This is a book you're going to either love or hate ... I'm team hate 😐
It's 100% completely different than the description which actually sounded very interesting.

I felt it was way too confusing ... Too much going on . Ramblings about nothing at times. I really struggled with this book or screenplay ?? Idk ... I don't know what I read . I didn't care who the murderer was or tbh about anything. I just wanted to finish & be done. This might be one of those books that turns you off from reading for awhile.

The only good thing I can say is this book is very different from any mystery I've read before & does try to engage the reader during the entire book but idk to me that was even more confusing ...

#NetGalley #WestHeartKill #Arc

The description of this book sounded really interesting.
However it’s nothing like what I was expecting. It almost reads like a play. You have a narrator setting the stage between acts and then there’s dialogue. Parts were interesting but overall it was a bit stiff feeling.

"West Hear Kill" is not you typical who-done-it novel. It reads differently, at points it's like the narrator is breaking the 4th wall. While I initially thought this was cute and kind of fun to see so many nods to classic murder mystery novels over the course of the whole book it got a little distracting. I liked the book, I liked the characters, I liked that the author made an effort to write something a little different while also being a little familiar; I just found it hard to get into with the breaks in story flow.
I think some will LOVE this book and some will not be able to finish but it's definitely worth giving a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

Mystery stories exist on a spectrum. Some are adventures, masquerading as mysteries: they set up a puzzle that can’t be solved with the textual information. Others are “pure” mysteries - the only puzzle is the plot, with all the focus on figuring out whodunnit. And then a third, rare category adds another set of layers - some kind of meta-textual puzzle that both enhances the puzzle and adds an element of intrigue.

It will comes as no surprise that it’s this third category, when well-executed, that has my heart. I’d put all th great epistolary mysteries in here, alongside the tongue-in-cheek narration of _Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone_. When done right, this kind of novel can bring a mystery to life, forcing a reader to engage more deeply. When done poorly, it can lead to frustration, or a sense of disappointing authorial self-importance.

Which is why I was cautious when approaching my early copy of _West Heart Kill_. (Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the gift copy!) Billed as an “anything-but-ordinary whodunnit”, the story bounces between narrative voices and content. One “track”, if you can so call it, follows detective protagonist Adam as he investigates the residents of West Heart, an elite hunting club. The other reviews the history of the written mystery, interspersing interludes of narrative musings with relevant mystery content. There’s a lot that’s unique about this book… but how well does it all come together?

##A unique reading experience…
As I closed _West Heart Kill_, I found myself struggling to find an appropriate set of descriptors for it. “It’s like _Knives Out_, in book format, with the narrator from _Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone_, but if he were much more indirect, but also a total literary experiment…” There are many literary ideas in the novel that seem comparable to others, but they combine in a way that’s unique to me as a reader. Some that stick out: the unique narrative voice, the shifting perspective, the numerous hints for where to pay attention.

Start with the voice. Extensive sections of _West Heart Kill _ feature second person narration - second person narration! With a narrator telling you how you experience reading the mystery - instead of reading the actual mystery. (Think “you read several pages of dialogue, noting that the conversation never touches x, y, or z topics.”) It’s a Very Interesting writing choice that in some ways allows you, the reader, to be “in the know” alongside the author. And despite feeling like a trick (who knows what’s hidden in the bits that are simply described), I can attest that Dorman manages to pull off fair play.

He does this while also shifting other elements of the narrative perspective. While some parts of the novel are written in that second-person voice, others are written as a simple mystery story… Except that the perspective changes every “day” in the book, including third-person limited, first-person singular, and (shock!) first-person plural! And throughout all these narrative shifts, the narrator continues to call out areas to focus and pay attention, so that you have a reasonable shot at the solution.

Some of this may strike you as Extremely Extra for a mystery novel. Why add so many structural twists and turns to a perfectly good plot? But for a certain type of reader (it’s me, I’m that reader!) it adds a layer of structural play. There’s something almost joyous about seeing someone test out so many techniques of mystery writing at once. _West Heart Kill_ feels like something new, and that alone makes it worth the read.

##…with a thin cast
Of course, new territory comes with risks and the potential for error. _West Heart Kill_ trades its unique story structure for character depth. (One of the biggest similarities to _Knives Out_, which similarly follows rich and unpleasant people.) Part of the challenge is structural - the narration simply obscures conversations by telling you what you would have learned, rather than experiencing it yourself. Almost definitionally, it’s telling rather than showing, reducing those characters to stock.

And then, there are the characters themselves. I always find it hard to like truly stock characters - they’re a little too cardboard cutout. But the residents of _West Heart Kill_ spend very little time on-screen, and seem to have no real inner lives outside their potential motives. Every minute spent with a character somehow ties into the mystery - there’s not much to make the reader care about them. And so, when murder visits West Heart, you’re forced to care for the sake of Justice.

Now I usually am a big fan of character writing, so normally I’d be put off by this tradeoff. But the rest of the reading experience is so unique and innovative that I want to forgive this flaw…

##An author who loves mystery
…especially in light of Dorman’s clear love of the mystery genre. (Or at least his respect for it - after _Magpie Murders_ I try not to assume…) This comes out not only in the interludes that describe the tropes and history of the genre, but also in the references, the narration, the winks and nods to common plot interpretations and tricks scattered throughout the novel. It’s hard to fault someone who so clearly loves the genre and has taken on such a creative and ambitious way to explore it fully.

For me, those little interludes of history and trope exploration take _West Heart Kill_ to the next level. I love the meta-ness of it - the idea that you’re getting to think about the influences on this writing as you’re reading it. (Echoes of _How to Read a Classic Crime Novel_, perhaps?) But this is very much a specific taste, for those who enjoy writing that smashes the Fourth Wall and dances on the pieces, then analyzes that dance. Certainly not a Beach Read - but a kind of great meditative Fall one.

##Reader’s notes and rating
I LOVED _West Heart Kill_, as a major fan of the meta-mystery. But your enjoyment of this novel will very much depend on your willingness to get through all its narrative quirks - the second-person narrative voice, the referential asides, the elision of pure plot - as well as your understanding of mystery tropes. If it were just a _bit_ more accessible and I cared a smidge more about the characters, I’d happily give it top marks. For such a unique and interesting read - and one that I’ve already purchased a physical copy of - four stars.

###Read this if…
- You love a meta-mystery
- You’re not turned off by the second-person narration (a common complaint)
- The idea of a book that uses multiple techniques to explore Mystery as a genre excites you

###Skip this if…
- You want a simple and straightforward mystery
- Second person freaks you out
- You’re in it for the characters

_West Heart Kill_ will be published on October 24, 2023.

This was a fun whodunit and anything but ordinary! The setting and premise are promising, the characters are out there, and executed in a very different narrating style. The thing I enjoy about murder mysteries is the endless attempt to distract and pull the reader from the clues that are plain as day and the quick shift in POV and narrating is a clever tactic. I had a few bumps in the road toward the end but overall this was a fun read, I'd recommend it to anyone that is a fan of the genre or just jumping in. Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an interesting and uniquely written read. I actually enjoyed most of it, although I think a lot of it is skippable. (And i did skip some, like the scene setting bits with the clothing brands in the beginning.) Its going to be a love it or hate it, I think. But I ended up enjoying it.

A clever and fun (and funny!) murder mystery, told with the playfulness of the most amusing Golden Age authors of detective fiction. If you read mysteries for that cozy feeling of sameness, this one's not for you, but if you love thinking about the structure and norms and tropes of the genre and want to be delighted by an author who both deconstructs and pays tribute to them, I'd highly recommend this one!

A very unique take on the murder mystery, and in particular the locked room mystery. With odes to mystery writers throughout, the author present the story with a blend of writing styles and POVs. Not your average murder mystery!

