A step-by-step guide to committing the perfect murder. Best get your pen and notebook out for this one.
Clueless ... meets ... Gone Girl!
Ashleigh Carmichael has it all: money, fame, expensive cars, a multi-million-pound London house and the adoration of millions of social media followers.
Curtis Redding does not have it all: homeless, penniless, down on his luck and he doesn’t even own a phone. Plus, he’s wanted to kill Bryan Matthews since he was a child.
Ashleigh (through no fault of her own) winds up getting dragged into the power-play between Curtis and Bryan, who clearly have ongoing issues with each other. Bryan has inadvertently kidnapped her, and is holding her Fendi handbag for ransom. Therefore, where her bag goes … she goes, so she joins him on a road trip around the country. Curtis, meanwhile, is tracking them every step of the way.
Can she help the men overcome their differences? Or will she end up fighting for her life too?
Plus … will she ever get her handbag back? (There’s personal stuff in there!)
Perfect for those readers who enjoy their thrillers dark with a hint of humour. You’ll love this dramatic yet hilarious novel about female determination, money, power, and the lengths one will go to seek revenge.
Jessica Huntley is an award-winning and best-selling psychological thriller author. She's an ex-British soldier and Personal Trainer and has been writing almost non-stop for the past four years.
She is now the author of sixteen books, including two trilogies, six standalone thrillers, two anthologies, a co-written horror project and a novella. She is both self-published and traditionally published with Inkubator Books and Joffe Books.
She writes books for thriller readers who like their stories dark and twisty with complex, yet memorable characters, who often suffer from relatable mental health disorders.
When she isn't writing, Jessica is either keeping fit, walking her dog or looking after her young son.
Sign up to her email list to receive news about her upcoming book releases, get a first look at covers and some thriller recommendations. Visit her website where you'll also be able to download a short story called "You Die ... I Die".
This is the first book I have read from this author, but definitely won't be the last. “People who kill someone in the spur of the moment are more likely to get caught than those who plan the murder out meticulously beforehand.” I really enjoyed reading about the ten easy steps and trying to solve this twisted puzzle. At first, I wondered where the story was going, but loved every step of the journey. The different perspectives and alternating timelines added to the suspense and kept me immersed in the unpredictable plot. The epilogue was shocking and completely unexpected. This was definitely a thrill ride from start to finish. Thank you, BookSirens for my copy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What the? I’m wondering how I haven’t noticed Jessica Huntlley before now.
The ending of this book is so unpredictable and twisted that it takes a moment to grasp what just happened! I can confidently say that it will be one of my favorite reads of the year. I picked up this book without expectations. I usually pick books based on their cover. While this cover is cute, it isn’t the type that usually catches my eye.
This is a gripping tale about a beautiful, wealthy, and spoiled heiress who gets a taste of how the less fortunate live. The plot features revenge, blackmail, sarcasm, and a wicked ending. With alternating narrators and timelines, the story keeps you on your toes. And let me tell you, the plot twists keep coming - I could never predict what would happen next. The addition of anonymous diary entries adds an extra layer of intrigue to this juicy thriller. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this one!
Thanks to the author for providing an ARC of this book through BookSirens. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.
My eighth thriller book is a bit of a wild ride! Expect twists, multiple POVs, unreliable narrators, humour and sarcasm.
It's an old story of mine retold as a thriller. I originally wrote a book called The Way of the Road back when I was 16 and I decided to revisit and rewrite the characters.
Ashleigh may be spoiled and unlikable at first but she's got a good reason. Trust me!
I hope you enjoy this book. And I hope your jaw doesn't hurt when it hits the floor at the end 🤣🤣 or maybe you guess the ending. In which case...Bravo!
4.5 stars! This was a wild ride. It was funny in places but it was also super dark! I won’t say much for fear of spoiling it but the story has such a satisfying feel to it and you really can’t trust anything you read in this book! Trust me… The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is because I did guess most of the twists, but I don’t think they’re super obvious - I was just looking out for them! Though I’ll admit that while I guessed the twists, I didn’t guess how they would come to fruition! And as I said, each twist and turn had a way of making you feel satisfied and excited, the way any thriller should. One of Jessica’s best books yet!
Ashleigh is a business woman, a celebrity, a social media sensation. She has it all basically, and she knows it! But life is about to change when she meets Curtis and Bryan. It's a dangerous journey, but the buggers have her bag! And where her bag goes, she goes!!
This book is a mix of first and third person narrative, different character perspectives, diary entries, jumps through time and of course, the ten tips on how to murder someone....
I'm speechless. This book had me fooled. Honestly, the minute you finish this book, you'll want to head back to the beginning and read it all again to understand how you missed it all. How Jessica has done this is beyond me! Perhaps I'm just silly, but I honestly didn't see it coming!
Look, I don't know how to write this review without spoiling it. So honestly, add this book to your TBR! Please! It's a thriller riddled with dark humour... it'll shock you, it'll make you laugh, you'll probably gasp. It has characters you will hate, characters you will love, characters you'll go back to hating. Characters who just simply confuse you, how can you trust anyone in a thriller book right? So many emotions all in one go because you won't want to put it down! I didn't expect to finish it so soon but I've been capatived!
Jessica has me constantly questioning which book of hers is actually my favourite! You need to check her series' and standalones out! I can't wait for whatever she has next!
At any other time, I would have probably kept on reading. Right now, I just can’t.
It’s possible that the idea was a good one. But I’m getting tired of the characters which are all unlikeable, and their dialogues are very annoying.
I’ve reached a point where I can’t take it anymore. I’ve already have many unpleasant things in life to deal with. Reading should not be another one. And life’s too short.
This was a twisty thriller that felt like a movie. The main character is Ashleigh Carmichael, though there are multiple other POVs (Bryan, Curtis, and Hannah).
It was fast paced and entertaining. There is more to Ashleigh than meets the eye and when she hits her character arc it is no holds barred and bloody.
I had hopes for Bryan but Ashleigh was a better judge of character than I am.
I initially had a difficult time following the story since it is told in a non-linear way. By the second half of the story I found my groove.
*I received a complimentary advance review e-copy through BookSirens and am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
To say this story is twisted is an understatement! What did I just read!?! Holy unreliable narrator! Huntley has created a plot full of unexpected twists and turns. It's an elaborate story with multiple layers, which can be a bit disorienting at first. But I promise, everything comes together in the end.
Jessica Huntley is an author to watch. I can't wait to see what her creative and disturbing imagination comes up with next!
Dark, sometimes humourous and totally twisted! Strap yourself in for a rollercoaster of a ride! It does require a little concentration to keep up with the story as there are multiple viewpoints and timelines. I guessed a couple of points along the way but that didn't spoil my enjoyment. Thanks to the author and indie visible team for the arc ebook.
I received a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. Is there ever a way to commit the perfect murder? Someone certainly thinks so! This is a book full of twists and turns that keeps you guessing. In places I'd guessed where the story was going (such as who the author of the 10 easy steps was) but overall this was a gripping read I didn't want to put down!
Holy guacamole! This is one heck of a book and THAT ENDING? Genius!
In How to Commit the Perfect Mùrdër in Ten Easy Steps, Jessica Huntley takes readers on a darkly funny and twisted journey. This book offers a step-by-step guide to the art of mǔrdêr, blending suspense with a hint of wit. Make sure to have a pen and paper to take notes, kidding of course!
**Plot Summary**: Ashleigh Carmichael seemingly has it all: wealth, fame, a Fendi bag and an army of social media followers. When Ashleigh unwittingly becomes entangled in the power struggle between two guys named Curtis Redding and Bryan Matthew’s, her life takes an unexpected turn.
**Why You'll Love It**: - Darkly addictive: Huntley weaves a gripping tale that keeps readers turning pages. - Unconventional humor: The blend of můrdęr and wit adds a unique twist to the thriller genre. - Female determination: Ashleigh's resilience and resourcefulness make her a compelling character. - Revenge and power dynamics: The lengths characters will go to seek vengeancë are explored in a captivating way.
As the story unfolds, Huntley masterfully alternates perspectives, and timelines keeping readers immersed in the unpredictable plot. I also enjoyed the journal entries, as part of the story. The ten easy steps to the perfect mũrděr add intrigue, and the characters' relatable flaws make this thriller both dramatic and at times funny.
Huntley's complex characters and darkly satisfying storyline will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
You’re in for a wild ride with this one! Make sure to grab a copy!
I really enjoyed this book! I absolutely loved Jessica's "Darkness" series, so I had pretty high expectations going into this one, and it did not disappoint at all. I'll admit, I got confused for a bit, trying to keep the various timelines/timeframes and POVs straight, but once I got into the groove of it, the pages just flew by. I thought I had it figured out, and then another bombshell would drop and I'd be like "Well, there went that!" The ending was fantastic, and I can't wait to read more of her books!
4 stars
**I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Indie Visible Tours: Jessica Huntley’s How To commit the perfect murder in ten easy steps.
Swipe for blurb >>>>>>
So witty and dark, it was just the thing I needed to get over my reading draught over the last few weeks.
It was dark and gritty with just the right amount of sarcasm and humour. It’s a bit different to what I normally read in the sense that it was very much a dark comedy as well as a dark and twisty thriller.
I did see a couple of the twists coming but they were done so well that I still found I enjoyed them and there were a few finer details I definitely didn’t expect.
Ashleigh infuriated me to begin with (which I think was the whole point) but her character arc was so seamless and strong and I loved how her character developed along with her story.
All in all, I highly recommend it and would leave to read more from this indie author.
How to Commit the Perfect Murder in Ten Easy Steps by Jessica Huntley 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Doesn’t everyone want to know how to commit the perfect murder? 💄👜🩸📒 This book is a humorous, revenge thriller story! It has an exciting storyline that really kept me on my toes from start to finish! There are lots of surprising twists throughout and I like the multiple POV’s to keep it extra entertaining. The story follows Ashleigh, who is a well to do woman. When she becomes entangled with Curtis and Brian, her life takes on drastic changes.
The ending was a shocker!
The story is very well written, and I definitely enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my favorite book that Jessica Huntley has written.
I listened to the audio version and the narrator is excellent!! *This book is a fun and exciting read!!*
This book was very interesting. The way it bounced between multiple POVs and past diary entries. You honestly really have to guess and wonder whose entry belongs to who.
But once you allow yourself to get into the story and into the ten tips, you’re in for a ride. This story pulled on my heart strings, surprised me and had me literally ready to pull my hair out at the poor decisions of everyone involved.
This book was surprisingly good.
I volunteered to read an ARC of this book through BookSirens.
How to commit the perfect murder in ten easy steps
Wow what can I say! Jessica Huntley is an exceptional writer and her books keep you reading, twists you don't see coming all the while you read and try to figure out what the outcome will be. I loved how it bounced between the main characters giving you insight to them, and as things start to add up you see how all the characters are linked. Also the epilogue didn't expect that! So good definitely another of Jessica's books I'll keep and read again x
Holy moly! Yall. What did I just read. This book fooled me the whole entire time. I don’t want to spoil anything at all, but seriously I have to go back to reread this to figure out where I missed it all. I don’t know how this author did it, but it’s been done and I am in shock. A mental block is happening right now as I try to figure out what just happened. This is well written in every way possible. I will be buying this one for sure. Job well done. I can’t wait to read more by this author! Thank you BookSirens for the ARC!
