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A Murder Most Camp
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…
350 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews
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!
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.
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.
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Murder Most Camp was such a pleasant surprise! I may have called the twist, but that didn't deter my enjoyment level once I started connecting with the characters. The first 30-ish % was a tad slow and DANG was Mikey (our MMC) annoying, but once he let his facade go to embrace his true self I really had a great time. Jamie sucks, Mikey's dad kinda sucks, Raymond is one of my favorite side characters (I love the sass and realness), Annabelle is precious....there's more, but I don't want to sound off the whole character list haha. I really enjoyed this one and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a summertime mystery.
June 3, 2026
⭐⭐ A Fun Premise Buried Under Endless Pop-Culture References
A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio had the ingredients for a fun Pride Month read: a queer murder mystery, a summer camp setting, and the possibility of humor, atmosphere, and real character moments. Unfortunately, the execution was a massive disappointment. The book leans so heavily on pop-culture references that they become clutter rather than characterization. Even the few touching moments were often undercut by another unnecessary reference, which made the story feel exhausting instead of clever.
Mikey was the biggest problem for me because he rarely felt like a believable person. His narration came across less like personality and more like a constant performance of references, jokes, and over-the-top reactions. The mystery itself also suffered, and at several points I forgot this was supposed to be a murder mystery at all. There were one or two jokes that made me laugh and a few moments with emotional potential, but not enough to overcome how artificial the book felt. What should have been a fun queer summer-camp mystery ended up feeling like a pop-culture performance that occasionally remembered there was supposed to be a story.
A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio had the ingredients for a fun Pride Month read: a queer murder mystery, a summer camp setting, and the possibility of humor, atmosphere, and real character moments. Unfortunately, the execution was a massive disappointment. The book leans so heavily on pop-culture references that they become clutter rather than characterization. Even the few touching moments were often undercut by another unnecessary reference, which made the story feel exhausting instead of clever.
Mikey was the biggest problem for me because he rarely felt like a believable person. His narration came across less like personality and more like a constant performance of references, jokes, and over-the-top reactions. The mystery itself also suffered, and at several points I forgot this was supposed to be a murder mystery at all. There were one or two jokes that made me laugh and a few moments with emotional potential, but not enough to overcome how artificial the book felt. What should have been a fun queer summer-camp mystery ended up feeling like a pop-culture performance that occasionally remembered there was supposed to be a story.
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.
June 21, 2026
An engaging MC and a bonkers plot. Passed a pleasant couple of hours.
April 29, 2026
It’s the last Wednesday of April, so you know what that means! Book review time. A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio was released yesterday (the 28th) from Poisoned Pen Press. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing!
A Murder Most Camp follows Mikey Hartford IV, the child (almost 30-year-old manchild) of a grocery chain empire who has done very little with his life outside of being the stereotypical rich kid. This all changes when daddy dearest changes the conditions of access to his trust. Mikey gets shipped off to a summer camp in the hopes that helping kids and being in nature will bring out his good side. Throw in solving a 13 year old murder with a bunch of tweens and falling for a “regular” guy, and maybe Mikey can change.
Plot: meh. I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The murder mystery part was beyond slow, mostly because there weren’t many suspects and it was super obvious that three out of four weren’t the baddie. It just really dragged. The romance was slightly better, but not much. It was a bit abrupt. There was also family stuff that drove the story more than anything. That was okay. But mostly, the book mostly felt like a shrine to ’90’s movie references. Mikey endlessly references Clueless and other movies that are older than him like they came out in his teens or something. At least pick references for things that would have been pivotal in his time. Or scale back on the references. Maybe one a chapter instead of five per page. It just made the book feel dated instead of cute.
Characters: pretty flat for the most part. Mikey gets a lot of development, but it feels forced. It’s like the author is trying to convince the reader that Mikey is a good person instead of letting the story show us that. There’s so much telling rather than showing. It’s like the author doesn’t trust the reader to see the character growth. It’s annoying. None of the other characters really get enough page time to come into their own, so they’re all a bit flat.
Writing: the best part. Other than copious amounts of movie references, the writing was smooth. It was a quick and easy read. Something good for a day at the beach or a rainy day in.
Ultimately, I was disappointed in A Murder Most Camp. It was mediocre at best. I think I was just hoping for more than I should have. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Probably a little over 2.5 anyway. If you’re looking for an uncomplicated, mindless read to get you through a weekend trip or something, this is a good choice. Otherwise, give it a miss.
A Murder Most Camp follows Mikey Hartford IV, the child (almost 30-year-old manchild) of a grocery chain empire who has done very little with his life outside of being the stereotypical rich kid. This all changes when daddy dearest changes the conditions of access to his trust. Mikey gets shipped off to a summer camp in the hopes that helping kids and being in nature will bring out his good side. Throw in solving a 13 year old murder with a bunch of tweens and falling for a “regular” guy, and maybe Mikey can change.
Plot: meh. I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The murder mystery part was beyond slow, mostly because there weren’t many suspects and it was super obvious that three out of four weren’t the baddie. It just really dragged. The romance was slightly better, but not much. It was a bit abrupt. There was also family stuff that drove the story more than anything. That was okay. But mostly, the book mostly felt like a shrine to ’90’s movie references. Mikey endlessly references Clueless and other movies that are older than him like they came out in his teens or something. At least pick references for things that would have been pivotal in his time. Or scale back on the references. Maybe one a chapter instead of five per page. It just made the book feel dated instead of cute.
Characters: pretty flat for the most part. Mikey gets a lot of development, but it feels forced. It’s like the author is trying to convince the reader that Mikey is a good person instead of letting the story show us that. There’s so much telling rather than showing. It’s like the author doesn’t trust the reader to see the character growth. It’s annoying. None of the other characters really get enough page time to come into their own, so they’re all a bit flat.
Writing: the best part. Other than copious amounts of movie references, the writing was smooth. It was a quick and easy read. Something good for a day at the beach or a rainy day in.
Ultimately, I was disappointed in A Murder Most Camp. It was mediocre at best. I think I was just hoping for more than I should have. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Probably a little over 2.5 anyway. If you’re looking for an uncomplicated, mindless read to get you through a weekend trip or something, this is a good choice. Otherwise, give it a miss.
June 12, 2026
It’s just a fun gay romp about a trust-fund lost soul and some camp kids solving an unsolved murder. Nothing more. That’s what I expected and wanted, so it was fun.
May 4, 2026
Nicolas DiDomizio just stuns on his mystery debut.
I was entrapped in this book straight from the beginning. Found family, found friends and a slow burn?? everything was just perfect.
Mikey and Annabelle come from a different type of family. Mikey is a spoilt rich guy, who comes from a very wealthy background. He is sent to Camp Lore to better himself in order to become humanised again. Annabelle on the other hand, comes from the same background but is seen as ‘different’ from her parents as she is captured by reading, true crime and mystery instead of fashion and makeup.
Annabelle hides her true identity of being Mikey’s Aunt, as in her past it has kept her from making true friends and always had her be teased about having a 30 year old Nephew. Through having very little friends at her age, Annabelle keeps to herself until she finds her own little group of misfits who become gripped in a 13 year old murder mystery that has never been solved.
It very much reminded me of the classic movie ‘Stand By Me’, which makes complete sense as Mikey is a film major and completes every sentence with a pop culture quote or reference. It makes me wonder if DiDomizio did this on purpose for the entertainment nerds reading his book.
All together, this book was highly enjoyable. It had a great nuance of mystery, romance, and pure highs of camp friendships. The character development from Mikey and Annabelle was a joy to see, and I almost felt like I was exploring this mystery with them.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
I was entrapped in this book straight from the beginning. Found family, found friends and a slow burn?? everything was just perfect.
Mikey and Annabelle come from a different type of family. Mikey is a spoilt rich guy, who comes from a very wealthy background. He is sent to Camp Lore to better himself in order to become humanised again. Annabelle on the other hand, comes from the same background but is seen as ‘different’ from her parents as she is captured by reading, true crime and mystery instead of fashion and makeup.
Annabelle hides her true identity of being Mikey’s Aunt, as in her past it has kept her from making true friends and always had her be teased about having a 30 year old Nephew. Through having very little friends at her age, Annabelle keeps to herself until she finds her own little group of misfits who become gripped in a 13 year old murder mystery that has never been solved.
It very much reminded me of the classic movie ‘Stand By Me’, which makes complete sense as Mikey is a film major and completes every sentence with a pop culture quote or reference. It makes me wonder if DiDomizio did this on purpose for the entertainment nerds reading his book.
All together, this book was highly enjoyable. It had a great nuance of mystery, romance, and pure highs of camp friendships. The character development from Mikey and Annabelle was a joy to see, and I almost felt like I was exploring this mystery with them.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
May 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC of this work!
I was really intrigued and excited to start with this work. It sounded like a fun, campy take on the sleep-away camp slasher genre and I was intrigued to see how the queer angle would play out. However, I left this not only disappointed, but just plain bored.
Maybe this was my fault, but the title leaning into ‘camp’ (not just actual forest camping, but camp as art) created an expectation that, sadly, was not fulfilled. I did not connect with this main character, and just felt like I was sort of…there. I was not invested, that by the time we reached the titular camp, I was looking for the exit. Also, the amount of references and callbacks to pop culture moments left me groaning a bit. There is having too much of a good thing.
I’ll give this points for messaging and character development, but that’s about where it ends. Overall, maybe it’s better for someone else, just not for me.
I was really intrigued and excited to start with this work. It sounded like a fun, campy take on the sleep-away camp slasher genre and I was intrigued to see how the queer angle would play out. However, I left this not only disappointed, but just plain bored.
Maybe this was my fault, but the title leaning into ‘camp’ (not just actual forest camping, but camp as art) created an expectation that, sadly, was not fulfilled. I did not connect with this main character, and just felt like I was sort of…there. I was not invested, that by the time we reached the titular camp, I was looking for the exit. Also, the amount of references and callbacks to pop culture moments left me groaning a bit. There is having too much of a good thing.
I’ll give this points for messaging and character development, but that’s about where it ends. Overall, maybe it’s better for someone else, just not for me.
April 20, 2026
This was a delight! I liked this take on a murder mystery at a campground, subverting Friday the 13th tropes. And I’ll never have a problem with a murder mystery that has me kicking my feet in delight when they kiss.
Mikey’s character development is subtle but arguably one of the best parts of the story. He’s mildly self-aware but through his summer with SAG and Jackson and this mystery he learns to become a better person. Or, really, be the better person he knew he could’ve always been.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nicolas DiDomizio, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mikey’s character development is subtle but arguably one of the best parts of the story. He’s mildly self-aware but through his summer with SAG and Jackson and this mystery he learns to become a better person. Or, really, be the better person he knew he could’ve always been.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nicolas DiDomizio, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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!
April 28, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn’t on my radar until I received a message from the publisher inviting me to read it. Having enjoyed previous books by this author, and after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t click the “Read Now” button fast enough—and I couldn’t be happier that I did, because I had a great time.
Mikey is about to turn 30, and after a life of privilege, he must turn things around and do something meaningful as a condition for accessing his trust fund. When he is forced to work at a summer camp his twelve-year-old aunt is attending—where, a decade earlier, a possible murder took place—he gets the chance to prove he can do something worthwhile.
At first, you might think he’ll be one of those annoying, insufferable rich-kid characters, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, he’s privileged, and his lifestyle reflects that. But that behavior is really a defense mechanism against the lack of love from the people around him, as well as an attempt to buy their affection and cope with the loss of his mother when he was ten.
Annabelle—Mikey’s aunt—is the other breakout star. A twelve-year-old addicted to crime novels and true crime, she is hilarious, and her relationship with her “gnephew” is my favorite part of the story.
The writing is witty and full of pop culture references, which some readers may dislike, but I personally loved. The mystery is engaging enough, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the pages turning.
The perfect story if you’re in the mood for something heartwarming with a dose of thrills and humor.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn’t on my radar until I received a message from the publisher inviting me to read it. Having enjoyed previous books by this author, and after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t click the “Read Now” button fast enough—and I couldn’t be happier that I did, because I had a great time.
Mikey is about to turn 30, and after a life of privilege, he must turn things around and do something meaningful as a condition for accessing his trust fund. When he is forced to work at a summer camp his twelve-year-old aunt is attending—where, a decade earlier, a possible murder took place—he gets the chance to prove he can do something worthwhile.
At first, you might think he’ll be one of those annoying, insufferable rich-kid characters, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, he’s privileged, and his lifestyle reflects that. But that behavior is really a defense mechanism against the lack of love from the people around him, as well as an attempt to buy their affection and cope with the loss of his mother when he was ten.
Annabelle—Mikey’s aunt—is the other breakout star. A twelve-year-old addicted to crime novels and true crime, she is hilarious, and her relationship with her “gnephew” is my favorite part of the story.
The writing is witty and full of pop culture references, which some readers may dislike, but I personally loved. The mystery is engaging enough, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the pages turning.
The perfect story if you’re in the mood for something heartwarming with a dose of thrills and humor.
May 29, 2026
While this mystery treads familiar ground: a feckless main character who is dropped into an unfamiliar environment and must figure out how to deal, while discovering things about themselves and their relationships, it’s still a fun read.
Mikey Hartford IV gets a reality check from his dad, who says no go on receiving his inheritance until he manages to demonstrate some level of maturity and purpose in his life. As an incredibly wealthy 29 year-old, he’s swanned through his life since college, pining after his best friend, and buying anything, and doing everything but what he wants, which is to make movies.
Mikey’s shipped off to a summer camp for wealthy kids while shepherding Annabelle, his tween aunt (her mother married Mikey’s grandfather). Mikey is frankly horrified at the camp conditions, and the idea of sharing his cabin, but he gets along well with the kids he’s in charge of. These kids, and he, want to investigate a several years ago disappearance of one of the former camp counsellors. Mikey sees the possibility of making a movie about the mystery, but quickly gets into trouble with camp management, who want him to find something else to do with the kids as it’s believed that the disappearance was a hoax. Mikey can’t stop, and keeps finding clues, while getting involved with his hunky roommate.
As already stated, this doesn’t break new ground, but the interactions between Mikey and Annabelle take this book from interesting to charming. And how Mikey finally grows up over the summer is also enjoyable.
Author Nicholas DiDomizio’s story about finding oneself and meaningful connection and community, is sweet, but it’s also funny and romantic.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Mikey Hartford IV gets a reality check from his dad, who says no go on receiving his inheritance until he manages to demonstrate some level of maturity and purpose in his life. As an incredibly wealthy 29 year-old, he’s swanned through his life since college, pining after his best friend, and buying anything, and doing everything but what he wants, which is to make movies.
Mikey’s shipped off to a summer camp for wealthy kids while shepherding Annabelle, his tween aunt (her mother married Mikey’s grandfather). Mikey is frankly horrified at the camp conditions, and the idea of sharing his cabin, but he gets along well with the kids he’s in charge of. These kids, and he, want to investigate a several years ago disappearance of one of the former camp counsellors. Mikey sees the possibility of making a movie about the mystery, but quickly gets into trouble with camp management, who want him to find something else to do with the kids as it’s believed that the disappearance was a hoax. Mikey can’t stop, and keeps finding clues, while getting involved with his hunky roommate.
As already stated, this doesn’t break new ground, but the interactions between Mikey and Annabelle take this book from interesting to charming. And how Mikey finally grows up over the summer is also enjoyable.
Author Nicholas DiDomizio’s story about finding oneself and meaningful connection and community, is sweet, but it’s also funny and romantic.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
June 24, 2026
Heartwarming and funny! The mystery was a bit predictable, but still felt fresh and had me hooked.
July 2, 2026
3.5*
Fun campy vibessssssss for summerween
Fun campy vibessssssss for summerween
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.""
April 29, 2026
What happens when you take a bitchy trust fund gay out of his natural surroundings (tony NYC) and plop him at a rustic summer camp to learn about responsibility? You get this wacky and wonderful romp that is as frothy and decadent as a a frozen fruity drink, the perfect book to read poolside this summer! I would solve crimes or watch Bravo with Mikey any day!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press, via NetGalley, for the ARC!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press, via NetGalley, for the ARC!
April 26, 2026
Thank you @poisonedpenpress for the digital copy to review. A Murder Most Camp is hilarious and fun, truly a millennial coded book if there ever was one. I was laughing hysterically all day.
Mikey was incredibly easy to root for, and I loved his growth in this book. Yes, he was a trust fund kid cut off, but man did he have some learning to do. The kids were hilarious. Jackson was fantastic. The mystery was wonderful, and the romance was a sweet bonus. I loved the end too, what a blast. 🥰🥰🥰
Love @nicdidomiziobooks so please preorder or request from your library so he can keep writing me funny and heartwarming books. Tysm!
Mikey was incredibly easy to root for, and I loved his growth in this book. Yes, he was a trust fund kid cut off, but man did he have some learning to do. The kids were hilarious. Jackson was fantastic. The mystery was wonderful, and the romance was a sweet bonus. I loved the end too, what a blast. 🥰🥰🥰
Love @nicdidomiziobooks so please preorder or request from your library so he can keep writing me funny and heartwarming books. Tysm!
April 19, 2026
Perfect for readers who want a fun murder mystery, and also have a soft spot for Schitt’s Creek.
Mikey reminded me so much of David Rose. He ends up being forced to work at this camp so he doesn’t lose his inheritance, and Mikey has never been so far from fashion, luxary, and organic food in his life. Every time he discovers a new level to camp, it reminded me of David sitting in the field when he gets left behind.
Mikey’s snarky one-liners and references to 90’s pop culture also made this super fun. Especially when propped up with surrounding dialogue from the cast of chaotic 12 year olds that he has to serve as activities coordinator for. And what do all these non-athlete kids decide they are going to spend the summer doing? Solving an urban legend murder/missing persons case that (surprise!) they all sneak on WiFi one day to discover is actually real! The 12 year olds are into it, and Mikey is into it too since they’re going to make a documentary about it.
The kids all stay super invested. Mikey, on the otherhand, starts get death threats. Which are a little scary, but at least that means he may be onto something? Not only that, but along the way, he realizes he is learning more about himself and rediscovering his interests.
Generally, I wouldn’t describe a murder mystery as “heartwarming,” but this one kind of is. Mikey has always felt like a misfit, and so have these kids. They all show tons of growth over the course of the book, and watching them grow together is fun. The mystery itself is also really fun, and it made for a really great read.
Thank you to NetGally, Poisoned Pen Press, and Nicolas DiDomizio for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Mikey reminded me so much of David Rose. He ends up being forced to work at this camp so he doesn’t lose his inheritance, and Mikey has never been so far from fashion, luxary, and organic food in his life. Every time he discovers a new level to camp, it reminded me of David sitting in the field when he gets left behind.
Mikey’s snarky one-liners and references to 90’s pop culture also made this super fun. Especially when propped up with surrounding dialogue from the cast of chaotic 12 year olds that he has to serve as activities coordinator for. And what do all these non-athlete kids decide they are going to spend the summer doing? Solving an urban legend murder/missing persons case that (surprise!) they all sneak on WiFi one day to discover is actually real! The 12 year olds are into it, and Mikey is into it too since they’re going to make a documentary about it.
The kids all stay super invested. Mikey, on the otherhand, starts get death threats. Which are a little scary, but at least that means he may be onto something? Not only that, but along the way, he realizes he is learning more about himself and rediscovering his interests.
Generally, I wouldn’t describe a murder mystery as “heartwarming,” but this one kind of is. Mikey has always felt like a misfit, and so have these kids. They all show tons of growth over the course of the book, and watching them grow together is fun. The mystery itself is also really fun, and it made for a really great read.
Thank you to NetGally, Poisoned Pen Press, and Nicolas DiDomizio for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
July 4, 2026
1.5 stars!
Ugh, I read this for a challenge and I could feel myself losing brain cells as I read it. Between the incessant pop culture references (including Gilmore Girls, Clueless, Taylor Swift, Gone Girl, and so much more), the indolent billionaire main character 29-year-old with no real personality other than being sarcastic, entitled, and having a passion for film (but also having a ~deep side, of course), and the fact that this book could not stop bringing up tacky stereotypes of gay men that were tired in like...the 2000s, I was about ready to melt into the couch by the time it was over.
