True Crime Lovers

by Jody Wenner

Autumn White loves eating comfort food while reading in bed. She also loves pinching pennies like it’s her job. She doesn’t love the stupidly handsome trainer her eccentric mother, Bunny, was working with shortly before her untimely and unusual death.

As an avid fan of true crime, Autumn can’t help but feel something is amiss, so she follows Bunny’s money trail down the rabbit hole like the good accountant she is. While playing detective, she runs into the perfectly perfect personal trainer at each turn. Soon, she learns exercise isn’t the killer she should have been worrying about all along.

True Crime Lovers is a humorous genre mashup of romantic comedy meets murder mystery.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2025

About the author

Jody Wenner is a Midwestern author with several independently published mystery novels as well as two works released by The Wild Rose Press. Shorter stories and articles can be found in the pages of Mystery Magazine Weekly, Punk Noir, Urban Pigs Press, Pistol Jim Press, The Keepthings, and Thriller101. When not writing, reading, or editing, you can find her walking her dog or obsessively knitting. Visit her at www.jodywenner.com

Reviews

[Andrew Monge · Rating 5 out of 5]

TRUE CRIME LOVERS by Jody Wenner probably shouldn’t have worked for me. I like gritty stories filled with violence and dark humor; this was a meet-cute meshed with elements of a cozy mystery and laughs that didn’t make me squirm uncomfortably…but I gotta tell you, I freakin’ *loved* it.

The story centers on Autumn, a young woman who has just been dumped in the worst way possible…and that’s only the beginning of the tumultuous few weeks she experiences as more and more bad news piles up.

Along the way, Autumn’s internal dialogue both drives the story forward and showcases Wenner’s excellent use of characterization to give readers a full picture of the ups and downs of a young woman navigating relationships, family, work, etc.

Loved how the novel is full of surprises, starting right away at the end of chapter one and carrying straight on through to key points in the story. Also some sly humor sprinkled throughout. Truly a joy to read.

[Lezane_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️
0🌶️

True Crime Lovers follows Autumn who is an accountant but has had some bad luck recently. Her long tome boyfriend was caught in the act with a coworker and she decided to work from home. In comes “Bunny” her beautiful and perfect mom that has a line of ex husband and who isn’t scared of going after what she wants, especially of there is lots of miney involved.

After leaving her husband she moves in with Autumn and tries to convince her to live a little more on the edge and to gight for what she wants. After her mother’s unusual death, Autumn gets laid off at work and she decides to investigate her mom’s death because after watching to many True Crime shows, she doesn’t believe it was natural causes.

That is when she meets Josh. Her mom’s personal assistant who is also a fan of true crime. The story twists and turns and in the end everything works out as it should! Or did it?

What I liked - The FMC, Autumn, is a very lovable character and one that everyone can resonate with in some way. I enjoyed the mom and it is funny how she is the one that teaches us a few life lessons. I liked the romance between Josh and Autumn, and he is just a well rounded guy.

What I didn’t like - I thought the True Crime aspect would’ve had a bigger role having it in the title but it felt like a subplot. Even though it was a fast read, I think the movement of the plot felt very slow.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity of this ARC!

[Daisy Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

I loved this book! Autumn was so quirky and lovable and I loved the murder mystery. Honestly had no idea how that was going to unfold and it kept me on my toes! And Josh 💗 what a guy! So patient with Autumn and her flight of ideas. Loved this book!

[Geeky Bookers - Ilaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed True Crime Lovers. I read it in less than two days... it’s under 400 pages, but it kept me hooked the whole way through and gave me such good company.

What stood out to me most was how refreshing it felt to read about characters in their late twenties who are actually mature, communicate properly, and treat each other with respect. Autumn, in particular, is a strong female character I really admired, and the romance felt realistic. It’s a slow burn, but the good kind: the characters spend time together, get to know each other, and nothing feels rushed or forced.

I also liked how the book balanced different elements: mystery, crime, drama, romance, and a good amount of humour. It kept things light while still showing the struggles the characters go through, which made it feel grounded and believable.

If I had one criticism, it’s that I would have happily read 50–100 more pages. I’d have liked more time with some of the side characters (Autumn’s mum, Bunny, especially), but that’s really just because I enjoyed the story and wanted more. The ending also felt just a little bit rushed, though not enough to spoil it.

As far as Jodie Wenner’s other books go, this seems to be her first real romance. I’ve checked her backlist, but I’m not sure yet if any of those are quite my style. A Matter of Curse might be the one I’ll try next, but I’ll have to see.

Final verdict: a solid 4.5 stars. It’s not perfect, but it was exactly the kind of book I wanted right now, and I know I’ll reread it in the future. I also want a physical copy for my shelf, which says a lot.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jody Wenner delivers an entertaining genre mashup in "True Crime Lovers," blending romantic comedy with murder mystery in a way that will appeal to readers of both cozy mysteries and contemporary romance. When accountant Autumn White's eccentric mother Bunny dies under suspicious circumstances, Autumn's true crime obsession kicks into high gear as she investigates the handsome personal trainer who was working with her mother before her death.
Wenner captures the amateur sleuth mentality perfectly. Autumn's accountant skills translate naturally to following money trails, and her true crime knowledge provides both helpful insights and some amusing red herrings. The dynamic between Autumn's suspicions and her growing attraction to the "stupidly handsome" trainer creates genuine tension that drives the plot forward.
The mystery elements work well, with enough clues and misdirection to keep readers guessing without becoming overly complex. Wenner balances the serious subject matter of murder with humor effectively. The romantic subplot develops naturally alongside the investigation, and the chemistry between Autumn and her potential suspect/love interest adds an engaging layer of complexity.
The writing is breezy and accessible, with Autumn's voice feeling authentic throughout. Wenner clearly knows her target audience which are clearly readers who binge true crime podcasts while swooning over book boyfriends will find plenty to enjoy.
This is perfect for readers looking for a lighter take on murder mystery with romantic elements, or romance readers who want a bit more intrigue with their happily ever after.

[Serena Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this Arc through NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours. This book was pretty good and twisty. Autumn is an accounting who has recently found out her boyfriend of four years cheated on her with the receptionist where they work on her desk. She decides she will just work from home. Then her mom shows up at her door, her husband has thrown her out for opening her own checking account with his money so Bunny keys his Porsche. Bunny tells Autumn she should try and get herself together, maybe go workout with her but she decides exercise is not for her so instead she goes to buy a truck load of junk food. When she returns home she finds her mom dead in the guest bathroom. Autumn meets Josh at her mom’s funeral. He is her mom’s trainer and offers her the lessons Bunny paid for. She can’t believe it and sends him on his way. Then her stepdad sends a certified letter saying she needs to pay to repair the Porsche. Josh sends Autumn flowers apologizing for the misunderstanding at the funeral so she changes her mind and decides she should work out since she does have her best friend’s wedding coming up. Her and Josh are both true crime readers, leading Autumn to think her mom was murdered. Autumn then gets let go from her job. She just can’t catch a break her life is just falling a part. A lot of series of events happen, that mislead and misdirect your focus causing some twisty bits.
I only gave this book 4 stars because it seemed like it just took a while to get going and then it wouldn’t end. It wrapped up all the loose ends in a pretty little bow though.


True Crime Lovers: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
Pub Date: Aug 16 2025

[Lynsey Spedding · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Crime Lovers by Jody Wenner is a surprising mix of cozy mystery, romance, and sly humor that kept me hooked from the very first chapter.

The story follows Autumn, a young woman freshly out of a painful breakup whose life spirals even further when her mother suddenly moves into her townhouse—and just as abruptly dies under mysterious circumstances. Determined to uncover the truth, Autumn begins digging into her mother’s past, only to discover unsettling secrets about her family. Along the way, she’s joined by Josh, her too-good-to-be-true personal trainer, who adds both charm and intrigue to the unfolding mystery.

What makes this novel shine is Autumn’s voice. Her internal dialogue not only propels the story but also paints a vivid picture of her ups and downs—navigating grief, relationships, work, and family. Wenner’s sharp characterization and sly humor add a lightness to the darker moments, making this more cozy than grim.

The book is full of surprises, starting right at the end of chapter one and carrying through to its satisfying conclusion. I especially enjoyed watching Autumn grow stronger and gain a deeper understanding of her mother as the mystery unraveled. While the story wraps up neatly, I’d happily read another installment featuring Autumn as an amateur sleuth.

Overall, this is a witty, fast-paced, and unexpectedly heartwarming mystery that blends suspense with charm. Truly a joy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sakschi Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Jody for the e-ARC of True Crime Lovers.

From the name itself, you can pretty much guess what this story might be about.

Description: Autumn White loves her comfort food, reading in bed, and pinching pennies like it’s a full-time job. What she doesn’t love? The ridiculously handsome trainer, Josh, the same guy her eccentric mother, Bunny, was working with shortly before her unusual and untimely death.

Being a true crime enthusiast, Autumn can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. So, she follows her mother’s money trail like the good accountant she is, only to keep bumping into Josh at every turn. Soon, she realizes exercise isn’t the killer she should’ve been worrying about.

My Thoughts: True Crime Lovers is a fun genre mashup of romantic comedy meets murder mystery. The twists were good, not exactly the “WHAT just happened?” kind, but more of an “Oh! Okayyy...” kind. Basically, nothing too shocking but entertaining enough.

The romance was genuinely enjoyable. But oh my god, the FMC’s decision-making had me feeling every emotion possible, mostly frustration. I mean, you suspect someone killed your mom, then you follow that guy to his house, and when he pulls out a silver duct tape, you ASSUME he’s helping you? Woah. The stupidity was baffling.

While reading those scenes, you know what song kept playing in my head? Dumb Ways to Die. So many dumb ways to die. 😂

I did like Josh, though. And honestly, the ending made me laugh. Finally, Autumn learned her lesson about making impulsive decisions... on the last page. 🫡

[Leighann · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Crime Lovers by Jody Wenner is a perfect mix of cozy mystery and romance. Autumn’s tidy life is disrupted when her mom moves into her townhouse with her and then dies in mysterious, abrupt circumstances. Autumn is determined to find out what really happened to her mom, and in the process, finds out secrets about her mother’s life and family’s past. Autumn’s amateur sleuthing is accompanied by personal trainer Josh, who was one of the last people to see her mother. Josh is almost too good-looking, but somehow he is smart and sensitive too. But is he too good to be true? And in the style of the film Clueless, he is kind of Autumn’s long-lost stepbrother.
I enjoyed Autumn’s character arc as she found her strength in several different ways and grew out of her slump, while also understanding her mother better than before. While the ending was satisfying, I don’t think any readers would say no to another installment with Autumn as an amateur sleuth.
Overall, if you like a humorous writing style, relatively fast-paced mystery that is more cozy than not, you will enjoy True Crime Lovers.
This book was indie published, so thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC.

[Nicki Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The title and cover art grabbed my initial attention for this book. What unfolded was a somewhat surprisingly addictive read for me, and I only say surprisingly because I usually focus on reading grittier thrillers and haven't considered I would also enjoy meet cute cosy type reads, which I would consider this book more to be, but I found myself addictively reading "just one chapter" at any opportune moment just to see what was going on in Autumn's life. It was a slow burn- acquaintences to friends to lovers romance and I found it to be such a an engaging and delightful read. With very likeable and relatable characters, Autumn is trying to solve the rather sudden death of her mother which she suspects was murdered- I was caught up in not only the whodunit storyline but also the interwoven romance storyline- just when I thought I had my preferred genres locked in- this book has shown me that I can also thoroughly enjoy books outside of my usual preferences and further expand my go to genre list. #netgalley #jodywenner #truecrimelovers #contemporaryromance #cozythriller #goodreads #fable #getlitsy #thestorygraph #tea_sipping_bookworm #bookqueen #bookstagram

[Sam Ridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

A huge thank you to NetGalley and author Jody Wenner for providing me with the eARC of “True Crime Lovers”, in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: 10th August 2025

Autumn White is going through a not so great time, somewhat of an understatement, her boyfriend (now ex) cheated on her, she is penny pinching like it is a hobby, and then her eccentric mother, Bunny, leaves her husband and moves in. Shortly after this, Bunny dies, setting off a whirlwind of craziness.

Autumn is definitely down on her luck, but shame nothing, absolutely nothing seems to go right for her, which is a little depressing. As soon as something good happens, she is hit with another misfortune.

Autumn's mother, Bunny, dies early on in the novel, and being the 'true crime lover that she is', Autumn suspects that there is more to her death than expected. Turns out she is right and after what feels like a long-winded ride, we finally find out this she is right.

This wasn't my favourite book, unfortunately. In fact, I found it a little frustrating. The only redeeming character was Josh, but even that relationship was very convoluted when it did not need to be.

[Sheri Strba-Brozovich · Rating 2 out of 5]

When penny-pinching accountant Autumn White loses her eccentric mother, Bunny, under suspicious circumstances, her true-crime obsession kicks into high gear. Determined to uncover the truth, she starts tracing Bunny’s finances — only to keep running into the irritatingly handsome personal trainer her mother was working with before her death. As Autumn digs deeper into the mystery, she realizes that the real danger isn’t in the gym — it’s in the secrets Bunny left behind. True Crime Lovers is a witty blend of romantic comedy and murder mystery that proves love and lies make a killer combination.

⭐️⭐️ — Not quite what I expected

Autumn’s life is a mess, and at times the story itself felt just as chaotic. I couldn’t quite connect with the plot.The relationship between Autumn and the love interest felt off to me, and I was completely confused about the mother’s role — she was there, suddenly gone, and somehow living a different life? It all felt like a bit of a stretch. The plot also jumped around so quickly that it became hard to stay grounded in the story. That said, it’s a quick read, and I can appreciate that.

[☆Laura☆]

Autumn White intenta mantener una vida tranquila, trabajando desde casa y lidiando con la presencia absorbente de su madre, Bunny, que aparece en su puerta con maletas tras dejar a su esposo. La convivencia entre ambas, ya de por sí complicada, da un giro inesperado cuando Bunny muere repentinamente en circunstancias poco claras. De pronto se encuentra sola, con un montón de preguntas sin respuesta y un misterioso hallazgo que sugiere que su madre ocultaba más de lo que parecía. Mientras trata de descubrir la verdad, nuevas personas entran en su vida y la obligan a enfrentarse a secretos, sospechas y decisiones que cambiarán su mundo para siempre.


_____



La sinopsis me llamó la atención, pero el desarrollo no me gustó, ya que Autumn tiene la autoestima por los suelos y permite que todos la maltraten, y al ser ella la narradora, resultó muy pesado leerlo.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Christina Cleversey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, cozy mystery! Mystery books do not always draw me in but Jody Wenner had a way of balancing the cozy mystery/suspense with the funny rom-com element.

Autumn finds herself in some difficult life circumstances. Her job and dating life are a little messy and not exactly going as planned. Not to mention the unexpected death of her mother. She’s pulled into figuring out what Bunny (her mom) was up to before she died and finds that things aren’t exactly what they seem. Along her journey, Autumn makes you laugh, cringe, and root for her happy ending.

Josh was the perfect sidekick for Autumn’s story. The slow steady presence in a very chaotic time in her life. There’s some twists and turns in the story. It’s an enjoyable ride. Perfect book for a cozy night in!

Read if you like:
-cozy mystery
-amateur detective
-unexpected love
-clean romance


Thank you Jody Wenner and NetGalley for the ARC! All ratings and reviews are my own.

[Alexis Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars

True Crime Lovers is a fluffy and humorous rom com meets true crime junkie!

I really enjoyed watching our FMC navigate life with loss, breakups, grief, and injury, as well as having to solve her own mothers possible murder. I felt the love interest was great, then without spoiling we find out some pretty big news about how close our FMC is to our MC, and that just kinda soured it and make it feel really awkward for awhile, while also making the book itself kind of skip over it as much as possible and focus more on our crisis and sleuthing. In the end I felt it was a bit predictable, again, a bit weird or off, but it was funny, cute, and a HEA.

Overall it was a fast paced, funny, enjoyable and semi relatable read! I really enjoyed the romcom true crime twist!

Thank you to Netgalley, Jodi Wenner, and Independently Published for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jody Wenner has created two very real characters to me.

Bunny seems to flit through life spending money, has a devil may care attitude, says what she thinks and does what she wants. It only took a few sentences for her to grate on me as I am definitely an Autumn.

Autumn is down on her luck, thrifty, tends to jump to conclusions. Her inner monologue shows how much of an impact her mother has on her - 'stop being so dull, Rabbit!'. The delusion of believing she can easily jog three miles after never running is so true, but I would have given up way faster than she did.

The book was engaging as there are quite a few misdirects, but I was expecting a bit more of the true crime theme.

I didn't enjoy learning about some of the relationships, I felt they were unneeded and added a weird dynamic.

(ARC provided by NetGalley)

[J. Wrynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autumn and Bunny have the best hot-and-cold relationship as mother and daughter. I imagine many women can relate to both of them, and I loved how the author made them feel so real, yet just a little over the top at the same time. Autumn is so frustratingly human! More than once, I wanted to shake her and tell her to knock it off. Still, watching her leap to conclusions too soon and then face the consequences was part of the fun (until things turned serious, then I genuinely worried for her!). And poor Josh, what a wonderful guy, just rolling with all of Autumn’s ups and downs. This was such a fun, yet serious, read full of twists that came together beautifully in the end to make an awesome crime story!

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

While investigating her mother’s suspicious death, accountant Autumn repeatedly encounters Josh, her mother’s handsome personal trainer (who is definitely not Autumn’s type, because she’s sworn off men). Will her mother’s perplexing financial dealings lead Autumn into danger?

This is both a fun rom-com and a clever mystery. Autumn is very relatable, which makes her frustrating sometimes—but she also demonstrates growth. When she makes foolish choices, she learns from her mistakes. The strong plot kept me reading, and I enjoyed the quirky characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Matea Crljenić · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐- A light mix of cozy mystery and romcom, True Crime Lovers is entertaining but a bit predictable. The balance of humor, romance, and amateur sleuthing works well enough, though neither the mystery nor the love story digs very deep. A pleasant read for fans of true crime with a lighter twist.

The book was a good read, a bit slow on the start and our main character Autumn was a bit frustrating at times. The books main focus is on the character's journey and relationship while the plot of crime solving falls in the background. It's a good pallet cleanser if you are in a book rut and need a pick me up after a more gruesome mystery/ crime book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much Netgalley & Jody Wenner for the ARC.

This was a cozy, romantic mystery.

Main character Autumn is going through a rough patch with finding out her live in boyfriend has been cheating on her with a young woman at the office. She decides to work from home to avoid the two of them.
Her mother Bunny then moves in with her and abruptly dies. She is a true crimer lover, so she decides to try and figure out who did it and why! With the help of her moms personal trainer she finds out the truth.

I gave this 3.5 🌟

[Aimee]

DNF @37%
FMC was so pessimistic and would not move forward with her life. The true crime piece doesn't even start until 34% in, so I do not think this title fits. Not sure how Josh fits in as a romance, as there has been nothing romantic yet in this book (he meets her at her Mom's funeral offering her personal training services ?!) Then he quickly asks he on a date later, it's so forward without much reason.
The books seems to move too slow for what I expected to read, even though it's a short book, I'm struggling to care.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet little story combines humor and mystery and a witty protagonist determined to solve the riddle of her mother’s death and get in shape in the process, courtesy of the help of a super cute trainer that worked with her mother. Along the way she realizes her mother had more than one trick up her sleeve and gains a new partner for pub trivia after a painful breakup. Sweet and cozy. Perfect for a rainy day in bed with a cup of tea.

[Kels O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts off pretty slow. Autumn the FMC has what seems like a sucky mom who suddenly passes away. Autumn who’s a big fan of true crime novels then starts looking into her mom’s life and what caused her death. She was also recently single after being cheated on so it goes through her coming to terms with everything and growing from it, and along the way she falls in love with her ‘opposite’. The ending definitely picks up and has a good resolution.

[Michelle | Simply in the Moment · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the first page. The characters were well-developed and quite relatable, especially Autumn. I felt empathy for her situation.

True Crime Lovers include mystery with a side of romance. Autumn and Josh's relationship is complicated but realistic. The mystery began when Bunny, Autumn's mom, moved in with Autumn after leaving her recent husband. Autumn comes home and discovers her mother dead on the floor; that begins Autumn's journey to figuring out who murdered her.

There are tense moments that left me on the edge of my seat. The book was fast-paced with many twists.

This was my first book by this author. I'm looking forward to reading more from her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cassidy Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one’s a no for me. It was so convoluted and yet boring. It was like the author had a bunch of stories she wanted to tell and her editor couldn’t say no and they left in every plot line. It was cheesy but not in a cute way. I felt like the author didn’t trust the reader to learn who the characters were and she had to state everything so bluntly. It was just a really surface level book. Not a fan, I only finished it because I had the ARC to review, but thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

Autumn certainly got herself into difficult situations and she and bunny didn't have the best relationship. I thought Autumn was lucky that Josh didn't give up on her. I found this to be an interesting read with interesting characters and I would recommend.

[Molly Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the summary for this book and was immediately intrigued. The actual book however, fell short of expectations. I wished the murder mystery aspect was more central and the comedy took more of a side role, this felt like the opposite. Sadly it was too quick a read for me.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see another sleuthing adventure for Autumn. Great read.!!

[Blonde & Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute one. It was a cozy mystery with some romance thrown in. There are funny parts, and the main character is well written.

[Danielle Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This quirky murder mystery rom-com will keep you guessing right up to the final page! For a moment, I honestly thought the FMC might be overreacting about her mother’s death, but wow, was I wrong. The twists that came together at the end were satisfying without ever feeling chaotic. The banter between the main characters was sharp and fun, giving the story a delightful balance of humor and tension.
If you loved Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson, this one should definitely be on your TBR!