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The Great Houses of Pill Hill
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A literary take on the locked-room mystery following a woman who makes miniatures of murder scenes, from a scintillating new voice in crime fiction
Hannah "Cookie" Cooke, an interior decorator and frustrated artist with a sideline making miniature reproductions of crime scenes, is hired for the job of a lifetime—the renovation of a spectacular historic New England home owned by New Preston’s wealthiest couple. But her dream job goes spectacularly wrong when her client, Chuck, is murdered at the housewarming party.
The detective on the case is sure the key to the baffling murder is hiding in one of Cookie’s miniatures. Complicating matters further, Cookie's mother, a retired archaeologist recovering from surgery in a local rehab facility, knows more than she's willing or able to admit about the dream client's dream house and its history—in particular, why there's a hidden room decorated in 19th-century Egyptian kitsch on the premises, and what it might mean for the house's current owners.
The Great Houses of Pill Hill meditates on the many meanings of possession, consumption, and development. Following an artist struggling to come to terms with her ambitions, talent, and prospects, the novel shifts through interiors of all kinds, from domestic crime scenes to psychological landscapes.
Hannah "Cookie" Cooke, an interior decorator and frustrated artist with a sideline making miniature reproductions of crime scenes, is hired for the job of a lifetime—the renovation of a spectacular historic New England home owned by New Preston’s wealthiest couple. But her dream job goes spectacularly wrong when her client, Chuck, is murdered at the housewarming party.
The detective on the case is sure the key to the baffling murder is hiding in one of Cookie’s miniatures. Complicating matters further, Cookie's mother, a retired archaeologist recovering from surgery in a local rehab facility, knows more than she's willing or able to admit about the dream client's dream house and its history—in particular, why there's a hidden room decorated in 19th-century Egyptian kitsch on the premises, and what it might mean for the house's current owners.
The Great Houses of Pill Hill meditates on the many meanings of possession, consumption, and development. Following an artist struggling to come to terms with her ambitions, talent, and prospects, the novel shifts through interiors of all kinds, from domestic crime scenes to psychological landscapes.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
3 people are currently reading
16868 people want to read
About the author
Diane Josefowicz
8 books59 followersDiane Josefowicz is a writer, editor, historian, and passionate amateur tap dancer. Her latest novel, The Great Houses of Pill Hill will be published in May 2026 by Soho Press. She is the author of three previous works of fiction: Ready, Set, Oh, a novel published by Flexible Press; L'Air du Temps (1985), a novella published in 2024 by Regal House; and Guardians & Saints: Stories, published in October 2025 by Cornerstone Press. With Jed Z. Buchwald, she has written two histories of French Egyptology: The Riddle of the Rosetta (2020) and The Zodiac of Paris (2010), both published by Princeton University Press.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 18, 2025
ARC for review. To be published May 5, 2026.
2 stars
This started off in a promising way and was written in a pithy, kicky style. It was a whydunit, because you know what and who. However it takes quite awhile to get there and it all ends up being so complicated I had no idea what was going on. Disappointing.
2 stars
This started off in a promising way and was written in a pithy, kicky style. It was a whydunit, because you know what and who. However it takes quite awhile to get there and it all ends up being so complicated I had no idea what was going on. Disappointing.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this book as an ARC though Goodreads Giveaways, so I was determined to give it a fair shot and read it all the way through.
I wanted to like this book. I work in forensics and thought the concept of the story sounded interesting. But it was a struggle to get through the book and I repeatedly contemplated quitting it.
The characters, including the protagonist, are unlikeable. Most of the characters are extremely one dimensional and there is very little character development. The plot meanders and goes off on tangents that are possibly meant to look clever, but just confused me. There are multiple plot holes that I don't think will be fixed in the final edit.
