Billie is a young woman waiting for her life to start a new exciting chapter after completing college. It’s 1964 in Maine, and life is moving way too slow for her. She is stuck in a seamstress job while submitting applications each week; and drowns herself in romance novels while wishing something, anything, exciting, will happen. When Billie receives a love letter and engagement ring addressed to Gertrude, life starts to get interesting. Add in handsome and rich Avery and a dead body, and you won’t be able to put the book down, I loved the references to 60’sfashion and the rules of etiquette that start each chapter.

I regret that I cannot embrace the main character in this book or the plotting and find that I am unable to finish reading it.

One of the most twisted plots I have ever read. Pay close attention as you read. Set in Maine in the 1960s, Billie is bright, and bored. Over the next year her life changes as she meets a man and investigates 3 murders

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Finished! ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 -no spice

Imagine Eloise Bridgerton as a detective in the 1960s—think ballgowns, witty flirtation, and a murder mystery—to capture the essence of this novel.

Billie, a linguist currently working at Primp and Ribbon Alterations, receives a love letter and diamond ring mailed to her address but intended for someone named Gertrude. Before she can fully process the discovery, she’s caught of guard by Avery, the handsome son of the prominent Webster family. What follows is witty, playful banter that leads Billie straight into an exclusive ball—and an unexpected murder investigation.

This no-spice mystery romance is a fun, intriguing read. The chemistry between the main characters is engaging, and while I managed to piece together most of the mystery, there were still enough surprises to keep me interested. With clever linguistic references woven throughout, this book is perfect for the language enthusiast, fans of slow-burn romance, or a bit of sleuthing.

This was really a fun book to read. I can imagine the Maine coast in the 1960s. I couldn't put it down until I reached the end. Cozy and mysterious is good.

charming and bingeable book with a protagonist who's full of depth and intrigue and an assortment of interesting characters surrounding it. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I am obsessed with this book. I haven’t had this much fun reading in a long time. It was thrilling and exhilarating. It was romantic and swoon-worthy. It had me dying for more the second it ended.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Etiquette for Lovers and Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy is an intriguing blend of romance, mystery, and historical fiction, set against the scenic backdrop of 1960s Maine. This debut novel follows Billie McCadie, a young woman stuck in a small-town routine, until her life is turned upside down by a series of mysterious events. A love letter, an engagement ring meant for someone else, and a shocking murder all lead Billie on an unexpected journey that uncovers secrets, danger, and even a touch of romance.

Healy's writing is sharp, witty, and immersive, making it easy for readers to get lost in Billie’s world. The tension builds steadily, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. The blend of humor, suspense, and romance is perfectly balanced, making for an entertaining and heart-pounding read. Billie is a wonderfully relatable protagonist, navigating the complexities of being an unexpected heroine while still holding onto her sense of curiosity and charm.

Set in the stunning coastal Maine, the book’s setting is as much a character as the people in it, adding layers of atmosphere and intrigue to the plot. Healy’s historical details from the 1960s also provide a rich backdrop that enhances the novel’s mood.

For fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of romance and a dash of historical flair, Etiquette for Lovers and Killers is an absolute gem. With its intriguing premise, clever writing, and engaging characters, this is a book that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait to see what Anna Fitzgerald Healy has in store for us next.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc of Etiquette for Lovers and Killers. This is a cozy murder mystery that takes place in Main in the 1960's. This book was really good and a quick read.

In the 1960's, in a small town in Maine, Billie is longing for the kind of life that she reads about in her romance novels. Unfortunately for her, the only eligible bachelors in town are rough fishermen, an overprotective cop and the "summer folk" wealthy who look down on the year-round "townies."
In a chance encounter with Avery, the younger son of one of those wealthy summer families, Billie gets the romantic attention that she's been craving. But when her first invitation to the mansion ends with a woman's murder, which is quickly hushed up by the local police, Billie feels she must find out more about the intriguing red-headed Gertrude and what lead up to her murder.

Billie makes an interesting character, both vulnerable and wise-ass. As she puts the pieces together to solve Gertrude's murder, she has some big decisions to make with the knowledge that she now has. A romance script with a dark twist at the end. Devious and delightful!

ETIQUETTE FOR LOVERS AND KILLERS is one of those great sort of easy reads, perfectly bingeable and utterly charming. I felt it was a bit slow to start, but once I picked up the rhythm of the book and kept with it, I found it to be a charming and fun read. The etiquette titles were especially a great addition. If you've loved Lessons in Chemistry and the TV show Why Women Kill, you'll probably enjoy this one too.

What a disappointment! I couldn’t even get past the prologue!
You’d think that if something takes place in the ‘60s and is a mystery that I would like it….. there are obviously exceptions, and this is one.

Be careful what you wish for....especially, if you’re a bored witty young woman in 1960’s Maine. Our FMC Billie finds herself suddenly pulled into high society amidst murder, chaos, and affairs. Will she find love? Where are these mystery letters appearing from? Is the marvelous Mr. Avery Webster everything she’s hoped for or will he leave her for another high society woman? And why is everyone so obsessed with the late Gertrude?

If you’ve a lover of mysteries and small-town murders, I can’t recommend this enough for a fun summertime read.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam | GP Putnam’s and NetGalley for an E-ARC copy of this book.

Twisted mystery set in the 1960s

Eastport, Maine, 1964: Wilhelmina ‘Billie’ McCadie is a mid-20-something college grad who’s caught in a bit of a boring rut: an introvert who’d rather spend her evenings reading a book or two who’s sent out numerous job applications…and received numerous rejection letters. While on her lunch break from sewing at Primp and Ribbon Alterations, she checks her PO Box and finds a couple of the usual ‘rejection-letter thin’ envelopes. She opens and tosses the first; she’s about to toss the second unopened when the postman sticks his head out. She ponders the etiquette of tossing unopen mail in front of the postman briefly, then sticks in her purse to open later. And when she does, she realizes it’s not a rejection letter, but a love letter gone astray. Addressed to Gertrude and containing an engagement ring, the letter leaves Billie intrigued, pondering who Gertrude. Moments later, she meets Avery Webster, one of the uber wealthy summer folk, who invites her to a party later that evening. She hesitates but then goes out of curiosity. Where she meets the mysterious Gertude, whom the letter is addressed to, followed soon after finding the body of the mysterious Gertrude, a large knife wound on her chest. By the next morning Billie has decided: she’ll need to find who killed Gertrude. The following year finds Billie consuming numerous cocktails, being stalked, stalking others, skirting the edge of trouble, romance, and, of course as with any good murder mystery, a few more bodies.

I adored Billie! This was such a delightful twisty tale. It started off rather boring, echoing Billie’s mood, to the point where I debated about not finishing. But then a few pages later, she received her letter, and the excitement started. I loved how Billie kept coming back to the etiquette lessons her mother taught her and the linguist footnotes she includes. And while I’m not exactly sure how it would work plot-wise, I’d love to read another book featuring Billie.

Highly recommended! I received a copy of this from NetGallley.com that I voluntarily reviewed.

Quick-ish Thoughts Reviews

🎵 Thank you, @berkleyromance, for the free copy of The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest. This was my first time reading this author & I really enjoyed how strong of a connection the hero feels to the heroine, even years after their first meeting. He’s an R&B singer who feels put in a box by his label & wants his mom to accept all of him; she’s a single mom business executive who lost a husband she loved. This a soft story about people who take a chance—more than one, really—as they chase their happiness. 4 ⭐️, out now!

