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Murder Will Out
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Expected 17 Feb 26Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that's as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 17, 2026
17 people are currently reading
7009 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 24, 2025
An interesting mix of paranormal Gothic, mystery, and genealogical delight. But for me, the three modes didn't add up as well as needed. I liked it all, but it was missing that charm, that underlying tension of "I must know what's going on." Loved solving the various generational gaps and missing relatives. But I also felt like the connection between the main character and her pseudo aunt and godmother was contrived. That said, I also knew where it was going in the long-run, so I held on, hoping it would pop at some point. I liked it... just wish there was something stronger to latch on to. I'll give the author's next book a chance again tho, as it has all the elements to be successful. Sometimes debuts in this genre aren't the author's amazing releases.... those come a bit later!
October 29, 2025
Willow is a graduate student in Chicago who has fond memories of spending summers as a child with her godmother Sue in Maine. She never understood why her parents stopped the visits, and is surprised to receive a letter from Sue urging her to return. She learns that Sue has died from a fall which the police deem accidental, but Willow is suspicious. The old house was where Sue lived caring for its owner, Effie, until Effie died. Were both women murdered by someone who wanted to claim Cameron House? Then there is another suspicious death, and Willow starts to see lights in the old house. She meets some of the deceased inhabitants, but doesn’t tell her new friends lest they think her mad. There are so many secrets in this atmospheric Maine town, and so many things that no one wants known. Willow’s curiosity gets her in trouble, but also provide remarkable revelations. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me to review an advance copy of this amazing first novel.
November 10, 2025
I really struggled with this story. I really wanted to like it. The atmosphere was there, the paranormal was there, the house was alive, and yet, I just couldn't like Willow. She was awkward, meek, and everything I don't like in a heroine, and I just couldn't get past it. I wanted to feel for her, I wanted to like her, but I couldn't connect at all.
I think the best part of this story, was the house and all it's occupants. There were real, they breathed life, and terror into the story and added what Willow didn't. And while Willow did grow stronger and more assertive by the end, it was almost too late to really feel for her, to really connect.
This wasn't a bad story, and it did have a nice mystery element as well as the paranormal. I think, it just wasn't quite for me.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I think the best part of this story, was the house and all it's occupants. There were real, they breathed life, and terror into the story and added what Willow didn't. And while Willow did grow stronger and more assertive by the end, it was almost too late to really feel for her, to really connect.
This wasn't a bad story, and it did have a nice mystery element as well as the paranormal. I think, it just wasn't quite for me.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
November 27, 2025
So slow and dull. And read much more like a cozy mystery than a regular mystery, if that makes sense?
October 25, 2025
I loved this book. It’s the winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel award, and it’s a very worthy recipient. Set in coastal Maine on Little North Island, the book opens as organist and grad student Willow Stone returns to Little North for the funeral of her godmother, Sue. Thanks to a family quarrel, Sue and Willow hadn’t seen each other in many years, though Willow loved Sue and could never understand why her family stopped seeing her. She receives a letter from Sue inviting her back to the island and to her wedding, but unfortunately, Willow receives the letter only in time to make Sue’s funeral.
Sue had been living in the local haunted house, the Cameron house, after the death of the previous owner. The house had been an unexpected legacy, and Sue had been fixing the old place up slowly but surely. Willow meets Sue’s fiancée, Rina, before the funeral as the cottage that used to be Sue’s home, where Willow spent many summers, is now operating as an Airbnb. Rina seems bristling with resentment and hostility as she hands over the keys to Willow, and it’s with great reluctance that Willow attends the after funeral reception, thrown by Rina at her pottery shop.
Willow is quickly buttonholed by both the island blowhard and the island curmudgeon, who begs her to accompany him up to Cameron house, which will be his as he’s the last living Cameron. He unfortunately passes out when they arrive and Willow leaves to call an ambulance, but not before she meets one of the resident ghosts. Cameron House seems to be full of them, but it takes a minute for Willow to realize just what they are.
While this sounds like a YA novel, the emotions and connections could not be more adult, and, as in real life, one quarrel or resentment may be soothed down only for another one to flare up. This novel is a masterclass on human miscommunication and misunderstanding. However, Willow is not alone, and when she gets back to the cottage after seeing the curmudgeon off to the hospital, she finds the cottage full of pasta, wine, women and a friendly corgi. The other women urge Rina and Willow to clear the air (they do) and when Rina is later arrested, they form a loose sleuthing alliance, headed by Willow and the town librarian.
Between them, they begin to untangle the family ties that connect to both Sue and to Cameron House and the Cameron family. The ghosts are part of the solution offering advice and guidance to Willow at different points in the story. I usually dislike any supernatural element in a book, but the great Barbara Michaels could pull it off, and so, it turns out, can newbie author Jennifer Breedlove. She has a deft and careful hand with the ghosts who are a necessary part of the plot.
This book seemed old fashioned in the best possible way. It’s a classic coming of age/young woman finding her way into a community story, and the ghosts in the story have a classic, old fashioned feel to them that I really enjoyed. The community Willow discovers and comes to rely on are also a pretty classic cozy element, but it seems just right and pretty believable for Willow to bond with like minded women in a place where she spent her summers as a child but that is now unfamiliar.
The solution is both tricky, well laid out, and emotional. I ended the book in tears, my favorite kind of ending. The setting was well done and not heavy handed, though the Maine island atmosphere certainly enhances the story at different parts. The story had humor, pathos, and a good scare or two - really, all you can ask for in a great read. Willow is a wonderful character and I hope there are more adventures for her in the future: this book merely whetted my appetite.
Sue had been living in the local haunted house, the Cameron house, after the death of the previous owner. The house had been an unexpected legacy, and Sue had been fixing the old place up slowly but surely. Willow meets Sue’s fiancée, Rina, before the funeral as the cottage that used to be Sue’s home, where Willow spent many summers, is now operating as an Airbnb. Rina seems bristling with resentment and hostility as she hands over the keys to Willow, and it’s with great reluctance that Willow attends the after funeral reception, thrown by Rina at her pottery shop.
Willow is quickly buttonholed by both the island blowhard and the island curmudgeon, who begs her to accompany him up to Cameron house, which will be his as he’s the last living Cameron. He unfortunately passes out when they arrive and Willow leaves to call an ambulance, but not before she meets one of the resident ghosts. Cameron House seems to be full of them, but it takes a minute for Willow to realize just what they are.
While this sounds like a YA novel, the emotions and connections could not be more adult, and, as in real life, one quarrel or resentment may be soothed down only for another one to flare up. This novel is a masterclass on human miscommunication and misunderstanding. However, Willow is not alone, and when she gets back to the cottage after seeing the curmudgeon off to the hospital, she finds the cottage full of pasta, wine, women and a friendly corgi. The other women urge Rina and Willow to clear the air (they do) and when Rina is later arrested, they form a loose sleuthing alliance, headed by Willow and the town librarian.
Between them, they begin to untangle the family ties that connect to both Sue and to Cameron House and the Cameron family. The ghosts are part of the solution offering advice and guidance to Willow at different points in the story. I usually dislike any supernatural element in a book, but the great Barbara Michaels could pull it off, and so, it turns out, can newbie author Jennifer Breedlove. She has a deft and careful hand with the ghosts who are a necessary part of the plot.
This book seemed old fashioned in the best possible way. It’s a classic coming of age/young woman finding her way into a community story, and the ghosts in the story have a classic, old fashioned feel to them that I really enjoyed. The community Willow discovers and comes to rely on are also a pretty classic cozy element, but it seems just right and pretty believable for Willow to bond with like minded women in a place where she spent her summers as a child but that is now unfamiliar.
The solution is both tricky, well laid out, and emotional. I ended the book in tears, my favorite kind of ending. The setting was well done and not heavy handed, though the Maine island atmosphere certainly enhances the story at different parts. The story had humor, pathos, and a good scare or two - really, all you can ask for in a great read. Willow is a wonderful character and I hope there are more adventures for her in the future: this book merely whetted my appetite.
November 19, 2025
Title: Murder Will Out
Author: Jennifer K. Breedlove (Debut Author)
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: February 17, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 336
Set in coastal Maine on Little North Island, the book opens as organist and grad student Willow Stone returns to Little North from Chicago for her godmother, Sue’s wedding. She has fond memories of spending summers there when she was a child. A family quarrel resulted in the two not seeing each other in many years Although Willow loved Sue and could never understand why her family stopped seeing her.
She had received a letter earlier from Sue inviting her to her wedding and urges her to return to the island.
Willow returns but does not attend her wedding instead arrives in time to attend Sue’s funeral. Sue’s fiancée, Rina hosts Sue’s funeral reception, at her pottery shop.
Willow finds out that Sue has died the night before her wedding from a fall which the police deem accidental.
Sue cared for Effie Cameron the owner of Cameron House, Sue lived in a small cabin just outside the large house. Effie died when she was ninety nine- believed she died of old age.
However when Effie’s nephew, Geralt Talbot -age eight-three and someone every active in the community is injured and is in the hospital feared dying. Willow finds it suspicious! She wonders if someone wants Cameron House; which has the reputation of being the local haunted house and surely would be a tourist attraction.
Willow investigates Cameron House with the approval of Effie’s dog Finn. She finds a hidden doorway and when she steps inside and sees a small stairway which she takes and finds it leads to the ‘widow’s bridge’ and also the feeling she is not alone.
There are so many secrets as well as things no one wants to talk about.
Willow is curious as to what is going on (As am I!)
The ending so much fun; we know that Cameron House is haunted and the ghosts come to the rescue.
This is author Jennifer K. Breedlove debut novel and I am looking forward to her next story!
I love her Acknowledgements. In additional to thanking the many who helped, she gives special thanks to her talents parents. Her mother Christine is a retired chemistry professor and ceramic artist. She came up with the core idea on the murder weapon. Her father C. H. Breedlove’s writing for the Somerville Historical Society was helpful.
About the Author ~Jennifer has been writing stories since she was in preschool, when she delighted in crafting tales of magic and adventure.
She holds degrees in piano, choral conducting and theology and is on faculty at Loyola University Chicago. She is an assistant conductor for the Chicago Orchestra Chorus.
She continues to be a visitor to Downtown Maine as she done so since childhood.
She and her husband live in Chicago and have two children in college.
I want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 17, 2026.
Author: Jennifer K. Breedlove (Debut Author)
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: February 17, 2026
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 336
Set in coastal Maine on Little North Island, the book opens as organist and grad student Willow Stone returns to Little North from Chicago for her godmother, Sue’s wedding. She has fond memories of spending summers there when she was a child. A family quarrel resulted in the two not seeing each other in many years Although Willow loved Sue and could never understand why her family stopped seeing her.
She had received a letter earlier from Sue inviting her to her wedding and urges her to return to the island.
Willow returns but does not attend her wedding instead arrives in time to attend Sue’s funeral. Sue’s fiancée, Rina hosts Sue’s funeral reception, at her pottery shop.
Willow finds out that Sue has died the night before her wedding from a fall which the police deem accidental.
Sue cared for Effie Cameron the owner of Cameron House, Sue lived in a small cabin just outside the large house. Effie died when she was ninety nine- believed she died of old age.
However when Effie’s nephew, Geralt Talbot -age eight-three and someone every active in the community is injured and is in the hospital feared dying. Willow finds it suspicious! She wonders if someone wants Cameron House; which has the reputation of being the local haunted house and surely would be a tourist attraction.
Willow investigates Cameron House with the approval of Effie’s dog Finn. She finds a hidden doorway and when she steps inside and sees a small stairway which she takes and finds it leads to the ‘widow’s bridge’ and also the feeling she is not alone.
There are so many secrets as well as things no one wants to talk about.
Willow is curious as to what is going on (As am I!)
The ending so much fun; we know that Cameron House is haunted and the ghosts come to the rescue.
This is author Jennifer K. Breedlove debut novel and I am looking forward to her next story!
I love her Acknowledgements. In additional to thanking the many who helped, she gives special thanks to her talents parents. Her mother Christine is a retired chemistry professor and ceramic artist. She came up with the core idea on the murder weapon. Her father C. H. Breedlove’s writing for the Somerville Historical Society was helpful.
About the Author ~Jennifer has been writing stories since she was in preschool, when she delighted in crafting tales of magic and adventure.
She holds degrees in piano, choral conducting and theology and is on faculty at Loyola University Chicago. She is an assistant conductor for the Chicago Orchestra Chorus.
She continues to be a visitor to Downtown Maine as she done so since childhood.
She and her husband live in Chicago and have two children in college.
I want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 17, 2026.
November 21, 2025
Uncorrected Digital Galley
After fifteen years of silence, Willow Stone unexpectedly receives a letter from her godmother, Susan Davis, with a request for her to return to Little North Island. Located off the coast of Maine, it was where Willow had, as a child spent summers with her godmother until her parents unexpectedly refused to let her spend any time with Sue ever again.
The letter includes a request for her to return in time for Sue’s wedding, but Willow learns that Sue was killed in a fall on the eve of her wedding day and now Willow will, at the invitation of Reverend Barton, play the organ at Sue’s funeral at the North Island Congregational Church.
Unfortunately, the church organist, Patricia Ramsey, is not willing to give up her organ-playing duties to Willow, so she ends up playing only as people are coming into the church before the service and as people are leaving the church after the service.
Overhearing a conversation between Geralt Talbot and a strange man, Willow begins to wonder exactly how her godmother died. Determined to find the truth, Willow sets out to find the answers for herself.
=========
Cameron House . . . and its ghosts . . . add a delightful haunted mansion aspect to the murder mystery. Relatable characters populate the telling of this intriguing tale that captures the reader from the outset. Suspenseful and often surprising, the plot twists and turns serve to keep the reader involved in the unfolding narrative. The inheritance of Cameron House is a bit of a quagmire; family secrets abound.
Along with the adorable Finn, the Corgi, Willow is determined to unravel the complicated truth. Readers are kept guessing as they encounter various points of view and the story moves toward a resolution that many will find surprising.
Readers who enjoy gothic murder mysteries, intriguing family dynamics, and cute Corgis will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#MurderWillOut #NetGalley
After fifteen years of silence, Willow Stone unexpectedly receives a letter from her godmother, Susan Davis, with a request for her to return to Little North Island. Located off the coast of Maine, it was where Willow had, as a child spent summers with her godmother until her parents unexpectedly refused to let her spend any time with Sue ever again.
The letter includes a request for her to return in time for Sue’s wedding, but Willow learns that Sue was killed in a fall on the eve of her wedding day and now Willow will, at the invitation of Reverend Barton, play the organ at Sue’s funeral at the North Island Congregational Church.
Unfortunately, the church organist, Patricia Ramsey, is not willing to give up her organ-playing duties to Willow, so she ends up playing only as people are coming into the church before the service and as people are leaving the church after the service.
Overhearing a conversation between Geralt Talbot and a strange man, Willow begins to wonder exactly how her godmother died. Determined to find the truth, Willow sets out to find the answers for herself.
=========
Cameron House . . . and its ghosts . . . add a delightful haunted mansion aspect to the murder mystery. Relatable characters populate the telling of this intriguing tale that captures the reader from the outset. Suspenseful and often surprising, the plot twists and turns serve to keep the reader involved in the unfolding narrative. The inheritance of Cameron House is a bit of a quagmire; family secrets abound.
Along with the adorable Finn, the Corgi, Willow is determined to unravel the complicated truth. Readers are kept guessing as they encounter various points of view and the story moves toward a resolution that many will find surprising.
Readers who enjoy gothic murder mysteries, intriguing family dynamics, and cute Corgis will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#MurderWillOut #NetGalley
November 11, 2025
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Murder Will Out, by Jennifer K. Breedlove, from St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
The first 60 percent of this book was a 4-star cozy, with Maine as a character—and the ghosts—getting 5 stars.
Then things turned off all convoluted-y in the last 40 percent, and dammit, they didn’t have to! Get thee a stronger developmental editor next time around, girlfriend.
PS
The corgi gets 5 stars, too.
DESCRIPTION
Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that's as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
Received a complimentary copy of Murder Will Out, by Jennifer K. Breedlove, from St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
The first 60 percent of this book was a 4-star cozy, with Maine as a character—and the ghosts—getting 5 stars.
Then things turned off all convoluted-y in the last 40 percent, and dammit, they didn’t have to! Get thee a stronger developmental editor next time around, girlfriend.
PS
The corgi gets 5 stars, too.
DESCRIPTION
Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that's as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
December 4, 2025
I love the ghost world in MWO and I hesitate to go into details. Because while you read the book you figure out who are the ghosts and their functionality for yourself. The main character Willow returns to her long ago yearly summer vacation spot where she had stayed with her godmother in Maine on an island. As a young teenager those vacations stopped with her parents putting a kibosh on speaking about her godmother at all. Now in grad school Willow receives a letter from her godmother beckoning her back to the island that somehow needs her. Arriving late yet in time for her godmothers memorial, mysterious fatal accidents occur and Willow grows suspicious of the circumstances occurring with the those who have inherited a historical mansion that her godmother had recently acquired. This mystery covers family and those who you make into your family and the lengths you go help family by solving familial secrets and claiming justice for those who’ve been wronged.
What I didn’t like: The typical raging lesbian and feminist moments. The reason behind Willow’s parents forced estrangement with her godmother seemed really flimsy for a book set in this day and age. Also, the more recent occurring family secrets seemed weak as well, with the characters behaving as if they live in a bygone era acting all tragic.
What I liked: The ghosts and how they can interact. Also, the setting of a Maine island with a really old haunted mansion. I could live there! All the secret doors and fancy rooms and ocean views. The old family mysteries, and that there was a lot of suspects and that it wasn’t made too easily to figure out on your own of whodunnit. The main character. I liked Willow and also the librarian and cop.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes women centric murder mysteries, haunted houses, Maine and good endings.
What I didn’t like: The typical raging lesbian and feminist moments. The reason behind Willow’s parents forced estrangement with her godmother seemed really flimsy for a book set in this day and age. Also, the more recent occurring family secrets seemed weak as well, with the characters behaving as if they live in a bygone era acting all tragic.
What I liked: The ghosts and how they can interact. Also, the setting of a Maine island with a really old haunted mansion. I could live there! All the secret doors and fancy rooms and ocean views. The old family mysteries, and that there was a lot of suspects and that it wasn’t made too easily to figure out on your own of whodunnit. The main character. I liked Willow and also the librarian and cop.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes women centric murder mysteries, haunted houses, Maine and good endings.
November 18, 2025
What begins with a mysterious letter, turns into one of those delicious small-town mysteries that pulls you in with atmosphere, keeps you hooked with layered clues, and then smacks you with a reveal that actually feels earned. Breedlove writes with this smooth, engaging style — the kind where you look up and realize you’ve blown through 80 pages without coming up for air.
The pacing is tight: every chapter gives you just enough to keep you suspicious of everyone, but never confused. The characters, at times are a little hard to follow because of an extensive history. Willow, was very subdued in my opinion, she had a real person feel. The first half, with just the right mix of charm and messiness, and the protagonist brings a relatable “wait… something isn’t adding up” energy that makes the investigation extra fun to follow.
Descriptions of scenery and that close to your neighbor feel is alive and annoying, making it a great author point.
What really stands out is the balance of tension and heart. You get the intrigue, the secrets, the twists — but also these grounded emotional beats that make the stakes feel personal, not just plot-driven. Rini, who was Susan's fiancé was so beyond rude to Willow that is bothered me because it was so uncalled for. At one point yelling that she didnt try to contact Sue or find her. I was bothered because Willow and her family broke ties with Sue when she was 13. How much is a 13 year old supposed to search for someone who her parents disowned? That was the miss for me!! By the time the truth comes out, which takes a long time, it clicks together in a way that makes you go: “Okay, THAT was clever.”
If you want a mystery that’s cozy enough to read with a blanket but sharp enough to keep your brain firing, this one is a hit. Perfect for fans of character-driven whodunits or anyone who loves that “small town… big secrets” energy. The plot give a large dose of paranormal that usually isn't my thing.
The pacing is tight: every chapter gives you just enough to keep you suspicious of everyone, but never confused. The characters, at times are a little hard to follow because of an extensive history. Willow, was very subdued in my opinion, she had a real person feel. The first half, with just the right mix of charm and messiness, and the protagonist brings a relatable “wait… something isn’t adding up” energy that makes the investigation extra fun to follow.
Descriptions of scenery and that close to your neighbor feel is alive and annoying, making it a great author point.
What really stands out is the balance of tension and heart. You get the intrigue, the secrets, the twists — but also these grounded emotional beats that make the stakes feel personal, not just plot-driven. Rini, who was Susan's fiancé was so beyond rude to Willow that is bothered me because it was so uncalled for. At one point yelling that she didnt try to contact Sue or find her. I was bothered because Willow and her family broke ties with Sue when she was 13. How much is a 13 year old supposed to search for someone who her parents disowned? That was the miss for me!! By the time the truth comes out, which takes a long time, it clicks together in a way that makes you go: “Okay, THAT was clever.”
If you want a mystery that’s cozy enough to read with a blanket but sharp enough to keep your brain firing, this one is a hit. Perfect for fans of character-driven whodunits or anyone who loves that “small town… big secrets” energy. The plot give a large dose of paranormal that usually isn't my thing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Willow Stone is graduate student and organist. She had spent many joyous summers of her youth on Little North Island off the coast of Maine with her godmother Sue. Something happened that thirteen year-old Willow didn’t understand leading to all contact with Sue being broken. Fifteen years later out of the blue, she gets a letter from Sue inviting Willow to her wedding…only for Willow to find out that Sue had died the day before her wedding. It turns out Sue had also recently intermitted Cameron House a few months earlier. Things get even more suspicious when the new owner of Cameron House dies a few days after Sue’s funeral.
I really enjoyed this gothic mystery - one of those books I found hard to put down.. The Maine coast sounds rugged and lovely, and Cameron House and it’s inhabitancies are very otherworldly. There were a significant few gaps in the story - for example, no mention is made of Willow’s parents besides their past involvement; there’s no mention of their deaths, but she doesn’t text them or communicate with them (which I’d expect at least them wanting her not to get involved with her godmother?). And there’s some romantic hints concerning a certain handsome sheriff that feel unresolved - not sure if this means there will be further stories set around Cameron House or not.
Highly recommended! I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.
I really enjoyed this gothic mystery - one of those books I found hard to put down.. The Maine coast sounds rugged and lovely, and Cameron House and it’s inhabitancies are very otherworldly. There were a significant few gaps in the story - for example, no mention is made of Willow’s parents besides their past involvement; there’s no mention of their deaths, but she doesn’t text them or communicate with them (which I’d expect at least them wanting her not to get involved with her godmother?). And there’s some romantic hints concerning a certain handsome sheriff that feel unresolved - not sure if this means there will be further stories set around Cameron House or not.
Highly recommended! I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.
October 31, 2025
2.5 stars. I was anticipating enjoying this story, but MURDER WILL OUT was ultimately a disappointment.
The story takes place on a small island off the coast of Maine. The main character, Willow, used to visit her godmother (Sue) every summer, but hasn’t been back for many years because of a mysterious estrangement between Sue and her parents. When Willow learns of Sue’s unexpected death, she returns to attend the funeral.
What Willow learns after arriving is that she didn’t exactly know the truth around the estrangement. And when more deaths occur, she decides to stay and investigate.
I was annoyed with Willow through much of the story. She starts out awkward, afraid, meek, and withdrawn, and she often reacts immaturely. She does improve by the end of the story through investigating the deaths, but I felt her character improvement was a bit too little, too late.
I loved the little corgi, Finn, and wish he were more a part of the story. I also enjoyed the dominant paranormal elements.
MURDER WILL OUT has an underlying LGBTQ theme with one ridiculous twist near the end. And the murderer was a bit ludicrous. Overall, I felt the ending was a bit of a letdown.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
The story takes place on a small island off the coast of Maine. The main character, Willow, used to visit her godmother (Sue) every summer, but hasn’t been back for many years because of a mysterious estrangement between Sue and her parents. When Willow learns of Sue’s unexpected death, she returns to attend the funeral.
What Willow learns after arriving is that she didn’t exactly know the truth around the estrangement. And when more deaths occur, she decides to stay and investigate.
I was annoyed with Willow through much of the story. She starts out awkward, afraid, meek, and withdrawn, and she often reacts immaturely. She does improve by the end of the story through investigating the deaths, but I felt her character improvement was a bit too little, too late.
I loved the little corgi, Finn, and wish he were more a part of the story. I also enjoyed the dominant paranormal elements.
MURDER WILL OUT has an underlying LGBTQ theme with one ridiculous twist near the end. And the murderer was a bit ludicrous. Overall, I felt the ending was a bit of a letdown.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
November 13, 2025
Willow Stone goes back to Little North Island, where she spent time with her godmother, Sue growing up. After receiving a letter from Sue, Willow does an internet search and realizes Sue has died but she has time to make the memorial service. Heading back to Little North, Willow encounters not only her memories but people who knew Sue. Willow founds out Sue has inherited Cameron House, the grand mansion of the island. When the next person to inherit the home is killed, Willow realizes the last three owners have all died in a relatively short span of time, are their deaths connected and could Sue have been murdered? The land and house are highly coveted especially by developers but would someone kill to get their hands on it? Willow intends to find out, with help from new and old friends and even some ghostly friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The mystery kept me in suspense right up until the killer was revealed. The misdirections were spot on. My only nag, is the relationship of the killers. Really? That particular relationship felt contrived, it didn't add to the story and the relationship could have been accomplished in other ways. It felt as if the author wanted to make sure they added a "contemporary relevance" to the plot. Otherwise, a wonderful mystery, a good read and a little supernatural fun. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The mystery kept me in suspense right up until the killer was revealed. The misdirections were spot on. My only nag, is the relationship of the killers. Really? That particular relationship felt contrived, it didn't add to the story and the relationship could have been accomplished in other ways. It felt as if the author wanted to make sure they added a "contemporary relevance" to the plot. Otherwise, a wonderful mystery, a good read and a little supernatural fun. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books.
November 3, 2025
A big thank-you to Netgalley and the publisher for offering me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Other reviewers have posted fairly detailed synopses, and I won't repeat their efforts here.
Some may call it a nitpick, but I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because there are multiple instances of "head-hopping," changing the point-of-view narrator in the middle of a scene. It wasn't TOO hard to figure out who was doing the thinking and/or talking at any given moment, but head-hopping is generally frowned upon in the book world.
I was going to pose the question of whether or not there were truly "things that go bump in the night" (or just someone's overactive imagination) but since other reviewers have "outed" the bumping things, I will state that yes, there ARE paranormal elements. I should add that there are also LGBTQ factors that are just stated matter-of-factly and don't beat the reader over the head with it.
All in all a pretty fair murder mystery, but I will say that when the killer is finally outed, they had made so little impression on me I had to go back and see when they were first introduced and what role they played in the story. Perhaps it was just me having a senior moment. Others' mileage certainly can and will vary.
Other reviewers have posted fairly detailed synopses, and I won't repeat their efforts here.
Some may call it a nitpick, but I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because there are multiple instances of "head-hopping," changing the point-of-view narrator in the middle of a scene. It wasn't TOO hard to figure out who was doing the thinking and/or talking at any given moment, but head-hopping is generally frowned upon in the book world.
I was going to pose the question of whether or not there were truly "things that go bump in the night" (or just someone's overactive imagination) but since other reviewers have "outed" the bumping things, I will state that yes, there ARE paranormal elements. I should add that there are also LGBTQ factors that are just stated matter-of-factly and don't beat the reader over the head with it.
All in all a pretty fair murder mystery, but I will say that when the killer is finally outed, they had made so little impression on me I had to go back and see when they were first introduced and what role they played in the story. Perhaps it was just me having a senior moment. Others' mileage certainly can and will vary.
November 14, 2025
When Willow returns to attend her estranged godmother's funeral in Maine, she finds a group of friends; a likable dog; a haunted house and a connection to family that she'd been missing.
This mystery had all the ingredients that I typically like - the moody setting, potential hauntings, and an almost-cozy mystery. But... it didn't work for me as much as I would have liked.
There was an LGBTQ plot that seemed "off' considering who the characters seemed to be - it just didn't seem to match up (not to mention its done to death). The main characters were not that likeable to me - they came off kind of angry all the time. And I'm not sure that a relationship between an older woman and a young child who saw each other once a year (years ago) would be that critical.
I *was* interested to see who did what, and why they were murdered, and any lingering connections. It was a decent read. I liked alot of the elements, I just wish I connected a bit more.
~Thank you to Publisher and NetGalley
This mystery had all the ingredients that I typically like - the moody setting, potential hauntings, and an almost-cozy mystery. But... it didn't work for me as much as I would have liked.
There was an LGBTQ plot that seemed "off' considering who the characters seemed to be - it just didn't seem to match up (not to mention its done to death). The main characters were not that likeable to me - they came off kind of angry all the time. And I'm not sure that a relationship between an older woman and a young child who saw each other once a year (years ago) would be that critical.
I *was* interested to see who did what, and why they were murdered, and any lingering connections. It was a decent read. I liked alot of the elements, I just wish I connected a bit more.
~Thank you to Publisher and NetGalley
December 8, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!
Unfortunately this is a DNF at 38%. I love the idea of this but the execution isn’t doing it for me. I love the setting but everything else kind of fell flat up to this point.
The dialogue between characters is really strange and formal but also cheesy? And kind of exaggerated? Like, the way Willow interacts with Nick is bizarre. And Willow could be either 15 or 60 but she’s in her late 20s and that just doesn’t seem right. She doesn’t act like that.
I’m mostly bored with it and don’t find myself excited to read it before bed or staying up late to keep reading. Instead I’m putting off picking it up and that’s never a good sign.
I can’t remember is if this was described as a thriller but it feels much more like a cozy mystery than even a regular mystery, which is fine, I like a good cozy mystery on occasion, but not this one. I debated pushing through but subjecting myself to weeks more with this book at this pace is not appealing.
There is definitely an audience for this book, I am just not it at this point.
Unfortunately this is a DNF at 38%. I love the idea of this but the execution isn’t doing it for me. I love the setting but everything else kind of fell flat up to this point.
The dialogue between characters is really strange and formal but also cheesy? And kind of exaggerated? Like, the way Willow interacts with Nick is bizarre. And Willow could be either 15 or 60 but she’s in her late 20s and that just doesn’t seem right. She doesn’t act like that.
I’m mostly bored with it and don’t find myself excited to read it before bed or staying up late to keep reading. Instead I’m putting off picking it up and that’s never a good sign.
I can’t remember is if this was described as a thriller but it feels much more like a cozy mystery than even a regular mystery, which is fine, I like a good cozy mystery on occasion, but not this one. I debated pushing through but subjecting myself to weeks more with this book at this pace is not appealing.
There is definitely an audience for this book, I am just not it at this point.
November 1, 2025
This debut mystery novel was excellent. Willow Stone returns to Little North Island, off the coast of Maine for the first time in 15 years. She received a letter from her godmother Sue, after all that time and also finds out that Sue has now died. The letter was greatly delayed. Sue was just a kid when her parents isolated her from Sue and made it seem like Sue is the one who didn't want her around anymore.
Willow arrives for the memorial and becomes drawn into the community and people are dying and she starts to see them all as murders, even though the police do not.
I really liked the central character and the people that surrounded her on the island, and I especially liked the ghosts. Yes, there are ghosts. I found the book delightful and charming and suspenseful. I would love to see more of the people of Little North Island in the future. Those who are left. I even liked the dog.
I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Willow arrives for the memorial and becomes drawn into the community and people are dying and she starts to see them all as murders, even though the police do not.
I really liked the central character and the people that surrounded her on the island, and I especially liked the ghosts. Yes, there are ghosts. I found the book delightful and charming and suspenseful. I would love to see more of the people of Little North Island in the future. Those who are left. I even liked the dog.
I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 22, 2025
Murder Will Out is written by Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove. A gothic mystery with a haunted house and ghosts, it is set on a little island off the coast of Maine. Willow is a graduate student from Chicago who loved spending summers with her godmother Sue in Maine. After many years of being estranged, Willow is invited and makes it back in time for Sue’s funeral. Sue was living in Cameron House as caretaker for Effie, also recently deceased. Willow finds herself immersed in the mystery of just what really happened to Sue, and who is really in line to inherit the mansion. There is a large cast of characters and nonstop action in this supernatural book, and the author’s clever pacing moves the story along to its satisfying conclusion. With thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own.
November 1, 2025
Four and a half stars rounded up to five. Willow gets a letter from Sue, her godmother. It has a recent postmark, but when she opens it, she finds it dated over two months ago. Sue lives on Little North Island, off the coast of Maine. Willow spent childhood summers there, until she was thirteen, when the visits stopped abruptly, and until she got the letter, had never heard from Sue again. Searching articles online, Willow is horrified to find that Sue died on the eve of her wedding. She heads to the island and finds secret upon secret. What is happening here?
I really loved this book. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I also loved the gothic element of this book, it really enhances the book. Highly, highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I really loved this book. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I also loved the gothic element of this book, it really enhances the book. Highly, highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Captivating Gothic Mystery!
Murder Will Out is a hauntingly beautiful gothic mystery set against the eerie backdrop of coastal Maine. From the very first page, it grabs your attention and keeps you turning pages all the way through. The pacing is steady and engaging, perfectly balancing suspense and atmosphere.
The characters are wonderfully written—real, relatable, and easy to care about. I especially found myself rooting for Willow, whose strength and determination really shine through. The ghosts add just the right touch of the supernatural, and the vivid descriptions of Cameron House make it come alive in your imagination.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, immersive read that I would highly recommend to fans of gothic mysteries and atmospheric fiction. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
Murder Will Out is a hauntingly beautiful gothic mystery set against the eerie backdrop of coastal Maine. From the very first page, it grabs your attention and keeps you turning pages all the way through. The pacing is steady and engaging, perfectly balancing suspense and atmosphere.
The characters are wonderfully written—real, relatable, and easy to care about. I especially found myself rooting for Willow, whose strength and determination really shine through. The ghosts add just the right touch of the supernatural, and the vivid descriptions of Cameron House make it come alive in your imagination.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, immersive read that I would highly recommend to fans of gothic mysteries and atmospheric fiction. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
November 14, 2025
After 15 years of silence, graduate student Willow Stone receives a letter from her estranged godmother Sue and returns to the Maine island where they spent her childhood summers. She arrives in time to attend Sue's funeral and is promptly drawn into a complicated mystery surrounding Sue's death and local landmark Cameron House. As Willow investigates the mysteries surrounding murder and the house, she finds a community of living and dead friends, because it turns out Cameron House is very haunted.
The story is well paced, and the mystery is nicely twisty. I enjoyed the characters, (both dead and alive,) and the conclusion is satisfying. It kept me guessing until nearly the end.
This is a good choice for fans of atmospheric, small-town mysteries. This is not a horror novel, as the ghosts are for the most part friendly and helpful.
The story is well paced, and the mystery is nicely twisty. I enjoyed the characters, (both dead and alive,) and the conclusion is satisfying. It kept me guessing until nearly the end.
This is a good choice for fans of atmospheric, small-town mysteries. This is not a horror novel, as the ghosts are for the most part friendly and helpful.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Murder Will Out is a fun read with a great plot. Between the murders, the genealogical mysteries and the ghosts there was a lot to enjoy. I didn't guess any of the twists either! I thought the ghosts really added a lot of personality and color to the book. They made Cameron House, and the town, come to life. It would have been nice if there was more of an explanation as to why they were there but that's okay. I have to say that I didn't like Willow at first. She grew on me, but she starts out pretty weak and she acts childish sometimes. Especially when talking to Nick. I did like most of the supporting cast though. The ending was satisfying and had me in tears. This was a great debut, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the author's next book!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 1/2 stars rounded up.
I actually really enjoyed this story. I like a good gothic mystery every once and awhile and this one fit the bill. The cast of characters was very well written with a great mystery to uncover as the book went along.
Willow Stone spent a lot of her childhood up on the coast of Maine with her Godmother Sue. It had been 15 years since she had been up there for reasons she didn't truly understand. Circumstances finally brought her back and in the process plunked her right in the middle of a murder mystery mostly surrounded a grand home on the island. While this could have been a heavy book, instead it kept light-hearted enough to keep the reader engaged and ready to see what might happen next. I'm ready for a sequel!
