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.

This is one of those books where so much is going on, you’re not sure what to make of it in the end.

The Author’s Guide to Murder is a collaboration between 3 authors: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. The book itself is about 3 female authors collaborating on a book… very meta. The book takes place in an atmospheric Scottish castle and is told in a multiple POV, nonlinear narrative.

I believe it is the authors’ intent for the book to be over the top in a comedic way, but perhaps this is a “too many cooks in the kitchen” situation. To keep track of such a large cast of characters, the compromise ends up being that all of them become one-dimensional. So even when serious topics are covered, it’s hard to care because it’s hard to feel invested in any of the MCs’ lives. The buildup to the murder is passable, but the climax of the reveal is just… confusing. I still can’t tell if I understand the whodunnit or how any of the characters ended up where they ended up in the first place.

Regardless of all that, I think this story would make for a much better movie than a novel. The setting is captivating and watching the characters onscreen might make them more entertaining than on the written page.

Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Author’s Guide to Murder is available everywhere now.

Unfortunately this one was not for me! I felt like it was very SATC coded. We had Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda and were just missing Carrie. I felt like this had a lot of promise but at the end of the day, it was a bit off for me!

This was a clever idea but it didn't work for me. The characters and the story felt disjointed to me. I felt like the pacing was off, the first 75% dragged and then the last 25% had a ton going on. 2.5 stars

A book about three author best friends writing a book together at a retreat in Scotland, written by three author besties, what could be more fun? Art imitates life, right? Well, hopefully not! The three don’t seem as close as they are pretending to be as they investigate the history of the castle and the death of its laird. The castle was leased by a popular author who offers writing retreats while working on his autobiography and preparing the castle to reopen as a tourist spot based on the former laird’s scandalous past. When said author is found dead, the authors become the center of the investigation and realize that they need to work together to find the true murderer.
Full of interesting characters, twists, and a remote Scottish Island, a fun story written by three author friends, each of whom writes one of the main characters: Emma, Kat, and Cassie. It’s fun to try and guess which author wrote which character. I have an idea, but I am not completely sure. An entertaining story, the ending and final twist were the cherry on top.
I love reading novels by each of the authors, and their collaborations are just as delightful. THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER isn’t their usual style, but just as pleasurable.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Didn't love this book, it seemed very disjointed. The concept was solid but the execution didn't work for me.

This is a fun female centered not quite cozy romantic mystery. Definitely fun to read and hits on all the issues of contemporary women. Wasn't thrilled with the ending, but I enjoyed the ride, which is what I was looking for.

Like Ocean's Eleven, "The Author's Guide to Murder" began with an all-star cast, and just like the movie, started off slowly, and at times, it felt a bit tedious. Then the pace picked up and it became hard to put the book down. I loved all the allusions (or at least the ones that registered). By the end, I was having as much fun as the authors. The only piece that was missing was a reference to the great Elizabeth Peters. Never fear, kind reader, my wish was fulfilled, as if the fates themselves had conspired in my favor.

This tongue-in-cheek murder mystery is a lot of fun, and the authors obviously had a lot of fun writing it together. Sending up many cozy mystery and romance tropes, the tale involves three female authors pretending to be best friends while attending a literary retreat in a remote part of Scotland. Each has a motive to wreak revenge on a slimy male bestselling author, also in attendance as the star of the show, who has done them all wrong. The novel has many a sly, humorous reference to the world of publishing, and the send-up of various literary types within that world is entertaining. The structure of the chapters, which alternate between police interviews in the present and action in the near past leading up to the murder, is effective in holding the reader's interest as the story progresses and the mismatched trio begin to form a real friendship. The narrative unfolds from the point of view each main character in turn, an effective device as the solution to the mystery is gradually revealed. The secondary characters are all pastiches of well-worn cozy mystery and romance stock characters, but with an edge. All in all, I found this a great light read.