Jenny Elder Moke’s She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a delightful mystery filled with wit, charm, and a dash of heartfelt emotion. Known for her talent in crafting strong, relatable protagonists, Moke ventures into the cozy mystery genre with a lighthearted yet gripping tale that will keep readers entertained from start to finish.

The story follows [insert protagonist's name], an amateur sleuth who finds herself drawn into a perplexing case in her seemingly quiet town. With a knack for uncovering secrets and a penchant for stumbling into trouble, she must piece together clues while balancing her personal life, eccentric friends, and the unexpected twists that come her way.

Moke’s writing shines with humor and clever dialogue, making the protagonist’s voice engaging and endearing. The relationships in the story, whether romantic, platonic, or familial, are nuanced and authentic, adding depth to the narrative. The mystery itself is well-plotted, with enough red herrings and surprises to keep even seasoned mystery readers guessing.

The book’s setting is vividly described, capturing the cozy yet slightly eerie vibe essential to the genre. Moke deftly blends the comfort of a small-town setting with the suspense of a good whodunit, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the world she’s created.

While the story is primarily focused on solving the mystery, it also explores themes of self-discovery and resilience, adding layers of emotional resonance. Some readers might find the pacing slower in the middle chapters, but the payoff is worth it as the plot builds to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.

Rating: 4/5

She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a charming and entertaining read, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with strong female leads and plenty of humor. Whether you’re a longtime mystery lover or new to the genre, this book will leave you eager for more of Moke’s sleuthing adventures.

This was a fun whodunnit that felt a little like being in the middle of a game of Clue. I enjoyed the humor, the dash of romance, and the mystery of the story. The characters are a bit over the top, yet also relatable and that made it a delightful experience. The audiobook is well done and was a great way to read this suspenseful romantic comedy.

Fun, romantic, spooky - I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from the author. I highly recommend.

This is one of the best new mystery couples/sleuths that I have read in a while! The love triangle is thrilling and oh so steamy. As a self-proclaimed mystery buff, it can be hard to surprise me but I had no idea who the murderer was until Kate did. The author uses so many classic mystery tropes but employs them in a clever and entertaining way. The idea of a rom com and mystery mashup makes a hilarious and thrilling combo. Can’t wait to see what is next!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was such a fun combination of romcom and mystery. It felt like one of those Hallmark mystery movies.. There are so many characters and yet the story never feels overwhelming trying to remember who is who and what their motives are. There are so many great red herring moments.
The uncovering clues and secrets about the guests all around them is engaging. There is everything from gripping horror to family secrets to inheritance stealing to backstabbing and even a few love triangle moments.

I would definitely recommend this book to those looking for a cozy mystery, it was entertaining.

Thanks NetGalley for the audioarc to preview.

4-Star Review: A Fun and Intriguing Whodunit!

Jenny Elder Moke’s debut novel is a perfect mix of humor, mystery, and romance! Set on a remote island during a lavish wedding, it offers a locked-room mystery, colorful characters, and a second-chance romance that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Kate, the mystery writer at the heart of the story, is both relatable and chaotic, often hilariously overestimating her detective skills. Jake, the charming romantic lead, is the perfect counterpart to Kate’s chaotic energy, and their dynamic adds great tension to the story! The stormy island setting, with secret rooms and a poisoned bride, creates plenty of suspense and humor.

The supporting characters are memorable, and the plot twists kept me guessing. This is a fantastic blend of mystery and romance that I recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for my review.

This was such a fun and unique whimsical myster/romcom, that I highly recommend. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work

when kate- a very famous author gets an invite to her ex fiancé's wedding she can't refuse. On her journey to island where he's getting married she runs into her ex best friend who could have been more and she thinks what else could go wrong. after getting to island the bride is almost poisoned in the same way of one of her books and the finger is pointed at her. can she figure out who is the attempted murderer and what their motive is and save the wedding.

Jenny Elder Moke’s She Doesn’t Have a Clue is a delightful and cleverly plotted mystery brimming with wit, intrigue, and a touch of romance. When bestselling author Kate Valentine reluctantly attends her ex-fiancé’s extravagant island wedding, she doesn’t expect her weekend to resemble one of her own Loretta Starling novels—but that’s exactly what happens when the bride is poisoned and bodies start piling up. Packed with sharp dialogue, colorful characters, and enough twists to keep you guessing, the story blends humor and suspense seamlessly. The stormy setting and rekindled tension with charming "Hostralian" Jake Hawkins add even more layers to this irresistible whodunit.

She Doesn’t Have A Clue by Jenny Elder Moke, Kate Valentine is attending her agent/ex fiancé‘s wedding to Kennedy. All she wants to do is get through these two days and with a little bit of wine, she wants to call it done and dusted. unfortunately, for Kate, the first wrench in her plans is getting on the boat that will bring her to the private island. Kennedy’s family owns where the wedding is going to be. because there is where she finds Jake Hawkins, a very fresh romantic regret. when the bride is poisoned just like a character in her amateur slueth series, hello second wrench, but when she is made to look like the murderer, she really starts to lose track of all the tools interrupting her plans. The only thing that a certain and steadfast is that Jake is the only one it seems on her side, but will her amateur detective skills help her solve the multiple crimes/murders or will she need real life intervention? will she even live long enough to tell Jake how she truly feels? I listen to the Kindle book and the audio version of this novel. what I started the audio with Sarah Molow-Christensen’s no reason there was no way I was going back to the kindle book. She said such a great tone and is such a great storyteller along with awesome characterization, and in my opinion makes her one of the most topknoch narrators. I have listened to. I don’t know if it’s just me or the narrators are getting way better but the past few audiobooks I have listened to has had some really great narration and that definitely includes this book. It was funny and I mean lol fall on the floor, laughing funny and you can definitely see how Kate was swoony over Jake. if this was a first book in a cozy mystery series, I would definitely sign up to read the rest. It really was an awesome awesome book! #NetGalley, #McMillanAudio, #JennyElderMoke, #SheDoesn’tHaveAClue,

A fun romance-mystery by Jenny Elder Moke. Kate, a cozy mystery author, attends her ex-fiancés/boss’ wedding and ends up in the middle of a murder. Kate is on a remote island staying at luxurious estate when a storm hits the island and all the guests are trapped without access or communications to the mainland.

Highly entertaining romcom/murder mystery - advanced readers audiobook

Thank you #macmillian.audio for providing this ALC for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
She Doesn’t Have a Clue is the first in a series of adult mystery rom-coms. Sign me up for all of them because this is JUST WHAT I LOVE in a book. It starts strong and my enthusiasm for the story and its characters never waned.

Kate Valentine is a mystery writer and calls on inspiration from her fictional main character, Loretta Starling, when she finds herself embroiled in a real mystery at an island wedding. It has some book-within-a-book and everyone-is-a-suspect elements that I enjoy. Kate has someone willing to help her with the mystery and there is tension, banter and fun surrounding this pairing. I LOVE IT.

She Doesn’t Have a Clue has that combo of fun mystery vibes and humor akin to The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, the Finlay Donovan series, and the Stephanie Plum series, but a bit more romance, which I am all about.

Sarah Mollo-Christensen was truly remarkable performing this audiobook. I always marvel when a narrator must juggle so many characters and accents. Her Australian and American English accents were impressive, she mastered men and women, and I didn’t have any issues keeping the many characters straight.

This book releases on January 21, 2025 and I highly recommend a pre-order!

5/5 stars
10 hours 24 minutes at 1x on audio
Location: a private island off of Washington state called Hempstead Island

I honestly wasn’t sure if this was going to be my kind of book but I loved every minute of it. I didn’t see it coming until the main character pieced it all together. It was so enjoyable and the narrator did such a great job. Absolutely loved this.

She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is a delightful mix of mystery, romance, and humor, set against the backdrop of a luxurious wedding on a private island. The premise of a bestselling mystery author stumbling upon a real-life crime at her ex-fiancé’s wedding is both engaging and clever, offering plenty of twists and turns. Moke brings a colorful cast of characters to life, each with their own secrets and motivations, and her sharp writing keeps the reader intrigued. Kate Valentine, the protagonist, is relatable and flawed, which makes her journey through this unexpected mystery both entertaining and authentic. The romantic tension between Kate and her former lover, Jake, adds a layer of complexity that fans of second-chance romance will appreciate.

However, while the story’s blend of mystery and romance is enjoyable, the pacing at times feels uneven, with moments of tension being overshadowed by lengthy descriptions or the chaotic nature of the wedding. The resolution of the mystery may also feel a little too neatly tied up, with a few character motivations left somewhat underexplored. Despite these minor drawbacks, Moke’s writing is engaging enough to keep readers hooked, and the setting, along with the quirky characters, makes for an enjoyable, if not entirely unpredictable, read. She Doesn't Have a Clue is perfect for readers seeking a light, entertaining mystery with a dash of romance.

