This book is a debut novel that has bits and pieces of several genres in it and amazingly they all fit together to make this an interesting and fun read. It takes place on a secluded island so it's kind of a locked room mystery, the heroine is thrown together with a past love which makes it a second chance romance plus the main character is trying to solve a crime even though her only knowledge comes from the mystery books that she writes. Along with all of that, there is plenty of humor plus lots of quirky people on the island. The crime was difficult for this reader to solve but the ride to the end was fun and full of red herrings.

Kate Valentine is a bestselling mystery writer. When she is invited to her ex-fiancé's wedding on a secluded island, she's very surprised but decides to go to prove that she is over him. Once she gets there, she's surprised to see Jake - a man from her past. The action starts almost as soon as Kate arrives on the island when someone tries to kill the bride to be. Since the methods used mirror Kate's mystery novels, she is a prime suspect. So Kate and Jake work together to prove that she is not the murderer. One interesting thing about Kate is that as soon as she gets into any situation, her mind goes to the heroine in her murder mystery books and she rewrites the scene in her mind to fit her books. Kate isn't a fantastic investigator because every clue points her to a different person and in her mind she finds them guilty.

I found this book very interesting and well written. In my opinion there were too many sub-plots that all pointed to different people as the murderer. I had trouble keeping up with all of the guests plus the staff at the mansion and had some trouble keeping people connected to their background. Overall it was a fun story to read - both as a romance and a mystery. Kate was a great main character and had a very active imagination that put her in some difficult situations and some funny situations in her life as she tried to solve the crime. It was an interesting blend of romance and suspense with a large dose of humor.

Eh…. Was not a huge fan of this one.

With all the mixed genres it fell short and was a difficult read for me. Also her being unable to separate herself from Loretta was just … and the story within the story which is a mystery - romance - idk was just too much. I skimmed the whole book.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC!

This was a mystery/romantic comedy combo. I felt like the mystery portion of the book was definitely on point for a locked-room mystery. There was the secluded island, a storm, and a dead body and tons of family drama.

The romance portion of this book just didn't work for me. It went from a 2 to 10 instantly and was almost cringe-like in all the romance scenes. So, unfortunately that didn't work well for me at all and definitely has affected my reasoning for the rating of 3 stars that I'm giving it.

Overall, I did enjoy a lot of the book though and just let it be a fun read for me.

My reviews can also be found on GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/brandisbooks.

Expected Release Date - January 21st 2025.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I LOVED this book!! Jenny Elder Moke does such a great job weaving an intriguing story that readers will fall in love with like I did!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance books!!

I’ve DNF’d two books since joining Goodreads on 1/1/2021 and sadly this is number three. (DNF at 35%.) The blurb described the book as half mystery and half romance, but in my opinion, this is a straight cozy and I loathe cozies. Please just market your book for what it is and let it fall into the hands of the appropriate readers. 😑 For me, the story within a story element was cheesy and at times, confusing. (Perhaps this is an arc issue, because the FMC is an author who writes mysteries and the story would go from real life to a scene in her book mirroring that real life scene literally from one paragraph to the next, which was confusing.) I thought the book was trying too hard to be fun and campy with a quirky cast of characters. My biggest annoyance though was the FMC herself having been written as ditzy and bumbling. Ugh. I honestly debate a DNF until I’m so far into a book that I may as well finish 😂, but this was a no brainer for me. Again, this may not be a bad book, but it wasn’t a romantic mystery and claiming it as anything other than a cozy put it in the hands of this reader who was guaranteed to hate it as a result. 🤷🏻‍♀️

My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 1/21/2025.

Thank you Minotaur Books for my #gifted copy of She Doesn’t Have a Clue! #SheDoesntHaveAClue #minotaurbooks #JennyElderMoke

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐤𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is the adult debut by author Jenny Elder Moke. This was part mystery, part romance and equal parts fun! It was quickly paced and one I did not want to put down once I started. Kate was such a fun main character!

Bestselling author Kate Valentine reluctantly agrees to attend the wedding of her ex-fiancé, but when the bride is poisoned, she feels like she’s in a real life mystery, similar to her latest novel. The only person willing to help Kate catch the murderer Jake, her biggest romantic regret. With lots of guests in attendance and wine flowing, anyone could be capable of murder. The problem, is, Kate doesn’t have a clue who actually murdered the bride.

