I absolutely adored this. It was an absolute joy to read! Once I started, I just didn’t want to stop. It was the perfect mix of romance and mystery. The narration is fantastic. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this audiobook ARC!

3.25
I was here for the romance portion of this book and eventually got there for the murder mystery component. I love that Kate (a mystery writer) is attending her exes wedding on a private island with various other writers/publishers/literary people, because why not. I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth between the character (Loretta) she created and her own parallels. I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the potential suspects and each of their motives, however I thought the solving of the mystery was entertaining in the not-so-fun estate on the island.

It gave me a bit of Finley Donovan vibes, which I think is a compliment since its a 5 book series (and the characters in this book know how hard a series is).

Also, I thoroughly enjoyed this as an audiobook. I think the narrators fit the characters well.

What a joy to listen to! This audiobook was the perfect mix of humor, mystery, and romance!

When Kate, a murder-mystery author, gets invited to the wedding of her ex-fiancé, she is roomed with her long-time crush Jake Hawkins. Then, when an attempted murder begins to look suspiciously like the murders from Kate's books, Kate is desperate to prove herself innocent and become a detective herself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story; it had me laughing, gasping, and swooning! All of the characters involved in this story were joyful additions to the plot, adding depth to the mystery and to Kate. I loved Jake and Kate's past, their (sabotaged) miscommunication was actually quite sweet, although my heart hurt for them and their time wasted. I was slightly disappointed with Jake's attitude and actions in the 3rd act, but he redeemed himself in the end!

Do I think Kennedy deserves better and Spencer is basically a wet-noddle? Yes. But I still adored the plot twists in this story!

Thank you so much for granting me this ARC, the narrator did an amazing job of captivating Kate's personality and the many tones this story had!!

Thank you so much for the chance to have an early listen to this audiobook! I loved the characters and the banter between the MCs. The plot was very reminiscent of Every-time I go on vacation someone dies which I also loved. Definitely a fun read!

This book was so much fun. I’m not a fan of the narrator, but this book hooked me and kept me interested. It was fun and sweet and I couldn’t wait to finish it to see how it would end.

🎧 Book Review 🎧 I feel as though it is inevitable to attend a wedding with an ex present, it’s a whole new level when the groom is your ex-fiancé -yikes! Add another former romantic love interest, handsome Australian hottie, Jake, as a fake date for the weekend on an island and the whole thing is a steam pot about to explode. But the weekend is off to a rocky start when it’s more than just some old feelings stirred up and the bride is almost poisoned and dead bodies turn up. I love a good whodunnit thriller and I love a rom com, put them together and it is the perfect combination! She Doesn’t Have a Clue is the book for all those mystery lovers out there who might just wear a heart on one sleeve and their crime solving kit up their other one. Jenny Elder Moke creates an entertaining and flawless blend of the genres that seamlessly flow like champagne at happy hour and Sarah Mollo-Christensen narrates the book like a toast at said nuptials. She Doesn't Have a Clue is a real treat and while coming back from this destination wedding is no guarantee, this one is a definite yes to RSVP to!

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.


I really enjoyed this one! If Knives Out or the Stephanie Plum novels, this may be the book for you! I thought this was such a fun cozy mystery with the FMC, Kate, a mystery writer, has the opportunity to do some amateur sleuthing. I loved Jake and Kate’s bonding. I thought that the balance between romance and mystery was well balanced and I found myself being drawn in to the mystery of it all. The narrator, Sarah Molly-Christensen, did an awesome job with creating suspense and intrigue throughout the plot. I look forward to reading more from this author and listening to more from this narrator in the future.

Closed Door Modifications: Ch 26, 34

This book was just ok for me. I listened to the audio as an advanced listener copy & the audio itself was good. 3.5 stars, maybe 4 even. The narrator’s cadence didn’t feel forced; they were paced well & brought some variation to the characters.

The story itself is what I just thought was meh. It felt like the author tried to meld a cozy mystery with a cozy romance and it just didn’t land.

If the story was developed in either direction, I think they would both work and be quite good, actually.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listener copy.

I really enjoyed this romantic mystery novel that follows mystery author Kate Valentine to her ex-fiancé’s wedding. Her plus one is Jake Hawkins, the Hotstralian one who got away. As the wedding festivities progress, Kate keeps finding dead bodies, making her a prime suspect, especially when one of the targeted people is her ex-fiancé’s bride.

Not only was this a fun, locked room mystery but there was some great romantic sizzle here as well. I really like Kate and Jake as a pair and as sleuths. I’m unsure if the author plans to make this a series, but I would love it if she did.

