Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, I had to DNF. I have enjoyed Beatiz Williams books in the past, but this book did not hook my interest. I did not like the female characters, so I chose not to finish it.

The Author's Guide to Murder tells the story of 3 authors (Cassie, Emma and Kat), who venture to the tiny remote island of Kinloch for research for the book they are writing together called Fifty Shades of Plaid based on the story of Naughty Ned.

Cassie is a mother of six who is having marital problems, stress bakes and is a cozy murder mystery writer. Emma writes historical fiction, would describe her as a walking google and loves to fact check everything. Kat is an erotica writer and is a tough nut to crack.

I am going to be honest when I saw this book had 3 writers I was a bit concerned about the fluidity and that I might not enjoy it, however I was so wrong this book did flow and I loved each character and the way they were portrayed. I think the authors did a great job with the fine line between making the book light hearted and discussing heavy topics. I usually do not read about the authors but I made an exception this time as I wanted to know how they came about writing this book together and I loved part of the real story actually made it onto the book.

Overall, I found this book to be fun, even if towards the middle I thought it could be a bit shorter, however the story then picked up again. I am not going to lie I was a fan of the sheep humour and I also shred a tear or two while reading some chapters.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Williams, Willig and White but I will definitely be going back to read their earlier books. I loved how this was a book by author friends about author friends. The book had a little bit of everything- romance, mystery, humor, suspense. It was such a delight to read!

e-ARC from NetGalley.
Three best friends attend a writing retreat in the hopes of writing a book together. Only the host of the retreat is murdered, and the women aren't actually friends, and they all had a reason to want him dead.

As an exploration of feminine rage, this novel excelled. We follow three very different protagonists - sexpot Kat, avid historian Emma, and motherly Cassie - and discover that, despite their differences, they have rather more in common than what might expect: including the desire for revenge and the fear of one predatory man.

This story had a strong focus on misogyny and sexual violence - explored in both the past and present. Historically, the site of this retreat had been home to a cruel laird who took pleasure in the torturous "deflowering" of brides-to-be with the use of myriad devices and the participation of his friends. Until he was murdered by an unknown individual, thus ending his reign of terror. Drawn to the dark history and his desire to celebrate - even repeat - it, the host of the retreat was equally predatory: preying upon aspiring authors to fulfill his twisted sexual fantasies.

While the novel seemed to stretch certain aspects rather longer than necessary, it's impossible to deny its fullness of heart. The almost rallying cry for justice as echoed by those who hear its call. The reminder that none of this is normal. The victim is never at fault. Normal people don't do that.

And the ending. Over the top. Borderline hilarious at times. Producing reveal after reveal and twist after twist. Each discovery more satisfying than the last, undoing everything you'd structured around the previous circumstance and culprit, until the way it happened didn't matter anymore, everyone was just glad he was dead.

And, despite it all? At its heart, this is a cozy mystery.

I had no idea what to expect when i started this book. I enjoyed the murder mystery aspect. A lot of the plot twists were not surprising but very entertaining. I enjoyed watching each of the girls grow and come to terms with what appended in their past. I also enjoyed how the friendship slowly grew.

The Author's Guide to Murder is an intriguing blend of gothic atmosphere, literary satire, and classic whodunit. Set in Scotland, the book starts off with the murder of author "superstar" Brett Saffron Presley in his own castle. The setting of the castle on an island adds a wonderfully spooky backdrop to the drama.

Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a no-nonsense local with a disdain for literary Americans, is tasked with unraveling the mystery. The prime suspects are 3 American authors: Kat de Noir, the sultry writer; Cassie Pringle, the Southern mom and mystery author; and Emma Endicott, the buttoned up New Englander known for her historical fiction. Their conflicting stories and suspicious behavior keep the reader guessing about their true motives and connections to the victim.

The book offers humorous commentary on the quirks and rivalries among writers. The dynamic between the three authors is particularly engaging, showcasing unexpected friendships and tensions. Overall it's a fun read, good for fans of silly murder mysteries. The ending was a bit contrived, but it was a good read nonetheless.

