I loved this one so much that I made it one of my book group picks at the library so I could talk about it more(: -- they all loved it too!

With the next book coming out this month, I'm excited to see what's going on with Annie now! I find that I'm pickier with my mystery/thriller books because it's not my usual genre but this one really caught my attention and had me wanting another book about my favorite characters ASAP. It's a small town mystery with a bunch of interesting characters who could really all be suspects but you still hope some are friends. Annie has been summoned to the estate of her estranged great aunt Frances to potentially inherit her fortune but only if she's the one to solve Frances's impending murder. As a mystery author, this should be right up her alley! The premise is wild and fun: a teenager is given a fortune about her future murder in 1965 and spends the rest of her pretty long life trying to prevent it/solve who will be the murderer by uncovering everyone else in town's secrets. I love that we get to know Frances as a teenager through her diary and see how that fortune changes her and turns her into the Frances of present time -- an eccentric, not terribly well liked busybody. We also get to see some of the other characters in both the present and as teens through Frances's diary, which definitely makes some of them look more suspicious the further we read on but also humanizes them, seeing how they matured from teens to adults and what has/hasn't changed. Not only are we getting two different timelines, but two different mysteries, that of Frances's murder in the present timeline and her best friend Emily's disappearance in the past, so there's really a lot going on and I struggled to put it down because I was so immersed in the drama! There's plenty of tension and edge of your seat moments as the clock ticks down to find the murderer and keep her aunt's estate from going to developers, while Annie tries to solve the mystery before the others including a certain detective that I look forward to seeing more of in the next book! Overall it was a fun, well written, cozy mystery with plenty of twists and characters to both like and loathe.

I highly recommend it to all the whodunit lovers and anyone who's looking for a new small town mystery series!

Enjoyable murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie with a hint of Knive's Out. The author gives us the mystery of solving your murder before it happens. I enjoyed the dual perspective/time lines of the protagonists.

This was a quirky novelist row on me with time. At first, I wasn’t too sure about it but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. Thank you.!

Thank you NetGalley for the preview. This books was thought provoking and kept me wanting more. I love the way the characters developed and would love to read something else by this author

Annie is summoned to her estranged Aunt's house. Soon after, her Aunt Frances is found murdered and she leaves behind instructions that whoever solves her murder will have control of her estate. Annie starts receiving threatening notes, but realizes they aren't really meant for her. She digs into the Castle Knoll Files, or Aunt Frances's journals, and piece by piece starts putting together the puzzle of a two murders, one in the past and one in the present. Can she figure it out before the murderer comes for her too?

Fun mystery but the pacing felt uneven and slow at times and I never felt invested enough for it to be a page turner. I would be interested in reading more Kristen Perrin though, it felt like it had potential!

YESSSS, this book is sooo good. What a fun ride this was. I would recommend it highly. I like this authors concept and character development. The premise is so unique.

I loved it! The plot was solid and I had no idea who dunnit! It was captivating and the characters were intricate

This engaging mystery captures your attention from the very beginning. Annie Adams is a mystery author. She is called upon by her eccentric great-aunt, Frances, who has spent decades fearing for her life due to an unsettling prophecy from a fortuneteller. When Frances is discovered dead, a pressing question arises—was her death due to natural causes or was it murder?

At Castle Knoll, Annie is caught in a web of secrets as she competes with ambitious heirs and a clever detective to uncover the truth. With an old diary and cryptic clues, she navigates a dangerous game where her life is at stake.

This fast-paced, page-turning, who-done-it book is filled with fun twists. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC. This review and these opinions are my own.

Fun cozy murder mystery set in the English countryside. A fortune told to a teenage Frances drives the life an eccentric woman until her death in her sixties. Her great niece Annie is summoned to the estate to hopefully solve her murder an inherent the estate. I enjoyed this atmospheric mystery and look forward to the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy for an honest review.

"How to Solve Your Own Murder" by Kristen Perrin is a captivating debut thriller that skillfully blends elements of classic whodunits with modern storytelling. Published in 2024, this novel follows Annie Adams, an aspiring mystery writer who finds herself embroiled in a real-life murder case when her estranged great-aunt Frances is found dead.

The premise is intriguing: Frances spent her entire life trying to prevent her own murder after receiving a chilling prophecy in 1965. Perrin expertly weaves together past and present, using Frances' journal entries to provide insight into her character and the events that shaped her paranoia.

The novel's strength lies in its atmospheric setting of Castle Knoll, a quaint English village teeming with eccentric characters, each harboring their own secrets. Perrin's vivid descriptions bring the village to life, creating a claustrophobic backdrop for the unfolding mystery.

Annie is a relatable protagonist, whose passion for mystery writing adds an interesting layer to her amateur sleuthing. Her impulsiveness and determination drive the plot forward, though some readers may find her actions occasionally frustrating or unrealistic.

While the novel has been compared to works like "Knives Out" and "The Thursday Murder Club," it carves out its own identity with its exploration of family secrets, inheritance, and the lasting impact of past actions. The plot is well-paced, with enough twists and red herrings to keep readers guessing until the end.

Perrin's writing style is engaging and accessible, making for a quick and absorbing read. However, some readers noted that certain plot elements felt far-fetched, requiring a suspension of disbelief.

In conclusion, "How to Solve Your Own Murder" is an entertaining and promising debut that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and psychological thrillers alike. While it may not revolutionize the genre, Perrin's fresh take on classic mystery tropes and her skill in crafting an atmospheric setting make this a worthwhile read.

I throughly enjoyed this book. I love Annie and I thought it was interesting the way the story went back and forth from 1965 to present day. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

I really enjoyed this “cozy style” mystery set in two timelines (mid-60’s & now) about Annie & her great-aunt Frances who was murdered many, many years after a fortune teller predicted it back when she was in her teens. I enjoyed the village setting, the manor house and secondary characters too and the shorter chapters kept me flipping pages. Will watch for more from this author.

I loved the creative premise of this book. The characters were unique and easy to root for. I also loved how the book jumped back and forth throughout the story!

This felt like like a locked room mystery with plenty of family suspects. For people who enjoyed 'Knives Out' this may be your next read!

I enjoyed this book so much!! I loved the mystery so so much, and the characters were so interesting! I loved the bit of side romance that we seen so much!! Just an all around good mystery! I absolutely recommend this book. Especially if you like Agatha Christie, Nancy Drew, or Truly Devious!

- Anxiety rep
- Hurt / Comfort

3.5 stars rounded up. This is really well written book for a debut author. The premise was very intriguing right from the beginning and sucks you in, as you are wanting to know this payoff. I’m not really sure what is was, but along the way I really just wanted the story to end so I could just get to the ending. Maybe it just drags in the middle? The premise I think just sold me more than a big chunk of the story. The first and last parts of the story were great though. Which led to it scoring half a star more.

This book had an incredibly interesting and unique premise. I was immediately captivated by the village setting and characters. I read this in just a few days because I really wanted to see where the story went. Overall a really great read and I look forward to the sequel!

Definitely a cozy mystery for fans of Agatha Christie and Knives Out! There’s just something so nice about who-dunnit that takes place in the English countryside.

Annie's eccentric Great Aunt Frances believed a fortune she received at 16 that foretold her murder. Her changed will means that Annie is her new heir. Annie goes to Castle Knoll, a tiny town where Frances grew up, and she discovers Frances murdered. She needs to solve the murder to hold onto her inheritance, but more secrets are revealed.

I love mysteries with small towns and eccentric characters. I love the relationships between the characters for both good and ill. I highly recommend this novel to those who love a good murder mystery, and those who like intrigue.