🔦Cozy Mystery
🔦Part Mystery, Part Romance
🔦Second Chances
🔦Destination Wedding
🔦Locked-Room Mystery
🔦Whodunit

Posted on Goodreads on January 18, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around January 18, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on January 21, 2025
**-will post on designated date

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book and I was delightfully surprised. I loved the premise of this book, the mystery, the romance, the side characters, and the setting. I truly was shocked at some of the twists! If you enjoy romance and mysteries this is a great one!

A romance/mystery mash up, this story had me kicking my feet and turning the pages fast all at once. A pure delight!

Bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding on a tiny private island. The groom is also her editor, so she planned to complete a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, the bride is poisoned and Kate finds a dead body that echoes her latest novel. The only person willing to help Kate is her former lover Jake Hawkins. The two uncover bitter resentments and grudges in the guests, making it seem like any of them could be the murderer. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

I really enjoyed Kate's voice from the start. We get her thought process as she tries to craft another mystery novel and even snippets of what she writes before she realizes it doesn't jive with what she wrote in prior novels. There is clearly some kind of chemistry when she and Jake meet as the boat leaves for the island; the image of her heaving her luggage aboard and making a run for it is hilarious and gives us a sense of Kate as a person. She's all in and doesn't think ahead far enough, and Jake is there to catch her.

The entire novel takes place over a wedding weekend, but the pace fits. Kate bounces from one clue to the next, even as she's accused of harming the bride and wanting her ex back. On top of that is the attraction to Jake that never went away, a book she needs to write, the other authors at the publisher protesting, and the threat of inheritances getting dissolved. She has a messy murder board of sorts and tries to figure out what happened, and it all comes together at the end of the novel. It was great fun, and I liked seeing Kate and Jake together. This might be Jenny Elder Moke's first novel for adults, but I hope it's not her last.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a murder mystery set on a remote private island during a severe storm. It feels like Moke tried to squeeze as many tropes as she could in her mystery. Remote location? Yup, it’s there. A severe storm? Obviously! Is someone sabotaging the electricity and water supply? Duh! A mystery or two on the island that has nothing to do with the central mystery? Yup, it’s there too. However, I love how that mystery is explained.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a romance set on a remote private island during a severe storm. It feels like Moke tried to squeeze as many tropes as she could in her romance. Second chance romance? Yeah, it’s there. Missed connections? Check! Forced proximity? I’m not sure. Does a twin bed in the attic count when there are two adults? Okay, then, yes, it’s there.

The Hempstead island in the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest sounds like a perfect setting for this tale. It’s several hours from the mainland, and a private ferry is the only way on and off the island. A dark and spooky forest on the island adds to the mysterious vibes.

At times, while reading the book, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to laugh, cry, be scared, or be annoyed. Or maybe all four at the same time? I think I understand what Moke was aiming for. But I don’t think she succeeded. A rom-com and a cozy mystery are two things that are easy to mix. If She Doesn’t Have a Clue had been a rom-com with a touch of mystery or a cozy mystery with a touch of romance, it would have worked out better. But Moke tried to have the book be a 50/50 split.

Overall, I found She Doesn’t Have a Clue to be an okay read. I gave it 3.75 out of 5 stars. While I enjoyed it, it didn’t wow me. Reading sometimes felt like a chore, not the escape I hoped for.

She Doesn't Have a Clue
by Jenny Elder Moke

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a mystery within a mystery. Kate is a mystery author and has just finished a new book in her series. Kate is on her way to a remote island for her ex-fiances’ wedding. She is joined on a boat with her dreamy Australian friend, Jake. There is a lot of mystery surrounding the island belonging to the family of the Bride to Be. Many of the wedding guests are a part of the publishing company, Simon Says, from marketing to authors. Multiple things go wrong right from the beginning from the generator being cut to the Bride being poisoned, and it all lines up with Kates’ new book. Now Kate must track down the attempted murder before she is framed for anything else suspicious.

