Voted Most Likely to Murder

by Lacey Moone

A high school reunion comes to an abrupt end when the dead body of the class jock shocks the school’s gymnasium in this cozy mystery debut, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Jenn McKinlay.

Belinda Bishop is unemployed and single. At thirty-two, her journalism career feels stuck and let’s not even speak about her love life, which isn’t helping her look forward to her upcoming high school reunion. Stuck working at her parent’s seaside cottage and RV park in Nova Scotia for the time being, she needs time to regroup and come up with a killer story to get her career and her life back on track.     

When she literally stumbles across the dead body of the philandering class jock at the reunion, the party quickly comes to a stop. At first, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Belinda to channel her inner Christianne Amanpour, until her childhood best friend-turned-nemesis Jolene Dexter is declared the prime suspect. Despite their falling out, Belinda is convinced the former pageant queen is innocent.

As the two women struggle to put aside their differences, they have to work together to catch the real murderer before this sleepy coastal town is rocked to its foundations. 

This romp of a mystery is perfect for fans of Tamara Berry and Olivia Blacke.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Adult, Suspense

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Laura Lovesreading]

The cover has me so intrigued!
I don't read enough cozy mysteries
Excited to see how this delivers!
❤️🤍❤️🤍

[Keysha]

OOOHH THIS LOOKS FUNNN

[Jack Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voted Most Likely To Murder was such an easy, enjoyable read from start to finish. Belinda is a genuinely funny and relatable protagonist, and the kind of main character you quickly become invested in. She’s flawed in believable ways, which makes her far more compelling, and I constantly wanted to keep reading simply to learn more about her and see how she would navigate the increasingly messy dynamics around her.

One of the strongest elements of the book is its portrayal of friendship. The relationships feel both warm and quietly tragic at times, capturing the strange tension between nostalgia, loyalty, resentment, and the versions of ourselves we carry from school into adulthood. The exploration of social dynamics, particularly those rooted in school history, felt very sharp and recognisable without becoming overly heavy-handed.

The writing itself is quick, witty, and extremely readable. I was laughing by page fourteen, and the humour continues throughout in a way that keeps the story moving without undermining the mystery. It’s one of those books that feels effortless to read in the best possible sense: easy to follow, well paced, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time with.

I also loved the setting of Little Blue Harbour itself. Everything felt cosy and vivid, and the atmosphere really helped sell the blend of small-town comfort and underlying tension that good cozy crime thrives on.

The mystery is well plotted overall, and I appreciated that the solution ultimately made sense within the logic of the story. It’s the kind of mystery where, in retrospect, you can see how the clues fit together if you approach the information from the right angle. That said, I didn’t completely love the ending. I would have liked a stronger reveal and a bit more emotional payoff in the final stretch, particularly given how invested I’d become in the characters and relationships. Still, the resolution was satisfying enough that it didn’t undermine my enjoyment of the book overall.

A cosy, witty, character-driven mystery with a strong sense of place and excellent relationship writing. I’d happily recommend it.

With thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

[Katlyn Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4

About the same as any other cozy mystery. Similar style to Finlay Donovan.

[Steve Bewley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voted Most Likely To Murder by Lacey Moone

Rating : 4 ⭐
Format : eBook 💻
Pages : 305
Duration : 3 Days

---------------

Most Likely To Murder, sees Belinda Bishop return to her homeetown, recently single and unemployed. Being pressured into going back to her High School reunion with new/old friend Stevie, old cliques, friendships and rivalries return.

When old best friend turned nemesis Jolene is accused of murder Belinda and Stevie fight to clear her name and if Belinda can get a juicy story put of it to propell her journalist career then that's all good right? Cue hijinx, drama and teenage hostilities.

No more spoilers from here on in.

This is a fun, light cosy murder whodunnit, the characters are well fleshed out and though slightly leaning on the whole school stereotype thing I really grew to like and enjoy the characters and the area (It's set in Nova Scotia, my dream vacation destination)

It's a well paced out mystery, easy to read and just fun, I absolutely flew through this book and when I wasn't reading I was trying to work out the clues, that's a sign of a good puzzle, talking of which, I guessed the culprit at 31% and even though I was 95% certain of who it was I still enjoyed the journey.

This is Lacey Moone's debut and round of applause to her as it's a great start and hopefully a start of a new series, it's definitely left open for a sequel or three.

Thank you to Netgalley & Interstellar Flight Press for the Advanced Review Copy of this book, though I am grateful for the ARC the words above are my own

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You can find more reviews on my blog here : https://bookshelf018.wordpress.com/

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[Helen's always reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Maybe Donna Dickie is right: you get farther along in life sucking up to people instead of calling them out."
"Depends on what kind of life you want to live. You know who you are, and you're not afraid to show it. In fact, that's something I always admired about you. You're confidence."

Thank you Netgalley for this surprisingly enjoyable ARC. I requested this book because I liked the cover (yes, I'm one of those people) and I stayed for Pretty Bishop. She was such a fun character - blunt, to the point, cannot read a room to save her life. Her obsessive nature is truly something I can relate to, since I, too, can become a little ... overzealous.

I honestly could not tell which character did it, I went through every possibility and every character's story and I found myself thinking of this book while doing anything else. It was that good. I loved Jinx's character, and the quirky character-quirk of his name never being said, since it's 'cursed'. Also, Seargent Finlayson was such a joy. He gave Mr Darcy vibes - serious, stand-offish, hiding an actual sense of humour, insulting the Main Character and then actually liking her (although he would never admit it). What's not to love?

Lacey Moone had me in her grip through this entire story. Every character was a suspect, every clue was mind-blowing. And that plot twist! It was like a train in the middle of a car park - unexpected and destructive. Voted Most Likely to Murder is such a cozy, fun whodunnit, with crazy, real characters, devious pasts, skeletons in all the closets and friendships that are rocky, fun and truly authentic.

I would recommend this book a hundred times!

Another fun Pretty moment: "You hated being a Girl Guide. You quit as soon as they said you'd have to go camping." "Humans weren't meant to sleep on the ground, Jolene. It's why we invented houses."

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 304 pages
⏱ 5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
📅 Expected Publication: May 12, 2026
🎁 ARC provided by NetGalley

Hold up! This is a Debut? How? It doesn't read like one. Seriously, Lacey Moone writes like she's been topping cozy mystery bestseller lists for ages. Voted Most Likely to Murder hits that perfect trifecta of sharp plotting, relatable characters, and genuine warmth. The way Moone leans into the high school reunion after about twenty years being the perfect breeding ground for resentment, rivalry, and bad decisions, is just witchcraft. I kept pausing to check the cover because this level of polish, pacing, and pure joy does NOT scream "first book".

Belinda "Pretty" Bishop is the kind of messy, magnetic heroine cozies need more, with her unemployment, underwhelmed nature, and armed with snark that could slice through buttercream. And can we talk about the Nova Scotia setting? Absolute perfection. It's cozy, a bit quirky, and unapologetically Canadian. I adore how Moone wove that small-town flavor into the mystery, without leaning on clichés. It's fresh, funny, and (somehow!) comforting, even when a dead body turns up in the story.

So yeah, someone check Lacey Moone’s resume, because this debut feels way too polished to be her first.

Would I recommend it?
I’m still in shock that this flawless, laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging cozy is a DEBUT. Lacey Moone just walked in like she owns the genre. Clear your May 12, 2026 schedule, pre-order immediately, and cancel plans. This is your new obsession.

First Book or Sorcery?
Tell me you’ve ever read a debut this ridiculously polished without telling me. Drop your “how is this their first?!” favorites below. Also, Canadian cozy readers, are we claiming Lacey Moone yet or are we claiming her HARD?

[Holley Desigio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belinda, also known as "pretty", is a journalist with a career that never took off to her ambitions. Returning to her small town, she wants to make her mom, a real estate agent, and dad, a cop, proud. Her best friend Stevie, an eccentric troublemaker, and her attend her high school reunion. Her friend turned nemesis Jolene and her husband trawler, along with football player Andy, Pizza store owner Kevin, his wife Maddie, and Donna, the annoying rule follower all come together for what is supposed to be a good night. But when Andy is killed, and Jolene becomes suspect number one, Stevie and Belinda decide to investigate. But as they do, Belinda must confront her relationship with Jolene, why it broke down, and decide if it can be fixed or not. In this small town secrets are a dime a dozen, and affairs, gambling, and shady behavior comes to light. But can they really solve this crime? And if solving the crime proves her nemesis is innocent, is Belinda ok with that? This was a fun fast paced read that I finished in just a few hours. It is short and to the point, with snappy dialogue and cliff hangers in many chapters that keep the reader going. While I solved the crime about a quarter of the way through, I did enjoy the story and that comes from the characters from the most part. They are all noisy, sarcastic, and the tension simmering underneath the "nicety" of the town leads itself to the murder mystery. Overall, a fun little cozy mystery for an afternoon of reading for those who like a non-graphic murder mystery that focuses on family, friendship, and even a little romance at times.

[Lindsey (Bring My Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bring, Borrow, or Bypass?
Bring | ✨Borrow✨ | Bypass

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Felt a bit like it was aiming to be the intro book to a series somewhat like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum (One for The Money, Two for the Dough, etc).

It was real stakes murder etc, but had a cozyish vibe to it - I never truly felt like any of the main characters were in danger or weren't going to figure it out and become a crime fighting trio at the end (this is not a spoiler it's like the definition of cozy mystery).

Some other notes: I didn't expect the main character's snarkiness and I did get a couple of chuckles out of that, the childhood nickname thing of "Pretty" bothered me for whatever reason, may we all have a friend like Stevie, how ridiculously relatable is the "falling out" reason for Belinda & Jolene, idk I think I could stay home and work for my parents cottage rental company, and UM I'M SORRY but that "let me guess you were a gifted kid in school and now you're a washout" speech by the lead cop was Rude™️

OVERALL RATING:
★★★ / 3.13

Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★
Logic ★★★
Enjoyment ★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★

★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it

(Check out The StoryGraph if you'd like to review any Content Warnings!)

[The Mystery Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
Voted Most Likely to Murder by Lacey Moone is a cozy mystery debut that brings murder to a high school reunion.

Belinda Bishop is unemployed, single, and at thirty-two, her journalism career feels stuck. Let's not even talk about her love life. She's not exactly looking forward to her upcoming high school reunion. Working at her parents' seaside cottage and RV park in Nova Scotia for now, she needs time to regroup and figure out her next move. When she literally trips over the dead body of the philandering class jock at the reunion, the party comes to a screeching halt. At first, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Belinda to channel her inner journalist, until her childhood best friend turned nemesis Jolene Dexter becomes the prime suspect. Despite their falling out, Belinda is convinced the former pageant queen is innocent. As the two women struggle to put aside their differences, they have to work together to catch the real murderer before their sleepy coastal town is rocked.

The high school reunion setting is fun and relatable. The dynamic between Belinda and Jolene, former best friends who had a falling out, adds good tension. The Nova Scotia coastal setting provides nice atmosphere.

The mystery is decent with reasonable suspects, and watching Belinda and Jolene navigate their complicated history while investigating keeps things interesting.

A promising debut with likable characters and a fun premise that sets up a cozy mystery series.

#VotedMostLikelyToMurder #LaceyMoone #CozyMystery #MysteryBooks #DebutNovel

[icantcomeimbooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voted Most Likely to Murder is a fun, charming cozy mystery with a fresh seaside setting and a protagonist who’s easy to root for.

Belinda Bishop is at a crossroads — career stalled, love life nonexistent, and reluctantly back in her hometown for a high school reunion she’d rather avoid. When the reunion takes a deadly turn and the class jock is found murdered, Belinda’s journalist instincts kick in immediately… especially when her former best friend (and current nemesis) becomes the prime suspect.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Belinda and Jolene. Their shared history adds tension, humour, and emotional depth to the investigation, and watching them reluctantly work together made the story even more engaging. The small-town Nova Scotia setting adds plenty of charm, complete with gossip, long memories, and a close-knit community where everyone has an opinion.

The mystery itself is well-paced and accessible, with enough twists to keep you guessing without ever losing that comforting cozy feel. Belinda’s voice is relatable and witty, and her determination to clear Jolene’s name gives the story heart as well as intrigue.

This is a strong and enjoyable series debut that sets up the characters and setting beautifully. Perfect for readers who love cozy mysteries with journalist sleuths, seaside towns, and past relationships resurfacing in the worst possible way.

[ATLANTIC BOOK REVIEWS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrote my review of this book on a trip from Nova Scotia to Alberta, which just so happens to be the same trip the author, Lacey Moone, had to take. We both grew up in the same town and now live in Alberta which I thought was fun.

I had the very great pleasure of attending the book launch for this book and meeting the lovely author at Shelburne's Museums by the Sea on May 12th. I found the author both engaging and very knowledgeable about the genre she writes. She answered lots of questions and did a reading from the book. It was fun to hear the background story on the writing, editing and publishing of her first cozy mystery book.

Character development was exceptional. I found myself completely involved in their lives and histories from the get go.

Belinda Bishop’s career and love life have come to a screeching halt and she finds herself back in small town Nova Scotia working at her parents seaside cottage and RV park.

She becomes caught up in a murder investigation when she literally stumbles over the dead body of the high school jock at her high school reunion.

Belinda’s childhood best friend-turned nemesis is the prime suspect in the case, but she doesn’t believe Jolene is guilty. They agree to put aside their differences in order to catch the killer.

This was a fun read, well plotted and kept me guessing until the very end. A brilliant debut cozy mystery. I hope this will become a series.

[Rayo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinion.

From the cover (which is amazing, by the way), I went into this book thinking it was a YA murder mystery and forgive me again, I didn’t read the synopsis before diving in but I was pleasantly surprised to find out this was an adult murder mystery.

High school classmates are set to do a reunion after fourteen years at their school in Little Blue Harbour. During the course of the reunion event, the class flirt, Andrew (Andy), who sorts of have a thing for married women, ends up dead. And now the big question: who did it and why?

Belinda, despite her falling out with her childhood best friend-turned-nemesis Jolene Dexter (who is declared the prime suspect), is determined to find out who the murderer is! I loved the shenanigans that took place in this novel — the drama, the secrets, the small-town gossip, and then the big reveal of who did it and why. (You will be surprised at the smallest things people could kill for!)

Overall, I loved this small-town murder mystery. Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

[Khushwant Rakhecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how the book keeps things light without losing momentum. Instead of leaning into gore or darkness, it focuses on quirky characters, witty dialogue, and a writing style that feels sharp and effortless to read. Little Blue Harbour stood out to me as one of the book’s biggest strengths the setting feels vivid and alive, almost like another character. The mystery is well‑paced, filled with enough clues and red herrings to keep me engaged and it definitely had that “just one more chapter” pull.

On the flip side, the story does lean on some predictable tropes; the side characters lacked depth at times, which made some suspects less compelling. Still, I had a great overall experience—the humor works, the pacing is solid, and the themes of friendship and second chances add a nice emotional touch, making it a charming cozy mystery worth picking up.

#VotedMostLikelytoMurder #NetGalley

Rating:- 3.75/5

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy
DNF @ 50%
I had a hard time caring about the characters or the plot. The characters all feel much younger than they are and end up fitting into a high school stereotype or feeling like how a high schooler views adults. I understand this is a young adult novel, but teenagers like to read stories with people they can dream to be. This felt more like everyone stayed in their box in high school and never developed past that.
writing also felt both mature and simplistic and different times. You can tell they author is a good writer, but they constantly go back and forth from a more younger tone and a more mature one.
I would be open to read something else she writes and seeing how she could improve because the the premise and the more mature sections, while jarring, were very well written.

[Megyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows Belinda as she loses her job, her boyfriend, and has to move back home. When she is home, she goes to her high school reunion and someone gets murdered there. Along with her best friend, she sets out to solve the case and clear the name of another classmate.

I really enjoyed this book! I found the characters so easy to read from and relatable. The three main characters had a funny relationship and got into some trouble together. I liked seeing everyone grow and change throughout as well.

It was a nice balance between serious and a bit of fun. The mystery was interesting as well!

I can see this one becoming a series and i hope it does because i enjoyed it a lot!

[Mái Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2026 Book #20
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one took me a while to get through, and I think it mostly comes down to not really connecting with any of the main characters. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d feel invested… but it never quite happened for me.

That said, I actually liked the premise. It has this campy, slightly over-the-top vibe that could’ve been really fun, and I did enjoy the female friendships throughout the story, those moments felt like the strongest part of the book.

Where it lost me a bit was in the “action” scenes. They felt a little too unrealistic and exaggerated, which pulled me out of the story instead of drawing me in.

Overall, it was an okay read for me, not bad, just not super memorable either.

[Sidrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ This was such a cute, cozy, easy to read murder mystery! The character dynamics and friendship are VERY relatable. As are the classic high school stereotypes trope and small town antics. The relationship development between the three main female characters was great, their interactions at times were so funny! The actual “crime” in the story wasn’t hard to follow for me personally, so despite figuring out the killer, it also isn’t obvious to the reader either. The story includes some subplot inkling of romance which hints at a sequel. Overall an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voted Most Likely To Murder is an enjoyable mystery centered around a high school reunion in a small town. The mystery itself was engaging and not entirely predictable, which is great if you’re a big whodunit reader. I liked the characters, specifically the female friendships that didn’t stick to the high school stereotypes that the title plays off of.

The story does take a little time to get going but once the investigation kicks in, I was invested. There were a few moments that were a bit over the top with the silliness but I didn’t mind much. Overall, I recommend for those interested in the cozy mystery that keeps you guessing.

3.5 Stars

[Eli Sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of my favorite reads for this year. It's cohesive, realistic yet lighthearted. I love the relatability and realness of the main characters. They don't suddenly become a modern day Sherlocke Holmes or Miss Marple. They're just simply people trying to clear their name. It's also a treat that it doesn't dwell on drama. On the contrary, it's placed more emphasis on closure, making the story meaningful.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book as an ARC. I also happen to know someone who knows the author. She had told me about this book and I was really intrigued. I really enjoyed this story. The characters were all well rounded, found myself really liking all the characters, even the ones you shouldn’t like! There were twists and turns, mystery, laughs, love, friendship. A really great mystery with a satisfying ending!

[Tiffany Jull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I selected this book based on the title and book cover, definitely seemed like a book I would enjoy.

After a rather slow start, the story did get interesting. However, it took me much longer to read than a mystery novel usually does. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, and I wasn't particularly wowed by the reveal of the murderer in the end. It was an ok read.

3☆

[꧁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25✨

Belinda Bishop went back in town for a class reunion.. and got sn interesting story to investigate on.

Good story overall.. engaging and loved the humour and friendship shared between the characters. Loved the casual Canadian references, locations.. Canadian actor.. picturesque scenes..

A hint of romance but focused more on solving the mystery.
_

“One more chapter,”
“Charlie’s Angels was just a sexy seventies reboot of Nancy Drew,”
“It’s a magic trick"

[fida! · Rating 4 out of 5]

first read of 2026!! i finished the book in a single day so it's safe to assume I loved it!! i kinda guessed the killer in the first few pages but i genuinely think it's unexpected and is so so good and well written! I loved our main character, glad i started the year with this! <3

[Ashleigh Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cosy, small town mystery with plenty of silliness and a focus on female friendships. The plot was straight forward but not always predictable, and though it took a little time to get started once it did I flew through reading it.

[I received an arc from NetGalley]

[Giggles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for giving me an oppurtunity to read this early

It took me a while to get into this as it was slow to start with (( which i dont like in books)) but i stuck with it & did enjoy reading it once it started pulling me in
I Love the cover of the book also 😊

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery with some superb vibes from the first moment all the way to the end. it built up well and the reveal was both logical and dramatic. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Sue Slade · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is coming soon.

[Thomas M Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of wit and sarcasm. A fun read.

[Esme Merrily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 fun, warming, fast paced, but the characters act and talk like juveniles, not adults, and the culprit is way too easy to spot.