There are also several weird anachronisms. I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out when the story was set. There's talk about internet and Facebook, and cellphones that may or may not be smartphones? Then, a little over halfway through the book, a chapter title reveals it's supposed to be 2008. Which made it seem even odder that there's a later comment about ordering sushi when they are "miles from an ocean". They're in New Hampshire. I live near Chicago and I've been eating sushi since the 90s.
The ending was disappointing. It tries to explain too much in a short time and never actually brings it together.
I read the author's notes at the end and she lists all the very niche and erudite (and completely unrelated in any way!) sources that inspired her to write the book. It almost feels that she tried too hard to use all of these sources at once, forcing them into a story they didn't want any part of.
I wanted to like this book. I work in forensics and thought the concept of the story sounded interesting. But it was a struggle to get through the book and I repeatedly contemplated quitting it.
The characters, including the protagonist, are unlikeable. Most of the characters are extremely one dimensional and there is very little character development. The plot meanders and goes off on tangents that are possibly meant to look clever, but just confused me. There are multiple plot holes that I don't think will be fixed in the final edit.
There are also several weird anachronisms. I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out when the story was set. There's talk about internet and Facebook, and cellphones that may or may not be smartphones? Then, a little over halfway through the book, a chapter title reveals it's supposed to be 2008. Which made it seem even odder that there's a later comment about ordering sushi when they are "miles from an ocean". They're in New Hampshire. I live near Chicago and I've been eating sushi since the 90s.
The ending was disappointing. It tries to explain too much in a short time and never actually brings it together.
I read the author's notes at the end and she lists all the very niche and erudite (and completely unrelated in any way!) sources that inspired her to write the book. It almost feels that she tried too hard to use all of these sources at once, forcing them into a story they didn't want any part of.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A unique decorator murder mystery, with the most engaging moments coming from Cookie’s renovation work and the strange creativity behind her dioramas. The early chapters stay deep in Cookie’s thoughts, and her reflections set the foundation before the mystery picks up. The characters are written with clear flaws, and almost everyone is making questionable choices, which creates a tone where it is harder to sympathize with any one of them.
Around a third of the way in, the mystery begins, but the book keeps branching into side plots that pull focus from what works best. The dioramas feel built to anchor the story, but they drift in and out instead of shaping the investigation. The side plots, like Cookie’s shifting relationships and the online comments subplot, feel distracting from the main mystery.
Late in the book, the tone shifts into a different genre. The change brings momentum, but it does not feel right for what the story seemed to be building toward. The final stretch moves quickly, yet the shift makes the ending feel far from where the book started.
Overall, the book has compelling pieces, especially Cookie’s dioramas and the moments centered on her creating them. I just wanted those elements to stay central instead of getting overshadowed by the detours the story takes.
ARC provided by Soho Press, Soho Crime through NetGalley.
Around a third of the way in, the mystery begins, but the book keeps branching into side plots that pull focus from what works best. The dioramas feel built to anchor the story, but they drift in and out instead of shaping the investigation. The side plots, like Cookie’s shifting relationships and the online comments subplot, feel distracting from the main mystery.
Late in the book, the tone shifts into a different genre. The change brings momentum, but it does not feel right for what the story seemed to be building toward. The final stretch moves quickly, yet the shift makes the ending feel far from where the book started.
Overall, the book has compelling pieces, especially Cookie’s dioramas and the moments centered on her creating them. I just wanted those elements to stay central instead of getting overshadowed by the detours the story takes.
ARC provided by Soho Press, Soho Crime through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I begged for an ARC of this book based on the promotional piece from the publisher. The premise of this book - an artist providing insights on crimes through her medium of choice, miniatures, hooked me, yet the story wasn't focused on this at all.
The characters were quirky and layered enough to enjoy and want to get to uncover more, the premise was there - as another reviewer said - a whydunit versus a whodunit, but it seemed to be so much work to get to the end result.
Cookie, the main character, is exploratory in her ways of expressing her creative side while balancing a financial hardship. I loved Cookie and her clever avenues, her friends and jaded past as well as her fascination with true crime, I just wished there was more miniature and discoveries compared to falling into the solutions.
