Enjoyed the book from start to finish. The plot twists were shocking and enjoyable, but that doesn't surprise me coming from JL Campbell. I look forward to the next book.

Murder by the Book is a compelling thriller which shines a fluorescent light on the inner workings of the publishing world. Addison Comstock is at the top of the literary world but suddenly people in her inner circle start dying. The cause of death comes straight out the pages of the book she’s writing. Or the book she’s having written by a team of ghost writers who she terrorizes on a daily basis. But Addison has a secret. A secret that someone is going to expose for the world to see.

The author does an excellent job of weaving in clues and backstory to keep the reader guessing throughout. No one is whom they seem in this story. Overall, this book is an excellent five star read.

JL. Campbell’s MURDER BY THE BOOK invites readers into a world where secrets, suspense, and sharp-witted investigation intertwine. With a cast led by Addison Comstock and Casey Mitchell, the novel seamlessly blends classic mystery elements with contemporary character dynamics, keeping readers engaged from the first page to the last.
Campbell’s prose is crisp and evocative, deftly capturing the tension and atmosphere of each scene. The pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to savor the clues and participate in the unraveling mystery, while moments of humor and warmth between Addison and Casey offer respite from the suspense.

Murder by the Book is a refreshing and vibrant entry into the cozy mystery genre! J.L. Campbell swaps the typical sleepy English village for the bustling, colorful streets of Kingston, Jamaica, and the result is a "whodunit" with serious soul. While the mystery follows a traditional path, the chemistry between the leads and the atmospheric Caribbean backdrop kept me turning pages. If you're looking for a "vacation read" that’s more than just fluff, this is it.

This was a fun, twisty mystery with a unique setup. The story plays with the idea of books, authors, and murder in a way that keeps things interesting. The pacing is strong, and it keeps you guessing enough to stay engaged.

Some Secrets Were Never Meant to Stay Buried

Murder by the Book by J.L. Campbell is the kind of novel that grabs you by the collar on page one and refuses to let go. Set against the lush, sun-drenched backdrop of Jamaica, this layered psychological thriller take apart the glamorous facade of the literary world with surgical precision — and what lies beneath is far darker than fiction.

Campbell's protagonist, Addison Comstock, is a literary icon you'll love to loathe — brilliant, ruthless, and hiding secrets that would unravel everything she's built. When a seemingly routine team retreat turns deadly, the tension escalates with each chapter in ways that feel both inevitable and completely surprising. Campbell's expressive, confident writing style keeps the pacing razor-sharp, and the plot twists land hard.

What elevates this book beyond a standard whodunit is its moral complexity. My heart aches for Addison — because beneath the polished, steely exterior is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and incest who never received the healing she deserved. She carried unresolved trauma silently into adulthood, and it quietly shaped every relationship, every decision, and every ruthless move she made. Campbell portrays this with unflinching honesty. The dysfunction didn't begin with Addison, and it didn't end with her either. This is a story steeped in generational trauma — the kind that gets passed down, buried, and eventually explodes.

Campbell isn't interested in easy answers. She asks uncomfortable questions about ambition, exploitation, loyalty, and the cost of silence, and she makes you sit with the discomfort.

This is a bold, fearless, and deeply satisfying thriller from one of Jamaica's most gifted storytellers.

My only recommendation: This book would benefit from a content/trigger warning prior to publication. Although not graphic, incidents of incest, child sexual abuse, and child abandonment, are wound throughout the story — content that can be deeply triggering for survivors. Adding a trigger warning is a meaningful, trauma-informed gesture that respects and protects your readership.

Highly recommended for fans of dark psychological thrillers with complex characters, dysfunctional family dynamics, and high-stakes secrets.
—Marie McKenzie | BSN, RN | Award-Winning & #1 Bestselling Author | Trauma-Informed Educator | Founder & CEO, ISACI