The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams; Lauren Willig; Karen White was such a fun mystery.
This cozy mystery is loaded with humor, heart mystery and intrigue.
I was hooked from start to finish and couldn’t put it down—I devoured this in a day! Every twist, every quirk kept me guessing, and by the end, I just wanted more. A captivating read from the first page to the last!

The Author’s Guide to Murder is about three female authors - Cassie, Emma, and Kat - who travel to Kinloch Castle on a small island in Scotland under the pretense of writing a joint novel, but their true plan is exacting revenge on Brett Saffron Presley - the bestselling author who hosts writing retreats at the castle. When Brett ends up dead, the three women band together to clear their names and find out what really happened.

Unfortunately this fell flat for me. The tone was a little disjointed - juxtaposing cheesy humor and serious themes; it was a weird combo that didn’t really work for me. I also thought I’d be getting into a whodunnit mystery story, maybe something akin to Murder She Wrote with three female writers leading the narrative, but it was actually more of a romance. It felt like the majority of the book was fixated on talking about sex and relationships, and by the time the end rolled around it was like “oh yeah by the way, here’s the solution to that mystery we mentioned in Chapter 1”. Honestly after the first few chapters, not much happens to move the plot along and it’s a bit of a slog in the middle. The last 20-ish percent is pretty wild - really not much else to say; if you make it to the end you’ll see what I mean.

Thanks very much to Netgalley and William Morrow for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Beatriz Williams; Lauren Willig; Karen White for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Author's Guide to Murder coming out November 5, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I thought this was an interesting concept. I really love murder mysteries. I enjoy when the main characters is an author. Since there were three different authors for this book, the plot sometimes felt like it was going in three different directions. It was nice that they were different characters, but I think things felt a little disconnected, especially towards the end. I would check out other books by these authors though.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

Here’s an idea for a plot: What if three authors write a book about three authors writing a book? What if the book is set in a drafty Scottish castle with a long unsolved murder mystery surrounding a rakish laird with a reputation for being a prolific, if slightly kinky, womanizer? What if the book starts with an actual dead body in said castle? What if the official investigating the dead body has little patience dealing with witnesses whose expertise is writing fiction? And what if we throw in a sheep because, why not? Oh, yes, this cozy mystery is a parody of a cozy mystery and it is F U N.

Books that poke fun of themselves are a particular delight and THE AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO MURDER does this exceptionally well. The three authors are wonderfully stereotyped - one churns out book after book and series after series, the second is a perfect-to-a-fault detail obsessed writer of historical fiction, and the third writes books with enough spice to make a brothel madame blush. All three are struggling to find their next great book when their editor suggests they collaborate and sends them to Scotland to work together. Instant work besties … except what ensues is mayhem and maybe murder.

This is the kind of book you curl up with on a crisp fall weekend and then find yourself giggling out loud at the ridiculousness of some of the characters’s antics and scenarios. It started out slowly for me and I did not immediately love the main characters, but once I was hooked, I was completely enthralled. And I loved that they broke the Fourth Wall.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

A hilarious romp across a small-town Scotland solving a mystery with your best friends! It’s like “Clue” mixed with Girls Trip and whisky. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a fun mystery to solve!

There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead—under bizarre circumstances—in the castle tower’s book-lined study. The three suspects are…Kat de Noir, a slinky erotica writer; Cassie Pringle, a Southern mom of six juggling multiple cozy mystery series; and Emma Endicott, a New England blue blood and author of critically acclaimed historical fiction.

Now this is not your usual “3 W’s” book. This is pretty humorous in places. I especially liked the police interviews in the first half of the book. Several of these made me laugh out loud.

Then, there are the characters. Now, I was not a big fan of any of them until towards the end, and by then, I loved them all. Their friendship and their banter will have you grinning!

Add all this together with the wonderful setting of Scotland and you have a pretty enjoyable read.

Need a quick, fun read about murder…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

What if Joanna Fluke, Sarah J Maas, and Phillipa Gregory had been hurt by the same man? And they went on a girls trip to rural Scotland to do something about it?

