She Doesn't Have a Clue
By Jenny Elder Moke
Read by Sara Mollo Christensen
Ms. Moke is unknown to me, but I have listened to several books narrated by Ms. Mollo-Christensen. She is Australian by birth, but I am not certain of her actual accent. I have heard her use an American accent (VERY good), and Australian accent (good), and a British accent (please stop). As there is an Australian character who may or may not be the love interest, I have high hopes for the narration. Nothing is harder than spending hours focusing on the quality of the accent of a narrator rather than his or her actual words.
Not something I always do, but I decided that I would go with a kind of play by play review, as I take notes along the way anyway. We'll see if it ends up being tedious and rambling...
1st, a few notes:
*I'm not usually keen on exes as love interests or main characters
*I usually shun strictly romantic novels, but I can enjoy a romance within a mystery
*With romantic novels, I have high expectations. I NEED a happy ending. So, my tolerance of the romance depends on the outcome.
*Mystery/romance, is something new for me.
*If I engage in romantic genre, it really helps if there is humor.Thankfully, for my enjoyment, there does seem to be.
*I listen to audiobooks at .70 speed or less to be sure I don't miss anything.
*I will make note if I need to speed up. Sadly, this is not a rare occurrence.
*I actually quite enjoy a good "locked room"-locked...island?- mystery. I've heard many readers mention they are tired of the trope, but it's one of my favorites for some reason.
We begin with an excerpt from the Kate's amateur detective novel (Something Borrowed, Someone Blue) wherein the vital clue is discovered by the sleuth. Not sure if the circs will come in significantly later. The books are cozies involving a protag named Loretta Starling, a bartender by night and amateur detective by day. I appreciate that parallels are drawn between her and Jessica Fletcher, such as the question we all have regarding how she is never considered the main suspect since people tend to drop dead around her.
So far, I like that Kate seems to have a healthy amount of common sense and intelligence. Nothing is worse than the moron who goes into the dark alley anyway.
Again, I have to say, although it likely relates to the fact that I have (TMI) two exes myself, I usually find books that include dealing with them annoying. I guess I'm not comfortable with that type of drama or that kind of conflict. I'm the one who needs spoilers on whether the couple ends up together and fast forwards the part where one hurts or betrays the other. Likely baggage, but there it is.
Back to our Reg Sched
I love that I've already giggled during the first chapter. That IS a rare occurrence with unfamiliar authors.
FYI, there is strong language, with some f-bombs. I'm not fond of the use, but I'll live unless it's OVER used.
Yep, great Aussie accent. Great "male" voice. And, from what I've heard so far, greatly hot Aussie. Bonus!

We are periodically drawn into a "Loretta" chapter since Kate is trying to overcome her writer's block and using current events to finish her novel. She has a secret need to "become" Loretta in order to make her own decisions.
The romance/attraction thing is pretty standardly overdone in the manner of an "adult" (read: naughty) romance, but I'm cool with it as it's secondary to my interests. Just an FYI in case it gets explicit. I'll keep ya posted ; )
As usual, I have a pretty good idea of the culprit early on, but I don't mind that in a cozy. When I want a serious mystery, I will read Michael Connelly.
Note: a fascinator is a hair accessory worn on the right side of the head to special occasions or cocktail parties. I love vocab,but if I knew the word, I had forgotten its meaning.
I'm finding it QUITE funny by chapter 3, I must say, and I'm enjoying the excessive creepiness of the house.
I'm getting pretty confused about WHY exactly Kate was even seeing Spencer, much less engaged to him. Pet peeve. I dislike it when people decide to spend their lives with someone who doesn't even make them feel loved.
Okay, now we're protecting Spencer? Really? That could get irritating. I mean he cheated on you 6 months ago while you were engaged, he wasn't at all a prize in the first place, and you want to protect him from suspicion? Ick. I mean, LET the hot guy hate your EX, how is that a BAD thing??
Gotta ask rn, HOW do you have hot coffee and breakfast including bacon when you have no power, haven't had any for hours, and can't get the generator to work? Sheesh. Editor, where art thou? Can I please request an explanation? Is there a back up generator?
Okay, it's 40% and I'm rolling my eyes for the first time and sighing heavily. Oh Kate, you were so... logical! What happened??
A-VOI-duh the EK-SUH!
Do you WANT to be a murder suspect?
Do NOT make me mentally start shaking you.
Seriously, HOW is the staff STILL cooking breakfast?? Please explain. Campfire? Gas stove? What??
(Eventually, it is mentioned that there is evidently another generator which is low on fuel. Whew!)
I greatly appreciate the "toothpick related emergency" part. The comedy is worth the previous eye roll.
Couple inconsistencies, but nothing that impacts the plot. Just minor details.
Definitely what I'd call spicy. I've heard more explicit, but if this isn't your thing at all, I'd give it a miss.
There's a VERY good reason I dislike books when an ex is involved. I REALLY dislike them. Be prepared for some serious mental violence against Kate concerning Spencer if you're of the same mind. I'm speeding up to get past the back and forth and back to the actual plot.
And yes, I picked the right culprit.
As for the romance...AWWWWWW! I'm pleased with the ending on that.

Okay, I'm sorry if that was disjointed, but I ultimately do recommend giving She Hasn't Got a Clue a go if this is your genre. I am very much looking forward to the possibility of a second Kate Valentine book, although there is no cliffhanger. Maybe a spin off?

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY for this advance copy in exchange for a (brutally honest) review!!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

This was a fun and wild ride! I love the mix of mystery and romance, throw in a second chance, friends to lovers plot, and I’m sold! I love that all of the characters have professions in the literary world. Main character Kate is a writer who uses her own amateur sleuth main character as a sort of alternate personality throughout, as she tries to figure out who the murderer on the remote island she is stuck on is. To add to the drama, this is all taking place at her ex’s wedding. There is a quite an eccentric cast of characters, and they all added so much entertainment.

If you read or listened to The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, or were a fan of the movie Clue, I think you’ll enjoy this one too! It has similar vibes.

🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen. It was so fun to listen to her bring these crazy characters and all of their shenanigans to life, and how she differentiated the voices for each. I loved her Australian accent for Jake. I feel like the audio definitely elevated the story for me!

Read/listen if you like ⇣
•Mystery
•Rom-com
•Second chance
•Friends to lovers
•MCs are authors
•Destination wedding
•Stuck on an island
•3rd person POV

This was my first murder mystery and romance book combination. And while I can appreciate what Jenny Elder Moke was trying to do, it just didn’t really work out for me. The book had an overall Knives Out vibes with a dysfunction family fighting over an inheritance with a hint of romance between Kate and Jake. Listening to this book as an audio book was also quite confusing at times. Especially when Kate turned into her heroine/alter ego Loretta Starling, the part time sleuth/mystery solver. It was a fine read, but can’t say that I would urge anyone to pick it up.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio ARC.

3 stars

Parts of this book really worked but other parts didn't as much for me. It is always hard for me to believe someone would keep certain things like a dead body a secret and also...be able to bang like IMMEDIATELY after seeing one? The mystery to me was interesting but there were so many things happening at once it was hard to follow at times. And the reveal was...eh, didn't make all that much sense to me. I think the romance was pretty good and at times I would have preferred to focus more on that. I felt things for the MCs and I felt it was really well written but this makes me feel that a mystery romance isn't my preferred genre.

Regarding the audiobook, I loved the narrator. I felt she was really good throughout and I was impressed with her male Australian accent! I don't know if I would have finished the book without it being the audiobook though.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC and ALC!

I have some mixed feelings about this one. I love me a good cozy mystery and I was excited to get into this. The narration was great and I was having a good time BUT there were lots of language and two entire chapter were spice scenes. I did skip those chapters and obviously didn't miss anything but I really wish there was a clear spice warning in the synopsis or chapter description. If there wasn't as much language and the spice was omitted, I would definitely have given a much higher rating. While I did enjoy this read, I'm not sure that I would be willing to explore any more of this authors reads due to the amount of explicit content.
Thank you NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

She's got alllll the clues, she just needs to put them together!
This book is a total comedy, like an Adam Sandler murder mystery & I'm here for it!
I'm getting this book for my mom for her birthday this year! 😂😂😂

Publisher Summary
With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen—from murder to a second chance at love—in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift.When the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book!

She Doesn't Have a Clue
A Novel By: Jenny Elder Moke
Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Coming 1/21/2025
Length 10 hrs and 24 mins
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Categories Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

At her ex-fiancé’s lavish island wedding, mystery author Kate Valentine finds herself embroiled in a real-life murder mirroring her latest novel, forcing her to team up with Jake, her biggest romantic regret, to solve the crime before another guest dies.

This novel is 50% mystery, 50% romance, and 100% romp. It’s hilarious and improbable and tons of fun. I loved the characters and felt more invested in them than I normally would for a murder mystery. The excellent audio narration helped make this a highly entertaining book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is such a fun romance! There is mystery and spice and just a fun read. This book reminds me of the movie The Lost City. Kate, a mystery author falls into a mystery of her own. The author is on an isolated island for an extravagant wedding of her ex-fiancée and his new love. When a mystery that mimics one of Kate's books unfolds on the island, Kate is the primary suspect and she works hard to solve the crime.

I loved the audiobook version and I loved the storyline. It was a fun read. I would highly recommend this book!

I honestly kind of loved this book. It was a great mixture of mystery and romance that fell into a lot of classic tropes while also maintaining a distinct style. I thought the characters were likable even when they were annoying and I would read more of these if they were a series…

This audiobook is a 3.5 star for me. The suspense and romance were well balanced. The main twist was pretty good. While I questioned who I thought the murderer was, the motive never added up until the end. I really liked the main character. Her daydreaming disposition and Nancy Drew tendencies made her laughable and likeable. The narrator did an excellent job voicing multiple characters. I was engaged the entire time, and the family dynamics added realism to the otherwise obscure wealthy lifestyle. That being said, the ending fell flat for me. The unlikely and frankly bizarre turn of events at the end of this book had me rolling my eyes. Up until this point, I really enjoyed this! I would still recommend this to a mystery/romance reader.

I ADORED this book so much more than I thought I would. If you're a fan of Nancy Drew, true crime, and mysteries that take place on a remote island where a wedding is supposed to take place - look no further. I thought the two main characters were so fun, that I hope this ends up being a series where I can tag along with even more mysteries. And while I guessed the culprit pretty early on (the only thing keeping this from five stars), I still enjoyed the ride! This book was silly and fun, while tackling some more serious topics. I would highly recommend!

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook of She Doesn’t Have A Clue, and it was an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read. The story’s whodunit aspect kept me guessing until the very end, which is always a hallmark of a well-crafted mystery. Jenny Elder Moke’s writing seamlessly blended intrigue, humor, and twists, creating a story that was both fun and compelling.

The characters were relatable and entertaining, and the pacing of the narrative kept me hooked throughout. The audiobook narration enhanced the experience, drawing me deeper into the plot and adding layers to the story’s charm.

Overall, She Doesn’t Have A Clue is a fantastic choice for mystery lovers who enjoy clever twists and a touch of wit. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, intriguing read!

The narrator of this audiobook is Sarah Mollo-Christensen. In a rare experience for me, I found the narrators voice grating. This wasn't based on a narrative style choice by the narrator or anything. It's just one of those weird coincidences, I find the narrators voice works my nerves badly. I adore audiobooks, and I've found the narrator is crucial to my enjoyment of an audiobook. I did not really like this, and I think it was impacted by my finding the narrators voice wearying.

This is set at a destination wedding and is a mix of romance and mystery. In many ways, this felt a bit like it wasn't sure if it wanted to be a cozy mystery or a psychological thriller. Kate is a best-selling mystery author who is attending her ex-fiance's destination wedding. This had a great setup: isolated location, complicated backstory, and a dead body. I think had the author fully committed to the campy cozy storyline, this could've been a blast. Instead, it attempts to take itself too seriously while suffering from pacing issues.

Thank you to Jenny Elder Moke, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

This was such a fun read! It’s a mix of cozy mystery and romance (with just a little spice), which might be my new favorite genre! I loved the hijinks and crazy coincidences. The main character is an author with no sleuthing experience, who then throws herself into the role of primary investigator, which made for a great time!

I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the narration - especially the Australian accent she used for the love interest!

This book had it all: romance, drama, rich people and their problems, and wild animals! I had a fantastic time reading it, and would absolutely recommend!

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.

I enjoyed the witty banter and the romcom feels but I wanted it to have a bit more of a dark side too.

Kate Valentine, mystery writer, finds herself being invited to her ex-fiancé's wedding at an all-inclusive resort (isolated island). Not that that isn't awkward enough, entering stage left is her hot ex-crush who may or may not still have feelings for her too.

OK - back to the wedding. Oops! There's a dead body and a lot of family drama. Seems that the matriarch of the family has been murdered, and anyone could be the killer.

Secret rooms and passageways, rekindled flames, and a body in a plant - will the killer please come forward?

The poor bride-to-be still wants to just get married but everyone in this family seems to have their own agenda. Will there be a happy ending in this mess of a weekend?

Witty banter, hot Aussie and a cougar (wink wink) - not that kind!

Sure, Kate didn’t expect this to be the best weekend of her life—far from it actually—but she never expected this.

When mystery author Kate Valentine heads to the destination wedding of her former fiancé on a private island off the coast of Washington, she expects things to be uncomfortable. She still owes him a draft of her next book, and, well, he is marrying another woman after all.

But Kate didn’t have ending up in the middle of a real-life murder mystery in the center of a storm with fingers pointing her way and the man she’s always wanted by her side on her bingo card.

Honestly, who could predict that?

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery with a heavy romance plot. It’s a locked room mystery with quite the cast of characters all stuck together in a grand house that has seen better days. There’s family drama, work drama, and personal drama all paired with a former-friends-to-lovers romance.

It put a grin on my face.

I enjoyed Sarah Mollo-Christensen’s narration. She captures Kate’s relatability; I like how she narrates the portions where Kate tries to channel Loretta, the main character in her mystery series; and I enjoyed her accent for Jake, Kate’s unexpected, Australian wedding date.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio. All review opinions are my own.

Cute book but basically the same concept as another I just read without the Christmas holiday thrown in. Guests all invited to a location, people get poisoned, die, and the main female and male character team up to solve them. It keeps you guessing, which is the point, but it's doesn't draw you in. Maybe it was just my take on it since it was so similar to one I'd just read. The narrators did a great job with their parts which made it super easy to listen to. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a fun story for those who love cozy/sleuth mysteries and romances. This combines both into one story, with an inventive plot line that will fulfill both mystery and romance reader needs.

This story is written in single POV, which follows the female main character who is a successful mystery writer, thrown into a real life mystery at a remote wedding.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which is well done by a narrator I always enjoy listening to. I listened at 1.75x speed (with 1.75x speed being my normal audiobook listing speed).

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced listening copy.

I had a great time reading this book! We're following mystery author Kate who has agreed to attend her ex-fiance's high-end wedding set on a private island. He also happens to be her editor. Her friend Jake, that she has lost touch with, also shows up for the wedding. He's hot, he's Australian and he's her biggest romantic regret. During the festivities the bride is poisoned, and Kate happens upon a dead body, and the scenes are exactly like the plot of one of her mystery novels. Bad things keep happening and it looks like someone is trying to sabotage the wedding and everyone is pointing the finger at Kate. She is thrown into her very own real-life mystery and the only one she can trust is her sexy friend Jake, but she has a hard time focusing while he is around. They work closely together to do some sleuthing to try to find out who the killer is and clear Kate's name. I love Kate's personality. She is funny but also a bit of a hot mess. The banter and chemistry between Kate and Jake is so good. This is the perfect mash up of cozy mystery meets clue with a side of romance. This was such a fun read, and I really like the narrators.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillon Audio for an ARC of the audiobook. #NetGalley #SheDoesn'tHaveaClue