🖊️ The Author’s Guide to Murder - Lauren Willig, Beatriz Williams, Karen White

3 ⭐️ - Ugh I wanted to like this more. I’m a huge fan of this trio, I’m a fan of murder mysteries, and it has one of my favorite audiobook narrators, but unfortunately this just didn’t do it for me. I *liked* the storyline, I liked the multiple POVs and I liked how it was a book about 3 authors by 3 authors. It was just SO long. It definitely could have been cut down. I found my mind wandering and not quite caring what I missed. WHICH made me sad, because again, I love this trio.

I think it’s worth a try if you like these three, and hey, you may like it more than I did. I may not have been in the right mindset for this but meh.

If you love a good locked room mystery, this is definitely one to check out. While it certainly has great elements of mystery and suspense, it's also quite funny and had me laughing out loud at parts.

I love when these three authors team up. Each of them are phenomenal writers on their own, and when they write together, it's an absolute powerhouse of a combination.

I recommend adding #TheAuthorsGuideToMurder to your TBR list!
Thank you William Morrow, NetGalley, and UpLit Reads for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Audience: Adult
Plot: 3.5 out of 5
Characters: 3.5 out of 5
Spice: 0 out of 5
Keywords: Women authors, Murder, Mystery, Scotland, Whodunnit
Tea Pairing: Scottish Morning by Harney & Sons

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from HarperCollinsPublishers. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

Author’s Guide to Murder is a murder mystery set on the island of Kinloch, Scotland. Three authors, Cassie, Kat, and Emma, have all traveled to join a writer’s retreat hosted by the famous Brett Saffron Presley (BSP). Wanting to write a novel together, the ladies find their inspiration all throughout Castle Kinloch. But could their motivations be more than just Scottish history and legend? When BSP winds up dead, DCI Macintosh is on the case. But so are Cassie, Kat, and Emma, and they put their collective knowledge and skills to the test in this whodunnit novel.

This novel is told in three POVs – Cassie, Kat, and Emma, and their perspectives really told a lot about their personalities and characters. The novel is divided into two parts – the time before the murder, and the time after. I felt that the inclusion of investigation transcripts in Part 1 was essential in setting up the novel as a whole. Additionally, it provided necessary insight which was very helpful in Part 2. I enjoyed how the three ladies went about the island, researching, snooping about, and forming a strong friendship over the entire experience.

The Author’s Guide to Murder was written by three authors. In the author’s note, the way Emma, Cassie, and Kat met at a writer’s conference is inspired by actual events. I really like how the authors incorporated this into the main plot of the story. Overall, this is a very entertaining read, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries with strong female characters. Our library has already purchased copies as part of their 2025 book club lineup, so this novel is definitely worth checking out.

Williams, White and Willig are always a delight, and this funny sendup of writers and whodunits is no exception. Fans of classic mysteries will relish this, and a very cute gift for all writers and book-lovers.

The premise of the book was interesting, but I feel like it tried to do too much (and also not enough, if that makes sense). The characters fell flat for me, but it was still an overall enjoyable read.

I was looking forward to this book but I feel it fell a little flat. The characters didn't grab me and the side characters were hard to differentiate in between. I felt the plot drug a little bit. It took me way to long to read this book and I considered DNFing. Not being able to get wrapped up in the plot and finish this book quickly hinder my ability to like this book because the gaps in between reading made it hard to follow the small threads of mystery. The last 20% picked up the pace and it was easier to finish but didn't feel like a big twist.


Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers for the chance to read the book for review.

The Author’s Guide to Murder follows three American authors who come together to collaborate on a novel.
This novel is very entertaining. I just loved it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for a chance to read and review the eARC.

THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White is a LibraryReads selection for November, but I did not care for it and frankly stopped reading. That is unusual because I have read and enjoyed novels by each of these authors, and have praised their past collaborations like The Lost Summers of Newport or All the Ways We Said Goodbye. Sadly, THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER felt like each may have been trying to be more outlandish than the other, resulting in a novel that features a barely clad murder victim who curated a museum filled with Edwardian sex toys. In its starred review, Library Journal said, "a fun send-up of the publishing industry .... Readers who recognize and like satire will enjoy." Guess readers have to be in the mood.

A murder in the Scottish Highlands. 3 very different American writers as susoects. One dead unlikeable writer and a long list of suspects.

What a fun romp on a Scottish island!
I haven’t had the pleasure of reading a book written by multiple authors about multiple authors trying to solve a murder!
This book had a little bit of everything to keep me entertained. A mystery with a bit or romance. Back stories for all the characters and a satisfying conclusion.
All in all, bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital ARC.

What a terrific escapist read! The book combines a whodunit with a revenge plot, a touch of romance, and plenty of sass. Did I have to suspend some belief? Yes, but that's precisely what makes escapist reading so enjoyable.

Three American authors fake a best friendship and co-authorship of a new novel to gain entry to a prestigious writing retreat in Scotland. However, when the host is found dead, the authors quickly find themselves as prime suspects in the investigation.

I loved the personalities of our authors. Kat, our erotica fantasy writer, commands attention with her witty humor and her over-the-top sex kitten persona, complete with eye-catching pantaboots. Emma, our historical fiction expert, excels at unearthing the past, and when emotions run high, she entertains us by singing the wrong lyrics. Lastly, Cassie, our cozy mystery writer, boasts an impressive knowledge of poisons and channels her nerves into baking delightful sweets at the castle.

I am genuinely impressed by the book's lighthearted, almost cozy mystery vibe, especially given some darker themes (please reference trigger warnings on SG). I thoroughly enjoyed how the authors unraveled the secrets within the walls of Castle Kinloch, allowing them to bond and ultimately become friends.

Other highlights: Literary references, isolated Scottish island, gothic castle, interesting side characters

Given that I've enjoyed these author's individually, I shouldn't be surprised how much I loved 'The Author's Guide to Murder' so much. It's a fun, closed door murder mystery on a remote Scottish Island, filled with sheep, plaid, lairds, and more sheep. This book is hilarious. I had so much fun trying to guess how much of themselves the authors were putting into the book, and really appreciated the continual commentary on the modern publishing industry.

Thank you to Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White, and William Morrow for the ARC of 'The Author's Guide to Murder' in exchange for an honest review.

I had such a great time reading this book! The setting of Castle Kinloch, with its gothic vibe and remote Scottish location, created such an intriguing backdrop for the mystery. The murder of famous writer Brett Saffron Presley really pulls you in, and the fact that the suspects are three very different American authors makes the whole thing even more interesting.

I absolutely loved the trio of Kat, Cassie, and Emma. They each have their own unique personalities—Kat, the sultry erotica writer; Cassie, the Southern mom of six juggling cozy mysteries; and Emma, the meticulous historical fiction author. Despite their differences, they form such an interesting and often hilarious bond. I think Emma was my favorite, but honestly, all three characters were so enjoyable to read. I especially appreciated the witty discussions about writing and the hilarious commentary on their genres.

The mystery itself was solid and kept me guessing. I really liked how the book blended the murder with the history of the castle and the old unsolved crime. It kept me on my toes! The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is that I felt the epilogue could’ve been a little more fleshed out—it left me wanting just a bit more closure.

This book was a great mix of cozy mystery, humor, and a bit of suspense. If you love stories set in Scotland or enjoy books about the publishing world, this would definitely be a great pick!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is quite an intriguing and entertaining mystery about three mystery authors invited by the owner of a Scottish castle, to collaborate and write a mystery novel! When a murder is committed shortly after they arrive, they find themselves being interrogated as possible suspects. The three barely knew each other on arrival but soon realize they will need to work together to actually solve the murder, rather than to write a mystery novel. Unable to leave while the investigation proceeds, the three uncover long buried secrets swirling around the estate and its owners and discover that all three of them have been victimized by the castle's owner in the past. Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White have written a complex mystery, with unexpected twists, with a focus on the exploitation of women, past and present. As the friendship of Kat, Cassie, and Emma grow, they find strength in each other and use their mystery author's expertise to investigate! This is a locked "castle" mystery with a gothic feel, at times chilling, but with a touch of humor, and a little romance that is centered on the strength of women's friendships! I enjoyed the book! Thank you to the authors, publishers, and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of my review are my own.