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Indie Darling
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A brilliant breakout novel from ITW Thriller Award–winning author Lauren Nossett—a mystery set in Nashville, where a Dolly Parton–loving private detective is drawn into the disappearance of an enigmatic pop star.
Nashville is a city of two faces, where the glitter often masks the grit.
Kelly Williams helps women. Sisters in search of lost siblings. Wives determined to uncover affairs. Daughters haunted by men lingering outside their windows. Clients trust her because she listens, she believes them, and over the years she’s honed a specialized skill set.
Kelly is a Dolly Parton–loving, sports-car-driving private investigator in Nashville, Tennessee. Her latest client, Sarah-Faith Owens, comes to her after receiving threatening messages. Something about the woman feels familiar, and Kelly realizes she’s Seraph, the magnetic, polarizing lead singer of the indie music sensation The Garden Snakes. With feminist anthems, cryptic lyric easter eggs, and an electrifying stage presence, Seraph has built a fiercely loyal following—and attracted a number of critics. At that level of fame, her stalker could be anyone.
Then, in the middle of a Nashville performance, Seraph is shot on stage—and the ambulance carrying her disappears. As the city reels and conspiracy theories swirl, Kelly is pulled into a dangerous web of secrets involving Seraph’s bandmates, her troubled past, and the high cost of stardom.
Propulsive and atmospheric, Indie Darling is both a page-turning mystery and a powerful meditation on art, obsession, and the perils of being a female artist in today’s celebrity-obsessed world.
Nashville is a city of two faces, where the glitter often masks the grit.
Kelly Williams helps women. Sisters in search of lost siblings. Wives determined to uncover affairs. Daughters haunted by men lingering outside their windows. Clients trust her because she listens, she believes them, and over the years she’s honed a specialized skill set.
Kelly is a Dolly Parton–loving, sports-car-driving private investigator in Nashville, Tennessee. Her latest client, Sarah-Faith Owens, comes to her after receiving threatening messages. Something about the woman feels familiar, and Kelly realizes she’s Seraph, the magnetic, polarizing lead singer of the indie music sensation The Garden Snakes. With feminist anthems, cryptic lyric easter eggs, and an electrifying stage presence, Seraph has built a fiercely loyal following—and attracted a number of critics. At that level of fame, her stalker could be anyone.
Then, in the middle of a Nashville performance, Seraph is shot on stage—and the ambulance carrying her disappears. As the city reels and conspiracy theories swirl, Kelly is pulled into a dangerous web of secrets involving Seraph’s bandmates, her troubled past, and the high cost of stardom.
Propulsive and atmospheric, Indie Darling is both a page-turning mystery and a powerful meditation on art, obsession, and the perils of being a female artist in today’s celebrity-obsessed world.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 28, 2026
About the author
Lauren Nossett
7 books329 followersLAUREN NOSSETT is a professor turned novelist and the award-winning author of the thrillers THE RESEMBLANCE and THE PROFESSOR. Her books have been Amazon Editors picks and featured in The New York Times, Buzzfeed, E! News, and Paste Magazine. THE RESEMBLANCE won the ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel and was chosen as a Book All Georgians Should Read. Lauren currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her spunky Pomeranian, Bowie. Her new novel, INDIE DARLING, will release July 28, 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 1, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! I loved the cast of characters, the setting, the song lyrics sprinkled throughout, the mystery, and how it all tied together. I really liked Kelly’s character and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in another installment.
PI Kelly Williams helps women. Her newest client is a well known musician who has a stalker. Kelly tries to solve the mystery through numerous Easter eggs and teams up with local detectives (and her cute co-tenant) to find out who is behind everything.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
PI Kelly Williams helps women. Her newest client is a well known musician who has a stalker. Kelly tries to solve the mystery through numerous Easter eggs and teams up with local detectives (and her cute co-tenant) to find out who is behind everything.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
November 18, 2025
I could not stop turning the pages! I read this entire book in two days and loved every bit of it. The characters are vibrant, funny, and alive on the page. As someone who lives in Nashville, the setting was so immersive and I loved mentally walking around some of my favorite areas. Kelly is one of the coolest detectives I've ever read, and Dolly would be honored to know she had such a badass fictional fan. This book is full of mystery and Fleetwood Mac vibes. Speaking of the latter two musicians, I feel like writing songs in books can easily mess up the flow or not work, and this book was the opposite. The clues were left perfectly and I loved the lyrics!
