Really enjoyed this book, interesting setting, very atmospheric, I actually felt like I was there!

Mimi recives an invitation from Jane a local socialite who lives in a very grand mansion to attend a charity auction, unfortunately Mimi is left with no choice but to attend the invite also comes with a blackmail letter. She invites her granddaughter Addie to attend with her.

Mimi and Addie have been estranged for a while due to Addie's ex-partner who has since left her and seemingly stolen and sold from underneath her a computer game that Addie invented..

A snow storm brings the charity auction to a halt and everyone who is attending the event gets stranded in the mansion.

Great characters, great writing, interesting story, thought it really flowed well.

One small thing, Jane was spelt Jayne for the first few chapters.

Highly recommended

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mimi lives on an island called Mackinac quite happily. She keeps herself to herself and turns down invitations from neighbours. One day she receives a invitation from a local socialite to come to a charity auction which she plans to turn down. Then comes the hook. Mimi receives a blackmail letter and she knows she has to attend to find out what Jane knows. As much as Mimi is not a person to scare easily she invites her granddaughter, Addie, to come to the auction. Their relationship has not been good over the recent past – Mimi did not approve of Addie’s partner, Brian, but as they have gone their separate ways, Mimi feels the time is right to mend this. Mimi and Addie attend the auction and things go from bad to worse. A snow storm arrives and the visitors are all stuck at the huge house. Murders begin, first Jane. The Police cannot get to the island so Addie as a writer of video games brings her logic to the fore to find out the truth behind the murders. I changed my mind throughout the book who the murderer was – sign of a good story well written. I thought this was a good book and it flowed from start to finish. I love the interaction between Mimi and Addie.

This is a fun murder mystery set in an isolated manor house with a murderer on the loose. I found that the characters were a bit confusing to start with, they weren't really explained that well and the timings didn't seem to match up so I was a bit confused at points. Not a fan of the grandmother and granddaughter sleuth duo, they just didn't really work for me.
It's not the best one of this genre I've read but it's a quick read and ok if you want something easy.

Synopsis: Two unlikely detectives. A killer cocktail of suspects.
77-year-old Mimi and her granddaughter Addie attend Jane Ireland's extravagant auction party.

Mimi has been blackmailed into attending Jane's event at a grand old mansion, when suddenly Jane is murdered in plain sight.

Multiple suspects in a locked mansion, but who was it?

🔪

Fab debut! I read this offshore and flew through it 😅 it's a typical locked room murder mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you gripped throughout.
I really liked Addie and Mimi, the detective sleuths 🧐 loved their relationship and some comedy throughout.

Your typical cosy locked room murder mystery, just what I needed!

Thank you to Random House, Cornerstone and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for my honest review ✨️

Repetitive and slow, 'This Is Not A Game' turned out to be less enjoyable than the description would lead you to believe. Trapped in an old mansion after a shady event gone wrong, a group of unlikely suspects discover multiple bodies. Addie, the developer of a popular game, and her Grandmother Mimi, who has a secret she's not yet willing to share with her granddaughter, take it upon themselves to investigate who is to blame.

This book goes round and round in circles throughout, especially when it comes to Addie's character constantly referencing how the murders are similar to plots in her game 'Murderscape'. Honestly, her character comes across as insensitive - she's constantly going around comparing these deaths to fictional plots to 'friends' and family of the victims! It seems like she's just constantly promoting herself because most of the big discoveries don't even come from her anyway - she's too busy talking about herself whilst Mimi solves the crimes.

There was also little chemistry between any of the characters which for the most part makes sense as the majority of them are strangers. However, Addie and Mimi just come across like cliches of a granddaughter / grandmother pairing which doesn't work at all as it's explained multiple times how previously they haven't got on and barely spoke to each other! I think my judgement of their relationship may be a bit harsh as I previously read 'The Switch' by Beth O'Leary which I think perfectly shows this family dynamic - if anything, reading this straight after just highlights how badly written their relationship was!

This just doesn't compare to other mysteries I've read! The end reveal also seemed out of nowhere, having the killer be a character whose name barely even shows up and we as an audience know next to nothing about! I didn't feel anything as the mystery wrapped as I did not care for the characters at all!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Cornerstone for this arc !!

**All opinions are my own !!**

I love locked mistery murders and this one was amazing. I loved the video game aproach, with the hint of cozy murders. I'm going to read more books by this author for sure.

Oh this was a whole lot of fun. A bit like going to a murder mystery weekend. Fun characters and some interesting relationships between them. I enjoyed this one and its golden age vibe. Its Christie but with its own identity and I hope there are more to come!

A locked room mystery in effect with the background a fancy dinner party in an isolated big house with all concerned either being, or involved in, blackmail. Naturally the weather was bad, the electrics off and hence the drawbridge wouldn't work. The 'detectives' were Mimi (being blackmailed) and her grand daughter, Addie. They are fairly remote with each other with Mimi being reclusive and Addie more than bothered about her ex stealing her video games. There were plenty of discussions about gaming in the IT sense which just passed over me and how brilliant Addie was, really? The characters were just, well, just - neither that interesting or likeable. Sorry but this felt like an attempt to bring a standard mystery into the gaming 21st century but didn't work for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This if Not a Game by Kerry Mullen
This book features Rosemary and woman in her 70’s who is known as Mimi. She lives alone on Mackinac Island and is invited to a party by a neighbour, Jane Ireland, who indicates that she knows a secret about Mimi and that she is willing to blackmail her. Mimi is currently not on close terms with her granddaughter having fallen out about her granddaughter’s partner but she decides that it would be good for her to accompany her.
Addie her granddaughter is currently separating from her fiancé who is trying ot steal her rights to a game they developed together entitled Murderscape. The pair of them arrive at the party and are faced with a locked room mystery which they have to solve. I have to say that I was not hooked by the story and had no desire to discover who had committed the deed. I wasn’t bothered enough about the characters to want to find out who the murderer was. I’m sorry but this just did not work for me. Many thanks to Kerry Mullen, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.