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I actually really enjoyed this story. I like a good gothic mystery every once and awhile and this one fit the bill. The cast of characters was very well written with a great mystery to uncover as the book went along.
Willow Stone spent a lot of her childhood up on the coast of Maine with her Godmother Sue. It had been 15 years since she had been up there for reasons she didn't truly understand. Circumstances finally brought her back and in the process plunked her right in the middle of a murder mystery mostly surrounded a grand home on the island. While this could have been a heavy book, instead it kept light-hearted enough to keep the reader engaged and ready to see what might happen next. I'm ready for a sequel!
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 10, 2025
This is the first gothic novel I've ever read, and although I generally don't go for stories with supernatural elements, I rather enjoyed this tale. The cast of characters was interesting, both living and dead, and the little corgi Finn added a bit of fun to the story. I certainly got a good sense of Cameron House, as well as the overall setting of Little North Island and its charms. The shifting POVs toward the beginning of the book occasionally had me confused, but either I got used to the style or the author toned down all the shifting as the mystery began to be resolved. Overall, an interesting and well-crafted read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 11, 2025
Willow Stone returns to Maine upon receiving a letter from her honorary aunt, whom she has not had contact with in years. Willows parents moved her away as a young person, and she never knew why. Once there, she meets the towns people and some others, whom she can see, yet realizes others cannot. A murder, leading to revealing two previous, along with another "accident" has Willow working to find out what happened, as well as save the beloved house of her "aunt Sue". She is not a "mystery sleuth", yet someone involved in the story trying to determine what happened and why. I really enjoyed this story and hope to see more books from this new author! Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Breedlove, and St Martin's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2025
What a lovely, atmospheric book with chills for days.
Willow has returned to Little North Island, which was a vacation home for her with her godmother, Sue, growing up. However, something happened in the past to end those visits, and it has been well over a decade since Willow was back.
Not only did Sue reach out to Willow, she recently passed away due to a tragic "accident" in the Cameron house. Willow is unsure if her godmother's death was such, as the Cameron house is famously died to deaths as well as ghosts.
Willow works through the secrets and the ghosts as she uncovers what's really going on off the coast of Maine.
Bonus points for the best Corgi ever!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Willow has returned to Little North Island, which was a vacation home for her with her godmother, Sue, growing up. However, something happened in the past to end those visits, and it has been well over a decade since Willow was back.
Not only did Sue reach out to Willow, she recently passed away due to a tragic "accident" in the Cameron house. Willow is unsure if her godmother's death was such, as the Cameron house is famously died to deaths as well as ghosts.
Willow works through the secrets and the ghosts as she uncovers what's really going on off the coast of Maine.
Bonus points for the best Corgi ever!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Reviewing for Netgalley* I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the mystery of it, the paranormal aspect, and how it honestly kept me guessing throughout! I felt like each and every character gave me a pause where I would think they honestly could have done these things. Really well written!
Keeping it in the family is really important to the owners of the Cameron House. When Willow Stone, a young woman working her way through college, gets a letter in the mail from her estranged family friend only to find out she died, she packs up and heads to Maine. Memories, intuition, and beings attached to the house help guide Willow to find out what has been happening in the small island town with a whole lot of danger!
Keeping it in the family is really important to the owners of the Cameron House. When Willow Stone, a young woman working her way through college, gets a letter in the mail from her estranged family friend only to find out she died, she packs up and heads to Maine. Memories, intuition, and beings attached to the house help guide Willow to find out what has been happening in the small island town with a whole lot of danger!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We may all have experienced someone we cared about just falling out of our lives. When we are younger, we don’t understand and we also rarely question. Our parents know best, right? Then our lives move on and we never give it another thought and that is exactly what happens to Willow in Murder Will Out until she receives a letter from that very person, one she has to go back and see.
This was an excellent plot. However, I thought it read slow in a few places. The other only criticism I have is that there were a few times that I had to page back to see who was who, so to speak. I just thought it got a bit jumbled now and then. Don’t get me wrong. I read every word. I do hope there will be more books.
This was an excellent plot. However, I thought it read slow in a few places. The other only criticism I have is that there were a few times that I had to page back to see who was who, so to speak. I just thought it got a bit jumbled now and then. Don’t get me wrong. I read every word. I do hope there will be more books.
October 5, 2025
I expected a mystery who-did-it thing going on with this book, but to find out there's also a haunted house aspect of it made it even better. I like how, along with the mystery of how her aunt was killed, she learns the truth about why they became estranged and who her aunt really was. The way the suspension was put on the different characters and why it could be them kept me guessing on who was really responsible was really well done. I really enjoyed the ghost aspect to it, and to me it added to the storyline and made it more interesting. I guessed wrong on the whole thing and was surprised by all the plot twists, so hats off to the author, you really got me good.
November 28, 2025
Willow Stone is returning home, finally. She has been estranged from her Godmother Sue for years but never really understood why. When she receives a letter from Sue, too bad it is too late to reconcile. Willow returns to Little North Island for the funeral, but stays for a while. Then she sees the death of Sue as other than accidental, Willow must determine what happened. What a fabulous read with all the feelings. I love the characters of Cameron house. This story ended too soon, I was not ready to be done yet. If you like a little "otherly" with your books this will be a favorite of yours.
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