What do you think?
Rate this book
Small Man, Big Murder
Small Man, Big Murder is a short and spicy revenge story mostly invented by a feral middle-aged housewife. Follow Chad and his girlfriend Tiffany as they try to make money for the lifestyle they both desperately want. Meet the Bacon Babes and see how this tight-knit group of women ensures Chad gets what he deserves most. This is a love story, a hate story, and above all an idiot’s guide to getting away with murder.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2024
About the author
Heather Curlee Novak
15 books22 followersHeather Curlee Novak, AKA the ‘Lazy Bombshell,’ writes spicy suspense stories packed with humor, unexpected twists, and unforgettable characters who feel like lifelong friends. She’s a lover of all things sparkly, cheeky, and mischievous—qualities that shine through in her work.
When she’s not crafting tales of intrigue and laughter, Heather enjoys motivational speaking and draws inspiration from her years in customer service, sales training, and troubleshooting. Her professional experience fuels her ability to weave relatable, dynamic stories that resonate with readers.
Happily married to her real-life Prince Charming, John, Heather cherishes time with their two fascinating daughters, whom they encourage to live boldly and authentically. She lives each day passionately, striving to "live her love out loud" and bring joy, humor, and a touch of spice to everything she does.
When she’s not crafting tales of intrigue and laughter, Heather enjoys motivational speaking and draws inspiration from her years in customer service, sales training, and troubleshooting. Her professional experience fuels her ability to weave relatable, dynamic stories that resonate with readers.
Happily married to her real-life Prince Charming, John, Heather cherishes time with their two fascinating daughters, whom they encourage to live boldly and authentically. She lives each day passionately, striving to "live her love out loud" and bring joy, humor, and a touch of spice to everything she does.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 22, 2024
Clever and witty
What a clever and witty story written by a dear friend. It makes me want to find a house on Elm Street and befriend the Bacon Babes. Cheers to you Heather!
What a clever and witty story written by a dear friend. It makes me want to find a house on Elm Street and befriend the Bacon Babes. Cheers to you Heather!
May 28, 2024
A captivating story with relatable characters. I finished it quickly and wanted to read more.
April 4, 2024
Story of a group of women that get together for a weekly D&D game. They share their lives and support each other. There is a divorce and a MURDER. Heartfelt women supporting each other with a murder mystery added in.
April 30, 2024
loved it!
It was so good!! I love the ending. The poor thing went through so much, but that ending was perfect!
It was so good!! I love the ending. The poor thing went through so much, but that ending was perfect!
July 24, 2024
Cozy mystery full of neighborhood charm, lovable characters, and one very easy to hate villain!
September 30, 2025
💜🔎Small Man, Big Murder ~ three and a half stars🔍💜
Although I liked this book, there were several things that just felt out of place or too confusing. The pov switch was confusing considering it wasn’t ever marked with a name but rather a few asterisks or sometimes chapters. The POV was always changing so this would have been clearer for the reader. The timeline was also…you guessed it…confusing. We have no sense of time running through this book but then things like “it happened months ago” or “just a week ago” pop up. Like sorry when and how did we get here? Also the dog is forgotten for about 100 pages (yes, he’s a character in my mind). However, there were strong, three-dimensional characters with noticeable development. The plot was interesting, especially since it was told in the 3 main characters POV’s.
A few grammatical errors that I found while reading, missing or misused commas, run-on sentences, incorrect punctuation and extra or no spacing.
Although I liked this book, there were several things that just felt out of place or too confusing. The pov switch was confusing considering it wasn’t ever marked with a name but rather a few asterisks or sometimes chapters. The POV was always changing so this would have been clearer for the reader. The timeline was also…you guessed it…confusing. We have no sense of time running through this book but then things like “it happened months ago” or “just a week ago” pop up. Like sorry when and how did we get here? Also the dog is forgotten for about 100 pages (yes, he’s a character in my mind). However, there were strong, three-dimensional characters with noticeable development. The plot was interesting, especially since it was told in the 3 main characters POV’s.
A few grammatical errors that I found while reading, missing or misused commas, run-on sentences, incorrect punctuation and extra or no spacing.
April 5, 2025
This story is best described as sharp—cleverly written with a thread of irony running through every scene. For a book centered on murder, it’s surprisingly light and fast-paced, which made it an addictive read from start to finish.
Chad, oh Chad. I loved his character. He’s one of those villains who’s so well-crafted that you kind of enjoy being in his head, even when you know you shouldn’t. His motives made sense, his psychology was believable, and his descent left a trail of casualties that extended beyond just one tragic death. The revenge arc was well-laid and satisfying to the end.
It's a quick read that delivers a delicious mix of dark humor, irony, and character-driven drama. And yes, I may have enjoyed Chad’s inner monologue a little too much… not sure what that says about me. 😅
Highly recommend for fans of smart, snappy fiction with a sinister twist.
Chad, oh Chad. I loved his character. He’s one of those villains who’s so well-crafted that you kind of enjoy being in his head, even when you know you shouldn’t. His motives made sense, his psychology was believable, and his descent left a trail of casualties that extended beyond just one tragic death. The revenge arc was well-laid and satisfying to the end.
It's a quick read that delivers a delicious mix of dark humor, irony, and character-driven drama. And yes, I may have enjoyed Chad’s inner monologue a little too much… not sure what that says about me. 😅
Highly recommend for fans of smart, snappy fiction with a sinister twist.
October 30, 2024
Well written antagonist
I had mixed feelings about this story. Chad is definitely a character you love to hate—he’s well-written as the antagonist. Kat took some time for me to warm up to, but I did find her character growth engaging as the story unfolded. There were a few inconsistencies that caught my attention, but Kat’s friends really kept me invested. They added a lot of charm, and even Tiffany grew on me. Overall, it’s a 3-star read for me.
I had mixed feelings about this story. Chad is definitely a character you love to hate—he’s well-written as the antagonist. Kat took some time for me to warm up to, but I did find her character growth engaging as the story unfolded. There were a few inconsistencies that caught my attention, but Kat’s friends really kept me invested. They added a lot of charm, and even Tiffany grew on me. Overall, it’s a 3-star read for me.
April 9, 2025
This book had me guessing until the very end. At the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be rooting for Chad or not, and as the story progressed and I realized he was the antagonist, I thought that was super clever! I enjoy Kat and her group of ladies; every woman deserves a group of friends like the Bacon Babes. I also ended up liking Tiffany at the end and was glad she got her own form of a happy ending. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a quick, fun read!
July 29, 2025
I enjoyed this book! It was a quick and easy read with captivating characters and just enough suspense to keep me invested! I loved the references to local places near my hometown! It made the book a little extra special!
I did feel like there was a lot going on at times, with different characters and their points of view, but overall I enjoyed the story! I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
I did feel like there was a lot going on at times, with different characters and their points of view, but overall I enjoyed the story! I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
January 14, 2025
A Fun Fast Read
I liked getting into the various characters thoughts throughout the story. While it wasn’t hard to follow, I would have liked the story construction a little better if there was less back pedaling on the timeline of the story. I am mixed in the ending, I think it would have been better if it wasn’t every woman’s “book boyfriend” dream.
I liked getting into the various characters thoughts throughout the story. While it wasn’t hard to follow, I would have liked the story construction a little better if there was less back pedaling on the timeline of the story. I am mixed in the ending, I think it would have been better if it wasn’t every woman’s “book boyfriend” dream.
January 20, 2025
Fully invested in figuring this mystery out!
I enjoyed so much getting to know the characters in this book and trying to figure out what was about to happen how it would effect everybody! The author did a great job creating these characters, even the non sympathetic ones were fascinating. Looking forward to more of her work!
I enjoyed so much getting to know the characters in this book and trying to figure out what was about to happen how it would effect everybody! The author did a great job creating these characters, even the non sympathetic ones were fascinating. Looking forward to more of her work!
February 5, 2025
This book was an enjoyable romantic suspense full of spice and mystery. Chad’s deplorable behavior made me root for the women of the book, including the Bacon Babes. I especially love at the end of the book how Heather leaves real-life support for any woman embroiled with a man like Chad.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
November 5, 2025
An engaging read! The female characters are so relatable! And Chad! Well, Chad is the character we love to hate. I know some don't like books with changing POVs, but I liked it here. And the ending was a pleasant surprise! Can't wait to read another book by Curlee-Novak. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
December 1, 2024
Strange Read
I honestly don't know what to make of this book. The plot is several mini plots and honestly none of them were any that I cared about. The only thing that motivated me to finish it is that it was short. Doubtful that I will read any others in the series.
I honestly don't know what to make of this book. The plot is several mini plots and honestly none of them were any that I cared about. The only thing that motivated me to finish it is that it was short. Doubtful that I will read any others in the series.
August 6, 2025
Perfect murder short
Their name is always Chad or Kyle or Jared something dumb right!?
It is as if Heather met my ex-husband and wrote a book about him. Minus the murder I think...
I loved the karma catching up with him in the best way.
Their name is always Chad or Kyle or Jared something dumb right!?
It is as if Heather met my ex-husband and wrote a book about him. Minus the murder I think...
I loved the karma catching up with him in the best way.
February 18, 2026
Great thriller.
When a woman gets killed a group of friends comes together to find answers. When a man steps out of line and goes to far it is only a matter of time before karma comes back to bite him.
I cannot wait to learn more about these friends and this small town.
When a woman gets killed a group of friends comes together to find answers. When a man steps out of line and goes to far it is only a matter of time before karma comes back to bite him.
I cannot wait to learn more about these friends and this small town.
April 5, 2024
This highly readable, warm crime story about courage, your tribe, and the impact of an abusive jerk was a perfect read for a vacation day. Great story and fun to follow the author's tale.
August 21, 2024
Such a fun exciting thriller. I can't wait to see what this author does next!
July 11, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. It was unique.
May 24, 2026
A great first novel! My bookclub enjoyed it and also enjoyed talking with Heather at our meeting! I look forward to reading another book by the author!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews