There are so many detective stories out there that it can be hard to do something different, so Louise Hegarty should be applauded just for trying. Her take on the traditional locked room mystery is a good idea, and makes for an interesting read where you aren't sure exactly how things will turn out. The story starts in typical enough fashion - in the 2020s, a young professional named Abigail organises a murder mystery party for her brother Benjamin's birthday. All his old friends, and a couple of new, are present together in an Air BnB property. The evening goes well, but in the morning Benjamin is found dead in his locked bedroom.

The narrative then splits with the story reimagined as a golden age detective story in which the detective seems strangely aware that he's in a book, interspersed with snippets of the real-life aftermath of Benjamin's death - the awkward condolences, the painful funeral, the challenges of going back to work after such a sudden devastating loss. As the detective tries to discover who murdered Benjamin, Abigail must make sense of his death in a more mundane and less glamorous way.

It's a clever idea and I always like books that try to break the mould. The story is quite readable and moving, although I didn't fully engage with it and I did find the concept a bit strange and disjointed. I think a bit more signposting about what was going on and how seriously the detective story elements should be taken might have been helpful. There are some similarities with Anthony Horowitz's 'Mapgie Murders' series, where a real life crime is reflected in and/or precipitated by a fictional murder mystery. But Horowitz executes it better. However there is more depth in 'Fair Play' - by contrasting the fun of a traditional whodunnit with the pain of real grief it has a much more powerful message.

If you like murder mysteries, or like experimental fiction that attempts to mix up old concepts and reinvigorate genres, then this a definitely a good book to read. If you want a very traditional cosy crime then this not that. I enjoyed it overall and admire Hegarty's idea and courage in not sticking to formuale.

Every person deals with grief differently.
This is a gorgeous and painful exploration of grief and mental health cleverly disguised as a fun Golden Age murder mystery.
Don't go into the book expecting a traditional thriller and don't expect all your questions neatly wrapped up. This book perfectly parallels realistic and raw feelings of loss and confusion with delightful and typical, menu ordered mystery, complete with secret identities, money issues and secret lovers.
I know some people didn’t love the final chapter, but for me it showed me the depth behind the grief. It was a pure and golden scene that highlighted the loss.
I have never read a book like this, definitely recommend!

This was a wonderfully inventive take on the locked-room mystery genre. It explores grief in an interesting and complex way, with a clever twist to proceedings. A very strong debut.

I liked the aspects of a traditional detective live mystery but as other reviewers have said, the book missed the mark for me. I found I didn't like the characters and didn't always understand quite what was going on. Sorry

This book really wasn't for me. I didn't mind the characters and I enjoyed the start, but after that it felt like it was trying to be too clever. I kept reading, hoping that at some point I would understand why the book was written in the way it was, but this never happened and I was disappointed by the way the book ended.

Louise Hegarty’s *Fair Play* is a clever and immersive mystery novel that blends classic detective fiction with modern storytelling. With sharp writing and a rich atmosphere, the book keeps readers engaged as secrets unravel and tensions rise. Hegarty crafts an intricate narrative full of suspense, intriguing characters, and unexpected twists. Thoughtful and stylish, *Fair Play* is a fresh and compelling take on the mystery genre, making it a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and traditional whodunits alike.

Fair Play is set up nicely: a murder mystery game in a stately home where a real murder is committed. For Benjamin’s birthday every New Year’s Day, Abigail organises a group of friends to stay in a country house and writes them all characters to play in a 'whodunnit'. The story is established and we get a sense of each of the characters, their weaknesses and insecurities. We also get an insight into Abigail’s psychology and personality: a perfectionist who likes to have everything in order, she wants to make her brother happy on his birthday.

It all seems quite straightforward in Part I, which ends with the group discovering one of them has died during the night. However, it takes a turn in Part II and becomes much more obscure and self referential, with the introduction of Detective Bell and his Watson, Sacker. The detective is the writer of his own murder mystery, and the novel abounds with direct quotes from books on the rules of writing good detective novels.

It's both an homage to the genre and a dismantling of it, and there is some enjoyment to be found in a book which is aware of its own fiction. However, I really felt the cleverness of the form and device obstructed the strong writing and initially intriguing plot of Fair Play.

Once the detective is introduced, the book splits into parallel or even multiple strands, as Detective Bell tries to solve the murder. It’s quietly humorous and I can tell Hegarty had fun writing it and exploring the genre, but there is little pay-off for the reader. I found myself disappointed by the lack of resolution and confusing alternate narratives. I really expected to love Fair Play and have been impressed by Picador’s packaging, but I found this a largely unsatisfying read overall.

