To be honest, it was difficult for me to get over the fact that this book spoils the plot of an Agatha Christie novel in detail. I know that Christie's novels are many decades old at this point, but it still felt off-putting to have such a deliberate reveal in a fellow mystery novel. Otherwise the book was often charming and winking at genre tropes and the real life Detective Plug. I appreciate the author's clear knowledge and love for classic murder mysteries, but the emotional plot points were a bit rote. I wouldn't press this into a reader's hands, but I wouldn't try to dissuade someone from reading it either. Would be interested to see what this author does next.

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess is a delightful entry in the cozy mystery genre. Our main character, Cath, travels to England for a murder mystery vacation. She is lucky to meet great sidekicks Amity and Wyatt as roommates, co-detectives, and friends. Along the way, she uncovers family secrets and starts to finally grieve over her mother and their fraught relationship.

I love that this is a cozy with a very good, yet solvable mystery, if you follow the clues. I admit that I did not guess the “killer” of the mystery game before the denouement. The characters are diverse, quirky but relatable, not always what they seem, and there is a good bit of character development for Cath as she steps out of her comfort zone. The second mystery about why Cath’s mother wanted her to travel to this particular place is just as good and provides and emotional weight to the story that I don’t usually see in a cozy. The small village setting is charming, and I enjoyed all of the random fun facts about some of the places and things that exist in the Peak District in England.

I’m a little sad that I couldn’t put this down and finished so quickly, because I would really like to still be caught up in this fun, sweet world, hanging out with these folks, having a gin cocktail.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.

5 stars

This was a fun, light-hearted, cozy murder mystery set in England that also touches on themes of grief and found family. It's written in such a way that you can read simply to read or also look for clues yourself to find out whodunnit. I really enjoyed and would read more from this author.

Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #WelcomeToMurderWeek by Karen Dukess!

Welcome to Murder Week has all the ingredients for a 21st century cozy read: a cute British village, a fake murder mystery, an emotional journey, and a cast of quirky characters. There is a lot going on in this book. A real mystery. A fake mystery. Finding love. And, finding oneself.

The book follows Cath, a 34 year old woman stumbling upon her late mother’s surprise murder mystery vacation and deciding to take the trip herself when she cannot get a full refund. She ends up bunking with two additional solo travelers - Amity and Wyatt. Amity is a 50 something, recently divorced romance writer who loves reading cozy mysteries. Wyatt is a proud, lively, and theatrical man who currently works for his ornithophile husband at a store selling various bird watching/birding supplies, but is sent on this trip solo to figure out his passions (unbeknownst to him). The dynamics between Cath and her cottage-mates add a much needed warmth and humor to the story. Not only does the trio aim to solve the faux mystery set before them, but they also set out to solve the mystery that Cath's mother left behind (Oh! And, a side quest of finding love in unexpected places?)

That said, the pacing drags in places, the storyline seems weighed down, and the emotional moments don't always hit as hard as they’re meant to (or at the right moment). The mystery element is fun, but not especially gripping, and while the writing is thoughtful, it occasionally leans too heavily into cliché.

When thirty-four-year-old Cath loses her mostly absentee mother, she is ambivalent. With days of quiet, unassuming routine in Buffalo, New York, Cath consciously avoids the impulsive, thrill-seeking lifestyle that her mother once led. But when she’s forced to go through her mother’s things one afternoon, Cath is perplexed to find tickets for an upcoming “murder week” in England’s Peak. Convinced by her friends to go and embrace this as a much needed vacation, Cath teams up with her two cottage-mates, both ardent mystery lovers—Wyatt and Amity, to solve the “crime” and unravel shocking truths about her mother along the way.
I love murder mysteries and I used to read so many cozy mysteries, I was excited by the idea of an interactive murder week taking place in the English countryside. Added bonus that the main character is from my hometown. Buffalo, NY is almost never set as a location in popular fiction. Overall I enjoyed the story and found the ending particularly charming. This is much more about grief, and trauma, and forgiveness than I was expecting. I really went in just thinking this was a fluffy cozy mystery novel. But the story behind her absentee mother quickly became more interesting than the fake murder that was the premise of the plot (although the reveal of the fake murderer did Poirot proud). Also, I had a very hard time connecting to Cath. I think her actions and motivations were very well explained, but she was hard to like. Amity and Wyatt were the best characters in the story and made Cath much more likeable. But the writing was really good and I was invested and glad I had the opportunity to read this.
Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press, and Karen Dukess for the free eArc in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this upcoming release. This was my first cozy mystery and it lives up to its description. This felt very low stakes — from the “murder” to the mystery, you could dive in while feeling confident that you wouldn’t have to stress the outcome. The characters are warm and quirky. The romance is slow and charming. Overall, this was my cup of tea, but I can certainly see the appeal of enjoying it with one on a rainy day.

A murder mystery in a small cozy town? What more can you want? Not only did I devour this book and love it but I also now want to move haha I am obsessed. I preordered this as soon as I put it down!! I loved it!

Cozy English village? Lovable characters? Great pacing? A mystery to solve? YES, please! I loved Welcome to Murder Week, devouring it completely, even staying up wayyyy tooo late to get to the end. I'll be recommending this one to everyone!

A murder mystery week vacation in a quaint English village?! How soon should I pack my bags?

An exciting and unique idea for a murder mystery novel, no actual murder! While going through her estranged late mother's things, Cath discovers a non-refundable trip for two to a Murder Mystery Week in a small village in England. Cath reluctantly decides to go on the trip and meets an endearing cast of characters along the way.

As a side note, I loved the GBBO references! I always say how sweet it is to see how much the contestants help one another on the show, it was nice to see that sportsmanship recognized in print.

This one ended up being a DNF for me I just couldn't get into the story and that's a first for me as I love mysteries of all kinds.

What a cute book! I like the idea of a Murder Week held in a small English town, especially since I just came back from a small town in Wales. There was definitely a romance storyline in this and while I don't need the main character in a mystery to have a love interest, I wasn't sad about it. I expected a real murder to happen while the fake investigating was going on, and when it didn't, I appreciated that things went in a different direction. My least favorite was the storyline about Cath's mom and my favorite was the relationship between Cath and her fellow sleuths Amity and Wyatt. I actually wanted to know more about the other visitors, too, especially Bix and Selena. I would definitely read more books by the author - and maybe more about Cath!

This book is perfect for people who love those PBS/BBC cozy murder mysteries (Agatha Raisin, Father Brown, etc.) set in remote English villages. It's a bit different from the "a new dead body cropping up every week" premise, but still has that similar intrigue. And there's a subplot that provides a historical familial mystery as well. Overall, it was a quick whodunit read.

I found the premise of the book to be fun. Cath is drawn into a week in England for a fake murder mystery. This comes about after going through some of her recently passed mother's things. There is a dual storyline happening through the book. Cath tries to figure out why her mother would have arranged for the mystery murder trip with her when they are estranged. At the same time Cath has teamed up with her two flatmates to solve the fake murder. The fake murder is fun to see unfold and the relationships form between the three of them. Cath figures out some long hidden truths about her mother. I found it to keep my attention and wonder what was going to happen next. A great light mystery read

super fun and cozy mystery that's got a very fun plot and the good idea of doing a fake murder mystery in the book! 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

3.75 stars

Quirky novel about a fictional and a real mystery colliding. Main character Cath is fairly normal, but she has real and justifiable fear of commitment -- her mother basically moved out when she was 9 and appeared only sporadically after that. So when her mother died suddenly of a stroke, Cath was stunned to find out that she had bought a trip to a mystery themed British vacation for the two of them.

So Cath goes to England not knowing exactly what to expect. Her two cottage roommates, Amity and Wyatt, are perfect company, and they plunge into interviewing locals and trying to solve the fictional murder. But along the way, Cath tries to discover why her mother booked this trip. She keeps finding out more and more and uncovering old secrets about her family. And she meets a man who makes her question why she keeps running away from love. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess is an intriguing and heartwarming blend of suspense, mystery, and personal discovery. Thirty-four-year-old Cath Little is taken aback when she finds tickets for a murder mystery week in the Peak District of England among her late mother’s belongings. Even more surprising, her mother had intended for Cath to join her on the trip—something that doesn’t align with her mother’s usual disinterest in mysteries or travel. With no way to return the ticket, Cath reluctantly heads to England, where she’s drawn into the village’s staged mystery.

The premise of a quaint English village hosting a week-long murder mystery for tourists is immediately captivating, and Dukess brings the picturesque setting to life with vivid descriptions of the English countryside. But it’s not just the setting that draws you in; the characters are equally compelling. As Cath delves into solving the staged mystery, she uncovers unexpected connections and life-changing discoveries that bring her closer to understanding her mother's motives.

What starts as a quirky whodunit soon becomes a journey of self-reflection and personal growth. Welcome to Murder Week expertly balances suspense and heart, with surprises at every turn. It’s a charming, thoughtful read perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and character-driven stories, offering a delightful escape into a world where new beginnings and hidden truths await.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC review • pub date 06.10.25

This was just the lighthearted, heartwarming cozy read that I needed!

Cath is cleaning out some of her mother’s things after she passes, and finds a ticket to England for a murder mystery week. She wasn’t close to her mother, but she had apparently planned the trip for the two of them. While there, Cath meets Wyatt & Amity and the three of them try to solve the pretend murder. In the meantime, they’re also trying to find answers as to why Cath’s mother wanted them to visit this place.

I really recommend this story if you’re looking for a palate cleanser or just a fun, quick read.

4⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for my ARC.

4.5 stars. This book is an absolute gem. Not all authors can write about the grief journey with the perfect mixture of lightness and deep feels. This is an excellent example of grief written with skill. I loved the ragtag bunch of characters and the character arc of the FMC Cath. The setting in a sleepy English town in the midst of a Murder Mystery week superimposed with Cath’s journey towards healing was heartwarming and fun.

Thirty-four year old Cath Little discovers tickets for two to a murder mystery week in a small village in the Peak District of England in her estranged mother’s belongings after her death and she is shocked to learn that her mother intended for Cath to accompany her in the trip. As far as Cath knows her mother had no interest in mysteries or England.

Her ticket isn’t refundable so Cath decides to take the trip and is paired with two other solo travelers, Wyatt Green, who is unhappily employed at his husband’s bird store and Amity Clark, a fifty-ish divorced romance writer. Can the team solve the murder mystery put on by the town and maybe determine why Cathy’s mother planned the trip?

I occasionally enjoy a good cozy mystery but I don’t adore every single one that comes along. However this was well done and fans of the genre will LOVE it, especially since it isn’t a series. Cath is great, there are some fun townspeople and the mystery surrounding Cath’s mom is interesting. Good stuff!

A delightful, low-stakes cozy mystery that's perfect to read while curling up with a cup of tea and fantasizing about a trip to England along with main character Cath, who's there to take part in a small town's murder mystery week. The main mystery of the book is why Cath's mom, who recently passed away, wanted the two of them to attend, so it was more a story of family and love than a twisty mystery.