She Doesn't Have a Clue is a hang-onto-your-hat fun locked room mystery mixed with a rom-com. Kate Valentine is a guest at the wedding of her editor and ex-fiance on a private island off the coast of Seattle. The high-end wedding also reunites Kate with the one who got away, Jake Hawkins. When the weekend takes a turn with a storm cutting them off from everything, the backstabbing and drama ramp up. Kate tries to channel her main character Loretta, to figure out who has poisoned the bride, committed murder, and attempted to frame her by using the plot of her last book as inspiration. Because it is a wedding, there is no shortage of characters or resentments to sift through. Secret passages certainly aren't the only secrets in the house.

This story was enjoyable and I liked working through the mystery with Kate who readily admits she doesn't know what she is doing. The story is light and humorous despite a murderer at large and the romance didn't detract from the whodunit. It was nice to see Kate doing most of the investigation. The addition of her interactions and relationship with Jake were worked into the story well.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a light quick and easy read. I loved that it was both romcom and a bit of mystery. This was my first my this author but will not be my last. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

This book was a nice light, quick read. I have been loving the rom-com/mystery mash-ups lately and this one was good. Some of the romance seemed a little rushed/klunky, but overall the story kept me engaged and entertained. Not the best I have read, but still worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know murder mystery romance books existed but now they are a favorite of mine. I enjoyed this book. I loved the mystery with a side of romance. I loved the cover as well it’s very fitting for the story.

This cover truly made me request this book, it's so darn adorable ! It just didn't work for me, there were so many characters the FMC was a little annoying for me and just had so many issues. The romance was really a side plot, and I don't know just felt like something was missing for me.

I really love a romantic mystery. The bride is poisoned and she has to solve the mystery with her “what if” guy. Add in the setting and you have a book that shines!

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a rom-com mystery, which is a fun genre I’ve been seeing more of lately! It follows a mystery writer who finds herself stuck on an island in the midst of rampant vandalism and murder, so she tries to think like the detective in her best selling books and sets out to solve the case on her own.

Overall, this book was a pretty good time. There are plenty of red herrings as the FMC investigates each suspect and motive before finally cracking the case, but it’s not so convoluted that the reader couldn’t guess where it’s headed if they wanted to. The main character is a bit of a mess, though, which got a little old after a while. I just prefer my characters to be a bit less bumbling and a bit more in control of their own destiny. But I get that it adds to the humor if she’s just fumbling her way through the case.

The romance was more of a side plot, and although the MMC was likable, that particular aspect of the story just wasn’t that memorable for me. A love story is always a nice addition, in my opinion, but it didn’t change the plot a whole lot with or without it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book!

Kate our main character is kind of a mess when we meet her. Her ex fiancé Spencer left her for another girl and now Kate is on her way to Spencer's wedding to Kennedy. And to make it even better Jake a guy Kate used to have thing for will be there for the weekend as well. The wedding is immediately overshadowed by internal family issues over inheritance money and when a member is murdered the real fun begins. I found this story enjoyable and enjoyed the silliness of some of the situations that our characters found themselves in. But the ending was just too over the top for me. It was a clever whodunit, though.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fun mix of romance and mystery make this such a great story! Kate is a bestselling mystery novelist, currently kind of stuck on her latest book's progress, who for a variety of reasons agrees to attend her ex-boyfriend's wedding on an idyllic island off the coast of Seattle. When there is a murder, she immediately sets out to investigate. Very creative with great, relatable characters.

Kate is a mystery author attending the wedding weekend of her ex-fiance when the storylines from her past novels start happening for real. Using inspiration from her main character Loretta she works to figure out who is causing havoc on the island.

I found this to be a difficult read at time, especially in the beginning trying to figure out what was happening in Kate's reality and what was taken from Loretta's story. Some of the characters didn't see fully formed and I couldn't always keep them straight.

The who done it ending was a surprise for me, mainly since I didn't have enough of a connection with any of the characters to really care who the killer was or their motive.

Kate is a writer with her character, Loretta, solving mysteries. When she goes to her ex fiancé's wedding she is surprised to find Jake, with whom she had a crush on but never had a relationship. Her ex is her editor and there are a lot of disgruntled authors present. When Kate wrote, she was Loretta and Jake was Blake, the guy who helped solve murders. Kate never had the guts that she could give to Loretta. This book is a great mystery and love story. The old mansion where the wedding is taking place is full of secret passages, wildlife, and bickering relatives and authors. One guest is poisoned, and another killed so Kate takes on the task of solving the murder with Jake at her side. This is humorous with interesting turns throughout. Wonderful characters and lots of suspects.

loved this mystery and romance. I loved that kate is trying to solve a murder and while fighting an attraction to jake. She is at her ex fiance's wedding and this was a good locked room. loved that she was able to solve the mystery and find love. loved the romance between jake and kate. Loved that he supported her

Sinopsis en español:

Con un colorido elenco de personajes y una bodega llena de vino, cualquier cosa puede suceder, desde el asesinato hasta una segunda oportunidad de amor, en el debut adulto medio misterioso y mitad romántico de Jenny Elder Moke ambientado en una lujosa boda de destino. Una boda de alta gama en una isla privada frente a la costa de Seattle suena como algo salido de una revista. Pero para la autora de misterios más vendida Kate Valentine, es más como una pesadilla. Por qué Kate aceptó asistir a la boda de su ex prometido es su propio enigma, pero se pegará con una sonrisa falsa durante dos noches, con la ayuda de champán gratis, naturalmente. Y debido a que el novio es su editor, tratará de terminar un borrador de su último misterio de Loretta Starling como regalo de boda. Cuando la novia es envenenada y Kate tropieza con un cadáver, se encuentra en un misterio de la vida real que se hace eco misteriosamente de la trama de su última novela. Y la única persona que parece dispuesta a ayudar a Kate a atrapar al asesino es Jake Hawkins, también conocido como: el Hostralian; también conocido como: el mayor arrepentimiento romántico de Kate. A medida que el vino fluye y el clima amenaza con mantener a todos los invitados como rehenes, los amargos resentimientos y los rencores de larga data surgen entre la colorida multitud. Parece que cualquiera podría ser capaz de asesinar. ¿Qué haría Loretta? Desafortunadamente, Kate no tiene ni idea.

Con un colorido elenco de personajes y una bodega llena de vino, cualquier cosa puede suceder, desde el asesinato hasta una segunda oportunidad de amor, en el debut adulto medio misterioso y mitad romántico de Jenny Elder Moke ambientado en una lujosa boda de destino. Una boda de alta gama en una isla privada frente a la costa de Seattle suena como algo salido de una revista. Pero para la autora de misterios más vendida Kate Valentine, es más como una pesadilla. Por qué Kate aceptó asistir a la boda de su ex prometido es su propio enigma, pero se pegará con una sonrisa falsa durante dos noches, con la ayuda de champán gratis, naturalmente. Y debido a que el novio es su editor, tratará de terminar un borrador de su último misterio de Loretta Starling como regalo de boda. Cuando la novia es envenenada y Kate tropieza con un cadáver, se encuentra en un misterio de la vida real que se hace eco misteriosamente de la trama de su última novela. Y la única persona que parece dispuesta a ayudar a Kate a atrapar al asesino es Jake Hawkins, también conocido como: el Hostralian; también conocido como: el mayor arrepentimiento romántico de Kate. A medida que el vino fluye y el clima amenaza con mantener a todos los invitados como rehenes, los amargos resentimientos y los rencores de larga data surgen entre la colorida multitud. Parece que cualquiera podría ser capaz de asesinar. ¿Qué haría Loretta? Desafortunadamente, Kate no tiene ni idea.



Reseña: 3,5⭐️
Misterio
Romance
Asesinato
Segundas oportunidades

What do you get if you cross a rom-com with a cozy? She doesn’t have a clue by Jenny Elder Moke.

The book moves at a good pace as we follow Kate, who is attending her ex fiancé‘s wedding on a private island in the Pacific Northwest.

With a poisoned bride and a storm brewing, Kate finds herself trying to solve a murder that seems to have been taken right out of her latest book. While she writes mysteries for a living, can Kate solve a real murder before the storm passes and a murderer gets away?

While I’m more of a cozy purist unless romance girl, I actually enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of combining the two genres and kept the book moving along and intriguing. I would definitely read another book from this author.

First off this is the first time I’ve read a book by this author and would I read one by her again absolutely! Romance and suspense, Great characters and a different storyline! I couldn’t put it down!

"She Doesn’t Have a Clue" by Jenny Elder Moke is a fun romp of a Romantic Mystery that kept me guessing, laughing, and occasionally scratching my head at some unique stylistic choices.

We meet best-selling mystery novelist Kate Valentine as she is launching herself onto the deck of a boat bound for the lavish destination wedding of her ex-fiancé/publisher. She’s also landed in the lap of Jake Hawkins, another man she has an awkward romantic backstory with, but Kate seems determined to solider onto this private island anyway.

What should have been a uncomfortable but uneventful weekend quickly spirals into a Knives Out Glass Onion-esce whodunit, with fingers pointing between the quirky cast of characters, and even a few cartoon-level villains.

The parallels between the unfolding mystery and the plots of Kate's novels add an intriguing layer, but they also contribute to the novel's often fuzzy feel and uneven pacing.

Specifically, Moke intersperses vignettes from Kate’s mystery novels. While these segments are intended to offer deeper insight into Kate's character and mind, and how she lives vicarious through her fictional detective Loretta, they are mostly confusing and disrupt the flow of the story.

With the space needed to devote to a Romance and a Mystery, there simply isn’t room for a secondary mystery we aren’t reading or a detective we are not emotionally invested in.

The romance between Kate and Jake, her old flame and unexpected ally, was cute and steamy. Because this is single point of view, Jake is a little flat as a character, though still hot and the one we want getting the most page time with Kate. Given that this is a mystery with a lot of plot and more characters, there’s not really space to devote more time to Jake however so it’s forgiven. Still, Jake could have taken Loretta the fictional detectives spot with his point of view and we may have a more rounded hero in the mix.

The book's overall concept remains enjoyable though despite hiccups. I often found myself laughing out loud at Kate’s snarky lines and her banter with the nutty island cast.

If you’re a fan of romance mysteries with quirky characters, a bit of chaos, and a dose of humor, "She Doesn’t Have a Clue" is worth the read.
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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader Copy. Expected publishing date Jan 21, 2025.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Das Buch, das eine Mischung aus Krimi und Liebesroman ist, hörte sich vor dem Lesen sehr frisch und außergewöhnlich an. Da habe ich gerne und mit Vorfreude zugegriffen.

Doch leider konnte beim Lesen überhaupt keinen Zugang zur Geschichte finden. Beim Lesen war ich von Anfang an etwas verwirrt und das legte sich auch im Verlauf der gelesenen Kapitel leider nicht. Auch der Humor war leider nicht so wirklich mein Fall.

Zudem hatte ich große Probleme damit, mir die Charaktere als echte Personen vorzustellen. Ihr Leben interessierte mich praktisch nicht.

Schade, aber manchmal passt der Schreibstil und Aufbau eine Romans für einen leider so überhaupt nicht.

Keine Bewertung, da abgebrochen.

Für wen?

Wer frische Geschichten mag, die einen Mix aus mystery und romance bieten, für den könnte “She doesn’t have a clue” einen Versuch wert sein.

Schaut vor dem Lesen unbedingt in die Leseprobe rein und achtet darauf, ob ihr das Gefühl habt, leicht in der Geschichte anzukommen.

*She Doesn’t Have a Clue* by Jenny Elder Moke is a delightful mix of mystery, romance, and humor that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The story follows bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, who finds herself in a tricky situation: attending her ex-fiancé’s fancy wedding on a private island. But things take a wild turn when the bride is poisoned and a dead body is found, pulling Kate into a real-life mystery that closely resembles the plot of her latest novel.

Moke does a great job of creating a lively and suspenseful setting. The private island, with its brewing storm and feeling of isolation, adds excitement to the story. Kate’s witty thoughts and her attempts to think like her fictional detective, Loretta Starling, make the story even more enjoyable.

The characters are a fun and interesting group, each with their own secrets, making everyone a possible suspect. Kate’s interactions with Jake Hawkins, her old romantic flame, add a charming twist to the story, giving readers a bit of romance to enjoy along with the mystery.

The pacing is just right, with plenty of surprises to keep you guessing. The way the mystery mirrors Kate’s novel adds an extra layer of intrigue. While there are a few predictable moments, the overall charm, humor, and engaging mystery make *She Doesn’t Have a Clue* a thoroughly enjoyable read. It’s a fun, cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of lighthearted whodunits.

I have many thoughts on this rom-com/cozy mystery mashup, but let's start on a positive note. I loved the locale--a creepy Scooby Doo-esque mansion located somewhere in the San Juan Islands. I enjoyed being transported to this gorgeous place, only this time, I’m stuck on a massive island estate with a murderer on the loose! I loved the Nancy Drew aspect of the mansion’s hidden rooms and spooky corridors. I’ll also give the author snaps for the funny quips and witty banter between our plucky main character and her “Hot-Stralian” love interest. So, if you enjoy a rom com with slapstick humor, you’ve come to the right place.

Alright, now let’s get down to the real talk. While reading this book, I realized that X-rated rom com/cozy mysteries are NOT my jam. I enjoy a splash of romance in my cozies, but I can do without the explicit sex scenes that happen smack dab in the middle of a suspenseful moment when the killer runs away! I mean, who does that? Maybe it’s just me, but if I just survived a harrowing, life-threatening moment, sex with a hot Australian would be the last thing on my mind.

I hate it when a story gets interrupted, and I have to endure an entire chapter of sexy shenanigans before jumping back into the mystery again. This is why I don’t like musicals. Right when I’m getting into the story, a song and dance breaks out like a prolonged commercial break. It’s just not for me.

As for the mystery, I thought it was pretty well done with red herrings and a mansion full of shady suspects. None of the characters pulled me in, including the MC, who just seemed silly, especially with her ridiculous “sleuthing sweater” that she wears while thinking through her plots. It’s 105 degrees outside here in Texas, so maybe the thought of wearing an uncomfortably heavy sweater is triggering. I guess this is an attempt to make her seem quirky and cute, but I just found it to be annoying.

Overall, I don’t recommend this book to cozy mystery purists, such as myself. However, rom-com fans might enjoy the silly banter and smutty chapters.

A big thanks to the publisher for the ARC!
Alright, now let's get down to the real talk. While reading this book, I realized that X-rated rom coms/cozy mysteries are NOT my jam. I enjoy a splash of romance in my cozies, but I can do without the explicit sex scenes that happen smack dab in the middle of a suspenseful moment when the killer runs away after attempted murder. Umm...hello? Hornbills, can you please cool your jets and chase after the person who just left the scene??? Maybe it's just me, but if I just survived a harrowing, life-threatening moment, sex with a hot Australian would be the last thing on my mind.

I hate it when a story gets interrupted, and I have to endure an entire chapter of sexy shenanigans. This is why I don't like musicals. Right when I'm getting into the story, a song and dance breaks out like a prolonged commercial break. It's just not for me.

As for the mystery, I thought it was pretty well done with red-herrings and a mansion full of shady suspects. None of the characters pulled me in, including the main character who just seemed silly, unrelatable and a tad bit rude. Overall, I don't recommend this book to cozy mystery purists, such as myself. However, rom-com fans might enjoy the silly banter and smutty chapters.

A big thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this novel! It was so funny, the mystery was exciting, and Kate and Jake were just so wholly entertaining. I love good banter, and this book had it in spades. Kate is an awkward, albeit very lovable, little weirdo—but for all her bumbling around, she somehow managed to be incredibly capable when she took the time to believe in herself. I also loved the dynamic of Kate’s literary creation, Loretta. The question, “What would Loretta do?” anchored the whole story and created such an interesting inner dialogue.

I had so much fun reading this, and I can’t wait for everyone else to get the chance to experience it too!