This was not the kind of book that I enjoy - it felt a little bit too smug and self-aware.
Also, I think the problem for me was that I actually didn’t warm to the characters so what happened to them became irrelevant.

Rating: 2.0/5

It should be said that this novel from Louise Hegarty has some clever ideas and there are elements that are either amusing or interesting. Sadly, however, on the whole "Fair Play" misses the mark and doesn't make for an enjoyable reading experience.

The stucture of the novel is quite confusing - presumably deliberately so. As will dawn on the reader at some juncture, the book actually contains two separate, but connected storylines. There is the "real" story and there is a also a fictional locked room murder mystery featuring a detective very reminiscent of Hercule Poirot. The author has chosen not to signpost these switches in the narrative, so it is down to the audience to figure out what is going on. The fictional story contains the humorous elements, with the author playing with the reader by parodying the structure of "Golden Age" mysteries and also referring to elements that will occur in later chapters.This aspect reminded me of the approach taken by Benjamin Stevenson in his books, but he executes it with far great aplomb that Louise Hegarty manages to achieve. The "real" story is considerably drier and more sombre. In fact, I would suggest that the pace of these sections drags to point of actually being quite dull. Not a rewarding read for me, but I acknowlwedge the author's attempt to take a less conventional approach.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Fair Play by Louise Hegarty - unusually for me, I’m writing this review almost a week after I finished it. But I’m wondering if that’s not such a bad thing in this instance given it’s been interesting to see what, if anything, from the book has continued to pop up in my mind. And the truth is - a few things, actually. I can well imagine several people might find Fair Play increasingly irritating as it unfolds, and whilst I’m not wholly unsympathetic to that viewpoint, it seems a little harsh to complain that a book lampooning (or subverting?) twee and ingeniously neat murder mysteries doesn’t stick to the script by doing likewise. It’s a little difficult to summarise where the book ends up heading other than I was reminded of the 80s comedy film ‘Clue’ with Tim Curry. There’s no singing telegram lady, but there’s no shortage of meta- (or meta-meta-, even?) gloss to the whole enterprise, and it vaguely amused and intrigued me in roughly equal measure. I can’t see it being either a smash hit or a cult novel, but perhaps the latter might prove closer to reality. Who really killed Benjamin? In the context of the third part… does any of it matter? (And if it doesn’t… is the book worth reading in the first place?) Did I miss a whole heap of clues that have been artfully placed in the reader’s grasp and which would allow us to unmask the killer? or is Louise Hegarty more interested in throwing us off the scent with literary sleight of hand for her (and our?) own amusement? Maybe, a bit like with Cain’s Jawbone, people might end up comparing notes and theories online… though I’m not convinced this will be the case. Possibly Fair Play finds itself betwixt and between - not peculiar or self-consciously weird enough to attract significant literary interest, nor cosy and familiar enough to appeal to fans of the murder-mystery-at-the-country-house genre. I could argue that it might merit any of 2* or 3* or 4*…. so will plump for the middle option. In a nutshell? Hard to pin down.

With thanks to Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

'Fair Play' by Louise Hegarty is an incredibly clever and well observed book about murder mystery novels.

In a sense the story has three levels:

1. The present, in which a group of friends come together for a murder mystery party at an Air B&B that ends in a death.
2. The past, in which friends visit two siblings at their Stately Home, there is a death and world renowned Detective Bell and his Watson like side kick Sacker are drafted in.
3. An omnipotent perspective, where the narrator recounts the rules and troupes of murder mystery novels.

All are brought together by Hegarty into a well observed story that is pacey and interesting. The way that it is written makes the present day events feel real in comparison to the fictionalised past, which adds to the emotion of it. I can't wait for it to be published so I can share it with others who like murder mystery's as much as I do and I am keen to see what Hegarty writes in the future.

3.5*
Going into it I thought 'Fair Play' would be a typical murder mystery storyline but it was not what I expected. At the beginning I was slightly confused when there was suddenly a list of characters and a list of rules on how to write a murder mystery. Once I'd gotten over that I started to really enjoy the format and how every so often the detective would address the reader by stating what will happen in certain chapters and when the reader should be able to solve the mystery. This made it fun to read. However, the last third of the book felt very repetitive and I found myself skimming through some parts to get through it. The end was also confusing and anticlimactic as it wasn't what I was expecting and I was left with a lot of questions that hadn't been answered. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read but whilst I haven't read anything with this kind of format I felt it could have been executed slightly differently.

This was a really interesting way of exploring a very grim topic. The parallel meta trope-y mystery story made the shift into the literary portrayal of real grief more poignant and also prevented it from weighing itself down with internal monologues. However, I think it could have done with a little bit more time in the ‘real’ story.