This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen is a delightful, fast-paced mystery that blends suspense with wit, all wrapped up in a setting of wealth, glamour, and old-school charm. The novel introduces readers to two unlikely detectives: Mimi, a sharp-witted 77-year-old who enjoys crossword puzzles and Gibson martinis, and her granddaughter Addie, a woman recovering from a broken heart and a rocky past.
The story kicks off at a high-society auction party hosted by the extravagant Jane Ireland at a grand mansion on Mackinac Island. Mimi, reluctantly blackmailed into attending, finds herself in the middle of a tangled web of suspects when Jane is found dead. As if that weren’t enough, a second body turns up, and the pair is thrust into a race against time to unmask the killer.
What makes it so enjoyable is the chemistry between Mimi and Addie. Their contrasting personalities — Mimi's seasoned, no-nonsense approach and Addie’s more idealistic, emotionally-driven outlook — create a quirky, endearing dynamic. Their investigation is filled with clever twists, red herrings, and an ever-growing list of suspects, each with their own hidden motives and dark secrets.
Mullen excels in creating a vivid, atmospheric setting. The mansion, with its labyrinthine rooms and mysterious corners, feels like a character in itself, adding tension and suspense to the plot. The sharp dialogue, combined with Mimi’s dry humor and Addie’s emotional depth, keeps the tone light even when the stakes are high.
Though the novel is packed with suspense and intrigue, it never takes itself too seriously. It’s a perfect blend of cozy mystery with a touch of darker drama. The story’s pace is brisk, but it doesn’t skimp on character development, allowing readers to become fully invested in both the whodunit and the personal arcs of Mimi and Addie.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a mix of clever plotting, endearing characters and a touch of humor to go along with the thrills.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

This Is Not A Game is a fun whodunit with wit and charm.
One for fans of Richard Osman and Only Murders in the Building.
4 stars.

An excellent locked room murder mystery where the guests attending an exclusive party are being blackmailed. When the weather changes and the house is cut off the first murder is revealed. Mimi, a cocktail drinking, crossword solving ex journalist and her granddaughter Addie a designer/developer of video games begin a race to uncover the murderer. Very entertaining and I think it could make a really good screenplay.

This has an Agatha Christie vibe to the murder mystery. Everyone trapped in a houses together but who is the killer. I spent most of the book moving from person to person without quite putting it all together!

📚 Book Review 📚

When does a game look like a murder and when does a murder stop the game?

Great cosy whodunnit with twists and turns reminiscent of Agatha Christie herself. I really enjoyed this.

Addie is a clever tech mystery games designer and producer who is reeling after the break up of her relationship with the man she loves and business partner. After receiving an invitation from Mimi, her sharp witted and sharp tongued grandmother to stay with her, Addie finds herself with her grandmother, locked away in a large house with the inhabitants dropping like flies. Very soon, Addie and Mimi know that to solve the mystery, Addie needs to use her mystery writing skills before it’s too late.

I really enjoyed this book, the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter is lovely and the mixture of traditional whodunnit along with more of a contemporary mystery vibe, works very well. This is a fun, twisting and enjoyable read.

I’d like to thank Random House UK, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 24th April 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really thought from the cover and the description that this would be right up my street. Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

I felt like the book just dragged on - it could have been halved and still fitted everything in. I found myself struggling to reach for it as I wasn’t engaged.

The characters weren’t very interesting, not even the two FMCs. There was such potential for them to develop - both personally and in their relationship but it just didn’t happen!

I’ve rated this 2 stars because I enjoyed the beginning. I saw the potential for the rest of the book but it just didn’t grip me and felt rushed.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

What I loved about this book was the grandmother, granddaughter super sleuth team! We have here a reclusive grandmother who isn’t particularly affectionate and enjoys her solitude in her small village. Her world is shaken when she receives a blackmail letter directing her to an upcoming party at a wealthy neighbours. She daren’t face it alone so she calls up her granddaughter who is going through a difficult break up and legal case. Things are tense between them but through their investigation into this blackmail case they are able to understand each other better.

The relationship between grandmother and granddaughter was fantastic. It was such a fun pair to investigate the criminal occurrences and mystery that occurs and they just bounced so well off of each other! I thoroughly enjoyed the way they learned more about each other and they way they continue to surprise each other.

Here we have a group of people with secrets and lies, trapped in a house together by inclement weather following a dramatic party. There’s an interesting mystery here with layers and hidden connections. However what makes this memorable is the fab investigative duo!

Thank you to Netaglley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I have to be honest—this book just wasn’t for me. Despite the positive reviews that initially drew me in, I found myself struggling to get through it, hoping it would improve as the story progressed. Unfortunately, it never did.

The characters were completely unlikable, which made it difficult to care about what happened to them. On top of that, the plot felt silly and far-fetched, making it hard to stay engaged or take the story seriously. Overall, I found the book disappointing and wouldn’t recommend it.

Thank y ou net galley for this copy!
Absolutely loved the storyline & found it extremely gripping throughout!

I absolutely adore the relationship between the grandma and granddaughter in the book. It was a fun, easy-to-read, and entertaining mystery that beautifully explored family dynamics. The story had a cozy atmosphere, infused with humor and delightful twists. What more could you possibly need in a book?

Thoroughly enjoyed this story and all the twists and turns that came through as you continued into the book. The characters were great and really believable.