I had a mixed reaction to this book. The constant switching to past and present just felt terribly executed, to me, at least. I do think that it could work if it was more thought out, but it wasn't a pleasure to read and I found myself skipping every other chapter. It is a solid mystery book, however, and was fairly engaging in the sections of the book that took place in the present. I think that some readers will enjoy this book, but it certainly isn't for everyone.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Kristen Perrin for providing me with an ARC. I was not required to write a review, and all thoughts presented in the review above are my own.

I have heard patrons at the library already asking for ‘How to Solve your own Murder’ and I will be recommending it whenever I can!
It is a clever, witty, well written book full of great characters who twist and turn through the book which effortlessly travels back and forth between the present day where Great Aunt Frances needs her murder solved back to the diaries written in the 60’s by Frances herself.
A satisfying read with a rewarding ending.

There is much to enjoy about Kristen Perrin's How To Solve Your Own Murder. In a clear and compelling voice, Perrin introduces us to present day Annie Adams who through a series of maneuvers by her Great Aunt Frances stands to inherit her aunt's fortune if she can solve her aunt's murder. Through a diary found by Annie, we are also introduced to a young Frances, who spends her life chasing the shadow of a fortune teller who dooms her to a life wondering when she will be murdered. If this sounds a bit convoluted, it is is, but it is also enjoyable, clever and fast-paced. I would have benefited from a cast of characters to keep them all straight - present day and past - but a small quibble for an otherwise enjoyable mystery. Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm going back to the mystery genre because this was just brilliant.

I consider this book as Katrin Perrin’s debut because her others - which I think are short stories - are in another language and only a few people read them. And as a debut, it has its flaws, but it's also pretty great.

I'm not blind to the many issues other people have had with this story, its many, not-very-developed characters are the main reason behind the complaints, but I’m following my heart on this, and I loved it. Even if it didn't understand much.
The said characters are an annoying aspect, for example, but if you don't consider the weird circumstance of the murder and how convenient is for the main character to be an aspirant mystery author, the second place of things to correct would be how quick was Annie to solve not only the muster surrounding her great aunt’s death but the much older mystery involving her great aunt’s best friend’s disappearing.

Long story short, Annie got everything right and then had to explain to us - and the Detective assigned to the case -, because she was the only one able to figure out what happened in all this mess of characters playing games with each other, many suspects on the background just for show, and a piece of the puzzle always missing.
She did win an exceptional inheritance for her heavy work, so good for her.

Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I liked the conceptual idea for this book. Having said that, I have mixed opinions about the writing. The general writing style wasn’t bad, and I thought the first person present tense was interesting. But the dialogue felt very artificial and awkward, (rather than flowing naturally) like you would see in a play. Also, there were a lot of portions where we were being told a lot of information in quick succession and it was a bit overwhelming.

Side note, it started to get on my nerves everytime the protagonist said “Great Aunt Frances” because why do you have to say her entire title? Especially when the people you’re talking to already know who she is.

All in all, this book wasn’t really for me (in terms of grabbing my attention) but it’s quirky and cute and I’m sure others will enjoy it more.

Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for this DRC

“How to solve your own murder” is a fun and intriguing mystery about a girl named Annabelle Adams who travels to an estate meeting set up by her Great Aunt Francis Adams for her estate. Francis is fixated on a prediction told by a fortune teller of her murder. Her fortune unfortunately comes true, and Annie is left to solve not only the murder of Francis but a mystery that had been left unsolved for 60 years.

This book kept me guessing about all of the potential suspects, although it was a little challenging to keep up with all of the characters. The twist at the end was a bit underwhelming, and the pacing lagged towards the end. I would recommend it but would encourage note-taking.

I want to thank Net Galley and Penguin Group Dutton for this Arc for a review.

Fantastic book! Loads of characters- I didn’t get a chance to see if there was an available audiobook for this, but I’d imagine a full cast would be amazing.

Loads of characters, so for my fellow note takers- take note to keep track!

Fun, modern sort of twist to a classic whodunnit vibe, without being too modern. The author hit the mark with this, and I want more! I can’t say much as to not give spoilers, but this would be a great book club book and I’m looking forward to an audio version!

This was such a fun, mystery read! Annie goes to a quaint village to meet her great aunt and inherit her fortune. Or so she thinks. Unfortunately the first time she lays eyes on her great aunt she is dead. Annie also finds out the only way she is to inherit the fortune is to solve her great aunt’s murder.

I really enjoyed so much about this book. I loved the main character, Annie. I loved the setting and all the side characters. I always enjoy POVs from different media, so I really liked Great Aunt Frances’ journal entries from the past. I totally was picturing a British murder mystery in my head the whole time. I enjoyed the ending but it felt kind of rushed. Also, I wish I could have gotten to know the side characters a little more. But maybe that was to help not figure out the mystery. There are actually 2 mysteries to solve in the book. Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!

Thank you so much Penguin (my fav animal) group and NetGalley for the copy of this book!

It’s giving Agatha Christie. This was an engaging read with a unique premise. There were entirely too many characters for me to wrap my head around though.

This book was amazing. Just the premise is so intriguing and I wasn’t sure how it could actually be written about, but the author did an amazing job from cover to cover.
First off, I really love Annie, our main character. She is witty and fearless without being annoying.
Secondly, this book kept me guessing, I really mean it. At certain points in the book she would write about a certain chat tarts more which made you wonder if that was the murderer or just another clue.
Lastly, the use of past and present timelines with two POVs was so much fun to read about and try to price it together yourself

I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This book had classic murder mystery vibes. It was slightly hard to keep all the characters straight but I felt the mystery resolved itself nicely.

Reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple mysteries, “How to Solve Your Own Murder” is a cozy mystery with quirky characters and tame action scenes. If you’re a Christie fan so much of this novel will feel more than familiar, from the English setting to the gathering of the suspects to the dialogue. Perfect book to curl up by the fire with a cuppa tea and a roaring fireplace while it rains outside.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was fine. The dual narratives was interesting but the resolution to the murders was a bit unsatisfying to me. The big cast of characters was a little difficult to keep track of and they all felt a little flat. Still, if this continues as a series, there's potential to expand the universe and flesh out the characters more. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this title to those not already interested in the mystery genre, but for those that are already mystery-lovers, this one will suffice.

How to Solve Your Own Murder was a refreshing take in murder and thriller writing. I enjoyed the pacing, and the format of the plot and the setting really made this book stand out from the other thrillers many of us regularly read. I could see this as a film or series!

THIS BOOK!. I loved it and couldn't put it down!

Imagine living your whole life around a prediction told to you from a fortune teller and wondering when it will come true. What Francis didn't know was that her great niece who she has never meet will end up solving everything. Annie finds out more about her family's past in order to help solve Francis's murder. What she didn't know when she showed up to Francis's estate is what she would have to do to find out that truth.

I highly recommend this book if you like solving murder mysteries. I thought I knew who did it right away, but boy was I wrong.

Very enjoyable read! What I liked:
-Great pacing between the Frances and Annie chapters. I found myself excited to read both types, which is rare nowadays. Authors often use this narration device out of novelty as opposed to actually helping the story.
-The premise was an intriguing twist on your typical murder mystery, and the author did a great job with letting the reader determine fate vs. self fulfilling prophecy.
-She did a good job keeping the reader guessing - there are many potential culprits from the beginning (whereas the typical format of the genre would have you focused on a clear front runner, then a red herring, then the twist).

What kept me from ratings it 5 stars:
-There were way too many characters that I got character fatigue. It wasn’t until the second half when I was able to keep track of all the generational characters, a few of whom don’t have distinct personalities from each other.
-An underwhelming twist given the limited amount of time we spent with the murderer.
-The pacing began to lag halfway through. I wish the author cut out a few of the chapters since many of them didn’t move the story or characters forward.
-The unlikelihood (and storytelling convenience) of every character being intertwined romantically with each other, and all three girls having a bordering psychopathic and obsessive (somehow platonic?) relationship with each other.
-Emily is a caricature in her villainy - zero redeeming qualities. But then
-The author’s bizarre anti-party drug references - felt out of place and preachy.
-The amount of emphasis on Ford but with barely any acknowledgment of the underage manipulation and dark undertones - especially since they got married. Unclear what the author was trying to accomplish here, it felt half baked.

I had a blast with this modern-day version of the classic Golden Age mystery! Murder at a country estate, a writer forced into the role of amateur detective, a cast of intriguing, highly suspicious, and secretive side characters, and a fortune teller's prediction of betrayal and death. These ingredients were enough to keep me happily tied to the book until the final reveal.


Aspiring murder mystery author Annie Adams is unexpectedly pulled into a real-life mystery when she's summoned to the estate of her eccentric great aunt Frances. Mayhem soon follows as a long unsolved disappearance and buried secrets come back to the forefront along with a modern-day murder and a race to solve a crime and inherit a fortune as the prize. Suspects, superstition, hidden motives, red herrings, and clues abound as Annie races to solve both crimes before time runs out.


I absolutely loved this well plotted, clever spin on the classic cozy mystery. I equally enjoyed the stories from both timelines, which is a rarity in a dual timeline story. I usually find one story more compelling than the other but not so with this book. Both Frances and Annie were likable characters, and Annie's references to classic detective story details as well as her humorous thoughts, even during the more harrowing moments, gave the story an extra something I really enjoyed. 


Reading How To Solve Your Own Murder was a wonderful way to spend a cold, snowy afternoon. There's so much to love with this charming whodunit, and it was the perfect answer to my recent search for a fun, engaging, unputdownable mystery. 


Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me a copy to read and review

This was a fun, Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery. It had the the right amount of intrigue without being over the top, and an interesting take on the historical murder turned current. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends and bookclub!

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin is a fast paced read for any fans that love to read mysteries. The book follows Florance and her friends during 1965 in a quant town of Castle Knoll. When Florance, Rose , and Emily go to get their fortunes read Florance takes her reading to heart. She becomes somewhat obsessed by what the fortune teller told her. She looks for hidden meaning in everything. Upon her death she has plotted a game for Saxson, Florance's nephew by her marriage to Ford Gravesdown, and her Great niece Annie. The first one who solves her murder will inheritant her whole estate. If the police solve the crime before Saxson and Annie then the estate will go to Oliver, who work for a property firm in London. I loved Annie the most out of all the characters in the book. She wants to be a mystery writer, however she faints at the sight of blood, smell of hospitals, needles, and anything related to doctor's and their offices. I also liked the chapters that Florance had written in her diary in the summer of 1965. It made her feel alive and that she was there beside Annie helping her along the way.

How To Solve Your Own Murder starts off immediately throwing you into the story of Annie Adams and her Great Aunt Frances. Annie travels to Castle Knoll to meet with her Great Aunt, who recently changed her will to include Annie. When arriving at Castle Knoll and Gravesdown Estate, Annie ends up being smack dab in the middle of an Agatha Christie esque murder mystery. I truly enjoyed the book and the journey it took me on, suspicious of every character and being right alongside with Annie, trying to figure out this classic “who dunnit.” A strong 4 star read.

I want to thank Net Galley for the ARC of How To Solve Your Own Murder in exchange for this honest review.