If you’re reading it expecting a murder mystery I think you’ll be disappointed but I was pleasantly surprised by the change in idea and form.

I do think it’s marketed kinda oddly as I did expect the murder mystery to be interwoven with the story rather than a fantasy parallel. Though I wasn’t disappointed, I can see how genre fans would be.

Unfortunately this book is not for me, I just didn't get it! The start was great and I loved how the setting was a murder mystery New Year's Eve party and then an actual murder was committed. I thought the exploration of the sister's grief was an interesting addition but a good one. I even was ok with the arrival of a quirky detective who sometimes 'spoke' to the reader and knew what was happening in advance etc, a good modern take on the role of detective.
However, the setting changes from an AirBnB to being their familial childhood home to then finding out Abigail and Benjamin sold this and bought their own flats - which was just confusing to be quite honest, where did the murder take place? The repeated 'solutions' to the crime grew tiresome and then, well the actual ending just left me feeling very unsatisfied. I have no idea why part 3 was included at all.
Not the golden age themed murder mystery I was hoping for sadly.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Unfortunately this just wasn’t up there with a good murder mystery. Definitely readable but it was repetitive and just not too enjoyable I’m afraid!

"Fair Play" by Louise Hegarty is a modern debut that blends mystery with elements of classic detective fiction. The premise initially piques interest: Abigail hosts a New Year's Eve murder mystery party for her brother, Benjamin, only to find him dead the next day, leading to a psychological exploration of grief and investigation. The writing is engaging, and has its unique approach and layers of complexity.

However, while the book is inventive, it’s not without its challenges. The structure and pacing can be a bit difficult to follow, with some parts feeling disjointed or incomplete. For example, one reader described the ending as “super weird,” and while the conclusion has a twist, it might leave some feeling unsatisfied. The narrative’s unconventional style may be a bit too much for those who prefer more straightforward storytelling.

Ultimately, I found the mystery promising but the execution didn't quite resonate with me, especially since modern stories aren't really my thing. While "Fair Play" has moments of intrigue and emotional depth, it just didn't fully connect. It's an interesting read for fans of layered mysteries, but it's not a book I’ll revisit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was well paced, entertaining and I couldn't put it down!

I loved the authors writing style.

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy.

Get ready for the intricately layered dual plotlines of Fair Play by Louise Hegarty! It is a captivating whodunnit that will have you on the edge of your seat, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, constantly second-guessing yourself, and ultimately leaving you reeling. Remember, as our imitable Detective Bell says, the solution is only as satisfying as the build-up!

In this ingenious tale, we follow Abigail as she rents a grand, mysterious old house to throw a spectacular murder mystery party for her brother Benjamin’s birthday on New Year’s Eve. The evening kicks off with the expected fun and frolics, but as the guests head to their rooms, tragedy strikes and when dawn breaks, Benjamin is found dead!

An exhilarating investigation ensues with unexpected twists, clever references, and jaw-dropping scandals. The mind-bending curveballs will have you flipping back through the pages, questioning every detail and desperately trying to piece together the puzzle.

With an unforgettable cast of duplicitous characters, a timeless backdrop, and all the essential elements of a classic locked-room mystery, this novel keeps you riveted from start to finish. And just when you think you have it all figured out, a brilliantly quirky detective and his sidekick enter the mix. I can’t reveal too much without dropping spoilers, but trust me—you’ll want to experience this for yourself!

Fair Play is a fabulously clever, stylish, and truly accomplished debut that’s worth every moment of the read, even if there’s very little fairness in the events at play. But more than just a whodunnit, it is a poignant portrait of grief—an emotional journey through the heartbreak of losing someone you love and the overwhelming sense of helplessness that follows.

Mark your calendars - Fair Play hits the shelves on April 3rd, and I can’t wait to hear what you think about this genre-defying story.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, but as always, this is an honest review.

A very interesting read. This book was split over grief and murder mystery and k felt myself longing for either part when I was reading the other.

It wasn’t my favourite

This is a strange book. Half murder mystery, half reflection on grief, and I am a bit sad that it did not quite work for me. It was a very interesting attempt to take a genre that is often quite flat and formulaic and do something new with it. At the centre of the story is the death of a brother - maybe suicide, maybe not - and the way people come to terms with it, but the books soon break off into other realities dominated by old school tips for writing a crime novel. Maybe it can work if you are in the right mood, but while I appreciated the vision, the characters left me a bit cold. Still - worth a read! It might catch you in the right situation, and it is anything but boring.