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A Murder in Eight Cocktails: The deliciously witty new murder mystery from the author of This is Not A Game
Not yet published
Expected 26 Mar 26'As fun as murder gets!' Stacey Halls
Mix one old flame with a splash of suspicion for the perfect. . . murder.
In the seaside haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Willa Keane’s marriage is in a rut. As a retired interior-designer-turned-influencer, she’s sure life begins at fifty-five, whereas her husband, Marty, is more interested in watching his beloved birds.
So when Willa is invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes the evening will rekindle their flame. But arriving at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it’s being hosted by her charming ex-husband, Paul.
The night is thrown into even deeper chaos when the bar’s enigmatic owner is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests there’s no foul play, but Willa’s heightened senses aren’t so sure. Now she must solve the mystery together with her husband…and her ex-husband.
Can they find the killer before another victim is served their last cocktail?
_____________
PRAISE FOR KELLY MULLEN . . .
'I adored this deliciously twisty and wickedly sharp murder mystery' Lucy Clarke
'Agatha Christie brought bang up to date' Clare Mackintosh
'A thriller with a twist!' Cosmopolitan
'Slick and witty' Daily Mail
'Entertaining from start to finish' Jennie Godfrey
'A stunning read. So gripping and atmospheric, I barely made it out alive' Steve Jones
Mix one old flame with a splash of suspicion for the perfect. . . murder.
In the seaside haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Willa Keane’s marriage is in a rut. As a retired interior-designer-turned-influencer, she’s sure life begins at fifty-five, whereas her husband, Marty, is more interested in watching his beloved birds.
So when Willa is invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes the evening will rekindle their flame. But arriving at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it’s being hosted by her charming ex-husband, Paul.
The night is thrown into even deeper chaos when the bar’s enigmatic owner is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests there’s no foul play, but Willa’s heightened senses aren’t so sure. Now she must solve the mystery together with her husband…and her ex-husband.
Can they find the killer before another victim is served their last cocktail?
_____________
PRAISE FOR KELLY MULLEN . . .
'I adored this deliciously twisty and wickedly sharp murder mystery' Lucy Clarke
'Agatha Christie brought bang up to date' Clare Mackintosh
'A thriller with a twist!' Cosmopolitan
'Slick and witty' Daily Mail
'Entertaining from start to finish' Jennie Godfrey
'A stunning read. So gripping and atmospheric, I barely made it out alive' Steve Jones
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 26, 2026
154 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Mullen
2 books163 followersWelcome to my Goodreads page! I’m an author of contemporary murder mysteries inspired by the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. My second book, A Murder in Eight Cocktails, publishes March 2026.
Say hello at:
Instagram @kellymullenauthor
LinkedIn @kellymullenauthor
Say hello at:
Instagram @kellymullenauthor
LinkedIn @kellymullenauthor
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 12, 2026
Before the actual review I just want to thank Kelly and her publisher for sending me an ARC copy of her brand new book that will be published in March this year! After reading “This Is Not a Game” in 2025 I absolutely fell in love with the way Kelly writes, the book was one of my favourites of last year! SO I’m super excited to start the year off with a bang!
Max Magunssen reminded me a little bit like Willy Wonka… Just with alcohol and not chocolate… as well as less murder 😅.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the dynamic between the 3 main characters, 1 being the wife, Willa (who’s POV we follow) her husband, Marty and then her ex husband, Paul. But I loved it! I absolutely love Kelly’s character writing. So many fun, quirky, annoying and evil characters. My opinions on them were changing all the time 😂.
I really enjoyed the main story it was a really fun setting with some delicious sounding cocktails that I’d absolutely need to try! (Kelly has actually put the recipes in this book). I loved how visual some of the scenes were, I felt like I was actually at the event with them, sipping away, enjoying a cocktail. The story is far much more than just this cocktail party. So much love, betrayal, drama, jealousy and just a little bit of murder. With a dash of some very funny moments. There are some twists that I did not see coming at all! I was so sure I figured out who the killer was… But nope! I’m really looking forward to hopefully more stories with these characters. I loved how everything came together nicely and ended really well.
Kelly is one of my favourite authors so this was an absolute privilege to read this one early. I’ll be locked in and seated for whatever books she writes!
When Willa a cocktail influencer on social media gets invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes that it can rekindle her and her husband flame. But arranging at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it's being hosted by her ex-husband Paul... The night is thrown deeper into chaos when Max is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests that there's no foul play. But Willa is not too sure, can she, Marty and Paul work together before the killer strikes again?
Book Title: A Murder in Eight Cocktails
Author: @kellymullenauthor
Pages: 372
Rating: 🍸🍸🍸🍸.5
Started: 1st January
Finished: 4th January
Max Magunssen reminded me a little bit like Willy Wonka… Just with alcohol and not chocolate… as well as less murder 😅.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the dynamic between the 3 main characters, 1 being the wife, Willa (who’s POV we follow) her husband, Marty and then her ex husband, Paul. But I loved it! I absolutely love Kelly’s character writing. So many fun, quirky, annoying and evil characters. My opinions on them were changing all the time 😂.
I really enjoyed the main story it was a really fun setting with some delicious sounding cocktails that I’d absolutely need to try! (Kelly has actually put the recipes in this book). I loved how visual some of the scenes were, I felt like I was actually at the event with them, sipping away, enjoying a cocktail. The story is far much more than just this cocktail party. So much love, betrayal, drama, jealousy and just a little bit of murder. With a dash of some very funny moments. There are some twists that I did not see coming at all! I was so sure I figured out who the killer was… But nope! I’m really looking forward to hopefully more stories with these characters. I loved how everything came together nicely and ended really well.
Kelly is one of my favourite authors so this was an absolute privilege to read this one early. I’ll be locked in and seated for whatever books she writes!
When Willa a cocktail influencer on social media gets invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes that it can rekindle her and her husband flame. But arranging at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it's being hosted by her ex-husband Paul... The night is thrown deeper into chaos when Max is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests that there's no foul play. But Willa is not too sure, can she, Marty and Paul work together before the killer strikes again?
Book Title: A Murder in Eight Cocktails
Author: @kellymullenauthor
Pages: 372
Rating: 🍸🍸🍸🍸.5
Started: 1st January
Finished: 4th January
Displaying 1 of 1 review