Maybe I'm just too cynical for campy shit.
tl;dr Mikey Hartford has never had to work for anything in his life thanks to his family's nationwide very successful grocery food chain. However, when his father interrupts his life of partying, sex, and alcohol by forcing him to work at a rustic and rural summer camp (and make a "positive influence" on the world) lest he lose his trust fund, he is horrified. But not as horrified as when he realizes that a murder happened at this camp 10 years ago...and the murderer may still be around.
I understand that the author was trying to write a satire of a rich nepo baby, but it was very difficult to like, sympathize, or even care about Mikey throughout the book. He just read as super out of touch and entitled, which, yes, is supposed to be his character, but given the damage that entitled billionaires are literally doing in the real world to society and the environment, I literally have zero interest reading about in their "problems." While the narrative tries to justify his decisions and personality with the fact that he uses it as a front to hide from the pain of his mom's early death from cancer, it also lowkey undermines itself whenever Mikey says that his mother "wanted" him to have a trust fund and never face any type of difficulty or obstacle in his life because she grew up poor. It really just read as super out of touch with...well, everything. As he deals with what happens at the camp and tries to solve the murder, Mikey sort of starts to realize that he needs to lower his guard and start living more authentically—but it never feels fully realized tbh.
The narrative also really tried to lean into how Mikey has a huge passion for film-making (mostly by having him quote obsessively from various movies—and also if I had to hear the word "passion" in relation to his film interest one more time, I would have set the book on fire). However, this man apparently quit a position as an assistant producer or something after at most three years because...they didn't take his movie ideas seriously? Like, did he expect to sweep into Hollywood right after graduating and take it by storm without working his way up? Because of this, he had lost his passion and started partying and sexing his way through life. This is "passion"? And after rediscovering his passion at the camp (initially by starting to work on a "documentary" about the murder and later I guess just by realizing he can genuinely care about people), he takes his trust fund and decides to just start a production/film company, which is honestly equally privileged and feels almost like he has learned nothing. How does he think he has the slightest idea how to run a production company when he does not seem to have any sense of work ethic, ability to tolerate frustration, or filter (or, for that matter, work experience in the last five years)?
Also—and really, this is a small point compared to everything else—it started really frustrating me every time Mikey would essentially say something that he didn't mean to say and then mention that he "winces as he says them" or knows that he shouldn't have said it or whatever, because it happened multiple times. Truly, if the book had ended with the murderer killing him to shut him up, I would have preferred it because he was fucking annoying.
Sadly, Mikey was not the only victim of the terrible writing. None of the other characters in this book had any character or development. The main side characters were Mikey's love interest, Jackson, and the group of kids at the camp that he was in charge of, especially his 12-year-old aunt, Annabelle (her mother, who is close to Mikey's age, married Mikey's grandfather because of course). The only thing I could tell you about Jackson is that he is built like a "Greek god," is in med school (and has worked as a lifeguard at the camp for 10 years), and is a golden retriever. Also, did you know that he's hot? That's mentioned a billion times in case you've forgotten. Meanwhile, Annabelle is an outcast at school and hates her parents' age gap, feels out of place, love true crime, and reads thrillers in her spare time. That's it. That's all we know about these side characters.
We know even less about the other kids in the group. They were all essentially interchangeable and...I truly don't have anything to say about them because there was nothing to say. The only one that sort of stood out was Annabelle's roommate, Miranda, and not in a good way. It's because she kept calling Mikey and other people "boo" at the end of almost every sentence. What child does this? Is this a Gen Alpha thing? Is this a rich people thing? JFC.
Although the plot was pretty straightforward and predictable, that wasn't even my main issue with this book given the terrible writing and characters. It was nothing to write home about, though the reliance on information dumping via found diary entries was honestly unrealistic since it literally just spelled everything else for the most part. Tons of telling and not enough (or really, any showing) throughout the book. Jackson and Mikey getting together felt rushed with not enough development on either end, so it was just an insta-love plot and y'all know how much I love those. 🙄
The plot aside, the writing was pretty awful. I already mentioned the author's over-dependence on pop culture references earlier; he truly just throw as many different movie quotes and other references into this book as possible, and it was jarring Every. Single. Time. He also really liked to reuse the same words and phrases throughout the book, such as "passion" as I stated previously, or saying that Mikey had "spent all of his life shield from" XYZ. Finally, and to be honest, the most egregious issue: This book was full of stereotypes of gay men—not just described, but literally spelled out and stated by the characters themselves. For example:
Or:
I think this is the author trying to lean into the campy aspect of this book, but it really came across as cringey 2000s offensive humor more than anything else, especially since this book was written and takes place in 2026. At one point, character described himself as being bullied in school because he had an "uncontrollable gay voice." WTF does that mean?! It was so heavy-handed that the characters all came across as gay caricatures rather than real people, which is never good when portraying minorities of any type. Someone on PageBound commented while I was reading this that if this author wasn't queer himself, it would feel almost like the book was homophobic, which put into words exactly how I felt about it.
So uh, to sum up this 1k-word review, I would recommend it to...people who like reading about billionaire millennials and their problems? Or more seriously, people who don't mind leaning into the camp aspect of this book and can ignore problematic gay stereotypes, cardboard characters, and insta-love romance with zero development. c:
Ugh, I read this for a challenge and I could feel myself losing brain cells as I read it. Between the incessant pop culture references (including Gilmore Girls, Clueless, Taylor Swift, Gone Girl, and so much more), the indolent billionaire main character 29-year-old with no real personality other than being sarcastic, entitled, and having a passion for film (but also having a ~deep side, of course), and the fact that this book could not stop bringing up tacky stereotypes of gay men that were tired in like...the 2000s, I was about ready to melt into the couch by the time it was over.
Maybe I'm just too cynical for campy shit.
tl;dr Mikey Hartford has never had to work for anything in his life thanks to his family's nationwide very successful grocery food chain. However, when his father interrupts his life of partying, sex, and alcohol by forcing him to work at a rustic and rural summer camp (and make a "positive influence" on the world) lest he lose his trust fund, he is horrified. But not as horrified as when he realizes that a murder happened at this camp 10 years ago...and the murderer may still be around.
I understand that the author was trying to write a satire of a rich nepo baby, but it was very difficult to like, sympathize, or even care about Mikey throughout the book. He just read as super out of touch and entitled, which, yes, is supposed to be his character, but given the damage that entitled billionaires are literally doing in the real world to society and the environment, I literally have zero interest reading about in their "problems." While the narrative tries to justify his decisions and personality with the fact that he uses it as a front to hide from the pain of his mom's early death from cancer, it also lowkey undermines itself whenever Mikey says that his mother "wanted" him to have a trust fund and never face any type of difficulty or obstacle in his life because she grew up poor. It really just read as super out of touch with...well, everything. As he deals with what happens at the camp and tries to solve the murder, Mikey sort of starts to realize that he needs to lower his guard and start living more authentically—but it never feels fully realized tbh.
The narrative also really tried to lean into how Mikey has a huge passion for film-making (mostly by having him quote obsessively from various movies—and also if I had to hear the word "passion" in relation to his film interest one more time, I would have set the book on fire). However, this man apparently quit a position as an assistant producer or something after at most three years because...they didn't take his movie ideas seriously? Like, did he expect to sweep into Hollywood right after graduating and take it by storm without working his way up? Because of this, he had lost his passion and started partying and sexing his way through life. This is "passion"? And after rediscovering his passion at the camp (initially by starting to work on a "documentary" about the murder and later I guess just by realizing he can genuinely care about people), he takes his trust fund and decides to just start a production/film company, which is honestly equally privileged and feels almost like he has learned nothing. How does he think he has the slightest idea how to run a production company when he does not seem to have any sense of work ethic, ability to tolerate frustration, or filter (or, for that matter, work experience in the last five years)?
Also—and really, this is a small point compared to everything else—it started really frustrating me every time Mikey would essentially say something that he didn't mean to say and then mention that he "winces as he says them" or knows that he shouldn't have said it or whatever, because it happened multiple times. Truly, if the book had ended with the murderer killing him to shut him up, I would have preferred it because he was fucking annoying.
Sadly, Mikey was not the only victim of the terrible writing. None of the other characters in this book had any character or development. The main side characters were Mikey's love interest, Jackson, and the group of kids at the camp that he was in charge of, especially his 12-year-old aunt, Annabelle (her mother, who is close to Mikey's age, married Mikey's grandfather because of course). The only thing I could tell you about Jackson is that he is built like a "Greek god," is in med school (and has worked as a lifeguard at the camp for 10 years), and is a golden retriever. Also, did you know that he's hot? That's mentioned a billion times in case you've forgotten. Meanwhile, Annabelle is an outcast at school and hates her parents' age gap, feels out of place, love true crime, and reads thrillers in her spare time. That's it. That's all we know about these side characters.
We know even less about the other kids in the group. They were all essentially interchangeable and...I truly don't have anything to say about them because there was nothing to say. The only one that sort of stood out was Annabelle's roommate, Miranda, and not in a good way. It's because she kept calling Mikey and other people "boo" at the end of almost every sentence. What child does this? Is this a Gen Alpha thing? Is this a rich people thing? JFC.
Although the plot was pretty straightforward and predictable, that wasn't even my main issue with this book given the terrible writing and characters. It was nothing to write home about, though the reliance on information dumping via found diary entries was honestly unrealistic since it literally just spelled everything else for the most part. Tons of telling and not enough (or really, any showing) throughout the book. Jackson and Mikey getting together felt rushed with not enough development on either end, so it was just an insta-love plot and y'all know how much I love those. 🙄
The plot aside, the writing was pretty awful. I already mentioned the author's over-dependence on pop culture references earlier; he truly just throw as many different movie quotes and other references into this book as possible, and it was jarring Every. Single. Time. He also really liked to reuse the same words and phrases throughout the book, such as "passion" as I stated previously, or saying that Mikey had "spent all of his life shield from" XYZ. Finally, and to be honest, the most egregious issue: This book was full of stereotypes of gay men—not just described, but literally spelled out and stated by the characters themselves. For example:
"He’s got none of the qualities that normally cause Mikey’s gaydar to perk up: Sardonic wit, inexplicable defensiveness, a tendency to speak exclusively in abbreviations and/or references. The usual Fire Island personality cocktail.”
Or:
"I thought gays loved karaoke!"
"You're thinking of an entirely different breed of gay," Mikey explains. "Musical theatre gays and/or drag queens. I'm a film school gay with chronically tired gay tendencies—huge difference."
I think this is the author trying to lean into the campy aspect of this book, but it really came across as cringey 2000s offensive humor more than anything else, especially since this book was written and takes place in 2026. At one point, character described himself as being bullied in school because he had an "uncontrollable gay voice." WTF does that mean?! It was so heavy-handed that the characters all came across as gay caricatures rather than real people, which is never good when portraying minorities of any type. Someone on PageBound commented while I was reading this that if this author wasn't queer himself, it would feel almost like the book was homophobic, which put into words exactly how I felt about it.
So uh, to sum up this 1k-word review, I would recommend it to...people who like reading about billionaire millennials and their problems? Or more seriously, people who don't mind leaning into the camp aspect of this book and can ignore problematic gay stereotypes, cardboard characters, and insta-love romance with zero development. c:
May 8, 2026
Predictable story, flat characters, boring writing
May 4, 2026
Spending $5M on a townhouse for one's roommate / friend / "I'd love to jump his bones crush" is the sort of move only a trust fund baby like Mikey would make. But when you've lived your life with everything that money can buy, what could go wrong?
Well .... Mickey's father banishes him to work as a camp counselor at Camp Lore over the summer in order to show that he will be able to handle his fortune when his 30th birthday rolls around in a few months. But not any ordinary summer camp - this is like the set of any number of comedy/horror camp movies of the 90's but specifically geared for the offspring of the rich. It's a chance for kids to just be kids, stay in old unmodernized cabins, eat bad cafeteria food, hike in the woods .... and solve a murder? Yup.
For Mikey's pre-teen aunt (his high school acquaintance married his grandfather, and therefore Annabelle is his aunt) it's paradise to actually have friends and quickly she comes out of her shell. I will admit it took me a while to truly get into this book, but once the premise of solving the murder that happened 10 years ago at Camp Lore clicks into gear, Mikey slowly comes to realize that he has spent far too much of his life mourning a devastating loss when he was ten years old, and pretending not to care, covering up that hurt with money, bottomless Dom Perignon and Mykonos.
Mikey and his Special Activities Group uncover evidence that may or may not be planted, along with a few nicely-fleshed out secondary characters that provide clues to help solve the murder in a flurry of "what, wait???" moments. The plot has its improbable moments, but it's always entertaining and engaging and ends up being full of feels that are definitely helped along by Mikey's smoking hot roommate/camp lifeguard Jackson.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Well .... Mickey's father banishes him to work as a camp counselor at Camp Lore over the summer in order to show that he will be able to handle his fortune when his 30th birthday rolls around in a few months. But not any ordinary summer camp - this is like the set of any number of comedy/horror camp movies of the 90's but specifically geared for the offspring of the rich. It's a chance for kids to just be kids, stay in old unmodernized cabins, eat bad cafeteria food, hike in the woods .... and solve a murder? Yup.
For Mikey's pre-teen aunt (his high school acquaintance married his grandfather, and therefore Annabelle is his aunt) it's paradise to actually have friends and quickly she comes out of her shell. I will admit it took me a while to truly get into this book, but once the premise of solving the murder that happened 10 years ago at Camp Lore clicks into gear, Mikey slowly comes to realize that he has spent far too much of his life mourning a devastating loss when he was ten years old, and pretending not to care, covering up that hurt with money, bottomless Dom Perignon and Mykonos.
Mikey and his Special Activities Group uncover evidence that may or may not be planted, along with a few nicely-fleshed out secondary characters that provide clues to help solve the murder in a flurry of "what, wait???" moments. The plot has its improbable moments, but it's always entertaining and engaging and ends up being full of feels that are definitely helped along by Mikey's smoking hot roommate/camp lifeguard Jackson.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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.
May 29, 2026
Wow! What a fun book! I hadn’t heard of Nicolas DiDomizio before, but saw it as a recommendation on goodreads. With the synopsis being a campy, fun murder mystery, it seemed like a good one to try. And I’m glad that I did.
Mikey Hartford the 4th lives life numbing himself with partying on yachts and drinking himself silly to forget about his dreams he decided to give up. As a wealthy nepo baby, he’s never had to work a day in his life and is set to a massive inheritance when he turns 30. That is, until it’s being put to the test. His father is sick to death of Mikey’s wild ways and gives him an ultimatum. If he does something to better humanity and himself for the summer, then he can have his inheritance. If not, he won’t be allowed to have it until his father dies (his father isn’t that old and is in good health). Mikey can’t believe that he’s being tested in this way, but he decides to do it because it’s better to receive his money sooner rather than later. Mikey’s grandma (who happens to be the exact same age as him) suggests that he become a camp counselor for the summer at a camp she attended when she was young called Camp Lore. Along with that, her daughter (his twelve year old aunt) will be attending Camp Lore, so he’ll be responsible for taking care of her too. Initially, the idea sounds appalling to Mikey. How is he supposed to relate to twelve year olds and not have comfortable sleeping arrangements? However, he ends up getting sucked into the mystery of Rose who disappeared from camp and has never been seen again. People assume that this was a scandal to squeeze money from the wealthy camp director. However, Mikey comes across diary pages that paint a very different outcome. As he continues to sleuth, he starts receiving threats of various kinds. Will he be able to find out what happened to Rose and receive his inheritance at the end of the summer? Or will he end up not making it out alive?
