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Actually, I'm A Murderer
A Hitchcockian premise - it's Strangers on a Train squared as there are four of them. The year is 1973. Four people are thrown together in a railway compartment of an early morning mail train from London to Sunderland. To pass the time they share a little about themselves and the purpose of their journey. Claire is working in electronics and believes a desk-sized personal computer will make her fortune. Tony is an actor heading home for a job in touring school's theatre company. Edward is a top lawyer and adviser to the Heath government on the new venture into the European Union. The insignificant little man in the corner, John, says, 'Actually I'm a murderer.' No one really believes him, but in the days to come one of his fellow passengers will become his latest victim...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2025
192 people are currently reading
1464 people want to read
About the author
Terry Deary
768 books841 followersA former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29. Most famously, he is one of the authors of the Horrible Histories series of books popular among children for their disgusting details, gory information and humorous pictures and among adults for getting children interested in history. Books in the series have been widely translated into other languages and imitated.
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
A cartoon series has been made of the series of books and was shown on CiTV for a period in 2002.
The first series of a live-action comedy sketch show of the same name was shown on CBBC in 2009 and a second series is due.
Terry is also known widely throughout children and adult reading groups alike for his True Stories series (see below for series list).
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Sunderland in 2000. His numerous accolades also include the Blue Peter "Best Nonfiction Author of the Century" Award in the U.K.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
June 16, 2025
3 Stars
One Liner: Great premise, but a mediocre read
1973
Four people are traveling in a railway compartment of the early mail from London to Sunderland. They talk a little about themselves to pass the time.
• Claire works in electronics, hoping a desk-sized computer will make her a fortune.
• Tony is an actor going home after a tour.
• Edward is a top lawyer and adviser to the Heath government.
• John, the fourth man in the compartment, says ‘actually, I’m a murderer’.
They think he’s being funny, but who knows what will happen next?
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Tony, Aline, and John Brown.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t know the author was famous until I finished the book. Turns out, he is the author of the Horrible Histories Series (64 books!) and is quite popular. It did me good coz I didn’t have any expectations about the book.
The premise is intriguing. Being set in the 1970s gives it a sort of old-world vibe, but not much. Still, the setting and the use of the period are the best part of the book.
It’s not easy reading about the casual sexual harassment of women (but sadly, we don’t have to try hard to imagine women police not being safe with their male counterparts, as this happens even today). Still, it is realistic.
The presentation makes the story more engaging in a way, as we get the details from three POVs, one of whom is the killer. However, the foreshadowing sometimes spoils the suspense, and the lack of detail actually works in reverse to make some twists too obvious (yeah, I’m referring to the repeated use of ‘my lover’).
Now, readers don’t have to like the characters to enjoy a mystery. It’s usually the annoying one who gets popped off, so it’s not a loss. However, there’s hardly any likable character in the book. The narrators do have some sort of personality, but nothing you can actually root for!
Also, this brings me to a recurring issue in many books. Why is it that the so-called experts end up making so many mistakes once the story starts? The same happens with Mr. Brown, too. Though we see hints of his talent, he spends a lot of time making mistakes like a novice.
The initial rambling didn’t do the book any favor, TBH. The first quarter is slow when it should have hooked the reader. The pacing gets better later on, thankfully, but this is not a fast book.
I did figure out the twists, which is always a positive sign. It shows the story follows a well-planned arc rather than throwing in twists just to shock the readers.
Of course, a certain development is a bit strange, but it makes sense in a convoluted way, just like the characters. It aligns with their personalities.
To summarize, Actually, I'm A Murderer is a decent cozy mystery that combines dark themes with teeny bits of lighthearted scenes, and unlikeable characters. I’m not sure who to recommend this to.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ActuallyImAMurderer
One Liner: Great premise, but a mediocre read
1973
Four people are traveling in a railway compartment of the early mail from London to Sunderland. They talk a little about themselves to pass the time.
• Claire works in electronics, hoping a desk-sized computer will make her a fortune.
• Tony is an actor going home after a tour.
• Edward is a top lawyer and adviser to the Heath government.
• John, the fourth man in the compartment, says ‘actually, I’m a murderer’.
