Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder was such an interesting read!!
When Grace unexpectedly finds her boss dead in his art studio, his wife wants to hire her to help her solve his murder…. What could go wrong?
I really loved the dynamic between the two amateur sleuths Grace & Jo! The light hearted & humorous moments really balanced out the vulnerable moments. The friendship that developed between the two really made the story just that much more enjoyable. Jess Mey needs to write more so that I can devour them!!!
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Datura Books for the arc!!!

THIS IS A NETGALLEY ADVANCED READY COPY:
This novel is set in the future of 2028 is a dystopian world in which any unmarried or divorced woman is detained by the state at the start of a fetal heartbeat. She is given an ankle monitor and taken into custody and then brought to court to name the child’s father and theg are both forced to comply with the law that has strict protocols on how to best serve their unborn child. The child becomes an immediate child of the state and until all the classes and the forced rules are completed up until the baby is 6months old, they will either be released from their court mandates or continued until the court deems them responsible and working together as a team for the best of the child.
When Rylee finds out she is pregnant, from a home test she takes. She decides to go to a clinic for confirmation as she has a medical condition that prevents her from becoming pregnant and her fibroids and endometriosis tamhat all the women in her family suffer from have cause then to get IVF and other medical intervention to become pregnant. When Rylee shows up at the clinic her pregnancy is confirmed and the clinic holds her there and calls the police where she is taken into custody through the new law that prevents any woman attempting abortion or acting as if she’ll have one to have her unborn child as a ward of the state and being forced to complete parenting classes with the father of the child and making decisions to live together and split their money 1/2 for all the baby’s needs. Rylee is rich and has a trust fund and wants to use to it to find a nice home to live in. Sam is in college and works part time unable to match Rylee’s half of the rent and other expenses so they argue continuously and Sam is livid with Rylee for getting pregnant by going off the pill unknowing she would get pregnant so easily but he blames her.
It isn’t until they have done all the mandatory work and classes the state and the ankle bracelets that keep them in the state making them unable to run out on their responsibility and she goes into labor does Sam come around and begin to respect and love Rylee and absolutely adore his child.
The state run law that forces parents to attend classes see social workers check in to ensure they’re still in the state and make them live together working as a team and splitting all expenses is so violating of the privacy of these two parents what a wild ride and an unbelievable experience for any parents to have to forgo. They’re essentially robbed of their autonomy and dealing with the intrusion of their own lives and how they’d like to bring their child up is hard to comprehend let alone follow according to law.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

This book tells the story of Grace and Jo, who try to find the murderer of Jo’s husband, Garrett, after Grace finds him dead in his office.

In my opinion, the strongest point of the book is the friendship that develops between the two protagonists, Grace and Jo. It goes from a work relationship while they try to solve this murder to a friendship in which they can rely on each other for comfort and emotional support when they both need it the most. They were both so cute and funny at times. Also, both characters were well-developed on their own; we knew their fears, feelings, and intentions the whole time, even though Grace was the main protagonist. I only wish the romance had been a little more developed in the story itself.

The mystery that we find in this book is really interesting but still cozy; we meet all the suspects through the various stunts that Grace and Jo pull to try and find Garrett's murderer. These stunts sometimes lead to funny situations and wholesome characters, though not on all occasions. The investigation was interesting enough that it kept you on the edge of your seat while not generating anxiety, discomfort, or fear.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, cozy mystery with characters that you could relate to (especially if you are in the same age range as them), this is an amazing option!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Jess Mey for the ARC of this book.

How to solve a murder in easy steps right?! Such a lighthearted, warming, fun and fabulous book! This will be recommended!

What millennial woman doesn't think she could solve a murder?? After Grace finds her boss dead in his art studio, she forms an unlikely alliance with his grieving wife to sort through the suspect list and catch a killer. This story shines with both comedic hijinks and vulnerable moments, and the throughline of what women are capable of when the odds are against them makes this a delightfully feminist, relatable sleuthing duo.

