Fabulous cast of characters, interesting premise, love the dual POV! Not quite my cup of tea in the end due to personal taste but very well written

An original twist on the classic Whodunnit, this was great fun. I enjoyed the double timeline and the audiobook narrator was excellent. I feel sad not to have met Frances too!

A fun, cosy murder mystery is just what I needed for a pallette cleanser.

I really enjoyed the dual narrators, it really separated the story to make it more clear and concise. The perfect debut for someone making their name in murder mysteries.

Annie has been summoned to her great aunt's house, whom she has never met, and has recently been put down as the possible heir in her will.

This novel is full of secrets, murder and mystery and it will be down to Annie to solve a cold case, that has haunted her great Aunt for decades, as well as solve her great aunt's murder; which started with a fortune teller, when she was seventeen years old.

This novel is filled with several characters, which at first was confusing, but the will have the reader leading to have several red herrings and keep us guessing throughout.


I loved how this was written, and how we were able to work out the answers with the main character; as though we were part of the narrative and the investigation.

I found this storyline really clever and didn't guess either murder, and loved how this left me shocked at the end.

I would love to hear more from this main character, although I don't know how this would work. But this is one I would highly recommend and easily read again.

What I was looking for: A funny, cozy mystery.

What I liked: I liked that the main character was actually genre savy and not stupid. She noticed the things I noticed too and often also remarked on them, asked questions, followed up. I like it when they are not stupid or totally unobservant just to get them in trouble. The parallel stories, present and past, worked well together.

What I did not like: For one, the characters were not particularly deep or difficult. The developer, the rich snob, the strange rich kid, the steadfast lawyer. You do not need to spend a lot of time trying to figure out these characters.
This very likely can be attributed to the format, i.e. audiobook but there were just so many characters and family members/descendants of important characters from the past, I really had trouble keeping them straight (which removed a little drama from the reveal because I was confused).

Narrator: It was a good decision choosing two different narrators for the two timelines.

Conclusion: I enjoyed myself and recommend the book if you are looking for a fun, entertaining mystery. However, I only recently learned that this is going to be a series and at the moment, I do not feel any need to read on. To me, this felt like a completed story.

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The small-town mystery plot is always something I gravitate towards, but Perrin has done a great job at making this story intense, captivating and highly enjoyable to read. Every single element of this book has been thoughtfully crafted by the author. Perrin drops little clues and red herrings throughout, forcing the reader to become an amateur detective and try to piece the puzzle pieces back together alongside the main character, Annie. Right from the opening scene, where we see Francis receive her fortune, the readers are totally enthralled in the story, and the fast paced action doesn't let up at any point.

The characters were intellectually composed, each playing into the story in a different way. I adored Francis Adams' character and her eccentric, quirky ways. I loved seeing Francis in her teenage years and felt this added a whole extra level of interest and suspense to the story. I also enjoyed Annie's character and, although it was clear she made mistakes throughout her amateur investigation, this only made her more realistic and likeable.

I must also mention the narrator, as I did listen to this as an audio book. The narrator did a great job at using subtle changes in her voice to portray each of the characters individual personalities, so at no point did the characters seem to all fade into one (which is what I often dislike about audiobooks). Her voice was calming and pleasant to listen to.

I overall rated this 4 out of 5 stars. I am very much looking to hopefully reading more from this author in the future, as this book showed real potential. I would highly reccomend you pick this up if you're a fan of cozy small-Town mysteries that are gripping and fast-paced. Thank you to Netgalley and Kristen Perrin for the ARC.

It took me a while to get into this story but I stuck with it and I am glad I did because it really finds it's pace. This is an Agatha Christie style novel of a murder told over a duel timeline. As a debut, I believe Kristen Perrin has produced a novel that is perfect for anyone looking for a modern day old fashioned murder mystery.

How to Solve Your Own Murder - Well Frances certainly did that even if it did take her 60 years ...

I really liked the plot and the dual timelines, structure of the book means this works really well. Despite many characters and complex connections between them the story is easy to follow. Frances is a really unique character despite being not alive during most of the book her paranoia and her presence as a reader you manage to keenly feel.

Some of the characters need a bit more development, particularly Saxon for example, I found that this would help the reader to love or hate the characters with a bit more passion, which would allow you to feel more connected to the book as a whole.

I loved the narrators for this audiobook, the reading was smooth and seamless. I always like when there is inflection changes to denote differing characters rather than an exaggerated accent or multiple different narrators. This audiobook does this perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook prior to its release in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn in immediately and listened in one sitting, I simply could not stop. Perfect company on a day with lots of driving solo.

