This book was a lot of fun—even if it was not precisely my cup of tea (just a teensy bit graphic for my taste, but that is truly a me problem and not a problem with the story or the writing!) If you love a rom-com sexy love at first sight story with a sprinkle of Brooklyn 99, you have found your book.

This right here is enough!!!!

Ya, this book is great. The main character is hilarious; I adore his relationship with Jack, and I’m looking forward to Will’s sequel.

There was a lot more thrill in this book than I anticipated. It definitely focuses on being a crime novel first and romance as a close second. It’s also a slightly slow burn. But there’s a HEA & that is all I dream of :)

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC.

Rav is a new detective who is solving a high-profile murder, which is attracting a lot of media attention. He finds chemistry with the main suspect, but he’s determined not to let this get in the way of his investigation.

This is Erin Dunn’s debut novel. It is well-written and well-paced. It’s more of a cozy murder mystery with a great romance. Even though it is somewhat cozy, the stakes were still high and kept me interested throughout the book.

It’s a dual-POV and I enjoyed reading from both characters. They had distinctive voices and were fleshed out. The romance was sweet and the banter was decent.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

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

One of my main reasons for joining NetGalley was because something I am genuinely passionate about is getting to discover debut authors. It’s a thrilling feeling to find an author who is just starting their journey. Erin Dunn is a debut author, and it is WILD to believe it. This book is SO polished, SO perfect. The characters are so well developed, the story is so tight, the writing is so funny and easy and natural.

One aspect I felt truly shone was the mystery and ongoing murder spree that drives the book. I’m not a huge fan of the mystery genre in general, as generally there’s not much in between “so transparent a child could guess whodunnit” to “so contrived as to be nonsensical,” but this book shot straight through the middle with a solution that was laid out plainly on the page but so cleverly obfusticated that I was guessing right along with Rav.

The romance was perfect and I fell in love along with both the MCs. I loved that this was not a split POV romance, which would have ruined the suspense and tension. Both MCs were so perfectly and naturally fleshed out. All the characters were, with even antagonistic characters having nuance.

This was certainly one of the best titles I’ve read so far this year, and I am more than eager to see what Dunn follows this up with. I greedily would love to see this as a series, with Rav continuing his career, but I am confident that anything at all this author comes out with will be a winner. Highly recommended.

This book was fantastic, when a cop falls for the number one suspect nothing could go wrong right?

The characters were likeable and the plot twists just kept coming
Highly enjoyable read

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

What could possible go wrong when a NY Detective falls in love with the main suspect. Love has no boundaries or does it. It’s a romance thriller where you root for them despite themselves. You want to enjoy the diverse characters and plot twists that will make your day.

was overall very well done. the characters were well thought out, the banter was decent, and the story was really good! I am thankful for the chance to have read it

So, I read the description of murder mystery and romance, and requested the ARC. I didn’t realize the couple would be a gay cop and a gay rock star. However, as a straight person, I totally was engaged in the romance and appreciated the banter. Characters were very well developed, and the mystery captivated me. Of late, I often get bored with a mystery and skip to the end. That was not the case with this. I was invested in dapper detective, Rav, and his quest for resolution. His network of hackers and other cops, his backstory of a famous model mother and a father who is a lord all made for an entertaining read.

This had me at “ B99 meets..” and I hit the request button. I LOVED THIS. It was a super fun read, had mystery, romance, hilarious banter and just an overall good read.

Detective meets rock star, love at first sight. That is a problem because the star is an early suspect in a murder investigation. Sparks fly and the case lingers. A good romance story with a mystery who-dun-it. Interesting side stories on the more minor characters. And that twist at the end!! Wow, didn't see it coming.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Awe, this was too cute! I’m a sucker for a good mystery, and this one really kept me on my toes. I found myself trying to piece together all the connections and guess who the real suspect could be. The banter between the characters was hilarious, and the romance was the perfect balance. I loved how Rav and Jack's relationship developed—it had great depth and intimacy without feeling like insta-love. You could really feel the connection growing, which made it all the more satisfying. And yes, there were definitely Brooklyn 99 vibes in the best way possible! The humor, the chemistry, and the fun twists made it such a good time. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a mix of mystery, humor, and sweet romance. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn was a good read. I definitely recommend it to romance readers. Don’t skip this one.

Ever since I came across this book on Goodreads I've wanted to read it, so naturally I signed up on Netgalley and did just that. This book didn't disappoint at all. I knew I was going to like it just from the cover and description alone but I didn't expect to fall in love. Described as a mix between The charm offensive and Brooklyn 99, He's to die for tells a story filled with mystery, love, drama, music and so much more. I literally could not put the book down so this is your warning- don't start this book when you have assignments due soon. I loved Rev and Jack with my whole heart and I hope you will too!

Thank you so much Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I loved every second of it.

This book is giving Brooklyn 99 but with ALL the queer, romantic, murder mystery chaos you never knew you needed. Think Jake Peralta’s energy meets The Charm Offensive’s emotional depth—except instead of solving crimes for his career, Detective Rav Trivedi might just risk it for love.

Rav is EVERYTHING. A sassy, suit loving, whip smart British detective navigating the NYPD homicide squad as an outsider. At 29, he’s a total boss with a solve rate that screams iconic. But when a high profile murder lands on his desk, things get spicy. Enter Jules, the ridiculously hot and suspiciously charming rock star who’s got motive, no alibi, and way too much chemistry with Rav.

The banter? 🔥
The tension? 🧨
The vibes? Immaculate.

It’s the perfect mix of slow burn yearning and high stakes crime solving, with twists that keep you guessing and sweetness that keep your heart aching. The murder mystery keeps you hooked, but the romance steals the show. You’ll root for Rav and Jules even as you yell, “DON’T FALL FOR THE SUSPECT!”

It’s murder cute in the first degree, with all the humor, heart, and heat you’d expect from a Brooklyn 99 + MM romance mashup. If you love smart detectives, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and sizzling tension with a side of murder mystery, RUN to pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Dunn, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book.

I just unapologetically pushed that five-star button. This ‘The Charm Offensive but make it a mystery’ with fanfic writing like E.L. Massey’s and Taylor Fitzpatrick’s (without the hockey, though) just hit the right notes with me.

Sometimes, I know from the first page that I’ll like, correct, love a story, and He’s to Die For is one of those books. I hadn’t seen the book before; I just found it on NetGalley, read the blurb, and decided to request it. I’m so happy that I did because this is just the kind of story I fall head over heels with. 

For those who don’t like thrillers or mysteries but do like romances, I believe this one's for you, too. He’s to Die For is just a warm bath, with some twists and turns that might give you a shiver once in a while, and a few rougher scenes, but overall, this story makes you glow on the inside and grow that smile on your face so many times. I call it fluff with heavier themes underneath. I rooted for Rav and Jack so much and fell in love with them both. Rav, the (half-Indian) Brit, so posh and driven and still so caring. And Jack, anxious, protective, sweet Jack, full of grief but also full of love. 

He’s to Die For might end up being one of my favorite 2025 reads. Even though it’s only January. Even though it’s a bit insta love. And even though Rav is Indian without hardly any heritage mentioned (another thing in common with The Charm Offensive). I really want you all to read this one, everyone!

Rav is trying to make a name for himself on the NYPD, but it’s not easy when the majority of his colleagues see him as a smug, trust fund, Brit who just doesn’t fit in with the squad. When he and his partner are assigned to lead a high profile murder investigation in the music industry, Rav sees his chance to make his mark. What he doesn’t expect is to find one of the suspects in the case, and one of the hottest musicians in the industry, quite so intriguing and irresistible.

As the case continues to take some surprising turns, Rav grows closer to the main suspect and lead singer, Jason Vale. The two lean on each other as more twists and turns pop up in the investigation, but when secrets start to be revealed and Jason pulls away, Rav needs to decide where all this is coming from and what it means for their future.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

This a cute mix between murder and romance or a murder cute as one might refer to it as. This gay positive novel has a good mix of crime and love.

This debut novel by Erin Dunn is a fun, feel-good murder mystery with a twist: a fashionable gay cop investigating the murder of a music executive in NYC. The investigation feels fresh and modern, and the complex romance between the lead cop and the prime suspect adds an engaging layer to the story.

While the book is enjoyable, it’s clear that it’s a debut. A first-person narrative might have been more effective than the third-person perspective, which, combined with too many similar character names (Aida, Ana and Aisha; Claudia and Carrie; Erika and Eloise; Charlie and Chris . . . you get the picture) caused some confusion. The protagonist, Rav, is also an odd choice — his minority background whilst having a Lord for a father is a clear focus, yet the lack of a thorough backstory left me wanting more depth.

The book attempts to juggle multiple genres — murder mystery, crime thriller, cute romance, and graphic semi-erotica — but it doesn’t always balance them well. The erotic scenes often felt out of place, and the last-minute danger climax came out of nowhere since the overall mystery had been relatively devoid of true thrills until the end.

I share these critiques with love, as I’d still highly recommend the book! It’s an enjoyable, light read, and I found myself giggling throughout, while also on the edge of my seat to figure out whodunnit. I'm unsure if the author is going to create a series out of this world or will perhaps give us more standalone novels, but I certainly will be excited either way.

This was a good one, I enjoyed the writing style and the characters chemistry was great. My first by this author but won't be my last. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.