This was such a fun read! For some reason the novel took me back to the Golden Age of mysteries. Perhaps it's the setting in a country mansion in the English countryside. Or the wealthy widow who is murdered and leaves behind a strange request in her will. Or her young, innocent niece who sets out to solve not one mystery but two! Annie and her Great Aunt Frances were my favorite characters. I found Frances's diary entries fascinating, delving into the past and her complicated, messy friendships. The ending took me totally by surprise--so I say, Well done!

I received an invitation to read an arc of this debut mystery from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own. I can't wait for the next installment in the series.

If you are like me and grew up loving to play Clue, then this is the book for you! At 17, Frances visits a fortune teller, who predicts that Frances will be murdered. Frances then spends her entire life trying to solve her own murder before it happens, collecting “dirt” on everyone in her small town. When she is indeed murdered, her adrift great niece and heir to her massive fortune, Annie, uses diaries and other accounts of the past to try and solve the murder in the present. The book switches between the two perspectives of Frances and Annie, and together the two women unravel a decades old mystery. Like all great murder mystery stories, what Annie learns through the investigation is more interesting than the actual revelation of the “whodunnit.” This story twists and turns, all while weaving a tale of two (or maybe five) women trying to find their place in the world. I would recommend this book to all mystery genre lovers.

How to Solve your own Murder by Kristen Perrin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is a semi-epistolary novel told in part through a series of journal entries by Frances in 1965 who gets her fortune read and discovers she’s going to one day be murdered. It also follows her great niece in the present attempting to solve Frances’ murder (as well as Frances’ best friends disappearance) after discovering the journal.

This book was cleverly written and is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s writing. Throughout this novel Perrin creates a complicated plot that will keep you guessing until the last page. Each of the characters is interesting and has complex motives.

I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys whodunits and dual timeline novels!

Thank you @netgalley and Dutton for this ARC!

Well written whodunnit that will ,keep you guessing until the end. Well written with strong character development; a pleasure to read.

📚 PUB DAY + BOOK REVIEW 📚

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️
Pages: 368

THE GIST:
Frances has lived her life in fear of a fortune teller's prediction that one day she will be murdered. She's spent every day decoding the details of her impeding death. Everyone is a possible suspect.

When Annie arrives at her estranged aunt's estate, she has no idea that she's about to become a main character in a possible murder mystery plot.

THOUGHTS AND THINGS:
I went into this ARC mostly blind and loved where it took me. I highly recommend not reading too much into this one before diving in. If the tropes below fit, just give it a shot!

I loved the characters, the twist and turns, the nosy neighbors, and the dual timeline structure. It kept me guessing until the very end. There isn't much more I can say without spoiling the fun and mystery.

If you're looking for an easy, whodunnit mystery, this is it! I'm very excited to read book 2!

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🔎 Small Town Mystery
🔎 Whodunnit
🔎 Dual Timeline
🔎 Fortune Tellers
🔎 Decoding a Prophecy
🔎 Twists and Turns
🔎 Clue/Knives Out Vibes

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Ditto, and Kristen Perrin for allowing me to read and review this arc!

Another book where I liked the first third of it better than the rest. It's corny in places, "thrillery" in others. While the book takes place in England, the author is American and it feels like an American book. Not sure the why about where it took place. Overall, not a bad book. Worth reading and certainly a quick read.

In 1965, Frances Adams goes to a fair with her two best friends and visits a fortune teller for fun. But the fun turns dark when the woman tells Frances someday she will be murdered. The fortune includes a few sentences with specific markers Frances memorizes and will end up watching out for her entire life. And about 60 years later, she is indeed found dead from unnatural causes.

Her great-niece, Annie Adams, is summoned from her home in London to Frances’ country estate. She’s never met Great-Aunt Frances, but while it’s been assumed her mother, Laura, would inherit her money and property, now Annie has been chosen. While the meeting was planned for Annie to visit with a living Frances and her lawyer, when they arrive at Frances’ estate, she’s dead.

