A cozy mystery where the main characters are queer vampires that own a bed and breakfast??? I feel like this book was specifically written for me. First let me say, I love cozy mysteries, I read them as palate cleansers or whenever I need to get out of a reading slump. Because it is a cozy whodunit, the book isn't overly gory and very easy to follow along. I had fun with the characters and the plot was intriguing enough to keep my interest. I hope this is the start of a new series.

This is my first book by the authors; it was such a delightful read! I laughed throughout the entire thing.

Dead & Breakfast is a cozy mystery filled with humor. Arthur and Sal are both sassy, sarcastic, and sweet. I loved their banter and the way they played off each other.

The murder mystery is engaging with plenty of eccentric suspects. It's light enough to keep things cozy but with enough intrigue to keep you turning the page. The entire cast makes the book a must-read. I would love to book a night at this B&B!

Thank you, NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group, for this wonderful read! This was a 4.5 read for me!

If you read anything from my review let it be this: <b><a href="https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/vet-qa-can-cats-drink-milk">‼️ NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FEED MILK TO CATS ‼️</a></b> I didn't think this PSA was still needed in 2025, but apparently, some people STILL propagate this harmful notion! By god, PLEASE edit this out of the book before release.

Now, onto the book: <b>I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.</b>

<b>Dead & Breakfast</b> is a quirky paranormal whodunnit mystery where Arthur, an undead vampire and owner of the struggling Iris Inn, must solve the murder of the town's mayor to prevent his husband from being put behind bars... for eternity. It is clearly the start of a series, but thankfully avoids ending on a cliffhanger.

First, the book fully embraces its silliness, committing wholeheartedly to its over-the-top humor, even when addressing heavy topics. Its political undertones draw a clear parallel between vampirism and queerness, as Arthur and Salvatore navigate vicious bigotry in their small town. I didn't expect the book to be quite so lighthearted in tone while dealing with such serious themes, which feel relevant to our current times.

The novel's strengths lie in its laugh-out-loud moments and puns (though they may be overdone at times). The relationship between the main characters is lovely, and their few allies add charm to the story. However, the worldbuilding feels somewhat underdeveloped, leaving out many details about the paranormal universe they live in.

The mystery itself is lackluster. There's a limited cast of characters, so I was able to guess who the murderer was very early on. While a few moments briefly cast doubt, I'd argue they're more messy characterization than clever plotting by the authors. I enjoyed that Arthur took notes relating to the case in his little notebook but felt this aspect was underutilized. By the end of the book, I grew frustrated with all the ineffective red herrings: I never once believed any of them, so I was annoyed that the MCs wouldn't give up on them.

Regarding the characters, I thought the supporting cast was fine for their limited airtime. The main characters' backstory felt lacking, though I recognize their past will be expanded upon in future instalments of the series. What I found most annoying, however, was that the cat was used as a prop—a mere object to carry around or forget about—something cutesy for the background but certainly not a living being. While I understand the book aims to be a silly comedy, there are limits to what one can take at face value.

Overall, I enjoyed this funny read, the cute cottagecore vibes and lovely supporting characters. The heavy themes were touching, and the burgeoning friendships among townsfolk were heartwarming. It's a solid first book, and I can't wait to read more in this series!

I thought this book was such a fun and quirky read! I loved the unique premise of Arthur and Sal, a married odd couple who happen to be undead but are totally normal in their own hilarious way. I found myself laughing out loud at their witty banter and the absurdly relatable details, like their commitment to a skincare routine and their love for baked goods. I thought their dynamic was charming and made me root for them from the start. I really enjoyed the cozy and slightly offbeat setting of Trident Falls. I felt like the author did a great job creating a town that felt both idyllic and hilariously wary of the paranormal. I loved the colorful cast of supporting characters, especially the werewolf barista and elven coroner—I thought they added so much whimsy and heart to the story.

Overall, I thought this book was cute. I loved its blend of humor, heart, and quirkiness, and I found myself smiling the whole way through. It’s the kind of story that’s perfect when you’re looking for something light and thoroughly entertaining.

Looking for a cozy, comical murder mystery complete with vampires, puns, amusing side characters a cat sidekick and all the marvelous shenanigans you could ever dream of? Look no further than Dead & Breakfast. I have to say, I think this might be my favorite read of 2025 so far.

Arthur and Salvatore are a married vampire couple who adopt a Bed & Breakfast in hopes of living out a calm, domestic immortal existence. While their Iris Inn doesn't see many guests, their hopes are high when the new city manager, Nora, books an indefinite stay. But things take a quick turn when the mayor turns up murdered in their garden and it seems that someone is framing them for the crime. Now it's up to Arthur and Sal to solve this mystery before their immortality is spent with a view of metal bars, and not the luscious flowers and scent of scones they'd been dreaming of.

I absolutely devoured this book while laughing hysterically and frantically flipping (digital) page after page. Sal is an absolute icon (and phenomenal cat dad) and I couldn't get enough of his eccentric personality. Arthur was so sweet and determined. And the additional characters in this book were all unique and lovable as well.

This is definitely a book I'll pick up again in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Can you have a cozy murder mystery involving vampires, interesting locals and a very perceptive cat? You sure can!

Married vampire couple Arthur and Sal have recently purchased the local bed and breakfast in the small town of Trident Falls. Things aren't going as planned as they aren't feeling especially welcome and guests are few and far between. While taking a stroll through their garden with their one guest they stumble upon the dead body of the towns mayor and it appears he was killed by a vampire!

I cannot stress how much I loved this story. Arthur and Sal are delightful, fun characters. They obviously love each other greatly despite being incredibly different. As we follow Arthur along his journey of trying to solve the crime and make sure his husband doesn't end up in prison you are kept guessing as to who the culprit could be.

There's a great cast of side characters, including Rumble the cat. It was lovely seeing Arthur open up more and discover that having friends maybe isn't so bad. This book has a ton or human and a lot feeling. I finished the last chapter with a huge smile on my face.

So if you love a funny, sweet murder mystery with a paranormal twist this is the book for you! I can't recommend it enough.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the characters, even though sometimes the trying so hard to be funny makes me cringe a little. Endearing in a kind of annoying way. A fun and easy read!

A charming cozy paranormal mystery that is both hilarious and heartwarming! I adore Arthur and Sal (and their cat Rumble!) and need more of their goofiness as they solve murder cases together. You can tell the writers poured all their love and humor into this book, and it makes for an absolutely delightful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this. The puns were corny, but not cringey, the vampires hilarious and adorable, the mystery actually pretty great. 5 stars! Like Arthur, every time I thought I at least knew who really did it, I was surprised...until I wasn't and that was great. Also not sure that it was intended, but the tension on Arthur's part towards Theo was really a great look at internalized homophobia and how that can really damage ones own community. Glad Arthur came around in that aspect (that's like the tiniest of spoilers), but I think it's still worth mentioning.

This book was fresh and fun and I can't wait for more stories from this town. I feel like I highlighted practically the whole book with as many great one liners, puns, and social commentary as there were. A great read and I can't wait to be able to pre-order it and then of course have the final product in my hands! Thanks be to netgalley for allowing me access and thanks to the fab authors for crafting such a witty tale.

Looking for a murder mystery with hilarious characters fighting the pressure of being „normal“ with a hint of supernatural powers? Then you need to read "Dead & Breakfast“.

I can count on my hands how many times books have actually made me laugh out loud in the past, and this book managed it more than once. The balance of pop culture jokes, puns, and the absurd situations they were in made this the silliest mix of humor I have ever seen, and I loved every bit of it.

Not only were the jokes a breath of fresh air, but also the relationship between Sal and Arthur. Like seriously, when do you get a book where the main couple is already married and literally sticking together till death (or more like second death) do them part?

"Dead & Breakfast“ is hardly a serious book, but still the important messages were there, which makes it the perfect fit for everyone looking for a humorous book with lots of heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC in return for an honest review.

This was such an adorable book!! It was silly, it was goofy, and it was heart-warming. I spent half of it giggling and the other half just flabbergasted at its absurdity. I mean, these two got around on a tandem bike!! What do you mean we have vampires running a bed and breakfast pedaling a tandem bike around town?! That's utterly absurd, and I loved every bit of it.

I'm so happy this book starts with Arthur and Sal as an established couple. That's not something you see very often, and it was so refreshing. I didn't have to worry about them breaking up or miscommunication. Instead, I got to savor their domesticity and laugh at their shenanigans. And shenanigans they had. Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of murder mysteries, but this was so unserious that I was obsessed. I almost hope Hillis returns to this world in the future, because I haven't had nearly enough of it!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

OBSESSED!! I hope this is going to be a series with a book on each character maybe? Such a fun cozy mystery with fantastic characters, didn't want to leave trident falls!

Dead and Breakfast is about the couple Arthur and Sal who open and run a Bed and Breakfast in the paranormal town of Trident Falls, Oregon. The mayor however turns up dead and has puncture wounds in his neck which is not good for the couple.

I absolutely loved this charming book, I laughed, I cried, I cheered on the main characters . It was an absolute delight. The writing style is so easy to binge as it’s written in a simplistic accessible style that anyone can pick up. Humor in books can be so hard to pull off, and this author nails it.
“There had been some curiosity among the Twilight obsessed , but when people realized there were no sparkly vampires in Trident Falls- with the notable exception of the time Arthur had been the unwitting victim of a glitter bomb- the only visitors to the Iris Inn came for funerals or entirely by accident.”
I love how much relatability there is through the book, anyone can see themselves in this story.

I would love to read more of this author and highly recommend this book to all.

What an absolute delight of a cozy mystery. I loved Arthur and Sal and so many of the rest of the residents of Trident Falls. This was just really really fun to read. There were so many jokes and puns I highlighted, and I'm very excited that this seems like it might be the first in a series.