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A Cute Little Murder
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Expected 21 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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She used to be the sidekick. Now she might be the only one who can survive.
As teens, Harlow Drake and Lainey Piper built an online fandom solving small-town crimes. Harlow was the star, Lainey the behind-the-scenes genius (and often, Harlow’s scapegoat). Years later, Harlow’s hosting a hit true crime tv show. Lainey? She’s working in forensic. Well, forensic accounting…from home. In pajamas. With her cat.
But when Harlow faces significant backlash over fumbling a case, she needs a quick win—like a special investigation into the decades-old disappearance of a starlet from a once-glamorous, now decrepit island hotel. The catch? It’s bankrolled by Deke and Bryce of DBag Games, who are looking to shed their “frat bro” reputations. As long-time fans, they have one requirement for their Lainey has to play the sidekick again.
Lainey is wary, but the offer is a lifeline in sea of unpaid student loans. After reaching the Crossings Hotel, she realizes she’s not content to be Harlow’s helper anymore. As the cold case heats up, a crew member falls over dead, presenting Harlow and Lainey with a more current Are they really alone on the island?
It's clear the hotel hides more secrets in its walls. With sabotage, hidden staircases, and a killer in their midst, Lainey steps into the spotlight and takes charge of the investigation. It’s up to her to crack the case—as long as she can stay alive.
As teens, Harlow Drake and Lainey Piper built an online fandom solving small-town crimes. Harlow was the star, Lainey the behind-the-scenes genius (and often, Harlow’s scapegoat). Years later, Harlow’s hosting a hit true crime tv show. Lainey? She’s working in forensic. Well, forensic accounting…from home. In pajamas. With her cat.
But when Harlow faces significant backlash over fumbling a case, she needs a quick win—like a special investigation into the decades-old disappearance of a starlet from a once-glamorous, now decrepit island hotel. The catch? It’s bankrolled by Deke and Bryce of DBag Games, who are looking to shed their “frat bro” reputations. As long-time fans, they have one requirement for their Lainey has to play the sidekick again.
Lainey is wary, but the offer is a lifeline in sea of unpaid student loans. After reaching the Crossings Hotel, she realizes she’s not content to be Harlow’s helper anymore. As the cold case heats up, a crew member falls over dead, presenting Harlow and Lainey with a more current Are they really alone on the island?
It's clear the hotel hides more secrets in its walls. With sabotage, hidden staircases, and a killer in their midst, Lainey steps into the spotlight and takes charge of the investigation. It’s up to her to crack the case—as long as she can stay alive.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 21, 2026
4397 people want to read
About the author
Molly Harper
62 books8,198 followersMolly Harper is the author of more than 40 romance titles including the Half-Moon Hollow series, the Mystic Bayou, the Starfall Point series, and her first murder mystery, A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR. She lives in Michigan with her family. For more information, go to www.mollyharper.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 10, 2026
This was really cute!! I feel like it goes beyond a “cozy” as it has a little more grit. However it is a typical locked room mystery in a secluded location with no communication.
I enjoyed the plot where they were making a tv show as it was like a reality version of “only murder in the building” type of situation. The mentions of the popularity of true crime content online and TV and equally shows reverence as well as pokes fun.
I enjoyed the audio book which was narrated by Amanda Ronconi. She did such a fabulous job with her voices and reactions. She didn’t go Uber board with dramatics but gave it just the right amount of whimsy.
I’ll definitely be checking out this author in the future!
I enjoyed the plot where they were making a tv show as it was like a reality version of “only murder in the building” type of situation. The mentions of the popularity of true crime content online and TV and equally shows reverence as well as pokes fun.
I enjoyed the audio book which was narrated by Amanda Ronconi. She did such a fabulous job with her voices and reactions. She didn’t go Uber board with dramatics but gave it just the right amount of whimsy.
I’ll definitely be checking out this author in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of “A Cute Little Murder” in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I don’t have much to say about this one. The book was on the “cute” side for sure, but that didn’t make it overly engaging. Some of the investigation and storyline were novel, but I felt apathetic about the mystery itself.
The characters were so vastly different from each other which is what drove the most interesting aspects of the story for me. I found the video game wunderkinds to be hilarious. I appreciated their blunt stupidity, but that was wholly unrelated to the mystery. Harlow’s character didn’t hit as hard as I think the author had hoped (even with her fiercely witchy attitude), but Lainey was a solid FMC. The supporting characters, with the exception of Milo, were forgettable.
As this has not been published I don’t know that it’s fair to judge the book on the spelling and grammar mistakes, missing or erroneous words or character names, or the incredibly unnecessary times an ellipses was used. That did, however, cause some frustration so I think it’s important to note.
I don’t have much to say about this one. The book was on the “cute” side for sure, but that didn’t make it overly engaging. Some of the investigation and storyline were novel, but I felt apathetic about the mystery itself.
The characters were so vastly different from each other which is what drove the most interesting aspects of the story for me. I found the video game wunderkinds to be hilarious. I appreciated their blunt stupidity, but that was wholly unrelated to the mystery. Harlow’s character didn’t hit as hard as I think the author had hoped (even with her fiercely witchy attitude), but Lainey was a solid FMC. The supporting characters, with the exception of Milo, were forgettable.
As this has not been published I don’t know that it’s fair to judge the book on the spelling and grammar mistakes, missing or erroneous words or character names, or the incredibly unnecessary times an ellipses was used. That did, however, cause some frustration so I think it’s important to note.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Molly Harper’s A Cute Little Murder is a cozy mystery built on a fun premise. Harlow and Lainey, once high‑school amateur sleuths with an online fandom, reunite years later after landing in very different lives. Harlow has turned her detective persona into a full‑blown, extremely popular, online presence, while Lainey has moved on. That is until circumstances pull them back together at an isolated hotel to investigate a cold case. Naturally, a fresh body appears, and the two are drawn into a new mystery layered with hidden staircases, secret passages, and long‑buried truths. As in many cozies, the police latch onto the wrong theory, leaving Lainey to step in and piece things together. The clues unfold slowly and methodically, creating a true crime vibe that pairs well with the prickly, complicated dynamic between the former partners. Even with plenty of reveals, the full picture stays hazy until nearly the end, making the final resolution feel satisfying.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much to my partner PRH Audio for this gifted audiobook!
This book was so fun! It was cozy, funny, sweet, and full of intrigue. I would totally be besties with Lainey IRL. One of my favorite tropes is an isolated setting which we have here in spades, on top of a missing person case from the Prohibition area to solve and a pair of bumbling tech bros called the DBags. It’s like Nancy Drew for the modern age if Nancy drew was hilarious and a forensic accountant.
The story had a touch of romance (no spice) for those who want their cold dead hearts to thaw a few degrees like myself. The villain of the book is very clearly defined and I really loved how things turned out in the end.
I listened to the audiobook as narrated by Amanda Ronconi, a new-to-me voice actor who seems to mostly narrate cozy witchy books which I LOVE and she was fabulous! I could have listened to her voice all day. She really captured Lainey’s humor and sarcasm and the DBags’ antics.
This book was so fun! It was cozy, funny, sweet, and full of intrigue. I would totally be besties with Lainey IRL. One of my favorite tropes is an isolated setting which we have here in spades, on top of a missing person case from the Prohibition area to solve and a pair of bumbling tech bros called the DBags. It’s like Nancy Drew for the modern age if Nancy drew was hilarious and a forensic accountant.
The story had a touch of romance (no spice) for those who want their cold dead hearts to thaw a few degrees like myself. The villain of the book is very clearly defined and I really loved how things turned out in the end.
I listened to the audiobook as narrated by Amanda Ronconi, a new-to-me voice actor who seems to mostly narrate cozy witchy books which I LOVE and she was fabulous! I could have listened to her voice all day. She really captured Lainey’s humor and sarcasm and the DBags’ antics.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a fun cozy mystery read! The story follows Lainey as she reunites with her childhood friend Harlow to film a reunion of their highschool cime-solving podcast. However, when the historical mystery their investigating leads to a crew member's death, Lainey must solve both crimes to escape with her life. The premise and plot of this story were super interesting. I liked the setting of the story and how it incorporated into both the mystery plots. While I liked the mystery and crime-solving elements of this story, I felt like the romance wasn't necessary to the overall plot.
There wasn't much build up to it, and it felt a little quick to me. Overall, I definitely enjoyed the read, I liked the past and present mysteries and how they played through in the story and how Lainey and Harlow's dynamic impacted the overall plot.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC!
There wasn't much build up to it, and it felt a little quick to me. Overall, I definitely enjoyed the read, I liked the past and present mysteries and how they played through in the story and how Lainey and Harlow's dynamic impacted the overall plot.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper is a delightful mystery featuring two former teenage amateur sleuths. This time, the sidekick steps into the lead role when a murder occurs at the hotel where the pair are investigating the decades‑old disappearance of a woman from the 1920s.
The story is filled with secret passages, hidden chambers, and a charming historical mystery that kept me engaged throughout. There’s even a fun Golden Girls reference tucked in for good measure. While I would have liked a bit more character development for some of the cast, the book remains a fun, entertaining read from start to finish. I must admit that I am disappointed that this appears to be a standalone mystery.
Highly recommended for anyone who grew up devouring Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and/or The Hardy Boys especially if you watched plenty of Scooby‑Doo along the way.
The story is filled with secret passages, hidden chambers, and a charming historical mystery that kept me engaged throughout. There’s even a fun Golden Girls reference tucked in for good measure. While I would have liked a bit more character development for some of the cast, the book remains a fun, entertaining read from start to finish. I must admit that I am disappointed that this appears to be a standalone mystery.
Highly recommended for anyone who grew up devouring Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and/or The Hardy Boys especially if you watched plenty of Scooby‑Doo along the way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m an OG fan of Molly Harper. I love her funny characters and the wacky situations they end up in. This book has a more serious tone and some unusual treatment of old favorite tropes. We have a scooby doo esque(though way more dark and serious) duo of crime solving teens at the start of this whodunnit. But they hate each other and everyone pretty much hates them for solving crimes that no one wanted solved (accept the body maybe). Fast forward and life is very different from their teenage years.
I really loved the FMC. I enjoyed the mystery and discovering the secrets and history of the setting. Throw in some great side characters and romance and you’ve got a book that I hope is the start of a new series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!
I really loved the FMC. I enjoyed the mystery and discovering the secrets and history of the setting. Throw in some great side characters and romance and you’ve got a book that I hope is the start of a new series!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
"Cute" is definitely the operative word (complimentary.) There were two mysteries going on at the same time and both wrapped up fairly believably, if not very quickly. Not the best paced cozy I've read, and not the worst. But I'm a sucker for a closed circle mystery, so this definitely scratched that itch.
December 2, 2025
This is such a great closed room mystery. It has all the exciting elements: a secluded setting, fun characters, mystery rooms, and true crime podcasts. The fast pace made me fly through the book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed this cozy mystery on audio. Full RTC
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews