I really enjoyed this murder mystery that was a bit different from the usual. Annie was a well written and likeable character and the voice of Frances through her journal worked very well. A few twists and turns and a cast of interesting characters, this is a story that I will recommend.

After Annie Adams is summoned to the estate of her Great Aunt Frances, she is excited to see if the rumours surrounding her strange Aunt are true and she as morbidly obsessed with her own death as people say. It turns out she was right to do so as Annie arrives to find her Aunt murdered, her will updated to grant her entire fortune to the person who solves her murder.
All of the other parties involved in Aunt Frances life have known her for decades and Annie is immediately on the back foot. But as she begins her own investigation, a sixty year old mystery and disappearance might be the key that leads her to the answers- and possibly her own murder.

Told in the dual narration of modern day Annie and past diary excerpts of a young Frances, you follow along as the mystery unfolds and certain pieces start to slot together. As you only know what Annie knows you are affected by her prejudices and opinions but that adds to the drama of switching opinions based on her interactions.
I don't know whether I've not read enough crime books or if it was just that good but I truly had no idea who the killer/killers was/is (no spoilers) until the very end and then I had my own Ahah! moment just before the reveal.
I preferred the diary style writing to the musings of Annie, who did irritate me slightly with her naivety. I felt some of her actions plainly did not make logical sense. But I was kept engaged and interested throughout and the little twists and revelations were well written and not overtly telegraphed..
Would recommend- especially to book clubs who would like the plethora of characters and their motivations.

A highly enjoyable debut novel for Kristen Perri.

I really liked this, which is a bit of a cosy mystery but plus some other intrigue - it's not as choked as a cosy mystery. Frances has always been convinced she will be murdered, and then she is. But by who? The answer lies in her past, in the 60s. I liked her niece and I am looking forward to seeing her again.

Kristen Perrin’s How To Solve Your Own Murder offers a delightful and darkly comedic twist on the classic murder mystery genre, blending suspense with wit in a way that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The story centers around Frances Adams, a woman who, as a teenager, was told by a fortune teller that she would be murdered someday. She spent the rest of her life preparing for this eventuality, and when Frances is indeed murdered decades later, it’s her eccentric preparations that form the heart of this engaging mystery.

Frances was no ordinary woman—she was the village busybody, collecting secrets, gossip, and dirt on everyone she encountered. Her sprawling estate houses a treasure trove of meticulously compiled detective work, each piece designed to help someone solve her murder when the time came. That someone turns out to be her great-niece, Annie, who unexpectedly finds herself thrust into the role of detective when she arrives from London to learn that Frances' worst fear has come true.

The plot thickens when Frances' will stipulates that the person who solves her murder will inherit her vast fortune, creating a competition between Annie and a cast of quirky suspects, all of whom have their own hidden motives and secrets. The novel presents a clever, if somewhat unconventional, challenge: Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will the pursuit of truth lead her straight into the killer’s grasp?

Perrin’s writing is sharp and full of dark humor, especially in her portrayal of Frances’ eccentric life and the colorful characters surrounding her. The combination of a gripping murder mystery with an exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and vengeance adds emotional depth to the story. The characters are well-drawn, with Annie’s journey from skepticism to determination giving the book a grounding sense of emotional complexity.

With its brisk pacing, clever twists, and a sprinkle of quirky charm, How To Solve Your Own Murder is a fresh take on the murder mystery genre that will delight fans of both suspense and humor. It’s a smart, entertaining read that proves sometimes the most satisfying revenge comes from solving a crime that no one saw coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-arc for review.
As soon as I read the synopsis of this one I was excited to read it! It did not disappoint at all. I will absolutely be continuing this series. I really enjoyed the characters.. they were well fleshed out and as the book went on that only became more so. The mystery was absolutely the centre point and it's been a while since I have been this hooked into a mystery. Did I figure it out?... no, no I did not. Did I try to work it out?.. maybe.
It felt very golden age vibes even though it was mostly set in a modern setting... it just had that je ne sais quoi that a golden age mystery has. I did also have access to the audio arc too and so immersive read this title. The audio was well done too and complemented the characters and the plot very well.
The only aspect that stopped this from being a 5 star read for me, was that there was a small romance sub plot that I didn't really think was necessary and just felt like it was there to satisfy the potential romance readers that could be drawn to this title.