I did enjoy Diane's style of writing, I just found there to be too much of it. If it could be focused on the art more, the crime itself, than as much as it was trying to fill in gaps of history and friendship connections, it would be improved.
The characters were quirky and layered enough to enjoy and want to get to uncover more, the premise was there - as another reviewer said - a whydunit versus a whodunit, but it seemed to be so much work to get to the end result.
Cookie, the main character, is exploratory in her ways of expressing her creative side while balancing a financial hardship. I loved Cookie and her clever avenues, her friends and jaded past as well as her fascination with true crime, I just wished there was more miniature and discoveries compared to falling into the solutions.
I did enjoy Diane's style of writing, I just found there to be too much of it. If it could be focused on the art more, the crime itself, than as much as it was trying to fill in gaps of history and friendship connections, it would be improved.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, had it not been an ARC, I would have DNF about 15-20% in.
It took so long to get to the point of everything, and along the way I was so confused by all the side stories that I didn’t even understand why they were there. There were numerous instances that I genuinely thought I had missed a chapter or maybe my pages got bumped on my kindle because I had no idea what was happening.
The positive for sure were the dioramas. That creativity was very enjoyable, and I wish there was more of that.
Not a win for me, but I always appreciate an ARC. Thank you NetGalley for a new book I wouldn’t normally have finished.
It took so long to get to the point of everything, and along the way I was so confused by all the side stories that I didn’t even understand why they were there. There were numerous instances that I genuinely thought I had missed a chapter or maybe my pages got bumped on my kindle because I had no idea what was happening.
The positive for sure were the dioramas. That creativity was very enjoyable, and I wish there was more of that.
Not a win for me, but I always appreciate an ARC. Thank you NetGalley for a new book I wouldn’t normally have finished.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A bit meandering, THE GREAT HOUSES OF PILL HILL follows interior designer, Hannah “Cookie” Cooke, who specializes in both full-scale home renovations and creating crime scene dioramas, an odd combination,
Sadly, I didn’t connect with this novel. One of my biggest problems was that I just didn’t like Cookie. Another issue I had with this story was that the writing felt stilted.
The mystery had a few twists, but it just wasn’t enough of an improvement to save this novel.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
Sadly, I didn’t connect with this novel. One of my biggest problems was that I just didn’t like Cookie. Another issue I had with this story was that the writing felt stilted.
The mystery had a few twists, but it just wasn’t enough of an improvement to save this novel.
🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The Great Houses Of Pill Hill about Hannah Cooke aka Cookie who specializes in home renovation then creating crime scenes other odd combinations. I really couldn’t get into the book for one Cookie was all over the place in the book she wasn’t likable at all. Far as mystery part and crime it did have few twists to it that save the book little bit but wasn’t enough of improvement to help this book. I wouldn’t say this book is a bad book I just couldn’t relate to this book .
Want to thank the author , publisher, and Goodreads for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Want to thank the author , publisher, and Goodreads for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rounding up to 3 ⭐
I enjoyed Cookie's narration to begin with
She was witty, and had me smiling a time or two
I enjoyed reading about her diorama 's too, they sound great
Unfortunately, it wasn't the book I was hoping for, as I felt it took too long to go anywhere , by which time, I'd lost interest a bit.
Sadly just didn't really work for me.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
I enjoyed Cookie's narration to begin with
She was witty, and had me smiling a time or two
I enjoyed reading about her diorama 's too, they sound great
Unfortunately, it wasn't the book I was hoping for, as I felt it took too long to go anywhere , by which time, I'd lost interest a bit.
Sadly just didn't really work for me.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Cnlofdjll
February 24, 2026
My interest was on and off!🥸
January 23, 2026
Very intricate story written with a unique perspective. The imagery is extremely beautiful and detailed. The twist in the books were unpredictable.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews