Murder/mystery is not my preferred genre. I was drawn by the title and cover.

Great aunt Francis had a fortune teller predict her demise when she was 17 (in 1966). She has been gathering intelligence about EVERYTHING and EVERYONE for decades. Fast forward to present day and she decides to include her niece Annie Adams into her will (and removing Annie's mother). Great aunt Francis calls a meeting to inform those in her will of the changes (coincidentally ... or not so ... where there is a conflict with Annie's mother).

Upon arriving to the meeting ... well ... thats probably enough info without getting into spoilers. And nobody wants that when it comes to a murder mystery.

I found the book enjoyable. Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars.

Thank you (once again) to NetGalley for introducing me to a "new to me author". Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton/Penguin Random House for approving my request to read the advance read copy of How To Solve Your Own Murder in exchange for an honest review. Kristen Perrin ... keep on writing. Publication date is 26 Mar 2024.

A Whodunit page turner!

I really enjoyed the book. With little clues sprinkled throughout, it kept me guessing until the end.
Using duel timelines, the story is told from Frances's and Annie's POV that come together to solve two different murders. The book really pulled me in, and I liked the small village setting where everyone knew each other.

The book unfolds with Frances's fortune, and she spends the rest of her life trying to figure out what this means and who is going to murder her. And then, uh oh.... Great Aunt Frances is murdered and Annie must put her amateur sleuth skills to the test.

Because this book was well-written and fast-paced without a lot of useless descriptions, I'd definitely read another book by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A fast paced, entertaining mystery with a cast of characters that you suspect throughout the tale of committing a murder. Not only is there a current murder but the question is there another from long ago. As I read the book I kept thinking this would work well as a series or movie and sure enough the author divulges that the screen rights have been picked up. Kind of cozy yet interesting and complicated enough to hold your attention.

This book is the perfect blend of extraordinary writing and intriguing mystery. How does one know they are going to be murdered? If a fortune-teller gives you that little tidbit, would you obsess over it for a lifetime? Would that obsession cause you to act and interact with everyone in your life in a way that invites an unfortunate demise? Or do you die of natural causes?

Annie Adams goes to visit her great-aunt Frances, who was told nearly 60 years ago that she'd be murdered, and who's been actively trying to solve her murder before it happens for nearly as long. This is a fascinating mystery, with the extra disappearance of France's friend Emily building the suspense. Fun and engaging page-turner from the beginning. I loved this! ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun, fast murder mystery with two murders to solve in two different times - 2023 and 1965. I really enjoyed that it felt like a modern day Agatha Christie, set in a small British town where you got to see the intermingling and family ties across 60 years. The idea of Great Aunt Frances keeping files of everyone’s secrets in alphabetical order by type of secret - i.e. a is for arson, I is for infidelity, made me laugh out loud. I also felt like the author really understood the types of obsessive, toxic friendships that teenagers can develop, and honestly, it really made me feel like they all should have moved away and moved on with their lives (and grateful that I did just that - what adult really wants to still be dealing with high school drama every day?). I would have loved a little more exploration as to what made Saxon tick - I just did not get him and did not really get how he and Elva were a couple- as well as to see a little more flirtation between Annie and the detective once the cases were solved, and to learn what Annie’s plans were as regards her future and the estate, but overall I really liked the book and read it in one day.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kristen Perrin for the chance to review this wonderful ARC of How to Solve Your Own Murder. This is such a fantastic book and I love that it is based on the premise of being given a fortune at a fair and then spending your life trying to keep it from coming true. Set in a small English village where everyone knows everyone else’s business it is amazing that Annie’s Great Aunt Frances has managed to live all these years even though she has been given a foretold future that she would be murdered and be betrayed by a close friend. This is a wonderful book to curl up with on a rainy weekend with a cup of tea.

In 1965, when Frances Adams was seventeen, she attended the small town fair with her best friend’s Rose and Emily, but it gravely turned into a day she’ll never forget when a fortune teller described her great demise. She constantly lives in a state of fear because one day, she’ll be murdered.

