole time! the narrator was also great!

I loved this SOOOO MUCH!!! Melissa’s writing + Karissa’s immaculate narration was the PERFECT COMBINATION!!!! I will be reading this book again and again!!!!

This was witty, engaging, entertaining, enthralling, cosy, heartwarming and just so wonderfully executed!

Thank you NetGalley, Nelson Thomas Publishing, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Melissa Ferguson for the ALC.

This was described as a laugh out loud Rom-com and while I don't normally like romances and it would have in fact put me off, I was in the mood for a chuckle. So glad I was, it might not have been as funny as I was looking for but I still enjoyed it and would have missed out on a great story. Yes there was a romance but as it was a slow burn, the story was all about the solving of the mystery and getting to know the characters. Who I liked, I even liked the romance building between two of them. I think this was all down to the author and the way she helped the reader to get to know the cast of quirky characters , before of course everybody became a suspect. I never suspected the twist or even saw it coming but it certainly caught my imagination. I really hope this is just the start of a new series because I would love to join the cast for another outing.
Being a personal assistant to an author that likes to be authentic is hard work, especially when he is a mystery writer and has you trying poisons or diving without a tank but it also has it perks. One of them is joining him and a group of his fellow bestselling writers on a meet and greet cruise ship. Things go wrong for Pip when she discovers her boss dead. Having reserved the entire section of the ship for the writes it means with nobody else having access, one of his friends is the killer. With the ships security less than competent Pip has no choice but to carry out her own investigation. Can she carry on like nothing is wrong, so the fans don't panic and interview her friends like they are suspects? Because her life might just depend on it
I liked the narrator. She did some amazing voices, making it easy to picture the characters and experience the emotions along side them.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Without a Clue is such a delightful mix of romcom and mystery! Melissa Ferguson’s signature humor and charm shine through in every scene, and I loved the quirky, eccentric authors on the high seas book cruise. Penelope is such a relatable, witty heroine, and her chemistry with Nash is absolutely sweet. The murder mystery kept me turning pages, and the journey, full of twists, laughs, and heart, was pure fun. As a longtime fan, I can honestly say this might be her best yet!

I seriously loved this book. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but once I got a few chapters in I was hooked. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be so much of a mystery, and I loved it. The twists and turns were great and left me constantly second guessing who-dun-it.

This was honestly just really fun. Think the movie Clue, a cruise, and a group of quirky authors and you get this book! This was cheesy in a good way, mysterious, and fun!
I loved Pip, our FMC, and her journey in building her self esteem and confidence while she solves this crime!
I loved the narration and was entertained the whole time!

Hahaha I loved this book it was cute and awkward in so many places.

Penelope DuPont, a personal assistant to the famous author Hugh griffin goes on a cruise with the fabulous seven, seven authors who have each others back, and promote each others books. When Hugh ends up dead day one after telling Penelope that someone is after him, she takes it upon her self to find out the truth. All while falling in love with Nash, her best buddy when she can reach him and he is always part of the fabulous 7. Can she uncover who did it in time!

I find this book awkward because this wouldn’t ever happen but it’s was cute and something light I really enjoyed.

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson was such a fun, delightful audiobook experience! I absolutely loved this story from start to finish. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and keeping the tone perfectly balanced between mystery, romance, and humor.

I’m always a sucker for a good mystery romance, and setting it on a cruise ship just made it even better. The confined setting added to the suspense while still keeping things light and entertaining. The chemistry, the twists, and the cozy-but-intriguing vibe kept me hooked the entire time.

This audiobook was pure enjoyment and an easy five stars for me. If you love mystery romances with a unique setting and great narration, this one is absolutely worth picking up. 🚢💙📚

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson, wonderfully narrated by Karissa Vacker, is an absolute delight. This fun, fast-paced romp blends rom-com charm with cozy mystery flair to perfection. The cast of characters truly shines—quirky, endearing, and surprisingly rich in depth—making every interaction a joy. With its humor, heart, and irresistible energy, this story is a standout, and I can only hope it’s the first in a long, delightful series with many more books to come. (I received an advance listener copy and all opinions are my own.)

I INHALED this book! I was hooked with the mystery plot, but Ferguson hit it out of the part with the romantic subplot. When narration was phenomenal and I’ll be screaming about this book to anyone who will listen.

Without a Clue was such a cute and fun rom-com/mystery. I love books that mix mystery with romance so this definitely fit the bill. A group of authors go on an author cruise but one is found dead and our main character has to do some investigation and find out if one of the other authors committed the crime and if so, who did. I loved the characters and how they kind of fit within their genres, I loved the layers to their relationships, and I loved the romance. The mystery was interesting and fun and kept me guessing and I did not expect the ending. I also really enjoyed the production of the audiobook and this narrator always does a great job. Without a Clue will be the perfect spring break cruise poolside read.

Obsessed. A murder mystery romance where there’s no actual murder? That twist was amazing. The supporting character were just as amazing as the main and didn’t pull focus just added to the story. From the very beginning I was rooting for Nash to confess his feelings and when he finally did? I paused when Pip did. I loved every second of this

Oh this was a LOT of fun! I did figure out the killer pretty early in but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the story at all, and I still had a lot of fun trying to figure out the motivation (which I ended up being wrong about).
I really loved the narration overall—my only complaint is that she often pitched the male characters low/quietly enough that I had to turn up the volume—and then turn it back down when she switched back to female voices, because the difference in volume was so drastic. Aside from that, I thought Karissa Vacker did a great job with the narration!
This story was an absolute delight, and I've already recommended it to multiple people.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a classic whodunnit with fresh twists and turns. The characters have a good mix of believable traits and eccentric personality. I like how each character was so different and had a very distinct personality.

The main character, Pip, is no exception. She has very believable real world problems. This balances with her "whatever it takes" attitude that seems to get her into very dangerous circumstances. Pip's emotions are very well-written and believable.

This book is a good mix of comedy and mystery. It is suspenseful and it has big twists, but the characters themselves tend to be very comical. It is almost as if the characters from a comedy novel were picked up and plopped here into a mystery. It makes for a read that is impossible to put down.

I listened to this book extremely fast because of how enjoyable both the narrator and the book are.

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson was such a fun, inviting read. It perfectly blends romance with a whodunit mystery, and I honestly didn’t want to put it down. I listened to the audiobook and loved the voice actor—she did an amazing job capturing the emotions and personalities of the characters, which made the story even more engaging.

There’s a great variety of characters, and the relationships really shine. I especially loved the friendship and slow-burn relationship between Pip and Nash—it added so much heart and humor to the story. Overall, this was just such an enjoyable, feel-good read with enough mystery to keep things interesting. Highly recommend if you want something fun and hard to pause

The one word that comes to mind when I think of this book is fun. If you like a classic murder mystery, this one fits the bill. There is a kooky cast of characters all on a literary cruise when someone is murdered. This book doesn't take itself too seriously, and it kept me guessing till the very end. I'm excited to add other books by Melissa Ferguson to my TBR.

5 ⭐️ Advanced Reader Review!

Pip is the personal assistant to well renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin and by extension the rest of The Fabulous Seven, seven authors from various genres who support each through it all. Pip is enjoying a bookish cruise, featuring the Fabulous Seven, she’s been planning for weeks, when her boss turns up dead. The on-board security is no help. So Pip must join forces with Nash, a western nature writer and one of the seven, to solve this crime before anything else can go wrong. Sparks start flying between the two, and Pip has to risk it all to find the truth.

My thoughts: I love a cozy mystery, and this has become a must-read for everyone who also loves this subgenera. The author perfectly blends classic whodunit with romance in the best way possible. I loved all the characters, and I was invested in their stories from the beginning. I wasn’t too sure about the crazy antics, but everything came together in the end and made it all worth it.

The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker, one of my favorite narrators! She brings every single character to life, and has mastered the art of men’s voices. I flew through this story, thanks in part to the amazing narration.

Overall, I think anyone would love this book, whether you’re a mystery lover, and romance fan, or just need a quick, fun story. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for myself. So so good!. 5 /5 stars

Absolutely loved this one! Such a fantastic first mystery, perfect for fans of low suspense and cozy mysteries. This was so heartfelt and fun. I didn’t want it to end. I definitely am going to want more books with these characters. I loved the whole group. Could not put it down!

So freaking cute! I was locked in when reading this. I loved everything about this, it was entertaining, made me laugh, had me trying to guess who the killer was. Had me questioning everything! What I never guessed is what actually happened! I also loved the romance part of this book. It was sweet and loving but also, I loved that Pip was suspicious of everything. It made for such a fun read. I am already telling everyone about this book!

A fresh, cozy closed-door mystery with heart, humor, and a swoon-worthy romantic thread, Without a Clue completely won me over.!!
I loved the clever plot, the unexpected final twist, and the strong focus on friendship, which gives the story so much warmth and emotional depth. Pip’s journey—from believing she’s nothing special to realizing her true worth through the love of her friends and a beautiful, sweet and protective author—is tender and deeply satisfying.

I requested both the ebook and the audiobook because I was traveling during the Christmas holidays and preferred listening rather than reading the ebook. Pairing the two formats turned out to be perfect!!
The audiobook is wonderfully done, with a narrator who brings every character to life and captures Pip’s emotions beautifully, making the storyreally immersive.

This is absolutely a book I recommend as the perfect travel companion—or even as the soundtrack to a journey. 🎧✨

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Melissa Ferguson for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of this wonderful book.

I love Melissa Ferguson and was surprised to see that she had written a mystery. However, this story was more of a feel good romance than an actual mystery.

Penelope is the personal assistant for a famous author, Hugh Griffin. He is part of an elite group of authors who are long-term friends and support each other publicly. Penelope, Hugh, and the other six authors set off on a cruise that they organized for their fans. Almost immediately, Hugh shows up dead and Penelope has to figure out who is behind the murder. She rules out the guests on the cruise because they did not have access to Hugh's stateroom. She then turns her attention to the other authors and finds that almost all of them have motives.

I had a chance to listen to an ALC copy of this book
I loved it the narrator brought so much life to these characters and I adored it so much.

Oh my gosh what a cute freaking book! This was just what I needed on a sick weekend. I use to read so much cozy mysteries and stopped years ago and this one brought me right back into the feels. It did a great job balancing mystery and romance and I’m here for it! I also loved the fun cast of characters. If you are looking for a quick read that packs a punch this is for you! Thanks NetGalley for this chance to read this early!

This book had me hooked the whole way through! Pip is such a well rounded character and I loved the relationships that she had built with “The Magnificent 7.” I genuinely had no idea where the book was going to go with the murder of Hugh, Pip’s boss. I love a man who will stand by your side and help you face whatever may lay ahead, enter Nash the rugged cowboy and one of the murder suspects to help Pip find the killer! Melissa Ferguson is an auto-read author for me! I have never been disappointed by one of her books! The plot, characters, and storytelling are all what I have come to expect! I would definitely recommend to any romance readers who enjoy a mystery!

The audiobook narrator Karissa Vacker did an amazing job bringing all of the characters to life! Any audiobook that makes me want to do my laundry just so that I can keep listening is an automatic 5 stars in my book!

