How to Solve Your Own Murder was such an addictive read! The synopsis intrigued me from the start but seeing the story unfold was so enjoyable I wish I had laid aside other books to have read this one sooner. I really enjoyed the look into Frances’ diary, the way she told her own story from her unsure perspective, leaving clues for her unknowing heir to solve the truth of who killed Frances Gravesdown and what happened to her group of friends sixty years prior, especially Emily Sparrow, who went missing when she was 17 years old. Ever since, Frances has been obsessed with the notion the one day, she would be murdered, and she spends her lifetime trying to solve the crime that hasn’t happened yet.

I loved the idea of this great-niece, Anna, stepping into a world she knew nothing about and being charged with the challenge of solving her great aunts murder. With an inheritance on the line, the stakes are high for all involved.

This is a perfect cozy read for fans of Agatha Christie novels as well as Knives Out, and interestingly enough The Westing Game. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out who killed Frances Gravesdown and the truth was a twist I wasn’t expecting.

It might have been partially the setting or all the twists, but this book gave me such a perfect modern Agatha Christie vibe. I'm not even a fan of books with long epistolary elements, but I could put the fact that the flashbacks were supposed to be diary entries aside, and just enjoy them as part of the story. Couldn't put this one down!

Imagine becoming fixated on a fortune you were given as a teenager for the rest of your life. What if this fortune told you you'd die by murder? Imagine trying to figure out how that would happen not knowing when it would happen?

I was drawn to this book pretty quickly because who doesn't love a good murder mystery. Frances was at a fair with 2 of her best friends as a teenager when she received the fortune telling her she was to be murdered. The rest of her life is dedicated to finding out as much information on everyone in her life as possible while also trying to figure out the cause of her demise. She spends her life in the same town driving some of its residents crazy with her predictions and paranoia. 60 years later, Annie, who calls Frances Great Aunt Frances, is summoned to the town Castle Knoll where Frances lives. Annie arrives only to find her great aunt has died and she had never met her before. Annie becomes wrapped up in the her great aunts death and becomes determined to see if she can help solve it.... but she will have some competition.

This book felt like a fast read to me. It was written in a way where I wanted to keep going to find out more information into each chapter. I enjoyed the glimpses into Frances's life via her personal journals as well. You feel like you're investigating with Annie and trying to help her. Luckily Annie does have a little bit of help along the way. There were plenty of moments you were second guessing yourself with all the new information that kept coming into the picture. It feels like Clue in the setting and the fact that there are so many suspects and possibilities. This book will keep you guessing and keep your mind sharp! A very enjoyable read.

feels like an older style mystery, i enjoyed the pacing of the book. i do feel like it could have had a little better execution but over all enjoyed the book.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the chance to read this advanced reader copy.

This book was good but it was also easy to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Kristen Perrin for the advanced copy.

4.5

This is like an Agatha Christie book with a twist. It was medium paced, with chapters going from the past and the present. Just enough twists to keep you interested and want to keep reading.

I really enjoyed it! I liked the authors writing style and look forward to reading more from them.

Calling Agatha Christie fans…this clever murder mystery will give you thrills!

Using two different time lines, debut author Kristin Perrin works us through all sorts of rabbit holes, red herrings, and every other magical mystery twist.

The first time line occurs in today’s world, where Annie Adams is due to inherit her great-aunt’s estate; yet, when she goes to the penultimate meeting about it, instead, they find Great-Aunt Frances dead, as Frances has worried about for year. She’s even left the crew a murder chart to follow. The crew is a hoot - former lovers, twisted family members, old friends and workers - they make for a very Agatha-esque circle of suspects.

The other timeline takes us back to Frances as a young woman in the 1960’s. Of course, it all began with a fortune teller giving Frances a creepy message about her pending murder, thus giving her decades of paranoia and suspicion about everyone. The disappearance of a close friend as a teenage did not help. Frances, helpfully, leaves diaries and other trinkets along the way to build the path towards the murderer.

I chuckled at times, felt the tension build with each subsequent chapter, and was thoroughly entertained. All I could think when I turned the final page was…clever mystery, well done!!

My thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and Net Galley for allowing me to review this arc .

Story is told in 2 timelines. First, Frances and her 2 friends Emily and Rose visit a carnival . Frances sees a gypsy who predicts she will be killed. Frances is obsessed with this for decades and her story is told for the 1960s in her diary foremat, once found. Another one of her friends goes missing.

Second time-line. Present day. Frances ' great niece Annie is invited up to Frances ' house because she finds out she is an heir on her will. But Frances is murdered and sets up a clause that whomever solves her murder. Annie, or the police will.decide the outcome of her estate.

I liked this book. Cozy , easy read. Something different.

#HowtoSolveYourOwnMurder

This was a pleasant enough read, if not a little slow. The title is a little misleading, it gives the impression that someone is still actively solving their murder even after their death. In this case, that simply isn't true. Additionally, the author's constant use of multiple character's names per sentence made it hard to read and confusing. Lastly, the plot is mostly predictable which when paired with the authors obvious intent to make it exciting, is disappointing.

This book was lovely! It was a thriller mixed in with some earlier time period nostalgia and I throughly enjoyed reading it. It was a clever who done it and I was smiling all the way through. I noticed it was #1 in the castle knoll series, I can’t wait to read figure ones.

This wasn't my favorite, but I can certainly see patrons enjoying this book. It's on the "cozier" mystery side and I would recommend it to readers who like The Thursday Murder Club series.

Personally, I was intrigued at first but I got a bit bored along the way.

The characters and perspectives in this story were incredible. As an avid murder mystery reader, the plot kept me guessing and kept me engaged with even the smallest details. And if you wanted to turn this into a series of Annie and Crane solving the other crimes Frances uncovered over the years I would read every word.

I love a rural town full of secrets and mystery. This story was just that: a rural story full of foreboding prophecy and twists and turns. I enjoyed the dual POV at times because it made the story feel fast-paced, though I will say sometimes the writing could feel a bit chopped up. This wasn't a big issue, though, because getting to piece through all of the puzzle pieces was so compelling, and I enjoyed the characters. So, I had a great time with this story. Really fun!

This unique story is full of twists and foreboding prophecies in a cozy rural town surrounded by secrets.
I thought this was a very cozy murder mystery with a fun take-through dual perspectives of both the main character Annie Adams and Francis Adams, before her untimely but predicted death. Trying to put together clues using the first-person accounts and the information presented to Annie made the reading much more exciting. I couldn't wait to return to Frances's journal to learn more. I personally thought the writing, specifically from Annie's perspective, was choppy at times, but it did not deter me from caring about the characters or the situations they were facing. Overall a fun but unique cozy read.


Thank you, Penguin Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I don't usually read cozy mysteries, this story was just fun to read. Like the Benjamin Stevenson novels, this takes you on a trip to be the first to solve a murder. The characters in the story are great and I really enjoyed the vintage feel of the era of the tale. For those who don't like the vulgarity of most current-day mysteries, this will be refreshing and appreciated. I don't know if I will immediately pick up the 2nd in this series, but I will remember this one fondly.

"Kristen Perrin's 'How to Solve Your Own Murder' is a captivating mystery that reignited my love for the genre. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC. The narrative, filled with ingenious plot twists and well-developed characters, kept me guessing for 80% of the book. Despite initial reservations about changing perspectives, Perrin's seamless transitions and expert storytelling had me hooked.

Centered around Frances, who receives a chilling prediction shaping her life and death, the unraveling of her own murder through cryptic riddles adds layers of suspense. The prophetic warnings and enigmatic clues are expertly woven, creating an intricate tapestry of foreboding.

Perrin's skill in crafting a narrative around solving one's own murder is remarkable. 'How to Solve Your Own Murder' challenges mystery conventions with finesse and creativity. A must-read for those craving a mind-bending journey into fate, justice, and the intricate dance between life and death."

thoroughly enjoyable read set at an English manor home - with the time tested "whoever solves my murder inherits the house" plot. Interspersed with diary entries from the victim's young adult years in the late 1960's, there are well developed characters in both timelines and things move along at a good pace.

"How To Solve Your Own Murder" is a delightful and engaging mystery novel that promises a unique twist on the classic whodunit.

The pacing of the book is quick and snappy, making it a perfect choice for readers looking for a fun and engaging read. Despite the lighthearted tone, the mystery itself is cleverly crafted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read. With its delightful characters and inventive premise, it's sure to leave readers thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

What a cute, cozy book! This was more in line with an updated Agatha Christie novel, keeping me on my toes the entire read. It was hard to put down and all I wanted to do was read, read, read! I was hooked all the way through, until the end.

I like the premise and the elements, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars, but the way this was executed just wasn't engaging for me. It does have Knives Out vibes, which is great, but it was missing some sense of humor.

I found it boring a lot of the time and I know it's a low-stakes mystery, but it should still be interesting. That made it difficult for me to keep up with all these characters and I just didn't care about solving the mystery like I usually do with this kind of book.