Annie Adam’s has never known her Aunt Frances, but she’s called upon for a meeting with her to go over the newest revisions to her will. When Annie, and other family members, congregate inside Frances’ huge estate hoping to gain a piece of her inheritance, they find Frances laying on the floor of her library…dead.

Her will states that Annie and a man named Saxon, France’s nephew, have one week to solve her murder; the winner will receive her inheritance and her estate, but in order to catch a killer, you’ll need to put your own life in danger.

This book was told through dual timelines; when Annie arrived at the estate, and diary entries written by Frances in 1966. Not only was Aunt Frances murdered, but her best friend Emily disappeared around the time of the journal entries. Can Annie solve both mysteries, even though she’s never met her Aunt?

I was first drawn to this book by the beautiful cover. This was a fun, perplexing murder mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed, but I’m kicking myself for not waiting until next year to read it because it was one of the best books I’ve read this year. 🥲 This was the perfect debut thriller for fans of Agatha Christie and Knives Out.

4.5 stars!!!! I REALLY enjoyed reading this and it’s honestly the perfect book for me. It has murder, writing, and England. What more could I want? Actually there is something I wanted and that was a Detective Crane and Annie kiss!! I get why it didn’t happen though but man would that have been just the cutest.

It would have been so easy to make Frances an unlikeable character who was only thinking about herself, but the way the author makes her seem empathetic and compassionate through Annie was amazing. So happy it got to read this ARC and can’t wait to buy a copy when it comes out

FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE'D BE MURDERED...
SHE WAS RIGHT.

This was absolutely delightful. I loved the characters and the plot was highly entertaining.

Wow, what an engaging and entertaining mystery.

This author was new to me, and I am glad I took the chance on this one. It was easy to read, and connect with the storyline. While this story revolves around Annie and her pursuit of answers to "who killed Great Aunt Frances", there are many different sub-dramas intertwined that I found myself confused, then sure, then confused again (much like Annie).

I enjoyed the ups and downs of this one, and watching Annie take a mess of information and misdirection, and form it into a linear thought. I was mostly pleased with the conclusion to the mystery, but I found myself wanting more or different for a few of the subplots... but that's just me.
Overall, I recommend this author and this book, as my read was most enjoyable.

I was fortunate to receive my free ARC from Netgalley and I voluntarily leave my review.

This was a great cozy mystery. It instantly hooked me and I couldn't wait to see what happened. It was well written and I really enjoyed the two different time frames. I enjoyed the characters and how well everything came today.

A truly intriguing book that starts with Frances' fortune being read. She is told she will be murdered so she lives her life trying to find out who will be the one to do it.

The story is told in different timelines. When Frances is found dead on the day of a meeting about her will, a competition begins on who will be first to solve her murder. The one who does, inherits Frances' entire estate. There are plenty of twists and I truly enjoyed how this book unfolds. I always try to guess who did it before the book uncovers it for you. I did not succeed with this book.

A really enjoyable read!

I loved the strong writing in How To Solve Your Own Murder in this murder mystery. The character development was great, too. This is the type of book that has something for everyone. This had a clue-like vibe to it. I would describe this as a cozy murder mystery.
In 1965, Frances went to a fair where she went to the fortune tellers booth, who told her she'd be murdered. Frances talked about this all throughout the years and no one believed her when she would profess that it would happen. They finally realized she was correct when she was found murdered.
The book cuts to the present when Frances great niece, Annie arrives in London for the will reading. Whoever solves the murder inherits Frances estate and fortune.

Well written, complex plot with unexpected twists. Characters were well developed and interacted with one another in believable ways. The opening chapters were a little slow, hence 4 stars instead of 5.

This was incredibly strong writing! I especially loved the 1960s plotline, although the entire book was interesting. At times it felt like maybe there were a few too many characters, especially for a murder mystery, but other than that this was a total hit for me.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a charming and captivating whodunnit. Mostly mystery, with a few splashes of family drama, this book grabbed my attention from the first few pages. How to Solve Your Own Murder follows the traditional twisty format of classic mysteries, including several red herrings that keep you guessing until the very end. Kristen Perrin combines top-notch writing, beautiful character development, and a unique, unpredictable plot in this masterful and fun novel.

In 1965, teenager Frances Adams received a dark and twisty fortune: she will be murdered. Frances spends her entire life investigating every relationship, situation, and chance meeting that crosses her path in an obsessive quest to find the killer. Unfortunately, Frances's fortune comes true, and in the wake of her death, her estranged great-grandniece, Annie, and greedy brother-in-law, Saxon, are forced into a hectic competition. Whoever solves Frances's murder inherits her massive fortune. There's just one problem: according to Frances's lifetime of research, everyone in her life has a motive.

The story alternates between Annie's point-of-view as an amateur sleuth and excerpts from Frances's diary written in 1965. Both perspectives weave together to develop a fascinating and enrapturing tale of small-town drama, jealousy, and, of course, murder.

You will love How to Solve Your Own Murder if you enjoyed reading:
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
The Maid by Nita Prose

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful book!

This was a great debut and I will certainly be adding this author to my TBR. The cover is stunning and this was a unique read.
Our main character Frances Adams is haunted by a fortune teller's revelation that she is going to be murdered one day. She then spends the rest of her life trying to prevent a crime that hasn't happened yet and she doesn't know when or where it will happen, nor does she know who will murder her. Then one day she is found murdered. Her great-niece Annie comes to go over Frances estate and to solve her Great Aunt's murder. This book is told in past and present timelines and dual POVs. In the present we get Annie's POV as she tries to solve the murder. In the past, we get a glimpse into France's Diary as she collects info on the list of potential suspects.
This is definitely a unique read that I would recommend to cozy mystery lovers, especially fans of "The Thursday Murder Club" and "Findlay Donovan" series.

*4.5 stars

I've been trying to put myself on a NetGalley ban, but I'm so glad I caved and looked for new ARCs because this book was good!! I think the only thing I have to complain about this book is that it doesn't come out until March 2024 so y'all can't read it unless you get an ARC - it was that good!

I loved Annie's character and her ability to self-analyze but to also break out of her comfort zone when needed. She was one of the main kind characters throughout the whole book - especially in the present day - but also knew to follow her gut when it came to things. I also loved the dual timeline/dual POV we got. It was well thought out and really helped bring Great Aunt Frances to life for both Annie and the reader.

I was sucked into this book almost from the very beginning. I found myself skimming sections because I just had to know what happened - and then I would have to go back and make sure I didn't miss any important details! If you can get your hands on a copy of this now, I'd suggest doing it! If not, pre-order it so you can get it as soon as it's published - March 24th!

Many thanks to @kristenperrinwrites, @penguinusa, & NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

There is nothing better than a great whodunit. Even better when there are dual time lines. Top it off with Castle Knoll and you have my kind of mystery. I absolutely loved this book. Aunt Frances and her friends were fun and so was Annie. Thank you for the advanced copy and looking forward to many more.

A fun read and a great debut for Kristen Perrin! Perrin is definitely on my list to look for future works!

The story starts in the past setting up the premise of Great Aunt Frances's eccentricity based on a psychic's fortune of doom. Over the years, she compiles file cabinets full of research on everybody she is in contact with. In the present, she decides to change her will and calls together potential inheritors. Of course, this brings in our protagonist, her great niece, Annie. Predictably, she's murdered before the meeting. Her will, of course, is based on who solves her murder. Overlooking the premise that the law enforcement would simply shrug and not protest amateur sleuths running around investigating and withholding gleaned information/evidence (and also, not restrict access to the murder scene that they have not even processed), this begins a bit of a wild ride as everyone starts running around gathering clues and trying to distract, each other from their investigation!
As I said, the premise is a bit farfetched, but the journey is a fun one and made more complex by the disappearance of a Frances’s friend when they were young. Essentially, we end up with two crimes, decades apart and a lot of speculations as to how they may be connected.

This is a highly enjoyable modern cosy with a lot of classical elements.

Many thanks to Penguin Group and Netgallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!