Sarah Mollo-Christensen did a fantastic job as the narrator. The nuances in her voice as she portrayed each character made it easy to listen to and enjoyable.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke
Narrator: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 1/21

Thank you so much to SMP for my advanced copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Kate Valentine is a bestselling mystery author who reluctantly agrees to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding. Things take a wild turn when the bride is poisoned, a dead body shows up, and Kate finds herself living out a plot straight from her own books. Teaming up with her biggest "what-if," Jake Hawkins, she dives into a maze of grudges, secrets, and lies to uncover the truth.

This is the perfect mix of a rom-com and a locked-door mystery. It’s a fun ride with quirky characters and lots of twists and turns. There are plenty of red herrings and “wait, what?!” moments that make it hard to put down.

Kate is a bit of a mess at the start and it’s great watching her find her confidence again. The romance between her and Jake is slow-burn perfection—just the right mix of tension and sweet moments. While the pacing dips a little in the middle, once the story picks up, it’s a total page-turner until the end.

With murder, drama, and some swoon-worthy romance, this one really has it all. I loved the audio version with Sarah Mollo-Christensen really bringing all the characters to life!

If you love mysteries with a side of romance and lots of juicy secrets, you’ve got to check this one out!

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke was an entertaining book, and I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the novel. The characters were fun and kept me engaged, especially the FMC. She’s a bestselling crime thriller author who draws inspiration from the heroine in her books when things get overwhelming.

The twist ending kept me guessing, and the setting of a historic mansion on a private island off the coast of Seattle added an atmospheric touch that elevated the story. The secluded location, combined with the stormy weather and opulent wedding backdrop, created the perfect setting for a mystery.

Our FMC, Kate Valentine, is a bestselling mystery author who ends up at her ex-fiancé’s wedding—a lavish affair on a remote island. She plans to fake smiles, sip champagne, and finish her latest manuscript, but things take a deadly turn when the bride is poisoned and a body turns up. Suddenly, Kate finds herself caught in a real-life mystery that mirrors her fictional plots. With a storm trapping everyone on the island and tensions running high, Kate must figure out who the killer is—and the only person willing to help her is Jake Hawkins, her biggest romantic regret.

This was an entertaining read with a mix of mystery and romance. While it didn’t leave a lasting impression, it was a fun ride from start to finish. I’d recommend it as a quick, light read or a palette cleanser between heavier books.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books, for the ARC & ALC of this novel.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a cozy mystery with a romantic flair that will take readers to a remote island for a stormy wedding, and a murder or two.

Kate’s a successful author of a mystery series starring Loretta, but in her real life she is not a well put together leading lady. When she is invited to the wedding of her ex-fiancé publishing agent, she finds herself on an isolated island in a very rich family’s manor, with her Australian ex Blake to boot. But when the body’s start dropping and Kate is framed, she must partner up with Blake to solve the mysteries before she ends up behind bars.

This was the perfect mix of a cozy mystery and romance in one. I really appreciated how funny this book is - Kate is self deprecating and ridiculous, with some hilarious quirks about her. The cast of the wedding party, extended family, and publishing house adding a fun layer to the mystery of the plot, as almost everyone is hiding something and is deceiving people down every turn. This was an easy audio to listen to - I’d recommend using a higher speed of 1.5 or more, and the narrator is very easy to understand. I felt the balance between the mystery and romance was also perfect - it was not closed door but it is by no means an erotic tale, and the romantic part of the book makes perfect sense within the plot and I don’t feel like it took away from the mystery plot lines.

I really enjoyed this one and if you’re a cozy mystery fan who also likes romance, I’d give this one a go.

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is the first book I've read by the author - I was also able to listen to the audiobook ahead of its release thanks to NetGalley, the author, St.Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio.

I had high hopes for the book based on the summary and the first few chapters. I'm all about a story that takes place on an isolated island, during a storm, with the main female character attending the wedding of an ex-fiancee while a wealthy family is fighting over an estate. Usually those events make for a suspenseful and thrilling read!

However, in the end, I found the novel to be silly more than anything else. Perhaps it's just me but if a group of people accused me of murder, a spicy romp with a long-admired person would be the last thing on my mind.

There were multiple times throughout the story when Kate, the main female character, found herself in a sticky situation that made her look like she was still holding a flame for her ex-fiancee and was actively trying to sabotage his wedding. And instead of facing the problems herself, she tapped into the fictional character she's writing about - Loretta who is a detective by day and a bartender by night. Then, after tapping into the Loretta part of her brain, she was frequently distracted by Jake - the gorgeous Australian former-surfer turned thrilling adventure tour guide who travels the world. Jake was also a character in Kate's book series whom she calls Blake.