What an absolutely charming book! Written with so much love for authors, genre fiction, and the tropes associated. Every unbelievable twist added more charm, knowingly being unrealistic and tongue in cheek. Clearly written with a lot of care, humor, and experience.

This book has too many cooks in the kitchen, too many plot points it's trying to keep spinning, and too many genres it's trying to keep a toehold in. All three of the main characters are unbearable in their own way, and while the attempt to keep their chapters in a similar style to the mystery genres they write is good in theory, it's a LOT in practice. There's also a lot of what feels like inside jokes between its main writers here that just don't translate to actual humor as a reader not familiar with any of their solo work, and it meant that I felt like I was doing a lot of skimming towards the end as the main plot points felt more and more telegraphed/obvious.

Thank you UplitReads, Karen White, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and William Morrow for my #gifted copy of The Author’s Guide to Murder! #theauthorsguidetomurder #teamw #uplitreads #uplitreadscampaign

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐳 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

I always am so intrigued when I read a book written by two authors and the amount of coordination that goes into that process. But a book written by three authors? How cool is that! I smiled ear to ear reading the Author’s Note at the end of the book, and how this whole idea got set into motion (and what it was almost titled)!

This book had a little bit of everything. I loved how it blended cozy mystery and romance together and had a whodunnit vibes too. There was a lot of humor throughout the book, and you could tell the authors had so much fun writing this one! It was told in a three POVs, which worked so well for this book. I loved the three perspectives and felt like it made the book flow so well. It did take me a little bit of time to get into the plot, but once I did, I was hooked. If you enjoy a locked room mystery, this is one you will not want to miss!

Posted on Goodreads on November 4, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around November 5, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on November 5, 2024
**-will post on designated date

International bestselling author Brett Saffron Presley is hosting three fellow authors at Kinloch Castle in Scotland. The visitors plan to write a book together for the first time, each bringing their different skills to the partnership. New Englander Emma Endicott writes historical novels. Cassie Parsons, a mother of six from the South, writes cozy mysteries. Kat de Noir, known for her erotic fantasy books, completes the trio. Despite pretending to be close friends, the reality is that they hardly know each other and don't particularly like one another. When Brett is murdered, the American authors become the primary suspects. As Detective Chief Inspector Euan Macintosh investigates the crime, it becomes evident that the women are not telling the truth. They decide that the only way to clear their names is to band together and solve the murder themselves.

Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White must have had a great time writing The Author's Guide to Murder. While their previous collaborations were terrific historical fiction, this book is different. It is a blend of cozy murder mystery with satire. The real-life authors, who are great friends, poke fun at their writing styles and one another. This novel offers a light and fun read that will particularly delight fans of "the three W's".

This book is a hoot! It playfully pokes fun at mysteries and romances, hunky Scotsmen and their kilts, plaid crazy Americans, romance tropes, a serious DCI, even an unfortunate death. Or is it murder? Is Beatrice the sheep a witness? Lots of Easter eggs to smirk at. And are pantaboots a thing?

I was so excited to read another book by the 3Ws and couldn't wait to dive into their newest novel. Unfortunately for me, I was just not able to make a connection with the characters or become involved in the plot. It seemed a little too contrived to me and I just kept getting the characters mixed up. I am sure it was just me since these are three of my favorite authors and I am certain this book will resonate with other readers. It just wasn't to my tastes this time.

Three authors are collaborating on a book writing about three authors collaborating on a book: highly entertaining!