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Melissa Ferguson for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Honestly, this is my perfect cozy mystery. Absolute perfection. The type of book that you look up the author in the middle of so you can find their other books to read. I loved all of this: quirky characters, locked room (or boat, as the case may be), amateur detective, a love interest... just all of the elements that make for a fun, engaging book. Loved it!

“I, without question, am living out the exact second I’ll look back on and think…yep, that was definitely rock bottom.”


Seven authors of seven different genres having a fan event on a cruise?! Sign me up! from the second Pip, the assistant to one of the authors, was introduced I loved her. That goes for all the members of the fabulous seven as well. The characters are not just wonderful, the mystery is too. If you are a fan of mystery comedies like Only murders in the building, you’ll enjoy this.

This book was so much fun. I loved the group and i wish we could have seen more of how the group came about
I absolutely loved Pip and Nash
Melissa Ferguson always writes such charming characters who melt my heart
This book is the perfect blend of mystery and romance. I thought i almost had the mystery part down but i was a little off. Absolutely loved the book

I’ll be honest: I initially requested an eARC of Without a Clue purely because of the cover. But now that I’ve finished it, I am officially obsessed. This has easily become one of my favorite reads of the year.

As someone who is typically not a romance fan—I usually can’t stand the forced bickering and predictable plots—this book was a breath of fresh air for me. Melissa Ferguson has crafted the ultimate "cozy" murder mystery. It perfectly blends a locked-room setting (a luxury cruise ship) with amateur sleuthing and a romance that actually feels earned and charming.

The plot follows Pip, a high-strung personal assistant, who finds herself in the middle of a literal "whodunnit" when her boss is found dead on a book cruise. Watching Pip and Nash (the ruggedly handsome Western author) navigate a ship full of dramatic authors and red herrings was pure joy.

The writing is sharp, funny, and incredibly smart. The Characters were perfect! Everyone was so likable, funny, and genuinely adorable. I found myself rooting for Pip from the very first page. And I absolutely loved the characterization of the seven authors. The overall vibe is cozy and funny while still being engaging.

I couldn't stop talking about this book while reading it, and I’m already recommending it to everyone I know. If you want a mystery that is high on charm and low on forced drama, this is it!

*** I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher. ***

A cruise ship full of readers and eccentric authors, what could possibly go wrong?!? Pip has everything handled until a body is found the second day of the cruise! Now she is investigating the people who have become like family to her and trying to keep everyone alive.
This was such a fun story with some mystery, a little romance, some laughter and some tears. There is a little something for everyone. Some found family, so much yearning and a bumbling detective or two.
First person POV, excellent narration that I didn’t want to put down, not spicy.

A brilliantly crafted rom/com meets cozy mystery mash-up and so much fun! I especially enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Karissa Vacker. She not only brought distinctive voices to each character, she captured the nuances of all the personalities too, making this a superb listen!

I love the way the author gives equal billing to both mystery and romance, with plenty of comedic moments to lighten everything up. The story flows really well, all told from Penelope’s point of view and, believe me, being inside her over-active mind is highly entertaining!

Madcap mayhem ensues when a book cruise turns sinister — eeeeppp, love that ‘locked room’ aspect to the mystery. Obviously, the killer has to be someone on the ship, right? And unable to elude capture since they are surrounded by ocean! Which is a good thing….and a bad thing because that means the killer could strike again! Of course, Penelope turns amateur sleuth with the help of some friends which results in enough plot twists to keep things very interesting.

And readers who aren’t especially fond of the cozy mystery genre — never fear — this really isn’t that kind of book. Ferguson has done an amazing job of combining the best elements of both the romance and mystery genres and has created a unique hybrid which is sure to please a variety of readers.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

This was a clever, funny five star read that hooked me from the first chapter. The mix of romance and mystery was light, playful, and easy to enjoy. I loved the cruise setting and the quirky cast of characters. It kept me guessing while still delivering plenty of laughs. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a rom com with a twist.

Oh. My. Goodness. I KNEW IT! I didn’t figure out all the pieces before the end, but I figured out the murder before Pip. :) Regardless of that, this story is an absolute blast, and I’m sitting here smiling as I type this up because of the crazy fun this book is.

Pip is so relatable, and her genuine care for all the members of the Magnificent Seven is incredible. Her lack of awareness of how special she is, all while serving and uplifting everyone around her, is inspiring and convicting.

Coupled with the crazy crew of the Magnificent Seven - especially Nash, with his devotion to her and care for her - this story is a delightful read filled with laugh-out-loud moments, heartwarming scenes, and girded by the truth of the gospel, though it isn’t at all overt.

All this was made even better by listening to the story, with each character having a distinctive voice and manner of speaking that Karissa Vacker used to bring them to life even more.

I would absolutely read more stories about this cooky, wonderful group, and will be checking out more of Melissa Ferguson’s works. Who knew romcom murder mysteries were such an enjoyable thing?

This was absolutely adorable!

Melissa Ferguson does it again. She never lets me down.

Seven unique authors ban together as the magnificent seven. They help each other promote books and are an exclusive group. There’s one assistant. They all take a cruise to engage with readers but on the first day a murder occurs of one of their own.

They are shook to the core and must find the culprit. It’s a cozy mystery with a dash of romance and just cute as pie!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.

Oh my goodness gracious! I loved this book! It took me right through the paces and races! I really enjoyed the characters and the amazing way I followed all the people! That is one amazing story for me when I can follow all that is going on! I loved the main romance between the MMC and the MFC! Swoon! I give it all the stars!

The narrator was amazing! I loved her voices! Each was so fun and easy to follow!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this amazing listen, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Melissa Ferguson has done it again! This was a delightful read from start to finish! The narration was fantastic! The plot was well-paced and the characters were charming and witty. This is definitely one I'll read again! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Without a Clue (audiobook)
Melissa Ferguson
5/5 stars
Publication date: February 17, 2026

This audiobook was not what I was expecting and I totally loved it! It’s a cozy, funny murder mystery plus a rom com! Pip is an assistant to Hugh, a famous mystery author, who is also a member of “The Fabulous Seven,” a group of best selling authors. The group of authors go on a book cruise only to discover that one of them has been murdered. Pip has to solve the mystery with a western author aka a cowboy, Nash.

This is such a creative premise! I love the narrator’s voice and how easy it is to listen to her bring the characters to life. It reminds me of the Finlay Donovan series which I love! This story has a light, humorous feel despite it being a murder mystery. I highly recommend this audiobook!

Thank you Melissa Ferguson, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Netgalley for the eALC in exchange for my honest review.

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson is a page turner of a read where a classic Rom-Com meets a Whodunnit all with a comical twist.

Imagine working for a writer who is also a friend/mentor and is part of a group of best selling authors known as the Fabulous Seven-and you along with the Fabulous Seven-are on a book cruise when your mentor was murdered. Then cue the "Barney Fife" detective with everyone is a suspect and you take it on as trying to solve who is the murderer.

Who can you trust? Is one of the Fabulous Seven the murderer? Is the one writer who you have secretly had feelings for and has shared his feelings for you - the murderer?

Enjoy a fun read that left me smiling all throughout!

It is honestly hard to explain exactly why I loved this audiobook without giving away too much of the plot. The group of authors across genres was such a cozy and clever way to experience the story, with each character bringing a unique and interesting point of view. I loved how the book completely flips expectations on their head, to the point where you are never quite sure where things are going, who to trust, or which clues actually matter. The romance woven throughout the story was such a lovely surprise, especially alongside the deeper theme of believing in yourself and finding your own self worth. Pairing that emotional journey with a murder mystery made the whole experience even more dynamic and interesting! The audio narrator did a beautiful job bringing each voice and perspective to life, which really elevated the story and made it easy to stay immersed. This was such an enjoyable listen from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

The description of "Only Murders in the Building and Book Lovers" is so accurate to this novel. I am obsessed with these characters. Pip and Nash made this novel worth reading. The combination of murder mystery with rom-com is different but refreshing in this age. I loved the Magnificent Seven and all of their quirks as a group. The pace of this novel was perfect and kept you reading the whole time. I wish we could get a sequel seeing these characters continue to develop after how the epilogue scene goes. I ended up doing a dual read of this arc between audio and digital and it made the characters come alive off the page. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved both the book and audio versions of this! So fun and bookish! I find there aren’t too many books set on cruise ships and this locked room mystery is the top of the list!

Hysterical! I actually was surprised by many parts. I reviewed it as a e book as well 1000percent clean cozy and absolutely laugh out loud funny

This book was so cute, it was a rom com with a cozy murder thrown in. The cast of characters really made the story, they were on odd mixture, but some how it all worked. Someone said it's like Book Lover's and Only Murder's in the Building blended together and that was spot on. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED her book The Perfect Rom Com so I was excited to receive an advanced audio copy of Without a Clue from NetGalley! The story takes place on a cruise ship where the author group is the main attraction for the cruise ship guests. Little did they know that one of their own would be murdered and they had to solve the crime. Loved this one almost as much as The Perfect Rom Com, but it was definitely still a 5 stars read/listen for me. Th narration was great and I highly recommend this book when it comes out next month! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced listen.

Without A Clue is an utterly delightful whodunit cozy mystery and romantic comedy rolled into one—a true standout and instant favorite. I already know this will be a top read of 2026. I’m a sucker for stories about authors and books, and this one absolutely delivers. I fell hard for Pip, Nash, and the entire eclectic cast from the very beginning.

I absolutely adored Pip and couldn’t get enough of her. She’s witty, smart, and genuinely hilarious—a joy to follow in every scene. Her inner dialogue is perfection, and I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed an FMC more.

Nash is a charming cowboy author with an easygoing demeanor and a fiercely protective streak when it comes to Pip. While their romance takes a backseat to the mystery, it’s still incredibly sweet and quietly swoony. The things Nash says to Pip completely won me over, and I loved the tender way he takes care of her.

When Pip’s inner thoughts didn’t have me in stitches, the Magnificent 7’s quirky personalities and over-the-top antics kept me grinning the entire time. They add so much humor, warmth, and heart to the story that it’s impossible to imagine this book without them.

The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker, and let me tell you—she understood the assignment. I was completely blown away by her performance. She does a phenomenal job bringing each character to life, to the point that I had to double-check this wasn’t duet narration. It’s honestly a little freaky how convincing her “sexy man” voice for Nash is, and that southern drawl? Absolute perfection. Melissa’s story lends itself to a wide range of tones and personalities, and Karissa nails every single one. The story is fantastic in its own right, but the audiobook is something truly special. This is a performance I’ll be talking about for a long time.

If you love cozy mysteries wrapped in humor and romance, bookish characters, a seriously sweet slow burn, and found-family vibes, don’t miss this one.

✨Includes:✨
Cowboy Author
Assistant To The Magnificent 7
Friends To More
Bookish
Eclectic Cast of Characters
Murder on a Cruise Ship
Protective Hero
Found Family
Whodunnit Cozy Mystery
Phenomenal Narrator
He Takes Care Of Her
Single POV

Favorites:
💭Pip’s inner dialogue
☄️Meteor shower
❗️Dining room pandemonium
😐”I’m brave and afraid.”
🗡️Pip’s unconventional research for Hugh
🌟Lucky Star
🌅”You’re going to make the sunrise jealous.”
🤫Trading secrets
🎹Dinner at the piano bar + “You.”
☺️Nash’s confession
🤢He takes care of her.
💋Dancing + Nash’s type + the kiss
♟️Just pawns
🔎Without A Clue
💻Writing dates

I absolutely love this book. This is my fourth book. I’ve read by. Melissa. I enjoy her writing so much. She puts great thought in the plots of her books . The character she chooses are always so funny, relatable and well rounded. The narrated for these books are by far one of my favorite narrators yet. The voices she does bring the characters to life. Keep up the great writing! I can’t wait to read your next book.

5 Stars! 🌟

​Melissa Ferguson has a way of writing stories that just feel like a warm hug, even when there’s a mystery afoot! Without a Clue was a delightful audiobook experience that I truly didn't want to end.

​The cruise ship setting provided the perfect backdrop for a mystery, it felt intimate and suspenseful but never too heavy. I loved how the humor was woven throughout; I found myself literally laughing out loud at several points. The romance was the perfect "slow burn" addition to the plot, and the narrator's performance was the cherry on top. They managed to capture the distinct voices of the characters so well that I was fully immersed from start to finish.

​If you're looking for an easy, 5-star listen to brighten your week, this is it! 📚✨

Without a Clue is a cozy mystery x rom-com with a dramatic cast of characters.

Brief Synopsis:
Seven authors have spent their lives promoting and helping one another in a group called the Fabulous Seven. With the help of their Administrative Assistant, Penelope Dupont (our MC), they plan a cruise ship event to host workshops and meet with fans. Hugh, the 7s Mystery writer, is suddenly murdered and only Penelope (AKA Pip) can solve the crime. She teams with Nash, the 7s Western writer, to uncover what happened to Hugh and what the other 7s members are hiding.

Review:
What a perfect blend of my favorite genres: Romance and Mystery. A well-executed plot that makes any reader feel cozy and excited when solving the murder along the way with our MC. Pip was a lovable character who had a great sense of realness to her: wants to write but never finishes, has problems in her personal love life, and loves her writers with such intensity.

Ferguson mastered the art of mixing all the great mystery writers into this book, and I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future. A little AHHHS (mystery thrill) to a little AWWWS (romance) made this a perfect book to pick up. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.

This is the book to pick up if you love mysteries you can solve along the way and still have a sprinkle of love in the mix.

If you love:
- whodunits
- forced proximity locations
- year-long secrets
- a "I'll do it myself" main lead
- a handsome man in a cowboy hat
- he falls first
Then this is the book for you.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Melissa Ferguson, Karissa Vacker, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing me an ALC of this book. All opinions expressed are of my own.

Also, a shout-out to Karissa Vacker, the audio narrator of this book. She is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and whenever I see her listed, I automatically make it my next read. If you haven't listened to audiobooks she's done, this is your sign. You will not be disappointed!

I absolutely loved the narrator, she did and incredible work,
It felt like I was watching a movie in my head
WOW!! She’s really talented.
Would to hear more works by her.

This. Was. Incredible.
This is the first book by Melissa Ferguson I've read and its the absolute perfect combination of murder mystery and rom-com. The strong found family vibes between these wild mix of characters was absolutely incredible. I LOVED Nash as a love interest, I LOVED Pip as a main character, I LOVED the absolute insanity that was the magnificent seven.
The writing was superb, the pacing, Pip as a narrator was superb.
10/10 a wonderful fresh air of a novel. Looooooved! And the narration? WONDERFUL. The different voices? So great. This really was a couple of hours of PURE fun!

Many books say they are Rom-Cons but this book is truly laugh out loud funny. Mystery wrapped in comedy with a twist of romance and I was hooked. This audiobook was a great listen and the narrator was top notch.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ALC of this book.

I absolutely devoured this book and wish I could have simply sat and listened to it all in one sitting. Prior to listening to this, I was already a huge Melissa Ferguson fan, but I am now a huge fan of Karissa Vacker as well. Her performance was fantastic.

Penelope (Pip) is a wonderful FMC full of wit and joy and caring, but riddled with self-doubt about her own dreams. So, instead, she works as an assistant to one of “The Fabulous Seven”—seven authors from different genres that often work together to promote their work. She’s become an assistant to all of them, and plans a large book cruise for the Seven and 300 of their biggest fans.

Yet, everything seems to go wrong from the start when her boss ends up dead on the second day and those in charge of the investigation are bumbling fools. So, Pip takes it upon herself to solve the mystery, alongside the author of Westerns—Nash.

I loved the mystery and how Penelope did all the work to solve the two murders before the ship docked again, while she got close to Nash following her recent break-up. The side characters were excellent and made the storyline more than just background to the budding romance.

I truly loved everything about this book, as I often do with Melissa Ferguson’s books, but was so delighted with the audio performance. It really elevated an already excellent story.

🎧 This was a very unique read. I don’t completely know how I feel about a rom-com mixed with a mystery, but honestly in this case it worked. Plus it was hilarious. I laughed out loud multiple times. I really liked the narrator of the audiobook too.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This book was such an enjoyable read for me. I rlly loved this cute mystery romcom that always kept me guessing.

The novel takes place on a luxury cruise from Miami to Barcelona, and is narrated by Pip, who is struck by the murder of her boss, Hugh, after only a day onboard the cruise. Due to the sheer incompetence of the detective at hand, Pip takes matters into her own hands and (with the help of her dreamy friend, Nash), begins questioning the primary suspects of the murder--Hugh's literary collaborative authors, also known as the Fabulous Seven.

Firstly, I LOVEDDD the narration so much. The way in which the narrator conveyed each of the unique voices of the characters with such emotion genuinely amazed me. Sometimes when I'm listening to an audiobook, the narrator's voice is so monotonous that I have trouble focusing on the storyline, but this certainly wasn't an issue in this book. The perfect genre balance between romance and mystery was definitely one of my favourite things about this read--I just wish the romantic subplot between Nash and Pip could have been expanded a little more. While it leaned more towards a lighthearted comedic conundrum than a heavy/thrilling mystery, it was still fun trying to figure out who the murderer was, especially as each of the characters demonstrated untrustworthy traits.

The characters were also so quirky and interesting to get to know- I especially liked Pip's funny take on everything! also the plot twist was quite unexpected, but probably not as impactful as it could have been. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this cute romcom mystery, and highly recommend it to fans of knives-out style mysteries where everyone is a suspect harbouring their own secrets!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this free audiobook ARC for an unbiased review.

Pip, our heroine is a law-abiding PA to an excentric mystery writer, who leads an author's club. In this club are 6 other eccentric authors. A tragedy occurs during an author's cruise, creating tension and plot. There's a murder, but we are all trapped at sea--which of us did it?!? This is truly an ensemble cast demonstrating found family being challenged murder motives, on vacation! We also have our MMC, Nash, a cowboy with longing written all over him. Will the cowboy get the girl? Will the girl solve the murder? Will the found family all kill each other?

Very readable and a lot of fun. The audiobook was a delight, the narrator did a great job with all the voices and kept the story moving along.

This review is my own. Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

These characters were phenomenal. A murder mystery cruise that nobody knew they were signing up for takes an unexpected turn. Pip takes control and tries to solve the murder when things get a little too real. The authors that she is in charge of wrangling have gone awry and she is working to help solve the mystery while also trying to keep herself from being the next victim. Everyone is a potential threat but Pip wants to give them all the benefit of the doubt. The narrrator of this one did a wonderful job and the character development was top notch. This will not be my last Melissa Ferguson.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advance listener copy of this title.

Perfection.

I don't think I've read a mystery since my Nancy Drew days; not really my jam. But I love Melissa Ferguson's romances, and I didn't want to let a book of hers go unread. So I was delighted when I was provided both audio and ebook by NetGalley.

I guess I'm a newly-minted cozy mystery fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed the romance and mystery mixed together. And I'll be honest: I didn't figure it out. Maybe I'm a mystery newbie, but it wasn't predictable for me. And I found the ending entirely satisfying.

Pip is a brilliant and super-efficient personal assistant to Hugh and The Magnificent Seven, a group of authors, all from different genres, who are all very successful. On a convention for their readers on a cruise ship, Hugh turns up dead on day two. The ship's security is terrible at best, so Pip decides to conduct her own investigation. Nash, one of the only younger authors, is there to protect her and to sleuth with her. It's not just a mystery. There's definitely a love story here, too. I do wish we'd gotten to see more of their history together as well as as dig deeper into who they are to one another. Maybe a sequel?

In this story, Pip is newly split from a bad relationship and very much a doubter of herself. She grows more confident, but she also leans into a budding talent that was there all along.

It was a joy to gain insight to writing process and all the things that support writers. Ferguson's prose is expertly crafted. So many romance books are "lit lite," and the language is a little lazy. Not hers. She treats these stories as if they are worthy of only the highest quality turns of phrase.

The group of writers was a mix of over-the-top personalities. And there was wisdom in the group that came with age. That's kind of a fresh approach in the rom-com genre, too. The roles of people who were old enough to be grandparents weren't feeble dearheart roles. They had something to offer.

The bookish bunch on a bookish cruise--just so fun!

Also, while I mostly read this in print, the audio was really well done. Highly recommend.

I've been a fan of Melissa Ferguson for a while now and was really excited for the opportunity to read her new "cozy romcom" by way of the audio book. This book definitely leaned into the cozy mystery vibes with Penelope playing the role of amateur sleuth and the budding romance between her and Nash occurring as he helps her put the clues together. I would put it as heavier on the romcom side, but it was a good mix for me and gave me both types of vibes. I thought all the author/writer stuff and the setting on a cruise ship was a fun addition to the story and plot-line and all the different authors of The Fabulous Seven being suspects at one point made it quirky and entertaining. The twist at the end was refreshing and something I didn't predict from the start. It felt on par for me with Ferguson's other books and on brand with her writing style even with the mystery element added.

I found the audio book was easy to follow along with as I listened. Karissa Vacker had the right vibe in her narration for the tone of the story and I thought she did a good job with Penelope's character. I also loved the charming cowboy Nash and the two of them together.

I received an advance listening copy of this book from Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I recommend this book and would listen to it again.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I now want to read her entire back catalogue.

I loved this book and to be honest, I don't really know why. It was just one of those books that makes you feel happy and lifts your mood. I couldn't stop listening to this book.

It was also really refreshing to read a clean romance.

And Nash. I loved him. I'd love to read the book he was writing. A perfect romantic hero.

I don't know what kind of magic Melissa Ferguson popped into this book but I found it enjoyably addictive.

All the stars.

I listened to an audio ARC via Netfalley.

I've loved every book I've read so far from Melissa Ferguson and was so excited when I got approved by @netgalley for the audiobook! A cozy mystery + an author cruise and rom-com vibes? I'm so ready for it!
This book was a delightful blend of quirky characters, lighthearted sleuthing, and a swoony slow-burn romance that kept me smiling from start to finish! Set on a luxury book cruise full of eccentric authors and their devoted fans, it felt like the perfect read right before I venture out on a reader cruise of my own! (But hopefully minus the murder;). Pip's witty personality and her amateur detective antics had me laughing the whole time, and the backdrop of a floating book-lover's paradise just got me even more excited for my upcoming trip!
If you're in the mood for a cozy whodunit mystery that's sweet, clever, and full of charm, this one's an absolute blast!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (11 STARS)
Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson is pure delight—clever, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud funny in a way that feels effortless. This is the kind of book that reminds you why rom-coms exist in the first place: sharp banter, impeccable timing, and characters you immediately want to spend more time with.
Melissa Ferguson absolutely nails the voice. The humor is smart without being snarky, charming without being cheesy, and the emotional beats land beautifully. The main character is refreshingly relatable—awkward, earnest, and trying her best—while the romance unfolds with just the right mix of tension and tenderness.
What really earns this book its extra stars is the balance. It’s light and fun, yes, but it also has heart. There’s depth beneath the comedy, and moments that quietly sneak up on you and matter more than you expect. The pacing is perfect, the dialogue sparkles, and the story never overstays its welcome.
If you want a book that makes you smile constantly, root hard for the characters, and finish with a genuinely happy sigh, Without a Clue delivers—and then some. Eleven stars, no question. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received both the e- arc and audio arc through NetGalley.

How far would you go to help your employee find their true self?

Pip Is the assistant to Hugh ,a man apart of the magnificent seven who are the magnificent seven , you ask. A group of seven book writers who rule the literary world.


The book is set on a cruise focusing on all things books written by the magnificent seven. Everything is going according to plan until Hugh is murdered and Pip goes into sleuth mode to find out who is the murderer.



While I’m not a fan of slow burn romance it wasn’t the main focus of the plot. Without a clue relies more on cozy mystery with a hint of romance.


Thank you NetGalley and ThomasNelson for the e-arc and thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan audio for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves no spice rom-coms with a bit of mystery thrown in. If you love authors like Courtney Walsh, or Cindy Steel, this will be a home run choice.

I LOVED this book. Melissa Ferguson is a captivating author who spins tales with enough humor to keep the story light, but she writes characters with such depth you would think it’s classic novel!

The story was intriguing and a page turner for sure. I loved the growth of the main character and the conclusion was so very satisfying. Hands down the best quote of the book: “I choose you.” Literal tears.

The narrator for this audiobook was absolutely brilliant and brought so much life to the story.

Thank you Melissa Ferguson and your team for allowing me to enjoy this ARC copy.

Without a Clue was such a fun mystery that I listened to the audiobook in one day! Pip was such a fun character, she certainly had her melt down moments (who could blame her) but she was also a badass who kicked butt and took names when she needed to. Living the mystery through her was hilarious and suspenseful at times.

I loved the characters of the Magnificent Seven, they each had their oddities and as the story progresses I loved learning more about them. I absolutely loved Nash and his protectiveness of Pip. Seeing their relationship grow from more than just friends was a highlight among the chaos. I would love to see more of Nash and Pip ❤️

One of my favorite movies is Clue and like the movie, without a clue had some twists and turns and made you laugh when it seems like you shouldn’t. If you like to laugh and try to solve mysteries, this books is for you!

*Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I wasn’t sure if the narrator was one person or multiple but with every character that talked, you could tell who it was that was speaking. I loved how the narrator gave emotion. I was constantly on my feet with this book. This was my first audiobook and I can say it will not be my last. Every time I thought I knew how the story would end, there was a change in direction. In the best way possible. I loved not knowing how it would end. And the twist was unpredictable but not unbelievable. It was a mystery but with a spice free love story.

// thank you for netgalley and the publishers for letting me read the arc of this book!

a cowboy romance AND a murder mystery AND a book about people who loves books

now THAT’S my kinda book

i will say, i didn’t love the way the conflict was resolved towards the end of the book, but that was just personal preference. the cast of characters was fantastic and i was HOOKED from start to finished. i was gasping out loud as i was doing my laundry–that’s how good this book was.

Got the audio for this, and can I just say that I'm in love? Not even published yet but I want more. I need more!

This was a fantastic book. Characters were laid out in a manner that helped me recognize them later, and there are a few. The Fabulous Seven! All on a cruise. Not too many characters that I felt tripped up, just enough to keep the story interesting.

This story was so good. I could not put it down. The narration was phenomenal, especially with so many main voices. Penelope and Nash were tangible, especially Penelope's frustration and worry about a murder onboard a cruise.

Penelope is also going through a terrible breakup. Everyone says, don't ask what else can happen. This is that story for Penelope.

The plot, the pacing, everything is perfectly timed. I thought I had it, then I lost it. Then I maybe had it, then I lost it. This is a great one. This is a cozy mystery dream but with a bit more bite.

Thank you to UpLit Tours and Thomas Nelson for the ALC and ARC of Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book from this author, but I definitely want to read more from her after enjoying this book so much.

Without a Clue is a combination of romance and cozy mystery. I loved the lighthearted and humorous tone of this story even though it also dealt with some heavier topics. The story was entertaining and sweet.

Pip was such a fun protagonist. I loved her determination to solve the mystery while also dealing with recent heartbreak and the consideration of a new romance. Her friendships with Hugh and Nash were so sweet. I loved how much she cared about people.

The romance between Pip and Nash was so cute. I loved how Nash wasn’t afraid to show his feelings to Pip, and I liked how they stuck together to solve the mystery. He was also so protective of her, and it made me smile every time he tried to help her.

The mystery was interesting, and I wasn’t able to figure it out, so that made it all the more fun to keep reading.

I ended up listening to the audiobook, and I loved Karissa Vacker as a narrator. She is always such a good narrator, and I thought she fit well with this story.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you like fun mysteries with some romance thrown in.

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Karissa Vacker. She did a wonderful job on the narration and all the different voice made the book even more fun.

This is a romcom married to a cozy mystery. Pip is the assistant to a writer and when he shows up dead on the book cruise they are on, Pip decides to investigate the rest of his writing group called the Magnificent Seven. That's the cozy mystery part.

All of the characters were interesting in their own unique way, but Pip has sort of a thing for one of them. Nash is a big tall drink of water cowboy and he seems to like Pip right back. That's the romance part. There was also a twist I certainly didn't see coming at the end.

The story was fantastic! This audio book was a lot of fun to listen to. I think the different voices made it even better. I hope the author and narrator team up again, because I'm ready!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own

Devoured this audiobook in a day. Took a while to get into the story but once I did I was hooked. Fantastic.

I really enjoyed it!
I laughed, I loved the romance and loved the mystery - it was a win for me. I also really enjoyed the audiobook and Karissa Vacker was a great narrator.

The timeline of the cruise didn't fit the reality, and authors were clichés, but turns out that cliché side was funny, and you end up not caring about how fast they cross atlantica. I loved the investigation, following Penelope in the other authors interviews, see each of them getting a true personality and history, and seeing Pip using her knowledge from books as her base for sluthering. I had my doubts about that plot twist but I really enjoyed how it came in, it was fun (while a bit traumatic for Pip).

The romance was great, with no spice (which I liked personally). It's here, it's present, but the investigation stays the priority, so it was nicely balanced and finding the culprit was more important than getting lovey-dovey with her cowboy. It was sweet and I liked that he was still investigated even if she loved him!

I highly recommand it for a fun read, specially for readers who enjoy amateur sluthering and romance, and also highly recommand the audiobook!

Such a good murder mystery and romance wrapped in one. I loved both the FMC and the MMC, as well as their chemistry.
I’ll definitely be checking out more by this author.

In an effort to avoid spoilers, all I can say is, what a delightful madcap romp of a book. I enjoyed the heck out of the reading experience. Deducted half a star because I guessed the ending in chapter 5.

A cruise ship becomes the scene of a murder when an author is found deceased. His assistant undertakes the investigation to identify the perpetrator, during which she develops a romantic interest in a charismatic individual. Can you deduce the murderer's identity prior to the conclusion of the narrative?I thoroughly enjoyed this reading; the narrative is captivating, and the narrator's voice is remarkably smooth and pleasant. While the book itself is excellent, the soothing quality of her voice could easily induce a state of relaxation.

One word. Fabulous! I loved this story and the narrator was wonderful. I would listen to an audiobook with this narrator again. I could tell the different characters and had good inflection. I think this might be my favorite title of this author's. I think this book only took me a couple of days to finish. I easily escaped into the story. I was hooked from the beginning. Great flow to the story with a robust story and characters. The author really set the scene and environment. There was great dialogue all around. Nash was a gem and he just had the best lines. I loved the conversations between Penelope and Nash. Nina was hilarious and actually all the magnificent 7 was. All the antics! Lol I wanted to hurry and know how the story would end but I also wanted to slow it down because I wasn't ready to be done with the book! The cozy mystery was nice and with good humor. A perfect ending with a little twist.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy. all opinions are my own.

Locked-room mystery. Rom-com charm. A cruise ship full of dramatic authors.
And yes… a murder.

This book is an absolute delight. It is a laugh-out-loud, locked-door whodunit wrapped in the coziest summer rom-com vibes.

I am such a sucker for a mystery threaded into literally any genre, and this one does it beautifully. Every character feels distinct, memorable, and fun. The third-act conflict (which I usually hate in rom-coms) was handled in such a refreshing, emotionally intelligent way. It actually made sense. And the ending? Completely satisfying! This is the kind of book that deserves a reread, where you’ll catch all the clever little breadcrumbs you didn’t notice the first time.

Audiobook Review:

Karissa Vacker’s narration is phenomenal.
There are a lot of characters, but she makes each voice so clear and unique that it never gets confusing. Her delivery adds an extra layer of charm, humor, and warmth to the entire story. I’m officially hunting down everything else she’s narrated.

Content Warnings
• On-page murder (non-graphic)
• Closed-circle “everyone’s a suspect” tension
• Mild peril
• Grief

No explicit language
Clean/No spice romance


If you finish this and immediately want more Melissa Ferguson, Meet Me in the Margins was one of my favorites of 2025 and is a must-read.


Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Rom-com mystery lovers, this one is a treat.

I fell in love with Melissa Ferguson’s writing a couple of years ago, so I always jump at the chance to read her newest release—and Without a Clue did not disappoint. I listened to the audiobook, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish.

Pip is such a fun main character, and I loved following her thought process as she worked to untangle the mystery. The story perfectly balances clever mystery elements with laugh-out-loud rom-com charm, making it incredibly engaging. The narrator was fantastic and truly brought Pip’s voice and personality to life.

And that ending? I did not see the twist coming at all—and I loved it. It was the perfect, unexpected way to wrap up such a fun story. This was one of those audiobooks I looked forward to every chance I got.

Pip is the assistant to famous writer Hugh and his author group known as the Fabulous Seven. She has organized a cruise reader event for the zany group of authors and their fans. Only, the murder mystery author ends up murdered and has left clues for Pip to try and figure out who did it. Nash, the hunky writer of the group, helps Pip solve the mystery all while trying to keep her safe. Can they figure out who the culprit is before anyone else is hurt?

This was such a fun audiobook! Karissa Vacker delivered an amazing performance enhancing the story. Vacker brought all the characters to life in their own quirky ways. It was such an entertaining listen.

WITHOUT A CLUE by Melissa Ferguson is a fun and zany cozy mystery/rom-com aboard a cruise ship. When you take one frazzled personal assistant, Pip Dupont, trying to wrangle The Fabulous Seven—seven bestselling authors in different genres, including a heartthrob of a cowboy author—and throw in a closed-ship murder with the most inexperienced, baby-faced security officer ever to investigate, you’ve got the makings for a laugh-out-loud romp! The author has created characters to entertain, a plot to make you suspect everyone, and twists to make you sit on the edge of your seat! Poor, traumatized Pip doesn’t know a thing about investigating a murder, but she’s determined to find out who killed her boss. Teaming up with Nash, the cowboy author (who might be a suspect as well), they hunt for clues while a sweet romance develops. The author does a marvelous job of balancing the chemistry between the pair and giving the mystery a quick pace to keep the reader enthralled. It worked because I couldn’t put it down and devoured this novel in one day!

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker. She did an excellent job portraying each of the characters. Each voice—no matter the gender—was distinct and brought the story to life.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! ABSOLUTELY LOVED this one!

Rom-com whodunit mysteries are severely underrated, and this book deserves ALL the praise and attention.
The FMC is really likable. Her anxieties might annoy some, but I personally found it really endearing because I recognized so many of those same habits and thoughts in myself. The flannel-clad MMC is swoony and absolutely perfectly suited for the FMC. I absolutely loved following them on their journey in this book. I most appreciated that the author progressed a love story, but the main story was driven by the mystery. The two coexisted very well.

I have other books by this author sitting in my Kindle. I'll definitely be starting them soon and cannot wait to see what else she writes in the future!

Thanks Thomas Nelson Fiction/Zondervan and NetGalley for the ALC!

First off, thank you to Melissa Ferguson, Net Galley, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced listening copy of Without a Clue. I really enjoyed listening to this book.

Do you ever wish you could find a murder mystery audiobook that you can listen to while doing housework or driving without feeling anxious? Without a Clue is a cozy murder mystery that never makes you feel like the murder is a REAL threat to you or the narrator. This vibe was all I needed to start my year off right. Additionally, the narrator does a fantastic job of portraying the diverse voices of all the characters.

Pip is an assistant to a mystery novelist, Hugh Griffin, who loves sending her on random quests to see what a normal person does in certain situations. When the author ends up dead on a cruise, Pip must figure out who murdered him and why.

I loved learning about all the characters, their quirks, and how different they all were, but they remained a group. My favorite side characters are Hugh and Nash. Nash is the perfect love interest in this book because, while he does help Pip solve the murder, he also goes out of his way to make sure she feels safe. There's something so sexy about a man who makes you feel safe in dangerous situations.

If you are looking for a cozy murder mystery with a little bit of romance (no spice) that's full of quirky and funny characters, then you need to check out Without A Clue! It's the perfect book to read when you want to escape into a book with low stakes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC of Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A murdery romance, sign me up! This book is a clean (no spice) romance and a very good read. Pip is a personal assistant for a mystery author who is part of the Fabulous Seven, a group of authors who are supporting one another. Pip plans a getaway on a cruise for the group that will also include session with other guests. With all these bestselling authors in one confined place what can possibly go wrong, until the author Pip works for turns up murdered and everyone becomes a suspect. And the one person who keeps insisting he didn’t do it, Nash, proclaims his love to Pip, which is great as she likes him…but did he kill her boss?!? Twists and turns, and romance with a surprise ending.

I had so much fun with this mystery/romance and I can say that I would love to be on that cruise; in fact, this is a story that could become reality. I'm sure it would be easy to fill a cruise ship with eager readers wanting to be near their favorite writers, participate in workshops with them, and still have fun at sea!

The romance, although present and cute, is totally in the background, with the murder investigation being the most important part of the story.

Excellent audiobook narration by Karissa Vacker, which brings the pages to life!

What a wonderful surprise WITHOUT A CLUE was!

For whatever reason, I didn’t have high expectations entering into this book, but boy was I wrong! It was the perfect sweet, cozy mystery I didn’t know I needed as a palette cleanser.

This story centers around ‘The Fabulous Seven’ a mix of authors from various literary genres, with Penelope (FMC), the personal assistant to one of the group’s leaders Hugh. When Hugh is discovered murdered early in the ‘The Fabulous Sevens’ fan convention cruise, Pip puts her own sleuthing/murder mystery writing skills to good use to try to find the killer.

In the process, what unfolds on the page is an adorable, very cozy mystery. It was the perfect clean (no spice) romance, with a slow burn love unfolding between Pip and her long-time friend Nash (MMC)- the ‘Western’ writer of ‘The Fabulous Seven’- as they work together to solve the case. Their relationship was a cute, right person-wrong time, friends to lovers trope (with an adorable hurt-comfort scene). The pacing was quick and the ending satisfying and enjoyable.

Fans of Hallmark Mystery movies or Emily Henry books- should add WITHOUT A CLUE to their reading lists ASAP!

I loved this read! The narrator was fabulous and fit my vision of the characters wonderfully. This story had a little bit of everything: mystery, intrigue, and romance, all wrapped up with a fun and heartfelt FMC. The cast of characters is quirky but not annoyingly so. The plot is a little predictable but still has enough twists to really keep your attention. This was a fun, fast listen and I’ll absolutely be watching for more from this author and narrator.

This book looked interesting, so I decided to try it and I am SO glad I did!! I was hooked from the first chapter and could not put it down!

This book is a delightful combination of whodunnit, finding love, and connecting the dots. Think Clue meets Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot with a dash of the hilarity and love found in the Proposal.

The cast of characters is fabulously lovable, a bit eclectic, and perfect for this story. Who knew a murder mystery could be so entertaining?

If you are looking for a read that makes you laugh out loud, believe in love, try your hand at logic puzzles, and is just fantastic—this book is for you!

Read this book if you like:
🚢 Cruises
🚢 Stereos
🚢 Investigations
🚢 Purple
🚢 Soft-spoken Cowboys
🚢 Water Aerobics
🚢 Hoverboards
🚢 Gandalf Hats
🚢 Relief Rage
🚢 Peppermints

Content: mild peril, dabbling in death (detective), romance- kisses only.

Thank you to netgalley and Melissa Ferguson for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder mystery on a cruise ship anyone? I loved the premise of this, it was like clue where there were only so many suspects and you were trying to figure out the mystery along with the main character. Even with a shortened list of people that could have done it I still did not see the ending coming at all and was flabbergasted. A good plot twist is the best and I was not expecting this one!
Pip and Nash were adorable and I enjoyed their friendship to lovers arc. Especially when Nash is a brooding, protective cowboy, uh, swoon!

Thank you for the advanced audiobook copy of Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson. I loved this book! I listened to the entire thing in less than 24hrs. It is the perfect balance of murder mystery and romcom - which is hard to pull off. Audrey is earnest and endearing, and Nash's pining is swoon worthy. We immediately know upon meeting him that he is in love with Audrey. The murder mystery plotline had an Agatha Christie Ms. Marple air to it. Lots of characters and any one of the could be guilty, so the unassuming FMC must solve the crime. Karissa Vacker is one of my favorite narrators, and she, as always, did a fabulous job. Each character's voice was unique to where I knew exactly who was talking the in every scene.

🚢🕵🏻‍♀ A high-seas murder mystery rom-com, with a group of eccentric authors on a book cruise! I loved the mix of characters, and the setting. The environment of suspicion, of knowing anyone could be the killer, and being stuck for days on the cruise was great.

🎧Audiobook by: Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio
🎙️Narrated by: Karissa Vacker

🤩Audiobook Review: I loved this book so much that I grabbed the audiobook when I saw it pop up just a few months later! This is such a fun and entertaining story to listen to, and the audiobook was just as great as my experience of reading it. The narrator's tone was engaging and full of emotion. She captured the anxiety, panic, drama, and humour from the writing wonderfully through her narration. I felt she had the perfect voice, tone and delivery for the main character, which brought the story to life in the best ways! I would definitely recommend this, and I'd love to check out more by Karissa.

🚢 The story follows the mysterious murder of one of our writers - causing his personal assistant Penelope to take lead in investigating the case. Her superpower of staying calm and having great composure is tested at every turn, mixed in with recent personal events in her life. It was hilarious the way her breakdown and reactions were portrayed - but it also felt sincere. I enjoyed the emotional beats of the story that marked her internal journey.

🚢 I loved the writing style and humour in this book. It was dramatic in all the ways that I find fun, and it had a great first chapter that pulled me in with its engaging tone. It was punchy, clever and painted an interesting visual scene.

🚢 The romance between her, and the charming cowboy author Nash, was really sweet. It was based on their working friendship over the years, and I liked their chemistry. (this is a clean no-spice romance rec if you’re looking for it)

My personal enjoyment honestly outpaces any objective critiques I might have had. I was in for the whole ride, and this was the perfect entertaining mood read I needed!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the complementary audiobook ALC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nash is one of my new favorite book boyfriends!!!

Pip was in an emotional abusive relationship for 8 years and then he cheats on her. So of course now she thinks she'll be alone and no one will want her since this man messed with her head so bad. Enter Nash who she has known for about 4 years and while on this cruise she notices he might be interested romantically but then they have a fight and she thinks well that's the end of that... But Nash makes sure she knows he's not running away and he won't let her run away either! And did I mention he's a cowboy....

The mystery also kept me on my toes but I was all for what was growing between Nash and Pip!!! So good! And the twist I didn't fully see coming!

This book is so much fun. I have loved every book I have read from this author and now I have a fantastic cozy mystery romcom about books to add to that list. My plea to the author is that she will write more!

Pip and company were favorites. Nash was especially wonderful and so many others. The mystery was so well done and there are so many funny lines and situations throughout the story. I really hope there’s another book of this genre in Ferguson’s future.

The audio narrator is a favorite. Karissa Vacker’s performance was very well done. She brought the characters to life with her great expression and tone.

I received a NetGalley approval for the ALC from the publisher. All views are my own.

This was a great rom-com/cozy mystery, and the narrator did a wonderful job! The characters were great, and I laughed out loud listening to this a few times. When Pip's boss, famous author Hugh Griffin, dies on the cruise ship filled with his fans, she must figure out who the killer is, before she is accused herself. She teams up with one of the authors for the Fabulous Seven (authors from different genres who have formed a group), to figure out what happened. This has a little bit of everything, and I loved the ending.

This book was exactly what I was looking for in a cozy mystery with a side of romance, and as a mood reader, that's a real treat. This book has everything: a group of authors on a cruise, murders, self discovery and a swoony cowboy too!

If you like Knives Out, Thursday Murder Club or any other cozy mysteries, this book is for you. I highly recommend a couch, blanket, some tea or hot chocolate and an animal to cuddle when you read this one.

Karissa Vacker did a wonderful job bringing this whole case of characters to life.

Thank you to the publisher for this audio ARC!

I couldn’t put this down! I absolutely loved this book!

The characters were brilliant. The setting was gorgeous. The story kept me guessing and wasn’t immediately guessable. I just can’t say enough good things about this one!

An adorable cozy mystery romcom! This is one you won't want to miss!

I received an audio ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Without a Clue was exactly what I needed when my brain wanted something engaging but not punishing.

It’s a rom-com wrapped in a whodunit, self-aware in a way that made me laugh more than once — especially if you enjoy stories that play with publishing, authors, and the behind-the-scenes work of storytelling itself. The setup is clever, the rules of the world are intentionally quirky, and the book knows it.

I’ll admit: I had a sense of where things might be heading, but not in a way that spoiled the experience. It felt less like guessing the ending and more like hoping for one — the kind of read where you’re quietly rooting for things to work out while still enjoying the ride.