Annie finds herself in the role of investigator. There is plenty of potential evidence, because Frances had collected any and all information (especially secrets) about anyone who came across her path. That also means there are plenty of suspects, even in the small town near the estate. And that means danger. As Annie sniffs out secrets, she’ll not only grab the attention of the murderer but anyone else who doesn’t want their dirt dug up.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a clever mystery. It’s billed as an “enormously fun” cozy mystery like Knives Out or Thursday Murder Club, but I think that enticing readers to open its pages for those reasons will do it a disservice. It’s not really intense, but it does have plenty of serious issues running through it (so “cozy”…?). The same goes for it being “fun”; I’d say that’s true in that it has a clever conceit. But I don’t think I laughed or grinned once. That’s OK, though! Just don’t go into it expecting fun and laughs. There are hints at the end there will be more, as is clear by the “Castle Knoll Files, book 1” billing, but I think I’d prefer it more as a stand-alone. I guess time will tell once I read the next one.

Thank you, Penguin Group Dutton, for the gifted copy of How to Solve Your Own Murder.

I rated this novel 4 stars. This was such a fun murder mystery novel told in dual timelines. In the current timeline, we have Annie Adams, a hopeful mystery novelist, who is invited to her great-aunt, Frances', country estate for a meeting. Upon her arrival, her great-aunt is murdered and her Last Will and Testament requires her family to solve her murder, due to a fortune she was told years ago. Annie stumbles upon a journal of Frances' and as she reads through it, she continues to discover answers to solve the mystery of her murder.

It definitely feels like an Agatha Christie novel mixed with the film Knives Out and I am a fan of both of those. I would recommend this novel if you are a fan of quirky murder mysteries.

This was a pretty fun and cosy mystery
I wish it had been raining when I read this so that I would have felt the vibes more but this was still nice. It was a bit slow at times, but overall not too bad

How to Solve Your Own Murder was a fun and clever mystery! I thought Perrin did an incredible job of creating suspicious characters. Each character had a believable reason for murdering Frances. I found myself changing my mind countless times throughout the story. I liked how Perrin used diary entries to further the plotline. Perrin did a great job of intertwining Emily's disappearance with France's story. Although I suspected one of the major events in the book, I was surprised by others. Fans of Knives Out will enjoy this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.

Two of my favorite tags that I use for my books are bad-ass lady detectives and chaotic good, so from the get-go, How To Solve Your Own Murder hit both of those. The book is told in two perspectives, alternating chapters: one from Frances's perspective in the 1960s, as she tries to figure out what happened to her friend Emily who disappeared, and the other from Annie's perspective in modern day, as she is called to Frances's estate to review changes to her will, when, oops! Frances has been murdered. Annie, along with Frances's nephew, his wife, and Frances's solicitor are tasked with solving her murder. And as you might imagine, chaos ensues.

I did like the switching back and forth between Frances and Annie, and I think the author did a good job of revealing new information and plot points that played into one another, like sharing information about characters or their connections to one another. Frances had a murder board, and at times, I felt like I needed one of my own to keep track of everything that was going on and who everyone was and how they were related (or not!) to each other. But that's the fun of chaotic good books -- sometimes, they are just so unbelievably wacky that you go along for the vibes, knowing that it's just going to be an absolute trip. I'm intrigued by what's to come in the Castle Knoll files. It's set-up that there might be some lingering repercussions from this mystery, but I love the chaotic goodness of this sleepy British town that's teeming with mystery and murder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with an eARC of How to Solve Your Own Murder in exchange for my honest review.

"How to Solve Your Own Murder" by Kristen Perrin is a cleverly constructed mystery that intertwines past and present with a unique premise. The story begins with a chilling prophecy, where a fortune-teller tells teenage Frances Adams that she will be murdered. This prediction sets Frances on a lifelong quest to prevent her death, gathering secrets and compiling information on everyone she meets.
Fast forward to the present day, and we find Frances’s great-niece, Annie Adams, summoned to the family estate only to discover that Frances has indeed been murdered, just as foretold. The narrative shifts between Frances’s past efforts to evade her fate and Annie’s present-day investigation, which grows increasingly dangerous as she delves into the myriad of secrets her great-aunt uncovered.
While the dual narrative is engaging and the character development is strong, the novel sometimes struggles with pacing. Other than that this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and those who enjoy a good puzzle.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a fantastic cozy murder mystery!
This mystery is so cleverly plotted and executed.
And with the well-developed characters I was eagerly turning the pages. The character development is on point.. the way the story unravels is effortlessly gripping.
The dual timelines and POVs were done so well I was honestly captivated by it all.
I loved the plot, story, characters and writing and the whole set up and idea of it was just so clever. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a murder mystery this much and I’m honestly incredibly excited to read what else this author will produce.

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Wow! What a fun and enjoyable read! I absolutely LOVED Kristen Perrin's novel, How To Solve Your Own Murder.

Here's why:

1. Book's cover. I LOVE IT! The colors, the font and the images - they are perfect! It screams English village, estate, murder, and mystery. I would buy the book based on the cover.

2. Book's summary. Frances goes to a fair with her besties and finds out she will be murdered thanks to a fortune teller. Talk about a misfortune. She's sixteen at the time. Fast forward sixty years and she is murdered. Her great-niece, Annie, decides to make it her mission to find out who killed her. The only thing is, her investigation may just lead to her own murder. Yikes!

3. Cozy murder mysteries are where it's at! I think that is why I enjoyed this story so much. I loved the atmosphere of the small village, Frances' journals (she spent her life trying to figure out who wanted to kill her), odd characters which made for a great list of suspects, and that is just a few of the pros about this book. Did I mention the writing - top notch! I found myself easily transported to the village of Castle Knoll and joining alongside Annie's investigation - such a treat!

4. Characters. LOVED them!!

5. Overall, this book was a gem. It was so much fun trying to figure out whodunit. I loved how quickly you get caught up in the story. It was just a really great book. And I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next read - you will LOVE this book to bits!





Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

This was such a fun whodunnit read with a great starting premise. The only weird part is that the strong predictions that ignite the entire mystery and storyline fizzles out, and by the end of the book, there is barely any mention of it. Yet that doesn't diminish the energy as you read through the mysteries and events, figuring out the puzzle with the main character Annie Adams.

The author does well to allow us to get to know Frances, even though it is only through journal entries. Honestly I frown at that most of the times, but this has been done well. And I enjoy the development of Annie's character as she becomes smarter and stronger. A few minor characters were somewhat confusing, but it is set up enough to make this a fun read rather than being annoyed by extra unnecessary characters. All in all, this was great!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

DNF at 40%/chapter 17. The premise of this book initially intrigued me as I enjoy a good mystery, but this one fell flat for me and moved too slowly. The dual POV/past diary entries were interesting at first because I was able to get some background information about Great Aunt Frances when she was younger. However, I felt there should have been more of a connection between the past and present by the time I was nearly halfway through the book.

I don’t mind a larger cast of characters, especially when everyone is suspicious, but there were far too many side characters and family connections to try to keep track of while reading that many of them didn’t have enough development to really stand out. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, Annie, didn’t have a strong enough presence as a main character. She was a bit too mousy and over-explained what she was thinking instead of simply leading the reader through clues and suspicious behavior.

This could be a good book for someone who doesn’t mind taking their time on a stroll through the English countryside, but this one wasn’t as engaging for me as it could have been.

For fans of cozy-esque and classic murder mysteries, make this your next read. A morbid prophecy and a whodunnit to solve are woven together in this mystery from Kristen Perrin, the first book in the Castle Knoll Files series. Join Annie Adams as she solves the murder of her great-aunt Frances through twists, turns, and a diary full of clues.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC!

This was such a fun murder mystery!! I loved all of the characters in this one - especially the late Great Aunt Frances. When Frances’ great-niece, Annie, comes back to Castle Knoll to learn about her potential future inheritance - things get sped up when Frances is found dead in her study.

I would consider this a “cozy” mystery, based on the fact that it takes place in a small village where everyone knows everyone. I loved learning everyone’s secrets alongside Annie, and this one definitely kept me guessing. This is to be the first in a series and I am greatly looking forward to the next book!

Check this one out if you like cozy mysteries, small towns, and family secrets!!

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!! 3/26
THE GAME IS AFOOT! This quirky puzzle was just the mystery I needed. The title and cover reeled me in right away and I took the bait.

Annie Adams is a teen from Chelsea who has just received a jaw-dropping letter from her Great Aunt Frances. She has been chosen to attend a very important meeting involving the possible inheritance of the Gravesdown Estate, in Castle Knolls, where her Aunt lives. How is this possible when she's never even met her Great Aunt Frances? When she arrives at the meeting, Aunt Frances isn't there. Someone has killed her at the Gravesdown Estate. Aunt Frances was obsessed with a fortune telling she received as a child:
"Your future contains dry bones. Your slow demise begins right when you hold the queen in the palm of one hand. Beware the bird, for it will betray you. And from that, there's no coming back. But daughters are the key to justice. Find the right one and keep her close. All signs point toward your murder."
Since the day of the fortune telling, Frances did not stop researching and investigating the path to her own murder. Her friends, family, and all of Castle Knolls thought her to be completely crazy. She foresaw her murder coming, but died not knowing who committed it. Her solicitor reads a letter to Saxon, her nephew, and Annie stating that whomever can solve her murder within 5 days of her death will receive her whole inheritance. If neither of them solves it, the estate will be demolished and turned into businesses. The game is certainly afoot as Annie digs into her Aunt's journal from her teenage years, uncovering secrets of the past while Saxon races to use his upbringing at Gravesdown to his advantage.

I really bought into this whodunnit from the first page. I was fascinated by the switch in Frances's journal entries from the 60's and the present day race to solve the puzzle. I found the concept of this murder mystery to be creative and original; the characters well-developed and quirky; and the process of solving the murder extremely entertaining. I really thought I had this one figured out, but I was completely way off. I do actually wish I had been right. I think it would have made the ending more entertaining. The ending was definitely surprising, yet it was presented in such a strange way. Kristen Perrin definitely left no stone unturned in her writing and everything clicked in place to a big "OOOOOOH, OK".

Huge thanks to Kristen Perrin, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for this amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Your future contains dry bones. Your slow demise begins right when you hold the queen in the palm of one hand. Beware the bird, for it will betray you. And from that, there’s no coming back. But daughters are the key to justice, find the right one and keep her close. All signs point toward your murder.”

Frances Adams has lived her life wary of the prophecy given by a fortune teller she met as a sixteen-year-old in 1965. Throughout her life she has tried to collect as much information as she could on friends, family, and almost everyone in her circle, all relevant information documented on private files and the puzzle depicted on her very own murder board, to identify those who could possibly be plotting her murder. Sixty years later, she is found dead in her lavish home in the English countryside and she has left specific instructions on how she wants her murder investigated.

Aspiring mystery writer Annabelle “Annie” Adams is summoned by her estranged Great-Aunt Frances’s solicitors to meet her for the very first time in connection to revisions made in Frances’s will. Unfortunately, Frances is found murdered the day Annie arrives in Castle Knoll. As per Frances’s last wishes, Annie and her relatives are in competition to find Frances’ killer. Whoever can solve the mystery within a stipulated time frame or before the police – will inherit Frances’s estate – not an easy task in itself compounded by the fact that Francis made enough enemies by digging up dirt on everyone she knew. Everyone Annie meets has secrets they want to protect and with a murderer in their midst, Annie needs to work fast before she becomes the killer’s next target.

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a well-crafted, entertaining whodunit. The narrative is presented from the perspective of Annie with Frances’s journal entries from the 1960s in chapters interspersed throughout the narrative. The author deftly weaves past and present events into a fluid, well-paced narrative with more than one intriguing mystery and several suspects in the fold. Even though we don’t get to meet adult Frances we get to know a lot about her from her journal entries from when she was a teenager on the cups of adulthood and details shared by those who knew her during her lifetime. Annie is an endearing protagonist – impulsive yet smart, perceptive and curious - and I enjoyed following her efforts in unraveling the mystery. I loved the atmospheric setting and enjoyed getting to know the characters (even the unlikable ones). Even though the story features a large cast of characters and several sub-plots woven into the narrative, at no point does the plot get overly complicated, ambiguous or convoluted. Though I wasn’t entirely surprised by the final revelation, I enjoyed how we got there and was intrigued by many of the developments along the way.

Overall, I found this novel to be an enjoyable, cozy mystery and would be eager to explore future books in this series.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.