A very different kind of murder mystery with special emphasis on VERY. This is the debut story of Dann McDorman and it's not really capable of being slotted into a genre or even a sub-genre. It is a book for anyone who has every said....I could write a better book than that. Set at a remote hunting lodge in the 1970's, a group of people have been stormed in and now someone is killing them. When the storm ends, there are three bodies and a lodge full of suspects. A simple back story to outline what quickly becomes anything but simple. The reader will be transported to the crime scene, becoming a witness and an investigator as McDorman displays his research skills by immersing us into the story itself. This is not a book you can multitask while reading. If you're not paying attention you could easily be accused of the murders. Finding the killer(s) is an entertaining trip through some excellent crime fiction. Enjoy at your own risk!!!

I received an ARC of this book. I found the story hard to follow and rather confusing. It wasn't what I expected at all.

West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman is a suspense/mystery novel unlike any other mystery. Set in an elite community during July Fourth weekend, this story has many secrets. Everybody has a secret and who has a secret that compels them to murder.

I had a difficult time with this book. The story itself was good, although the ending was not my favorite. The constant references to old classic mysteries from Agatha Christie, though, were good, it took away from the original story for me. I skimmed this part quite often. Though this book was not my favorite, I was still invested till the end and felt dissatisfied. Having said that, this is a novel very unlike a traditional mystery. If a reader is looking for a very classic mystery with a twist, this is a perfect book for them.

Thank you, Knopf Publishing, for this book.

CW: Alcohol, murder, infidelity, references to domestic abuse

The writing style here made this unreadable for me. It was like reading a series of files or memos instead of a story. Makes it hard to lose yourself in the plot. As a result I found myself not caring about any of the characters or story.

West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman will not be a lot of people’s type of book, but there will be a cult following that comes from it. I can see people who enjoy reading theater/movie scripts or history books enjoying this one.

I had a very hard time getting into it, after trying numerous times. I enjoy quirky books (Geek Love by Katherine Dunn is a favorite!), but at times I found it very dry, just listing things, and the characters felt one dimensional to me.

I feel like this would be the type of book you would find people who frequent coffee houses to read their poetry or gather to discuss the vast history of mystery writing, really finding fun to discuss.

While West Heart Kill lived up to its billing as a "primer on the form" of a classic locked room mystery, it fell far short of the mark for me.

The narrator of the book manipulates the reader at every turn, while allegedly revealing clues as to the who-what-when-where-why. Given the author's respect for the rules of the genre, I was very disappointed in the ending of this book when the rules seemed to be broken for very little payoff.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So this very different writing style was just not for me. Struggled to finish even and the ending was disappointing.

Point of view randomly changes. Has blurbs with definitions that lead to other book references throughout. Written from mainly a private detective point of view, also had q and a format. Just very all over the place, wanted to be like Knives out and was similar but just didn’t intrigue me or keep me interested at all. Also was very hard to follow.

Thanks to netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was an odd book for me to say the least. I loved the premise but the execution fell short.

I loved the idea of a murder Fourth of July weekend in the 70’s at an upstate New York hunting lodge.
First thing I didn’t like was being pulled out of the original story to read a history lesson on the mystery genre and novel. I found it bothersome and dry.
The second thing was it turned out to be a less than compelling story and it dragged on.
The characters were flat and boring. This felt like a short story that need the filler of a history lesson.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 3⭐️

Usually, if a reviewer says they’ve never read anything like the book currently under review, it means they either have short memories or a small lifetime bookshelf. That’s especially true with mysteries, where every shocking new plot device like those in Agatha Christie’s “The Murder of Roger Aykroyd” or “Witness for the Prosecution” is soon copied and parodied to death by lesser writers. I’ve been reading classic mysteries for over 50 years, long enough to remember the thrill when a new Rex Stout or Ross MacDonald title came out. My bookshelf rivals some branch libraries. And I can tell you this: I’ve never read anything like Dann McDorman’s new novel, “West Heart Kill.” I was stunned twice, fooled more than twice, and constantly amazed by this book.

“West Heart Kill” takes place on the Bicentennial Independence Day weekend in 1976 at a large hunting and country club for the very rich in the distant suburbs of New York City. It’s a prestigious club that often plays host to celebrities. (Charlton Heston paid the club a recent visit.) Members spend weekends in their “cabins,” which are larger than most people’s homes. And over the course of that weekend, two definite murders and one apparent suicide that may have been a murder take place. Among the various wealthy family members at the club that weekend is not-so-wealthy Adam McAnnis. He’s a private investigator and old college friend of James Blake, the scion of one such family. The two ostensibly met by coincidence shortly before the weekend, and Blake asked McAnnis to tag along. One of the few surprises in the book I can reveal is that McAnnis manipulated the meeting and invitation because he’s on the job this weekend. That job later turns into investigating the various crimes that take place. And thanks to a heavy storm that’s washed out the only road to the estate, McAnnis is the only detective of any sort on the job.

