I had a lot of fun with this!!! It was cute and fast paced, and right up my alley!
The mystery was fun and well crafted, not too difficult, as I guessed the culprit 40% through, but it felt fitting for the book!
Weirdly, it felt like the book was missing 30 pages at the start, as it started very suddenly. Also, Jake and Kate's relationship history didn't really make sense until far later in the book than it should've. Honestly it made me feel like I'd been dumped into the middle of a series.
3.5

I should have enjoyed She Doesn’t Have a Clue. It has so many of the elements I like – an isolated location, a closed circle of suspects, a spooky mansion, a quirky main character/ amateur sleuth. Turned out I was annoyed by it most of the time, but not quite enough to quit.

Kate has come to her ex-fiancé’s wedding at a mansion on an island in the middle of a storm. Kate is a mystery writer and has a habit of lapsing into thinking about her characters and how they would respond to events in her life, which can be a little confusing at first. The first person she runs into is Jake, aka the love interest, a man she used to work with until “the incident.”

When the bride is maybe poisoned, maybe suffers a case of food poisoning, but survives, Kate starts digging around. Plenty of people at the wedding have reason to want the bride dead, including Kate arguably. When she stumbles across the dead body of the bride’s aunt, Kate knows there’s a murderer on the island.

The whole thing is a little too much. Kate misunderstands people and situations so badly that it almost seems purposeful. And everything she does seems to make her more of a suspect – granted someone’s trying to frame her, but still. On top of that, we have secret passages, the lights keep going out, the storm is raging outside, and the place is filled with taxidermied animals. Kate bumbles through the investigation, Jake (mostly) by her side, with the occasional steamy sex scene to remind you that the romance is as important as the mystery.

This one just wasn’t for me. Looking at the reviews though, most people seem to like it, so maybe don’t listen to me.

“She Doesn’t Have a Clue” is the perfect atmospheric romantic mystery to read! Kate is a cozy mystery author, and when she’s mysteriously invited to her ex’s wedding she must put those skills to the test. Suspicious events start to mirror the plot in Kate’s cozy mystery books. And someone is trying to frame her nonetheless. The cast of characters are charming and eccentric, not to mention they have the motive and opportunity for murder. Kate must set out to solve this mystery and try not to fall for Jake, the handsome Australian acquaintance. I enjoyed the vibes of this book, the personalities and the romance!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

4.5 ⭐️

This was actually so fun! The audio was very well done and kept me engaged from start to finish! The FMC was a quirky and funny and kept a murder mystery plot pretty lighthearted and i enjoyed that!

It gave me comedy / mystery clue game vibes and i ate every second of it up!

During reading how the FMC kept going back to what her character in her book would do - i actually totally 100% believe that’s how authors are! 😆

I would absolutely recommend this book to my peers and would read more by this author. Def recommend consuming via audio!

A murder mystery writer gets caught in the middle of weekend wedding gone wrong. Kate is attending her ex-fiancés wedding which seems like a bad idea from the start. Come to find out it’s on an island, there’s a storm heading right towards the island and Jake, an Australian surfer who she hasn’t seen in two years is also attending said wedding. A lot of the events that take place coincidentally line up with Kate’s bestselling book series, which doesn’t look good for her sake. Kate and Jake team up to solve the murder mystery and clear Kate’s name. I really enjoyed the mystery and the romance that developed between Kate and Jake. There were a few 🌶️ scenes. I definitely didn’t expect the ending.

4 ⭐️

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is such a fun mix of rom-com and locked-room mystery, all set at a high-society wedding on a private island. It follows Kate Valentine, a bestselling mystery author who reluctantly heads to her ex’s wedding—thinking she’ll just grin and bear it—only to find herself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery. Her longtime crush, Jake, shows up as her unexpected “plus-one,” and before she knows it, the bride is dead in a way straight out of one of her books. Now, Kate has to channel her fictional detective to solve the mystery, keep herself out of trouble, and figure out where things stand with Jake.

The story has a lively, memorable cast, from clumsy, quirky Kate to the eccentric wedding guests. The slow-burn romance and witty banter between Kate and Jake bring in a lot of laughs, and while Kate’s not exactly Sherlock, her growth and determination are endearing. There’s plenty of suspense, along with classic family drama and inheritance schemes to keep things interesting.

This cozy mystery-romcom hybrid is perfect for a lighthearted escape. I’d give it a solid 4 stars, and I’m already looking forward to the next book! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC.

In this genre-crossing novel, mystery author Kate Valentine travels to a secluded island to the wedding of her ex fiancé at the mysterious request of the hostess. When she arrives, she is shocked to see her old crush, Jake, has mistakenly been added as her plus one. Things begin to go wrong immediately, from storms to attempted murder to actual danger. Kate asks herself what her main character, Loretta, would do in order to solve the many mysteries of the weekend.

This novel was an interesting blend of a cozy mystery with a bit of rom com mixed in. I enjoyed the elements of the characters being trapped on the island with an incoming storm and the wealthy, over the top family dynamics. The rom com tropes of forced proximity and second chance romance combined with a bit of fake dating were fun additions to the story as well. I was able to guess the villain at the beginning of the book, although there are definitely a host of characters to keep track of, which can be a bit confusing. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a cozy mystery with a bit of a romance to it.

Thank you to Jenny Elder Moke and Minotaur books for the digital arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️ 2/5

First, thank you to NetGalley and Jenny Elder Moke for allowing me to read this ARC early and share my honest thoughts with other readers.

This was such an interesting story, the perfect combination of wedding romcom and spooky mansion locked-door mystery. There are so many characters and yet the story never feels overwhelming trying to remember who is who and what their motives are. There are so many great red herring moments and epic plot twists!

The female main character starts out a bit whiny, and weird but in all fairness who wouldn't be when they have to attend their ex's wedding to someone else? It all comes together when you start to see her adorable quirks and self-confidence return along with a slow burn, enemies to lovers, second chance romance that is its own tangled web to unravel.

There are a few sizzling moments that slowly burn throughout the book which is perfectly balanced between the FMC and MMC dicovering and uncovering clues and secrets about the guests all around them. There is everything from gripping horror to family secrets to inheritance stealing to backstabbing... even a few love triangle moments!

This book truly has it all, it's a must read from me. The only reason it isn't 5 star is because it ended up being kind of slow and heavy about 20-40% in, but once I made it to the 50% point, I read it like a runaway train and could not stop!

Highly recommend!

This was such a fun read. I loved the way the author smoothly transitioned between the main character Kate and her alter ego Loretta. The story kept my interest from the beginning. The pairing of rom-com and murder mystery worked really well. I can’t wait to read whatever this author releases next! Thanks to the publisher and to Jenny Elder Moke for the opportunity to read this advance copy..

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is the first book I've read by this author and it definitely won't be the last. This was a lovely mix of a classic murder mystery and a heartwarming rom com. I loved how this felt like a game of Clue. And it had so many of my favorite aspects in a mystery, including the creepy mansion and endless drama. The romance felt so real. The banter was amazing. And the little bit of spice was pretty nice too. This is a must read for fans of romantic murder mysteries.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a thoroughly enjoyable mix of mystery and romance that kept me hooked from start to finish! Jenny Elder Moke’s adult debut brings readers into the chaos of a luxurious, secluded island wedding, complete with a murder mystery, old flames, and enough secrets to keep everyone on edge.

The story follows Kate Valentine, a bestselling mystery author, as she reluctantly attends her ex-fiancé’s wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle. Already uncomfortable, Kate’s weekend takes a dark turn when the bride is poisoned, and she stumbles upon a dead body. With a plot that mirrors her latest novel, Kate finds herself embroiled in a real-life mystery, with her ex and “biggest romantic regret,” Jake, by her side as her reluctant partner in sleuthing. The chemistry between Kate and Jake is palpable, and their banter adds a fun dynamic amidst the suspenseful twists.

The lavish setting, quirky wedding guests, and wine-soaked drama create an atmosphere that feels both glamorous and dangerous, making for a perfect whodunit. With a cast of colorful characters and plenty of surprises, She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a must-read for fans of mysteries with a dash of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the perfect mix of fun and cozy murder mystery rom-com with a story within a story aspect. There were some unrealistic moments, sure, but overall it was an amazing book to pass time.

Being totally honest (also, got an ARC so giving my feedback) it was fine. I did DNF at the 42% mark mostly because I realize it just wasn’t for me.

It’s giving romcom, but like cheesy romcom. Nothing bad with it but it made me feel like it was slightly more YA than what I like to read (not as in I read hardcore R stuff lol more like the way it felt a bit too hallmark)

It’s def a fast paced read so that’s why I’m not giving it 2 stars. It’s a chill book but perhaps not something I’d run to get.

Fun mystery whodunnit with a dash of second-chance romance. The set up of murder mystery at an old manionson on an island. The main character, Kate, is a mystery author invited to her ex-fiancé's wedding. On the boat she meets with an old crush and sparks fly.

When a murder occurs, Kate is on her head a lot thinking what would her fictional detective do, which is a fun perspective. There were so many characters and potential plot points that it was a little hard keeping track of everything. Solid start, but it took me a little while to get through the finish. Everything wraps up at the end.

She Doesn't Have a Clue is a fun, fast read for anyone who likes romcoms and whodunnits. Mix a locked Room Murder with How to Lose a Guy and Murder She Wrote. There's nothing like being trapped on an island at your ex Fiancé’s wedding with the one that got away. Throw in an attempted murder, an actual murder, a bunch of backstabbing writers, and a strike. This just gets crazier and crazier. Sit back and enjoy this celebration of chaos.


Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun murder mystery rom-com with Hallmark movie vibes. Is the story realistic, no, did always like the FMC’s choices, also no, but it was still an enjoyable read. I liked the story within a story aspect.

This was really fun! It's a mystery/rom-com that I thought balanced those elements really well. It reminded me, genre-blending wise, of Ally Carter's recently released The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year. Our female main character is Kate Valentine, formerly a successful ghostwriter who is now a very successful mystery author trying to wrap up her most recent Loretta Starling mystery. She gets invited to a wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle, and the groom happens to be her editor and her ex-boyfriend, who is marrying the marketing director who also works for her publisher. It all feels like it's going to be a bit awkward, but basically everyone who works for and writes for her small, independent publisher is going to be there, so not showing up would be even more awkward. Kate is surprised on the ferry out to the island when she sees Jake Hawkins, the super hot friend she hit on two years ago and hasn't seen since he apparently rejected her. When weird stuff starts to happen at the rehearsal dinner and someone poisons the bride, Kate realizes that someone is trying to set her up by using plot points from her own Loretta Starling books. As a storm rolls in that completely cuts off the island and the matriarch of the wealthy family that owns it turns up dead, Kate tries to clear her name by solving the crime(s) with help from Jake, who remembers things from their last encounter a little differently than Kate does. I really enjoyed the banter between Kate and Jake, and was delighted by the mash-up of various romance tropes - second chance, only one room, friends to lovers, etc. - against the backdrop of a sort of scaled up closed-room murder mystery. A fun read!

She Doesn't Have a Clue is a murder mystery with some romance...

Kate is a murder mystery author who has been invited to her ex-fiance/editor's wedding along with her ex Jake on a remote island. There's a book within a book as the murder mystery going down at the wedding parallels that of one Kate's murder mysteries.

There are way too many characters to keep track of in this one - I found myself feeling lost throughout the piece although I did find many parts to be hilarious and enjoyable it was challenging to keep up with everything. I think the second half of the book is smoother than the first half & I did enjoy the spice and romance that unfolds with Kate and Jake.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would be interested in reading more from Jenny Elder Moke and encourage a fan of murder mystery rom-coms to give this one a try.

3.5 stars

An entertaining murder mystery with a quirky author main character and a hot Australian love interest, set on a secluded private island in a rickety old manor with hidden caves and secret passageways. There is quite a large cast of characters which I probably never fully got straight, and there are excerpts from the MC’s books scattered throughout which were a little confusing and in my opinion unnecessary. However once I got more into the story it did get easier to follow - I ended up enjoying the mystery and the reveal was a surprise. My favorite part was the second chance romance and I was a fan of Jake the Hotstralian. An overall decent read which you may enjoy if you like mysteries with a side of romance.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“She Doesn’t Have a Clue” is a locked-room rom-com mystery by Jenny Elder Moke. This book has all the elements for a fantastic (and fun) mystery - spooky mansion, cast of characters, family inheritance, storm. Toss in writers and an amateur sleuth, you’ve got a book within a book. While the elements were all there - and the writing is playful even in the serious times - I found the cast of characters to be a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot of them. Toss in a fun reference to the main character’s book characters and at times it got a bit too overwhelming (and required some re-reading). This was a fun book, but I think there was too much for me to fully enjoy both the mystery and the story. An enjoyable book, but not quite my cup of tea.