I found this to be a funny cozy mystery. Mikey comes off as vapid and superficial at the beginning, but as I got to know him, I realized he’s more than that. He’s been dealing with the loss of his mum and how much of a hole it’s created in his world, not having her love and support. I do think that he has a great sense of humor and I enjoyed his various interactions with the kids he’s overseeing, the camp director who’s his exact opposite, his butler Raymond, and his new potential love interest. The mystery was compelling and I couldn’t guess who the murderer was until closer to the end. I brought this with me to the beach and it was a great beach read that kept me entertained. I definitely want to read one of his future mysteries down the line. They’re a bit different than what I normally read, but definitely refreshing nonetheless.
Mikey Hartford the 4th lives life numbing himself with partying on yachts and drinking himself silly to forget about his dreams he decided to give up. As a wealthy nepo baby, he’s never had to work a day in his life and is set to a massive inheritance when he turns 30. That is, until it’s being put to the test. His father is sick to death of Mikey’s wild ways and gives him an ultimatum. If he does something to better humanity and himself for the summer, then he can have his inheritance. If not, he won’t be allowed to have it until his father dies (his father isn’t that old and is in good health). Mikey can’t believe that he’s being tested in this way, but he decides to do it because it’s better to receive his money sooner rather than later. Mikey’s grandma (who happens to be the exact same age as him) suggests that he become a camp counselor for the summer at a camp she attended when she was young called Camp Lore. Along with that, her daughter (his twelve year old aunt) will be attending Camp Lore, so he’ll be responsible for taking care of her too. Initially, the idea sounds appalling to Mikey. How is he supposed to relate to twelve year olds and not have comfortable sleeping arrangements? However, he ends up getting sucked into the mystery of Rose who disappeared from camp and has never been seen again. People assume that this was a scandal to squeeze money from the wealthy camp director. However, Mikey comes across diary pages that paint a very different outcome. As he continues to sleuth, he starts receiving threats of various kinds. Will he be able to find out what happened to Rose and receive his inheritance at the end of the summer? Or will he end up not making it out alive?
I found this to be a funny cozy mystery. Mikey comes off as vapid and superficial at the beginning, but as I got to know him, I realized he’s more than that. He’s been dealing with the loss of his mum and how much of a hole it’s created in his world, not having her love and support. I do think that he has a great sense of humor and I enjoyed his various interactions with the kids he’s overseeing, the camp director who’s his exact opposite, his butler Raymond, and his new potential love interest. The mystery was compelling and I couldn’t guess who the murderer was until closer to the end. I brought this with me to the beach and it was a great beach read that kept me entertained. I definitely want to read one of his future mysteries down the line. They’re a bit different than what I normally read, but definitely refreshing nonetheless.
May 3, 2026
"For some reason it's impossible for you to have a conversation without talking like a Gilmore Girl"
As a big GG fan, maybe that's why I loved this book so much!
This book was on my 'Upcoming Releases' post earlier in the year and it delivered on all fronts for sure! I'm a sucker for a Summer Camp horror, so a Summer Camp murder mystery is absolutely something I wanted to read.
Mikey, at the start of the novel is what I noted as a 30 year old teenager. He was flippant and clearly self-loathing. Money meant nothing to him and he was chasing the affections (or lack of) of an unsuitable 'friend'.
We see such a lovely growth arc for him over the course of the story, and we get into School of Rock territory when he leads a rag-tag bunch of tweens in a summer project that starts to dig into dicey waters.
I did guess who the eventual culprit would be fairly quickly but it absolutely didn't lessen my enjoyment of this story at all. I loved all of the characters, I loved the romance storyline which didn't take any time away from the main quest, and Didomizio sticks the landing with the ending for sure.
There are *tons* of pop culture references in this, which I loved (and understood!), the pacing is great, and in true Kay review fashion, I'd love for this to be made into a movie. Some books just really would translate to the screen well, and I think this is one. Buy or borrow this book, just make sure you read it because I absolutely recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and PoisonedPen Press for the advanced reader copy.
As a big GG fan, maybe that's why I loved this book so much!
This book was on my 'Upcoming Releases' post earlier in the year and it delivered on all fronts for sure! I'm a sucker for a Summer Camp horror, so a Summer Camp murder mystery is absolutely something I wanted to read.
Mikey, at the start of the novel is what I noted as a 30 year old teenager. He was flippant and clearly self-loathing. Money meant nothing to him and he was chasing the affections (or lack of) of an unsuitable 'friend'.
We see such a lovely growth arc for him over the course of the story, and we get into School of Rock territory when he leads a rag-tag bunch of tweens in a summer project that starts to dig into dicey waters.
I did guess who the eventual culprit would be fairly quickly but it absolutely didn't lessen my enjoyment of this story at all. I loved all of the characters, I loved the romance storyline which didn't take any time away from the main quest, and Didomizio sticks the landing with the ending for sure.
There are *tons* of pop culture references in this, which I loved (and understood!), the pacing is great, and in true Kay review fashion, I'd love for this to be made into a movie. Some books just really would translate to the screen well, and I think this is one. Buy or borrow this book, just make sure you read it because I absolutely recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and PoisonedPen Press for the advanced reader copy.
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