They think he’s being funny, but who knows what will happen next?
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Tony, Aline, and John Brown.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t know the author was famous until I finished the book. Turns out, he is the author of the Horrible Histories Series (64 books!) and is quite popular. It did me good coz I didn’t have any expectations about the book.
The premise is intriguing. Being set in the 1970s gives it a sort of old-world vibe, but not much. Still, the setting and the use of the period are the best part of the book.
It’s not easy reading about the casual sexual harassment of women (but sadly, we don’t have to try hard to imagine women police not being safe with their male counterparts, as this happens even today). Still, it is realistic.
The presentation makes the story more engaging in a way, as we get the details from three POVs, one of whom is the killer. However, the foreshadowing sometimes spoils the suspense, and the lack of detail actually works in reverse to make some twists too obvious (yeah, I’m referring to the repeated use of ‘my lover’).
Now, readers don’t have to like the characters to enjoy a mystery. It’s usually the annoying one who gets popped off, so it’s not a loss. However, there’s hardly any likable character in the book. The narrators do have some sort of personality, but nothing you can actually root for!
Also, this brings me to a recurring issue in many books. Why is it that the so-called experts end up making so many mistakes once the story starts? The same happens with Mr. Brown, too. Though we see hints of his talent, he spends a lot of time making mistakes like a novice.
The initial rambling didn’t do the book any favor, TBH. The first quarter is slow when it should have hooked the reader. The pacing gets better later on, thankfully, but this is not a fast book.
I did figure out the twists, which is always a positive sign. It shows the story follows a well-planned arc rather than throwing in twists just to shock the readers.
Of course, a certain development is a bit strange, but it makes sense in a convoluted way, just like the characters. It aligns with their personalities.
To summarize, Actually, I'm A Murderer is a decent cozy mystery that combines dark themes with teeny bits of lighthearted scenes, and unlikeable characters. I’m not sure who to recommend this to.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ActuallyImAMurderer
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March 24, 2026An existential question: is a book misogynist if it's also misanthropic? Do we treat the portrayal of women as amoral manipulative harpies in isolation from the portrayal of men as blundering useless sexist buffoons, or is it possible that a book can be so relentlessly negative about the entire human species that it actually comes out the other side and feels quite chirpy?
I think honestly yes. I was going to lob my Kobo across the room at the point a woman makes a false report of sexual assault to manipulate a man because, you know, fuck *off*, but then I reflected that the blundering buffoon MC is a failed actor notorious for making ill-judged obnoxious remarks, who becomes a successful children's book author then switches to writing murder mysteries, and whose initials are TD, and I decided to throw my hands up and go with the flow.
The editor clearly didn't dare touch it, and the plot depends entirely on people doing staggeringly stupid things and completely failing to notice really obvious ones, which is annoyingly implausible unless you think everyone's a total idiot, in which case it works fine. Also the murderer is . A somewhat bewildering experience but I read the whole thing and will almost certainly read the next and feel weirdly energised by it all, so there you go.
I think honestly yes. I was going to lob my Kobo across the room at the point a woman makes a false report of sexual assault to manipulate a man because, you know, fuck *off*, but then I reflected that the blundering buffoon MC is a failed actor notorious for making ill-judged obnoxious remarks, who becomes a successful children's book author then switches to writing murder mysteries, and whose initials are TD, and I decided to throw my hands up and go with the flow.
The editor clearly didn't dare touch it, and the plot depends entirely on people doing staggeringly stupid things and completely failing to notice really obvious ones, which is annoyingly implausible unless you think everyone's a total idiot, in which case it works fine. Also the murderer is . A somewhat bewildering experience but I read the whole thing and will almost certainly read the next and feel weirdly energised by it all, so there you go.
December 1, 2025
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/bloLkI7t3I0
this was soooo disappointing. i honestly don't understand what the point of this book was/what it was trying to reach for. the premise had such promise but it just petered out with a whisper
this was soooo disappointing. i honestly don't understand what the point of this book was/what it was trying to reach for. the premise had such promise but it just petered out with a whisper
May 3, 2025
Wow what a crime novel - so clever, it makes you go back and check events as you read to see if the references are all what you thought they are. I thoroughly enjoyed this it makes no attempt at hiding the difficulties women had in the police in the 70’s and tells a fascinating story that goes in an unexpected direction, 5* from me
August 9, 2025
Easy read on the plane ✈️
The first half was ok, nothing amazing but just easy. The second half had me gripped!! Really liked how the story was told from the POV of the three characters.
The first half was ok, nothing amazing but just easy. The second half had me gripped!! Really liked how the story was told from the POV of the three characters.
January 10, 2026
Four passengers on an overnight train to Sunderland get to talking, before you know it they're trying to guess each others occupations and one blurts out a cracker: "Actually, I'm a murderer". Unfortunately, this is one of those books with a killer blurb, but that just doesn't deliver on the promise. It's predictable and, considering it's penned by the creator or Horrible Histories, unfunny. Thanks anyway to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK (Constable) and the author for an advance copy.
February 9, 2026
hated everything about this book. there was no plot, there was no murder, it was boring and I forgot but now it all came screaming back at me - that I HATE reading from the killers POV. I wouldn't recommend this book to literally anyone.
November 9, 2025
Audibook. Nothing special, cute ending.
September 30, 2025
Unfortunately this was somewhat boring.
The book is told in three different POVs:
- Tony
He's a rambling idiot. If this hadn't been a buddy read I'd have DNFd this book after the first chapter from his POV. He rambles, he doesn't get anything, he thinks he's god's gift to women, he's a terrible son, arrogant and very unlikeable. If you read the author's profile in the back of the book, you can see that this is clearly Deary writing somewhat about himself. That considered I can't understand why he made him so dumb...
-Aline
Her POV was by far the best. The problem is that there was so much sexism and misogyny in the 70ies that she's not really able to do much. So while she was really well told, she was also very frustrating to read.
- Mr. Brown
He's the killer. He tells us so right at the beginning. I kind of liked that but he has one major flaw. He's not very good at his job. Despite the fact that he keeps telling us how good he is and how he almost never makes any mistakes, he keeps fucking up everything he touches in this book.
The story itself is quite straightforward. The beginning is a bit slow, and the ending has a much faster pace, although I could see almost everything coming. Maybe it is supposed to be that way, and yes, we do know who the killer is from page 5 on, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to be surprised now and then. This is still a crime novel and if I know who did what and got away with it (after alle they lived to tell the tale, which we are also told on page 1), why should I even read it?
Apart from that, personally, I had a hard time getting into the 1970ies setting. I am too young for that so I had no idea what electronics were available back then, or how the world worked. This is my personal problem though, so it didn't affect my rating. I do however think that the way women were treated back then was accurately described and I very much liked that the book was written by a man in regards to that.
I quite liked the little easter egg at the end.
The book is told in three different POVs:
- Tony
He's a rambling idiot. If this hadn't been a buddy read I'd have DNFd this book after the first chapter from his POV. He rambles, he doesn't get anything, he thinks he's god's gift to women, he's a terrible son, arrogant and very unlikeable. If you read the author's profile in the back of the book, you can see that this is clearly Deary writing somewhat about himself. That considered I can't understand why he made him so dumb...
-Aline
Her POV was by far the best. The problem is that there was so much sexism and misogyny in the 70ies that she's not really able to do much. So while she was really well told, she was also very frustrating to read.
- Mr. Brown
He's the killer. He tells us so right at the beginning. I kind of liked that but he has one major flaw. He's not very good at his job. Despite the fact that he keeps telling us how good he is and how he almost never makes any mistakes, he keeps fucking up everything he touches in this book.
The story itself is quite straightforward. The beginning is a bit slow, and the ending has a much faster pace, although I could see almost everything coming. Maybe it is supposed to be that way, and yes, we do know who the killer is from page 5 on, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to be surprised now and then. This is still a crime novel and if I know who did what and got away with it (after alle they lived to tell the tale, which we are also told on page 1), why should I even read it?
Apart from that, personally, I had a hard time getting into the 1970ies setting. I am too young for that so I had no idea what electronics were available back then, or how the world worked. This is my personal problem though, so it didn't affect my rating. I do however think that the way women were treated back then was accurately described and I very much liked that the book was written by a man in regards to that.
