Solid 5 stars. Thank you so much for an advanced readers copy for an honest review rating. Very very good. Phenomenal. Will recommend

Title: The Murder Machine: A Novel
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing – MIRA
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 320

Prologue starts when Marci Warden gets home and isn’t in the best mood and slams the door. Since this is a ‘smart house’ there is no reason to take out her anger on the house.
Marci instructed her AI ‘Chrissie’ for assistance to turn on the light TV etc. additionally help in the kitchen. She wants to heat up a pastry and asks Chrissie to start the toaster only the electric knife starts whirring. Next thing the kitchen is attacking Marci and she ends up dead.
We know Ai cannot do this unless directed to do so – Correct?

I was sure this was going to be entertaining –Every day we hear on the news about how some self-driving car goes off on its own such as driving in circles and not where the client wants making the client miss their plane.
I am a Heather Graham fan and know she write great stories however this seems sooo different I think it would have been great if it were a satire however it wasn’t

In fact, FBI agent Jude Mackenzie is faced with investigating how Marci was killed by her own home.

Since Special Agent Victoria Tennant, is familiar with cybercrime she is called in and confirms what we know ~ a machine can only do what it is has been programed to do.
Although this wasn’t the great Heather Graham I was expecting - I am looking forward to her next story!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 29, 2025.

Classic Heather Graham. This was such a good book. I flew through it because I couldn't put it down. The characters and setting were so well written, and the usual Graham standard. She did such an amazing job as always. I love to read her books. I absolutely recommend this novel to other readers because they shouldn't miss out. I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA, and Heather Graham.

Okay I am the biggest Heather Graham fan and this did not disappoint! I loved it. If you like slightly spooky and slightly messed up reads I highly recommend.

I never know what’s going to happen in a Heather Graham novel and that’s probably my favorite thing about their books.

This is the perfect book to cozy up with on a rainy day or during the fall!

I pushed through and finished this book because it had so much potential and I wanted to see where it went, but I could not connect to the characters fully. Some scenes felt rushed or it felt like it was not done and boom we were in another scene, it was quite weird. I love the idea of murder AI with all the crazy AI appearing but once I got near the end I was able to figure out who it was. The prologue was set up perfectly, I think that was my favorite part of the story. I grew up with Smart House, so reading that scene hooked me right away. This could be great with a bit more polish but this also seems like a great book for my mom who likes these style of books and recently got back into reading. So yeah this book was not fully for me, but I can also see this book being amazing for others.

Heather Graham’s “The Murder Machine” opens with a modern, connected home turning on its owner. FBI Agents Jude Mackenzie and Victoria Tennant are assigned to figure out how it happened. This case is soon connected to several others where cars and boats have run amok. Jude and Vicky race to stop more “accidents” from happening while also trying to narrow their long list of suspects, some of whom are cooperating, while others…not so much. It’s clear from the beginning though that the killer has Jude and Vicky in their sights and they aren’t afraid to act.

There are some good “don’t go in there!” moments in “The Murder Machine” once the reader fully realizes how connected our world is. The characters engage in several conversations about what AI is and how it’s only as good as the commands it gets. There’s also a point where they discuss the need for us to think critically about the devices we use and the information we consume. Jude and Vicky fall into an easy partnership as their relationship develops.

On the other hand, there were some red herrings that just seemed to take up the agents’ time without adding intrigue and I kept wondering why the characters kept using their cell phones, even while making comments about how the cell phones are connected to the internet. It also seemed improbable that the FBI would allow agents to “rescue” multiple individuals who are threatened by the killer and put them in safe houses, particularly since it wasn’t clear that the killer could actually act on their threat to harm those people.

This story is great for those who like mysteries, thrillers, and techno-thrillers.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I gave this book 5 stars! Every book by Heather Graham is a treat. This book combines artificial intelligence and murder. These are both hot topics! I could not put this down once I started. I was hooked. You will not regret buying and reading this book!

This one was a chilling and a thought provoking read!

The story begins with a woman found dead in a house entirely controlled by artificial intelligence. Everything—from the doors and appliances to the water and entertainment systems—operated through simple voice commands. With no signs of forced entry or anyone else in the house, FBI Agent Jude Mackenzie initially suspects it was a freak accident or even a suicide.

However, when Special Agent Victoria Tennant arrives, she reveals that she’s investigating other similar cases that might involve cybercrime. Her observations at the scene make her question whether this woman, too, was the victim of something far more sinister. As they dig deeper, more cases come to light, and the urgency grows.

Are these incidents mere accidents, or could they be connected? Is someone orchestrating these murders from behind a screen, turning machines into deadly weapons? Together, Jude and Victoria race against time to uncover the truth and find whoever—or whatever—is pulling the strings.

I’ve read many of this author’s books and usually enjoy her work, but this one felt like a departure from her usual style and was less engaging than I’d hoped. The premise—AI, smart homes, and a murder mystery—was intriguing and had so much potential, but the execution fell short for me.

The story started strong with a compelling setup, but I quickly struggled to stay engaged. The dialogue often felt unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. Some subplots and details felt unnecessary, leaving the narrative scattered and unfocused.

While I appreciated the concept of an AI-driven murder and found the premise promising, the characters didn’t leave a lasting impression. Ultimately, this book didn’t deliver the gripping, tech-savvy thriller I was expecting, and I came away disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book early and provide an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Graham and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This starts off with quite the bang and I throughly enjoyed the premise of this novel since it was so unique. I did find a few of the middle chapters were too long and because they were so long - it felt like it dragged. I did enjoy the twists and the bit of the love story.

PHENOMENAL!!! I don’t have the words to describe all my feelings but I will recommend to everyone. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I couldn't finish the book. I very rarely DNF anything but the action was just so contrived. It was painful to read.

I’ve always enjoyed this authors books but this one felt like it was written by a ghost writer. The story concept was interesting and could have made a great story but it got bogged down in repetitive writing and too many errors. The excessive use of exclamation points was annoying and incorrect character names were used too many times. The ending felt rushed and it was very obvious who the killer was. I’m so disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first novel by Heather Graham and I’m not sure what to make of her writing. What initially drew me to this book was the plot, specifically the “smart home” aspect of it all… I thought maybe it would give slight Disney Channel movie “Smart House” vibes, but with a more sinister intent. That is not what I got. It was strictly the FBI Agent Mackenzie and Special Agent Tennant show. It didn’t flow like I had initially thought, so it threw me off. Typically what I look for in a thriller/mystery is a dual timeline because I think that really sets the stage for that page-turning, heart-pounding, cannot put this down feeling. While I still thought the plot was unique, the writing and case itself was very basic with bland dialogue.

I did really enjoy the prologue and first 5 chapters or so, and then it picked up again around 14, but I wanted more from the “smart house” aspect itself, considering this is where our world is headed, the Artificial Intelligence Era. Maybe this would have been better as an audiobook… unsure. Either way, the ending was a great twist, predictable, but still shocking if you did not pick up on the breadcrumbs along the way.

Maybe I will give this one another shot in the future, but for the time being, I could not truly get into this one the way I wanted to. If you like murder, are interested in the dark side of artificial intelligence, then I'd give it an honest shot if I were you.

2.5/5 (rounded up)

I really wanted to love this book because the premise is so intriguing—AI, smart homes, and a murder mystery all rolled into ones sounded really interesting. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

The story started off strong with an intriguing setup, but I quickly found myself struggling to stay engaged. The dialogue often felt unnatural, like it didn’t match how people actually talk, which kept pulling me out of the story. There were also several subplots or details that didn’t seem relevant or add much value, making the narrative feel a bit scattered.

The mystery itself was a disappointment. I figured out who was behind it halfway through, and when the reveal finally came at the very end, it felt anticlimactic. It wasn’t because the characters solved the case in a clever way—they more or less stumbled on the answer, which made the ending feel unsatisfying.

I did like the concept of an AI-driven murder and thought the premise had so much promise. The main characters were likable enough, but they didn’t really stick with me after I finished. Overall, this book just didn’t deliver the gripping, tech-savvy thriller I was hoping for, and I couldn’t help but feel let down.

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

3.5!?

The idea of this book was super intriguing!
It is something that we might start fearing soon with AI and how it can be used for evil.. and no its NOT science fiction

PROS:
1- The plot idea was new, and adds a new fear or let's say, allows you to think about things you might not have thought about before

2- the several suspects introduced were interesting, and the way we had no idea where any of this was leading at first was good

3- the final plot twist was a good one - can be guessed if you are really attentive honestly, there have been a few hints thrown in here and there, personality, ideas, methods, suspicions,, etc! (( i could see it the minute the character was introduces))

CONS:
1- the writing is bland and has an amateur kick to it. i did not care for the characters, I did not care for the suspects, i did not care for the case... nothing!

2- the dialogue was something out of a children's book at times. they preach a lot, and there are so many "understanding', "good manners", and unnecessary comments I think the author was going for "banter" but it was missed entirely!

3- also the case itself follows suit... bland, and amateurish in a way!

I wish the idea were executed better, and I wish it were revised better!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for the free ARC in return for an honest review.

This was very thought provoking! AI is such a different concept for me- as a millennial. I know AI is taking over but its so crazy! This book revealed how we truly can never have anything that doesn't get turned around and used for evil! Crazyyyy and riveting book!

THE TWIST!!! DID NOT GUESS!!! WOW!

This is the first Heather Graham novel that I’ve read. I really like the concept relating to AI (as let’s face it, that’s the direction our world is headed), but it was very hard for me to get through the story. Personally this was not a favorite. At times it felt like so much information was given at once. This made it confusing and I found myself re-reading the same pages. The Murder Machine almost landed in my DNF list, but I really wanted to give it a chance. I’m glad I saw it through to the end, but it’s just not my kind of book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for the opportunity to read The Murder machine in exchange for my honest review.

I’m sorry but the lack of editing done on this so far really took me out of the story. Character names were misspelled frequently, and every other sentence ended with an exclamation point, so it felt like they were yelling all the time. As for the story, it felt like a bad police procedural. Too much of this was unbelievable, and the main characters were thrown into mortal danger at the end of every chapter and they always escaped it. Everything always works in their favour. I guessed the culprit halfway through the book, which was finally revealed in the last 10 pages. And the main characters just kind of happen to figure it out by accident, even though it was predicable.