🥂 Etiquette for Lovers & Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy is a mystery set in a compelling 1960s setting with a heroine this side of dark. Billy McCadie is drawn to the recent victim of a murder investigation & pulled into a rich world she knows little about. Sprinkled with Billie’s linguistic explanations & her morbid explorations of the people who lost their lives, this book is unsettling in an entertaining kind of way.
4.33 ⭐️, out 07/01. (Thanks to publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

🗡️ The Knight & the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow. Harrow’s writing is beautifully violent—you feel the sharpness of her words. In this post apocalyptic short story, demons exist, & they’re people who were mysteriously mutated into something deadly. The protagonist Shrike’s wife is a demon, & that puts her in the path of a Knight sent to kill her demon-wife. The effect of this story is tremendous & cemented for me again how talented the author is. 5 ⭐️, out 03/11. (Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.)

🏴‍☠️ Any Duke in a Storm by Amalie Howard. What a delicious book! Whew!, it crackles with heat, verve, & passion. I love the queer rep, the unconventional leads, & the charming smuggler hero who gets hot for the pirate-smuggler baddie heroine. Sooo good! 5 ⭐️.

📖 have you read any of these or are any on your TBR?

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Etiquette for Lovers and Killers.

Billie McCadie is bored out of her gourd in her tiny town of Eastport, Maine. She lives with her grandparents and slums it working at a dress shop despite her intelligence and college degree.

Then her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets a handsome, affluent young man and a party girl in his social circle is murdered.

Life suddenly seems dramatic and not all boring for Billie as she works on figuring out whodunit.

First, great cover and title!

Second, I love the premise and the 60s setting.

Third, Billie was hard to like.

I didn't dislike her but I didn't like her and I just couldn't put my finger on why. She seemed both mature and immature at the same time.

She was smart and resourceful but seemed silly and naive, desperate to find a man and fall in love like all the heroines in the books she reads.

Fourth, the etiquette rules were amusing but they soon grew tiresome. The schtick didn't last long.

Fifth, the narrative lacked suspense and urgency.

It was boring since a good portion of the story dealt with Billie's budding romance with Avery.

This was cozier than I expected; murders do happen but it's not graphic or violent.

We're mostly in Billie's head and her romance with Avery, her Nancy Drew-like machinations, socializing with the hoity-toity and and dealing with her grandparents and her lack of a real job.

I guessed who the bad guy was easily and though the ending wasn't bad, I wasn't a fan of the mystery or Billie.

The writing was good, but the story too slow-paced, which fits the 60s setting.

📖Review: Etiquette for Lovers and Killers

🧁Rate: 5 Stars!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍨Praise: Who would have known a mystery taking place in the 1960s would really be a grand ride?! The author Anna did for sure! And she is absolutely correct! I totally image the town it took place in like the one for Murder She Wrote! Cabot Cove! Angela Lansbury will be proud!

☕ We meet our main character Billie! She truly wants to leave her town and make it in the career world! Unfortunately no such luck so far. However! Something very quirky and miraculous happens! She receives a love letter but not addressed to her! Oh wow!! What takes place next is Billie entering a world a mysterious intrigue, murder, connecting the crime fill dots! And most of all Billie discovering parts of herself as a human being that helps her grow.

🥞Characters: Billie and all the other characters in this fun and very observant mystery had my heart and my mind with every word and Every act they did. With more and more intrigue and decisive calculating both rising against our main character and being dished out by other characters the story had me on the edge of my seat!

💄Trope: I will definitely be looking forward to more mysteries by Anna!! She truly has a great gift!

🍪 Mystery
🍪 Intrigue
🍪 Thought-provoking
🍪 Suspense

Bravo Anna! 🍰

I did not finish this book.

I wanted to love it. Loved the cover and the time period and was sooooo bored.

Not for me.

I liked that this book it did well blending mystery and romance. I thought it was quite unique and I really loved the story, especially being set in that time frame. There was humor, romance and intrigue for sure. It kept me guessing on who it was the whole time, so many suspects! Over all loved the book. A tad more romance would have added stars (but that is personal preference). A great choice for your next read!

I liked that this book blended mystery and romance into it. I thought it was unique and loved the story. This book had some humor too. There were a lot of potential suspects which added a of twists and guessing on my part. I enjoyed all the etiquette details too.