I quite liked the little easter egg at the end.
June 14, 2025
I might be the only child of the 90s who never read a Horrible Histories book or watched the series (although as an adult fan of Ghosts, I regret the latter). I knew that they were popular, and had friends who enjoyed them, but they just never really appealed to me.
However, I was very much looking forward to Actually I’m a Murderer - the title suggesting cosy crime not dissimilar to The Thursday Murder Club - and, as someone who hadn’t previously read any Terry Deary, I went in with no preconceptions. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
I found the style of writing to be meandering and disengaging - I tried many times to soldier on with the book but in the end I had to admit defeat and make it a DNF. What made me so sure this book wasn’t for me was that I am from, and have always lived in, Sunderland, which is predominantly where the book is set. Therefore, I could picture many of the locations Deary was writing about, and understood immediately where we were heading in a book set in the Sunderland of 1973. Yet, I still found my mind wandering and ended up confused with who was narrating and, frankly, what they were on about.
I have heard from others who have enjoyed this and hope that many others do too - it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Constable for the ARC
However, I was very much looking forward to Actually I’m a Murderer - the title suggesting cosy crime not dissimilar to The Thursday Murder Club - and, as someone who hadn’t previously read any Terry Deary, I went in with no preconceptions. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
I found the style of writing to be meandering and disengaging - I tried many times to soldier on with the book but in the end I had to admit defeat and make it a DNF. What made me so sure this book wasn’t for me was that I am from, and have always lived in, Sunderland, which is predominantly where the book is set. Therefore, I could picture many of the locations Deary was writing about, and understood immediately where we were heading in a book set in the Sunderland of 1973. Yet, I still found my mind wandering and ended up confused with who was narrating and, frankly, what they were on about.
I have heard from others who have enjoyed this and hope that many others do too - it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Constable for the ARC
February 7, 2026
Didn't finish it, sorry. I will come back to it at another time. I needed a book with a faster pace.
December 28, 2025
Enjoyed this book as Terry Deary has a good sense of humour and found myself chuckling regularly as I read. Four people meet on a train and one says, "Actually I'm a Murderer." The result is more murders and a good plot but the humour is what gets this up to four stars for me.
June 4, 2025
Four strangers meet on a train in the year of 1973 and to pass time they share details about themselves, including their jobs. When one man declares he is a murderer no one believes him but in the following days one of his fellow passengers will become his latest victim.
As the author of the Horrible Histories series, I was excited to see that he had decided to delve into the adult crime genre. This was an interesting concept with a clever plot and a unique writing style. The story is told by multiple narrators and takes on a chatty, humorous tone. I found I wasn’t prepared at first for this style so it took a while for me to warm to it, however once I finally did, I soon found myself starting to tire from it again and at times found my focus waning.
Even though the multiple characters were interesting, I found I was at times confused as to whose narration I was reading and it ended up quite predictable. I definitely appreciate what the author was trying to do here and it has great promise. I especially enjoyed how different and quirky the story was and can see current fans and new readers of this author, especially those who like cosy crime, really enjoying this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
As the author of the Horrible Histories series, I was excited to see that he had decided to delve into the adult crime genre. This was an interesting concept with a clever plot and a unique writing style. The story is told by multiple narrators and takes on a chatty, humorous tone. I found I wasn’t prepared at first for this style so it took a while for me to warm to it, however once I finally did, I soon found myself starting to tire from it again and at times found my focus waning.
Even though the multiple characters were interesting, I found I was at times confused as to whose narration I was reading and it ended up quite predictable. I definitely appreciate what the author was trying to do here and it has great promise. I especially enjoyed how different and quirky the story was and can see current fans and new readers of this author, especially those who like cosy crime, really enjoying this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
May 13, 2025
What a treat this book is, a very Hitchcock like tale that is funny and mysterious. It’s 1973 and 4 strangers meet on a train. To fill in time on the journey they ask each other what their occupations are. One is a lawyer, one a writer
another soon to be a successful entrepreneur but the fourth person? The small unremarkable man with the glasses and tiny moustache well actually, he says, I am a murderer.
