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A Murder Most Camp
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Expected 28 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
28 days and 03:00:54
10 copies available
U.S. only
The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.
Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.
Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party's finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn't involve throwing cash at his problems—he'll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)
Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can "do good" alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn't sure he'll be able to survive the camp's ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won't leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey's chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there's a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.
Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough "good" for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it…
Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.
Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party's finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn't involve throwing cash at his problems—he'll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)
Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can "do good" alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn't sure he'll be able to survive the camp's ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won't leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey's chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there's a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.
Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough "good" for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it…
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 28, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 3 stars ✰
Not to start off on a serious note, but how come no one ever writes fiction about the adverse effects of cutting off someone from something that pretty much has been a certainty all of their lives? It's always the argument that it's for your own good to be a better person, but why do we never get a glimpse of how they may at first struggle from being deprived of that assured dependency?
Just saying. 🙆🏻♀️
Anyhoo, I did enjoy my trifecta with DiDomizio's works. Very easy breezy, pumpkin cheesy (literally) kind of a read for Saturday morning. Where as a millennial, thankfully, the many cultural pop references did not go over my head. 💪🏻 But, also, yes, sadly, were a tad too much, like I get that Mikey is a film aficionado, and it made for a great ringing endorsement of Clueless' revival, but yeah, it got a bit unnecessary pushed in at times. 😮💨
But not knowing Bonnie Tyler? What an affront! 😆 Although nowadays teens and tweens would probably only ever pick up on anything only when it's a viral sensation - on TikTok or the gram. 🤷🏻♀️ I can't say for certain if Annabelle and the SAG party were realistically portrayed, what with their offhand gay comments, but it was fun to see how Mikey dealt with their enthusiastic obsession into investigating Camp Lore's decade old cold case.
“It was just about getting you to a place where you care about your life.”
The mystery itself is a predictable chase, fairly reminiscent of Mikey's love of 90s cult campy classics. But, as an ode to those flicks that still make me smile and laugh for their campiness, there is that layer of trauma and self-reflection that shines amidst the adversity. 😤 One which even Mikey was struggling with, but burying deep, until he found his niche that allowed him to admit that he was someone with feelings allowed to care.
For it truly does live up to its name, of how A Murder Most Camp, not only in the literal sense, but one taking place at a summer camp exclusive for trust fund babies, packed with their own share of cliché family strife and a limited supporting cast. It's obvious, pretty early on, who is the likely culprit, which I suppose also fits the bill of campy teen thrillers. 😏
Ah, take me back to those good ole days. ⏳🙃
“But if this is truly what Mikey wanted, then why does it feel less like a victory and more like a sad inevitability?”
I'm not sure if it was a good thing that not everyone was of sound moral with traces of the f the darkest parts of humanity, his li, Jackson, included. but Jackson helping Mikey see that he was more than just the years of trauma, otherness, and rejection he was shouldering was sweet. 🥺 Their repartee had some endearing quips, and as a tag team that buoyed on conflicting emotions also nicely played out. And ew, Jamie. 😬 What a horrid little person. Good riddance to cheapskate rubbish.
And I hate to be that guy, but pretty smooth sailing in terms of editing till the end, where I picked up a couple of spelling errors. There was also a comment that I think might offend some. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but there was a comment that I think might be offensive to some - 😕
“... trying to define camp is perhaps the least campy thing one can do in the first place.”
Not to start off on a serious note, but how come no one ever writes fiction about the adverse effects of cutting off someone from something that pretty much has been a certainty all of their lives? It's always the argument that it's for your own good to be a better person, but why do we never get a glimpse of how they may at first struggle from being deprived of that assured dependency?
Just saying. 🙆🏻♀️
Anyhoo, I did enjoy my trifecta with DiDomizio's works. Very easy breezy, pumpkin cheesy (literally) kind of a read for Saturday morning. Where as a millennial, thankfully, the many cultural pop references did not go over my head. 💪🏻 But, also, yes, sadly, were a tad too much, like I get that Mikey is a film aficionado, and it made for a great ringing endorsement of Clueless' revival, but yeah, it got a bit unnecessary pushed in at times. 😮💨
But not knowing Bonnie Tyler? What an affront! 😆 Although nowadays teens and tweens would probably only ever pick up on anything only when it's a viral sensation - on TikTok or the gram. 🤷🏻♀️ I can't say for certain if Annabelle and the SAG party were realistically portrayed, what with their offhand gay comments, but it was fun to see how Mikey dealt with their enthusiastic obsession into investigating Camp Lore's decade old cold case.
“It was just about getting you to a place where you care about your life.”
The mystery itself is a predictable chase, fairly reminiscent of Mikey's love of 90s cult campy classics. But, as an ode to those flicks that still make me smile and laugh for their campiness, there is that layer of trauma and self-reflection that shines amidst the adversity. 😤 One which even Mikey was struggling with, but burying deep, until he found his niche that allowed him to admit that he was someone with feelings allowed to care.
For it truly does live up to its name, of how A Murder Most Camp, not only in the literal sense, but one taking place at a summer camp exclusive for trust fund babies, packed with their own share of cliché family strife and a limited supporting cast. It's obvious, pretty early on, who is the likely culprit, which I suppose also fits the bill of campy teen thrillers. 😏
Ah, take me back to those good ole days. ⏳🙃
“But if this is truly what Mikey wanted, then why does it feel less like a victory and more like a sad inevitability?”
I'm not sure if it was a good thing that not everyone was of sound moral with traces of the f the darkest parts of humanity, his li, Jackson, included. but Jackson helping Mikey see that he was more than just the years of trauma, otherness, and rejection he was shouldering was sweet. 🥺 Their repartee had some endearing quips, and as a tag team that buoyed on conflicting emotions also nicely played out. And ew, Jamie. 😬 What a horrid little person. Good riddance to cheapskate rubbish.
And I hate to be that guy, but pretty smooth sailing in terms of editing till the end, where I picked up a couple of spelling errors. There was also a comment that I think might offend some. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but there was a comment that I think might be offensive to some - 😕
Review of advance copy received from Éditeur
Funny, cute, full of heart, my favourite dated references, and lovable characters.
Add a mystery that kept my interest until the very end and the charming setting of a rustic summer camp, and I really enjoyed myself with this book.
I think this is the perfect mystery read for this summer.
Than you Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!
Add a mystery that kept my interest until the very end and the charming setting of a rustic summer camp, and I really enjoyed myself with this book.
I think this is the perfect mystery read for this summer.
Than you Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
A Murder Most Camp is a fun summer murder mystery with lots of twists and turns.
We follow Mickey Hartford IV, who's been pulled from his party filled lavish life of luxury and made to go to summer camp with his twelve-year-old aunt and redeem himself before he turns 30. If he doesn't make a change with his life and make a positive contribution to the world before then (in 3 months time), his trust fund will be revoked and he'll loose his lifestyle for good.
Mickey has the shock of his life when he arrives at Camp Lore to be a camp counsellor for the summer. And when a murder mystery literally drops into his lap, with the encouragement of his aunt and her new group of friends, Mickey rediscovers a passion from his childhood of making movies and seeks to uncover what really happened at Camp Lore many years ago when a previous camp counsellor went missing and was rumoured to have been murdered.
This was a fun, predictable, and camp read with discovery, finding oneself, reality checks, connection, and romance to name just a few things that the book unfolded with and it was a pleasant surprise and quick read. I didn't really gel with Mickey at the beginning, but by halfway through, I began to really like him and loved his connection and relationship with his aunt.
A Murder Most Camp is a fun summer murder mystery with lots of twists and turns.
We follow Mickey Hartford IV, who's been pulled from his party filled lavish life of luxury and made to go to summer camp with his twelve-year-old aunt and redeem himself before he turns 30. If he doesn't make a change with his life and make a positive contribution to the world before then (in 3 months time), his trust fund will be revoked and he'll loose his lifestyle for good.
Mickey has the shock of his life when he arrives at Camp Lore to be a camp counsellor for the summer. And when a murder mystery literally drops into his lap, with the encouragement of his aunt and her new group of friends, Mickey rediscovers a passion from his childhood of making movies and seeks to uncover what really happened at Camp Lore many years ago when a previous camp counsellor went missing and was rumoured to have been murdered.
This was a fun, predictable, and camp read with discovery, finding oneself, reality checks, connection, and romance to name just a few things that the book unfolded with and it was a pleasant surprise and quick read. I didn't really gel with Mickey at the beginning, but by halfway through, I began to really like him and loved his connection and relationship with his aunt.
December 8, 2025
4.5
Guncle meets How to Solve Your Own Murder.
Mikey is a nepo baby with Dad's credit card and was doing JUST FINE thank you. Until Dad came down with the hammer - prove yourself before your 30 or kiss that inheritance buh-bye. The solution? Be a camp counsellor at Camp Lore where his 12 year old "Aunt" (think You've Got Mail) Annabelle is scheduled to attend for the first time
Mikey is APPALLED but the inheritance is worth it so off he goes. Except his group of kids has a different idea for their summer then campfires and archery. They want to solve the murder that happened a decade ago at Camp Lore and need Mikey's assistance to do so. Thank goodness his roommate Jackson is a dreamboat.
