An interesting mystery. The first half had me very interested and reading closely. However, as the story went on something lost my interest. It might have just been a case of right book wrong time, but I found the finality of the book to be mediocre and this will unfortunately probably be a forgettable title for me.

This was okay. There were a ton of characters to keep up with, so that was a challenge at times. It also fell flat at some points. Overall, a decent mystery, but I didn’t love it!

A teenager in 1965 gets her fortune read, predicting her own murder. Now, sixty years later it’s come true - and it’s up to her grandniece to solve it before the time limit established in the will runs out.

An interesting plot for a murder mystery to be sure. Once the plot actually kicked off I found the characters to be fun and just enjoyed the ride. We meet Frances through her journal entries, convinced of her own impending murder. She has spent decades of her life attempting to solve the riddle given to her by the fortune teller, and generally causing a nuisance to all around her by seeing death around every corner. When her grandniece unexpectedly gets a call that she’s to be the inheritor to Frances’ will - a woman she’s never met - she’s confused. She’s even more confused when they arrive to find Frances dead, and the will stating that she’s to solve the murder within a week or that all her assets will be sold off. With the timeline ticking down and only her great aunt’s journal from when she was 17 to go off of, she has to try to solve a decades old murder in the making.

Told between two timelines - Frances’ journal and current-day Annie attempting to solve the case - this book presents an interesting premise. I did have fun reading this, and I believe any fan of cozy mysteries will have fun with this book. There were a few aspects I found difficult to get into that I tended to gloss over during my reading - the almost no investigation of Frances’ death, the handling of evidence, and in all honesty - how the mystery was solved at the end. However, I had a fun ride on this adventure and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a relatively low-stakes murder mystery in the drowsy English countryside.

(Also, not related because these are young men/teenagers in the 1960s, but why was literally every single male love interest to Frances the worst? I hated them both? They both slept with the same woman, and then blamed that woman for being the reason they did - plus with a small uncomfortable level of slut-shaming/purity culture leveled at both her and Frances, where Frances is seen as the “morally” better choice because she was a virgin. I understand that this was most likely included to fit the era of the journal entries, but I didn’t like the almost implication that the girl who slept with both of these men were the sole aggressor - as if Frances’ boyfriend couldn’t have simply. Not had sex with her and didn’t cheat.)

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Penguin Group Dutton for providing this e-ARC.

HOW TO SOLVE YOUR MURDER is a cozy mystery lover’s dream. From the setting of Castle Knoll to the discovery of the body in the opening chapters to the characters, Perrin crafted a wonderfully charming and addictive crime for the reader to get lost in.

As the first book in the Castle Knoll Files series, I figured there would be more set-up than a true investigation into Frances Adams’s death. Luckily for me, I was dead wrong. The journey to find out who the murderer is very much the center of the narrative. The author expertly weaves together a mystery filled with an inheritance game and past glimpses at Frances and her friends’ lives told through her journal. All of this allows Annie to dive further into what happened to Frances and even her friend Emily. However, I hope many of the characters we met along the way will show up again in future novels. With a diverse cast of friends, family, quirky locals, and, of course, schemers, they would be too good not to pop up again.

Honestly, from beginning to end, I loved this book. Annie was a perfect amateur sleuth. The way her mind worked and put the pieces of the puzzle together was engaging and entertaining. This is a must-read. I cannot wait to dive into the next book.

This book took me a long time to get into. I kept picking it up and just not feeling it. I wanted to love it because the concept is great... but it just fell a little flat for me. I found the two timelines to be a bit confusing. I may try it again at a future date when I can really dive in without my reading being broken up.

First, I’d like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for the copy of this book which allows me to provide an honest review.

At first, I wasn’t so sure about this book. It got off to a little bit of a slow start in my opinion. The first 5 or 6 chapters were a little challenging. I think it may have had to do with the introduction of so many characters across multiple timelines. But, I’m happy to say that it quickly picked up the pace. I’m glad I stuck with it.

It is a multitude who done it scenario that keeps you guessing until the tail end. There were several times throughout the book that I felt that I had it figured out. Only to find out that I was wrong.

Really good book. Would recommend.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a fantastically written murder mystery. It gives off more cozy vibes than creepy. Frances, a dear older woman, had gone to a carnival over 60+ years ago. She had a reading done and that reading told her when she was going to die.

This is dual timeline so we see the past before Frances died, and the present with her niece, Annie, who is trying to solve the mystery surrounding her death.

Fans of Agatha Christie or Murder She Wrote (the TV series) will love this read!

Four stars and highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton, the publishing company, for the gifted copy. This review is my own.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a story about a young teenager who was told an eerie fortune that one day she’ll end up murdered. She spends her entire life obsessing over her fortune and driving the whole town mad.

Annie; Frances’s niece, receives an invite to her great Aunt Frances’s estate to discuss her newly updated will. The moment Annie arrives, great Aunt Frances is found dead.

At the reading of great Aunt Frances’s will there’s a stipulation on who will inherit everything. The stipulation is, whoever solves her murder first will inherit everything. If it’s not solved within a week no one will receive the inheritance.

This was such a fun, cozy, and entertaining mystery! I can see it being turned into a TV series one day. I enjoyed both storylines (past Frances and present) & had fun trying to figure out who the murderer was.

I learned that I prefer mysteries over thrillers and this book is a perfect example of why. I loved the setting, the characters, the way that letters were woven into the story but I also loved the overall absurdity of a woman trying to solve her own murder!

This was so fun! I was hooked right from the beginning and was so entertained all the way through. Definitely a great book to read when you’re in need of a cozy mystery!

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a captivating, twist-filled mystery that blends suspense with an intriguing exploration of fate and obsession. The novel follows Frances Adams, a teenager in 1965 who is told by a fortune-teller that she will one day be murdered. This chilling prediction sets the course for Frances's life, as she spends decades obsessively collecting secrets on everyone she meets in a desperate attempt to prevent her own death.

The story shifts to the present day, where Frances's great-niece, Annie Adams, is called to the family estate after Frances’s sudden death. Determined to uncover the truth behind her aunt's murder, Annie finds herself digging into the mysteries of Castle Knoll, where nearly every villager seems to have a potential motive for killing Frances. The more Annie investigates, the closer she gets to the dark secrets Frances had uncovered in her lifetime—secrets that might just lead to her own demise.

Perrin’s writing keeps readers on the edge of their seats, weaving between past and present to create a rich narrative full of suspense, complex characters, and a hint of dark humor. Frances's obsession with her predicted murder is both compelling and unsettling, and Annie’s journey to unravel the truth is equally engrossing. With a plot that’s full of twists and a setting that oozes atmospheric tension, How to Solve Your Own Murder is a thrilling read for fans of clever mysteries and psychological drama.

This novel is a perfect blend of suspense, character study, and family intrigue, with a touch of dark humor and a satisfying, unpredictable conclusion. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves a good whodunit with a unique twist.

Had an amazing time reading this book, i loved the dynamic. between both characters and i really enjoyed the pace of the story

Overall thought the premise of the book was good but execution fell a little flat to me. Enjoyed it but didn’t love it.

This had an overall good plot, but the people and stories were too intertwined and confusing to keep straight. It was almost like The Westing Game.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I anticipated that I would love this novel but it felt way too messy for me and I was disappointed in myself for not connecting to it more than I did.

I enjoyed this story. From the characters and the events leading up to the murder, it kept me guessing the whole time. The flashback scenes were easy to follow and added to the story. I enjoyed how it was all brought together throughout.

I can't wait for the author's next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Reminiscent of ‘My Murder’ by Katie Williams—albeit more enjoyable!
We begin with a young woman who, after being murdered, must piece together the circumstances of her death and find her killer from beyond the grave. Love me some dark and morbid humor, and this delivers! Quick read—and a treat to dive into, as your explore this off-beat mystery.

Loved the story from the beginning to the end. The mystery is smart, not graphic, and fully entertaining. Would be a great mystery book club pick.

This book was sort of a let down for me. It had such amazing premise- and that title had me intrigued from the start. However, I felt like the book dragged on and had a little too much going on.

Just a meh book in my opinion.

This was a fun lark of a book. Annie is summoned to meet a great aunt, only to find her dead body. In order to receive the inheritance, she must solve the murder. Told in alternating voices from Annie in the present and Great - Aunt Frances' journals from the past, this is sure to hook you!