A fun murder mystery but slow throughout, I kept reading but only because I had hoped it would pick up pace

This is a fun locked-room murder mystery set in the US. Although I didn’t especially like the granddaughter-grandmother duo of detectives, the plot, characterisation and dialogue kept me well entertained, and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

A slow starting locked room type mystery involving a dinner party in an isolated big house.

Lots of characters but none of them were particularly interesting and the detectives (for want of a better description) were no better. The fact that they were grandmother and granddaughter was also odd. I lost the enthusiasm for the book as the plot involved video games and the gaming industry./IT knowledge.

The slow start didn't really speed up, and I felt really disappointed in the whole book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK Cornerstone for the chance to read and review.

I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, but I did like the relationship between Mimi and Addie. I found it very far-fetched with some rather large plot holes. I read it in one sitting, but I did doze off several times which isn't a great advert for the speed of the plot.

I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't rush back to it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Agatha Christie in modern form! This felt like everything I LOVE about a classic murder mystery, it grabbed my attention and held it the whole time, I couldn't put this book down, and if I did I was constantly thinking about what could possibly happen next... and ultimately - whodunnit!
Fantastic story I look forward to more from Kelly Mullen

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!

This murder mystery has the flavour of a golden age Agatha Christie tale, with septuagenarian Mimi and her heartbroken granddaughter Addie finding that circumstances press them into service as detectives when a social event on Mackinac Island goes terribly wrong.

First, their hostess, Jane Ireland, cops it. And shortly thereafter, the second murder is discovered, leading to the need for urgent action! Witty and atmospheric, this story delivers beautifully, earning itself 3.5 stars.

If you love murder mystery then this is the book for you.

Brilliant story line just a bit long winded for me.

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.