Read this book. Laugh out loud and fall in love with Mikey as he starts to think about who he really wants to be, how much he cares about his family and this group of kids at camp and find out how he suffered through dinner at Panera.
Guncle meets How to Solve Your Own Murder.
Mikey is a nepo baby with Dad's credit card and was doing JUST FINE thank you. Until Dad came down with the hammer - prove yourself before your 30 or kiss that inheritance buh-bye. The solution? Be a camp counsellor at Camp Lore where his 12 year old "Aunt" (think You've Got Mail) Annabelle is scheduled to attend for the first time
Mikey is APPALLED but the inheritance is worth it so off he goes. Except his group of kids has a different idea for their summer then campfires and archery. They want to solve the murder that happened a decade ago at Camp Lore and need Mikey's assistance to do so. Thank goodness his roommate Jackson is a dreamboat.
Read this book. Laugh out loud and fall in love with Mikey as he starts to think about who he really wants to be, how much he cares about his family and this group of kids at camp and find out how he suffered through dinner at Panera.
March 15, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mikey Hartford is a self-loathing millionaire nepo baby on the cusp of his 30th birthday. He has internalized marxist theories, keeps the worst company, and refuses to be taken seriously. In a last attempt to straighten him out, his father threatens to withhold his inheritance unless he "does some good", meaning accompanying his 12‑year‑old aunt to summer camp, and helping her come out of her shell. But once there, Mikey quickly stumbles into an old mystery: a disappearance that took place over a decade ago...
I've read Nicolas DiDomizio before, so I was very excited to get this ARC, and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint; in fact, it surprised me. The author really seems to have come into his own since The Gay Best Friend . I expected it to hit hard (murder mysteries are my comfort genre, after all), but it still managed to catch me off guard. I had so much fun with this book.
The pacing is perfect, no notes. The emotional beats feel a bit repetitive in the first quarter [CW: death] (there's only so much whining I felt that I could take--my favorite parent is dead too and I don't have zillions of dollars to wipe my tears with, Mikey.) But once it finds its legs, the story progress smoothly from there. I worried the main character would be unlikeable, the setting would fall apart (a rickety summer camp for spoiled rich kids? stretches believability), that the mystery would have plot holes. Instead, I thought it all came together remarkably well. I guessed who the killer was (at 79%!), but it made me more proud of myself than annoyed, and I still enjoyed the climax afterwards. For me, that's true victory! 😆
I loved the characters and thoroughly enjoyed their respective journeys. I thought the author did a fantastic job building complex beings with emotionally resonant fears and motivations. The humor (and narrative voice) land perfectly, it never feels too cynical or too over the top. It meshes well with the more serious/emotional story beats. My only complaint would be with the setting: for a camp full of bratty millionaires, it sometimes felt somewhat empty (aside from the SAG, there aren't that many kids-related shenanigans mentioned), and the location itself lacked depth (aside from the cabins and a night by the lake, the book lacked descriptions of the setting-the smells, the landscapes, the bugs! the feeling of being out in nature). However, these felt like acceptable trade-offs in the end; the focus on characters and mystery kept the pacing tight and definitely avoided bloat. Lastly, the romance also worked perfectly for me; it never felt like it derailed the main plot or felt unnatural. The characters had true chemistry and every step on their path together felt earned: again, a clear amelioration from The Gay Best Friend, cementing how far DiDomizio has come in my opinion.
In the end, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy both rom-coms and murder-mysteries. Easily one of my favorite read of the year so far, and it's made me even more excited to crack open Nearlywed next time I need a comfort read!
Mikey Hartford is a self-loathing millionaire nepo baby on the cusp of his 30th birthday. He has internalized marxist theories, keeps the worst company, and refuses to be taken seriously. In a last attempt to straighten him out, his father threatens to withhold his inheritance unless he "does some good", meaning accompanying his 12‑year‑old aunt to summer camp, and helping her come out of her shell. But once there, Mikey quickly stumbles into an old mystery: a disappearance that took place over a decade ago...
I've read Nicolas DiDomizio before, so I was very excited to get this ARC, and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint; in fact, it surprised me. The author really seems to have come into his own since The Gay Best Friend . I expected it to hit hard (murder mysteries are my comfort genre, after all), but it still managed to catch me off guard. I had so much fun with this book.
The pacing is perfect, no notes. The emotional beats feel a bit repetitive in the first quarter [CW: death] (there's only so much whining I felt that I could take--my favorite parent is dead too and I don't have zillions of dollars to wipe my tears with, Mikey.) But once it finds its legs, the story progress smoothly from there. I worried the main character would be unlikeable, the setting would fall apart (a rickety summer camp for spoiled rich kids? stretches believability), that the mystery would have plot holes. Instead, I thought it all came together remarkably well. I guessed who the killer was (at 79%!), but it made me more proud of myself than annoyed, and I still enjoyed the climax afterwards. For me, that's true victory! 😆
I loved the characters and thoroughly enjoyed their respective journeys. I thought the author did a fantastic job building complex beings with emotionally resonant fears and motivations. The humor (and narrative voice) land perfectly, it never feels too cynical or too over the top. It meshes well with the more serious/emotional story beats. My only complaint would be with the setting: for a camp full of bratty millionaires, it sometimes felt somewhat empty (aside from the SAG, there aren't that many kids-related shenanigans mentioned), and the location itself lacked depth (aside from the cabins and a night by the lake, the book lacked descriptions of the setting-the smells, the landscapes, the bugs! the feeling of being out in nature). However, these felt like acceptable trade-offs in the end; the focus on characters and mystery kept the pacing tight and definitely avoided bloat. Lastly, the romance also worked perfectly for me; it never felt like it derailed the main plot or felt unnatural. The characters had true chemistry and every step on their path together felt earned: again, a clear amelioration from The Gay Best Friend, cementing how far DiDomizio has come in my opinion.
In the end, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy both rom-coms and murder-mysteries. Easily one of my favorite read of the year so far, and it's made me even more excited to crack open Nearlywed next time I need a comfort read!
Read
February 17, 2026If the title give you a little spurt of humor, there's a good chance you might enjoy this book. At least, that's what worked for me. I absolutely loved the voice, the wry humor and the flair, with spurts of gay-friendly camp. I would actually have loved a novel of manners with this voice, without the murder mystery--but then I don't really much like murder mysteries if they get too dark. The fact that I finished this one is testament to all the other things I liked about the book.
Like the characters. The author did an excellent job of making an obnoxious trust-fund baby appealing. It was his self-awareness of what a jerk he can be, and how loyal he is to his total stinker of a best friend/crush, and his dysfunctional family.
His father posits a conviction: he spend time at a remote summer camp (which turned out to be the very opposite of the cushy experience he was expecting) with his aunt, who is a kid heavily invested in horror and true crime grim dark novels. He discovers a grim mystery, which starts sparking his dormant creative side . . . and things get real. Including romance with a guy who seems impossible at first . . .
Well, anyway, I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to the author's next.
Like the characters. The author did an excellent job of making an obnoxious trust-fund baby appealing. It was his self-awareness of what a jerk he can be, and how loyal he is to his total stinker of a best friend/crush, and his dysfunctional family.
His father posits a conviction: he spend time at a remote summer camp (which turned out to be the very opposite of the cushy experience he was expecting) with his aunt, who is a kid heavily invested in horror and true crime grim dark novels. He discovers a grim mystery, which starts sparking his dormant creative side . . . and things get real. Including romance with a guy who seems impossible at first . . .
Well, anyway, I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to the author's next.
November 30, 2025
Imagine a mystery set at an Adirondack summer camp with all the red herrings of an Agatha Christie infused with Andy Cohen's camp sensibility. A Murder Most Camp is bitchy fun from the very first page. Stick with our annoyingly privileged protagonist and you'll be rewarded with a heartfelt portrait of personal growth that rings true. Who-done-it mystery meets will-they-won't-they romance in this wild ride of a novel that I slurped up faster than an espresso martini!
March 24, 2026
A Murder Most Camp is a perfectly cozy, and fun, mystery perfect for summer!
FMC Mikey, has just been hit with an ultimatum to receive his trust fund...he has to do something "good" that isn't just donating money to charity, or he won't gain access to his trust fund at all! Unfortunately his father (and step-grandmother) have also already chosen what his good deed will be, a camp counselor at his Aunt's (yes his 12 year old aunt) summer camp. Initially Mikey thinks this won't be so bad, as he remembers his bougee summer camp experience. But when he and Annabelle arrive, he soon realizes this is not the camp he was expecting. He is also dubbed the special activities coordinator, which somehow spirals into a murder mystery movie, turned real murder investigation.
Mikey's character is just perfect! While he seems a bit snobbish with his yachting and constant partying, once we get to know him better, he really does have a great heart. Forced to work at this horrible summer camp, without his usual luxuries, Mikey is not sure he will last the summer. I can't blame him, the cabins sound dreadful, and getting only 15mins of shower time a day would be rough. Add in the fact that his counselor room mate is "an aggressively attractive straight man with the perfect amount of chest hair peeking through his bright red USC tank top? Literal abuse." Mikey does request the use of Cabin 1, which is unoccupied, but is told it is not available. This starts the path down figuring out why no one is allowed to use it. The kids, including Annabelle, that join the special activities group decide they want to try and solve this decades old mystery, and will shoot a true crime doc as their chosen activity. Unfortunately, the more investigating the kids do, the more this mystery seems like a true murder.
While Mikey struggles to navigate keeping the kids in line, learning he has a maybe not so straight room-mate, actually staying at this camp to earn his inheritance, deciding what he wants to do with his life once this is done, he also manages to tangle himself right in the middle of a possible murder cover up.
I love all the movie references that Mikey makes. Not only is he into movie making, but he of course loves all the greats, Mean Girls, Scream, Coyote Ugly, etc. He also makes a lot of hilarious comments, and his conversations with Raymond are the absolute best! Mikey also helps Annabelle really come out of her self-imposed isolation as he better gets to know her.
With every chapter shedding light on yet another piece to the puzzle that is Rose Churchill's disappearance, and Mikey's comedic personality, you won't be able to put this story down!!
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, the author, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Look like Mr. Clean and the old guy from Home Alone whisked their sperm together and turkey baster-ed it into Khloe Kardashian's surrogate, yes." "What's terrifying is that I'm pretty sure you actually think that's how surrogacy works.""
"How do normal people do this every day? Especially normal people with mild wine hangovers? It's like sensory overload on crack. The only thing more plentiful than the hordes of sweaty travelers is the jumbled collection of overhead letters and numbers that allegedly indicate where he and Annabelle are supposed to go catch their train."
"Annabelle squints toward the lodge's front entrance. "Where are all the people?" "Churning butter, I'd imagine. Or perhaps fashioning masks out of human skin?""
"Judy smiles. She's got remarkably white teeth for someone Mikey would've assumed doesn't have access to modern luxuries like toothpaste or a sink."
"Actually? Log cabin is far too generous a term. These are more like log sheds. Log shoeboxes."
"In grand summer camp tradition, nighttime ushers in a blur of bonfires, bug spray, and marshmallows."
""Think wacky and silly," he tries. "But in a smart way, because camp is never cheap. Camp is...well...trying to define camp is perhaps the least campy thing one can do in the first place. It's a sensibility that requires years or trauma, otherness, and rejection to develop.""
"And good God-the situation beneath Jackson's trunks is even better than Mikey's been imagining. He tries to resist the urge to stare, but f***. Screw the algae-Mikey would risk it all to explore every inch of this man's skin right now."
""I don't mean to laugh," Raymond says, laughing, "but leave it to you to go upstate for the summer and get embroiled in a homicide scandal.""
FMC Mikey, has just been hit with an ultimatum to receive his trust fund...he has to do something "good" that isn't just donating money to charity, or he won't gain access to his trust fund at all! Unfortunately his father (and step-grandmother) have also already chosen what his good deed will be, a camp counselor at his Aunt's (yes his 12 year old aunt) summer camp. Initially Mikey thinks this won't be so bad, as he remembers his bougee summer camp experience. But when he and Annabelle arrive, he soon realizes this is not the camp he was expecting. He is also dubbed the special activities coordinator, which somehow spirals into a murder mystery movie, turned real murder investigation.
Mikey's character is just perfect! While he seems a bit snobbish with his yachting and constant partying, once we get to know him better, he really does have a great heart. Forced to work at this horrible summer camp, without his usual luxuries, Mikey is not sure he will last the summer. I can't blame him, the cabins sound dreadful, and getting only 15mins of shower time a day would be rough. Add in the fact that his counselor room mate is "an aggressively attractive straight man with the perfect amount of chest hair peeking through his bright red USC tank top? Literal abuse." Mikey does request the use of Cabin 1, which is unoccupied, but is told it is not available. This starts the path down figuring out why no one is allowed to use it. The kids, including Annabelle, that join the special activities group decide they want to try and solve this decades old mystery, and will shoot a true crime doc as their chosen activity. Unfortunately, the more investigating the kids do, the more this mystery seems like a true murder.
While Mikey struggles to navigate keeping the kids in line, learning he has a maybe not so straight room-mate, actually staying at this camp to earn his inheritance, deciding what he wants to do with his life once this is done, he also manages to tangle himself right in the middle of a possible murder cover up.
I love all the movie references that Mikey makes. Not only is he into movie making, but he of course loves all the greats, Mean Girls, Scream, Coyote Ugly, etc. He also makes a lot of hilarious comments, and his conversations with Raymond are the absolute best! Mikey also helps Annabelle really come out of her self-imposed isolation as he better gets to know her.
With every chapter shedding light on yet another piece to the puzzle that is Rose Churchill's disappearance, and Mikey's comedic personality, you won't be able to put this story down!!
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, the author, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Look like Mr. Clean and the old guy from Home Alone whisked their sperm together and turkey baster-ed it into Khloe Kardashian's surrogate, yes." "What's terrifying is that I'm pretty sure you actually think that's how surrogacy works.""
"How do normal people do this every day? Especially normal people with mild wine hangovers? It's like sensory overload on crack. The only thing more plentiful than the hordes of sweaty travelers is the jumbled collection of overhead letters and numbers that allegedly indicate where he and Annabelle are supposed to go catch their train."
"Annabelle squints toward the lodge's front entrance. "Where are all the people?" "Churning butter, I'd imagine. Or perhaps fashioning masks out of human skin?""
"Judy smiles. She's got remarkably white teeth for someone Mikey would've assumed doesn't have access to modern luxuries like toothpaste or a sink."
"Actually? Log cabin is far too generous a term. These are more like log sheds. Log shoeboxes."
"In grand summer camp tradition, nighttime ushers in a blur of bonfires, bug spray, and marshmallows."
""Think wacky and silly," he tries. "But in a smart way, because camp is never cheap. Camp is...well...trying to define camp is perhaps the least campy thing one can do in the first place. It's a sensibility that requires years or trauma, otherness, and rejection to develop.""
"And good God-the situation beneath Jackson's trunks is even better than Mikey's been imagining. He tries to resist the urge to stare, but f***. Screw the algae-Mikey would risk it all to explore every inch of this man's skin right now."
""I don't mean to laugh," Raymond says, laughing, "but leave it to you to go upstate for the summer and get embroiled in a homicide scandal.""
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'“So you want me to go work at a summer ‘camp’ for trust fund babies?”'
This mood-booster of a book is what we all need. A nearly 30 year old 'giant gay disaster' (akin to David Rose from Schitt's Creek), and his tween aunt, spend a fateful summer sleuthing, forging relationships, and trying to stay alive. He's full of snark and pop-culture references, she's a lonely 12 year old obsessed with true crime. He's there to cement his inheritance, she wants to solve the cold case of a disappeared camper. This book is truly hilarious and I enthusiastically recommend!
'“I’m not going to be working-working with the children though, right? I presume there will be trained professionals on hand to feed and chaperone and talk to them and, like, ensure they don’t die and stuff?”'
A big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the privilege of reading this in advance of its April 2026 publication!
This mood-booster of a book is what we all need. A nearly 30 year old 'giant gay disaster' (akin to David Rose from Schitt's Creek), and his tween aunt, spend a fateful summer sleuthing, forging relationships, and trying to stay alive. He's full of snark and pop-culture references, she's a lonely 12 year old obsessed with true crime. He's there to cement his inheritance, she wants to solve the cold case of a disappeared camper. This book is truly hilarious and I enthusiastically recommend!
'“I’m not going to be working-working with the children though, right? I presume there will be trained professionals on hand to feed and chaperone and talk to them and, like, ensure they don’t die and stuff?”'
A big thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the privilege of reading this in advance of its April 2026 publication!
December 27, 2025
This was an enjoyable summer mystery. I loved the summer camp setting and following Mickey and the campers as they tried to solve the camp’s decade-old mystery. I initially wasn’t a huge fan of Mickey as a character, but I appreciated his character’s growth and liked him more as the story went on. I liked the overall mystery of what happened to Rose Churchill and found myself guessing alongside the characters. Overall this was a great read.
Read this if you like:
📖 Summer camp settings
📖 Great character growth
📖 Pop culture references
📖 LGBTQ rep
Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for the gifted arc.
Read this if you like:
📖 Summer camp settings
📖 Great character growth
📖 Pop culture references
📖 LGBTQ rep
Thank you to @poisonedpenpress for the gifted arc.
Want to read
February 16, 2026this sounds so fun! I can't wait to read it!!
ARC REC'D THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
ARC REC'D THANK YOU!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 22, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy of this book!
This was a fun, campy, murder mystery that was full of heart warming moments.
We find ourselves following Mikey-a member of a grocery store dynasty and a very out of touch rich young man. His father wants more from him after his mother’s death has left him without a purpose or direction. He changes the conditions to Mikey’s trust fund that he is weeks away from obtaining-to spend time doing actual good.
Mikey’s step grandmother, Sierra-a trophy wife not much older than Mikey himself has the perfect idea for Mikey to give back. She sets it up for him to work at the summer camp his 12 year old aunt (Annabelle) is attending in upstate New York.
Camp Lore is known for cozy cabins, a gorgeous lake, hikes and oh yeah the unsolved disappearance of one of its counselors (Rose). Mikey with his love of film and the arts is assigned to be the special activities director of what becomes known as the SAG kids. This group of misfits is tasked with creating a summer project for them all to do together. Annabelle and her new found friends decide finding out the truth of what happened to Rose will be their focus for their project. A true crime documentary is in the making! However, the camps secrets go deeper and become more dangerous than Mikey imagined. Will he do what it takes to get to the truth or protect his own interests to get to his trust fund?
I had a lot of fun reading this one! I enjoyed the found family aspects of the story between Annabelle and her fellow SAG friends. I also liked how Mikey and Annabelle finally found common ground and developed their on relationship. For me Mikey starts out as a character that you love to hate, but as his story progresses becomes a character you love to love! The dynamic between Mikey and Jackson is awkward, fun and gives all the feels. I loved how the author had different storylines within the story that did a great job all coming back together to create a well rounded campy mystery! I gave 4 stars because I was able to guess some of the twists. I’ll be interested to see what this author does next!
This was a fun, campy, murder mystery that was full of heart warming moments.
We find ourselves following Mikey-a member of a grocery store dynasty and a very out of touch rich young man. His father wants more from him after his mother’s death has left him without a purpose or direction. He changes the conditions to Mikey’s trust fund that he is weeks away from obtaining-to spend time doing actual good.
Mikey’s step grandmother, Sierra-a trophy wife not much older than Mikey himself has the perfect idea for Mikey to give back. She sets it up for him to work at the summer camp his 12 year old aunt (Annabelle) is attending in upstate New York.
Camp Lore is known for cozy cabins, a gorgeous lake, hikes and oh yeah the unsolved disappearance of one of its counselors (Rose). Mikey with his love of film and the arts is assigned to be the special activities director of what becomes known as the SAG kids. This group of misfits is tasked with creating a summer project for them all to do together. Annabelle and her new found friends decide finding out the truth of what happened to Rose will be their focus for their project. A true crime documentary is in the making! However, the camps secrets go deeper and become more dangerous than Mikey imagined. Will he do what it takes to get to the truth or protect his own interests to get to his trust fund?
I had a lot of fun reading this one! I enjoyed the found family aspects of the story between Annabelle and her fellow SAG friends. I also liked how Mikey and Annabelle finally found common ground and developed their on relationship. For me Mikey starts out as a character that you love to hate, but as his story progresses becomes a character you love to love! The dynamic between Mikey and Jackson is awkward, fun and gives all the feels. I loved how the author had different storylines within the story that did a great job all coming back together to create a well rounded campy mystery! I gave 4 stars because I was able to guess some of the twists. I’ll be interested to see what this author does next!
March 27, 2026
4.5/5
A Murder Most Camp is a mystery following a gay nepo baby forced to work at summer camp where he becomes involved in investigating an old murder. Almost 30-year-old Mikey has been living the high life, both basking in and ashamed of his family’s wealth. When he goes one step too far, his father decides to change the terms of his trust fund which was due to mature in few months. Now, he must prove he can do good and is subsequently volunteered as a staffer in Camp Lore, a summer camp for rich kids to help them not turn into the kind of man Mikey has become. Just as he decides to make the best of it, the preteen kids he is in charge of becomes obsessed with investigating the case of a missing camp counselor who disappeared from her cabin a decade ago.
I loved this book! It’s The Guncle set in those old school TV mysteries but in book form. It is unapologetically campy and a whole lot of fun to read. It is comfortably set in gay culture, and I enjoyed the bountiful pop culture references from that perspective. Mikey was just such a fun character to follow. He is quippy, smart, sarcastic, and completely relatable. He is down-to-earth in his own privileges way, and I enjoyed his perspective. The kids were great too, and their preteen snarky quips grounded and contrasted well with Mikey.
The mystery itself really carried through, and the book managed to balanced well the question of whether there was even a mystery to solve before going all in on it. It was twisty, but gave enough clues to let you figure some things out on your own. The ending was maybe a little over-the-top, but it was par for the course. And while there was a romance that I found to be really quick, I accept that since this isn’t a romance book and wasn’t really the focus.
A Murder Most Camp is an unapologetically queer and campy mystery with heart.
*Thank you Poison Pen Press for the eARC via NetGalley
A Murder Most Camp is a mystery following a gay nepo baby forced to work at summer camp where he becomes involved in investigating an old murder. Almost 30-year-old Mikey has been living the high life, both basking in and ashamed of his family’s wealth. When he goes one step too far, his father decides to change the terms of his trust fund which was due to mature in few months. Now, he must prove he can do good and is subsequently volunteered as a staffer in Camp Lore, a summer camp for rich kids to help them not turn into the kind of man Mikey has become. Just as he decides to make the best of it, the preteen kids he is in charge of becomes obsessed with investigating the case of a missing camp counselor who disappeared from her cabin a decade ago.
I loved this book! It’s The Guncle set in those old school TV mysteries but in book form. It is unapologetically campy and a whole lot of fun to read. It is comfortably set in gay culture, and I enjoyed the bountiful pop culture references from that perspective. Mikey was just such a fun character to follow. He is quippy, smart, sarcastic, and completely relatable. He is down-to-earth in his own privileges way, and I enjoyed his perspective. The kids were great too, and their preteen snarky quips grounded and contrasted well with Mikey.
The mystery itself really carried through, and the book managed to balanced well the question of whether there was even a mystery to solve before going all in on it. It was twisty, but gave enough clues to let you figure some things out on your own. The ending was maybe a little over-the-top, but it was par for the course. And while there was a romance that I found to be really quick, I accept that since this isn’t a romance book and wasn’t really the focus.
A Murder Most Camp is an unapologetically queer and campy mystery with heart.
*Thank you Poison Pen Press for the eARC via NetGalley
March 30, 2026
If David Rose went to summer camp and solved a murder, it would be this book!
I had so much fun with A Murder Most Camp. It’s the perfect blend of chaotic rich-kid energy, summer camp nostalgia, and twisty mystery. Watching Mikey get thrown into camp life with kids who absolutely run circles around him is equal parts hilarious and oddly heartfelt. The setting is peak summer vibes, and the mystery itself kept me hooked the entire time. It balances humor and suspense really well, so you’re laughing one minute and trying to piece everything together the next. If you love campy (literally) mysteries with personality, this one is a must-read.
I had so much fun with A Murder Most Camp. It’s the perfect blend of chaotic rich-kid energy, summer camp nostalgia, and twisty mystery. Watching Mikey get thrown into camp life with kids who absolutely run circles around him is equal parts hilarious and oddly heartfelt. The setting is peak summer vibes, and the mystery itself kept me hooked the entire time. It balances humor and suspense really well, so you’re laughing one minute and trying to piece everything together the next. If you love campy (literally) mysteries with personality, this one is a must-read.
Read
March 6, 2026A father’s ultimatum to his spoiled trust-fund-baby son leads to a cold case murder mystery, romance and antics in the wilds of summer camp. Nicolas DiDomizio is not an unfamiliar name for me and I’ve been meaning to try his books, but the promise of a rustic summer camp setting made A Murder Most Camp the must-read moment for me.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 4.23.26.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About on 4.23.26.
March 10, 2026
A great mystery set at a camp where the truth about a long ago event at the camp is uncovered. While the main character is a bit unlikable at first, you become invested in the story and the answer to the main mystery is not what you expect, but makes sense, which is always what I feel mysteries should aim for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, that was almost exactly what I was expecting. And it worked like a charm. I only have some minor complaints, the rest was just so entertaining and I can’t really pinpoint any actual plot problems this book had.
We’re following Mikey, a 29 year old rich guy whose trust fund is being temporarily frozen by his father after his umpteenth careless use of his (family’s) money. And to have access to it again he has three months to come to his senses, be a responsible adult and do something meaningful with his life. In comes Camp Lore, a summer camp for young kids he’s being forced to go and be staff in. Him and his 12 year old aunt, that is, she’ll be attending too. Annabelle is Mikey’s grandfather’s daughter with his new wife that’s in her thirties, Sienna. At the camp, the kids start telling scary stories about Cabin 1 and a girl going missing. Which is just a thing of the past, or so you’d think. As Mikey and the kids start unearthing more and more on the case, things get dangerous. The past might come back to haunt the camp.
Safe to say I loved this book. I’ve always wanted to read one of DiDomizio’s books. They’re not exactly the genre I normally gravitate towards but the wish was there. Which is why when I saw he came up with a mystery book — which is more my thing — with the same flare he (supposedly) puts in this books, I knew I had to pick it up.
I will say, there are mystery elements scattered throughout the entire book. We learn about the girl going missing early on. But the actual mystery, like the part when the book actually focused on the mystery, was only at the very end. And I don’t mean the mystery being unraveled, just the mystery being the main focus. There is a romance in this, that you of course have to doubt until the very end, because this is a mystery book. But I thought it was so sweet. He was the first guy who actually cared about Mikey and I loved to see that.
Mikey himself is, well, not very relatable in the money department. He’s a spoiled nepo baby, and not all of us grow up on yachts. But he is also your regular guy. He’s gay and a film buff. Which might as well be the title of the book, based on how many film references there were in here. Pop culture references, you name it, they were all there. Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well”, 10 minute version was mentioned. It took a while to get used to I’ll be honest. Through the first half all of that was genuinely killing me. I’m generally not a fan of real world references in books. That’s kind of all that bothered me. Back to Mikey, I loved that scene where Jackson asked him about his favorite movie and when Mikey wanted to cut it short because he thought he didn’t want to hear about it, Jackson sort of just went, go on. Beautiful. And all the talk about Mikey’s mother, and grief masked in sarcasm. It was needed to understand Mikey a bit better.
Now, the mystery itself. I thought I was so smart reading this until I realized I was wrong about it all. I had one or maybe two theories, both wrong. I did figure out who the actual killer was about, I don’t know, maybe two lines before their name was said? Nice save, I know. I felt pretty proud of that. But the fun is in the following along, you don’t have to have it all figured out for it to be a fun time and that it definitely was. I read it pretty quickly and I only regret that I don’t have more of it to read now!
Overall, had fun, it was a quick and easy read. It’s definitely in the 4 star camp, maybe a 4.25/5⭐️ very solid first read from this author. And it won’t be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We’re following Mikey, a 29 year old rich guy whose trust fund is being temporarily frozen by his father after his umpteenth careless use of his (family’s) money. And to have access to it again he has three months to come to his senses, be a responsible adult and do something meaningful with his life. In comes Camp Lore, a summer camp for young kids he’s being forced to go and be staff in. Him and his 12 year old aunt, that is, she’ll be attending too. Annabelle is Mikey’s grandfather’s daughter with his new wife that’s in her thirties, Sienna. At the camp, the kids start telling scary stories about Cabin 1 and a girl going missing. Which is just a thing of the past, or so you’d think. As Mikey and the kids start unearthing more and more on the case, things get dangerous. The past might come back to haunt the camp.
Safe to say I loved this book. I’ve always wanted to read one of DiDomizio’s books. They’re not exactly the genre I normally gravitate towards but the wish was there. Which is why when I saw he came up with a mystery book — which is more my thing — with the same flare he (supposedly) puts in this books, I knew I had to pick it up.
I will say, there are mystery elements scattered throughout the entire book. We learn about the girl going missing early on. But the actual mystery, like the part when the book actually focused on the mystery, was only at the very end. And I don’t mean the mystery being unraveled, just the mystery being the main focus. There is a romance in this, that you of course have to doubt until the very end, because this is a mystery book. But I thought it was so sweet. He was the first guy who actually cared about Mikey and I loved to see that.
Mikey himself is, well, not very relatable in the money department. He’s a spoiled nepo baby, and not all of us grow up on yachts. But he is also your regular guy. He’s gay and a film buff. Which might as well be the title of the book, based on how many film references there were in here. Pop culture references, you name it, they were all there. Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well”, 10 minute version was mentioned. It took a while to get used to I’ll be honest. Through the first half all of that was genuinely killing me. I’m generally not a fan of real world references in books. That’s kind of all that bothered me. Back to Mikey, I loved that scene where Jackson asked him about his favorite movie and when Mikey wanted to cut it short because he thought he didn’t want to hear about it, Jackson sort of just went, go on. Beautiful. And all the talk about Mikey’s mother, and grief masked in sarcasm. It was needed to understand Mikey a bit better.
Now, the mystery itself. I thought I was so smart reading this until I realized I was wrong about it all. I had one or maybe two theories, both wrong. I did figure out who the actual killer was about, I don’t know, maybe two lines before their name was said? Nice save, I know. I felt pretty proud of that. But the fun is in the following along, you don’t have to have it all figured out for it to be a fun time and that it definitely was. I read it pretty quickly and I only regret that I don’t have more of it to read now!
Overall, had fun, it was a quick and easy read. It’s definitely in the 4 star camp, maybe a 4.25/5⭐️ very solid first read from this author. And it won’t be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Advance copy received from Netgalley in exchange for a review
★★★★☆
David Rose takes on Scooby Doo is the level of Camp that is served in this mystery. If you are interested in this queer novel, then I am going to assume that you are familiar with David Rose from Schitt’s Creek. The man who is so out of touch with reality and is forced to move a small town when his family’s wealth is seized and they must make do, yeah, that is the main character of A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio
This mystery follows a 29-year-old Mikey Hartford, a nepo baby that has not worked a day in his life. Though he is aware of his faults of being a toxic rich gay man, that does not stop him from pulling the “do you know who my father is” card within the first 100 pages of the novel. To spark something within his son, Michael Hartford III decides to make a new rule to his son’s inheritance where he is cut off until his 30th birthday and must find something that helps society. Enter Camp Lore, a camp designed for the children of rich families to get outside, touch grass, and find a little normalcy. Mikey is offered a position there by his grandmother, who is only a few years older than him, and becomes the Special Activities Coordinator. As he works with his group of kids, they stumble onto the cold case of Rose, a former counselor gone missing.
Let’s get into it:
Mikey is UNSUFFERABLE in the best campy iconic way. He is constantly spouting off random 90s references and is deemed Lorelai Gilmore as he does it. Which is iconic to me, because I love someone who can be witty, as it is something that I do constantly. Mikey might be out of touch with reality, but the author does not make it that painful for us, sprinkling moments of authenticity from the beginning. There are a few moments where I will bang my head against the wall as he complains about his fancy shoes getting muddy or not being able to handle a sloppy joe but then will follow up with being like the best “uncle” to his own preteen aunt or sweet with Jackson.
Jackson is the handsome eye candy that is the forced proximity love interest of our main character. Do not worry, the spice level is one pepper, with a fade to black scene. Do not get me wrong I do love a sexy med student and a gay romance in my books, but it was a little odd to have a romance bloom in a mystery. However, if you look at the 90s sources and references made within the pages it makes sense. Overall, Jackson is like Jackson to Sookie or Patrick to David to our sweet Mikey and I was not against it.
The pacing was decent and the mystery was interesting. I could envision this easily as a movie or limited series that would do well. The scenes are quick and it was hard to put down once the plot got moving and I was anticipating who did the crime. I think this is the perfect type of mystery for someone who loves comedy and something that does not get too dark or intense. I would certainly recommend this for my friends and see if they can figure out the ending before I did, however I did take a wild guess early on, that might or may not have been right.
This book will murder you with its quick wit, heartfelt scenes, iconic references, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.
Lastly, I have an idea for the sequel Mr. DiDomizio, so please reach out to me if you want it.
★★★★☆
David Rose takes on Scooby Doo is the level of Camp that is served in this mystery. If you are interested in this queer novel, then I am going to assume that you are familiar with David Rose from Schitt’s Creek. The man who is so out of touch with reality and is forced to move a small town when his family’s wealth is seized and they must make do, yeah, that is the main character of A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio
This mystery follows a 29-year-old Mikey Hartford, a nepo baby that has not worked a day in his life. Though he is aware of his faults of being a toxic rich gay man, that does not stop him from pulling the “do you know who my father is” card within the first 100 pages of the novel. To spark something within his son, Michael Hartford III decides to make a new rule to his son’s inheritance where he is cut off until his 30th birthday and must find something that helps society. Enter Camp Lore, a camp designed for the children of rich families to get outside, touch grass, and find a little normalcy. Mikey is offered a position there by his grandmother, who is only a few years older than him, and becomes the Special Activities Coordinator. As he works with his group of kids, they stumble onto the cold case of Rose, a former counselor gone missing.
Let’s get into it:
Mikey is UNSUFFERABLE in the best campy iconic way. He is constantly spouting off random 90s references and is deemed Lorelai Gilmore as he does it. Which is iconic to me, because I love someone who can be witty, as it is something that I do constantly. Mikey might be out of touch with reality, but the author does not make it that painful for us, sprinkling moments of authenticity from the beginning. There are a few moments where I will bang my head against the wall as he complains about his fancy shoes getting muddy or not being able to handle a sloppy joe but then will follow up with being like the best “uncle” to his own preteen aunt or sweet with Jackson.
Jackson is the handsome eye candy that is the forced proximity love interest of our main character. Do not worry, the spice level is one pepper, with a fade to black scene. Do not get me wrong I do love a sexy med student and a gay romance in my books, but it was a little odd to have a romance bloom in a mystery. However, if you look at the 90s sources and references made within the pages it makes sense. Overall, Jackson is like Jackson to Sookie or Patrick to David to our sweet Mikey and I was not against it.
The pacing was decent and the mystery was interesting. I could envision this easily as a movie or limited series that would do well. The scenes are quick and it was hard to put down once the plot got moving and I was anticipating who did the crime. I think this is the perfect type of mystery for someone who loves comedy and something that does not get too dark or intense. I would certainly recommend this for my friends and see if they can figure out the ending before I did, however I did take a wild guess early on, that might or may not have been right.
This book will murder you with its quick wit, heartfelt scenes, iconic references, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.
Lastly, I have an idea for the sequel Mr. DiDomizio, so please reach out to me if you want it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nicolas DiDomizio's A Murder Most Camp is pretty much exactly as the title promises: a murder mystery that embraces humor, nostalgia (especially queer nostalgia), and flair without losing emotional sincerity. Beneath the jokes and pop culture references is a story beyond the mystery, about identity, privilege, and becoming a true adult.
The novel follows Mikey, a wealthy, openly gay man sent to a summer camp not out of nostalgia but necessity. His attendance is required if he hopes to retain a sizable inheritance tied to his family’s fortune as descendants of the county’s second-largest grocery chain. The premise immediately establishes both the book’s comedic tone and its central tension. Mikey arrives resistant, entitled, and more concerned with inconvenience than self-reflection — yet DiDomizio quickly reveals a character more thoughtful than first impressions suggest. Mikey’s narration balances sharp humor with moments of genuine insight, allowing him to evolve without ever feeling artificially redeemed.
The cold case at the center of the novel unfolds through discovered diary entries and lingering camp legends, but Murder Most Camp is less interested in shocking twists than it is in the psychology of suspicion. The novel plays fair, offering attentive readers enough clues to anticipate the solution before its official reveal. Rather than diminishing suspense, this approach creates a satisfying sense of participation. The book’s tone is distinctive. Despite frank discussions of sexuality and desire, the emotional rhythm occasionally recalls a coming-of-age story, an unusual but effective fit for the mystery genre. DiDomizio allows humor, vulnerability, and romance to coexist with darker revelations, giving the novel a lightness that never fully abandons core emotional stakes beyond the central mystery.
If the story stumbles slightly, it is in its closing moments. Much of the narrative pushes Mikey toward humility and a broader understanding of others, making the final image — a glamorous reunion involving private-plane travel — feel somewhat at odds with the personal growth carefully built throughout the novel. The ending doesn’t undo that development, but it complicates it.
Still, Murder Most Camp succeeds where it matters most. DiDomizio delivers a mystery that is funny, engaging, and emotionally perceptive, providing us all a reminder that even stories built on camp can arrive at something sincere.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this in advance of its April 2026 publication.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Murder Most Camp by Nicholas DiDomizio, Michael Stewart Hartford hails from a family that made their fortune on Walmart type stores in his dad Michael Hartford the third is not happy. It seems Michael Mickey Hartford the fourth bought his best friend a $5 million brownstone and Mickey‘s dad believes he has to do something before it’s too late. This is how he learns there is an amendment put into his trust fund that before he turns 30 in four months he has to do something that benefits others and his step grandmother who he went to high school with has a perfect idea. He’s to work at a summer camp on George Lake in New York and he has to bring his 12 year old aunt with him. he tries to put his best foot forward but Annabelle his aunt refuses to engage with him she’s more intent on reading gone girl and listening to her headphones. As if things couldn’t get worse they soon arrive at Camp Lore and it isn’t anything like the surfing club in the Hamptons that he went to. After trying to get out of it or at the very least get his own cabin and this includes the empty cabin one that has a macobb mystery attached to it. his new boss Judy Weathers tells him his roommate is going to be a medical student from California named Jackson and he’s going to be the lifeguard while Michael will be activity director for the campers that don’t want to play tennis swim all day or hike in the forest. When Michael was younger he was obsessed with film and even went to LA to try and make it big as a independent director feeling like he was laughed out of California he then came home and became the Micky we meet. This is why he decides to get the kids to make a movie previously learning that cabin one was where a Syracuse student named Rose Churchill went missing they beg him to investigate the mystery something he is at first opposed to but soon they’ll all be obsessed with the case and risk everything to solve it. While all this is going on his love hate relationship with his roommate Jackson soon just becomes love but when he betrays him in the worst way he may not only lose his inheritance but Jackson as well and compared to Jackson he doesn’t even care about the inheritance. I loved love love this book so much it was so much fun I love Michael’s growth immaturity sorta and his relationship with Raymond, Annabelle not to mention with Jackson even when they would quarel which was mainly Michael because Jackson just seemed entertained by him most of the book I loved it I recommend this to anyone who wants a fun feel good happy ending story I just loved it. I love when books are written about camp adventures that don’t turn out the way they’re supposed to I just love this book read it read it read it so good! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Murder Most Camp, by Nicolas DiDomizio, from Poisoned Pen Press/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.
⭐ 3.5 ⭐
Oh what fun!
Smart, witty, laugh-out-loud funny in parts. Perfect for reading outside in the pretty winter sunshine—would be even better if you’re able to get yourself to a warm ocean locale and enjoy it with a frozen adult beverage in hand.
“Whodunit” was painfully obvious to me, but that’s probably because I’ve read a jillion or so of these type books.
Definitely appreciated that the author took the less-is-more approach when it came to the romance (y’all know what a prude I am).
Look forward to reading more by Nicolas DiDomizio.
DESCRIPTION
The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.
Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.
Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party's finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn't involve throwing cash at his problems—he'll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)
Enter: Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can "do good" alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn't sure he'll be able to survive the camp's ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won't leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey's chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there's a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.
Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough "good" for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it.
Received a complimentary copy of Murder Most Camp, by Nicolas DiDomizio, from Poisoned Pen Press/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.
⭐ 3.5 ⭐
Oh what fun!
Smart, witty, laugh-out-loud funny in parts. Perfect for reading outside in the pretty winter sunshine—would be even better if you’re able to get yourself to a warm ocean locale and enjoy it with a frozen adult beverage in hand.
“Whodunit” was painfully obvious to me, but that’s probably because I’ve read a jillion or so of these type books.
Definitely appreciated that the author took the less-is-more approach when it came to the romance (y’all know what a prude I am).
Look forward to reading more by Nicolas DiDomizio.
DESCRIPTION
The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.
Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.
Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party's finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn't involve throwing cash at his problems—he'll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)
Enter: Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can "do good" alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn't sure he'll be able to survive the camp's ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won't leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey's chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there's a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.
Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough "good" for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mikey Hartford IV, quintessential retail-store-nepo-baby-degenerate-playboy, is about to get "The Simple Life with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie" treatment, and the stakes could not be any higher. After his most recent million-dollar impulse buy (how else is he supposed to keep his will-they-won't-they romantic interest, well interested?), his father has finally had it with his antic and issues an ultimatum: make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday WITHOUT simply throwing money at the problem, or lose permanent access to his trust fund and his AmEx Black card.
And speaking of being stuck up a creek without a paddle, his "do good or else" assignment will be spending the summer at Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer while keeping an eye on his 12-year-old aunt (talk about family drama) without the benefits of regular Wifi, central A/C, or catered meals. A lack of amenities may become the least of Mikey's problems, however, after his assigned preteen campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds in the way only murder-podcast-obsessed kids can. But as Mikey discovers, there's an actual murder hidden at Camp Lore, and if he doesn't get to the bottom of it - and soon - he may become the podcast world's next unsolved true crime obsession. School's out, and camp is in session!
Everyone loves a story where a rich kid gets their just desserts - s'mores, in this case - and this was a fun and thrilling misadventure in true crime and being forced to confront your actual feelings, peppered with catty language and classic movie references that feel like eating a hot dog on the Fourth of July while also sipping a $30 Erewhon smoothie. While first feeling like a corny, fun take on a nepo baby summer "camp" story I was surprised by how drawn in I was to the mystery of the story, and the surprisingly heart-pulling story of the loneliness of a kid who has it all, but also has nothing while struggling to find a safe place to land in the world. This is exactly the kind of book you should read on the lake this summer - whether your lake is a ritzy pool in a hotel or a true cabin-in-the-woods away from the world - and will definitely make you want to pick up a summer-themes slasher to go with it afterwards.
And speaking of being stuck up a creek without a paddle, his "do good or else" assignment will be spending the summer at Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer while keeping an eye on his 12-year-old aunt (talk about family drama) without the benefits of regular Wifi, central A/C, or catered meals. A lack of amenities may become the least of Mikey's problems, however, after his assigned preteen campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds in the way only murder-podcast-obsessed kids can. But as Mikey discovers, there's an actual murder hidden at Camp Lore, and if he doesn't get to the bottom of it - and soon - he may become the podcast world's next unsolved true crime obsession. School's out, and camp is in session!
Everyone loves a story where a rich kid gets their just desserts - s'mores, in this case - and this was a fun and thrilling misadventure in true crime and being forced to confront your actual feelings, peppered with catty language and classic movie references that feel like eating a hot dog on the Fourth of July while also sipping a $30 Erewhon smoothie. While first feeling like a corny, fun take on a nepo baby summer "camp" story I was surprised by how drawn in I was to the mystery of the story, and the surprisingly heart-pulling story of the loneliness of a kid who has it all, but also has nothing while struggling to find a safe place to land in the world. This is exactly the kind of book you should read on the lake this summer - whether your lake is a ritzy pool in a hotel or a true cabin-in-the-woods away from the world - and will definitely make you want to pick up a summer-themes slasher to go with it afterwards.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio was just what I needed to read. I went into this book blind, and I’m glad I did. It’s an utter delight! Our MMC Mikey was the most entitled man-child I’ve read about in a while. In the first chapter or two, I was questioning where the book was going, but I didn’t have to wonder for very long. In order to receive the rest of his inheritance, Mikey was given the task of spending the summer as a camp counselor to “do some good in the world.” Also going to the camp is his aunt, teenage Annabelle, his grandfather's daughter. Annabelle doesn’t have many friends at school, and her mom is hoping camp will be a good experience for her. Her mother, Sierra, went to high school with Mikey, but is now married to Mikey’s grandfather. It’s a complicated family situation. The two decide that Annabelle will call him her uncle at camp to avoid any weirdness.
Mikey’s growth was beautiful to watch. What begins with Mikey complaining about every little inconvenience gradually blossoms into him accepting his situation and genuinely enjoying his time at the camp. He was made the Special Activities Coordinator by Judy, the camp’s owner/operator. At first, he struggles with this title, but he quickly adjusts and, with the children he is assigned, develops a plan to investigate and make a documentary about the vacant Cabin One. There are rumors of a murder happening there, but Judy makes it clear that he is not to investigate it. And so he and the children ignore her words. The result is the best kind of chaos.
I loved all the 90’s references and the quick, snappy banter between the characters. I especially enjoyed it when Jackson arrived, as a different kind of tension began to develop in the book. Jackson doing crossword puzzles every night was a nice touch. It was moving when Mikey felt safe enough to let his walls down around Jackson. When Jackson said Mikey “didn’t have to pretend he didn’t care about the worst thing that’s ever happened to him,” I just melted. Also, it made me so happy to see Mikey and Annabelle genuinely bond over the summer.
I really can’t say enough positive things about this book. When I had to put it down to do other things, I was always itching to get back to it. The murder-mystery plot was great; it was interesting, and there were plenty of red-herring moments. The familial drama was there. The romance element was unexpected, but played in nicely. It just all worked together seamlessly. Kudos to the author for writing an excellent, entertaining book with all the heart in the world. I loved it, and I’m giving it five stars!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Mikey’s growth was beautiful to watch. What begins with Mikey complaining about every little inconvenience gradually blossoms into him accepting his situation and genuinely enjoying his time at the camp. He was made the Special Activities Coordinator by Judy, the camp’s owner/operator. At first, he struggles with this title, but he quickly adjusts and, with the children he is assigned, develops a plan to investigate and make a documentary about the vacant Cabin One. There are rumors of a murder happening there, but Judy makes it clear that he is not to investigate it. And so he and the children ignore her words. The result is the best kind of chaos.
I loved all the 90’s references and the quick, snappy banter between the characters. I especially enjoyed it when Jackson arrived, as a different kind of tension began to develop in the book. Jackson doing crossword puzzles every night was a nice touch. It was moving when Mikey felt safe enough to let his walls down around Jackson. When Jackson said Mikey “didn’t have to pretend he didn’t care about the worst thing that’s ever happened to him,” I just melted. Also, it made me so happy to see Mikey and Annabelle genuinely bond over the summer.
I really can’t say enough positive things about this book. When I had to put it down to do other things, I was always itching to get back to it. The murder-mystery plot was great; it was interesting, and there were plenty of red-herring moments. The familial drama was there. The romance element was unexpected, but played in nicely. It just all worked together seamlessly. Kudos to the author for writing an excellent, entertaining book with all the heart in the world. I loved it, and I’m giving it five stars!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I absolutely loved this! Mikey Hartford spends his days living the lavish life full of yachts and foreign locations. He’s counting down the days till his 30th birthday and which he’ll get full access to his trust fund and no longer have to have his purchases monitored. That is until his father changes the terms of his trust, now in order to get it Mikey must do good by his 30th birthday or he’ll have to wait till after his father passes. But how is that even possible? Lucky for him, his step-grandmother, who’s only a few years older than him, has it all figured out. He’ll be a counselor at a summer camp, the same summer camp that his 12 year old aunt is attending. Mikey is horrified at the ramshackle like conditions of the camp and its buildings not to mention its food and total like of cell service or WiFi. He can’t possibly stay here for three months can he? But then the group of kids he’s in charge of, that includes his aunt, tells of a missing counselor, one who disappeared without a trace 13 years ago. They’re determined to solve her disappearance and this could be just the thing Mikey needs to get his life back on track, after all solving a missing persons case has to be “doing good” right? Their only problem is no one seems to want to dredge up the past, not the camp director, the locals, or the hot camp lifeguard who also happens to be his roommate. It seems many people have something to hide and someone really doesn’t want Mikey and his kids looking into the disappearance. Could they figure out what happens? Or will they be the next ones to disappear? A fun twisty queer mystery that is full of camp, grief, humor, thrills, some romance, and plenty of heartfelt moments between Mikey and the kids, especially his aunt! Mikey is a somewhat selfish rich out of touch character that is still incredibly likable (if you’ve seen Schitt’s Creek he’s a total David Rose!) Mikey’s growth and rediscovering himself was every bit as exciting as the mystery! Nicolas DiDomizio writes a fun mystery that I completely consumed!
February 5, 2026
Another hit from one of my favorite genres: murder mystery + romance! Extra points for being so fun that I pretty much read it in one sitting.
Mikey, the spoiled trust fund baby nearing his 30th birthday, is given an ultimatum by his father: get it together or get cut off. He is allowed to prove his mettle by working at a rugged summer camp for tweens for one summer, proving that he has what it takes to do more with his life than spend it on a yacht.
Weirdly enough, Mikey is a likeable character. Yes, he is spoiled. He does things that would make me want to punch him in real life, but he also knows that what he is doing/saying is wrong and wants to do better. He’s sometimes rude but it’s because he puts up a facade since he’s afraid of being vulnerable. He is also quite funny, which goes a long way towards creating a character you want to root for.
Overall through, the most surprising and heartwarming aspect of the story was the relationships Mikey built with his special activities campers, especially his 12-year old aunt. For a book that leans more in the campy/funny direction, there were a lot of sweet and moving conversations about being different, about making friends, and being true to yourself.
I don’t want to say much about the mystery elements because it’s tough to without spoilers—there were some good twists that I don’t want to give away!
Overall, all I really wanted more from was the romance. The focus of the book is more on the mystery, and it’s relatively short, which didn’t leave as much time to watch Mikey and Jackson create a deep and intimate romance. Realistically this makes sense considering the book takes place over just one summer, but I usually prefer my romances to have just a bit more oomph. I definitely think the book could have been longer (I would have read another 100 pages of it!) but in the end I was satisfied how everything wrapped up. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.25/5
Mikey, the spoiled trust fund baby nearing his 30th birthday, is given an ultimatum by his father: get it together or get cut off. He is allowed to prove his mettle by working at a rugged summer camp for tweens for one summer, proving that he has what it takes to do more with his life than spend it on a yacht.
Weirdly enough, Mikey is a likeable character. Yes, he is spoiled. He does things that would make me want to punch him in real life, but he also knows that what he is doing/saying is wrong and wants to do better. He’s sometimes rude but it’s because he puts up a facade since he’s afraid of being vulnerable. He is also quite funny, which goes a long way towards creating a character you want to root for.
Overall through, the most surprising and heartwarming aspect of the story was the relationships Mikey built with his special activities campers, especially his 12-year old aunt. For a book that leans more in the campy/funny direction, there were a lot of sweet and moving conversations about being different, about making friends, and being true to yourself.
I don’t want to say much about the mystery elements because it’s tough to without spoilers—there were some good twists that I don’t want to give away!
Overall, all I really wanted more from was the romance. The focus of the book is more on the mystery, and it’s relatively short, which didn’t leave as much time to watch Mikey and Jackson create a deep and intimate romance. Realistically this makes sense considering the book takes place over just one summer, but I usually prefer my romances to have just a bit more oomph. I definitely think the book could have been longer (I would have read another 100 pages of it!) but in the end I was satisfied how everything wrapped up. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!
4.25/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Campy, Delightful Chaos & Murder
DiDomizio absolutely delivered the witty chaos I was hoping for in A Murder Most Camp. Nicola DiDomizio returns with another book that is as delightful as it is heartwarming and suspenseful. The book leans hard into its camp (pun fully intended), serving pop‑culture quips, self‑aware humor, and a delightfully exaggerated sense of melodrama that feels like Clueless meets a lakeside cold case. Watching Mikey Hartford IV trudge into Camp Lore as a pampered, yacht‑polished nepo baby who thinks “rustic” is a personal attack is comedy gold. He’s supposed to be deeply unlikable at the start, and honestly, he succeeds. This speaks to the writing skill of DiDomizio because Mikey is HARD TO LOVE when this story starts. But as the story rolls on and the layers peel back, you find yourself evolving with him. He’s still dramatic, still ridiculous, but there’s a sweetness in his core that sneaks up on you. By the time he’s bonding with Annabelle and bumbling through actual detective work, you kind of can’t help rooting for him.
And don’t even get me started on the twists. This book may be light and silly on the surface, but the murder mystery will consume readers as they progress in this story. There are dead ends, red herrings, leads, and evidence around every corner. There is some shady camp history, and all of it builds towards a reveal that had my jaw on the floor. DiDomizio juggles suspects and clues so deftly that by the time you reach that final reveal, you’re yelling, “Wait, WHAT?” at the page like you just saw everything happen in real time. It’s fun, it’s twisty, it’s wildly entertaining, and the ending is one nobody is ever going to predict. A perfect pick for when you want a mystery that’s as sharp and surprising as it is gloriously over‑the‑top. OH, and if you wanted some romantic charm, there just might be some of that for readers in this story too and it SWEETENS the story in all the best ways!
DiDomizio absolutely delivered the witty chaos I was hoping for in A Murder Most Camp. Nicola DiDomizio returns with another book that is as delightful as it is heartwarming and suspenseful. The book leans hard into its camp (pun fully intended), serving pop‑culture quips, self‑aware humor, and a delightfully exaggerated sense of melodrama that feels like Clueless meets a lakeside cold case. Watching Mikey Hartford IV trudge into Camp Lore as a pampered, yacht‑polished nepo baby who thinks “rustic” is a personal attack is comedy gold. He’s supposed to be deeply unlikable at the start, and honestly, he succeeds. This speaks to the writing skill of DiDomizio because Mikey is HARD TO LOVE when this story starts. But as the story rolls on and the layers peel back, you find yourself evolving with him. He’s still dramatic, still ridiculous, but there’s a sweetness in his core that sneaks up on you. By the time he’s bonding with Annabelle and bumbling through actual detective work, you kind of can’t help rooting for him.
And don’t even get me started on the twists. This book may be light and silly on the surface, but the murder mystery will consume readers as they progress in this story. There are dead ends, red herrings, leads, and evidence around every corner. There is some shady camp history, and all of it builds towards a reveal that had my jaw on the floor. DiDomizio juggles suspects and clues so deftly that by the time you reach that final reveal, you’re yelling, “Wait, WHAT?” at the page like you just saw everything happen in real time. It’s fun, it’s twisty, it’s wildly entertaining, and the ending is one nobody is ever going to predict. A perfect pick for when you want a mystery that’s as sharp and surprising as it is gloriously over‑the‑top. OH, and if you wanted some romantic charm, there just might be some of that for readers in this story too and it SWEETENS the story in all the best ways!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested and received an eARC of
A Murder Most Camp
by Nicholas DiDomizio via NetGalley. Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a blur of partying, men, and privilege. An extravagant purchase and a lifelong aversion to responsibility, however, prompt his father to change the terms of his trust. Now, Mikey must make a positive contribution to society before his 30th birthday or he won't see a dime from his trust. Backed into a corner, Mikey is forced to work at Camp Lore, a summer camp for wealthy youngsters to have a "normal" experience. When Mikey and the gaggle of preteens he's in charge of unearth clues in the disappearance of a former camper, their experience quickly becomes anything but normal.
A Murder Most Camp was the perfect reading escape for me. DiDomizio has such a gift with telling stories that pack in the humor and heart! Mikey is such a great protagonist. He immediately comes across as very spoiled, so it’s nice to see him humbled with the prospect of Camp Lore, but he’s also tremendously likeable. His one-liners definitely earned a few genuine laughs for me. He also comes across as a very believable character, with space to grow, which makes his character act particularly satisfying. And I really enjoyed watching the development of his dynamic with his step-aunt, Annabelle!
The mystery element of this book was super fun. I love a good camp murder! There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me invested in the story, with just the right level of tension which was rounded out with great pacing. I was anxious to get to the end to see if my suspicions surrounding the disappearance were correct, but I was equally eager to spend as much time with Mikey and his crew of campers as well. The combination of comedy, mystery, and romance made A Murder Most Camp an instant favorite. DiDomizio doesn’t disappoint!
A Murder Most Camp was the perfect reading escape for me. DiDomizio has such a gift with telling stories that pack in the humor and heart! Mikey is such a great protagonist. He immediately comes across as very spoiled, so it’s nice to see him humbled with the prospect of Camp Lore, but he’s also tremendously likeable. His one-liners definitely earned a few genuine laughs for me. He also comes across as a very believable character, with space to grow, which makes his character act particularly satisfying. And I really enjoyed watching the development of his dynamic with his step-aunt, Annabelle!
The mystery element of this book was super fun. I love a good camp murder! There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me invested in the story, with just the right level of tension which was rounded out with great pacing. I was anxious to get to the end to see if my suspicions surrounding the disappearance were correct, but I was equally eager to spend as much time with Mikey and his crew of campers as well. The combination of comedy, mystery, and romance made A Murder Most Camp an instant favorite. DiDomizio doesn’t disappoint!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 🌟 (rounded to 4)
Oh, I am always here for a nepo baby learning to be a person - make it gay and funny and a murder mystery? Perfect, let's go.
In "A Murder Most Camp", Michael Hartford gets his life turned upside down when his inheritance gets put in jeopardy due to his reckless and jet-setting life. The solution? Spend a summer trying to do good at a family-friends summer camp. In nature, with less-than-5-star accommodations, he finds himself out of his depth with a gaggle of preteens...and introduced to the unsolved disappearance of a camp counselor 13 years ago.
Genuinely, this book was a lot of fun. Mikey is the right amount of insufferable and charismatic and sad in the beginning to make him an engaging POV character, without losing the depth he gets as the story goes. The kids are funny (may their murder-chatgpt-app stay fictional please) and the dynamic between him and Annbelle was my favorite in the whole story, though there's romance subplot was cute too.
The mystery is engaging, though if you're looking for something that will have you at a loss when the twists comes up, this might not be for you? The mystery can be a little predictable, even while it keeps the unraveling fun. It's not made lesser for it, in my opinion, but I never really care for the shock over a twist if the rest of the story is fun and entertaining, which this was. But if you DO care about guessing until the end and being left shocked and excited by that, this might not be for you. Otherwise, if you enjoy fun character dynamics, lovely growth between and inside the characters, and being along for the ride, this will be perfect for you to pick up come its publishing date: April 28th 2026!
I came for the gay hyjinks and sleuthing and seeing rich people be just people for a bit and this was that in spades. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the chance to read this early!
Oh, I am always here for a nepo baby learning to be a person - make it gay and funny and a murder mystery? Perfect, let's go.
In "A Murder Most Camp", Michael Hartford gets his life turned upside down when his inheritance gets put in jeopardy due to his reckless and jet-setting life. The solution? Spend a summer trying to do good at a family-friends summer camp. In nature, with less-than-5-star accommodations, he finds himself out of his depth with a gaggle of preteens...and introduced to the unsolved disappearance of a camp counselor 13 years ago.
Genuinely, this book was a lot of fun. Mikey is the right amount of insufferable and charismatic and sad in the beginning to make him an engaging POV character, without losing the depth he gets as the story goes. The kids are funny (may their murder-chatgpt-app stay fictional please) and the dynamic between him and Annbelle was my favorite in the whole story, though there's romance subplot was cute too.
The mystery is engaging, though if you're looking for something that will have you at a loss when the twists comes up, this might not be for you? The mystery can be a little predictable, even while it keeps the unraveling fun. It's not made lesser for it, in my opinion, but I never really care for the shock over a twist if the rest of the story is fun and entertaining, which this was. But if you DO care about guessing until the end and being left shocked and excited by that, this might not be for you. Otherwise, if you enjoy fun character dynamics, lovely growth between and inside the characters, and being along for the ride, this will be perfect for you to pick up come its publishing date: April 28th 2026!
I came for the gay hyjinks and sleuthing and seeing rich people be just people for a bit and this was that in spades. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the chance to read this early!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Imagine that David from Schitt's Creek was forced to spend a summer as a counselor special activities coordinator at a rustic summer camp for privileged rich kids, and then add in a decade-plus old murder mystery. That is this book. It's entertaining, kind of campy (ha!), and a whole lot of fun.
Our main character, Mikey, is a self-absorbed rich “kid” (he's 29) who spends his days flitting around from party to party and generally not doing much of importance. When his exasperated father puts new conditions on his inheritance, Mikey must spend the summer “doing good” in order to regain access to his trust fund. Enter Camp Lore.
While this book is entertaining, it's not exactly a deep read. You know from the very beginning how things are going to play out (as far as Mikey's character growth goes, anyway, not necessarily with the murder mystery) because it's been done a bazillion times in a bazillion books. It's light and fluffy and heartwarming, but it's not exactly surprising.
The murder mystery, though? I mean, it's not Agatha Christie, but there are some twists and turns and I had no idea who the villain of the story was until the big reveal. There are humorous investigation hijinks and unconventional death threats and weaponized sloppy joes, and it's all pretty delightful.
Also, I love all of the shade thrown at Panera in this book. $12 for a microwaved bowl of macaroni and cheese is just criminal.
So, yeah. This one doesn't require a lot of deep thinking, but it's fun nevertheless. If you generally appreciate not-quite-cozy murder mysteries with humor and heart and rich people behaving badly, there's a pretty good chance you'll enjoy this one too.
4 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is April 28, 2026.
Our main character, Mikey, is a self-absorbed rich “kid” (he's 29) who spends his days flitting around from party to party and generally not doing much of importance. When his exasperated father puts new conditions on his inheritance, Mikey must spend the summer “doing good” in order to regain access to his trust fund. Enter Camp Lore.
While this book is entertaining, it's not exactly a deep read. You know from the very beginning how things are going to play out (as far as Mikey's character growth goes, anyway, not necessarily with the murder mystery) because it's been done a bazillion times in a bazillion books. It's light and fluffy and heartwarming, but it's not exactly surprising.
The murder mystery, though? I mean, it's not Agatha Christie, but there are some twists and turns and I had no idea who the villain of the story was until the big reveal. There are humorous investigation hijinks and unconventional death threats and weaponized sloppy joes, and it's all pretty delightful.
Also, I love all of the shade thrown at Panera in this book. $12 for a microwaved bowl of macaroni and cheese is just criminal.
So, yeah. This one doesn't require a lot of deep thinking, but it's fun nevertheless. If you generally appreciate not-quite-cozy murder mysteries with humor and heart and rich people behaving badly, there's a pretty good chance you'll enjoy this one too.
4 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is April 28, 2026.
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