I enjoyed the dual timeline narration and in particular how Francis diary entries built up and revealed the secrets. I found the plot to be very original, funny and suspenseful. I found the story really easy to get into and I was quickly hooked.

I really enjoyed the narator of this audiobook. They really brought the story alive.

How to Solve Your Own Murder is an engaging cosy mystery with a modern twist. The story begins at the Castle Knoll Country Fair in 1965, where Francis Adams receives a cryptic fortune predicting her own murder and the discovery of a queen in the palm and dry bones. Taking the fortune seriously, Francis pre-emptively investigates her future death, documenting her suspicions in a detailed diary. Decades later, her great-niece Annie Adams is called to the house for a meeting with her estranged Great Aunt, eventually Annie discovers the diary and takes up the task of solving the mystery after Francis is ultimately murdered.

The dual timeline structure is great, as Francis’s diary unveils secrets, including the disappearance of her friend Emily, who may have been embroiled in a scandal involving Francis’s boyfriend. Annie is an engaging protagonist, though her amateur sleuthing can be frustrating—such as her decision to handle evidence, like a bouquet laced with hemlock and needles, risking contamination of the crime scene. Although the story’s pacing and twists kept me intrigued, and the audiobook narrator’s excellent range of accents and tone further enhances the experience. With its layered narrative and blend of suspense and cosy mystery elements, How to Solve Your Own Murder offers an enjoyable and inventive twist on the whodunnit genre. 
3.8/5

I enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook, but the plot fell a little flat. I found I was drawn far more to one POV than the other, which meant when we were in the present day I was yearning to get back to the more interesting narrative.

Frances always said she’d be murdered.
She was right.

In 1965, Frances Adams is told by a fortune teller that one day she will be murdered. She spends the next sixty years trying to prevent it. No one took her seriously and she spent her life ridiculed by everyone else living in the small village of Castle Knoll.

Now, Frances is dead. Murdered. And her great-niece, Annie, finds herself pulled into her Aunts’ final act of revenge against the people who refused to believe her; a hunt for her killer that sees the person who solves the crime inherit Frances’ millions. Can she solve the crime? Or will the killer silence her first?

Fun, heartwarming, suspenseful and original, How To Solve Your Own Murder is a superb debut that radiates Christie vibes. I’m a big fan of the amateur sleuth, so a book with two of them sounded right up my street. Skillfully written, sharply observed, cleverly plotted, full of surprising twists, and inhabited by fascinating characters, Kristen Perrin’s first installment in the Castle Knoll series was impossible to put down. The story is told in dual timelines, the flashbacks being revealed through Frances’ diaries, and moves seamlessly between past and present to intricately weave this tangled web of secrets, lies, paranoia and murder.

Set in the fictional village of Castle Knoll, which is inspired by the real village of Corfe, Dorset, which is one of my favourite places, the village and its fascinating characters are brought to life by Perrin’s evocative imagery and descriptions. Castle Knoll has that charming but claustrophobic vibe that is unique to small towns where everyone knows everyone. France’s place as the village’s crazy lady was set when she received the chilling fortune in her teens. Her obsession with solving and preventing the crime, and her habit of seeing clues everywhere, only solidified her strangeness in the minds of the other residents.

Cosy, clever, witty and totally addictive, How To Solve Your Own Murder is an inventive whodunnit you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to return to these characters in book two.

Quick, intense story. Not a short book, mind you.
Interesting approach to the murder thriller genre.

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.

I'm afraid that I will not be sharing a review of this audiobook, I loved the premise and wanted to enjoy this story but I could not get into this as an audiobook. I didn't find the narrator an easy voice to follow and the characters quickly became confused for me.. I set the book to one side and haven't returned to it - there wasn't a pull to come back I regret.

Thank you for the opportunity and I am sorry this one was not for me.

This was an okay murder mystery, told in dual timelines, which follows a group of people investigating the murder of a woman who had spent her entire life expecting to be murdered after a fortune teller's prediction. I found it quite confusing - the plot didn't seem to be that convoluted but I still found it difficult to keep track of who everyone was and why they did what they did. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of investigation going on, most of it was relying on the victim's diary. As cosy crimes go, it was alright but didn't quite hit the mark for me.

"How To Solve Your Own Murder" by Kristen Perrin is a cleverly crafted and darkly humorous mystery that offers a unique twist on the traditional whodunit. Perrin's writing is sharp and engaging, drawing readers into a suspenseful and intriguing narrative where the protagonist faces the ultimate challenge—solving their own murder.

The novel centers around a protagonist who, after finding themselves in the afterlife, realizes they have been murdered. However, instead of moving on, they are given the unusual opportunity to investigate their own death. As they unravel the mystery from beyond the grave, they uncover secrets, lies, and hidden connections that paint a complex picture of their life and the people in it.

Perrin masterfully balances the eerie with the comedic, creating a story that is both thrilling and surprisingly light-hearted. The protagonist's journey is filled with twists and turns, as they piece together the events leading up to their demise, all while coming to terms with their past and the relationships they left behind. The unique premise keeps readers hooked, wondering not only who the killer is, but also how the protagonist will bring them to justice from the afterlife.

"How To Solve Your Own Murder" is perfect for fans of mysteries that blend dark humor with suspense, offering a fresh and entertaining take on the genre. Kristen Perrin has crafted a novel that is both thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable, making it a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery with a supernatural twist.

What a fun read, it was a joy to listen to and absolutely not the ending I expected. I particularly enjoyed the two intertwined timelines.

Frances always said she'd be murdered... and she was right.
I love a classic 'whodunnit', and How To Solve Your Own Murder kept me guessing right up to the climax.

The story unfolds in dual timelines: one set in the 1960s, told through the lives of diary entries from Frances, and the present day, told from Annie's perspective. Annie stands to inherit a vast fortune, but first, she must solve Frances's murder.

While the story started off a bit slow, it quickly picked up and held my attention. The plot, though not revolutionary, was engaging and maintained the suspense until the very end.

The narrators, Alexandra Dowling and Jaye Jacobs did a fantastic job. Their pacing was perfect, and they portrayed the nuances of emotion beautifully.

I enjoyed listening to How To Solve Your Own Murder and would recommend it to my mystery-loving friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for gifting me the audio-ARC of this book.

Entertaining although not ground breaking, I enjoyed listening to this. The narrator was really good and it was certainly an interesting premise, I just got a bit confused with who the killer was as I had forgotten how he was related to the family cos it felt like it went on a bit but over all quite enjoyable

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.

Although it did take me a while to get into this - by the second half I raced through it and enjoyed both timelines. The narrators were both great and did a good job at separating all the characters.

Riveting blend of mystery and supernatural intrigue, where protagonist Tara wakes up dead and must navigate the afterlife to unravel the circumstances of her own demise. Perrin skillfully weaves a gripping narrative filled with intricate plotting and suspenseful twists, keeping readers engaged as Tara discovers shocking truths about her life and death. The novel's strength lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Tara's compelling journey of self-discovery and redemption. Themes of identity, justice, and the consequences of one's actions add depth to the story, making it a thought-provoking exploration of existence and the pursuit of truth. While the supernatural elements may challenge readers seeking strictly realistic narratives, Perrin's ability to blend genres creates a compelling and memorable reading experience that will resonate with fans of mysteries and the paranormal alike.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc!

I received the audiobook for "How to Solve Your Own Murder" and was instantly intrigued. The premise for the story is so good and I enjoyed delving deep into the story - a strong start for sure!

The audiobook narrators did a good job inviting me into the story.

Occasionally my interest would dwindle and I would forget about the book for a couple of days, but this may be a "me" problem.

All in all, a solid read for fans of cozy mysteries.

How To Solve Your Own Murder is the first adult novel by British author, Kristen Perrin. The audio version is narrated by Alexandra Dowling and Jaye Jacobs. Recently jobless, aspiring murder mystery writer Annabelle Adams is living with her mother in her great aunt Frances’s Chelsea house when she receives a summons from the woman’s lawyers.

Annie has been made the sole benefactor of her great aunt’s estate and assets, a woman she’s never met, and is attend her at Gravesdown Hall in the Dorset village of Castle Knoll to learn what responsibilities this entails. But when she arrives there, in the company of the lawyer and other interested parties, they find Frances Adams quite dead.

Since she had been told a fortune predicting her murder at a summer fair at age sixteen, Frances had always been wary of certain items, and had made it her business to know everything about everyone, in case they might end up trying to kill her. It didn’t increase her popularity in Castle Knoll.

The special conditions of her will require potential beneficiaries to reside at Gravesdown Hall and pits them against one another to solve her murder, for it is indeed murder, within a week, or the place will be sold off to developers, a premise that really is rather contrived. There’s a large cast so many of them lack depth and appeal.

The story is told over dual timelines, with the 1960’s narrative in the form of diary entries whose dating is a little confusing. It turns out that Frances Adams has the dirt on most of the people around her, giving them ample motive to kill her off. But Annie is distracted from her investigations by the unsolved disappearance back in 1966 of one of two teenaged friends with whom Frances had a toxic closeness.

The plot is quite convoluted and several aspects require the reader to don their disbelief suspenders. There are some twists and surprises, a dramatic climax, and a sequel that some readers may be interested to read. An adequate debut.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Quercus Books.

I had high expectations of this one as it was on many of the 2024 lists. I listened on audio to this and the narrator was perfect. It was a captivating mystery and I’m intrigued for more in the series.

This book has a great premise that made me want to read it. It is entertaining and enjoyable but has too many characters to keep track of. I raced through the first half but lost interest after that. The pace picked up again towards the end though.
My favourite part was Frances' diary and the excellent narration of the audiobook by Alexandra Dowling and Jaye Jacobs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

This high quality audio keeps you highly entertained as you listen to Annie Adams attempt to solve her great aunts murder in order to inherit her fortune and save village. Running along side and interwoven is another murder mystery.
This is quite a long listen but times goes by quietly as the story is full of interesting characters and twists and turns . I was dragged into this classic who donnit. It was full of action and the pov approach made it hard to stop listening. And I tried to solve mysterys. It had a homage feel in places to agatha Christie. Highly recommended yo anyone who like agatha Christie and a good whodunit set in different timelines. This was narrated well and a 5 star listen.
Thanks netgallery and publisher and author and narrator.