Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine gets a chance to solve a mystery in real life. What makes it even more fun is that it takes place during her ex-fiance’s wedding and eerily mirrors the plot of her own books.

This book was an amazing mix of cozy mystery and romcom! I loved how Kate was the perfect amateur sleuth, even though she’s a bestselling mystery author. The characters were funny, and some situations made me laugh out loud.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

She Doesn't Have a Clue is the perfect mix of a cozy mystery and a rom-com. If you like cozy mysteries but want a little more spice, this might be the read for you.

I really liked the banter between Kate and the hunky Australian himbo Jake. The back and forth between them was exquisite. The only problem I had with their relationship was that they failed to communivcate. But that is more of a me problem than a problem with the book.

It might be the funniest book that I have read this year. There were so many parts of this book that had be laughing out loud.

Normally I'm a sucker for a locked door mystery but this one fell a little flat for me. While there were plenty of suspects with ample motive to commit one or both murders I instantly knew who the murderer was after the first attempt. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the blame game being thrown around.

Overall if you're looking for a slightly spice cozy mystery this might be the book for you.

I was really exited to be granted an ARC for “She Doesn’t Have a Clue” because it has all of my favorite elements in a mystery - a posh destination wedding, a private island cut off from the outside world by bad weather, a spooky mansion, lots of family drama - with the added allure of a locked room mystery (another favorite), and romance! This book felt like it was tailor-made for me!

And I think a lot of this book worked quite well. The second chance romance between writer, Kate Valentine, and ex-surfer, Jake Hawkins, was super cute and surprisingly steamy! I also enjoyed Kate’s inner dialogue and how she would envision Loretta, the star of her detective series, handling certain sticky situations. Having an insider look at Kate’s writing process was a fun inclusion.

However, I did feel that the pace in the middle slowed down quite a bit. I also struggled with Kate’s lack of self confidence. She had good character growth by the end but I was very annoyed by how much everyone pushed her around for a lot of the novel. It was honestly hard to read sometimes for the second hand embarrassment over how badly she was treated and acted in response. I like flawed characters but Kate was pushing my tolerance with how messy she came across.

Finally, it felt like the book was more romance than mystery and a lot of the plot felt very rom-com like. I enjoyed it but I was expecting something more suspenseful and more of a mystery.

Overall I’d recommend “She Doesn’t Have a Clue” to anyone who’s looking for a different spin on the typical cozy mystery. Jenny Elder Moke is a new author for me and I’ll be checking out more of her works in the future!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A cute, cozy, romantic mystery. The banter and chemistry between Kate and Jake was perfection. The vibes were vibing and the spice was actually perfect.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

"She Doesn't Have a Clue" offers a fun blend of murder mystery and rom-com, set against the backdrop of a chaotic, high-profile wedding. The premise is intriguing, with Kate Valentine, a mystery writer, finding her own life mirroring her fiction.

The potential suspects are suitably shady, and the romantic tension between Kate and her past flame, Jake, is enjoyable. However, the pacing felt uneven, with moments dragging as I waited for Kate, a supposed expert in mysteries, to connect the dots. While the banter and romantic missteps were charming, I sometimes wished for a more proactive protagonist.

Sarah Mollo-Christensen's narration is a definite highlight, bringing the characters to life with distinct voices and capturing the tonal shifts seamlessly. Ultimately, the story was entertaining, but the slow burn of the mystery and some character inconsistencies kept it from reaching its full potential.

3 stars

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Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the arc.

It’s a cozy murder mystery rom com. A combo that was great at some parts and really didn’t make sense in others.

Like some other reviews have said I found this one to be slow. It took me several chapters to really get into the story and care about the characters. I got confused several times but the story within a story elements. I felt like there was a little too much going on at times.

Overall, I thought it was a good book though. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries this may be the book for you. The characters were likable and I definitely don’t expect the killer.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. I love an amateur detective and Kate is definitely an amateur. This plot was WILD but I kinda of loved it. This book was a great balance of murder mystery and romance. I like the banter between Jack and Kate. Even though there were a few open door scenes, you could easily skip them and still understood the plot.

Think the classic board game Clue combined with your favorite sleuthing mystery writer. She Doesn’t Have a Clue follows Kate Valentine, famous writer of the Loretta Starling Mystery series, as she is invited to her ex-fiancee’s wedding on the mysterious Hempstead Island. Kate runs into her old flame, Jake, while on the only ferry to the secluded island and is forced to share a tiny attic room with him. Things take a turn when events from Kate’s mystery books start happening in real life. It was weird enough to be invited to your ex’s wedding but now this! Kate puts on her sleuthing sweater and with the help of handsome Aussie Jake, will they find the person who is causing all of this chaos?

While the idea was fun and the characters were quirky, I had trouble keeping track of all that was happening and how people were related or connected. I enjoyed the murder mystery and did not expect the twists but keeping everything straight was a struggle. The miscommunication and growth in Kate’s character seemed forced and her changes felt too quick and all of a sudden. Because of this I rated it a 3.5/5.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in return for my authentic review.

I think I have a new favorite author guys, and the best part is that she's a local one!! She Doesn't Have a Clue is Jenny Elder Moke's adult debut and I couldn't have loved it more. It's a romance wrapped up in a cozy mystery and once I started, I knew immediately I would finish it in one day and I did. I loved the setting on a private island off the coast of Seattle (I literally just read another book set on a private island so that’s a theme), and I instantly fell in love with Kate and all of her quirks. The romance between Kate and Jake is quite hot, and there are a couple of rather spicy scenes in the book as well.

The audiobook is narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, and I have to say she did a fabulous job. She really brought Kate’s character across and her Australian accent for Jake was perfection. I would fully recommend the audiobook knowing that Mollo-Christensen made me love the book even more than had I read it because she was so perfect as the voice of these characters. I did not have the whodunnit figured out and loved that there were plenty of suspects and family drama. This brought to mind a game of Clue which is my favorite game, and I think it would be awesome to see onscreen!

Read this if you enjoy second chance romance, hidden rooms in a lavish location, and lots of characters!

My Spice Rating: 🌶🌶
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cozy mystery and romance combo? Yes please. Loved this book and perfect for the holiday season. Really enjoyed the FMC but felt the romance overall could use some work.

✨ Publication date: January 21, 2025✨

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a mystery rom-com by Jenny Elder Moke set on a private island off the Seattle coast.

Kate Valentine is the author of the popular Loretta Starling mystery novels. She mostly keeps to herself now and is surprised to have received an invite to her publishers (and ex-fiance) wedding.

Kate could never give up the opportunity to check out the elusive private island owned by the brides aunt. She packs a bag and very nearly misses the last boat out to the island before the weekend’s festivities.

Kate didn’t expect to stumble upon Jake Hawkins, the one that got away when she arrives on the island. As the weekend progresses, Kate finds herself in a real life who done it when the bride is poisoned.

Donning her Loretta Starling persona, Kate sets out to find out who is behind the poisoning and murder when she discovers a body. Kate and Jake work together while still trying to shake off their past missed opportunities. Is there a chance there might still be a future for them?

This was an interesting concept but fell pretty flat for me. The author didn’t do a great job of explaining past relationships and history. I actually checked a few times if this was a book in a series thinking I must have missed the set up for the second book.

I had a tough time feeling Jake and Kate’s chemistry because I felt like I was missing chunks of their history. The book was a quick read and had some wonderful quirky characters. This was a 3 star read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #jennyeldermoke #shedoesnthaveaclue

I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. It was giving me all the Mystery Incorporated/Scooby Doo vibes, but it didn't live up to the expectations I had for it. It wasn't a bad book my any means, it was still enjoyable at times. I just found it a bit difficult to get into because the setup of the book didn't clarify who everyone was and how their roles were pertinent throughout the book. The romance almost felt unnecessary and didn't add anything to the book in my opinion. All in all, this book just fell a bit flat for me, but from other reviews there were some people who enjoyed it so I'd still recommend it if you enjoy murder mystery type books.

Ever wondered what the game of Clue would be like if it were set in the publishing industry? Well, this book is your answer! Featuring crimes and murders pulled from the pages of the FMC's mystery novels, it provides a fun spin on the locked-room trope with an island setting, plenty of motives, and even a touch of romance.

While a little hard to settle into, I found my groove once the audiobook was available. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. At times, it felt like I was listening to an episode of Gilmore Girls. Kate, our FMC, has major Lorelai energy! If you enjoy witty banter, spicy scenes, and murder mysteries, then give this one a try.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
*She Doesn't Have a Clue* is a cozy mystery with a mix of humor and intrigue. While the story had its entertaining moments, it was a little too much of a slow burn for me, and I found myself wishing for a quicker pace. The mystery itself was decent, but the plot lacked suspense and didn’t fully hook me. That being said, if you enjoy slow-burning, lighthearted (rom-com) mysteries, this one would be worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Elder Moke, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is an enjoyable, lighthearted mystery with a charming premise and a solid dose of romance. If you’re in the mood for a murder mystery with a side of witty banter and romance, it’s worth a read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke!

I think I’ve fallen in love with cozy mysteries that have a romantic element to them. They just feel like the perfect escapist reads lately and I’m living for finding new ones!

Moke has created a great setting with our main character arriving at a secluded island to a massive property where her ex-boyfriend is getting married. Yep, all the drama is definitely inevitable from that start! I really loved how the house and property became so intricate to the plot.

There’s mystery and tension and romance all blended together in this story, which I think will make it appealing for a wide audience of readers. The characters are likable and complex enough for the reader to become invested in how things will turn out.

Fun, entertaining, and perfect popcorn reading!

I absolutely loved reading this book. Kate's character is relatable, funny, awkward, intelligent, frustrating, and fun. She starts of so strong with jumping on to the ferry that's leaving the dock. It's the perfect metaphor for who Kate is as a person and just how much of a whirlwind the upcoming wedding weekend and stay on Hempstead Island will be.
Everything about the murders, the clues, and sleuthing was so enticing. All the details and Kate's interactions with the other characters really draw you into the story and make you not want to put the book down.
I also love Kate with Jake so much. Watching them fumble their words (and clothes) trying to understand their feelings and the fear of losing each other. It was frustrating but very worth it watching them figure out how to communicate as a couple. So glad i was able to get an ARC from netgalley for this one!

2.5- 3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This story follows mystery author Kate who writes her own bestselling mysteries that attends a wedding on an island with a family who is all attending her ex boyfriend’s wedding to rich heiress Kennedy. Don’t forget to add in a super hot post injury surfer named Jake which the love interests in her famous Loretta mysteries is based after.

This poses a potential knives out tale without the mystery or suspense much involved. The exploration of the mansion was fun, but I found it quite odd how most of the characters seem wholly unaffected by the happenings this weekend. The pacing dragged for me at most times, despite it being an easy read. I had trouble connecting to the writing style overall.

It was a decent story overall, but I wouldn’t say it is a book you HAVE to try. It uses romance subplot, ex drama, and who—dunit family style prose.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press , Minotaur Books, and Jenny the author for this free e copy in exchange for my honest review!

A combination of a murder mystery dinner and the game clue. A story about a detective murder writer who was invited to a wedding on a secluded island where not only one of her exs shows up but two and one just so happens to be the groom to the women he cheated on her with. But that's not all there's an attempted murder and an actual murder of an heiress who just announced she's basically turning over the family fortune to a historical society.

I received this ARC from publishers via Netgalley
#Netgalley