"She Doesn’t Have a Clue" by Jenny Elder Moke is such a fun murder/romcom! I’ll be real—I clocked the big bad almost immediately, but the twists and turns had me second-guessing myself more than once. It’s got big Knives Out energy, blended with a splash of Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars—and the best part? Someone in the book literally calls this out.

Kate is an absolute blast to follow. She knows she’s flawed but actually works on herself throughout the story, which I totally appreciated. As for Jake...ugh, I wanted to like him, but he drove me up the wall sometimes. Dude needed to own his lack of communication instead of pointing fingers.

There were a few detours in the plot that felt unnecessary, but overall, the journey was so worth it. And can we talk about the audiobook? Sarah Mollo-Christensen crushed it! Not every narrator nails multiple voices, but she shifted between characters and genders effortlessly. Her narration pulled me in and never broke the vibe. She’s seriously next-level, and I’ll definitely be checking out more of her work.

All in all, I had a great time with this book, and I’m so grateful for the early read. Definitely recommend if you’re into clever whodunits with a romcom twist!

4.5 stars
This is a fun, entertaining read. Jake and Kate are interesting, relatable, intriguing, complex, wounded, flawed, strong, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. The mystery was fun to read and sucked me just as much as the romance. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a cute romance/murder- mystery novel. I feel like the premise for this locked room mystery was excellent, but the execution was just ok. The MFC, Kate, is likeable despite her flaws and she does experience personal growth during the course of the story which is nice. There are several genuinely funny moments that I enjoyed. I listened to the audio book and felt that the narrator did a fantastic job of using different voices for each character to help distinguish them from each other. It focused a little too heavily on the romance for me with the romance at times actually getting in the way of the protagonist solving the crime and protecting other potential victims.
Thank you to #netgalley and #Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Engaging characters and a secluded island setting make She Doesn’t Have a Clue a highly enjoyable cozy mystery. I love the idea of a mystery writer solving a crime with the voice of her highly-successful, sleuthing character in her head the whole time. The mash-up of a second-chance romance and a “locked-room” mystery is a creative and fun premise.

A small publishing house with disgruntled authors, a dysfunctional wealthy family fighting over the estate, an ex-friend/crush along with a handful of secondary characters come together for a wedding on the family’s private island. Instead they endure a significant storm, power outages, sabotage, and murder. Everyone is on edge, and our main character and narrator, Kate Valentine is every guest’s prime suspect since she used to date the groom.

A cute cover and a cute re-encounter of Kate and Jake, an attempted murder and an actual murder, and a fumbling mystery writer turned sleuth make this a laugh-out-loud cozy mystery with a romantic twist and a very good read. I thoroughly enjoyed this highly entertaining story, and I am hopeful for a second book featuring the Charlie and Juliette characters.

The audio book is excellently narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen.

4.5 stars

I was not the right audience for this book. I thought that it would be mainly a mystery with a side plot of romance, but the romance was so in the way that when the main characters thought they knew who the murderer was, they paused worrying about it to have sex.

I enjoy romance when it feels realistic, but I couldn’t buy into their relationship because I couldn’t buy into Kate’s character. Her dialogue and choices read like she was a teenager rather than a full adult. The mystery was interesting, but the plot was choppy, like it was trying too hard to balance being two different things. If I found Kate more likeable, this would have been easier to overlook, but there wasn’t much to hold onto.

I did enjoy the narrator for this audiobook.

ARC received from Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.

If you loved Knives Out and Nancy Drew, here is a book for you.

Kate writes mysteries for a living, but her life in launched into one when she attends a wedding on a remote island off the coast of Washington. From poison to sabotage to family arguments to way too much wine, so many things are going wrong and Kate finds herself wondering what would her protagonist Loretta Starling do in this situation?

She Doesn't Have a Clue was such a fun mystery with loads of humor and suspense. I really enjoyed the FMC Kate and her stumbling fish out of water investigating. Jake the Australian as the love interest was a nice touch. The audiobook was extremely well done and the narrator did an excellent job giving each character their own distinct voice, especially Jake's deeper Australian accent.

Tropes:
* Locked room
* Forced proximity
* Stormy nights
* Inheritance drama
* Ex lovers

4.5 stars