First of all, the narration from Alexandra Dowling and Jaye Jacob’s is the perfect immersive experience, bringing the fantastic characters to life and transporting me into the world of Castle Knoll.

France’s Adams, Annie’s eccentric, enigmatic, wealthy Great Aunt has spent the majority of her life fearing her own murder, following a fortune tellers prediction that spookily comes to fruition.

@kristenperrinwrites has penned an enthralling suspenseful whodunit murder mystery set at a perfect tension-building pace filled with wonderfully quirky characters who you question in turn as you join Annie in trying to crack the case.

I really enjoyed the dual perspective and timeline of this story alternating between Frances’ story told through her revealing journals and Annie in the present day.

If you are a lover of Agatha Christie-esque, enchanting, humorous mystery novels with many twists and turns that will have you on tenterhooks until the very end then this is for you. An expertly executed debut and I cannot wait for more from Kristen!

How to Solve Your Own Murder is released this Tuesday 26th March and it is a must read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @quercusbooks for early access to this audiobook, an easy 5 star for me!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a great job. I really liked the author’s writing style and how descriptive with characters she was. I saw that this is the first in a new series and I will definitely keep reading! Highly recommend to those that enjoy murder mysteries and especially those with different settings.

Frances Adams was 17 when a fortune-teller told her she would be murdered. Despite believing her fortune, her small village never took her seriously. Granted, her habit of compiling everyone’s worst secrets to protect herself did not exactly help matters.

Her great-niece Annie arrives from London, only to find Frances’ worst nightmare has come true. The aspiring murder mystery author is instantly sucked into a competition to discover what happened, and whoever solves the murder first inherits all of Frances’ wealth.

Perhaps my favourite thing about this book, the characters are very eccentric and distinct. Annie, our heroine, probably would describe herself as quirky or awkward in most situations, but I find her to be relatable (if annoying at times). The daughter of a once popular artist, she has just left her job to try her luck in writing. She fluctuates between being very excited about her books and extremely insecure about everything she has ever written down, just like every 20-something-year-old I have ever met (including myself).

The enigmatic figure of her great-aunt is slowly being revealed to her and the reader through Frances’ old diary and people who knew her. I wish, just like Annie did, I could sit down and talk to her. Ask about her relationship with her late husband or go through all the secrets she had filed away. Indeed, we get to know and understand 17-year-old Frances quite well, but it does not feel like enough.

Nevertheless, the list of intriguing characters does not stop there. How to Solve Your Own Murder counts with many significant characters, each fitting the narrative in a unique role. Personally, I would love to crack Saxon and take a look at his mind.

Other characters, on the other hand, were missed. Mr. Gordon, for example, felt like an NPC in many moments – there to give instructions or some insight and disappear.

I believe the dual timeline was brilliant. It can be so difficult to have timelines not getting mixed up and confusing, but the way it connects and intertwines here definitely hits the mark. Being such a small town, everyone mentioned by teenage Frances is still around, and the reader really gets to see the reflection of who they were in their older versions.

Unfortunately, I was not totally convinced of the conclusion. I am very proud to say I had suspected the culprit (since the book is far from predictable), but I discarded it based on logistics. While the explanation can appear perfectly logical, I worry about timing and communication – that was a time without cell phones.

Listening to the audiobook version, I noticed some unnatural pauses in some of Annie’s audio, concentrated around the beginning of the book and maybe stemming from editing. Besides that detail, I really enjoyed both narrators and their styles. I took particular notice of how Frances’s narrator did not give the characters different voices, as her voice comes from her personal diary, while Annie’s had a voice for each.

How to Solve Your Own Murder was a 4-star out of five read, perfect for classic Murder Mystery fans with an Agatha-Christie-style reveal at the end.

I found the book entertaining although it took me a while to get into the rhythm.
I liked the different POVs and that the fact that it kept you guessing as it was fast paced and entertaining.

Frances Adams has been haunted her whole life after visiting a fortune teller at 16 and being told several things about her future. When her Great nice Annie is summoned to Frances's estate, she thinks it is just to sign some papers after Frances has decided to change her will, but before anything can be read or signed, her body is found.

Following past and present POVs, Frances in the past in the years after the fortune telling as it takes a hold on her life, and Annie in the present using the files 'Castle Knoll Files' that Frances wrote to try and solve her murder. This was a good cosy mystery with two great lead characters.

Thank you @NetGalley, Dutton, and @penguinbooks for my free copy to read and review! I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading the arc.

LOVED, LOVED this exciting cozy murder mystery! Fans of Riley Sager and Agatha Christie will really enjoy this read!

1965, teenager Frances Adams is read her fortune that foretells of her future murderous demise. When D-day finally approaches, Frances wills her estate to the heir that solves her death.

In comes Annie Adams, an aspiring mystery novelist, eager to get to know her great-Aunt through her writings and by solving all the mysteries of Frances’ life and death. First mystery being the discovery of a trunk of bones, human bones — decades old. Bones belonging to Frances’ missing childhood friend, Emily.

Annie works to solve both murders before time runs out, all while, trying to remain safe herself. As Annie discovers many truths, the murderer is revealed, one that is truly SHOCKING!

A cosy country whodunit with a twist.

When wanna be crime fiction writer Annie is called upon to solve the murder of a family member, she quickly finds that that very family member has been trying to solve her own murder for many years already.

Perfect for fans of the Thursday Murder Club. This mystery will keep you guessing right until the end.

Intriguing mystery brought to life with wonderful audiobook narration!

I was immediately drawn to this book by it’s beautiful, slightly creepy cover. It gave me all the classic mystery vibes and I was very pleased to find that the story within matched these perfectly. HOW TO SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER has all of the hallmarks of golden age mystery fiction, with a wonderfully deep plot, a cast of characters you don’t know whether to trust, a breathtaking ending, and a quaint village location that just about masks the sinister underbelly! Perrin writes in a marvellously engaging way, lacing the intrigue and tension with humour and excellent characterisation. I lost myself in this story and felt truly transported to Castle Knoll. I really enjoyed how the narrative moved between time periods, allowing the historic events in the 1960s to unfold alongside the present day happenings. This created suspense from multiple angles and I really enjoyed trying to piece together how the past events influenced the present day. I formed many opinions and theories as I read, but the explosive ending was not at all where I thought the story would take me! This is a really accomplished debut and I can’t wait for book two in the Castle Knoll Files.

The audiobook is excellent, with pitch perfect narration from Alexandra Dowling and Jaye Jacobs. Both imbued the large cast of characters with life, giving each a distinctive voice, making it easy to follow along with the dialogue. The pace was just right, allowing the tension and mystery to build gradually, then gaining momentum as the plot unravelled and the action comes to a crescendo. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and found I didn’t want to take my headphones off!

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin


Thank you to NetGalley and Kristen Perrin for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.


I am a fan of the Cosy Mystery Genre. I was delighted to be accepted for this one. We follow the story of Frances Adams who has waited her whole life for her prediction told at a fair by a fortune teller when she was 16 to come true, and her great niece Anna who is solving her great Aunt Frances death. Told in duel timelines the 60s and present day I enjoyed the swapping between the past and the present and seeing the mystery of the death of Frances and the disappearance of her friend Emily unfold. It had me wondering if they were linked or completely coincidental.
There were quite a few characters in this one so at times it was hard to keep up with who was who although the use of two narrators to distinguish between the two voices of Frances and Annie was a good move, it definitely helped keep the story distinct and easier to follow.
This was an easy read that was enjoyable, I will look forward to reading more from Kristen Perrin.

2.5 stars

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

Ever since a fortune teller told her this prediction on a fair in 1965, Frances is convinced she'll end up murdered one day. She becomes fixated on solving her own murder before it's happened.

Current day, Annie gets summoned to Frances' solicitor's office. Her great aunt has decided to make some changes to her will that will make Annie her sole heir of her belongings. But before the will can be read, Frances' body is found.

This book switches between diary entries of Frances in 'The Castle Knoll Files' and Annie's perspective, trying to solve not one, but two murders.

Things I liked: the Agatha Christie-ness of it all, the mystery itself, and the small town vibes.

Things I disliked: most of the characters, and the overly detailed droning up of red herrings and maybe-important details. Both of these downsides made it difficult to keep track of this large cast of characters and made the book feel a little too long for me. Especially the first half felt pretty slow.

Since this is the first book in a series: Will I be continuing it? I'm not sure. I might. I kind of want to know more about this town and dive a little deeper into the lives of its inhabitants.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars!
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thank you to netgalley and kristen perrin for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.
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this book was really enjoyable from beginning to end.
i'm a huge cozy mystery reader from time to time and this was the perfect book to fill that need. it was super fast paced and just really enjoyable overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy of this book!

I listened to the audio version of this one. Both book and narrator were fantastic! It was so easy to get into this story and once I was in, I couldn't bear pressing pause.

I don't usually venture into this type of genre, but I absolutely will from now on. It was a great time, with a great mystery, and a great cast of characters. I can't wait to see what the main character gets up to next! - Posted to goodreads and storygraph.