I would give She Doesn’t Have a Clue 3.75 stars out of 5. I loved the mystery book aspect, but I felt a bit lost right from the beginning. There is too much information being held back and it is hard to connect with the book right at the beginning. I get the fact that it is a mystery romance book, but I wish there was more of a foundation. I also wish that since it was a book within a book, that She Doesn’t Have a Clue was written in first person to separate the two books. I appreciated when she was thinking about her character, Loretta, and the book it was italicized. But I wish there was more of a boundary.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is also hilarious and I am excited to see what Jenny Elder Moke will write next.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read She Doesn’t Have a Clue.

In ‘She Doesn’t Have a Clue’ there is a lot going on right from the start. There is no easy introduction to the different characters, which I found really confusing since there was so much going on with the characters. The main character Kate is a bestselling mystery author, and right from the start we switch from Kate’s real life to Loretta’s world, one of Kate’s most popular characters. There’s also a confusing Australian ex boyfriend, and at the end of the story I still didn’t really get his character.

This was honestly a book I just couldn’t really get into. I didn’t love the characters, and I found myself not really enjoying this read. There where to many characters, and to many suspects.

I do really love the cover!

Kate Valentine is off to an exclusive high profile wedding on a secluded private island. The groom happens to be her ex-fiancé and editor. Why she agreed to attend was a mystery in itself, but not a bigger mystery than she finds herself tangled in. A mystery that very much parallels one of her mystery books is playing out right in front of Kate. Will she be able to unravel the secrets before the crimes are pinned on her? Or worse, before the killer gets to her first?

I loved the cover of this book and was drawn in by that, but the story itself was what kept me reading. I’ve read mysteries similar to this before, but I enjoyed how this all played out and liked that there was some romance right along with the mystery. The mystery was a messy one, but I still enjoyed it and found myself guessing until the end at whodunnit. There were plenty of unlikable characters that I would have been fine with taking the fall for everything. Kate wasn’t my personal favorite in this book, but she was a solid lead sleuth and I enjoyed seeing her play detective. I loved Jake and thought he was a great addition to this story. Overall this was a fun mystery that kept me intrigued and guessing all the way through. it’s a good choice for mystery fans who want a little romance along with the clues.

This is being billed as half mystery and half romance. As a lifelong mystery lover, I was completely disappointed by the quality. As a rom-com/love story reader, I would have greatly preferred that it be a closed-door romance—or been billed outright as an open-door romance, with no pretense of mystery. I was hoping for something along the lines of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series, or Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series—all of which include mystery, romantic suspense, a strong cast of supporting characters (as well as strong female main characters), and quite a bit of humor.

From the outset of She Doesn't Have a Clue, main character Kate behaves less like a clever mystery writer and much more like a flighty incompetent. At some points, she seems downright dumb! The “mystery” is just a cover for open-door sex. [Earlier scenes leave something to the imagination and are much hotter. As the book continues, the sex scenes become more graphic, including silly names.] I found Jake a more appealing character. He should have had a stronger love interest and adventure partner than Kate.

While this was not a hit for me, it might appeal to readers looking for spicy romance . . . and not much more. [2.66⭐]

ARC REVIEW ✨

She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

“A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.”

Rating: 3⭐️
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Humor
Yes, no, or maybe: Maybe

This was a wild time.

-quirky Nancy Drew
-handsome Australian
-☠️☠️
-private island
-snooty rich people
-a cougar?!?!

The main female character, Kate, was quirky, and we love a quirky, awkward FMC. She was a goofy Nancy Drew with her itchy sleuthing sweater (you’ll see). The main male character, Jake, was supportive and endearing. I rooted for their second chance romance. The snooty rich people and their drama did make it a good time.

The mystery was a classic whodunnit. Kate (a.k.a Katey Cakes) was on the case! With her handsome sidekick, Jake. There were a few twist that kept me on my toes. I did guess whodunnit (hehe), but also there were times that I thought it could have been another guest.

Why this book isn’t a 5⭐️:
I would have liked more background on Kate and Jake’s relationship prior to the wedding. There were a few scenes I wish had been worded differently. I also felt like some of the plot didn’t flow quite right, but hey I know a lot of us read simply for the vibes.

Again, it was an enjoyable read overall. I would call a book like this a palette cleanser!

I received a copy from NetGalley agreeing to write a review. What’s not to love in this book, to many characters. I made the mistake when I started reading to try and remember them all, don’t waste your time. This book is so enjoyable but the mystery being at the bottom. There is humor in her writing and her love scenes put 50 Shades of Grey to shame. We start with Kate who is a mystery writer arriving at Hempstead Island, to attend the wedding of her former finance and the granddaughter of the formidable Rebecca Hempstead, who enjoys big game hunting and has her trophies scattered around her magnificent Hempstead manor which we get to explore and where we’re confronted with uncovering who is using the plot line of one of Kate’s books to plan the murder of the bride and it appears everyone has a motive. The author has a way with words, a couple examples “The walls were paneled in dark wood, like chocolate bars stacked sideways” and when an alarm sounded one of the guests responded “Aw what the hell? I was mid poop” There is also a cougar running around the grounds. This book is a keeper, I’ve pre-ordered a copy, since this copy disappears. Enjoy, I did and will again now that I know everybody

✨ Murder Mystery
✨ Reality / Fiction POV
✨ Author
✨ Steamy
✨ Enemies to lovers

This one was so fun! It's giving major "murder mystery" vibes with a little "but is this real, or Loretta?" and I COULDN'T STOP READING IT. I love how the stories intertwined and the cast of characters was hilarious. I love how everything worked out, the way it all tied together, and the little moments in between.

The only request I could even hope to ask for, put a map of the house on the inside cover. I NEED to know the layout lol

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Jenny Elder Moke for letting me read this one early!

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is mystery and a rom-com. A rom-com mystery? It is locked room as it is set on a private island off the coast of Seattle and it has forced proximity with someone that makes our FMC, Kate, well, he makes her heart go pitter pat. I like Kate, she is just a normal girl attending her former fiancee's wedding. I'm not sure why she is attending, because aside from her former fiancee, and Jake, her crush, no one seems to want her there. Kate writes mysteries, her main character is Loretta, and as a murder happens on this island, Kate tries to get into Loretta's head to solve the murder. Kate is also extremely clumsy - I can see this as a movie with Kate literally falling into the bride - of course everyone thinks she is trying to ruin the wedding. It is a cute and cozy mystery and a sweet rom-com. I was fortunate enough to have the audio arc as well as an e-arc so I read this immersively. The narration by Sarah Mollo-Christensen was very, very good. She did a host of characters including Jake with his Australian accent, very well. The audio book kept me going even if the story occasionally lagged. I enjoyed this story and give it 3.5 stars. Thank you to #netgalley, MacMillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for my advance copies.

I had a fun time while reading this. I am following Kate Valentine, an author who was invited to her ex-fiance's wedding... I mean nothing is going to go wrong in that scenario right? Well let's say she has her reasons for attending, but what she doesn't expect is the arrival of Jake. A man she has had a crush on forever and whose relationship she thought she wrecked beyond repair. Due to a storm, and on a private island Kate and Jake are stuck together trying to figure out who wants to kill the bride.
I loved Jake and Kate's relationship, the banter and sexual chemistry were so good!
Also, Kate is the author of a mystery series, and throughout her investigation, she is always thinking of how Loretta would solve the case. While Kate herself does seem to bumble and stumble her way through her investigation, I thought the journey to get to the end was a ton of fun.
I didn't guess who the killer was until it was revealed, and loved how it all ended.
This is the first book I've read by this author and Ill definitely be reading more in the future.

A murder mystery romcom is right up my alley. And while I did enjoy it, it wasn’t an overwhelming love like I was hoping.
This is a 3rd person POV and you do get excerpts from our FMCs own book sprinkled throughout, which the latter I would usually also love, but made for a bit of an all over the place read. And the FMC is slightly irritating to me. She was all over the place and it became hard to follow after awhile which had me dragging it out. I didn’t find myself wanting to pick it up and devour.
Overall, this will hit a lot of boxes for a ton of romcom readers especially those that want a little mystery but nothing too deep and minimal spice.