This is marketed as an Agatha Christie-like and a literary satire and locked-room mystery, and it felt more like a cozy mystery comedy to me. There was nothing really WRONG with it, but it wasn't what I expected and not really my genre. It follows 3 authors (all POV characters) who are on a Scottish island for a writing retreat when the castle's laird turns up dead. As the investigation goes on, it's revealed that the authors each had their own connection to the dead man, and their own reasons for wanting him dead. 

I liked but didn't love 2 of the 3 POV characters, and found the portions about the writing and their careers to be the most interesting. I did feel like some of the elements of their pasts weren't handled as seriously as they should have been and didn't get as much page time as they were due. Overall I also thought it was a bit too long. Mostly it was a pretty good book that just wasn't for me, though. If you like cozy mystery books with a thread of goofy comedy and the idea of traveling to Scotland with writer friends, check this out. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Is it too meta for a trio of authors to write a book about a trio of authors forced together to write a book? Probably but it's a fun premise. Cassie writes cozy mysteries, Emma pens very thoroughly researched historical fiction, and Kat authors dark and steamy romantsies. They meet at a conference and decide to collaborate.

Introducing the characters through their police interviews was a clever way to show the different points of view as well as some of the backstory. But for me, it went on for too long and dragged things out too much. I figured out the hook and the twist and the motivations so I just wanted to get on with solving the mystery. The pacing in the second half was better. I liked the Scottish castle and the Kincloch village. The sheep jokes were perfectly dad-like. The ending was over-the-top in a 90s movie kind of way and the epilogue was a bit goofy but this book was lots of fun. Although this book takes place in the third week of December, there isn't any Christmas in this book.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this. #TheAuthorsGuidetoMurder #NetGalley

This was an interesting start but I didn't finish it before it expired. I liked the three main characters. I would likely pick it up once it's published. I think it's a fun premise.

Thank you Uplit Reads / William Morrow Books #partner, for the finished copy of The Author’s Guide to Murder in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of the 3 W’s collaborations since the beginning & this one was pure entertainment with a side of murder. It is escape reading at its best and I was all for it! If you’ve read any of their previous collaborations and seen them on tour, you might have heard about their origin story…it’s so funny & I loved seeing them incorporate it into this book! Read the author’s note if you are new to their work! ⁣
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This cozy is a locked-room mystery that grabbed me from the get-go & the whodunit vibes kept me guessing all the way through. As is typical with a 3W book, there are 3 POVs and I loved how distinct each one was. ⁣
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This is the type of book that will appeal to a wide range of audiences with its light-hearted, cozy vibes and also the darker themes it touches upon. And of course there’s even some romance…in a Scottish castle!

I DNF’d this book, not because it wasn’t interesting or the premise wasn’t intriguing, but because I don’t believe the Kindle version was the best medium for me personally. There are three perspectives here, but I had trouble keeping them straight. They didn’t feel as distinguishable as they could be on the page. I would prefer three distinct voices - all who can incorporate a Scottish accent. I think that would be the key to this novel.

I’m torn. It wasn’t necessarily a book I disliked, but it wasn’t what I wanted to read as it was marketed poorly. This wasn’t a locked room whodunnit, nor was it Agatha Christie adjacent, so I left feeling disappointed. I think this is more women’s fiction where someone happens to die.

For me it was disorienting to keep spelling out the accents, and bothered me an unnecessary amount that there was a recurring plot point of Scottish people not knowing what a cupcake was/what Disney was in 2022.

I do think it’s very cute that the authors inserted their own names into the novel for animals or for “Karen Black” being a famous novelist.

Unbelievable in the wrong ways, this collaboration fell flat for me. Set in a picturesque setting with sassy, enjoyable characters, it was just way too far-fetched to be enjoyable as a whodunit.

It was not a good fit for me. It was too over-the-top with stereotypical characters, and it was difficult to remember which author was which. I tried both the audio and print versions and didn't enjoy the experience. Many friends have raved about it, so I'm an outlier.

I love all these authors, but when they write together it’s extra special, Their latest collaboration has 3 writers attending a writer’s retreat at a castle in Scotland to draft their latest book. Kat de Noir writes erotica fiction, Cassie Pringle writes cozy mysteries, and Emma Endicott writes historical fiction, but all 3 have a beef with the leader of the retreat, the insufferable but wildly successful author Brett Saffron Presley. When the host of the event turns up dead, the ladies realize to save their necks, they need to put their differences aside and solve the murder rather than waiting on the local authorities to clear them from any part in it.

I really enjoyed this one from these authors. Much of the story is drawn upon their own experiences and books, so there are Easter eggs throughout the book for readers who are familiar with them. A light-hearted funny romp through Scotland with many bad sheep jokes thrown in, pick this one up for a delightful murder mystery with clever writing and fun characters. I was fortunate to meet these authors recently at their book tour for this one, and if you ever get a chance to see the 3 in person, I highly recommend. Together they are a force and so funny! Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book; all opinions are my own. And I did purchase a copy of the final book too!

DNF. I liked the concept of this book, but I just couldn't get into it. It is also not at all like an Agatha Christie locked-room mystery.
The characters are irritating and are really just too much like caricatures of their personalities. I understand that this book is set in Scotland and the authors were trying to 'show' the accent in their writing, but adding twelve r's to a word just makes it unreadable. I've read so many other series set in Scotland who've incorporated the Scottish terms and made it work so much more. I rarely DNF, but I just couldn't keep going with this one.

This book was not for me. While I've enjoyed works by each of the authors on their own. The opening with the whole erotica element of the book just did not work for me.

3.5 stars

I was really excited for this book, but it really wasn't my vibe.

Usually I'm ok with multiple POVs, but this was a bit confusing to me. I also didn't really feel connected to any of the characters or the plot until like 60% of the way in. I think this book could have done with the reveal of the main connection between the three woman in the beginning - that would have grabbed my attention more.

The romance portion of the story was also a bit disappointing. It felt rushed and I couldn't root for any of the couples - and i love rooting for a couple to make it!

Overall, I did like the message of the book and not gonna lie, the last 20% was sooo action-packed and I was on the edge of my SEAT. However, this doesnt change the fact that I was kinda confused and bored 80% of the book 🫣

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this earc in exchange for my honest review!

The Author’s Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White offers a delightful blend of mystery and wit. I love that three authors wrote a book about three authors writing a book, and the collaborative storytelling delivers charming dialogue, immersing readers in its atmospheric setting. The plot, centered around three authors entwined in a murder investigation, is engaging and layered with clever twists.

I loved the setting of a castle in Scotland, and the quaint village it’s set in. Everyone knows everyone in this small town, until our three protagonists arrive from the US. I found all three ladies unlikeable and over the top. As the book progressed, they do get better though, but for the first half I found them rather insufferable.

The first half of the book is a slow burn, and I struggled to relate to the main characters. The second half almost felt like a different book as the characters become more likable and the pace picks up. I liked how the plot came together, and we see why these ladies were really there and each of their connections with the murder victim. I found the ending satisfying and enjoyed how it all came together in the end.

If you’re looking for a witty mystery set in a Scottish castle, with a little romance thrown in, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to the authors, Uplit Reads, William Morrow, and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Such a fun read! Three authors travel to a remote Scottish island to research the book they plan to write about the historic murder in the island. Only shortly after they arrive, the current occupant of the historic castle is murdered, and our authors are among the suspects.

This is a fun locked room style mystery with lovely twists. A fun note is that it was written by 3 authors and flows seamlessly. The story is largely td through our authors' statements to the local police. The 3 female authors are well developed with engaging backstories. The mystery is complex and engaging. It unfolds beautifully!

I loved this book and would love to read more with these characters.

A quick, fun book that also approached some heavy topics (though not too close).

This was a fun read, with a very straight forward mystery. There were enough callbacks to popular mystery novels and tropes that made this fun for frequent readers of the genre. There were times that I felt like there were too many cooks in the kitchen with this one (such as a few one dimensional characters and dropped plot threads), but the writing was solid enough to create a binge worthy mystery. The three main characters were dynamic enough to be set apart from each other. The ending was a bit rushed, and there was some very forced "where-did-that-come-from" romances, but overall, a good mystery read.

The Author's Guide to Murder was a fine read. At times it was inconsistent (understandable given the three different authors) and can't be taken very seriously but a fun time nonetheless.

3.5 rounded down

Three (author) friends. On location in Scotland. Writing a book together. Add in some local flair, characters and a murder and you have An Author’s Guide To Murder.

Overall a fine book that started and ended strong. There were sections in the middle that drug a but and were more difficult to get through. However, still charming and interesting, too.

Advanced reader copy provided by William Morrow and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This was an amazing book. I knew this book was going to be up my alley, but I was not prepared for just how perfect this book is for me. It’s absolutely loaded with inside jokes about mystery publishing but it’s also a very solidly constructed mystery with a nice social justice layer to it. Highly recommended!

The Author's Guide to Murder is a charming and suspenseful mystery that blends historical fiction with a contemporary whodunit. Set at a writer’s retreat on Long Island, the story alternates between two timelines: one focused on a murder at the retreat and the other on a modern-day true-crime enthusiast determined to uncover the truth.

The book shines with its engaging characters and witty writing, offering a mix of suspense, literary references, and cozy mystery vibes. The pacing is quick, and the plot is filled with enough twists to keep readers guessing. Though not overly groundbreaking, the novel is a fun, lighthearted read perfect for fans of literary mysteries.

The Author’s Guide to Murder is an entertaining, often humorous read. Set in Scotland, it combines local flavor with an intriguing murder mystery.

Authors Kat, Cassie, and Emma travel to Castle Kinloch in Scotland to attend a writers’ retreat hosted by Brett Saffron Presley (often referred to as BSP). Their plan to join forces to write a book is temporarily derailed when BSP is murdered. Local law enforcement, in the person of DCI Macintosh, is faced with a number of suspects, including Kat, Cassie, and Emma. In attempting to clear their names, the writers soon discover that a wide variety of people had reason to want BSP dead. But who actually is the culprit?

Although this is billed as a “cozy” mystery, it seems to have strayed from true cozy territory. While there is a quaint village, a group of dedicated and amiable friends, and a murder that for the most part takes place off stage, the book has a lot more romance and sexual innuendo than the typical cozy. That said, the primary focus is the mystery, and it is a good one, with sufficient twists and turns to keep readers turning the pages. The ending solves the mystery, but with the added romance element feels as much like an HEA as the resolution of a mystery novel. If you like a good dose of romance with your mystery, this will definitely appeal.

Another thing that works really well is the use of the three separate narrators. Often, multiple narrators render each of them unreliable, but that is not the case here. Kat, Cassie, and Emma alternate chapters, bringing a fresh perspective to both the story and the evidence.

All told, The Author’s Guide to Murder is an enjoyable journey into the Scottish Highlands, told with mystery, romance and humor. I’m not sure if this will be made into a series, but if it were, I would read the next book.

Note: I received an ARC of The Author’s Guide to Murder from NetGalley and William Morrow. The above is my honest review.