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Luella van Horn Mysteries #2
Sex on Murder Island
Win a free print copy of this book!
23 days and 11:18:04
25 copies available
U.S. only
A secret island-enclave for the super rich. A dead billionaire. A one-of-a-kind detective.
"Bless Jo Firestone's quiet, mad genius."—Vulture
Marie Jones has hit rock bottom. Just three months ago, her crime solving alter-ego Luella van Horn cracked the case of a murdered contestant on the hit reality show Sex Island, but now all her gigs have dried up. Marie finds herself on the verge of eviction, broke and alone, in the midst of an August heat wave.
Then she gets a call that might change everything. Luella is asked to find evidence of a woman having an extra-marital affair. The case seems simple enough. The only hitch is that it's on Murder Island, a private island for the uber-rich just outside of New York City. But a job's a job, and maybe it'll be good to get out of town for a bit.
Just as Luella begins her investigation, the suspected paramour is found murdered. Luella soon uncovers a den of iniquity and sexual secrets that will shock the world if the news ever gets out—and if Luella gets out alive. It's her most challenging case yet, but for the first time, she finds herself not alone. She makes some friends in this one!
Murder! Sex! A boat chase on the East River! Pretty exciting stuff, huh?
"Bless Jo Firestone's quiet, mad genius."—Vulture
Marie Jones has hit rock bottom. Just three months ago, her crime solving alter-ego Luella van Horn cracked the case of a murdered contestant on the hit reality show Sex Island, but now all her gigs have dried up. Marie finds herself on the verge of eviction, broke and alone, in the midst of an August heat wave.
Then she gets a call that might change everything. Luella is asked to find evidence of a woman having an extra-marital affair. The case seems simple enough. The only hitch is that it's on Murder Island, a private island for the uber-rich just outside of New York City. But a job's a job, and maybe it'll be good to get out of town for a bit.
Just as Luella begins her investigation, the suspected paramour is found murdered. Luella soon uncovers a den of iniquity and sexual secrets that will shock the world if the news ever gets out—and if Luella gets out alive. It's her most challenging case yet, but for the first time, she finds herself not alone. She makes some friends in this one!
Murder! Sex! A boat chase on the East River! Pretty exciting stuff, huh?
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
July 3, 2026
me personally, i would never visit somewhere called murder island in the first place. that's how i've avoided murder for so long
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come / 3.5)
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come / 3.5)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Received an advance copy from Netgalley. I'll be honest, I came into this as a huge Jo Firestone fan and adored the first book ao it would have taken a lot for me to give it less than 5 stars. This book is ridiculous but in a good way for me. Jo Firestone's distinct sense of humor is all over the pages and I loved it. Only thing missing was hearing her read it (I listened to the podcast reading for the first one along with reading the physical book) but maybe that will come later 🤞🤞 Can't wait for the 3rd installment!
November 17, 2025
Really great read! From beginning to the end I thought I knew exactly who the killer was but nope to my surprise I was wrong!! It was a shocker to find out who was really behind all the murders on Murder Island!! Although it’s a murder mystery it had some hilarious moments in it. The characters are great especially Betsy!! I would definitely recommend this book to all my book friends!! Overall I Loved the book and can’t wait for it to be released!!
June 30, 2026
This is the second in a series; I have not read the first book but had no issues here as it read completely fine as a standalone. Given the title, no surprise that the humor is a little on the saucy side, but all that aside, I really had fun reading this; it was just the right length, very funny, and just the right amount of drama, especially with the ultra-rich, who basically get away with everything. Our protagonist is a little clueless about what exactly goes on at Murder Island, but she is focused on the job she was hired to do as a private investigator, as the payout could really help her financially. Easier said than done as things quickly take a turn and she’s not sure if she’ll even make it out alive. It was fun to see how it was going to end and overall quite the entertaining read. I also want to note the author narrates the audiobook herself and I really enjoyed listening to this one and following along with the book.
Thank you to Bantam Books #partner for the gifted copy and to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.
Thank you to Bantam Books #partner for the gifted copy and to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.
February 28, 2026
Luella is at it again! This time, her past confronts her as she attempts to discover the secrets of the mysterious, elite families of Murder Island. Will she piece the mystery together in time?
Throughout the book, I giggled, rolled my eyes, and may have referred to my own character chart more than I care to admit. The adventures that Luella finds herself on really are far fetched yet also not? Regardless, the little Easter eggs throughout that pointed back to her first ever attempt at private investigating had me SHOOK. I initially was going to give this one a four star rating but the ending felt a smidge disjointed, so it’s a solid 3.75 for me!
I was given an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Throughout the book, I giggled, rolled my eyes, and may have referred to my own character chart more than I care to admit. The adventures that Luella finds herself on really are far fetched yet also not? Regardless, the little Easter eggs throughout that pointed back to her first ever attempt at private investigating had me SHOOK. I initially was going to give this one a four star rating but the ending felt a smidge disjointed, so it’s a solid 3.75 for me!
I was given an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 7, 2026
these books are just a silly good time
June 27, 2026
Thank you to Netgally and Bantam for my complimentary eArc of Sex on Murder Island.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Although this is book 2 of the series it can be read as a standalone (as long as you don’t mind spoilers)
I found this to be a very entertaining mystery. It’s a fun low drama mystery with plenty of light hearted moments. If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum series you should enjoy this series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Although this is book 2 of the series it can be read as a standalone (as long as you don’t mind spoilers)
I found this to be a very entertaining mystery. It’s a fun low drama mystery with plenty of light hearted moments. If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum series you should enjoy this series.
Read
March 6, 2026I thought this was going to be a fun, snarky, quick read. I read the first book and that is exactly what it was. It sometimes went on a little long and it was definitely cruder than I usually seek out, but it was funny and light and over the top in a way that was entertaining.
I went into the second book expecting more of the same but hoping things would tighten up a little bit both in terms of plotting and characterization. Specifically, I was hoping Luella would be a little more on the ball this time around - or at least have a slightly better developed sense of self-preservation. Instead I found her to feel even less well-developed than in the first book - and, more importantly, ditto on the plot.
This one wants to be witty and a send-up of murder/investigation stories, but it winds up feeling overdone and trying too hard. As a result a lot of the humor missed the mark for me, and the plot felt jumbled. The characters were odd rather than quirky, and all started to run together in my head. For a short book I seemed to be reading it forever and I still only got a third of the way through before I finally had to call it not for me and let it go.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
I went into the second book expecting more of the same but hoping things would tighten up a little bit both in terms of plotting and characterization. Specifically, I was hoping Luella would be a little more on the ball this time around - or at least have a slightly better developed sense of self-preservation. Instead I found her to feel even less well-developed than in the first book - and, more importantly, ditto on the plot.
This one wants to be witty and a send-up of murder/investigation stories, but it winds up feeling overdone and trying too hard. As a result a lot of the humor missed the mark for me, and the plot felt jumbled. The characters were odd rather than quirky, and all started to run together in my head. For a short book I seemed to be reading it forever and I still only got a third of the way through before I finally had to call it not for me and let it go.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Debauchery. Entitled. Tangled.
Family feuds. Extreme covetousness.
This was one heckuva raunchy, crude, campy, humorous, and entertaining read!
And with that, I feel the need to remind fellow readers that I read and review for entertainment. I rarely stop reading due to content in literature. And I expect books to be hyperbolic in every sense of the word.
There are times I want something raw, realistic, and heartfelt. There are times I want to be on the edge of my seat, hairs on my arms raising, scootching down in my blankets trying to hide myself.
And there are times, like now, when life feels too heavy and I need something way over the top, silly, crudely humorous, wildly inappropriate and outside of my usual reads. Since this book provided that for me, I’m giving it three and a half stars which I’ll round up to FOUR STARS! I’m also rounding it up because I felt the storyline and characters were tighter and cleaner in this book compared to book one. With that being said, onto the summary!
Marie has hit rock bottom. Back in Manhattan, she’s packing up her belongings and trying to figure out where she’s going to stay after breaking her lease early due to a lack of funds.
While the money she earned from ‘Sex Island’ helped her for a couple of months, she’s now down to $17 and finds herself desperate enough to call her ex-husband Leslie, in the middle of the night, to see if she could crash with him.
But Marie becoming a PI apparently encouraged him to go after his life long dream - being an actor. So he, too, is in Manhattan and he, too, is sofa surfing.
Feeling discouraged while packing, Marie knows she needs to get out of the apartment she can no longer afford and decides to take a walk.
And it’s on that walk that she sees Taylor Bell - the client she was assigned to help when she was a social worker. Locking eyes, he runs off as she makes her to the library.
Strangely a librarian, named Joan, approached her telling her she has a phone call. Who could have possibly known she was at the library? It certainly wouldn’t be Taylor Bell trying to contact her.
Accepting the call, she’s told of a job requiring her PI skills that would allow her to travel to the mysterious invite-only island that serves as a summer playground for the uber rich. There is one ferry that does one round trip each day and with nothing else to lose, Marie packs her Luella Von Horn accessories and takes off to … Murder Island.
What she finds is a whole lot more than the job she was hired for! And she comes back with a very clear picture of why it’s called Murder Island!
Thank you NetGalley, Jo Firestone, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of its anticipated release date of June 30th. ‘‘Twas a delight!
Family feuds. Extreme covetousness.
This was one heckuva raunchy, crude, campy, humorous, and entertaining read!
And with that, I feel the need to remind fellow readers that I read and review for entertainment. I rarely stop reading due to content in literature. And I expect books to be hyperbolic in every sense of the word.
There are times I want something raw, realistic, and heartfelt. There are times I want to be on the edge of my seat, hairs on my arms raising, scootching down in my blankets trying to hide myself.
And there are times, like now, when life feels too heavy and I need something way over the top, silly, crudely humorous, wildly inappropriate and outside of my usual reads. Since this book provided that for me, I’m giving it three and a half stars which I’ll round up to FOUR STARS! I’m also rounding it up because I felt the storyline and characters were tighter and cleaner in this book compared to book one. With that being said, onto the summary!
Marie has hit rock bottom. Back in Manhattan, she’s packing up her belongings and trying to figure out where she’s going to stay after breaking her lease early due to a lack of funds.
While the money she earned from ‘Sex Island’ helped her for a couple of months, she’s now down to $17 and finds herself desperate enough to call her ex-husband Leslie, in the middle of the night, to see if she could crash with him.
But Marie becoming a PI apparently encouraged him to go after his life long dream - being an actor. So he, too, is in Manhattan and he, too, is sofa surfing.
Feeling discouraged while packing, Marie knows she needs to get out of the apartment she can no longer afford and decides to take a walk.
And it’s on that walk that she sees Taylor Bell - the client she was assigned to help when she was a social worker. Locking eyes, he runs off as she makes her to the library.
Strangely a librarian, named Joan, approached her telling her she has a phone call. Who could have possibly known she was at the library? It certainly wouldn’t be Taylor Bell trying to contact her.
Accepting the call, she’s told of a job requiring her PI skills that would allow her to travel to the mysterious invite-only island that serves as a summer playground for the uber rich. There is one ferry that does one round trip each day and with nothing else to lose, Marie packs her Luella Von Horn accessories and takes off to … Murder Island.
What she finds is a whole lot more than the job she was hired for! And she comes back with a very clear picture of why it’s called Murder Island!
Thank you NetGalley, Jo Firestone, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ahead of its anticipated release date of June 30th. ‘‘Twas a delight!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One-word review: Chaotic
Floral Verdict: A Fern 🌿 (3 stars)
Interesting, but niche. This one has a mystery setup I enjoyed and a main character who grew on me, but the humor is so specific and over-the-top that I don’t think it will be for everyone. It’s quirky, bold, and a little chaotic in a way that may delight the right reader, but left me a bit tangled in the weeds.
My thoughts:
Sex on Murder Island is the second book in Jo Firestone’s series, but I do think it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t feel lost jumping into this one, although I could tell there was some history with Marie Jones and her crime-solving alter ego, Luella van Horn.
And Luella? She is definitely quirky. In a very specific, slightly unhinged, somehow still lovable way. I liked her more than I expected to, especially because she brings such oddball determination to every situation. She may not always know exactly what she is doing, but she is absolutely going to do it with confidence. Sometimes that’s half the battle. Sometimes that’s how you end up on Murder Island.
This is a short read with a very fast pace, which I loved. There is always something happening: strange conversations, rich people behaving badly, boat chase energy, sex party chaos, and descriptions that go so far over the top they basically need their own zip code. The whole sex party theme was, clears throat… interesting. I learned some new terminology for sure. Book clubs, please use caution when reading this one in public.
Where this worked best for me was the actual murder mystery. I loved the locked-room quality of it, and once the murder happened, I was much more invested. The darker elements helped balance out some of the more ridiculous humor, and I thought the mystery itself was put together well. There were enough secrets, suspects, and “what exactly is going on here?” moments to keep me turning pages.
But the comedy didn’t always land for me. It crossed the line into ridiculousness a little too often, and after a while, it started to feel like the same type of joke wearing a new hat. A weird hat. Probably expensive. Probably found in a room no one wants to explain.
I also struggled with the ending. After such a fast, chaotic build, it felt disjointed and didn’t quite stick the landing for me. I understood where it was trying to go, but emotionally and structurally, it left me feeling more puzzled than satisfied.
Overall, Sex on Murder Island is a bizarre, fast-paced, over-the-top mystery with a lovable oddball lead and a solid murder setup. The humor just wasn’t always my kind of humor, but I can absolutely see this working for readers who like their mysteries extra weird, extra bold, and not afraid to make things uncomfortable at the dinner table.
Floral Verdict: A Fern 🌿 (3 stars)
Interesting, but niche. This one has a mystery setup I enjoyed and a main character who grew on me, but the humor is so specific and over-the-top that I don’t think it will be for everyone. It’s quirky, bold, and a little chaotic in a way that may delight the right reader, but left me a bit tangled in the weeds.
My thoughts:
Sex on Murder Island is the second book in Jo Firestone’s series, but I do think it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t feel lost jumping into this one, although I could tell there was some history with Marie Jones and her crime-solving alter ego, Luella van Horn.
And Luella? She is definitely quirky. In a very specific, slightly unhinged, somehow still lovable way. I liked her more than I expected to, especially because she brings such oddball determination to every situation. She may not always know exactly what she is doing, but she is absolutely going to do it with confidence. Sometimes that’s half the battle. Sometimes that’s how you end up on Murder Island.
This is a short read with a very fast pace, which I loved. There is always something happening: strange conversations, rich people behaving badly, boat chase energy, sex party chaos, and descriptions that go so far over the top they basically need their own zip code. The whole sex party theme was, clears throat… interesting. I learned some new terminology for sure. Book clubs, please use caution when reading this one in public.
Where this worked best for me was the actual murder mystery. I loved the locked-room quality of it, and once the murder happened, I was much more invested. The darker elements helped balance out some of the more ridiculous humor, and I thought the mystery itself was put together well. There were enough secrets, suspects, and “what exactly is going on here?” moments to keep me turning pages.
But the comedy didn’t always land for me. It crossed the line into ridiculousness a little too often, and after a while, it started to feel like the same type of joke wearing a new hat. A weird hat. Probably expensive. Probably found in a room no one wants to explain.
I also struggled with the ending. After such a fast, chaotic build, it felt disjointed and didn’t quite stick the landing for me. I understood where it was trying to go, but emotionally and structurally, it left me feeling more puzzled than satisfied.
Overall, Sex on Murder Island is a bizarre, fast-paced, over-the-top mystery with a lovable oddball lead and a solid murder setup. The humor just wasn’t always my kind of humor, but I can absolutely see this working for readers who like their mysteries extra weird, extra bold, and not afraid to make things uncomfortable at the dinner table.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jo Firestone’s Sex on Murder Island had me wondering who looked at a list containing billionaires, murder, secret affairs, weird island residents, a ferry captain named Betsy, and enough questionable decisions to fill several books and thought, “Yep, this is exactly what should happen next.” Somehow, it works.
Published by Ballantine Books. Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Murder! Sex! A boat chase on the East River!”
After solving the mess on Sex Island, Marie Jones is right back where she started: broke, hot, stressed, and trying to figure out how she’s going to keep a roof over her head. When a new case lands in her lap, she dusts off her Luella van Horn persona and heads to Murder Island, an exclusive playground for the kind of rich people who have entirely too much money and entirely too much free time.
What I love about these books is that they know exactly what they are.
This series isn’t trying to be a dark psychological thriller or a perfectly realistic detective story. It’s weird. It’s chaotic. It’s the kind of book where I occasionally stopped and thought, “What on earth am I reading?” and then immediately kept reading because I was having too much fun.
Marie continues to be one of my favorite kinds of main characters. She’s awkward, a little messy, often overwhelmed, and usually one step behind whatever madness is happening around her. Yet somehow she’s impossible not to root for. This time around, Joan and Betsy completely stole the show for me. Their friendship with Marie added something the first book didn’t have quite as much of, and I found myself caring about those relationships just as much as the mystery.
The mystery itself kept me guessing. I was convinced I had things figured out more than once. I absolutely did not. Every time I settled on a suspect, something else happened and sent me in a different direction.
I’ll be honest, there were moments where the story got so over-the-top that I just laughed and went with it. That’s really the secret to enjoying this series. You have to surrender to the chaos.
If your idea of a good time is a traditional mystery set in a quiet English village, this may not be your book. But if you like quirky characters, ridiculous situations, sharp humor, and mysteries that feel like a reality show crashed into a detective novel, you’ll probably have a blast.
Am I the only one who enjoys books that are completely unhinged as long as they’re entertaining?
Published by Ballantine Books. Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Murder! Sex! A boat chase on the East River!”
After solving the mess on Sex Island, Marie Jones is right back where she started: broke, hot, stressed, and trying to figure out how she’s going to keep a roof over her head. When a new case lands in her lap, she dusts off her Luella van Horn persona and heads to Murder Island, an exclusive playground for the kind of rich people who have entirely too much money and entirely too much free time.
What I love about these books is that they know exactly what they are.
This series isn’t trying to be a dark psychological thriller or a perfectly realistic detective story. It’s weird. It’s chaotic. It’s the kind of book where I occasionally stopped and thought, “What on earth am I reading?” and then immediately kept reading because I was having too much fun.
Marie continues to be one of my favorite kinds of main characters. She’s awkward, a little messy, often overwhelmed, and usually one step behind whatever madness is happening around her. Yet somehow she’s impossible not to root for. This time around, Joan and Betsy completely stole the show for me. Their friendship with Marie added something the first book didn’t have quite as much of, and I found myself caring about those relationships just as much as the mystery.
The mystery itself kept me guessing. I was convinced I had things figured out more than once. I absolutely did not. Every time I settled on a suspect, something else happened and sent me in a different direction.
I’ll be honest, there were moments where the story got so over-the-top that I just laughed and went with it. That’s really the secret to enjoying this series. You have to surrender to the chaos.
If your idea of a good time is a traditional mystery set in a quiet English village, this may not be your book. But if you like quirky characters, ridiculous situations, sharp humor, and mysteries that feel like a reality show crashed into a detective novel, you’ll probably have a blast.
Am I the only one who enjoys books that are completely unhinged as long as they’re entertaining?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ll admit it—I’m a creature of habit when it comes to books. Give me a cozy British country house mystery or a solid police procedural set somewhere misty and proper, and I’m happy. New York? Private islands for the ultra-rich? Not exactly my scene. So when I picked up this book (without having read the first in the series), I genuinely thought I might be wasting my time.
I’ve rarely been happier to be wrong.
The story follows Marie Jones, who moonlights as the wonderfully eccentric detective Luella van Horn. Fresh off solving a murder on the reality show Sex Island, Marie is now broke, sweating through an August heat wave, and staring down eviction. Then comes the call: a simple surveillance job on Murder Island, an exclusive enclave for the super-rich just outside New York City. The task? Catch a suspected cheating spouse.
What starts as a straightforward infidelity case quickly spirals into something far juicier. A murder. Layers of scandalous secrets. A den of iniquity that could shock the world. And yes—there’s even a boat chase on the East River. The plot is wild, fun, and surprisingly gripping, packed with sex, money, and murder in all the right proportions.
What really sold me was Luella/Marie herself. She’s flawed, messy, and deeply human, but also incredibly lovable. In a cast full of mostly despicable rich characters, she shines as the sarcastic, clever outsider trying to navigate their world. The supporting characters are colorful (some hilariously awful), and I actually found myself invested in the relationships she forms along the way. For once, the detective isn’t entirely alone.
I tore through this book in two days, chores be damned. It hooked me from the very first pages and never let go. Even though it’s a far cry from my usual British fare, it works perfectly as a standalone—you don’t need to have read the previous book. It did lag about 3/4 of the way through, but that did not affect my overall enjoyment. Jo Firestone’s voice is sharp, witty, and just the right amount of mad genius.
If you’re in the mood for something escapist, funny, and a little bit filthy, give Murder Island a shot. Highly recommended—even (or especially) if it’s not your usual genre. I’ll definitely be back for more.
June 14, 2026
Sex on Murder Island is more like its slightly more responsible sibling. Still weird. Still campy. Still willing to make some questionable life choices. And just as unhinged.
You see, in the first book, I learned more about Luella van Horn's teeth than I have about any other character I’ve read. Thankfully, Sex on Murder Island exercises a little restraint. The teeth are still here. They have not left the chat. But at least they're no longer competing for top billing.
As for the story itself? It's completely ridiculous.
Our detective, Luella van Horn (aka Marie Jones), finds herself investigating an affair on a private island for the ultra-wealthy, which naturally leads to murder, scandal, secrets, and a collection of rich people who seem determined to prove that money cannot buy common sense.
The premise is fantastic. The humor is quirky. The satire of the rich is fun. And I genuinely enjoyed spending time with Marie/Luella again.
The first book set the bar for absurdity somewhere in the stratosphere, and this sequel feels comparatively restrained, but not much. Secret affairs, dead billionaires, sexual scandals, boat chases, and a cast of characters who seem determined to make the worst possible decisions? This book looked at subtlety and said, "No thank you."
The mystery itself was entertaining enough, and I appreciated that the story gave Luella a little more depth and some actual human connections. But the pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for a few more truly ridiculous moments.
I had fun, laughed a few times, and never regretted picking it up.
I can't think of another series quite like this one. It's weird. It's self-aware. It's delightfully unhinged.
Would I recommend it to readers looking for a serious, tightly plotted mystery? Absolutely not.
Would I recommend it to readers who enjoy books that feel like someone combined a murder mystery, reality TV, and an improv comedy sketch? Yes.
You see, in the first book, I learned more about Luella van Horn's teeth than I have about any other character I’ve read. Thankfully, Sex on Murder Island exercises a little restraint. The teeth are still here. They have not left the chat. But at least they're no longer competing for top billing.
As for the story itself? It's completely ridiculous.
Our detective, Luella van Horn (aka Marie Jones), finds herself investigating an affair on a private island for the ultra-wealthy, which naturally leads to murder, scandal, secrets, and a collection of rich people who seem determined to prove that money cannot buy common sense.
The premise is fantastic. The humor is quirky. The satire of the rich is fun. And I genuinely enjoyed spending time with Marie/Luella again.
The first book set the bar for absurdity somewhere in the stratosphere, and this sequel feels comparatively restrained, but not much. Secret affairs, dead billionaires, sexual scandals, boat chases, and a cast of characters who seem determined to make the worst possible decisions? This book looked at subtlety and said, "No thank you."
The mystery itself was entertaining enough, and I appreciated that the story gave Luella a little more depth and some actual human connections. But the pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for a few more truly ridiculous moments.
I had fun, laughed a few times, and never regretted picking it up.
I can't think of another series quite like this one. It's weird. It's self-aware. It's delightfully unhinged.
Would I recommend it to readers looking for a serious, tightly plotted mystery? Absolutely not.
Would I recommend it to readers who enjoy books that feel like someone combined a murder mystery, reality TV, and an improv comedy sketch? Yes.
June 22, 2026
Sex On Murder Island by Jo Firestone
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Firestone, and Bantam for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sex On Murder Island is the second book in a series, but my first introduction to the world of Marie/Luella, and I can say it works well enough as a standalone — though I did find myself curious about the backstory I’d missed.
Luella is a private investigator still finding her footing in her new profession. As Marie, she had been a social worker and a married woman, but divorce from Leslie — who has since pivoted to pursuing acting — has led her to reinvent herself entirely. With a librarian friend named Joan in her corner and bills to pay, she takes on a job that turns out to be far more than she bargained for.
Her client, Mark, hires Luella to travel to the exclusive Murder Island under the guise of being his cousin. Her task: get close to his wife Caitlin and find out whether she’s having an affair. The island itself is a quirky, isolated setting — accessible only by a once-daily ferry captained by a wonderfully spitfire woman named Betsy, and dotted with a handful of homes owned by very wealthy families.
From the moment Luella arrives, something feels deeply off. The two men who work at Mark and Caitlin’s home act strangely, and Luella has to keep reminding herself of the handsome paycheck to stay the course. She does confirm fairly quickly that Caitlin is indeed having an affair with another island resident — but proof is another matter entirely. Then things take a sharp turn when the man in question turns up dead in the basement of the very house Luella is staying in.
What follows is a wonderfully odd investigation filled with peculiar tips, eccentric islanders, and a general sense that nothing on Murder Island is quite what it seems. Luella is not the most polished PI — she stumbles, second-guesses herself, and leans on others for help — but there’s genuine charm in watching her piece it all together in her own roundabout way.
Sex On Murder Island is a fun, campy read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a side of absurdity and an endearingly flawed protagonist, this one is worth the trip to the island.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Firestone, and Bantam for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sex On Murder Island is the second book in a series, but my first introduction to the world of Marie/Luella, and I can say it works well enough as a standalone — though I did find myself curious about the backstory I’d missed.
Luella is a private investigator still finding her footing in her new profession. As Marie, she had been a social worker and a married woman, but divorce from Leslie — who has since pivoted to pursuing acting — has led her to reinvent herself entirely. With a librarian friend named Joan in her corner and bills to pay, she takes on a job that turns out to be far more than she bargained for.
Her client, Mark, hires Luella to travel to the exclusive Murder Island under the guise of being his cousin. Her task: get close to his wife Caitlin and find out whether she’s having an affair. The island itself is a quirky, isolated setting — accessible only by a once-daily ferry captained by a wonderfully spitfire woman named Betsy, and dotted with a handful of homes owned by very wealthy families.
From the moment Luella arrives, something feels deeply off. The two men who work at Mark and Caitlin’s home act strangely, and Luella has to keep reminding herself of the handsome paycheck to stay the course. She does confirm fairly quickly that Caitlin is indeed having an affair with another island resident — but proof is another matter entirely. Then things take a sharp turn when the man in question turns up dead in the basement of the very house Luella is staying in.
What follows is a wonderfully odd investigation filled with peculiar tips, eccentric islanders, and a general sense that nothing on Murder Island is quite what it seems. Luella is not the most polished PI — she stumbles, second-guesses herself, and leans on others for help — but there’s genuine charm in watching her piece it all together in her own roundabout way.
Sex On Murder Island is a fun, campy read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a side of absurdity and an endearingly flawed protagonist, this one is worth the trip to the island.
June 16, 2026
I was so glad to be back in Luella's head for this one. After receiving an ARC of this sequel, I realized I'd somehow missed the first book, Sex on Murder Island, so I did my due diligence and read that before diving in. It turned out to be a fantastic introduction to Luella and made me even more excited to continue her story here.
This time around, Luella is hired by a wealthy man who is convinced his wife is having an affair and wants proof. Simple enough assignment, right? Of course not. Before long, Luella finds herself effectively trapped on New York's infamous "Murder Island" alongside some of the city's wealthiest and most suspicious families, where secrets seem to be piling up faster than answers.
As always, the highlight of this series is Luella herself. She's funny, observant, and endlessly entertaining to follow. One of the smartest choices Jo Firestone makes is reminding us that Luella isn't actually a licensed private investigator. She's figuring things out as she goes, which gives the reader a little more grace when she misses clues or jumps to the wrong conclusions. Instead of expecting a perfectly polished detective, we're along for the ride with someone who is just trying to make sense of increasingly bizarre circumstances.
That said, this installment didn't feel quite as fast-paced as the first book. There was a lot more wandering, theorizing, and piecing things together, and at times it felt like the story was circling around answers rather than charging toward them. While I was still invested, I never felt quite the same urgency to keep turning pages that I did with Sex on Murder Island.
The ending was also fairly predictable, but it was still enjoyable to watch everything unfold. Even when I suspected where things were heading, Luella's narration and the absurdity of the situations kept me entertained.
Overall, this may not have captured quite the same magic as the first book for me, but spending time with Luella again was more than enough reason to pick it up. If you enjoyed Sex on Murder Island, there's still plenty here to like—especially if you're already invested in the wonderfully chaotic mind of its unconventional detective.
An enormous thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC!
This time around, Luella is hired by a wealthy man who is convinced his wife is having an affair and wants proof. Simple enough assignment, right? Of course not. Before long, Luella finds herself effectively trapped on New York's infamous "Murder Island" alongside some of the city's wealthiest and most suspicious families, where secrets seem to be piling up faster than answers.
As always, the highlight of this series is Luella herself. She's funny, observant, and endlessly entertaining to follow. One of the smartest choices Jo Firestone makes is reminding us that Luella isn't actually a licensed private investigator. She's figuring things out as she goes, which gives the reader a little more grace when she misses clues or jumps to the wrong conclusions. Instead of expecting a perfectly polished detective, we're along for the ride with someone who is just trying to make sense of increasingly bizarre circumstances.
That said, this installment didn't feel quite as fast-paced as the first book. There was a lot more wandering, theorizing, and piecing things together, and at times it felt like the story was circling around answers rather than charging toward them. While I was still invested, I never felt quite the same urgency to keep turning pages that I did with Sex on Murder Island.
The ending was also fairly predictable, but it was still enjoyable to watch everything unfold. Even when I suspected where things were heading, Luella's narration and the absurdity of the situations kept me entertained.
Overall, this may not have captured quite the same magic as the first book for me, but spending time with Luella again was more than enough reason to pick it up. If you enjoyed Sex on Murder Island, there's still plenty here to like—especially if you're already invested in the wonderfully chaotic mind of its unconventional detective.
An enormous thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC!
July 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
Three months ago, Luella van Horn solved a sensational murder case and became the toast of New York and the go-to PI in the city. But now, cases have dried up and Marie Jones, Luella's real name, is about to be evicted, along with her two cats. She is literally packing up her apartment when she gets an offer to figure out whether a wealthy woman is cheating on her husband. She jumps at the chance to earn a LOT of money, not taking into consideration that the detective work has to be done on Murder Island.
Murder Island is an uber-private island just off New York City, home to a handful of VERY wealthy families who have owned and run the island for over 100 years. Even the NYPD is not allowed to go there and the only way on or off the island is a daily ferry that arrives at 9:00 am and leaves at 9:45 am. If you miss it, you have to stay the night, and there are no public accomodations. But Marie, or Luella, is staying at her client's house, one of the families on the private estate.
On her first day, she witnesses the wife making love to a man who is not her husband, but that very night, before she has a chance to report to her client, the lover is murdered. Who committed the murder is a mystery, as is how it was done and where it was done, as the room where the body is found has no blood residue, and the body is drained of blood.
Things just get stranger, and when the cheating wife disappears and is presumed to have also been murdered, it gets dangerous as well. Luella is ordered to leave the island and not return, but she can't let the case go. She returns clandestinely that night, with the help of the ferry driver and a librarian she has befriended and all three of them are soon in danger and running for their lives.
This is action-packed and never stops for a minute to take a breath, but it is a fun read between other, more serious books.
Three months ago, Luella van Horn solved a sensational murder case and became the toast of New York and the go-to PI in the city. But now, cases have dried up and Marie Jones, Luella's real name, is about to be evicted, along with her two cats. She is literally packing up her apartment when she gets an offer to figure out whether a wealthy woman is cheating on her husband. She jumps at the chance to earn a LOT of money, not taking into consideration that the detective work has to be done on Murder Island.
Murder Island is an uber-private island just off New York City, home to a handful of VERY wealthy families who have owned and run the island for over 100 years. Even the NYPD is not allowed to go there and the only way on or off the island is a daily ferry that arrives at 9:00 am and leaves at 9:45 am. If you miss it, you have to stay the night, and there are no public accomodations. But Marie, or Luella, is staying at her client's house, one of the families on the private estate.
On her first day, she witnesses the wife making love to a man who is not her husband, but that very night, before she has a chance to report to her client, the lover is murdered. Who committed the murder is a mystery, as is how it was done and where it was done, as the room where the body is found has no blood residue, and the body is drained of blood.
Things just get stranger, and when the cheating wife disappears and is presumed to have also been murdered, it gets dangerous as well. Luella is ordered to leave the island and not return, but she can't let the case go. She returns clandestinely that night, with the help of the ferry driver and a librarian she has befriended and all three of them are soon in danger and running for their lives.
This is action-packed and never stops for a minute to take a breath, but it is a fun read between other, more serious books.
June 23, 2026
3.5 stars
Luella van Horn is back on the case! After her success on the reality show Sex Island, Luella (aka Marie Jones) is down on her luck. On the brink of eviction, this new case could not have come at a more perfect time. Called to Murder Island to find evidence of an affair, Luella finds herself in a darker situation. She quickly cracks the case of the affair, but now that the other party is dead, there's something not right about this whole job. In fact, this job may be connected to a previous job, and Luella's life could be in danger. As she teams up with two new friends (!!), the more sinister the inhabitants of this island seem to be. Maybe she should have stayed in her sweltering apartment, counting down the days until she's forced to move. However, a job is a job, and Luella is the PI best suited for this kind of debauchery.
Another fun installment in the Luella van Horn mystery series! I enjoyed this one more than the first and flew through it in 2 days. The entire story is absolutely ridiculous, but if you've read the first, you know what to expect. Sure, you may be able to figure out who the suspect is in the beginning, but it's Luella's wild antics that keep you reading. I loved that Luella gained some friends in this one and got some help investigating. It added some fun banter that was missing in the first. Although my ratings aren't high for these books, I do enjoy them! They're fun, quick palate cleanser books perfect for lying around at the beach (or at home in your AC). If you're looking for something fun that doesn't take itself too seriously, consider picking up this series! They're stupid (in a good way!), funny, and absolutely unhinged. Can't wait to see what Luella gets up to next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books, and Jo Firestone for a copy of this book. I received this ARC for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Luella van Horn is back on the case! After her success on the reality show Sex Island, Luella (aka Marie Jones) is down on her luck. On the brink of eviction, this new case could not have come at a more perfect time. Called to Murder Island to find evidence of an affair, Luella finds herself in a darker situation. She quickly cracks the case of the affair, but now that the other party is dead, there's something not right about this whole job. In fact, this job may be connected to a previous job, and Luella's life could be in danger. As she teams up with two new friends (!!), the more sinister the inhabitants of this island seem to be. Maybe she should have stayed in her sweltering apartment, counting down the days until she's forced to move. However, a job is a job, and Luella is the PI best suited for this kind of debauchery.
Another fun installment in the Luella van Horn mystery series! I enjoyed this one more than the first and flew through it in 2 days. The entire story is absolutely ridiculous, but if you've read the first, you know what to expect. Sure, you may be able to figure out who the suspect is in the beginning, but it's Luella's wild antics that keep you reading. I loved that Luella gained some friends in this one and got some help investigating. It added some fun banter that was missing in the first. Although my ratings aren't high for these books, I do enjoy them! They're fun, quick palate cleanser books perfect for lying around at the beach (or at home in your AC). If you're looking for something fun that doesn't take itself too seriously, consider picking up this series! They're stupid (in a good way!), funny, and absolutely unhinged. Can't wait to see what Luella gets up to next!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books, and Jo Firestone for a copy of this book. I received this ARC for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
July 7, 2026
🗽🏝🔪💋 Sex on Murder Island by Jo Firestone
Book 2 of Luella van Horn mystery series
Genre: Mystery (and lots of HILARITY 🤣)
Length: 240 pages
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Summary:
Marie Jones (aka, alter ego, Det. Luella van Horn) is at it again when she receives an job offer/invitation to the elite and secretive Murder Island off the coast of NYC. Her client, a wealthy man named Mark Fontaine, has hired Luella to pose as his cousin to find out who his wife is cheating with. The problem? There are only five EXTREMELY rich families living on Murder Island, and they all have unlimited funds, motives, and secrets. Luella finds herself embroiled in a plot most foul, with weird sex parties, real estate mysteries, hot butlers, eccentric workers, and a surprise sidekick librarian that make this story absolutely WILD!
Review:
I knew I had to read this second book after reading the first Luella mystery, Murder on Sex Island. First of all, I loved the play on words with both titles, but reading each novel, they really so sum up the plots perfectly! Luella is a hilarious, if not a bit haphazard and unconventional detective, who really works her way into your heart with all her unusual skills (or UN-skills at times haha). The most unique thing about this series is that the author is a comedian and TV writer, so her writing style is naturally witty, clever, and always bringing in the pop culture references 🤌🤩. If you happen to listen to these as audiobooks, the author, Jo Firestone, is also the narrator, which is so fun. I feel like this gives all the infections of the character's dialogue exactly what she intended. You really should give this a read if you love to laugh, but also love a most bizarre mystery plot!
Book 2 of Luella van Horn mystery series
Genre: Mystery (and lots of HILARITY 🤣)
Length: 240 pages
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Summary:
Marie Jones (aka, alter ego, Det. Luella van Horn) is at it again when she receives an job offer/invitation to the elite and secretive Murder Island off the coast of NYC. Her client, a wealthy man named Mark Fontaine, has hired Luella to pose as his cousin to find out who his wife is cheating with. The problem? There are only five EXTREMELY rich families living on Murder Island, and they all have unlimited funds, motives, and secrets. Luella finds herself embroiled in a plot most foul, with weird sex parties, real estate mysteries, hot butlers, eccentric workers, and a surprise sidekick librarian that make this story absolutely WILD!
Review:
I knew I had to read this second book after reading the first Luella mystery, Murder on Sex Island. First of all, I loved the play on words with both titles, but reading each novel, they really so sum up the plots perfectly! Luella is a hilarious, if not a bit haphazard and unconventional detective, who really works her way into your heart with all her unusual skills (or UN-skills at times haha). The most unique thing about this series is that the author is a comedian and TV writer, so her writing style is naturally witty, clever, and always bringing in the pop culture references 🤌🤩. If you happen to listen to these as audiobooks, the author, Jo Firestone, is also the narrator, which is so fun. I feel like this gives all the infections of the character's dialogue exactly what she intended. You really should give this a read if you love to laugh, but also love a most bizarre mystery plot!
June 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
*Sex on Murder Island* wasn't on my radar, and I didn't realize until I started reading that it's the second book in the series, following *Murder on Sex Island*. Thankfully, you don't need to have read the first book to follow along, although there is a lot of time spent explaining the characters and their backstories. I imagine returning readers may find that repetitive.
I really wasn't sure what to make of this one. It was marketed as a funny, cozy mystery, but the humor just didn't land for me. The cast felt less like fully developed characters and more like caricatures of wealthy, entitled people whose lives revolved around extravagant spending, endless affairs, sex parties, and feuding over increasingly ridiculous problems. The absurdity never quite became entertaining, and instead I found myself rolling my eyes more often than laughing.
I also struggled with the main character, Marie (also known as Luella). I never really connected with her, and many of her decisions felt frustrating rather than funny. As a social worker myself, I was especially put off by the way her former career was portrayed. Maybe the first book gives more context, but here it felt like her social work background existed mostly as a setup for jokes and to make her leap into private investigation seem absurd. It left me feeling like the profession was portrayed as naive or unintelligent, which didn't sit well with me.
Thankfully, it's a quick read, but overall this one just wasn't for me. If you're looking for a mystery that blends humor and crime, I'd still recommend the Finlay Donovan series instead. I think it strikes that balance much more successfully.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
Luella is BACK, and so is Jo Firestone! Get ready for laughs and ridiculousness and murder and sex and mystery, too!
When I received this arc a few months ago, I went on a rampage trying to find the first book without much luck. I missed an obvious spot because it's a newer point of consideration for me: Spotify. This is a PSA to those, like me, who don't always think to look at this resource. I was happy to find the first book and thrilled I listened to it before reading this one. While this latest effort is a standalone, if you can, do read the first. It's entertaining, but it also informs Luella's character.
One fun thing about this more recent book is that it takes place RIGHT after the last one concludes. Luella has been doing well, but that's temporary, After only a few short months, she needs work again. Fortunately, a call becomes the impetus for her to return to her favorite place: murder- and sex-filled chaos.
Luella is a fun character to root for and follow, and there are some ancillary folks who make this one shine. Prepare to hear more about Luella's/Marie's teeth. I don't know why, but I'm amused by this entire motif.
The mystery is fun and strange, which is exactly what I wanted and expected after reading the first book. Folks in the mood for a humorous, odd microcosm of the ultra wealthy behaving badly - and generally those who are entertained by Firestone's mind - will have a good time here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dan Denning at Ballantine, Bantam, Dell for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Luella is BACK, and so is Jo Firestone! Get ready for laughs and ridiculousness and murder and sex and mystery, too!
When I received this arc a few months ago, I went on a rampage trying to find the first book without much luck. I missed an obvious spot because it's a newer point of consideration for me: Spotify. This is a PSA to those, like me, who don't always think to look at this resource. I was happy to find the first book and thrilled I listened to it before reading this one. While this latest effort is a standalone, if you can, do read the first. It's entertaining, but it also informs Luella's character.
One fun thing about this more recent book is that it takes place RIGHT after the last one concludes. Luella has been doing well, but that's temporary, After only a few short months, she needs work again. Fortunately, a call becomes the impetus for her to return to her favorite place: murder- and sex-filled chaos.
Luella is a fun character to root for and follow, and there are some ancillary folks who make this one shine. Prepare to hear more about Luella's/Marie's teeth. I don't know why, but I'm amused by this entire motif.
The mystery is fun and strange, which is exactly what I wanted and expected after reading the first book. Folks in the mood for a humorous, odd microcosm of the ultra wealthy behaving badly - and generally those who are entertained by Firestone's mind - will have a good time here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dan Denning at Ballantine, Bantam, Dell for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
PI Luella van Horn's aka Marie, ex-social worker, second case could not have come at a better time. She has $ 17.00 in the bank, can't pay her rent, and needs to move out of her apartment. While at the New York library she gets a call from Mark Fontaine, he wants Luella to follow his wife, Caitlin, and confirm she is having an affair. The only thing is Luella has to do this on Murder Island, a very exclusive private island for the super rich. Well a job is a job, and she gets a $ 10,000 advance. Luella poses as Mark's cousin to infiltrate the group. Things go sideways when the man Caitlin was having an affair with turns up dead.
Luella is such a fun character. I love the descriptions on how she transforms from Marie to Luella, wigs and all. At least now she has veneers, so need for the false teeth. This is a dysfunctional group on this island, they have an underground sex club, indulge in drugs and are all around bad people.
Luella gets help from a couple of unlikely people. Joan, the librarian, who was there when Mark called and Betsy, the captain of ferry boat that comes to the island. I hope we get to see more of these characters working with Luella. This book is definitely over the top, but in a good way. I laughed at Luella's antics. This can be read on it's own, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Murder on Sex Island, to see how Luella van Horn came about. I look forward to Luella's next investigation, there is a hint of who will appear at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.
Luella is such a fun character. I love the descriptions on how she transforms from Marie to Luella, wigs and all. At least now she has veneers, so need for the false teeth. This is a dysfunctional group on this island, they have an underground sex club, indulge in drugs and are all around bad people.
Luella gets help from a couple of unlikely people. Joan, the librarian, who was there when Mark called and Betsy, the captain of ferry boat that comes to the island. I hope we get to see more of these characters working with Luella. This book is definitely over the top, but in a good way. I laughed at Luella's antics. This can be read on it's own, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Murder on Sex Island, to see how Luella van Horn came about. I look forward to Luella's next investigation, there is a hint of who will appear at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you a million times to Jo Firestone, Ballantine, and NetGalley for this eARC of this fantastic read.
Keep your eyes open for this riveting sequel of the Luella van Horn Mystery series. This time she's not on Sex Island but rather Murder Island. As soon as she arrives, things are clearly not quite right, but when you're desperate for rent, there's a lot that you can overlook. Luella has been hired to catch the wife of one of the richest men, not only on the island, but in the world. He needs to prove that she's been having an affair so that he doesn't lose the money he's come into by marrying her. Follow Luella (Marie) as she wears ridiculous wigs, befriends unexpected people, and tries her best to make enough money to pay her rent.
This is my first Jo Firestone, and I didn't realize it was a sequel. It can very easily be read as a standalone, but I loved it so much that I definitely want to go back and read the first in the series. Marie is an absolute delight. She is smart and quirky and conveniently finds important information constantly. The side characters were just as interesting to me to learn about. Betsy and Joan are hilarious and I love that Joan is a librarian. I picked this book up to start it casually because I knew I still had a couple of weeks to read it, but I devoured it. I didn't want to put this book down and finished it in a day. It's safe to say that Jo Firestone is going to become an auto buy for me, and I'm so excited to read more of their stuff!
#NetGalley #SexOnMurderIsland
Keep your eyes open for this riveting sequel of the Luella van Horn Mystery series. This time she's not on Sex Island but rather Murder Island. As soon as she arrives, things are clearly not quite right, but when you're desperate for rent, there's a lot that you can overlook. Luella has been hired to catch the wife of one of the richest men, not only on the island, but in the world. He needs to prove that she's been having an affair so that he doesn't lose the money he's come into by marrying her. Follow Luella (Marie) as she wears ridiculous wigs, befriends unexpected people, and tries her best to make enough money to pay her rent.
This is my first Jo Firestone, and I didn't realize it was a sequel. It can very easily be read as a standalone, but I loved it so much that I definitely want to go back and read the first in the series. Marie is an absolute delight. She is smart and quirky and conveniently finds important information constantly. The side characters were just as interesting to me to learn about. Betsy and Joan are hilarious and I love that Joan is a librarian. I picked this book up to start it casually because I knew I still had a couple of weeks to read it, but I devoured it. I didn't want to put this book down and finished it in a day. It's safe to say that Jo Firestone is going to become an auto buy for me, and I'm so excited to read more of their stuff!
#NetGalley #SexOnMurderIsland
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted Sex on Murder Island to be a sharp, ridiculous little satire. Instead, it mostly feels like a bit that goes on about 150 pages too long.
The premise is great. A private investigator. A secret island for the ultra-rich. Sex. Murder. It practically writes its own jokes. Unfortunately, the book seems more interested in reminding you how quirky it is than in telling an actual story. The humor is relentless but rarely escalates. It just sort of hovers there, nudging you in the ribs and saying, “See? Isn’t this weird?”
Luella van Horn continues to be less “lovably odd” and more “how are you still employed?” Her cluelessness stops being charming pretty quickly. Instead of building tension, the mystery often feels like a loose suggestion happening somewhere in the background while everyone competes for Most Random Line of Dialogue.
There are flashes of clever satire about wealth and reality TV excess, and occasionally a joke genuinely lands. But the plot meanders, the stakes feel low, and by the time the solution rolls around, it is hard to care who did what to whom. A murder mystery should at least make you curious. This one mostly made me tired.
If you love aggressively quirky humor and do not mind a mystery that feels optional, you might have a better time. For me, it was a two-star trip to Murder Island, and I was ready to leave long before checkout.
The premise is great. A private investigator. A secret island for the ultra-rich. Sex. Murder. It practically writes its own jokes. Unfortunately, the book seems more interested in reminding you how quirky it is than in telling an actual story. The humor is relentless but rarely escalates. It just sort of hovers there, nudging you in the ribs and saying, “See? Isn’t this weird?”
Luella van Horn continues to be less “lovably odd” and more “how are you still employed?” Her cluelessness stops being charming pretty quickly. Instead of building tension, the mystery often feels like a loose suggestion happening somewhere in the background while everyone competes for Most Random Line of Dialogue.
There are flashes of clever satire about wealth and reality TV excess, and occasionally a joke genuinely lands. But the plot meanders, the stakes feel low, and by the time the solution rolls around, it is hard to care who did what to whom. A murder mystery should at least make you curious. This one mostly made me tired.
If you love aggressively quirky humor and do not mind a mystery that feels optional, you might have a better time. For me, it was a two-star trip to Murder Island, and I was ready to leave long before checkout.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A hilarious tale featuring social worker Marie Jones's alias wig wearing Luella van Horn. When Luella gets a call from a residence on Murder Island, she is more than interested, she is desperate. At the ends of her financial means, she is about to move out her apartment so this case comes at a perfect time. But what exactly is Luella getting herself in for, Murder Island has a reputation, a reputation for tawdry sex parties among the residence of which there are only a few but extremely wealthy. However, a simple case of adultery should be a quick easy job but when the one of the lovers is found dead, things go haywire quickly. Hidden passages, staff that appear out of nowhere, the residences who all have their own agenda, who can Luella trust or not trust. When a second residence goes missing, Luella may be over her head with this murder investigation. Luckily, she has friends who can help Luella solve the mystery without getting killed hopefully.
Fun set of characters, between the residence and the staff on Murder Island, I was cracking up at the antics of both. Marie/Luella is a fun character but I admit my favorite character was Joan the librarian or maybe Betsey, what a hoot! Fun characters, hilarious setting, good mystery, this is a pleasure to read. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine.
Fun set of characters, between the residence and the staff on Murder Island, I was cracking up at the antics of both. Marie/Luella is a fun character but I admit my favorite character was Joan the librarian or maybe Betsey, what a hoot! Fun characters, hilarious setting, good mystery, this is a pleasure to read. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Advanced Reader’s Copy
Once a social worker, now a private investigator known as Luella van Horn, Marie Jones is back in New York City after solving the Sex Island murder mystery . . . and she is broke. So she’s boxing up her belongings and wondering if she has a friend who will let her sleep on the sofa for a few months.
Marie, as Luella, accepts a job when Mark Fontaine invites her to Murder Island and asks her to find out the identity of the man who is having an affair with his wife, Caitlin McCarthy.
What could possibly go wrong with such a simple investigation?
=========
This book, second in the author’s Luella van Horn Mysteries series, works well as a standalone with sufficient backstory for readers new to the series.
As the investigation proceeds, Luella discovers that all is not as it seems on the island, but she gamely proceeds as she seeks the necessary evidence. There are red herrings and dead ends in the investigation.
And then, there’s a body.
This mystery, clever and offbeat and, at times, simply ludicrous, may keep readers guessing. But it’s a cozy tale and the overuse of a particularly offensive expletive detracts from its charm and lowers the rating for the book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#SexonMurderIsland #NetGalley
Once a social worker, now a private investigator known as Luella van Horn, Marie Jones is back in New York City after solving the Sex Island murder mystery . . . and she is broke. So she’s boxing up her belongings and wondering if she has a friend who will let her sleep on the sofa for a few months.
Marie, as Luella, accepts a job when Mark Fontaine invites her to Murder Island and asks her to find out the identity of the man who is having an affair with his wife, Caitlin McCarthy.
What could possibly go wrong with such a simple investigation?
=========
This book, second in the author’s Luella van Horn Mysteries series, works well as a standalone with sufficient backstory for readers new to the series.
As the investigation proceeds, Luella discovers that all is not as it seems on the island, but she gamely proceeds as she seeks the necessary evidence. There are red herrings and dead ends in the investigation.
And then, there’s a body.
This mystery, clever and offbeat and, at times, simply ludicrous, may keep readers guessing. But it’s a cozy tale and the overuse of a particularly offensive expletive detracts from its charm and lowers the rating for the book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#SexonMurderIsland #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
In the second book in the Luella van Horn Mysteries series, it has been three months since Marie Jones's alter-ego, Luella van Horn cracked the case of a murdered contestant on the hit reality show Sex Island. Since then, she hasn't had any more cases, the bills are piling up, and she is on the verge of being evicted. Then she gets a call, asking her. to find evidence of a woman having an extramarital affair. The only hitch is that it's on Murder Island, a private island for the uber-rich just outside of New York City. As soon as she begins investigating, the suspected paramour is found murdered. Even though she is warned that her stay is over, now that the man in question has been found, she can't resist doubling back so she can attempt to solve the murder as well.
I didn't read book one in the series, but I feel like each book can be read as a standalone. I had so much fun with this. There were so many great one-liners, and adult humor, that it kept me laughing. The sex parties she accidentally attended on the island, her new friend Betsy Clench - first mate on the island's ferry who had absolutely no filter, and the scene with getting the rabies shot were a few of my favorites. If you love a good mystery that will keep you in stitches, then you should definitely check this out!
In the second book in the Luella van Horn Mysteries series, it has been three months since Marie Jones's alter-ego, Luella van Horn cracked the case of a murdered contestant on the hit reality show Sex Island. Since then, she hasn't had any more cases, the bills are piling up, and she is on the verge of being evicted. Then she gets a call, asking her. to find evidence of a woman having an extramarital affair. The only hitch is that it's on Murder Island, a private island for the uber-rich just outside of New York City. As soon as she begins investigating, the suspected paramour is found murdered. Even though she is warned that her stay is over, now that the man in question has been found, she can't resist doubling back so she can attempt to solve the murder as well.
I didn't read book one in the series, but I feel like each book can be read as a standalone. I had so much fun with this. There were so many great one-liners, and adult humor, that it kept me laughing. The sex parties she accidentally attended on the island, her new friend Betsy Clench - first mate on the island's ferry who had absolutely no filter, and the scene with getting the rabies shot were a few of my favorites. If you love a good mystery that will keep you in stitches, then you should definitely check this out!
June 30, 2026
This book had me laughing from beginning to end. I did not expect this book to do this to me at all! I haven’t read book one yet, but after finishing this one, I’m definitely going back because I cannot get enough of Marie.
Even though her situation is pretty rough — she’s about to be evicted, desperately needs money, and is trying to keep everything together — she somehow manages to be absolutely hilarious. Her neighbors were amazing, especially the one who watched her cats while she took on this special assignment.
Marie is a private investigator who goes by the name Luella Van Horn, and her newest job takes her to Murder Island. Little did she know she’d be mingling with the super rich, but these wealthy people are hiding a ridiculous amount of secrets. And then the sex cult reveal happened and the WAY I CACKLED!!! What?!?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I seriously cannot make this up.
Of course, someone ends up dead, and suddenly Marie finds herself in the middle of murder, mystery, and all kinds of weird kinky drama. I could not stop laughing. This was easily the most entertaining book I’ve read all month.
Yes, it’s a murder mystery suspense novel, but the humor absolutely steals the show. The characters were so much fun, and my Kindle is practically glowing from all the highlights I made lol.
Even though her situation is pretty rough — she’s about to be evicted, desperately needs money, and is trying to keep everything together — she somehow manages to be absolutely hilarious. Her neighbors were amazing, especially the one who watched her cats while she took on this special assignment.
Marie is a private investigator who goes by the name Luella Van Horn, and her newest job takes her to Murder Island. Little did she know she’d be mingling with the super rich, but these wealthy people are hiding a ridiculous amount of secrets. And then the sex cult reveal happened and the WAY I CACKLED!!! What?!?! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I seriously cannot make this up.
Of course, someone ends up dead, and suddenly Marie finds herself in the middle of murder, mystery, and all kinds of weird kinky drama. I could not stop laughing. This was easily the most entertaining book I’ve read all month.
Yes, it’s a murder mystery suspense novel, but the humor absolutely steals the show. The characters were so much fun, and my Kindle is practically glowing from all the highlights I made lol.
January 16, 2026
I loved Murder on Sex Island and was absolutely thrilled when I was provided an eARC of Sex on Murder Island from the publisher/NetGalley. I was not disappointed! While the first Luella Van Horne mystery was a ton of fun and quite funny, Jo Firestone really leveled up here. The writing and editing are much better and as a result the book is much better written overall.
The central mystery about, well, sex on Murder Island (and murder on Murder Island), is more complex and engaging than its predecessor, while still being absolutely ridiculous. It’s hard to craft a page-turner of a mystery that is also genuinely funny and Firestone succeeds here. The humor ranges from quick witted one-liners to all out slapstick and almost every joke or gag hits. I also absolutely loved the introduction of Joan and Betsy and the genuine reflection on how meaningful it is to have friends rather than always trying to go it alone.
The ending was so funny and the twist/cliffhanger at the end of the epilogue already has me looking forward to a Luella Van Horne #3. Highly recommend Sex on Murder Island and think you should all buy it as soon as it comes out so Jo Firestone is able to keep this series going for a long time.
Opinions my own! TY to publisher and netgalley!!
The central mystery about, well, sex on Murder Island (and murder on Murder Island), is more complex and engaging than its predecessor, while still being absolutely ridiculous. It’s hard to craft a page-turner of a mystery that is also genuinely funny and Firestone succeeds here. The humor ranges from quick witted one-liners to all out slapstick and almost every joke or gag hits. I also absolutely loved the introduction of Joan and Betsy and the genuine reflection on how meaningful it is to have friends rather than always trying to go it alone.
The ending was so funny and the twist/cliffhanger at the end of the epilogue already has me looking forward to a Luella Van Horne #3. Highly recommend Sex on Murder Island and think you should all buy it as soon as it comes out so Jo Firestone is able to keep this series going for a long time.
Opinions my own! TY to publisher and netgalley!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Marie Jones is down on her luck. Facing eviction, with no money or prospects, and in the middle of a heat wave without access to air conditioning, she's at a loss with little hope in sight. That is, until, she gets a call that changes the tide. All she has to do is find evidence of an extramarital affair. And, you know, transform back into her crime-solving alterego Luella Van Horn.
The catch? It's on a private island for the super rich. Just outside New York City. The bigger catch? The suspected lover is found murdred not long after she arrives, opening up a can of sexual secrets, escapades, and chaos that was better left hidden.
Sex on Murder Island had a crudely humorous, lovably absurd, wig-donning, shiny veener-wearing, private-investigator-who-had-no-idea-what-she-was-doing sensibility about it that I think Carl Hiassen fans would appreciate immensely. I love a good murder mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously. And this one didn't. At all. Which was fantastic! It was the perfect summer escape I didn't know I needed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my review.
BOOK BLOG
The catch? It's on a private island for the super rich. Just outside New York City. The bigger catch? The suspected lover is found murdred not long after she arrives, opening up a can of sexual secrets, escapades, and chaos that was better left hidden.
Sex on Murder Island had a crudely humorous, lovably absurd, wig-donning, shiny veener-wearing, private-investigator-who-had-no-idea-what-she-was-doing sensibility about it that I think Carl Hiassen fans would appreciate immensely. I love a good murder mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously. And this one didn't. At all. Which was fantastic! It was the perfect summer escape I didn't know I needed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my review.
BOOK BLOG
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