Three American writers, Emma (historical novels), Cassie (cozies), and Kat (urban fantasy), decide to go to a Scottish castle on a small island to write a book about an unsolved murder that happened there 100+ years ago. While there, the well-known author Brett Saffron Presley, who runs workshops in the castle, is murdered. As outsiders, the writers become the primary suspects (I loved the interviews with Detective Chief Inspector Macintosh; they were a total hoot!).  It also turns out all three writers had past encounters with Brett. Together, they take on the investigation and stumble upon so much fun that you will laugh out loud.  Each one is so overdone that they're nearly a caricature, and it's hilarious. I loved the tropes and the over-the-top plot lines. This book is poking fun at itself

I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Author's Guide to Murder
By Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, & Karen White
Publication Date: November 5, 2024
Publisher: William Morrow

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

The Author's Guide to Murder is a cozy mystery set during a writer's retreat in a castle in Scotland -- it is the perfect fun read to keep you company as you snuggle up on a chilly autumn afternoon, under a cozy blanket on the couch.

Told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of the three female authors who are the main characters of this story, this book immediately drew me into its whodunnit murder mystery! Emma, Kat, and Cassie were all such lovably endearing characters, and their unique personalities and antics throughout the story made me laugh aloud. The whole host of supporting characters in this one, as well as the Scottish town in which the entire novel takes place, had me itching to visit this place and become a part of its history myself.

There was a warmth in this story that radiated from its pages. I loved the historical rumors and stories associated with the castle -- and the way these fictional authors unpacked all the secrets of the castle's history as they tried to prove none of them were the real suspects in this whodunnit mystery.

I could really tell that these three authors had SUCH a fun time collaborating in the creation of this story -- and it made the read even more enjoyable! This book will be loved by anyone who loves cozy mysteries, whodunnit storylines, strong female characters, multiple POVs, or remote settings that feel like they're a warm character of the story themselves. A big thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and these three authors themselves for the gifted advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

#TheAuthorsGuideToMurder #BeatrizWilliams #LaurenWillig #KarenWhite #WilliamMorrow #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #cozymysteries #whodunnitmystery #booklovers #bookaddict #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

This book was okay. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but it felt like there were scenes and dialogue that was added solely to "fluff" the book, not really add to the storyline, plot, or anything else. It feels like the book is trying to be mysterious, but it doesn't really achieve that. I found myself frustrated at several parts because the authors (of this book) kept dragging out details, for instance, of the women's backstories while adding in details that didn't seem to advance or add to the story. Also, some of the writing did not feel authentic to how real people may act in similar situations. There were times it felt the characters were too calm or didn't ask the right questions or were easily distracted, and for me, it just didn't read well. I also think the title is a bit misleading and the ending was a bit flat. Lastly, the rotating characters each chapter felt like overkill.

Overall, I do give it a solid 2 stars because I did grow to enjoy the odd characters, the setting of the story, and there was a good premise to the plot. I just think it could have been flushed out a bit more.

This was a fun mystery, with lots of inside jokes for all mystery lovers. Loaded with both slapstick humor and heart wrenching emotion, I enjoyed myself tremendously. Each reader will connect with a different author, which may or may not coincide with your favorite type of mystery. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fun romp through the Scottish countryside - Murder - check, Romantic feelings - check, Questionable relationship with a sheep - check, Informative uses of poison - check. This was a delightful read.

This story started off a bit slow, but once you get past the initial deceit you find out that it is a wonderful mix of romance, thriller, mystery, drama, and humor. Funny, heartwarming, and frustrating all at once this one will keep you hooked until the end.

If you want to read a book written by three talented authors about three talented authors writing a book, you're in the right place! Kat, Cassie, and Emma convince their editor to let them go on a writing retreat in Scotland to write the perfect historical fiction erotic murder... or something like that. These besties (or are they?) head off to Castle Kinloch after winning the opportunity to be part of a retreat hosted by the famous author Brett Saffron Presley. Soon enough though, Brett is dead. The locals all focus on the three women that just came from America - and they all have their own dark secrets.

I think this was a fun book that was full satire of the "locked room" mystery and pokes fun at the three authors that were actually writing this book. I very much enjoy Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White and can see them in their characters. I would read other books by this trio and, now that I know there are a few that exist, I should get to that! Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow Publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book!

I found it a little hard to get into this book. The murder at the beginning set the stage well but I thought the early interview excerpts were confusing. Once the momentum picked up, I devoured it.