Thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC,

I absolutely enjoyed this fun romance/mystery novel

Jenny Elder Moke is a fantastic writer! If you enjoy the Finlay Donovan series or books by Emily Henry, then I definitely think you will adore this book.

This book made me laugh out loud and is sure to put a smile on your face. I thought it was absolutely brilliant! One of the best romance/mystery books I have read in a while!

romcom, writers, amateur-sleuth, chick-lit, contemporary-romance, cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, publisher, manuscripts, marketing, wedding-madness, murder, murder-investigation, island-life, inheritance****

Not being the target audience definitely did not stop me from enjoying this silly/laugh your sox off book! The characters are so funny! The plot moves along in fits and starts, but that gave me time for a deep breath before laughing some more. Great antidote!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
#SheDoesntHaveaClue by #jennyeldermoke #stmartinspress #minotaur_books
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/2

What an absolutely silly little delight! Suspend disbelief for how you would react to being trapped in a murder mansion and imagine you’re trapped in the Clue movie. It’s a perfect cozy read for this snowed in weekend.

I love when romcoms are self aware that the circumstances are bonkers! Jake’s avoidance of miscommunicating? I literally laughed out loud. Fluffy? Incredibly weird ending and it was amazing. Kate trying to solve a literal MURDER at her ex’s wedding to avoid dealing with her own feelings? Relatable. (Just kidding, I would be trying to swim the 80 miles to the mainland.)

This book was a cute cozy romcom/mystery but I felt like it fell flat in some places. I felt like it was a little bit longer than it should have been and while I liked the Loretta scenes, some of them felt kinda awkwardly placed in the story. I needed more of a definite break to switch from Kate to Loretta. Over all this was a cute story with fun characters.

This was such a fun read. A perfect mix between a Cozy Mystery and a Second Chance Romance. I thought it was very well done and it kept me invested until the end. Even though I figured out the killer right from the start, I still enjoyed reading it until the end. There were a few silly scenarios and Kate seemed a hot mess at times, but I still throughly enjoyed it. This was a great first book for this author and I would definitely read more from her! Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. .

Thank you Minotaur Books for the advance copy.

Ok so there are chaotic mysteries like Finlay Donovan and Stephanie Plum where the female main characters are a bit messy (I like messy) and then there is She Doesn’t Have A Clue.

The plot, the people, the setting is all too random and all too chaotic for my liking. It gave me a headache. DNF at 48%

ARC REVIEW (1/21): she doesn't have a clue by jenny elder moke 🔦 with a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen- from murder to a second chance at love!

this book was such a surprise! I picked it up on a whim & ended up loving it! to start off, the setting was impeccable- a high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of seattle during a thunderstorm. aside from the poisons and dead bodies, how could you not love the idea of that? 👀

there were so many laugh out loud moments, thank goodness I was listening to this audiobook while taking some book pictures at home! the narration by sarah mollo-christensen was phenomenal! I did end up guessing who the culprit was but it didn't take away from the riot of this mystery! the only thing that had me grimacing were the spice scenes, a bit abrupt and on the cringe side.

a book I’d recommend to all the cozy mystery lovers who want a touch of romance! thank you macmillan audio & st. martin's press for the early copies! 🕯️ 4 stars!

I love the premise of this book. The location was fantastic, the male main character was swoon worthy. I have mixed feelings about Kate, the FMC. She was trying my patience and her constant thinking of what her fictional protagonist would do became a bit annoying. All in all I found it interesting, but a bit slow. There are a few spicy scenes that seemed a bit inappropriate given all that was going on on this island.

A private island wedding on an old money estate is the perfect setting for this mystery/romance that reads like a much spicier version of Clue.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue has a fun, genre twisting premise. Romcoms and thrillers are my most read books, so I was excited to get into the story. The setting is perfect and I enjoyed the characters, but found the pace to be slow the format took some getting used to. The MC, Kate, writes mysteries for a living and every now and then the story is told like it’s one of her novels. The pace picks up about halfway through and the ending was fun, if somewhat silly.

I found this book unique, but wasn’t an overall winner for me. Others have really enjoyed it though, so check out some other reviews!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Available 1-21-25

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Elder Moke created a cute and enjoyable romance mystery. She Doesn't Have a Clue was a nice mix of romance mixed with mystery- it gave the reader the same feelings as Ally Conde's recent release The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. I liked Kate as a protagonist and I liked the contrast between her actual character traits and how she imagined Loretta. I thought the mystery aspect was engaging and the twist did take me by surprise. My only problem with the book was that at times I found myself lost in what was happening and if it was real or something that Kate was imagining.

I absolutely adored the perfect blend of humor, mystery, and romance! I loved Katie and Jake!
This book is perfect for fans of “Knives Out” and the movie “Argylle”, but make it a mystery romance.

3.5 rounded up

This was cute and I enjoyed the premise but it fell a little flat for me by the end. I didn't enjoy the constant inner monologue between the FMC and the fictional character Loretta. It started to take me out of the story.

The romance was ok. The spice was nice but at the same time not sure it'd be top priority when people are dying around you. Overall, it was cute but not as good as other's I've read in this genre.

This was a very good story. It had the perfect combination of wedding and mystery. Kate, a very famous author, gets invited to her ex-fiancé's wedding. The wedding took place on an island. While on the island, a massive storm traps them, and then a dead body pops up. Someone seems to be framing Kate by making it seem like one of her murder mysteries is coming to life. Can Kate solve this mystery? Does Kate reunite with her ex? Lots of twists and turns all the way to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy.

I would rate this book 3.5 stars and would recommend it to my friends.

This book is a fantastic blend of cozy mystery and rom-com that had me laughing the whole time.
It has all the ingredients of the perfect cozy mystery. Start with a wedding on a private island that has been cut off by a storm, a historic home with secret passages, and a body drop and you have the perfect recipe for an Agatha Christie mystery. Mix in family drama with disinherited relatives and you have plenty of suspects to go around. Add in the trope of a mystery author protagonist who is being framed, and you would have a typical literary cozy mystery. Unfortunately, for Kate, " She doesn't have a Clue.". Unlike the amature detective book character she created, Kate is totally incompetent. The insecure woman is constantly channeling her creation. Her bumbling on top of all the tropes makes for a very funny story. With a groom who is an ex-finance, and an old friend who was almost a lover in attendance, Moke turns this mystery into a spicy rom com. The plot was far fetched but there were so many suspects, I was actually kept guessing. The author includes great banter and lots of funny moments. I loved the second chance romance. However, readers will want to be aware that there are a few very spicy sex scenes. The locations and timing of some of them, pulled away from the fun of the mystery. As much as I enjoyed the book, it has so much going for it, if she had kept those scenes closed door, the book would have had a much wider appeal.

The audiobook was narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen who does a fantastic job. Her comedic timing is perfection and her versatile acting provides easily identifiable characters. I alternated between the audiobook and the ebook which were both provided by the publisher. Although I usually prefer text, several times I found myself continuing to listen when I could have started reading. The narrator was that entertaining. No matter which format you prefer, I can honestly say that if you like cozy mysteries or spicy romcom, you will want to read this one.

ARC Book Review!

She doesn’t have a clue by Jenny Elder moke

5 / 5 ⭐️
3 / 5 🔥

“Our story begins, as these stories often do, with an awfully convenient murder. Not convenient for the murder victim, of course. They probably had plans, hopes and dreams, maybe even a date or a meal left unfinished. No, I guess their murder came as a bit of a shock for them.”

What a way to start a book! This immediately drew me in and spit me out on the other end. It has some serious the most dangerous game vibes crossed with Agatha Christie and I am here for it.
I loved that the chapters were separated into days. I found it very helpful to keep in mind the timeline. It was interesting the contrast between the FMC and the protagonist in her books.. Moke compared and contrasted them in such a delightful way.

This honestly was the easiest 5⭐️ I've given in a while. The pacing was excellent, the story was gripping, and the characters were phenomenal. I suggested my hubby read this book before I was even halfway done and I still standby recommending it!


This book is for you if you like :

A story within a story
Cozy Murder mysteries
Former pro athlete Australian MMC
Fake dating


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This was a cozy mystery with one of my favorite genre settings, a gothic manor with lots secret passages, and even more family secrets. I really enjoyed the premise of this story, a bunch of authors and their publisher and editor thrust together for what should be a joyful marriage celebration. Of course things aren’t as happy as they seem, when a dead body, or two turn up. The pacing was done well and it was easy to feel invested in the story since each character was described so well. I also loved that there was romance alongside the mystery. The only reason that I can’t give it 5 stars is because it did feel a bit like the plot of another recently published holiday cozy mystery. But it was still super fun and enjoyable!

Kate is an author, famous for writing mysteries about Loretta Starling. Her editor happens to be her ex-fiancé and she finds herself on a private island attending his wedding when she finds herself in a real life mystery…and the only person helping Kate is Jake. Jake is Kate’s biggest romantic regret in life, and due to a mix-up, they are also forced to share a room.

This book was a fairly cozy mystery with a touch of romance mixed in. It was pretty lighthearted, which was fun, but not quite what I was expecting from a mystery dealing with murder and poisonings. It never really felt like the characters were scared of what was happening on the island and I would have enjoyed a bit more suspense. While it started pretty slowly as all of the characters were introduced, the plot really picked up in the second half of the book. It was a little predictable, but overall a fun read for those who are looking for a lighter mystery.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

3 stars! 💫 Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC! 💖

Okay, so here’s the scoop! This book sounded like it had all the right elements for a gripping mystery—isolated private island? Check. Wedding drama? Check. Ex-fiancé drama? Check! Dead body? YES, PLEASE! But... while it started with so much potential, it ended up being more of a cozy mystery/romcom than the heart-pounding thriller I was craving. 😅

Kate Valentine, our main gal, is a bestselling mystery author who ends up at her ex-fiancé's wedding (awkward, much?!). Add in a dead body, an ex-crush (hello, Jake 👀), and plenty of wine, and we’re in full-on whodunit mode. But here's the thing... the execution? Kinda slow 🕵️‍♀️🔍. I was ready for suspense and twists, but it was more like a lighthearted romp.

The mystery itself was fun, but it lacked that “OMG, who did it?!” tension that keeps you up all night. Instead, it felt more like a Hallmark movie set on a private island—quirky, playful, and light. 🏝️❤️ I wanted more suspense, but it never quite delivered that rush I was looking for.

What did work for me? The humor, the banter, and the sizzling chemistry between Kate and Jake (the Aussie ex-crush? 😏 chef’s kiss). There was so much back-and-forth that it almost felt like I was in a love triangle with dead bodies mixed in. 🙈

It’s a cute, cozy mystery with a dash of romance, but it just didn’t have the depth I was hoping for. Still, if you’re into breezy reads with more humor and less blood-pumping suspense, this could be your thing!

It was fun, but I’m not sure it’ll stick with me long-term. Others might totally love it though, so definitely check out their reviews too! 💖

this was a good book! I love a good destination wedding book, but it is becoming overdone and all of the books are like cookie cutter similar stories. This one fell right into that trap. If this is the first type of this book, then good, it will be new for you, but if you've read any of the hundreds of other destination wedding romance/thrillers then this will be the same as those

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Couldn't finish. Liked the characters and the idea of the premise, but it was a bit too frantic. I ended up putting it down and never going back. I think I would have liked more romance, fewer catty comments.