I have read a lot of mysteries and have never read one quite like this.
Locked room mysteries are my favorite, so I was all in for that.
Breaking the fourth wall though? That is unique!

I felt like I was part of the book. The reader is really involved in the story.
Reading it was a bit confusing and all over the place at times.

It was interesting how the author spoke directly to the reader.

A book if you like to read about books. Interesting concept though lacking development of characters. .

This book is a fun expedition through a mystery story, as well as an engaging exploration of the detective mystery genre. Breaking the fourth wall is always a bit risky, but this book makes it feel natural and easy; the reader is nearly seamlessly incorporated as a participant of the story all along. This is a book of philosophical meanderings and thoughtful preponderances entwined carefully with the explicit expectations and procedures of the typical murder mystery novel.

Language: High
Drugs: High
Sex: Mild
Violence: Moderate

I don't really know how I felt about this book. On the one hand, I think I liked it, but it was not anything that I was used to in a mystery. It felt a little disjointed at times, and I didn't fully understand it. It has been compared to Knives Out, which is fairly accurate.

The narration was unique, and sometimes addressed the reader directly, posing questions to the reader. The end of it becomes a screenplay, where the reader has their own lines. That didn't sit well with me.

I think a lot of people may like it because of how unique it was, but I found it somewhat hard to follow.

The classic locked room mystery- but turned sideways. This is a challenge to read and know that the plot sometimes feels like it's lost in the commentary. McDorman has written a novel for those who like to read about novels (sort of). Unfortunately, he sacrificed character development. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An interesting but frustrating read.

This book is as much a study in all tropes and the history of mystery novels as it is anything else, including its own mystery novel. It was interestingly written between the teaching about mysteries in general and its on mystery although perhaps, at times, a bit cerebral. However, I enjoyed the mystery up until the very end, which was a big unsatisfying. That said, the book was paced well, and it was unique. Would definitely read more form this author!

West Heart Kill comes out next week on October 24, 2023, and you can purchase HERE! This book is unique!
"How many families?"

"Maybe three dozen? More? They all have their own cabins, all over the property. Every few years, a member leaves, a new one is added. The dues are steep."

"And what does all that money get you?"

"Hunting grounds. A lake stocked with fish and canoes. The club-house. Meals prepared for big parties."

"Like this one."

"Yes, fireworks on the Fourth of July. Also, Memorial Day ... Labor Day ... New Year's. Any excuse, really, to drink too much and ogle other people's wives."

"There are less expensive ways to have an affair."

"These people have money to burn. Or did. But what they're really paying for is separation. Privacy. Miles and miles of empty trails. Graves in which to bury their secrets."

The writing style was just not for me, it felt like a screenplay at times and that just didn't resonate with me.

West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman is a highly recommended murder mystery for the right reader. In this unique metafiction locked-room mystery the author frequently writes directly to the reader.

PI Adam McAnnis accompanies an old college friend for a long Fourth of July weekend at the West Heart club in upstate New York. McAnnis is there to look into suspicious activities, which start with a suspicious drowning followed by an accidental shooting. The plot is actually a basic locked-room mystery, which the author acknowledges. What make West Heart Kill unique is the ever present commentary of the author about writing, the history of mysteries, diverse plot devices, comparisons between various mystery novels, etc.

The murder mystery embedded between the commentary is a perfectly serviceable story, but West Heart Kill is not simply a novel, it is an instructional and informative ode to the whole genre via the author. What will make readers like or dislike the novel will be directly related to their reaction to McDorman's candidly addressing them in his commentary. It does feel a bit disjointed at the start and does take some getting used to. Some of the topics of discourse are more interesting than others. At times it also distracts from the actual mystery.

In the end it was a very entertaining novel/educational resource to read if you enjoy literature and mysteries, but in other ways the metafiction additions to the narrative made the novel more convoluted than it needed to be. It might have worked better to include fewer remarks by the author and the ending wasn't entirely satisfying.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of West Heart Kill in exchange for an honest review!

