How to Solve Your Own Murder is such a quirky mystery with eccentric characters in a charming English village. I flew through the pages of this gripping novel enjoying all of the twists and turns. This is the first of a three book series and I can't wait to see what author, Kristen Perrin comes up with next.

Synopsis:
In 1965, Frances Adams is at an English country fair where a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction: One day, Frances will be murdered. It is a prediction that sparks her life’s work—trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet.

Nearly sixty years later, Annie Adams is summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is found murdered, just like she always said she would be. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder.

Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer? As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I really enjoyed this one. The concept is basically a woman receives a prediction as a teen that she'll be murdered and then spends the rest of her life preparing for it. At first I wasn't sure how it would be pulled off, as I don't always love dual timeline stories, but it really worked for me in this one. The story flips between past and present, and the pacing was steady and kept me interested to the point where I didn't want to put the book down.

The mystery in the book is layered but not overwhelming, and I liked that the tone wasn’t too dark or too silly but rather had a good balance. The writing is clean, and the characters feel distinct, even with the time jumps. Sometimes I feel like authors struggle to separate the two, but these felt really fleshed out. Some reveals I saw coming, others caught me off guard, which is exactly what I want from a mystery.

Overall, this was smart, original, and satisfying. A solid pick for anyone who likes twisty mysteries with a bit of heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A layered, clever mystery with a vivid setting, twisty plot, and an unforgettable setup—this debut delivers everything I want in a cozy, character-driven whodunnit.

I loved this book. It’s layered, clever, and packed with more twists and detail than I expected—yet it never feels rushed or confusing. Every thread is well thought out and executed so smoothly.

The setup is irresistible: a woman spends her whole life preparing for her foretold murder, only to be proven right decades later. From there, the mystery unfolds in such a satisfying way. I especially enjoyed following the main character, Annie, as she uncovered each piece of the puzzle alongside the reader. It made everything feel natural and immersive, without ever overwhelming you with backstory or info dumps.

The atmosphere is vivid and transportive—both in the present and in the flashbacks. I was completely pulled into Castle Knoll and the secrets it holds.

I’m genuinely impressed this was a debut. I’ll absolutely be reading the rest of the series.

How to Solve Your Own Murder s a clever, dual-timeline mystery that hooked me right from the start! Shifting between the present day and the 1960s, the unraveling mystery kept me engaged. While I felt some characters deserved more time in the sun, I thought it was a perfect read for fans of cozy mysteries with a twist!

Thank you NetGalley!

Attempted both the ebook and audio version of this book a few times and just could not get into the story. It did not hold my attention or pull me in from the start. This may be one I go back to in the future but for now it is going on my DNF shelf.

The twist got me in the end!

Thanks, Netgalley, for the ARC! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

This book was slow in the beginning but it picked up and overall was enjoyable to read! I would definitely read stuff from this author going forward.

Thank you to Penguin Group-Dutton and NetGalley for a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This cozy mystery was an okay read for me. It’s about a woman who is an aspiring mystery author who is invited to the estate of her distant Great Aunt Frances in reference to a future inheritance. While there, her aunt is murdered and set in her will is the conditions of her inheritance in the chance that she does not die by natural circumstances. This puts relative against relative in a dangerous game of who will solve the mystery first and inherit Aunt France’s millions.

The characters are all a bit underdeveloped so it is hard to feel any connection to them. Annie seems to always be one step ahead of the reader, and information is revealed in a diary that belonged to Aunt Frances in the 1960s as a teenager. I actually enjoyed the diary entries in between chapters, because Aunt Frances felt like the most real person in the story. The present day plot was less believable, so harder to connect with the events, as well. The ending was fine, I had figured out the mystery so I was curious how everything would tie up. Overall, this was an ok read for me. I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, who like stories with diary entries, and like the style of Agatha Christie novels.

This is a great twisty mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Reader connects with the characters. Highly recommend.

This was a highly entertaining mystery novel that was actually more like 2 mysteries in one! I loved the characters introduced throughout the story and how they all interacted together. It came across a lot like a Knives Out style of mystery, with family secrets coming to light and constant misdirection on who the ultimately guilty party was. Credit to the author, as I thought I had this one figured out about 3/4 of the way through, only to be proven wrong at the end in a very delightful way. The novel was well written with very good pacing throughout and I look forward to reading the follow-up!

As a teenager Frances Adams and her friends attend a local country fair. When a fortune teller predicts that she will be murdered she takes it to heart. These chilling few minutes forever changes her future and outlook on life. In an effort to solve a crime that has not happened she suspects everyone she meets and gathers lists detailing secrets and misdeeds of others. Decades pass with no one taking her seriously until she is murdered 60 years later. Annie Adams is surprised to be summoned to a meeting concerning her Great Aunt Frances whom she had never met and her mother rarely mentioned. When the reading of the will discloses that whoever solves the crime will inherit the estate Annie, a long time mystery and true crime fan, is determined to find answers. Despite the disadvantage of being unfamiliar with the other contenders or the locale Annie uncovers truths that had been hidden for years including the disappearance of one of Frances girlhood friends. Told from different points oi view and across differing time;lines this was a compelling narrative. A very different premise with a diverse cast of characters the unraveling of the truth kept me turning the pages . This was evidently the author's debut and is listed as Castle Knoll #1. I am unsure what the follow up would be but would definitely persue another adventure with Annie.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a wonderfully clever cozy whodunit weaving dual timelines between 1965 and present-day England. With an eerily prescient grandmother, a diary full of secrets, and a race against time to claim an inheritance, the puzzle unfolds with cliffhanger twists and charming village intrigue. Ideal for readers who love a smart, heartwarming mystery filled with red herrings, eccentric characters, and a generous dose of classic Christie-style suspense.

I really liked the protagonist in this book. The mystery was intriguing and kept me turning the pages. I will definitely recommend this title to patrons looking for cozy mysteries set in England.

Fun cozy mystery that’s been on my TBR forever. I liked the multiple time lines and cast of characters. I prefer a modern domestic thriller so this was probably never going to be my fav but I enjoyed it for what it was.

Couldn’t get into this book. I struggled staying interested and connecting with the characters. I loved the cover art for this book.

Love this book! This book was different from others. It will always keep you thinking what’s next or what’s the plan.

When Frances was 17 years old, a fortune teller predicted her murder. She spends her whole life trying to stop it, but fails. Her great niece Annie is mysteriously summoned to Castle Knoll to meet her great aunt Frances, but finds her murdered. Even in death, Frances wants her murder solved. This makes Annie tangled up in Fances's past. Will she solve her murder?

I LOVED this book! I could not put it down. The story was giving cozy village vibes. The amateur detective storyline is different than what I've read before. Even with the dual timelines, you don't get lost in what's happening when. If you're looking for a cozy murder mystery, this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a delightful blend of classic Nancy Drew charm and modern mystery. With a whimsical tone that balances light humor and suspense, the story keeps readers guessing with clever twists and an engaging sleuth at its center. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, it delivers both a nostalgic feel and a fresh take on the whodunnit genre.

How to Solve Your Own Murder was the perfect cozy mystery. It had me guessing the whole time, and I really enjoyed the characters as well! There was a little touch of romance, which never hurts in my opinion, but it definitely wasn't the main focus! I enjoyed it enough to read the sequel, so make sure to look out for that review soon!
Thank you to netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a clever, twisty mystery with a fun, high-concept premise and sharp writing. It's equal parts suspenseful and charming, with engaging characters and a satisfying unraveling of clues. Perfect for fans of modern whodunits with a unique twist.