What a huge disappointment! The idea for the story was good, but I struggled to read it as it had so many inaccuracies. It read as if it had been written by someone who had never set foot in the UK, so I was surprised to read that the author lives in England. I found it very irritating, and won't be resommending it.

Thank you Quercus Books and Netgalley for this advanced copy.
This was a fun read and started off really well. I liked the present day and 60's as it gave an insight as to why things may have happened and what went on.
A small criticism is that I wanted a bit more on the murder front. At times I felt it just got a bit silly with things being ripped up, things torn from boards and someone in a wardrobe - was this really necessary?
The beginning was great, the middle lost it a bit and the end felt a bit a bit rushed to tie everything up.
Overall an enjoyable read.
I want to give 3.5 stars as I can't give 4 hence the 3 stars.
I would like to read more by this author though.

This excellent mystery novel is told over two timelines - 1965, when Frances Adams was 17 and a fortune teller foretold of her murder - and the present day, which are skilfully woven together. Frances spent 60 years painstakingly compiling dirt on everyone she met, in an effort to try to identify her future killer.

Annie is summoned to a meeting with her never-met great aunt Frances and her solicitor, but unfortunately Frances is murdered just prior to this meeting. According to Frances' will, whoever identifies her killer shall inherit Frances' millions, and Annie resolves to do just that. Although dead, in this fun and entertaining read, the character of Frances gradually comes to light as an endearing woman who kept to herself but was always afraid the fortune teller would be proved right.

The more Annie learns about her great aunt, the more determined she is to get to the bottom of her murder, and the more she appreciates Frances. This engaging story is shot through with extracts from Frances' journals, which provide clues as to the identity of the murderer.

Unusual murder family mystery. Frances was old by a fortune teller that she would be murdered. She spends all her life trying to work out who it might be and what happened to her friend who disappeared. Worth a read.

I ADORED this book! The characters, the world building, the writing style - I just couldn't put this down and I can't wait to recommend this to people now that it's out!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and clever premise that was then well executed and enjoyable to read. A good old fashioned whodunnit in a modern setting, there were plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to keep things interesting. The tensions rose, and we were kept guessing until the end. Very much enjoyed!

Frances, a young woman, is told by a fortune teller she’ll be murdered. She spends her life trying to solve her own death. Decades later, she’s killed. Her great niece, Annie, must solve the murder to inherit the estate—or risk becoming the next victim.

This was a thrilling read with great characters. The story unfolds through first-person accounts and diary entries, keeping you guessing until the end.

I loved the concept and execution of this story and cannot wait for more in this series.

A young woman Frances, goes to see a fortune teller as a teenager and is told that she will be murdered, which leads her to spending her whole life trying to solve her own murder.

Sixty years later Frances is murdered which leads to her great niece Annie being summoned to her estate to help solve the murder, if she can do so she will inherit the estate, if not she may be murdered.

This was a great read, with some amazing characters and the plot moved along at a fast pace unravelling the story through first person experience and diary entries which was a great way to get clues to solve the mystery, where everyone is a suspect, but also giving good evidence as to why most were not the murderer.

It was fun to try to guess along as I was reading.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

A most clever premise even more cleverly executed!! This was such a fun ride and totally deserves all the hype its received thus far!

An enjoyable murder mystery. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie this has a good cast of characters and an interesting premise which is satisfyingly worked through to its conclusion.

A different way of writing a murder mystery. Flitting between timelines and diary entries! Was a good read look forward to the next one

Absolutely amazing book! Ended up enjoying this via audiobook and the physical copy. Would definitely recommend to everyone. I love a classic ‘whodunnit’ and this did have me guessing at points which I like. I also thinks it’s hard sometimes to come up with a new and original idea for a murder mystery so the author done well.

This was a really fun read. It was quite light hearted despite the murder mystery aspect. I enjoyed meeting the characters. A small criticism would be that I would have enjoyed reading more about the relationships between the characters - the murder solving would have been better as a background and more on the charater development and their relationships with each other. The end felt a bit rushed to tie it all up nicely in a bow. But overall a fun summer read.

This is a very different way of presenting the 'whodunnit' genre. I really enjoyed the book and all the different characters. The stairs features 3 friens, one of whom has her fortune read at a local fair and this turns out to be the start of major upheaval in her life. The fortune teller I hers that the friends will betray each other and murder will be committed. Read on to learn more.....

I found the idea of this book really unusual and not like anything I've read before so I was instantly drawn. Sadly it didn't really hold my attention as well as I had hoped.