This is a unique mystery. I liked the way it started out, with the narrator giving the reader insight into the mystery genre, the characters, etc. The style is fantastic. Then the next day (part 2 if you will) completely changes the writing style to first person from the detective's point of view. Every day the perspective changes. I really got lost when all of a sudden it switched to a play format. I'm not sure what the thought process was from the author with all these narrative switches. For me, the play format just didn't work as well.

The book started out with great promise, but I felt like the ending fizzled. I'm sure there are some people who get what the author was trying to do and really enjoyed this one. I'm just not one of them. LOL.

I did not finish this book. It isn’t that the premise wasn’t interesting, it was that I was not in the right mindset to read it. Maybe one day I will pick it up again, but I didn’t finish this book now.

West Heart Kill by Dann McDorman has great characters, a wonderful murder mystery storyline and intriguing plot points. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last.

I was so disappointed with this book. It was just not what I was wanting it to be.
I believe it was well written but something about it was off for me. I never received that WOW that I love with a good whodunnit story.

Thank you for this ARC. Sorry it was just not the book I was in the mood for.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Knopf for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It’s available now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Adam McAnnis is a private investigator who’s been invited to West Heart country club over the Bicentennial July 4th weekend. When a storm hits West Heart, the residents are trapped, and before the weekend is over, three people will be dead.

I always love a locked room mystery, but this one was different. I’ve never read a book like this. It’s mostly a story of rich people behaving badly, which isn’t my favorite trope, but I do enjoy it at times. This was one of those times. The author is the narrator for a lot of the story and speaks directly to us, the readers. This book also contains a fascinating history of the murder mystery genre in general. I can see it being very polarizing because it’s so different, but I really enjoyed it. Recommend.

I thoroughly enjoyed "West Heart Kill," a gripping mystery novel that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. McDorman's masterful storytelling and attention to detail made it easy to become fully immersed in the world of the story.

One aspect that stood out to me was the well-developed and complex characters. The protagonist, in particular, was relatable and likable, making it easy to root for them throughout the investigation. The supporting cast added depth and intrigue to the narrative, and I found myself constantly guessing their motivations and allegiances.

The writing style was engaging, with short chapters that kept the pace quick and exciting. McDorman's use of descriptive language effectively transported me to the setting, and I appreciated the attention to detail regarding forensic science and criminal investigation. It added an extra layer of authenticity to the story, making it feel all the more believable.

I highly recommend "West Heart Kill" to fans of mystery novels. It's a well-crafted and suspenseful story that will keep you guessing until the very end. McDorman's writing is engaging, and the characters are well-developed, making this a satisfying read.

This novel by Dann McDorman was definitely different, but in a good way. Sometimes almost seemed non-fiction, but was very interesting. Great story, and great characters. Can't wait to read more from Dann McDorman. #WestHeartKill #NetGalley

At first, I was really enjoying this book. I thought the premise was neat with changing narrators and breaking the fourth wall. I was able to guess one of the victims at one point (mostly a lucky guess 😆). I was flying through the pages. But about two-thirds through it started dragging for me and I found myself setting it down for days at a time. I slogged through the end, and had some regret after doing so.

Bottom line; started off promising, but fell (very) flat for me in the second half.

Written in a unique style, McDorman takes a locked room mystery in an entirely new direction, one that will either thrill you or annoy you. Being in the latter category, I wasn’t overly fond of this book although others will thoroughly enjoy it. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Look, so, my problem isn't the format, which was at least interesting. It isn't the quasi resolution that was and wasn't. My issue is the goddamn Nazi's. How fucking cheap.

I loved Detective McAnnis and his strange ways and he made this story all the more enjoyable. Set in a very rural hiring lodge with its own quirks, this murder mystery sets an interesting pace. Told from two distinctly different points of view is is more of Clue style mystery where the focus is on who did it than the suspense beholding to it. Loved this new to me genre of murder mysteries

Unfortunately this one was not for me. I was intrigued by the unique structure of this murder mystery at the beginning but as it went on it was harder for me to get through it. I'm not sure if the problem was the structure or the pacing but something just felt *off.* The mystery was interesting at the beginning as I'm a huge fan of locked room mysteries and secluded settings. I was not a fan of the ending at all. Perhaps this one was a little too unique for me as I'm more of a regular mystery person. I did like the references to Agatha Christie and other classic books and authors.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This had so much promise - a fun, creative structure and interesting time of year... But in the end, this was so disjointed and I thought the anti-semitism was merely a plot device rather than meaningfully explored by any of the perspectives we became privy to!

As a mystery lover, I really tried with this book. Despite not getting into it by the first 75 pages, I kept going thinking I’d become interested, but I never did. There were a lot of characters and this book was just too meta for me. This just didn’t have the typical suspense that I seek in my mysteries and I just found myself trying to make it through. 2 stars for this one.

This reminded me of the Anthony Horowitz Magpie Murders series, only those books are a whole lot more fun. This book leaned to the academic side and reminded me of a one-credit seminar class that I took in order to graduate, using cowboy literature.

I didn’t enjoy the book but I know someone who would and she’s the person who introduced me to many of the titles that McDorman referenced.. Those books and authors, like Agatha Christie’s Murder of Roger Ackroyd are in the catalog of original mysteries. I enjoyed seeing the book through her eyes. I’ve browsed many a used bookstore with her.

My favorite part were the academic lectures. I just don’t think the author had made up his mind what kind of book he was writing.

He concludes “this murder mystery, like all murder mysteries, ends with what readers understand to be it’s denouement, the revelation, or refusal of revelation, in which the problems are resolved, or not—for in truth, there are neither rules nor betrayals for this kind of story. All we have you and I are these guilty memories of bloody crimes in which we are both complicit; for every writer is a murdered, and every reader a sleuth.”

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I was looking forward to the non- traditional writing with the walls between the reader and characters being torn down. My issue is I kept getting confused with who was talking and what actually happened.

This is a fun, kind of wild read! I think for people who like a whodunit, this is a great recommendation to give them a little something different. McDorman brings an originality that's fun and hard to forget.

Enjoyable and fun however the narration and flip flopping of tense caught me off guard and reminded me that I am reading which was a new experience and I’m not sure it was quite my cup of tea. Nonetheless I enjoyed the setting and know that while it wasn’t a hit for me, this will definitely be a hit for others and its unique experience alone will be an attention grabber for fans of other works similar in writing, or anyone who is a fan of murder mysteries in general, but especially of this similar structure.

West Heart Kill is a completely original mystery set in a remote hunting lodge. Adam McAnnis joins his old college friend at his family home in the exclusive West Heart Kill enclave. As Adam gets to know the other members of the club he begins to see some cracks in the facade of this once great community. Tensions are palpable as he discovers that some members want to sell the club because they need the money but others are against it. Adam is a private investigator but no one knows who or why he is investigating at the club. When there is a murder and then another murder everyone becomes a suspect even the private investigator and the reader becomes part of the story, too.

The writing style is unusual as it often speaks to the reader. It took me awhile to get into this mystery but I stayed with it and I am glad I did. The twists and turns and the ending will surprise you. If you like unusual, atmospheric mysteries, give West Heart Kill a try.

Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

This is a closed-circle mystery set in upstate New York at a hunting lodge. It's isolated; the characters aren't nice; and people begin to die.

But that is where everything you think you know about the genre changes. It's unique and fun, and I highly recommend it.