This was a brilliantly twisty and fun, dark psychological thriller with multiple points of view. While sometimes I had to double check who's chapter I was reading, this didn't detract from how fun this was to read. Throughout the book, I kept changing my mind in which character I was rooting for and continually tried to figure out what was going on 😂 But that's what makes these types of books fun! It did start a little slow, but it picks up, and the pace quickens the further you get into the story. I was able to binge this on a Sunday morning in just over 4 hours. It was really easy to read, and it kept me entertained. This read like Jessica's My_Self series, which is also very good. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a fun little revenge read that turns pretty dark and twisty at the end! ❤️ I can’t say too much more without giving things away 🫣😅 All I know is that at the end I had a “wait a minute….” moment and had to go back to reread for a minute and then I had the “ohhhh…” moment. 😂
Overall I really enjoyed this one and I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you love thrillers! 🙌
Another absolute cracker from Jessica Huntley! I was glued to this from start to finish. Told from various timelines and perspectives it definitely kept me on my toes. I thought I knew where it was going, but, I was wrong again and again. Jessica Huntley has so skilfully plotted and woven every thread of this story so it leaves the reader guessing. I have read this author's book's before and this one certainly hit the spot. Well done on such an intriguing and immersive thriller. I loved it! thanks to Jessica Huntley and BookSirens for the ARC to write my honest review.
I just can't fathom how amazing this author is. I've read nearly every single book, and each one gets better and better.
I read this within two hours it was that addictive and jesus, the twists and turns! I was left speechless. So amazingly written and incredible character development.
Funny, dark, tense, surprising, and unexpected. Just when I thought I knew what going on, I didn't! Multiple POV, variations in narration, diary entries, and jumps in time keep the reader guessing the whole time. Great read!
I absolutely loved this book. The 10 steps were cleverly written and as the story went on you could see them being played out. I liked the different characters and how each had their own chapters. I liked the twists and turns but had a feeling from early on who it was. It would be interesting to see if there is a second book as it could be carried on I think. Another great book by Jessica Huntley. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
(Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC!)
What a twist!
Obviously no spoilers for those interested. This is probably going to be one of my favorite books from Huntley in a while, along with Jinx of course. I loved all the moments; the humor, the suspense, the perspective changes, all of it!
If you are someone looking for a thriller that will keep you reading until it’s done, this is the book for you!
How To Commit The Perfect Murder In 10 Easy Steps By @jessica_reading_writing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 I finally finished this beauty last night and I have to say I loved it ! While I wasn’t fully in the thriller mood, I felt this was going to impact my enjoyment of the book. I admit, it did and was originally going to rate this 3.5 but I couldn’t do that. That ending was far too good to be below 4 star.
In this thriller, we follow Ashleigh, a spoiled heiress who gets what she wants when she wants. However, She finds herself in a position where she is kidnapped after a car crash and she’s trapped.
Following her journey we follow her and the kidnapper which does take time to develop. But is broken up very well by the mix of past and present POV along with some very interest diary entries which truly made it for me. It added so much intrigue to the story as the writer is unknown until much later.
I loved the nods to how obsessive people become over social media and the pop culture references. The banter between Ashleigh and the kidnapper is great fun.
Update- Audiobook review 06/26/2025 - I listened to the audible version of this book and thought the narration was very good. The voice was pleasant, easy listening and nice voice inflections.
A thrilling psychological suspense book. I did have a hard time keeping up with the time lines and whose chapter I was reading occasionally but overall enjoyed the story. I thought I had a few things figured out but then doubted my reasoning as there were several twists. Lots of evil characters to wonder about.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
What a fun, twisty thrill ride! At first the multiple POVs and timelines were a little difficult to follow, but they worked really well for this book and kept me guessing the entire time. Ashleigh had to be my favourite character - she was so dramatic and didn't take sh*t from anyone haha! The twist at the end totally caught me off guard, though I had some pretty close guesses. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a thriller with tons of unexpected twists!
TL;DR: Forget tipsheets. This is a thriller disguised as a how‑to guide. The plot is twisty, the tone is funny, and it keeps you guessing. Ashleigh is dragged into chaos and Curtis’s revenge plot reels you in. It’s dramatic and dark humor rolled into one wild ride. How to Commit the Perfect Murder in Ten Easy Steps is a thrilling dark comedy that takes you on a chaos‑filled ride you’ll never forget. Keep reading for the full review.
Synopsis: Ashleigh Carmichael seems to have it all—wealth, fame, a flashy London life and a massive social media following. Curtis has none of that. He’s homeless and desperate and has wanted to kill Bryan Matthews since childhood. Ashleigh unwittingly gets pulled into the twisted power game between Curtis and Bryan after the latter essentially kidnaps her by holding her designer handbag for ransom. She ends up on a road trip with him while Curtis tracks their every move. Along the way she’s caught between danger, revenge and her handbag mission. The result is a darkly funny thriller about power, money, female grit and chaos.
Spillin’ the Book Tea: This is not a how to book for the record. It’s funny. It’s twisty. It’s incredible. The author builds a story that had me laughing one moment and gasping the next. Ashleigh’s misadventures felt both absurd and oddly relatable, and Curtis’s obsession raises the stakes in unexpected ways. I raced through the pages because I had to know who would come out on top. Thank you to the author and Booksprout for a copy of this audiobook, and the opportunity to provide this candid review!
The Vibes It Brings: 🤣 Over‑the‑top yet dark comedy 🧳 Kidnap road trip full of chaos 💼 High society meets revenge‑driven outsider 🔄 Unpredictable twists at every turn 👠 Designer handbag as plot catalyst
Narration: Charlie Albers delivers a brilliant performance. She captures the humor perfectly and shifts seamlessly into the tense moments. Ashleigh’s voice feels authentic and Curtis’s obsession tone comes through chillingly. The balance between light comedy and serious tension is spot‑on.
Final Thoughts: This book is a hilarious yet nail‑biting roller‑coaster. The characters feel messy and real and the humor keeps things fresh even when it gets dark. You’ll laugh, you’ll jump, and you’ll end up cheering for the chaos. A thriller that stands out for its boldness and sheer entertainment.
It took me pretty far into this book to really appreciate it. There were a ton of setting jumps between the present and the past. There were also some confusing switches between characters. I occasionally struggled to follow both the timelines and the characters.
There were also a few missed edits that need to be addressed:
Chapter 14
'… get to the bottom of his sister's death whether….'
should read '… death even if…'
Chapter 34, near the end
'… crushing on my captive…'
should read '… on my captor…'
Chapter 34, near the end
The clap of thunder comes before the flash of lightning. In reality, lightning comes first.
Several scenes were particularly well written.
The confrontation with Ashley and her business partner was particularly suspenseful, as was the motel scene climax.
I eventually reached a point in the book when I became invested in the lead character and started cheering her on. The author managed to wrap up all the story lines. Of course, some things had to work perfectly over the years, but as the reader, I chose to believe. I'll look forward to more from Ms. Huntley.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
If there’s one thing this story shows, your past and the way you treat others can have a long-lasting impact that may come back to haunt you.
I had mixed feelings when I first started reading How to Commit the Perfect Murder in Ten Easy Steps. I liked how each chapter was a different style, including diary entries, one of the 10 steps, nameless narrators, and different POVs from the past and present; it was slightly confusing in the beginning, but with a little concentration it’s easy to differentiate once you get into the story. I really liked how it was changed up every chapter though as it kept it engaging and is different from a lot of books I’ve read. However, I really couldn’t stand Ashleigh at first, which is where the mixed feelings came in. I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d be able to finish the book because of this, and it was also why I had a slow start when I first began reading. This was only for a short bit though as the character begins to evolve and you realize that Ashleigh Carmichael might not be the “rich bimbo” she comes off as. I do have to hand it to author Jessica Huntley though, she does a fantastic job at writing an insufferable character!!
I’m glad I stuck with this wild ride, which was full of dark humor, revenge, hidden agendas, manipulation, and psychological twists. There were several clues towards the end of the book that led me to guess what the reveal would be regarding the sordid pasts of the characters. However, I definitely wouldn’t call it predictable because the reveal was deeper and so much more than what I had guessed, and ended up not even being the biggest reveal of all.
Overall, this was an entertaining, original, and twisty story that left me wanting more. I will most definitely check out Huntley’s other books!
Thank you to BookSirens and Jessica Huntley for this ARC!