What really elevated this for me was the audiobook. Karissa Vacker is phenomenal, as always — she nails the humor, the pacing, and the emotional beats without ever overplaying them. This was a listen-while-working, listen-while-anxious kind of book, and it did exactly what I needed it to do.

Is it long for what it is? Maybe. But it kept me company through a stressful week, made me smile, and held my attention when I needed somewhere else to put it. Sometimes that’s the highest compliment.

If you like mysteries that don’t take themselves too seriously, a touch of romance, and stories that believe in quiet competence and earned confidence, this one’s worth the trip.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ALC to Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson. This a first time read for me of author Melissa Ferguson and narrator Karissa Vacker and look forward to future stories by both. This felt like a cross between a cozy mystery and romantic comedy. The story follows the FMC, Pip, as she tries to unravel the clues of who murdered her boss while they are trapped on a book cruise. The cast of main characters are quirky, the plot is filled with silly humor, and you can’t help rooting for the Pip and the author she finds cute - let’s just hope he doesn’t turn out to be the murderer because otherwise Pip may just not get her happily ever after, or does she?

Thank you to NetGalley and to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the complimentary audiobook. Opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

What fun! I’m delighted to report that I’ve found a new go-to rom-com author. A cozy romance *combined* with a cozy mystery? I’m already sold. Add in the fact that the audiobook is narrated by the always-excellent Karissa Vacker, and I was all in from the first chapter.

The story unfolds aboard a luxury cruise designed especially for readers. Seven bestselling authors--collectively known as the “Magnificent Seven”--write in different genres and share a unique origin story. Forty years earlier, at a book event, they were trapped in an elevator with a random reader. When asked whose books he enjoyed, the reader replied: all seven. From that moment, the idea of marketing themselves together as the Magnificent Seven was born. Fast-forward to the present, and they are the guests of honor on a book-lover’s dream cruise filled with panels, discussions, and all things literary. (Honestly, where do I sign up?)

Our protagonist is Penelope Dupont, known as Pip, the capable personal assistant to mystery writer Hugh Griffin. Pip has helped organize this glamorous literary cruise and harbors a not-so-secret crush on Nash, the ruggedly handsome author representing the Western genre. But on day two of the voyage, things take a sharp turn: Hugh is found dead. When onboard security proves less than competent, Pip steps in to help uncover the truth, much to her own surprise.

As a rom-com reader, I expect warmth, humor, and charm, and this book delivers all three in abundance. The mystery element works beautifully as a classic locked-room setup, with a contained cast of suspects and plenty of twists. Pip’s sleuthing introduces us to the rest of the Magnificent Seven, a wildly entertaining and eccentric group. I especially loved Karissa Vacker’s portrayal of Nina, the 68-year-old romance writer, whose reflections on how romance compares to fantasy were both sharp and spot-on. The author clearly had a blast creating these characters, and that joy leaps off the page (and through the audio).

The writing is witty, clever, and far more delightful than I expected, and the ending is particularly smart and satisfying.

Mark your calendars: the expected publication date is **February 17**. If you’re looking for a cozy, funny, feel-good mystery with heart, this one is absolutely worth getting excited about.

An absolute delight! Loved every page!
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did; I love being pleasantly surprised. I'll be following this author from now on

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this title. This book was adorable. It was a fresh spin on a murder mystery and was reminiscent of Knives Out.

I appreciated the FMC finding her voice and her journey in self worth. All the characters were lovable and this definitely kept me guessing on who the killer was.

Would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes the sound of “a murder mystery that ends in a karaoke party.”

I’ve read other books by this author and appreciate that she does clean romance. Seeing that this one offered a mystery element was a nice twist, which made me very excited to listen to this book. The narrator did a great job and the story was so light hearted & fun! I really appreciate when an author can create a fun romance without relying heavily on spice.

📖 Without A Clue | ALC (audiobook) Review

Ok guys this is a cute one! Murder mystery with a big helping of adorable romance (or is it? 👀 ) because EVERYONE is a suspect on this cruise!

✨ Thank you Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Audio for a copy of this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Penelope, “Pip”, is the personal assistant to Hugh Griffin, the top mystery writer of the last few decades, and she has organized an author/ reader fans cruise with “The Magnificent Seven”, a group of eccentric authors including Hugh. Each of the seven authors writes a different genre, and all of them are best friends. When Hugh is murdered, and the murderer can only be one of the Seven, it falls to Pip to interview each author and do her own investigation. With the help of her long-time crush, Nash, who is also one of the Seven, they uncover secrets, discover evidence and begin to question the motives of their dearest friends… and each other.

🎧 I listened to the audiobook and it was a delight. Karissa Vacker was the narrator and she did such a wonderful job with all the voices. I truly forgot that this was a solo narration.

Even her male rendition of Nash was fantastic. I appreciated his subtle country twang. It wasn’t overdone or exaggerated but it just popped out on certain words and I was so thankful I didn’t have to hear a caricature of a country person the whole time. As a Southerner myself- thank you! I feel like this is over-exaggerated in audiobooks ALL THE TIME and it’s a pet peeve of mine. 🤠

🔊 Audio quality was crisp and seamless. It’s one of those things that if you notice, then it is a problem. But I was totally immersed in the story and never got knocked out by any production issues. I never felt lost or confused during my listening.

The story was fun, sweet and endearing. Here’s what to expect:
🛥️ new beginnings / romance
🛥️ cozy murder mystery / who dunnit
🛥️ forced proximity (with a murderer 🔪)
🛥️ found family 🫂
🛥️ clean / no spice 🫑
🛥️ aha moment so satisfying (I LOVED the peppermint scene! 💕)

Publishes: February 16, 2026
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This audiobook was so much fun. I actually laughed out loud a few times, and the whole storyline was just really clever. A book cruise with a bunch of dramatic authors is already chaos, so adding a murder into the mix was perfect.

I loved Pip right away. She’s calm, observant, and kind of underestimated, which made it really satisfying watching her step up. And Pip and Nash? I adored them. They complemented each other so well, and their banter felt easy and natural. I was fully rooting for them the entire time.

The mystery kept me guessing without feeling complicated or heavy, and the humor made everything even better. The narrator did an amazing job and brought the characters to life, which made the story even more enjoyable.

I finished it with a big smile on my face and honestly just really, really enjoyed it. Easy five stars for me.

What a fun listen! This might be a new favorite subgenre of mine: comedy/mystery/romance mix. So often any romance with mystery is a suspense or thriller with the FMC needing to be saved. This book has a “knives out” feel with a sprinkling of crushes.
It’s a team of 7 writers and everyone is starting to look a little guilty. I had to force myself to take breaks because often chapters ended on WTF moments and I would want to keep going.
**Received an ALC from NetGalley and this is my honest review**

A case of whodunit in the high seas! This is such a fun cozy mystery with a side of romcom and colorful characters. The plot twist at the end was surprising.

I listened to the ALC and the narration was excellent. Karissa Vacker did an amazing job providing voices to the different characters.

If you are looking for an immersive escape, the audiobook of Without A Clue is an absolute gem. Penelope Mae Dupont, our 26-year-old protagonist, is the perfect guide through a high-seas murder investigation involving seven of the world's most dramatic authors.

The narrator, Karissa Vacker, does a brilliant job bringing the "Magnificent Seven" to life. The character of Ricky is a total standout—his low, cautious whisper is so well done it will give you actual goosebumps. Hearing each author's voice makes the "locked room" tension on the cruise feel incredibly real. It turns a great story into a full-on experience.

The plot is fast-paced and heavy on the mystery, with a side of witty banter that keeps things from getting too dark. While the connection between Penelope and Nash is sweet and grounded, the real star here is the atmospheric suspense. It is a perfect "listen in one sitting" kind of book.

This is a top-tier production. Highly recommended for mystery lovers who want to feel like they are right on the cruise ship with Penelope, hunting for clues in every whisper.

This was my first Melissa Ferguson novel, and I really enjoyed it! Part way through reading I got sick and decided to listen to the audio, and I'm so glad I did. The narrator did such a great job with bringing Pip to life.
Without a Clue is a fun, lighthearted mystery with a little bit of romance and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

Pip is quirky, witty, and completely relatable, and I loved following her as she grew more confident throughout the story. The ensemble of eccentric authors and chaotic group dynamics were so fun and entertaining. It was definitely one of the highlights for me and made the story even more memorable.

Overall, this was an entertaining and satisfying read full of heart and I think I may have to start reading more mysteries. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read/listen to this and I can't wait to read more of Melissa Ferguson's books!

Life’s more fun with people who aren’t afraid to be completely and utterly, and eccentrically themselves.”

That was a ride! Eccentric, rich, old people might just be some of my favorite people to read about. Think Tobias Hawthorne-Inheritance Games, Dragomiroff-Murder on the Orient Express, Lady Eugenia Spencer- Selected Journals, and now I can add Hugh, Nina, and Rickey from Without a Clue.

This was so fun. Truly bingeable a bit of a Knives Out whodunnit where all the characters seem guilty yet you don’t want them to be.

The narration was lovely. And made me not want to stop—good thing I had lots of home projects to work on while listening.

This story was an absolute delight - clever, cozy, and hilarious. A book-themed cruise, a murdered mystery author, and a personal assistant turned accidental sleuth? I was sold immediately, and the story more than delivered. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted whodunit with romance and personality, this is it. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed Without a Clue. It was such a cute, fun story and exactly the kind of book that made me want to keep reading just one more chapter.

Pip is the assistant to successful mystery author, Hugh, and helps manage tasks for his author friend group known as The Magnificent Seven. When Pip plans a reader cruise for fans of the group, complete with workshops led by the authors across seven different genres, she expects a fun and memorable vacation. What she does not expect is for her boss to be murdered while on board. When ship security proves to be less than helpful, Pip decides to take matters into her own hands and figure out who killed him. Along for the ride is Nash, the handsome Western author who is always nearby to lend a helping hand, or maybe complicate things just a bit more.

This book completely won me over. The mystery was engaging without being stressful, the romance was charming, and the overall tone felt light, cozy, and fun. I loved Pip as a main character and enjoyed the author-centric setting, which added such a playful layer to the story.

I rated Without a Clue 5 stars. I listened to an advanced audiobook copy, and both the story and the narration were fantastic. It was one of those audiobooks that had me eager to press play every chance I got.

I would absolutely recommend this to fans of rom-coms and romance, especially if you enjoy a light mystery paired with banter, charm, and a swoony love interest. This one was such a delight.

I loved all the plot twists, and quirky author personalities. This novel had me LOL, and all the whodunit kept me fully invested until the end! Although the author typically writes rom-com, she nailed this cozy mystery!
Narrator did outstanding

Without a Clue is an absolute joy , a cozy whodunit packed with humour, heart, and the sweetest slow‑burn romance. Pip is witty, sharp, and genuinely hilarious, and I loved following her as she tries to solve Hugh Griffin’s murder during their author‑reader cruise. With hunk cowboy Nash by her side easygoing, protective, and effortlessly swoony their partnership brings so much charm to the mystery.
The Magnificent Seven add tons of personality and chaotic fun, and the story balances romance and tension perfectly. I was especially pleased with myself for actually spotting the truth before the reveal — the clues are subtle but fair, making it so satisfying to piece together.
I listened to the audiobook, and Karissa Vacker’s narration is phenomenal. She brings every character to life with warmth, humour, and just the right emotional punch.
If you love cozy mysteries with quirky characters, found‑family vibes, sweet romance, and a mystery you can genuinely play along with, this one is a must‑read.

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson was such a fun, chaotic murder mystery set on a book cruise, and I absolutely loved every minute of it!

Pip was such a delightful main character, and I adored getting to know the “Magnificent 7.” The way this group of authors represented different genres and built a supportive bond over 40 years was heartwarming and added a unique layer to the story. It made the stakes feel more personal when things started going sideways.

The hijinks Pip gets dragged into thanks to Hugh, all in the name of crafting a great mystery, had me laughing throughout the book. Watching her take everything she learned and use it to help unravel Hugh’s untimely and suspicious death was incredibly satisfying and kept me hooked.

Her partnership with Nash, the handsome western writer, was another highlight. Their banter was sharp, funny, and full of chemistry, and the situations they stumbled into while trying to solve the case made the mystery even more entertaining.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was fantastic. The narrator gave each character a distinct voice and personality, which made it easy to stay immersed in the story and added to the humor and charm.

Overall, this was a clever, lighthearted mystery packed with humor, heart, and twists. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of Finlay Donovan or anyone looking for a fun whodunit with personality.

Delightful in every way!

When famed mystery author Hugh Griffin is murdered aboard a fan-filled book cruise, his assistant Pip Dupont is forced to investigate when security proves useless.

Trapped at sea with seven larger than life authors and hundreds of suspects, Pip teams up with Nash, a rugged Western writer, to navigate clues, red herrings, and growing attraction....

What you'll love:
romcom mystery
single pov
cruise setting
friends to lovers
cowboy hero
plucky heroine
slow burn
amateur detective
light suspense
plot twists
THAT ENDING!!!

This entire book was wonderfully chaotic and utterly delightful! From the hilarious cast of characters to the clever whodunit mystery to the adorably sweet romance, I loved every moment. The twists kept me guessing until the very last page, and I genuinely did not see that ending coming!!

Pip is the kind of heroine you want as your best friend, and Nash? Total cowboy hero perfection. Their slow-burn romance was worth every.single.page. And the cast of quirky, enigmatic authors had me laughing out loud - they truly brought the cruise to life!

I am fairly new to this authors' books but this one completely won me over! This book is a perfectly chaotic, heartwarming, and page-turning ride and I can’t recommend it enough!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

This book is a quick read that will make you laugh, gasp, and frustrated on nearly every page. The mystery isn't an easy one to crack, and it takes Penelope's mind that's full of detective stories that Hugh wrote to solve it. As you read through this book, rather than being able to solve the mystery on your own, it feels as though you're learning everything with the narrator.

The dialogue and deliverance of this story is very enjoyable, and every character—including the creepy author who's always talking about death—is one that you could easily love.

Without a Clue is a book that I'd give 5 stars, and I'd like to thank Netgalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Karissa Vacker for narrating, and thank you Melissa Ferguson for writing this amazing story.

Melissa Ferguson does it again! This hilarious whodunit set on a wildly chaotic book cruise was such a delight from start to finish. We’ve got Pip and the Magnificent Seven, nonstop hijinks, forced proximity, and a cozy murder mystery that had me laughing out loud while trying to play amateur sleuth right along with them.

The grumpy x sunshine dynamic + friends-to-lovers romance was perfectly done—sweet, charming, and full of heart. Add in a western romance writer hero, a closed-door romantic mystery (no swears, kissing only 🙌), and a whole lot of cozy vibes, and you’ve got an absolute win.

🎧 Audiobook note: Karissa Vacker was phenomenal. She nailed the humor, timing, and showmanship of the story and made the whole experience even better. Truly brought the chaos and comedy to life.

Cute, clever, funny, and such a comforting read—I loved every minute of it and highly recommend if you want a lighthearted mystery with romance and laughs!

I am a lover of many Melissa Ferguson books, but this is her magnum opus! It is a rare feat for a no spice romance to make me want to scream, but this absolutely did it. I swooned so hard and giggled like a school girl. All that plus a fun and witty mystery to solve. This book has just been added to my top five favorites list.

I loved this book so much! I could not put it down and finished it in 2 days!! The narration was AMAZING! I immediately loved the characters and Cash was just the cherry on top!! Thank you NetGalley and Melissa Ferguson for the advanced audiobook! This was my first Melissa Ferguson book and I was not disappointed! ❤️

This was absolutely delightful! I loved the combination of a clean romance and cozy mystery. Nash was sooo swoony, and Pip was the perfect mesh of Type A and "the girl next door.." I loved everything about this story. While I was reading, I told my husband I needed him to grab his cowboy hat and do all the romantic cowboy things. Love it, love it, love it!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8293215108
ı love this book, genius work, and mysterious and funny and in my opinion it is hard to keep both of this elements in one book.

I immersive read this and I recommend everyone do the same! This narration is so good, it had me laughing (at times crying) so hard.

5⭐️


I normally struggle with cozy mysteries because they're just too cheesy for me. But Without a Clue broke the cheesiness curse for me without being super serious. I loved each of the Magnificent Seven and the way their personalities all fit the genre of book they wrote. The mystery was well done and each character played their part well. The side characters, especially the investigators, really fed into Pip's need to solve the case of what happened to her boss. The setting being on a cruise ship in the middle of the sea was a great take and considering I'm just as anxious as Pip, her freak out about being below deck was very relatable.

I loved how everyone was suspicious. That's a given when you have an isolated location but given they were on a book cruise and there were hundreds of readers on board as well I liked how everything was focused on the Magnificent Seven. I can't go into too much detail without spoiling everything but I loved the way Pip was able to use her personal relationship with the group to start to solve the case. The fact that everyone was so supportive of her and wanted to push her out of her comfort zone was so sweet and really worked with the mystery. Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for providing this ARC to me!

Without a Clue was a quick, witty and enjoyable story. It is a rom-com with a mystery element. This book follows Penelope (Pip) as she is on a work trip with The Fabulous Seven out in the middle of the ocean on a cruise. When murder strikes one of The Fabulous Seven, she attempts to solve the mystery of who the killer is. I truly enjoyed this book! I read about 25% of it as an ebook and listen to the other 75%. The story in itself is well told. There are great relationships, a beautiful blossoming romance and a FMC that figures out how to believe in herself again. Although the twist in the mystery is a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the story.

The narration of the audiobook was clear, well-paced and made it easy to differentiate the characters. The narrator was great, I truly recommend this audiobook! I loved every moment of listening to it and did not want it to end. :)

I loved this book! It was such a fun whodunnit and I particularly enjoyed getting to know the different authors throughout the investigation!

I did not see the end coming which feels like a mark of a well written mystery.

There is a great romance subplot that I really enjoyed as well! Who doesn't love a handsome cowboy 🤠

The narration was superb! I had a l great time listening to this ALC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this ALC! All opinions are my own.

This book was such a fun summer read. We follow an assistant to a famous author who is part of an infamous author group. When one of the authors is found dead we are thrown into a who-dun-it that feels funny and full of life. They characters are eccentric and remind me of a game of clue. As things are getting uncovered you might see the start of a love developing and it is sweet.

I found the pacing of this book quick and not too lengthy. It would be a perfect book to sit and read on a cruise (just like our characters are embarking on) or a beach. The fun setting and quirky characters make it hard to guess who could have done it but also make following the story easy because you can quickly decipher who is who even if you have to put down the book for a while.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a light hearted mystery. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

Hello friends! I’ve got another fun audiobook review for you, and this time it’s a good old-fashioned whodunit with a fresh, romantic twist. I finished Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson, a little over a month ago, and now with the release just days away, I am so excited to share it with you, and I have to say, it was such a fun and clever story! I received the audiobook from NetGalley, published by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and narrated by Karissa Vacker. A big thank-you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen early!

Friends- This story takes readers on an “author cruise,” filled with book lovers, workshops, and mystery writers mingling at sea. Tell me you wouldn't want to be on this cruise. It’s the perfect setting for this story! Our main character, Penelope (or “Pip”), is one of the organizers of this event, with seven authors aboard; this trip is going to be a reader's paradise! Until things take a shocking turn. Pip's mentor, the famous mystery writer Hugh Griffin, is found dead. When the ship’s investigators turn out to be less than competent, Pip decides to take matters into her own hands. And of course, she’s not completely on her own—enter Nash, the newest (and very handsome) member of the Fabulous 7 author group, who quickly becomes her partner in sleuthing. Together, they try to piece together clues before the killer strikes again.

The story kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the cruise setting, the behind-the-scenes look at author life, and the mix of humor, heart, and suspense. Best of all, I was completely fooled! I didn’t guess who the killer was until the very end, which is always a win in any mystery for me!

The audiobook was excellent. Karissa Vacker’s narration really pulled me into the story and helped keep the tension (and fun) going the entire time. She gave each character a distinct voice and made the mystery feel even more cinematic. I honestly felt like I was on the cruise with Pip, trying to solve the mystery myself.

I don't want to give anything away because the story really was that good. So I won't. But I will say if you’re a fan of cozy romantic mysteries with a clever twist, Without a Clue is a great pick for your next weekend read (or listen!). Grab your favorite notebook and see if you can figure out who murdered Hugh before Pip does.

I think you’ll have a blast trying!

Happy listening, friends!

I'm a love story kind of girl. My husband likes a thriller.
This is the kind of booth that satisfies us both.

This RomCom Whodunnit kept me fully engaged. I started out with the audiobook (thanks NetGalley!) and then had to get my hands on a print version because listening was taking too long and I needed to be able to read this one under the covers late at night. Don't get me wrong--the audio was fantastic, and really set the stage for the characters and setting. Sometimes, though, a story draws you in so much that you need to be able to read it along with listening.

This was my first time reading Melissa Ferguson's work. Excuse me while I go track down her entire backlist. I'm a fan.

This book was an utter delight! I had so much fun reading this cozy mystery/rom-com. Honestly, I am kicking myself for not reading Melissa Ferguson's books sooner. I loved the locked-room (boat?) setting, the intriguing murder mystery, the slow-burn romance, and the lively cast of characters. With every chapter, I found myself laughing out loud and rooting for Pip, the main character. This cozy whodunit was full of hilarious hijinks and surprising reveals. I will definitely be reading more from Ferguson!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker. She has become one of my all-time favorite narrators, and I loved her performance in this audiobook. She did such a great job bringing the story and characters to life. Loved it!

This was just the cutest rom-com mystery mash-up! Penelope "Pip" Dupont is the personal assistant to a famous mystery author, Hugh Griffin, who is part of "The Fabulous Seven" a group of eccentric, bestselling authors. Pip has organized a luxury book cruise for the authors and their fans only for her boss to be murdered on the second day. The ‘locked-ship’ setting provided the perfect isolated backdrop for the investigation, with Pip and her love interest, Nash, work to solve the case.

I LOVED the fabulous seven! Audiobook narrator, Karissa Vacker, brilliant performs each of these unique cinematic personalities helping me keep the large case straight during their group scenes on the ship. Vacker also keeps the tone lighthearted, balancing the humor of the rom-com elements with the tension of the mystery without making it feel too high stakes or dark. Pip has a great dry wit and hilarious internal monologue, which Vacker handles with ease making her seem relatable and easy to root for! Pip and Nash’s lacked a bit of backstory, but I still felt their yearning and chemistry was palpable!