Grace and Jo can live in my life any day. I would happily read them take on anything else! Such a great setting, I love reading about this generation of girls, it’s proper nostalgic to me and who doesn’t love a character with the same name! Looking forward to the next book by this author

That was a really fun read!

Even though there is a murder in the first chapter, this book is light, funny, and entertaining.
The writing is engaging and humorous and I read this book within a day.

The main characters have great rapport, I loved the whole cast, and while I did guess some of the fishiness, the mystery stayed true and kept me focussed the whole story.

I did feel attacked at the older half of the dynamic duo having my almost exact birthday, but I guess I just have to deal with that.

“Her outfit [consisted of] a floral blouse and a pair of yoga pants cosplaying as dress slacks. Grace felt there was something empowering about a pair of pants that looked office-appropriate but would allow you to do a split. You know, in an emergency.”

Old episodes of Fixer Upper indeed cure everything (Chip and Joanna can repair it all), mindless scrolling to catch up on celebrity gossip and Pinterest is always a good idea, and the big internet versus the small internet is very very real.

A delight! Would wholeheartedly recommend!

And a very big shoutout to the lovely cover!!

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

This was a delight! A millennial cozy mystery - two unlikely women come together to sleuth out a man's murder, follow along as they figure it out! Describing it as for fans of the Finlay Donovan series is definitely accurate. This is a great addition to the cozy mystery genre, and I'd absolutely read more books from this author!

I enjoyed reading Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder. I found Grace's character so endearing, and I loved the development of Grace and Jo's friendship as they try to solve the murder of Jo's husband. However, I didn't completely love the mystery component - I'm not sure it entirely worked for me. But I really didn't mind because I was interested in reading more about Grace, Jo, and their adventures. Overall, I think it's a comforting cozy mystery read.

loved this trying to solve a murder mystery and dealing with grief. loved meeting all of her family and his . loved that there was a love connection with a character..

Thank you to the author Jess May and Netgalley for ARC.

I am a big fan of cozy mysteries and a huge fan of Elle Cosimano series Finlay Donovan and this really reminds of the humor and banter that made me fall in love with cozy mystery genre.

Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder is a charming cozy mystery that balances humor, friendship, and murder with a light, engaging tone. The story follows unlikely amateur sleuths Grace and Jo as they investigate the death of Jo's husband, and I really enjoyed watching their partnership grow throughout the book.

One of the highlights for me was the relationship between the two women. Their friendship develops naturally as they navigate grief, uncover secrets, and rediscover who they are beyond the tragedy that brought them together. Grace's millennial perspective felt relatable, and her pop culture references and inner thoughts added plenty of humor without taking away from the mystery.

The investigation kept me interested, with just enough twists to make the story entertaining while maintaining the cozy mystery feel. I also appreciated the hint of romance woven into the plot, which complemented the story rather than overshadowing it.

Overall, this was a fun, comforting read with likable characters, witty dialogue, and a satisfying blend of mystery and heart. I'd happily return for another adventure with Grace and Jo and would recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, and strong female friendships.

Grace & Jo Have Never Solved A Murder was a cozy mystery following two amateur sleuths, Grace and Jo, as they try to solve the murder of Jo's husband. I really enjoyed the bond these two women created as they dealt with grief and discovered who they were outside of this tragedy. Grace was a main character I could relate to, and many of her millennial references had me laughing. Would definitely recommend for fans of cozy mystery and female friendship!

I truly loved this book. Grace & Jo Have Never Solved A Murder is a funny, clever, and endearing story about two amateur sleuths. When Jo’s husband is poisoned (and found by Grace!) the two of them team up to solve his murder. They conduct their own investigation in a hilarious way that had me laughing out loud at times.

Jess Mey totally nailed the cozy mystery genre with this novel and I’m definitely a new fan of her writing! I happily enjoyed this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder is a funny mystery that puts a fresh, modern spin on the cozy genre. I really enjoyed the humor throughout the story, and Grace was such a likeable main character that I couldn't help but root for her. Grace and Jo's extremely amateur sleuthing leads to plenty of entertaining moments. There were enough characters to keep me from guessing the ending but not so many that you end up going "who?" at any point in time. And I feel like I don't read many books that take place in Philly, so that was something fresh as well!

An absolute joy of a cosy crime featuring a pair of would be detectives who find more than the murderer!
Grace works for Garrett as an assistant- he creates art and works from a studio in Philly. Grace is having a particularly great start to her day until she brings her boss’s coffee into his office and finds him slumped over it.
The shocks continue as later that same say, his wife appears at Grace’s door with a proposition- to work for her and solve the murder.
Grace and Jo know nothing about solving crimes but they form an immediate bond and become fast friends.
There are ridiculous ideas for undercover work, and plenty of confrontations with suspects to enjoy and yet the murder remains unsolved for months.

It isn’t until the pair visit the studio one last time that Grace notices something missed and things begin to unravel quickly!

A great mystery and an even better outcome for Grace who was a bit lost at the beginning of this story!

I love the cozy detective story that centers on an oddball (almost screwball) pairing to work the mystery. Fans of Only Murders in the Building will enjoy this read!

3.75⭐️ This was a fun, cozy mystery. I was interested in this since I was marketed that the main character was a millennial and as a millennial I was able to relate to some choices she made. I feel like this had the same chaotic amateur sleuth vibes with a side of romantic interest as the Finlay Donovan series, which I really like. I enjoyed the dynamic between Grace and Jo and thought their personalities complemented each other so well. Overall the story was a good blend of humor and mystery. I feel like this could become a series and I would definitely read the next one if so.

A funny but heartfelt cozy mystery that employs favorite tropes like amateur sleuths and strong female friendships.

A lively cozy that's as much about friendship as it is about the mystery. Grace just moved to town and she's shocked to discover the body of her new boss at his desk. She's equally surprised when Jo,, his widow, hires her to find the killer, These two build a relationship as they work through the clues. Know that there are lots of pop culture references and that sometimes this might feel a bit chaotic but also that Mey always feels a firm hand on it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this and hope to see Grace and Jo again.

4 ⭐ ARC Review

🔎 For Fans of:
- cozy mystery
- amateur sleuth
- grief
- healing
- Philadelphia setting
- millennial references
- hot cop
- single POV
- Author: Finlay Donovan

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Grace has just moved from Florida to Philadelphia when she finds her new boss dead (traumatizing already!). His grieving widow, Jo, offers Grace a job to help her find her husband’s killer (and be her friend tbh) and Grace accepts.

Jess Mey’s debut novel is a book full of amateur sleuthing that feels ridiculously realistic, hilarious millennial references, and friendships that felt like home. I especially loved the crime solving and the lists Grace and Jo make from watching YouTube tutorials (too real lol)!

As someone who is usually meh about cozy mysteries, this book has me questioning myself! Maybe I actually really like them or maybe I just really like this one? 🤔

🖤 Thank you to author Jess Mey and publisher Datura Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: Grace and Jo Have Never Solved a Murder by Jess Mey
📅 Release Date: October 13, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5

Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder was a cozy mystery following two amateur sleuths, Grace, the assistant to the victim and the one who found his body, and his wife, Jo. Jo has her reservations about the police, so she hires Grace to help her solve her husband's murder. Not only do these two find the killer, but along the way they find a strong, supportive friendship and community.

Grace and Jo Have Never Solved a Murder is a clever cozy mystery led by two inexperienced but determined amateur detectives. Their friendship and contrasting personalities provide plenty of humor. They make some questionable decisions, but that is part of the fun. The mystery is engaging without becoming overly dark or complicated.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I basically decided to read it due to the title and cover. I was pleasantly surprised! I loved Grace and Jo and their friendship! The mystery was well executed and I liked how Grace included the police, rather than hiding information from them. I really really hope this becomes a series and we get more from these two.

This book had me grinning from ear to ear pretty much the entire time! I really enjoyed it and it was a wonderful reminder of how much I love cozy mysteries, too! Perfect timing for fall.

What I loved most about this book was the theme of female friendship. Grace and Jo are characters I wanted to be friends with, even though they were both so different. I also adored the idea that sometimes you find friends in the most interesting ways (although hopefully not over solving a murder like Grace and Jo!)

The case was fun to follow and the book was easy to read. There was a point towards the end where I was pretty certain I figured out the whodunnit and I did turn out to be right, but this book was all about the journey.

I also loved allll the pop culture references. If you’re a millennial, you are going to love them too!

All in all, I’m happy to recommend this book and really can’t wait to read more by Jess in the future - and to just devour more cozy mystery in general!

Thanks so much to the author, NetGalley, and Datura books for providing me with access to the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, easy cozy mystery and definitely a nice change of pace from some of the darker books I normally read.

Grace finds her boss dead at his desk and is ready to pack everything up and move back home to Florida when his widow, Jo, asks her to help figure out who killed him. Neither one of them has any idea how to actually solve a murder, so you can imagine how well that goes.

For me, Grace and Jo were the best part of the book. I really enjoyed their friendship and watching their relationship develop as they attempted to investigate. There were some funny moments and plenty of millennial humor that I appreciated.

I think where this lost me a little was the actual mystery. I wanted a little more from it. More twists, more suspense, more moments where I was questioning everyone. I never really felt completely invested in figuring out who did it, which is usually what I want when I'm reading a mystery.

That being said, I still enjoyed reading it. It was light, entertaining, and easy to get through. I think if you go into this expecting more of a cozy, character-driven mystery rather than a twisty thriller, you'll probably have a lot of fun with it.

Overall, a solid 3.5 stars for me. I enjoyed my time with Grace and Jo, even if I wanted a little more from the murder mystery itself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Datura Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The kind of book you can curl up and read in an afternoon. This was cozy, light, and, enjoyable. It has shades of the Finlay Donovan series. The murder mystery and hijinks are there but it’s the friendships that make the story.
The murder mystery was a little thin. But it provided endearing side characters. Just enough Millennial humor.
Overall, delightful.

Thanks to NetGalley and Datura Books for the ARC!

Grace moves to Philadelphia and has a new job as an assistant. Her life is upended when she finds her boss dead. Grace contemplates returning to Florida when her boss’s widow offers her a job but with a catch - she wants Grace’s help solving her husband’s murder. This is a fun cozy mystery that reminded me of the Finlay Donovan series. The characters are particularly charming. Thanks to NetGalley and Datura for the ARC.

Loved this book. It was so easy to read, fast paced and not your normal murder mystery. I really enjoyed the relationship that developed between Jo and Grace. I also really enjoyed the ending. I wasn't fully shocked but I also did not expect it.

I enjoyed everything that was touched upon im this book outside of the main plot. Very women power and strong women focused.

Definitely will keep an eye out for more!

http://Check out this review of Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder on Fable. https://fable.co/review/0e5fe116-00bc-418a-bf16-0a831981e164/share

This was such a cosy little murder mystery which I love. As I was reading it I could imagine it being made into a Netflix movie and I really hope it is one day.

I did think the ending was a little too obvious from the outset- some big clues were dropped very obviously and there were no real red herrings, just the suspects brought up one at a time and all cleared absolutely with an alibi, which took a bit of fun out of the guessing game. However it didn’t detract from the book too much as the story moved along quite nicely and there were several lines so funny that I spit my tea. Especially for all the millennials out there.

Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder was such a fun read! 👀

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Grace and Jo. Their friendship, the chaos and the fact that they are very much NOT professional detectives made this such an entertaining murder mystery.

It had plenty of twists, secrets and suspicious characters to keep me guessing, but it was also really funny and light-hearted in places. I loved the mix of humour and mystery, and it made for such an easy, enjoyable read.

There were a couple of moments where the pacing dipped for me, but overall I had such a good time with this one!

If you’re looking for a fun, slightly chaotic murder mystery with great character chemistry, definitely add this to your TBR. 💕🔎