If the above plot synopsis was all there was to “West Heart Kill,” the novel would be a good but unexceptional example of the mystery genre. But it’s not. Instead, the author continually shatters reader expectations by playing with and often discarding the mystery genre’s conventions. He starts by writing much of the novel in the second person as he addresses the reader. He mentions what the reader expects at this point in a mystery and what the reader is thinking. Some of this involves an author’s good understanding of reader expectations. For example, at one point, the weekend’s entertainment includes the traditional bonfire by the beach. When I read this, I immediately thought the bonfire would be a good place to dispose of evidence or even a body, as Laird Cregar did in “Hangover Square.” As if by magic, the author notes at about the same time I had these thoughts: “[Y]ou think that a clever killer could exploit this bonfire for purposes of plot. A killer with a theatrical disposition might enjoy the private joke of secretly burning his evidence in full view of a crowd, knowing the final bit of proof needed to prove his guilt had been immolated before a hundred witnesses.”

“West Heart Kill” is filled with similar addresses by the author to the reader. Sometimes, the author appears psychic when he does so; at other times, the device allows for a non-obvious information dump. Using the second person isn’t the only device the author employs. He often switches from third person to first person, having McAnnis narrate portions of the story. He even uses a first-person plural narrator in places, with the various characters discussing what “we” did at that point in the story. The author includes some digressions and “case studies,” including providing the origins of the word “mystery.” He discusses famous genre authors, including Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie (and her disappearance), Dashiell Hammett, and John Dickson Carr. More importantly, he discusses locked-room mysteries (Carr’s specialty), a favorite of classic crime fiction fans. That information is particularly relevant when a subsequent murder involves a locked room.

One of the book’s most unusual stylistic conventions is a questionnaire where the author asks readers to predict, among other things, who the probable murder victim(s) and the probable murderer(s) are. He then adds a couple of bizarre philosophical questions. “Do you ever look at your spouse or lover, during moments when they’re unaware of your gaze―reading a book like this one, perhaps―and calculate the sum of your regrets? Do you ever imagine a life without them, and consider what you’d be willing to do to make that happen? Do you ever wonder if they’re thinking the same about you?”

Some readers may find the author’s style pretentious or insulting, as when he deigns to know what the reader is thinking. Others, like me, will find it fascinating, with the tidbits of genre lore dispensed along the way as entertaining as the main storyline. But then come the last twists, the ones I didn’t see coming. At that point, I rethought what I had assumed I knew about the story. And that’s where the book’s true brilliance lies. All the author’s digressions and stylistic conventional quirks help disguise the clues he plants throughout the novel. They misdirect the reader while entertaining them at the same time. The end result was a couple of shocking surprises that the author left all the clues readers needed to guess. “West Heart Kill” is a remarkable work, even more so because it’s Dann McDorman’s first novel. I might quibble with some of the author’s discussions, but I feel he only really came up short once, on the very last page. When I read this, I understood what he had done, but he could have worded it better on a second try.

I can’t remember if I have ever been that impressed with a mystery writer’s first genre work since Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles.” I fear that, like M. Night Shyamalan after “The Sixth Sense,” McDorman may not be as effective in future works, since readers know what to expect. However, I admire the author’s grasp of the genre and his continuing ability to twist the story to fit his desires. If “West Heart Kill” doesn’t receive prime consideration at next year’s Edgars, that will be a literary crime more egregious than any that occurred in the book.

NOTE: The publisher graciously gave me a copy of this book. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of that review are entirely my own.

I love a locked room mystery and the premise of this one (private clue, old money, scandals) sounded fun; however, this one just didn’t hook me. The author seemed to experiment more with the narrative and technique than the story. While usually I don’t mind the fourth wall being broken it was done so much is this novel that it distracted from the plot and characters. Some folks may really like the uniqueness of the tale, it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The style of this book is unique and I personally enjoyed it. I felt like I was part of the writing process but still very invested in the story of the West Heart Club. I enjoyed the rich club members with secrets.. and then there is a murder.... but I need the answer to be more obvious at the end! I need things completely spelled out for me!

I liked the tid bits of history of how a murder mystery should be written.. and how I never really knew who was the narrator of the story. It was as if I was watching a murder mystery play with the voice over narrator.

I tried to start this book multiple times. At first your thinking is this a text book on how to write a mystery? Then it switches to a story that you not quite sure is a story or "the " story example of a mystery. The writing was fine ,but the execution seemed to be lacking. Maybe I am just not familiar with this style, but when I read a story I don't want to know how to write a mystery, I wanted to READ a mystery. After multiple tries I just had to stop. It didn't hold my interest. I don't want to have to work hard to enjoy a story or try and figure out what the author is trying to get me to learn. To each his own I say. I appreciate to advance copy, and I am sorry to say that I wouldn't recommend this read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dann McDorman for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for West Heart Kill coming out October 24, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a fun read. I love the whodunit genre, so all the references to famous authors like Agatha Christie was fun. It was a fairly short read. I wasn’t completely a fan of the long chapters. It would go back to the beginning of the chapter if I didn’t finish a chapter, so I had to keep going. I prefer shorter breaks. However, I did enjoy the different formats in writing. I love a lot of dialogue so I enjoyed the parts of straight dialogue and playwriting.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries!

West Heart Kill is an interesting, quirky story that never truly hits the best mystery ever but has fun with characters and the overall genre to make it a fun story to read

The setting is in NY at a hunting lodge called West Heart Country Club. A group of wealthy are attending a Bicentennial weekend, among one is Adam McAnnis whom happens to be a Private Detective. During this weekend three come up dead. I can't call this book a "cozy read", maybe a murder mystery, but I can't really say it's a, "who done it", kind of mystery either.

This book was an intriguing book to read, I do like the storyline. It did seem a bit complex to read but in all I personally enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

While for the most part entertaining, this felt a bit like being cornered by the know-it-all at a cocktail party. This is a whodunit or more accurately a whydunit that has some interesting structural distinctions. The first part is in the voice of our detective -- Adam McAnnis. Then the second half is an unknown narrator from among the residents of West Heart. The author also uses a play as a storytelling device in the last 1/3 of the book. The Narrator is almost omniscient. So, as noted above, I found it an entertaining read. The ending is a bit ambiguous, possibly even pretentious. Not a fan. So, 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for a strong debut.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel reads like a cross between regular fiction and a stage play. There are also tidbits of "historical mystery facts" thrown in and around in order to help you better understand the story. Or explain the tropes. Either way, I was a tad confused by it. It just seems like a gimmicky way to tell a story instead of just letting a slow-burn mystery unfold. The narrator also breaks the fourth wall and tells the reader exactly what the reader is thinking. (Even if that's not what you were thinking.) Basically, it's 1976 (it seems like from the descriptions certain items, new events, etc.) and private detective Adam Macannis is on his way to the West Heart Hunt Club w/ his friend James Blake. We find out a bit later that Macannis was hired by an unknown client to dig up some dirt on this club. Across the 4 days of the rainy July 4th weekend, there is a suicide and 2 murders.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this e-arc.*

This was a difficult book to get into for me. It did not read like a book but more of a screenplay which was a little hard to follow along and keep my attention. I wish it would have read as a straight mystery because that part was good but I feel like there was too much excess involved to really enjoy it.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC.

A fun whodunnit with some unique elements that helped it stand out from others! I'm definitely interesting in reading more from McDorman in the classical mystery genre.

One of my college roommates was a film & tv major, & this reminds me a bit of subject matter for screenwriting class. I used to teach & judge creative writing, & it also feels like an example I could’ve used for that. A P.I. procedural meets a writing/reading procedural. Bonus of genre history amongst the actual mystery. Things broken down. The story becomes more than just the story. The author stops & talks directly to the reader. The reader’s eyes are openly directed where the author wants.
Voice
Setting
Mood
Characters
The characters list even seems to have bits of info missing.
I found it interesting that I didn’t know if the narrator was leading me in the right direction or not. I thought many times about the possibility of being completely misled. The author addresses that very thing. The author’s note of common frustrations readers have regarding POV in mysteries is perfectly timed. It was literally crossing my mind. Calling out exactly what I’m thinking happens later, too. A little unnerving, but also oddly reassuring.
The Word Problems chapter is brilliant as foreshadowing. The unusual questionnaire goes from shallow to ocean depth in no time flat.
I was definitely echoing Emma @ the end of the final scene.

All this being said, I found the mystery, the characters, & the unique writing style compelling enough to wade through the asides.
I’ll finish by saying I’m glad I read it, & turning my brain off to go to sleep after finishing wasn’t easy.
I might have to read parts of it again…

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read & review an advance copy.