If you’re searching for the perfect beach or spring break read with a cozy mystery, no-spice romance, with a plot about authors and the publishing world, you’ll adore this one!

Thank you @netgalley and @thomasnelsonaudio for this audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

5 out of 5 stars

Wow! This book was SO fun! This book made me realize how much I enjoy cozy mysteries. Ferguson does an excellent job of setting the stage to have EVERYONE be a suspect. The narrator did a great job of keeping me engaged in the story and made it feel like no time had passed at all. I love that we also got a cute cowboy. The FMC was so clever and really took on the detective role quite well. While I did guess the ending, I had a blast figuring out how we got there. This was my first Melissa Ferguson book and it DEFINITELY won't be my last.

What a rare and beautiful occurrence for a romantic mystery to both completely surprise me and simultaneously not because everything was so well set up and plotted. Mystery plus romance as a sub genre is an undoubted favorite of mine but in the case of Without a Clue I think fans of either genre (or none even) can appreciate the motley crew of characters, the unique setting and the whodunnit itself. Melissa Ferguson far exceeded my expectations and while I enjoyed my only other title of hers so far, The Perfect Rom-Com, this story was on another level. Give it a shot, you won’t regret it!

Audio only feedback: good solid pacing and tone, Karissa Vacker is a great example of a single party narrator who can very effectively modulate her voice to reflect other characters with no obstacle of gender or accent.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing this ebook and audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Review cross posted on Goodreads and StoryGraph

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Without a Clue” by Melissa Ferguson, rom-com + cozy mystery

Penelope “Pip” DuPont is the admin assistant for the leader of The Fabulous Seven, a group of authors who 40 years ago decided to form an alliance to work together to support each others’ writing.

The Seven, plus Pip, embark on a 9-day luxury cruise from Miami to Barcelona with 300 of their greatest fans. The first night however, Hugh, Pip’s boss, is murdered in his suite. The security staff on the ship are incompetent so Pip decides to investigate the murder herself along with her best friend Nash, a younger member of the Seven who replaced the writer of Westerns in the group four years ago.

This book was so unique and fun! I truly enjoyed every minute of it. One of my top books in 2024 was “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” and this book, while a very different story, had those fun rom-com + mystery vibes.

I listened to this one. Karissa Vacker narrated and she’s always so good. It’s a closed door romance so would be a great gift for your mom or grandma. It’s also available on Kindle Unlimited

This was such a fun wild ride of a book!

Pip was such a fun character to read about! She’s exactly how I would picture someone as an amateur sleuth! I loved how curious she was and how she wouldn’t stop until the mystery was solved.

Nash was a character who I would have never imagined in the luxury cruise setting in the book! It was so refreshing to see contrasting elements come together for this book. I mean where have you ever seen a cowboy on a cruise?! I sure haven’t! There’s nothing better than a hat tipping cowboy mmc in my opinion so I fell head over heels for Nash 🤭🤠 He was so supportive and protective of Pip which just made me love him more!

This plot was so original and a joy to read about. There was never a dull moment 🤭

Also can we talk about the most spectacular ending?! I didn’t see it coming. It was so great to see everything come full circle as well.

If you love Knives out but with a bit more comedy and romance you’ll absolutely love this book! I certainly did 🤭

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for sending me an audio arc of this spectacular read!

Truly, a laugh out loud, whodunit with lots of heart. Pip is the type of character whose charisma just draws you in from the start. The opening scene was just brilliant for setting the stage and introducing some key players while setting the tone for what’s to come. The fact that it takes place on a cruise where the characters are literally locked in together was brilliant. Seeing all the suspicions come about while Pip tries to solve to case was creative and flawless. I love the budding romance with Nash and even the doubt that sneaks in there as the case unfolds. There are plenty of red herrings and curve balls to keep you guessing and turning the pages to get to the truth. On the one hand, I was not surprised and thought it just highlighted the brilliant nature of the story. On the other hand, I could not believe what actually happened!! I highly recommend for those who enjoy modern, mystery rom-coms. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given. Additionally, the audiobook version is a great way to experience this story. The voices behind all the characters really draws out the drama and suspicions and made it all the more enjoyable. If you have an opportunity to listen to this, do not pass it up!!

I enjoyed this audiobook so much! This was really a fun whodunnit murder mystery read! I recommend this if you a looking for a no spice book.

This book was so much fun to listen to! It had all the things. A fun mystery. Great characters. Humor. The romance between Nash and Pip was cute with lots of deep emotion. Pip’s internal dialogue was hilarious at times. I’ve been loving mystery rom coms. This one was one of my favorites. Melissa Ferguson is a new author to me, but I can’t wait to read more from her. The authors were a fun cast of characters. The setting was on a cruise ship which was absolutely perfect for this story. The narrator Karissa Vacker did a fantastic job bringing Pip and all the characters to life. I really enjoyed this one! I received this audiobook from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness! This book was hilarious! And the whodunit made it impossible to put down.

💖 The romance - 100% sweet

👵🏻 The side characters - quirky and hilarious

🔍 The mystery- I can’t even. Wow. Blew me away.

🎧 The Narration- super well done with the emotion, different voices, comedic timing.

✍️ The writing 10/10

🤣 The humor: delightfully hilarious, even the understated parts made me giggle. 🤭

Content:

💋 Kisses only

🤬 No profanity

⚔️ PG violence. Brief mention of blood and deceased person (it is a murder mystery) but nothing gory or grotesque. It was tastefully done.

I’d give this book a 10/10 all around. It was very wholesome and I would totally let a teen read it.

What a fun, cozy mystery with a touch of romance! I fell in love with our FMC’s self‑deprecating wit within the first few paragraphs, and she never lost her charm. The audiobook narrator, Karissa Vacker, brings Pip’s energy to life and elevates the entire experience.

Pip is managing “The Magnificent Seven" featured authors on a book cruise. Fresh out of a toxic relationship, she struggles to recognize her own worth, even as those around her clearly see her talent and warmth. Each of the authors represents a different genre, complete with matching (and delightfully exaggerated) personalities.

When one of them is found dead, Pip is thrown into a classic Who-Dun-It while still juggling author events, cruise chaos, and a slow‑burn friends‑to‑lovers subplot. Will the budding romance lead to a happily‑ever‑after, or is there more to her love interest than meets the eye?

Perfect for fans of Benjamin Stevenson and Emily Henry. What an unexpectedly great combination!

#WithoutaClue #MelissaFerguson #NetGalley #CozyMystery #WhoDunIt #FriendsToLovers

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book for me to read and review.

I love this book so much that I even went out and bought a physical copy.

I loved the mystery and the romance. It truly felt like a movie in my head. I enjoyed the twists and turns and was not expecting the plot twist.

This book was such a fun delight to listen to!! It is a perfect mix of humor, mystery with twists and side of romance. The story followers seven authors, know as the Fabulous Seven who set sail on a luxury cruise with hundreds of fans. Penelope, known as Pip is the personal assistant to a famous mystery author, Hugh Griffin. Day two of the cruise Hugh is found dead— thus starts this mystery of whodunnit while on the cruise and finding everyone suspicious. This was such a fun book to get lost in and try to solve the mystery!!

The audiobook is narrated by Karissa Vacker. I loved the narration on this one and she did such a fantastic job bringing all the characters to life. I absolutely adored the narration on this book and found myself picking up the audiobook vs an immersive read as it was just so fun to listen to.

This book is a delightful mix of romantic comedy and mystery. Pip, the main character, organizes a cruise for seven popular authors. When one of them, along with a crew member, dies, she sets out to solve the mystery. And did I mention there's a charming Western author named Nash? 🤠😉

I found this book incredibly charming, and there were moments that made me chuckle.

🎧 The audio experience is excellent. I opted for the immersive experience and loved it. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, did a phenomenal job. Her voice was easy to understand, and she has an impressive vocal range. A+

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
0🌶️

Penelope (Pip) Dupont is amazing at her job: being a personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. She helps him to organize a book cruise with the other members of The Fabulous Seven (seven authors from seven genres who make up a not-so-secret society). But when disaster strikes on the first day of the cruise with the mysterious murder of Hugh, Pip has to take over the investigation to determine his murderer. She teams up with another member of The Seven, Nash, a swoon-worthy Western author, with whom she becomes captivated by as they capture the culprit.

This book was such a fun read! It’s definitely a great book for those who love the more whimsy side of Only Murders in the Building, and for those who love a good romance/cozy mystery combo! I love a good set of secondary characters, and true to form, all the members of the seven lean into the stereotypes of the genres they write. It’s a no spice book, and it’s weird to say that it’s flirty despite the murder investigation, but hey, that’s just the brilliance of Melissa Ferguson. Throw in the top-notch narration by Karissa Vacker (whose impression of the horror author appropriately gave me the hilarious creeps) and her riveting narration of Pip’s determination to solve the murder, and you’ve got a fun read.

Reviewed as part of an #ARC from #bibliolifestyle and #ALC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Bibliolifestyle & Thomas Nelson - Zondervan Fiction for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Read this book if you:
🍿 love the cult classic Clue (1985) movie, including the quirky cast of characters
🔎 haven’t yet missed an episode of Only Murders in the Building
🎤 love a good karaoke session, especially on a cruise


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This review will be posted to Instagram @AutobiographiCole on or around the release date!

Without a Clue was a quick fun read. I was hooked from the start and would have finished it in one sitting if work hadn’t gotten in the way. The writing was wonderful and kept me guessing. The narration was excellent and I just really enjoyed it. Pip was hilarious and I love how she investigated everyone while using what she knew about Hugh and his writing. I look forward to reading more from this author

cozy mystery
amateur sleuth
slow burn
author cruise
closed door romance

Melissa Ferguson did it again! This cozy mystery has fun characters, quirky twists, and plenty of heart. The slow burn chemistry adds warmth without overtaking the mystery. While I guessed the ending pretty early on, I still could not put the book down because I had to know if I was right. I really hope Ferguson writes more cozy mysteries!

Content Warnings:
-kisses only
-no language
-mild peril
-light mystery danger

*Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and the author for a copy of this review. All thoughts are my own.

It's one of the most unique RomCom/Mysterys books I've ever read. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, I felt all of pip's feels and I can honestly say, "Same, bestie". I also thought Karissa did an amazing job emulating the characters by giving each of them an unique voice.

This was such an interesting story! I really liked how the author combined a murder mystery with a romcom. While there was some suspense, it was light enough that nothing felt too scary or stressful. I loved how eccentric the characters were. Their unique personalities helped them come alive while I was reading. I liked how each of the authors on the ship had something about them that made them at least a little suspicious in the investigation.
I really liked the chemistry between Nash and Pip. The way he protected her and made sure there was no possible way for the villain to get to her was so sweet. I loved how they slowly became a little more than colleagues, and then a little more than friends.
The mystery was very intriguing. I liked seeing some little hints along the way, and I liked how the whole thing made Pip look deeper into herself and take a leap into something she didn't think she was ready for. The ending took me by complete surprise. I had kind of guessed at it earlier in the book, but then I got so caught up in everything else that was going on that by the time all was revealed, I had completely forgotten about that possibility.
This is a fun read that any fans of mystery or romcom or both should check out!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.