When a member of the feuding wealthy family member dies, Kate's actions are dealt with in a silly, rather than serious, manner. Even if this was marketed as more of a cozy mystery, it was still improbable that Kate would obsess over Jake and her physical attraction to him.

I rated this three stars in the end. While it was absolutely entertaining, especially the audiobook, I found the characters and plot rather foolish. However, I would still absolutely recommend the book especially if you enjoy a preposterous cozy mystery mixed with some spice or if you need a mindless and light read.

The author's passion shines through in this book. The characters were great enemies to lovers. I just didn’t connect with it like I wanted to. It has great potential to appeal to other romance readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I had fun with this book. I enjoyed the second chance at romance a bit more than the mystery (which was still fun!). The mystery has family drama unraveling like a yarn ball. It just keeps going in a "can't look away" kind of way - it felt to me like a romcom version of the Inheritance Games with murder sprinkled in. I enjoyed the awkward to sizzling chemistry of the love interests so much. I also liked the MC's occupation of being an author of mystery novels, and how she draws on her book's main character for guidance. The narration of the audiobook was good - Mollo-Christensen did a good job. I didn't have pacing issues and thought each scene flowed to the next. This was a fun one.

Thank you NetGalley, Jenny Elder Moke, and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC of this book.

If you are a fan of Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Knives Out then this murder mystery is for you! This book had so many twists and turn that I did not see the killer reveal coming!

I found Kate's character to be super quirky but her constant need to use her fictional sleuth as a crutch to solve the mystery got a little annoying towards the end! I really enjoyed chemistry that Kate has with Jake's character brought to Kate's life. The witty banter and spicy scenes were excellent! While I did enjoy these two characters I wish there had been better communication between the two since they are adults.

This book takes place at a wedding but sometimes I was very confused on how all the characters were actually connected especially when it came to understand the inheritance that a few characters were fighting over.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the performance by Sarah Mollo-Christensen was well done!

Promoted as half mystery, half romance, I was excited to read this. Unfortunately, it seemed off balance with the romance part being much more interesting. I would have liked more of that storyline. The mystery side contained multiple whiny characters fussing about their possible inheritance. The female lead did not show much growth in her self-confidence which made her seem immature at times.

Kate is an author, famous for writing mysteries about Loretta Starling. Her editor happens to be her ex-fiancé and she finds herself on a private island attending his wedding when she finds herself in a real life mystery…and the only person helping Kate is Jake. Jake is Kate’s biggest romantic regret in life, and due to a mix-up, they are also forced to share a room.

This book was a fairly cozy mystery with a touch of romance mixed in. It was pretty lighthearted, which was fun, but not quite what I was expecting from a mystery dealing with murder and poisonings. It never really felt like the characters were scared of what was happening on the island and I would have enjoyed a bit more suspense. While it started pretty slowly as all of the characters were introduced, the plot really picked up in the second half of the book. It was a little predictable, but overall a fun read for those who are looking for a lighter mystery.

I listened to the audio and really enjoyed the narrator. All of the characters had easily distinguishable voices which really added to the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Think lock-door cozy mystery that takes place in a spooky mansion with a wedding backdrop and a sweet second chance romance. If this sounds good to you and you are a fan of whodunits with a romantic twist then She Doesn’t Have a Clue is definitely one that you should check out!

Bestselling mystery author, Kate Valentine arrives at the high-end wedding of her ex-fiance/editor on a private island with the hopes of finishing the first draft of her latest book. Kate is soon taken off course however when she stumbles upon a dead body after learning that the bride was poisoned and ends up searching for clues with her longtime crush. Discovering the identity of the killer proves difficult as it seems everyone has something to hide. Will Kate get a clue before disaster strikes again?

Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narrator, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, did such a great job portraying all of the different characters in the story. How she kept everyone straight is beyond me but each character had a slightly unique voice to match their distinctive personalities. I did have to pay close attention while listening though or I found myself losing the plot and it was sometimes hard to keep track of everything that was happening so if there was one drawback to the book then this was it.

Overall though, it was an enjoyable read/listen and one that I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a cozy mystery this winter!

A delightful mix of romance, mystery, and character development, She Doesn't Have a Clue is my favorite type of romance novel. With a strong current of twists and turns, the pacing keeps up throughout the story. The chemistry between the two characters is sexy, tender, and exciting.