I surprisingly loved West Heart Kill. I made the mistake of reading reviews on the book before starting it, but ultimately, I think it helped prepare me for reading it. The narration flips often between third-person limited and third-person objective in this book, which is where, I think, it lost many readers. Not only that, but the style of writing often changed between what I expect is the author's base writing, an academic style, and a screenplay. I personally found it interesting, but I can see where it would frustrate many readers. I would liken it to Clue and Murderville and a little bit of a mystery literature history lesson.

West Heart Kill details a weekend in the lives of a small group of wealthy families at their rural retreat. We follow a private investigator that has been secretly hired to investigate what? We don't know. Then, of course, murder happens. The story follows a classic whodunit style, but with the differing perspectives, it made it even more interesting. Each family, each individual, has their own motivations and opinions, which makes some of the backstory hard to follow, but ultimately leads to a wonderful conclusion. Well... except that one part.

Yes, it's a strange book, but it's a GOOD strange.

I read half of this book but found the writing style not suitable for my taste. There are too many characters and I was confused about the various relationships. The story was told in first person by the protagonist but interspersed with commentary from the author about how the mystery was being solved. This just added to the confusion for me. I normally really like locked room murder mysteries and I think many readers will like the unique way that this book is written. It just didn’t strike a chord with me.
I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book and thank the publisher but I will not post my feedback to retail sites since I did not finish the book.

OK, I’m just not a fan of second person narrative. It gets old really fast. I couldn’t truly get into this mystery because it thought itself just so clever. The mystery itself was OK. The characters underdeveloped due to the narrative style. The setting-beautiful. I would like to try this one again in a different form.

You are either going to love it or hate it. That is pretty much how the early reviews are playing out.

The reader is warned in the blurb that West Heart Kill is "anything but ordinary whodunit". Dann McDorman takes a risk with an unorthodox approach to storytelling. I'm not opposed to an author experimenting with methods of telling a story, but I don't always love it. Unfortunately, this novel falls into that category for me.

I loved the characters and it would have been an entertaining detective novel had the story stayed with the plot.

I was confused for most of the novel trying to figure out if this was supposed to be a commentary on how to read a mystery and the history of the genre instead of just an entertaining murder mystery. At one point, I thought the author was condescending as the narrator (presumably the author) breaks into the narrative to point out that the reader at this point is asking certain questions. I was not as I was just along for the ride and wanted to enjoy myself. A few years ago, I read an article about active reading and I feel that is what the author assumed the reader was doing.

I enjoyed some of the commentary, particularly the parts that discussed certain elements of a mystery or the history of the genre. I was a little disappointed when the mystery that my book club is reading this month, which I haven't read yet, was mentioned and I think gave away the ending. So if you are reading older mysteries for the first time, beware there are some spoilers in this novel.

I almost didn't finish this book. At about 80%, I was kind of over it and didn't really care if the mystery was solved or not. I was mildly curious how the author would end it. Again, because of the style choice, I found the ending unsatisfying.

This could have been a very entertaining murder mystery or a very informative nonfiction commentary. But the mashup of the two resulted in a mediocre book for me. But as I said at the beginning, you will either love it or hate it, so you might want to check out a few of the other reviews to decide if this book is for you.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/10/west-heart-kill-by-dann-mcdorman-review.html

West Heart Kill is a locked-room mystery story at a remote hunting lodge. While I usually really enjoy these types of stories I had a hard time staying focused for this one. The author chose a unique way of narrating the story and I think that had a lot to do with why I found myself uninterested in either the plot or the characters. There are times when the author breaks the fourth wall by talking directly to the reader, also interspersing the story with questions, and case evidence on how one would go about solving a mystery, and that took me out of the story every time it happened. I also found myself confused about what was happening in the story the majority of the time

I think that while this ultimately didn't work for me a lot of other people would really enjoy the unique way this was told.