3.6
The books breezy style and free flowing alcohol made me wish I liked it more than I really did. In the end though, I found myself considerably more invested in a tiny little dide story than I was the murder mystery, which just can't be a good sign.

“This Is Not a Game” is an absolute gem of a mystery! From the moment I started reading, I was hooked by the clever and thrilling plot, which skillfully combines the charm of a classic locked-room mystery with an engaging modern twist. The story is set in a snowed-in mansion, and the mix of secrets, suspense, and unexpected revelations kept me captivated until the very last page.

The highlight of the book is undoubtedly the dynamic between Mimi and Addie, a grandmother-granddaughter duo unlike any other. Mimi’s sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude paired perfectly with Addie’s tech-savvy resourcefulness and youthful energy. Together, they were an unstoppable team, and their evolving relationship added a layer of warmth and depth to the story.

What truly impressed me was how the book seamlessly weaved gaming references into a traditional mystery without it ever feeling forced. It brought a refreshing and innovative edge to the narrative while maintaining the intrigue and timeless appeal of a classic whodunit. The banter between the characters was spot-on, and the humor sprinkled throughout made the story all the more enjoyable.

The pacing was spot-on, and the twists and turns were masterfully executed—I couldn’t put it down! Fans of mysteries with both heart and humor are in for a treat with this one. I can only hope this is the start of a new series because I need more adventures with Mimi and Addie. Highly recommended!

I loved the setting for this book! I will be recommending this to my cozy mystery bookclub. I found it fun and think it will appeal to many readers.

This one just wasn't really for me it seems. I hated ALL the characters. Like HATED them. Even the ones I think I was supposed to like, annoyed me to the point I just didn't care what happened to them. The main characters are weak in my opinion and that really kept me from latching on to them. I just couldn't ever root for them to be successful.

Maybe it's just par for the course for the "locked room mystery" genre, but I felt claustrophobic reading it....not sure why, but that's just the feeling I got.

I will say the one thing I DID like was the banter between characters. I feel like if the main characters were made just a little more likelable/stronger, that the banter may have won me over.

If you like this genre, then I would definitely give this one a read, but for someone that normally doesn't read locked room mysteries, I'd say I will pass on any more with these characters if this becomes a series.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC. #ThisIsNotaGame #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book, especially the wide cast of characters. At times it felt a bit too cozy for me, but the fast pace and interesting story kept me hooked. I did not successfully guess whodunit, but it was a satisfying ending nonetheless.

Thank you to Kelly Mullen, Penguin, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Can you say - unputdownable? Seriously - is that even a word. However - that's how i would describe this. It started it at 5pm and then staying up all night to finish it. It was just that good. The Mimi-Addie combo was amazing. I might even like Mimi more than Addie. It reminded me of the team up in the Good Guys where you have a new tech-friendly genius and then an old-school geezer who does things the hard way but it works. They were a cute combo. Plus, who doesn't love a locked room mystery due to a storm. It was like the game of Clue with more modern characters in it. FUN AND FABULOUS READ - can't wait for more from this author.

This locked room mystery was fun. I enjoyed reading it and trying to figure out the mystery. Highly recommend!

This book was such a fun ride! It had everything I love in a good mystery: a snowed-in mansion, hidden trapdoors, a suspicious group of characters, and a grandmother-granddaughter duo solving murders together. Mimi and Addie made such a unique and entertaining pair, and their evolving relationship really gave the story heart.

At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Mimi. She’s not your typical cozy mystery grandma—she’s gruff, sharp, and unapologetically herself (she’d rather microwave a frozen dinner than bake cookies). But that’s exactly what made her so refreshing, and by the end, I absolutely loved her. Addie, with her quick thinking and gaming expertise, was a great contrast to Mimi, and together they made an unlikely but perfect team.

What really stood out to me was how this book managed to combine a traditional mystery vibe with a modern edge. The gaming references and Addie’s sharp tech skills made the story feel fresh, while the classic locked-room elements kept me guessing the whole time. Plus, I loved how their sleuthing wasn’t just about catching the killer—it was also about healing their bond and rediscovering their connection.

The pacing was great, and the dialogue felt snappy and natural, though I do wish some of the side characters had been fleshed out a bit more. Still, the twists kept me hooked, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

If you’re a fan of mysteries with a cozy-meets-modern vibe, this is a must-read. It’s smart, suspenseful, and has just the right amount of warmth. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This locked-room mystery, set on the enchanting and snow-covered Mackinac Island, offers an enjoyable mix of humor, intrigue, and suspense. The standout characters—a gimlet-guzzling, crunchy grandmother and her somewhat estranged but endearing granddaughter—bring the story to life with their witty banter and unconventional sleuthing style. The snowstorm that traps a colorful cast of characters in a lavish old mansion amplifies the tension, creating a perfect backdrop for a classic whodunit.

While the primary characters are well-drawn and compelling, some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, and the plot veers into overly complex territory toward the resolution.

Still, the engaging prose, witty humor, and dynamic main duo make it a good read. The cover art perfectly captures the book’s intrigue, making it hard to resist for any mystery lover.

I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of this book. As a Michigander I loved the setting and thought it was accurately portrayed to the point of getting chills from the blizzard descriptions. The relationship between Addie and Mimi is great and has a lot of resonance for the current day. I loved the locked room aspect and the puzzle aspects, but I wish the gamer element would have been more prominent. This one reminded me of Gigi Pandian's Secret Staircase series, which is one of my favorites.

Sadly, this quite a bit more 'twee' than I was expecting, and a bit too cozy for my taste! I was anticipating something a bit more tense, rather than Nancy Drew-esque (nothing wrong with Nancy Drew-esque, just not my speed!).

Still, very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

The book is intriguing and unputdownable. It reminded me of Agatha christie books with more plot twists, secrets and mystery. The
k!ller is on loose. There are rumours and mystery surrounding everyone. The characters are interesting and they have their own secrets. Set on an idyllic Mackinac Island. Addie is dealing with a heartbreak and Mimi gets a strange invitation with a threat. But unthinkable happens and it is most likely to make Mimi the suspect. Mimi and Addie are trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. Someone is tangling them in a complicated web. There are suspects and twists with buried truth and secrets. I didn’t see some twists coming. This was a brilliant locked room mystery.

Thanks to the Publisher and Author

This is a good intro "locked room" mystery set on Macinac Island in Michigan. Thanks for the digital ARC.

I laughed and smirked my way through this amazing book with the witty banter between characters all while there being heartfelt moments thrown in. To help me sleep at night, I really need there to be many more books involving Mimi & Addie, solving mysteries, going on road-trips, sailing the open ocean, I don’t care what they’re up to, frankly, lol. I just need more of that duo in my life.

The author hit it out of the park with this debut novel and I couldn't be more excited to see what else she's got up her sleeve!

This is a fun edition to the mystery genre. Interesting characters and engaging plot. I will definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review.

I'm in the minority here, but this one just didn't work for me... I love the cover and the concept seemed right up my alley, as I'm generally a fan of locked room mysteries. I liked the idea of the grandmother-granddaughter relationship as the emotional core of the story, and the differing personalities and perspectives of the two women seemed to hold great potential for engaging banter and plot development. Unfortunately, as soon as the eponymous game/party started, things devolved quickly for me and I struggled to stay interested.

I didn't even find the murder itself compelling. It felt like two curmudgeons - one old, one young - on a forced-fun "adventure" gone horribly awry. The characters were not terribly interesting, despite all the promises of secrets and lies and misdeeds. I found myself reading the same pages over and over again, to try to find some of the magic others seem to - but to no avail. This one just wasn't a good fit for me.

It's still an uber-fabulous cover though!

This cozy, twisty whodunit was a delightful and suspense-filled experience. The charming relationship between Mimi, the sharp-witted grandmother, and Addie, her video game creator granddaughter, is at the heart of the story. Their dynamic is a refreshing blend of old-school and modern technology. Mimi is an instantly likable character. Her dry humor and amateur sleuthing make her a hoot. Mimi's relationship with Addie creates a depth of emotion in their characters.

Addie is a brilliant video game designer who created a successful virtual mystery series. Addie's painful breakup and betrayal involving her ex-fiancé and co-business partner, Addie, is invited to visit Mimi and attend a lavish dinner. While at the dinner, they are snowed in, and the host ends up dead. The host, Jane, is involved in multiple scandalous and immoral acts and blackmail schemes that Addie and Mimi begin to unravel. The storm that traps the guests adds to the suspense, isolating them from help and ratcheting up the stakes as another murder occurs and also trapping the killer among them.

This book stands out because it blends traditional, cozy mystery elements with more contemporary themes. Ultimately, the relationship between Mimi and Addie is strengthened by the weekend's events and heals the pain from their past. The book creates a fresh, modern twist to the mystery genre. It will keep you guessing.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group, Dutton

“This is. It a Game” is your typical locked room, storm trapped group of people trying to solve a murder mystery. The grandmother/granddaughter aspect was promising but either one was very likable to me. The writing was a bit clunky and sometimes seemed like there was too much detail about weird aspects of the story. The plot moved along fairly quickly but it just wasn’t something that really sucked me in overall.

The small island of Mackinac is a tiny slice of Eden. Addie's grandmother Mimi lives there and welcomes her on the tail end of a horrific breakup. Addie is still very much in love with her ex-fiance Brian, but it is clear that he used her for her ideas on their co-created video game.
The visit is perfect timing as Mimi is being blackmailed for a secret that she is not willing to divulge. The blackmailer requires that she attend a long weekend at her neighbor's mansion and she brings Addie along.

Before you know it, it's a game. A very dangerous game where the party goers are being killed off one by one. Add in a ferocious storm and no one is leaving the mansion. I loved the dialogue and the quick moving plot. If you love Agatha Christie, wish for a real life game or just want to play along, This is Not a Game is for you!
#penguin #dutton #whodoneit #thisisnotagame #Kellymullen

The standard 3 star rating for this standard cozy-ish mystery set on the gorgeous sounding Mackinac Island….I really want to go to there but ONLY during the summer. I have made my husband promise to take me once we are done with the state game (my dad and I were racing to see who could visit all 50 states the fastest. He only had four left but died in August. However, I will definitely finish for both of us. I have five left, and will be going to Utah in November.. But I digress.)

Mimi MacLaine loves a genteel life that n a he exclusive island, which doesn’t allow cars. Her granddaughter, Addie, has come to stay with her after having her heart broken by Brian, her former fiancée….and not only did he kilt her he cut her out of their popular video game, Murderscape, that they developed together (well, Addie did most of the real work, natch.)

Seventy-something local socialite Jane Ireland invites Mimi to a charity auction (Jane is a narcissist who is having a torrid affair with her son in law, so she’s fun!). Mimi invites Addie to join her but fails to tell Addie that Jane is blackmailing Mimi.

Mimi and Addie arrive at the mansion and….wait for it…wait for it…a storm rolls in, trapping everyone there. Then Jane is found murdered. Game lovers Mimi and Addie must discover the murderer. Why? I don’t know. Sounds like a stroke of luck for Mimi if you ask me, but, then, as always, no one did.

Murderscape sounds like a really great game and I wish I were rating it! Instead we have one very non-effusive, unsentimental grandmother and her unlucky in love granddaughter who was way too enamored with someone who was obviously a piece of…well, it’s a cozy, so I should watch my sailor’s mouth. I was just sorry to see her do dumb as to still be tempted by him. Tempted to kill him, perhaps. If Brian turned up dead. So, the book was fine. Standard locked room stuff.