By the end of the next day one of them will be dead, and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime.
So begins this funny, smart tale of murder and mayhem. Narrated from different points of view including the young police officer who is on to the murderer. The dialogue is snappy, the plot funny and unpredictable. A real treat to read.
#ActuallyIAmAMurderer. #NetGalley
another soon to be a successful entrepreneur but the fourth person? The small unremarkable man with the glasses and tiny moustache well actually, he says, I am a murderer.
By the end of the next day one of them will be dead, and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime.
So begins this funny, smart tale of murder and mayhem. Narrated from different points of view including the young police officer who is on to the murderer. The dialogue is snappy, the plot funny and unpredictable. A real treat to read.
#ActuallyIAmAMurderer. #NetGalley
July 8, 2025
A late night train ride and the four passengers discover a murderer is amongst them, well that was his job he said. One encounter will change all their lives and leave them wondering how many murderers are out there.
The concept sounded really good, but within the first two paragraphs of the first chapter I suspected this wasn’t going to go the way I was anticipating. It starts in 2023 and then goes back 50 years to tell the main story. I felt it was very slow paced, it didn’t grip me and whilst there were one or two twists, the start of the book means you know where you’re going to end up. Sadly, this story didn’t work for me.
The concept sounded really good, but within the first two paragraphs of the first chapter I suspected this wasn’t going to go the way I was anticipating. It starts in 2023 and then goes back 50 years to tell the main story. I felt it was very slow paced, it didn’t grip me and whilst there were one or two twists, the start of the book means you know where you’re going to end up. Sadly, this story didn’t work for me.
June 19, 2025
The rambling narrators damaged the pacing and one character’s continual incompetence ruined the stakes. The tone was baffling - the quirkiness of Deary’s writing often felt at odds with the misogyny and sexual violence in the plot, conveying indifference more than dark humour - and the twists were painfully obvious. I fear this needed a more thorough edit to get the most out of what’s here.
May 8, 2025
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Constable for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded so good, but I wasn't convinced.
It's very rambly. It's all a sort of, stream of consciousness which is fine in small doses, but when its the case of 300+ pages and all the characters, it becomes a bit of a struggle.
I introduced lots of characters with their own stream of consciousness which meant I got so confused as to who was who and what they were as they all just merged into one and I found it didn't flow well.
I did like how different it was. I read a lot of thrillers and murder mysteries and whatnot, and as much as I love the majority of them, they do get quite samey. So I appreciate what Terry has done with the genre. Its not about the whodunnit, it's instead about the person who is killed and why.
I wasn't really into the Horrible History books as a kid and so the fact he's the same writer didn't really mean much to me.
I have been so excited about this book and I was saving it to when I needed a great read, and whilst there were elements I liked, on the whole I was disappointed. I loved the uniqueness and quirkiness and it was an interesting premise, but I found the characters unlovable. I'm fine with unlovable characters to a point. It's not fun to have 100% happy, fun, good characters, you need a villain or two. But with these, I didn't like any of them and I didn't dislike any of them, they were just there on the page, which meant I didn't really care for any of them.
It did get better as it went along but I'd say at least the first 1/4 was a big slog and I could have DNF at several points.
I believe this is his first foray into adult crime, but I'm unsure if it's first adult novel full stop. Either way, I think there's definitely promise but from this book only, I don't think his talent lies in serious adult murder mysteries. It's an acceptable read, but confusing and a bit flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Constable for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded so good, but I wasn't convinced.
It's very rambly. It's all a sort of, stream of consciousness which is fine in small doses, but when its the case of 300+ pages and all the characters, it becomes a bit of a struggle.
I introduced lots of characters with their own stream of consciousness which meant I got so confused as to who was who and what they were as they all just merged into one and I found it didn't flow well.
I did like how different it was. I read a lot of thrillers and murder mysteries and whatnot, and as much as I love the majority of them, they do get quite samey. So I appreciate what Terry has done with the genre. Its not about the whodunnit, it's instead about the person who is killed and why.
I wasn't really into the Horrible History books as a kid and so the fact he's the same writer didn't really mean much to me.
I have been so excited about this book and I was saving it to when I needed a great read, and whilst there were elements I liked, on the whole I was disappointed. I loved the uniqueness and quirkiness and it was an interesting premise, but I found the characters unlovable. I'm fine with unlovable characters to a point. It's not fun to have 100% happy, fun, good characters, you need a villain or two. But with these, I didn't like any of them and I didn't dislike any of them, they were just there on the page, which meant I didn't really care for any of them.
It did get better as it went along but I'd say at least the first 1/4 was a big slog and I could have DNF at several points.
I believe this is his first foray into adult crime, but I'm unsure if it's first adult novel full stop. Either way, I think there's definitely promise but from this book only, I don't think his talent lies in serious adult murder mysteries. It's an acceptable read, but confusing and a bit flat.
January 19, 2026
I listened to this on audible and really enjoyed. Terry Deary holds a special place for me as I have fond memories of the Horrible History books from my childhood. I agree with other reviews calling this a murder mayhem and thought his signature sense of humour shone through the writing in this darkly entertaining multilayered novel.
I loved the Northern , 1970s gritty Sunderland setting and the narration mirrored this well and really brought it to life. Focus was given to the challenges of being a women within the police force in 1970s Sunderland and the rampant sexism which was thought provoking and written about well.
Got slightly confused at the end and although enjoyed was not quite 5 stars but a great premise executed very well.
This was a well written novel and really enjoyed, can't believe this is his 350th book and he is 80 years old! Parallels can also be drawn to Deary's own lived experiences given he is a former actor turned author from Sunderland!
I loved the Northern , 1970s gritty Sunderland setting and the narration mirrored this well and really brought it to life. Focus was given to the challenges of being a women within the police force in 1970s Sunderland and the rampant sexism which was thought provoking and written about well.
Got slightly confused at the end and although enjoyed was not quite 5 stars but a great premise executed very well.
This was a well written novel and really enjoyed, can't believe this is his 350th book and he is 80 years old! Parallels can also be drawn to Deary's own lived experiences given he is a former actor turned author from Sunderland!
April 3, 2025
Actually, I was a huge fan of this book.
Right from the beginning, it caught me and flung me into a compelling mystery, with twists and turns that’ll have you rapidly turning pages (or buttons if you’re reading this on the kindle!).
I have loved pretty much all of Terry Deary’s books as a child and now as he ventures into adult mysteries and stories, I too shall follow. Picking up this book honestly wasn’t hard and I couldn’t wait to get stick in.
It was a really great plot and I love suspense filled mysteries so this was a sure fire hit. Great writing, easy characters to follow and dramas you can’t wait to see unfold. Enjoyed from beginning to end!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Right from the beginning, it caught me and flung me into a compelling mystery, with twists and turns that’ll have you rapidly turning pages (or buttons if you’re reading this on the kindle!).
I have loved pretty much all of Terry Deary’s books as a child and now as he ventures into adult mysteries and stories, I too shall follow. Picking up this book honestly wasn’t hard and I couldn’t wait to get stick in.
It was a really great plot and I love suspense filled mysteries so this was a sure fire hit. Great writing, easy characters to follow and dramas you can’t wait to see unfold. Enjoyed from beginning to end!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
March 6, 2026
I'm rating this book 4 stars because 3.67 seems too low - I almost didn't read it because the rating was lower than 3.8 - yes I am a rating snob. There are too many excellent books out there to waste time stuffing around with rubbish.
So my thoughts...
It does make plot lines easier setting them in the time-before-mobile- phones and security cameras. Less plot holes.
Wasn't terribly happy with the use of sexual assault.
Very interesting twists.
Loved Aline.
Enjoyed the book overall. It's an easy read with a snappy pace and an interesting style.
My Goodreads star rating...** **
My Goodreads scale:
* waste of time
**filled in time
***good
****excellent
*****absolutely amazing
So my thoughts...
It does make plot lines easier setting them in the time-before-mobile- phones and security cameras. Less plot holes.
Wasn't terribly happy with the use of sexual assault.
Very interesting twists.
Loved Aline.
Enjoyed the book overall. It's an easy read with a snappy pace and an interesting style.
My Goodreads star rating...** **
My Goodreads scale:
* waste of time
**filled in time
***good
****excellent
*****absolutely amazing
December 16, 2025
I like that this book was set in the 70’s with most of the activity towards the end of the book taking place on what would have been my mums 2nd birthday 😂 Very clever storyline, I really enjoyed this, I did not expect a few things to go down as they did, kept things interesting for sure! Can’t wait for the next one ‘Actually, I’m a corpse’ to be released next year, will definitely be giving that a read too!
March 6, 2026
I’m being generous with a two-star rating, if I’m honest.
For me, this book was just boring. By the end of the year I doubt I’ll remember anything about it. The plot is weak, the characters are bland, and I struggled to see why any of the events were meant to be engaging.
I only realised afterwards that Deary is the same writer behind many of the Horrible Histories books, and honestly those are far better than this. They were such a big part of my childhood, and now I almost feel like I need to revisit a few of those classics to recover from this one.
Sorry if that sounds a bit brutal, but this book just wasn’t for me.
For me, this book was just boring. By the end of the year I doubt I’ll remember anything about it. The plot is weak, the characters are bland, and I struggled to see why any of the events were meant to be engaging.
I only realised afterwards that Deary is the same writer behind many of the Horrible Histories books, and honestly those are far better than this. They were such a big part of my childhood, and now I almost feel like I need to revisit a few of those classics to recover from this one.
Sorry if that sounds a bit brutal, but this book just wasn’t for me.
February 14, 2026
Same author as horrible history books, they were my favs as a child. Used to scour Ballina library for a new one. So big expectations tbt.
Written in three POV’s, and the first fella began by saying he can’t tell a story without rambling and well… relatable.
It was a kooky murder(s) story and I was bet into it.
The end lost me a smallie bit because it turned into Spider-Man pointing meme.
Written in three POV’s, and the first fella began by saying he can’t tell a story without rambling and well… relatable.
It was a kooky murder(s) story and I was bet into it.
The end lost me a smallie bit because it turned into Spider-Man pointing meme.
March 23, 2026
It took me a long time to get into this book, but once I hit the 100 page mark, I read it in 2 sittings! I know this is a divisive one, but I really enjoyed it and found the mystery complex and interesting. I love when all the plot lines tie together and especially liked the chapters from Aline. Yes it was predictable, but a twisy mystery nonetheless.
March 22, 2026
Interesting idea, reasonably well executed. I was a little disappointed by the ending. Agree with others there isn’t much difference in tone between the narrators which sometimes makes it fiddly to follow.
Read
July 24, 2025DNF at page 110
Read
February 24, 2026Didn’t really work for me. Surprised that I finished it. (Even More Terrible Tudors will always be the supreme Terry Deary book for me).
April 12, 2025
***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
An entertaining and quite different murder mystery - wherein the mystery is not so much who is the murderer, but rather who is the person being murdered. Deary takes on a wide genre and gives it his own unique spin, I’m certain he will gain new fans with this diversion from his previous endeavours - I’m certainly one of them.
An entertaining and quite different murder mystery - wherein the mystery is not so much who is the murderer, but rather who is the person being murdered. Deary takes on a wide genre and gives it his own unique spin, I’m certain he will gain new fans with this diversion from his previous endeavours - I’m certainly one of them.
November 27, 2025
Audiobook: 3.5*
It wasn’t what I expected but still enjoyed it. 70’s Sunderland is not an area I know of, but the book paints quite the picture. A dark but humorous police story which made me laugh out loud a few times. Not quite a cozy murder mystery but almost.
It wasn’t what I expected but still enjoyed it. 70’s Sunderland is not an area I know of, but the book paints quite the picture. A dark but humorous police story which made me laugh out loud a few times. Not quite a cozy murder mystery but almost.
December 6, 2025
Enjoyed this a lot, found it funny and liked the characters, found myself more emotionally invested in some than I'd realise and found the plot was exciting with some unexpected surprises even if some parts were a little cliche and predictable - but it is a murder mystery, what do you expect?
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