On the note of clues, the twists and turns were PERFECT. I'm trying to write this without any spoilers, but I was very much unnerved (in the right way) by two of the characters so much that when they arrived again in the narrative, I audibly went UGH. As the ending came together, I was so satisfied with everyone's endings. This book was clever, humorous, and gripping at the same time. I'm honored that I got to be one of the first readers of this book!
On the note of clues, the twists and turns were PERFECT. I'm trying to write this without any spoilers, but I was very much unnerved (in the right way) by two of the characters so much that when they arrived again in the narrative, I audibly went UGH. As the ending came together, I was so satisfied with everyone's endings. This book was clever, humorous, and gripping at the same time. I'm honored that I got to be one of the first readers of this book!
May 15, 2026
I enjoyed Indie Darling by Lauren Nossett as I was listening to it. I was initially drawn to this book because I spent my formative years in and around Nashville so I was curious in the setting. My small town, Gallatin, gets a shoutout in the book. Most of my questions were answered in this story. Why did Sarah/Seraph choose Kelly Williams to be her private investigator? What happened to Seraph after she was shot in the middle of her concert? It was fascinating to see the relationships around celebrities. The secret messages in the song lyrics were interesting but the reading of the song lyrics at the end didn’t hit as hard. The narrator, Amara Jasper, made me fall in like with the main character. ALC was provided by Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. I received an advance listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 5, 2026
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Okay— let’s get honest. This one just wasn’t my favorite.
For me, it felt like multiple different stories clashing together rather than one cohesive narrative. The characters didn’t fully make sense alongside each other, and even once everything was explained, it still didn’t quite come together in a satisfying way.
I did enjoy Kelly’s character— she felt grounded and easy to follow— but Sarah (Seraph) was a major struggle for me. I found her extremely unlikeable, and it seemed like I was supposed to feel invested in her… but I just didn’t. When she’s shot on stage and then goes missing— the central hook of the story— I realized I wasn’t emotionally connected enough to care, which made it hard to stay engaged.
There’s a lot going on here— fame, obsession, identity, and the darker side of celebrity— but for me, it leaned more into chaotic than compelling.
Overall, this one was just a bit too much, a bit too strange, and ultimately not for me.
Okay— let’s get honest. This one just wasn’t my favorite.
For me, it felt like multiple different stories clashing together rather than one cohesive narrative. The characters didn’t fully make sense alongside each other, and even once everything was explained, it still didn’t quite come together in a satisfying way.
I did enjoy Kelly’s character— she felt grounded and easy to follow— but Sarah (Seraph) was a major struggle for me. I found her extremely unlikeable, and it seemed like I was supposed to feel invested in her… but I just didn’t. When she’s shot on stage and then goes missing— the central hook of the story— I realized I wasn’t emotionally connected enough to care, which made it hard to stay engaged.
There’s a lot going on here— fame, obsession, identity, and the darker side of celebrity— but for me, it leaned more into chaotic than compelling.
Overall, this one was just a bit too much, a bit too strange, and ultimately not for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC of Indie Darling. Indie Darling hits shelves on 7/28/26.
Indie Darling follows Nashville private investigator Kelly Williams. She’s got a sports car, loves Dolly Parton, and takes on female clients to help them with any situation they need. Her clients trust her, she’s become what they need from her years of experience now.
Now, the Indie Darling of this all? Sarah Owens. Under the stage name Seraph, she’s the lead singer of the girl trio The Garden Snakes. They’ve taken the indie world by storm, while also angering the more extreme conservatives of the world. Why does Sarah need Kelly? She starts getting harassed, threats, and eventually assaulted by what seems to be angry stalkers. With how controversial her personal Seraph is, anyone could be her attacker. And then it escalates. In the middle of a performance, Seraph is shot. The ambulance with her in it disappears. Conspiracies swirl as what seems to be Easter eggs and cryptic notes in Sarah’s handwriting appear around the city. Can Kelly find out what happened to Sarah? She’ll have to dive into the web that is secrets, a troubled past, and lies. But she’s determined to help Sarah, whether she’s dead or alive.
I would just like to say that the hate this young, talented female performer gets is so sad. And all too true of young artists today. And it’s sad that some of them feel that they have to hide their true selves for safety. Take Chappell Roan, even with her Chappell persona, there’s still people out there who cross lines and will call her by her full government name, despite stressing how disrespectful it is. Sarah creates Seraph as a way to protect her identify, and to have privacy. I’m not sure if the author based Sarah off any particular female artists, but I’d like to think she’s almost a modge podge of so many of the wonderful once’s today. A few artists I thought of while listening: Florence + The Machine for the vibes, Taylor Swift for the easter eggs, Chappell Roan for the persona, among many many others who have graced the industry.
5/5 stars. I loved this. It was a beautiful read. The author truly did the damn thing with this. And also, I love me some Dolly!!!
Indie Darling follows Nashville private investigator Kelly Williams. She’s got a sports car, loves Dolly Parton, and takes on female clients to help them with any situation they need. Her clients trust her, she’s become what they need from her years of experience now.
Now, the Indie Darling of this all? Sarah Owens. Under the stage name Seraph, she’s the lead singer of the girl trio The Garden Snakes. They’ve taken the indie world by storm, while also angering the more extreme conservatives of the world. Why does Sarah need Kelly? She starts getting harassed, threats, and eventually assaulted by what seems to be angry stalkers. With how controversial her personal Seraph is, anyone could be her attacker. And then it escalates. In the middle of a performance, Seraph is shot. The ambulance with her in it disappears. Conspiracies swirl as what seems to be Easter eggs and cryptic notes in Sarah’s handwriting appear around the city. Can Kelly find out what happened to Sarah? She’ll have to dive into the web that is secrets, a troubled past, and lies. But she’s determined to help Sarah, whether she’s dead or alive.
I would just like to say that the hate this young, talented female performer gets is so sad. And all too true of young artists today. And it’s sad that some of them feel that they have to hide their true selves for safety. Take Chappell Roan, even with her Chappell persona, there’s still people out there who cross lines and will call her by her full government name, despite stressing how disrespectful it is. Sarah creates Seraph as a way to protect her identify, and to have privacy. I’m not sure if the author based Sarah off any particular female artists, but I’d like to think she’s almost a modge podge of so many of the wonderful once’s today. A few artists I thought of while listening: Florence + The Machine for the vibes, Taylor Swift for the easter eggs, Chappell Roan for the persona, among many many others who have graced the industry.
5/5 stars. I loved this. It was a beautiful read. The author truly did the damn thing with this. And also, I love me some Dolly!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review is for the audio version of the book, provided by NetGalley, and narrated by Amara Jasper.
Kelly Williams is a Dolly Parton mega-fan and private investigator that works for women only. She knows the system and how it treats, looks down on, and brushes women and their concerns aside, and she's determined to help.
When a rising indie performer, Sarah (Seraph), arranges a meeting to discuss the threatening letters she's been receiving, and the attack on her a few days prior, Kelly is there to start digging into everyone around Sarah, even her band mates, friends, and family. Maybe even Sarah herself.
I didn't really know what to expect going into this, but I loved the idea of private eye who isn't afraid to lay it out there with Dolly's charm. I really enjoyed this character. Kelly is strong and passionate. She's got a major step up on most detective novels I read, since Kelly is willing to talk to and work with the police, without being forced to. She has a break? Tell the cops. Someone said something strange? Tell the cops. It was effing refreshing.
The plot was a little typical, I could see where it was headed when the concert rolled around, but that might be the fact that I read a LOT of detective novels and the patterns were in my weird brain lol.
I loved the tone of this as well. There was clearly a lot of research that went into it and it was relayed in a way that didn't make you feel talked down to, but helped you to make the connections of why it was important to point it out. Again.
I enjoyed this and it was worth my time to read. I hope we get to see more of Kelly in the future.
Kelly Williams is a Dolly Parton mega-fan and private investigator that works for women only. She knows the system and how it treats, looks down on, and brushes women and their concerns aside, and she's determined to help.
When a rising indie performer, Sarah (Seraph), arranges a meeting to discuss the threatening letters she's been receiving, and the attack on her a few days prior, Kelly is there to start digging into everyone around Sarah, even her band mates, friends, and family. Maybe even Sarah herself.
I didn't really know what to expect going into this, but I loved the idea of private eye who isn't afraid to lay it out there with Dolly's charm. I really enjoyed this character. Kelly is strong and passionate. She's got a major step up on most detective novels I read, since Kelly is willing to talk to and work with the police, without being forced to. She has a break? Tell the cops. Someone said something strange? Tell the cops. It was effing refreshing.
The plot was a little typical, I could see where it was headed when the concert rolled around, but that might be the fact that I read a LOT of detective novels and the patterns were in my weird brain lol.
I loved the tone of this as well. There was clearly a lot of research that went into it and it was relayed in a way that didn't make you feel talked down to, but helped you to make the connections of why it was important to point it out. Again.
I enjoyed this and it was worth my time to read. I hope we get to see more of Kelly in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Audiobook provided by publisher via Netgalley
This is fine leaning towards good. 3.25 / 5
I liked the premise of a private investigator obsessed with Dolly Parton taking on the case of a massively famous indie singer, who has major Florence + The Machine vibes, complete with witchy aesthetics and Taylor Swift-style lyrical easter eggs and fan theories. It doesn't feel like a dark lit-fic read like the cover may imply though, it initially reads more like a cozy mystery with a quirky protag and lots of side characters. It does eventually get darker and more intriguing as the story goes on, but it takes a while to actually feel the stakes.
The pacing drags a bit. The story constantly pauses for full song lyrics or long "home video” transcripts about the singer’s past band, and while I get what the author was trying to do, it made the book feel more drawn out than immersive. There are also moments where characters suddenly start speaking in these overly poetic, stylized ways that doesn't feel natural. It came across more like the author showing off the prose than the characters actually talking.
I really liked Kelly as a protagonist. She’s charming, smart, and grounded by a strong moral center, while still feeling vulnerable in believable ways. Watching her actually work the case was easily the highlight of the book for me, even if I never became especially invested in Sarah as the celebrity at the center of it all. I also liked the narration and the smooth Southern voice she has.
Overall, I think the book has a fun enough concept, but it doesn't do anything that intriguing for me.
This is fine leaning towards good. 3.25 / 5
I liked the premise of a private investigator obsessed with Dolly Parton taking on the case of a massively famous indie singer, who has major Florence + The Machine vibes, complete with witchy aesthetics and Taylor Swift-style lyrical easter eggs and fan theories. It doesn't feel like a dark lit-fic read like the cover may imply though, it initially reads more like a cozy mystery with a quirky protag and lots of side characters. It does eventually get darker and more intriguing as the story goes on, but it takes a while to actually feel the stakes.
The pacing drags a bit. The story constantly pauses for full song lyrics or long "home video” transcripts about the singer’s past band, and while I get what the author was trying to do, it made the book feel more drawn out than immersive. There are also moments where characters suddenly start speaking in these overly poetic, stylized ways that doesn't feel natural. It came across more like the author showing off the prose than the characters actually talking.
I really liked Kelly as a protagonist. She’s charming, smart, and grounded by a strong moral center, while still feeling vulnerable in believable ways. Watching her actually work the case was easily the highlight of the book for me, even if I never became especially invested in Sarah as the celebrity at the center of it all. I also liked the narration and the smooth Southern voice she has.
Overall, I think the book has a fun enough concept, but it doesn't do anything that intriguing for me.
Review of advance copy
Indie Darling by Lauren Nossett ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kelly Williams is a private investigator in Nashville. She only helps women, especially those trying to get away from a desperate situation. When lead singer of the Garden Snakes and indie music sensation, Sarah-Faith Owens, hired her, Kelly’s determined to find and stop her stalker. Until everything changed during the band’s hometown performance.
This has a great mystery but with a fun music background and artistic feel to it. I loved that there were not only song lyrics within, but clues within the lyrics! It helped make the reader feel super involved with the mystery. I also enjoy when the main character is a private or amateur investigator because they often can get away with things police wouldn’t be able to - it makes for an entertaining story! There was a lot to this one about celebrity culture and how some are not only revered, but despised for not what they stand for, but for what one may THINK they stand for. The ending was a fun and unexpected treat, as I thought the story was over but there’s one additional twist.
“You know what happens to stars, don’t you? They explode.”
“I think of Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, and Jim Morrison. In the public eye, they’ll always be young and beautiful. Their names hold a kind of reverence not just because of their talent but because of their early demise.”
Read if you like:
-Music fiction
-Poetry or lyrics within fiction
-Clues or hints
-Stalking or harassment tropes
Indie Darling comes out 7/28.
Kelly Williams is a private investigator in Nashville. She only helps women, especially those trying to get away from a desperate situation. When lead singer of the Garden Snakes and indie music sensation, Sarah-Faith Owens, hired her, Kelly’s determined to find and stop her stalker. Until everything changed during the band’s hometown performance.
This has a great mystery but with a fun music background and artistic feel to it. I loved that there were not only song lyrics within, but clues within the lyrics! It helped make the reader feel super involved with the mystery. I also enjoy when the main character is a private or amateur investigator because they often can get away with things police wouldn’t be able to - it makes for an entertaining story! There was a lot to this one about celebrity culture and how some are not only revered, but despised for not what they stand for, but for what one may THINK they stand for. The ending was a fun and unexpected treat, as I thought the story was over but there’s one additional twist.
“You know what happens to stars, don’t you? They explode.”
“I think of Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, and Jim Morrison. In the public eye, they’ll always be young and beautiful. Their names hold a kind of reverence not just because of their talent but because of their early demise.”
Read if you like:
-Music fiction
-Poetry or lyrics within fiction
-Clues or hints
-Stalking or harassment tropes
Indie Darling comes out 7/28.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
Is this the start of a series? Please say yes. This is absolutely a standalone, but Kelly, the protagonist, is so fun. I need to spend more time with her.
Kelly is a detective who focuses her work on supporting women. That's easy to do since there are so many folks trying to harm women. This new case with Sarah appears to be yet another of those situations.
Sarah is a musician (known to fans as Seraph), and she seeks out Kelly because of a particularly brutal stalking incident that includes physical harm. Because of her relative fame, the suspect list is long. Things go all the way left when - after this meeting - Sarah is shot (!!!!) on stage. Then, she goes completely missing. Based on the physical evidence at the scene, there's not much hope that Sarah can possibly have survived this attack, but Kelly is not a quitter. She's bound and determined to get to the bottom of Sarah's case. Where is she? Who is responsible? What is really happening here?
The mystery is intriguing, but I most enjoyed getting to know Kelly. She's a compelling character because of her approach. She also becomes increasingly awesome as her personal story unfolds. As noted, I need more Kelly in my life, and I suspect many readers will feel the same.
This was a great read and a particularly enjoyable audiobook narration, and I'm looking forward to more from Nossett.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Is this the start of a series? Please say yes. This is absolutely a standalone, but Kelly, the protagonist, is so fun. I need to spend more time with her.
Kelly is a detective who focuses her work on supporting women. That's easy to do since there are so many folks trying to harm women. This new case with Sarah appears to be yet another of those situations.
Sarah is a musician (known to fans as Seraph), and she seeks out Kelly because of a particularly brutal stalking incident that includes physical harm. Because of her relative fame, the suspect list is long. Things go all the way left when - after this meeting - Sarah is shot (!!!!) on stage. Then, she goes completely missing. Based on the physical evidence at the scene, there's not much hope that Sarah can possibly have survived this attack, but Kelly is not a quitter. She's bound and determined to get to the bottom of Sarah's case. Where is she? Who is responsible? What is really happening here?
The mystery is intriguing, but I most enjoyed getting to know Kelly. She's a compelling character because of her approach. She also becomes increasingly awesome as her personal story unfolds. As noted, I need more Kelly in my life, and I suspect many readers will feel the same.
This was a great read and a particularly enjoyable audiobook narration, and I'm looking forward to more from Nossett.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
May 13, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for approving me for early access to this book to read and provide an honest review!
Kelly Williams is a PI who is hired to uncover a stalker who has recently attacked her new client. Kelly’s new client is a famous singer, Sarah Winters, aka Seraph from Seraph and the Garden Snakes. As the story progresses, Kelly witnesses Seraph being shot during a live performance. However, her body is taken and no one can find her. Kelly must uncover the secret life of Seraph and who she is as Sarah in order to discover what has truly become of this mega super star.
I believe this story will do well with the right audience. Despite this not being my preferred genre for books, I read it quickly. It did keep me intrigued and wasn’t super heavy. It was one of those books where the author did a good job keeping the bad guy concealed until the end, but even then, there is another surprise not revealed until the epilogue. However, the final surprise wasn’t very surprising because it’s the outcome you’ve been hoping for the entire time anyways. The character of Sarah aka Seraph was very Taylor Swift-esque. A mega star who keeps her private life well hidden, so devoted to her art, leaving clues and Easter eggs for her fan base to obsess over. That was definitely the vibe I picked up. There were also heavy tones of feminism with Christianity being framed as the “evil” that tries to shut women down. Which like, why? That’s a very archaic view to present of Christianity. But I digress. It’s 3 stars for me.
Kelly Williams is a PI who is hired to uncover a stalker who has recently attacked her new client. Kelly’s new client is a famous singer, Sarah Winters, aka Seraph from Seraph and the Garden Snakes. As the story progresses, Kelly witnesses Seraph being shot during a live performance. However, her body is taken and no one can find her. Kelly must uncover the secret life of Seraph and who she is as Sarah in order to discover what has truly become of this mega super star.
I believe this story will do well with the right audience. Despite this not being my preferred genre for books, I read it quickly. It did keep me intrigued and wasn’t super heavy. It was one of those books where the author did a good job keeping the bad guy concealed until the end, but even then, there is another surprise not revealed until the epilogue. However, the final surprise wasn’t very surprising because it’s the outcome you’ve been hoping for the entire time anyways. The character of Sarah aka Seraph was very Taylor Swift-esque. A mega star who keeps her private life well hidden, so devoted to her art, leaving clues and Easter eggs for her fan base to obsess over. That was definitely the vibe I picked up. There were also heavy tones of feminism with Christianity being framed as the “evil” that tries to shut women down. Which like, why? That’s a very archaic view to present of Christianity. But I digress. It’s 3 stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(4.5 Stars) Thank you, @macmillan.audio and @flatironbooks for the gifted audiobook! #macaudio2026
Kelly Williams is a Nashville PI who only takes on women clients, drives a little red shorts car, and sees Dolly Parton for who she is - the best of all of us. Her newest client is Sarah-Faith Owens, lead singer of The Garden Snakes. Sarah is receiving threatening letters and wants Kelly to track down who is writing them. But just a day into the investigation, Sarah is shot on stage at NashFest and the ambulance carrying her goes missing. Now Kelly trust into a dangerous investigation where secrets and lies are around every turn.
I’ve loved Nossett’s writing since The Resemblance and her ability to write powerful female leads is second to none. Kelly Williams is an absolutely fantastic PI written in the classic vein of the V.I. Warshawski series where the detective and the city are both key characters. I hope we get more of this character and her fantastic Nashville found family in the future!
🎧 Audiobook thoughts: Amara Jasper does an amazing job bringing Kelly’s character to life - accent and all! (9h 47m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kelly Williams is a Nashville PI who only takes on women clients, drives a little red shorts car, and sees Dolly Parton for who she is - the best of all of us. Her newest client is Sarah-Faith Owens, lead singer of The Garden Snakes. Sarah is receiving threatening letters and wants Kelly to track down who is writing them. But just a day into the investigation, Sarah is shot on stage at NashFest and the ambulance carrying her goes missing. Now Kelly trust into a dangerous investigation where secrets and lies are around every turn.
I’ve loved Nossett’s writing since The Resemblance and her ability to write powerful female leads is second to none. Kelly Williams is an absolutely fantastic PI written in the classic vein of the V.I. Warshawski series where the detective and the city are both key characters. I hope we get more of this character and her fantastic Nashville found family in the future!
🎧 Audiobook thoughts: Amara Jasper does an amazing job bringing Kelly’s character to life - accent and all! (9h 47m)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Indie Darling is the first book I’ve read from Lauren Nossett. The story is told through Kelly Williams along with snippets of home videos from The Garden Snakes which an influencer posts. The narrator brought Kelly’s POV to life and gave each character a distinct voice. Her Southern accent sounded authentic. The supporting cast made the mystery even more engaging. I really enjoyed the writing style in here where the figuring out the mystery kept me engaged. The clues within the song lyrics were also a nice touch. Kelly seems a bit of an armature at times, but there are things she does that the police aren’t able to do which keeps the story entertaining. However, there were times where the information was repetitive. Also the pacing in the middle seemed to drag a bit. As for the ending, I liked it! The culprit was predictable but there were a couple of other twists I didn’t anticipate. Overall, I would recommend this if you love celebrity culture with a mystery twist.
Thank you Flatiron & Macmillan Audio for the free copy.
Thank you Flatiron & Macmillan Audio for the free copy.
May 16, 2026
Indie Darling by Lauren Nossett
Genre: Thriller ish
Time: 9 Hours, 47 Minutes, 36 Seconds
Pace: Smedium
Themes: Friendship, Rockstar, Trauma
Rating: 3.75✨
Goodreads Rating: 4.19✨
I received an ALC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A private investigator is approached to protect a lead singer of a very popular band. Everything goes wrong when she is SHOT ON STAGE!
My Thoughts 💭
Kelly (the FMC) was an absolute HOOT. She loved her some Dolly Parton!
Kelly only works with women which I thought was a really nice touch that added to her character development. She was more than meets the eye and has a lot of personal trauma which is flushed out by the end.
I could picture Evan for some reason with long brown hair and mustache - playing the drums. I loved Kelly and Evans relationship.
We see Sarah and her bands rise to fame through flashbacks in the form of lost videotapes (we are old!).
The ending?? Hello.. Ms Lauren had me fooled and sad.
I would have liked all the song lyrics a little more if I had read them instead of listened. They sounded a little funny at 2x speed.
I really liked Sarahs vibe : the music and cool stage sets. After she disappears though - I was not that invested in seeing her returned? She seemed unlikeable and singularly focused in the flashbacks.
Genre: Thriller ish
Time: 9 Hours, 47 Minutes, 36 Seconds
Pace: Smedium
Themes: Friendship, Rockstar, Trauma
Rating: 3.75✨
Goodreads Rating: 4.19✨
I received an ALC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A private investigator is approached to protect a lead singer of a very popular band. Everything goes wrong when she is SHOT ON STAGE!
My Thoughts 💭
Kelly (the FMC) was an absolute HOOT. She loved her some Dolly Parton!
Kelly only works with women which I thought was a really nice touch that added to her character development. She was more than meets the eye and has a lot of personal trauma which is flushed out by the end.
I could picture Evan for some reason with long brown hair and mustache - playing the drums. I loved Kelly and Evans relationship.
We see Sarah and her bands rise to fame through flashbacks in the form of lost videotapes (we are old!).
The ending?? Hello.. Ms Lauren had me fooled and sad.
I would have liked all the song lyrics a little more if I had read them instead of listened. They sounded a little funny at 2x speed.
I really liked Sarahs vibe : the music and cool stage sets. After she disappears though - I was not that invested in seeing her returned? She seemed unlikeable and singularly focused in the flashbacks.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A private investigator named Kelly Williams is hired by Seraph, a country star, to figure out who her stalker is. Kelly works exclusively for women, particularly those being harassed by men. Soon thereafter, Seraph is shot on stage and then completely missing. It is a good mystery with deep themes of feminism, against the patriarchy, and how women are treated in the music industry. the music industry and the city of Nashville take a starring role in this one.
Audiobook review- I enjoyed the narrator and appreciated that being native to Tennessee most of the characters had appropriate southern accents. I found this book repetitive enough to be easy to follow on audio. It is fun to listen to and kept my interest.
Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published in June.
Audiobook review- I enjoyed the narrator and appreciated that being native to Tennessee most of the characters had appropriate southern accents. I found this book repetitive enough to be easy to follow on audio. It is fun to listen to and kept my interest.
Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published in June.
May 1, 2026
“You know what happens to stars, don’t you?” And when I continue to stare, he says, “They explode.”
This book! From the wholly authentic sleuth who adores Dolly Parton to the superstar indie singer who vanishes from a bloody stage and the colorful band mates and suspects who populate her life, I loved every component of this modern whodunit. While INDIE DARLING is set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene, it will take you to some very unexpected places through a series of clues you’ll love to decipher alongside P.I. Kelly Williams. Nossett throws back the curtain on obsession and the dangers of living in the public eye through pitch-perfect prose and relentless pacing.
Destined to remain one of my favorite novels of the year.
This book! From the wholly authentic sleuth who adores Dolly Parton to the superstar indie singer who vanishes from a bloody stage and the colorful band mates and suspects who populate her life, I loved every component of this modern whodunit. While INDIE DARLING is set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene, it will take you to some very unexpected places through a series of clues you’ll love to decipher alongside P.I. Kelly Williams. Nossett throws back the curtain on obsession and the dangers of living in the public eye through pitch-perfect prose and relentless pacing.
Destined to remain one of my favorite novels of the year.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This mystery was so unique with so many secrets, so many unknowns, fans that are in love with Sarah (Seraph) and her song lyrics with hidden messages.
Kelly Williams is a PI helping women to get justice because she knows how hard it is for women to get a voice. Sarah reaches out to Kelly because while she is famous and gets the occasional harassment things lately have been escalating. Sarah is still determined to go on stage this weekend with her band at a huge festival. Everyone is very excited for this until she gets shot on stage, in the midst of the confusion her body goes missing.. Soon there are conspiracies everywhere and some old footage from her original band starts to surface.
Was the whole thing real or fake? Kelly Williams wants to find out the truth
Kelly Williams is a PI helping women to get justice because she knows how hard it is for women to get a voice. Sarah reaches out to Kelly because while she is famous and gets the occasional harassment things lately have been escalating. Sarah is still determined to go on stage this weekend with her band at a huge festival. Everyone is very excited for this until she gets shot on stage, in the midst of the confusion her body goes missing.. Soon there are conspiracies everywhere and some old footage from her original band starts to surface.
Was the whole thing real or fake? Kelly Williams wants to find out the truth
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Flat Iron Books for the gifted ARC Copy of Indie Darling. This was my first book by this author and I thought it was a very interesting story. I love Mystery thrillers and I was in the mood for one and this one did not disappoint. Kelly the main character was a great detective, well shall I say Private Investigator slash Detective in a way. Also the whole music vibe to the story was great. To have a mystery thriller involving a missing person from a band, throw in some stalker vibes who is out to get her with threatening letters/notes to her and her bandmates made it for a very interesting story.
Review of advance copy
I listened to this book as a LibroFM ALC! I love our protagonist, Kelly! I found myself rooting for her and was intrigued as the story revealed her backstory. I thought the first 2/3rds of this book were really compelling. While I found Sarah/Seraph’s character underdeveloped, I was still along for the ride. The mechanics of the “mystery” started to fall apart a little for me in the final 1/3. However, I devoured this book in just a few days and would definitely pick up another mystery featuring this Dolly-loving detective.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I didn't love this book as much as I thought I was going to. I thought the premise and setting sounded really cool having a mystery immersed within the Nashville music scene. I think my main problem was that we are supposed to be engaged and invested in Seraph, but the little time that we got to spend with her, she came off as very selfish and unlikeable. I did enjoy Kelly's character and would read another book with her as the lead if this was turned into a series.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was absolutely incredible. WOW what a work of art. If you’re a fan of mysteries,the power of women, and going down the rabbit hole of Taylor Swift’s Easter eggs, this book is for you.
Absolutely incredible job by the author and her late husband. That authors note absolutely broke my heart but I’m so glad Lauren Nossett decided to share this masterpiece with the world.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced listener copy. All thoughts are my own.
Absolutely incredible job by the author and her late husband. That authors note absolutely broke my heart but I’m so glad Lauren Nossett decided to share this masterpiece with the world.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced listener copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 14, 2025
Dear Reader,
If you’ve found your way here, you’ve uncovered the final clue—though one last door remains. Should curiosity tug at you, follow where it leads: https://www.laurennossett.com/longliv... (but tread lightly—spoilers await!)
If the journey moved you, I’d be grateful if you shared your thoughts in a review. After all, our lives are richest not with fame or fortune, but with love and friends.
#LongLiveSeraph
If you’ve found your way here, you’ve uncovered the final clue—though one last door remains. Should curiosity tug at you, follow where it leads: https://www.laurennossett.com/longliv... (but tread lightly—spoilers await!)
If the journey moved you, I’d be grateful if you shared your thoughts in a review. After all, our lives are richest not with fame or fortune, but with love and friends.
#LongLiveSeraph
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my goodness I loved this book and the story!!! A Dolly Parton loving private investigator in Nashville tries to help a music superstar who has been receiving threats and has been physically attacked. What follows is a story that had me racing to the end to find out what happens!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RTC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, MacMillian Audio & Lauren Nossett.
Dean and I are twinems
Dean and I are twinems
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