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How to Kill a Crime Writer
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26 days and 07:56:57
10 copies available
U.S. only
She wrote for a living. But who wanted her dead? When bestselling author Annie Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh knows in her gut it’s no accident – even if the case needs a good edit.
The village is strangely uneventful.
The suspects are suspiciously normal.
The leads quickly turn into dead ends…
But when Annie’s final manuscript lands on the doormat, the pages humming with mystery and suspense, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.
This can’t be a coincidence.
Because if Niamh learnt anything from her mother’s crime fiction, it’s that there’s no such thing. And that village secrets never stay buried for long…
From the award-winning novelist & screenwriter, How to Kill a Crime Writer is a funny, mind-bending mystery that will stay with you long after the end.
The village is strangely uneventful.
The suspects are suspiciously normal.
The leads quickly turn into dead ends…
But when Annie’s final manuscript lands on the doormat, the pages humming with mystery and suspense, the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.
This can’t be a coincidence.
Because if Niamh learnt anything from her mother’s crime fiction, it’s that there’s no such thing. And that village secrets never stay buried for long…
From the award-winning novelist & screenwriter, How to Kill a Crime Writer is a funny, mind-bending mystery that will stay with you long after the end.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Sarah Lotz
41 books834 followersSarah Lotz is a screenwriter and fiction novelist with a fondness for the macabre and fake names.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A funny, emotional and clever take on a murder mystery. How to Kill A Crime Writer had me at the title to be honest, how could I not want to read this.
A small sleepy village where nothing g much happens. Niamh moves into her mother’s cottage after her death, a death ruled an accident. But Niamh’s mother was a crime fiction author and she has too many questions, things don’t add up and in crime fiction there is no such thing as a coincidence. With the help of her mother’s main character, Niamh sets out to find out what really did happen to her mother, whilst dealing with her grief and suffering from guilt of not being there for her.
Unique, comical and mysterious, this is a fun read that I really did enjoy.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for my early copy to read on NetGalley. Published on February 26th.
A small sleepy village where nothing g much happens. Niamh moves into her mother’s cottage after her death, a death ruled an accident. But Niamh’s mother was a crime fiction author and she has too many questions, things don’t add up and in crime fiction there is no such thing as a coincidence. With the help of her mother’s main character, Niamh sets out to find out what really did happen to her mother, whilst dealing with her grief and suffering from guilt of not being there for her.
Unique, comical and mysterious, this is a fun read that I really did enjoy.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for my early copy to read on NetGalley. Published on February 26th.
April 4, 2026
3.0 / 5.0
A solid read from start to finish, probably not my cup of tea but if you’re looking for something light hearted, funny, dry-humoured this book would be for you. It’s a comfort read, where if the weather is terrible you can read in almost one sitting. The book is written very well, the dialogue, the plot, the pacing and flow is consistent and there’s never really a dull bit. It’s not the type of book for me, maybe it was on a light hearted side and more comedy sketch vibes.
When best selling author Anna Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh knows in her gut it’s no accident. The village her mum lives in is strangely peaceful, the suspects seem relatively normal. The leads quickly turn into dead ends, but when Annie’s final mystery lands on the doormat- the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. And it can’t be a coincidence. If there’s one thing Niamh has learnt from her mum, is that there’s no such thing as coincidences and the village secrets never stay buried for long…
But overall if you’re looking for a light hearted simple read to pass the time this book is a good book to go with.
A solid read from start to finish, probably not my cup of tea but if you’re looking for something light hearted, funny, dry-humoured this book would be for you. It’s a comfort read, where if the weather is terrible you can read in almost one sitting. The book is written very well, the dialogue, the plot, the pacing and flow is consistent and there’s never really a dull bit. It’s not the type of book for me, maybe it was on a light hearted side and more comedy sketch vibes.
When best selling author Anna Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh knows in her gut it’s no accident. The village her mum lives in is strangely peaceful, the suspects seem relatively normal. The leads quickly turn into dead ends, but when Annie’s final mystery lands on the doormat- the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. And it can’t be a coincidence. If there’s one thing Niamh has learnt from her mum, is that there’s no such thing as coincidences and the village secrets never stay buried for long…
But overall if you’re looking for a light hearted simple read to pass the time this book is a good book to go with.
February 27, 2026
Niamh Morrissey has moved into her mother’s cottage after her death, and is coping with her grief and anxiety by living like a hermit and immersing herself in computer games. The village is small, and despite her anti-social tendencies, Niamh knows some of her neighbours, partly from visits to the cottage while her mother was still alive, and partly because some of them have offered her neighbourly support since she moved in. The more Niamh thinks about how her mother died, though, the more unsettled she feels. She finds it impossible to imagine her mother climbing a ladder at dusk to fix loose guttering, and yet the police are convinced that her death was the result of an accidental fall from the ladder. Now the inquest is looming and Niamh’s anxiety is growing, and then Leah turns up…
Annie Morrisey had become a successful crime writer in the last few years of her life, writing a series about a loner private investigator called Leah Overton. Originally, Niamh had collaborated with her mother in creating the character and working out plots, but later, as Niamh’s anxiety and depression began to turn her life into one long mess, she’d come to see Leah as her mother’s wish fulfilment of what she’d hoped Niamh would become – a strong, confident woman with skills. Niamh’s self-esteem is rock bottom, and she doesn’t feel she has any skills, so she gradually began to resent this fictional superwoman. And now Leah has appeared in the cottage! Is she a sort of ghost? Though since she was never alive, how can she be dead? Or is she a projection created by Niamh’s anxious imagination? Niamh doesn’t know, but she soon discovers Leah is just as domineering in real life as in her books. And Leah is convinced Annie was murdered – she’s here to force Niamh to investigate and find the killer.
Despite the underlying theme of Niamh’s grief and mental health struggles, the overall tone is quite light and highly entertaining. Whether Leah is ‘real’ or not, she’s a lot of fun. Although she bullies poor Niamh dreadfully, the feeling is that this is exactly what Niamh needs to force her out of her safe little cocoon of avoidance. Lotz’s handling of her character is very cleverly done – Leah only knows about things that have happened to her in her various books. So there’s a lot of playfulness about the difference between real life and fictional life. For example, Leah is astonished that travelling anywhere can take hours – in the books she gets into her car and the next chapter opens with her miraculously at her destination.
Niamh is handled equally well, and with a good deal of sensitivity. The author’s afterword tells us that the book was a response to her own grief over the death of her husband, and Niamh’s feelings always feel true. She’d had an argument with her mother last time they met, so feels guilty too, but it’s not overdone – beneath her anxiety, Niamh is a level-headed, intelligent woman, and realises that the argument would have passed like so many before. But it means she doesn’t know what her mother was doing and thinking in the last few days of her life, so this is what she and Leah set out to discover. Along the way, they’ll find out more about the neighbours, get involved with a grief support group, and go to a book festival where they’ll meet lots of fans also touched by the death of Annie and the resultant loss of their favourite ‘tec, Leah.
The village with its small community of residents is entertaining – more in the quirky style of Midsomer Murders than a traditional Christie village. Everyone has secrets, and gradually the suspect list grows. As well as Leah, Niamh has inherited her mother’s cat, Brian, who is lovely and adds more humour to the story (and suffers no harm, animal lovers). When the fictional Leah first appeared in ‘real life’, I was momentarily put off – I’m not an enthusiast for mixing fantasy elements into crime. But the suggestion that she may simply be a projection of Niamh’s grief kept it grounded enough for me to buy into, and as the story went on, I was having too much fun to care if the boundaries were becoming ever more blurred.
Sarah Lotz is new to me, but apparently mixing thrills, mystery and humour is her trademark style, and in this one it works excellently. An unexpected success for me – should have been out of my comfort zone, but the warmth, humour and sense of kindness to her characters won me over completely. I look forward to reading some of her earlier books.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Annie Morrisey had become a successful crime writer in the last few years of her life, writing a series about a loner private investigator called Leah Overton. Originally, Niamh had collaborated with her mother in creating the character and working out plots, but later, as Niamh’s anxiety and depression began to turn her life into one long mess, she’d come to see Leah as her mother’s wish fulfilment of what she’d hoped Niamh would become – a strong, confident woman with skills. Niamh’s self-esteem is rock bottom, and she doesn’t feel she has any skills, so she gradually began to resent this fictional superwoman. And now Leah has appeared in the cottage! Is she a sort of ghost? Though since she was never alive, how can she be dead? Or is she a projection created by Niamh’s anxious imagination? Niamh doesn’t know, but she soon discovers Leah is just as domineering in real life as in her books. And Leah is convinced Annie was murdered – she’s here to force Niamh to investigate and find the killer.
Despite the underlying theme of Niamh’s grief and mental health struggles, the overall tone is quite light and highly entertaining. Whether Leah is ‘real’ or not, she’s a lot of fun. Although she bullies poor Niamh dreadfully, the feeling is that this is exactly what Niamh needs to force her out of her safe little cocoon of avoidance. Lotz’s handling of her character is very cleverly done – Leah only knows about things that have happened to her in her various books. So there’s a lot of playfulness about the difference between real life and fictional life. For example, Leah is astonished that travelling anywhere can take hours – in the books she gets into her car and the next chapter opens with her miraculously at her destination.
Niamh is handled equally well, and with a good deal of sensitivity. The author’s afterword tells us that the book was a response to her own grief over the death of her husband, and Niamh’s feelings always feel true. She’d had an argument with her mother last time they met, so feels guilty too, but it’s not overdone – beneath her anxiety, Niamh is a level-headed, intelligent woman, and realises that the argument would have passed like so many before. But it means she doesn’t know what her mother was doing and thinking in the last few days of her life, so this is what she and Leah set out to discover. Along the way, they’ll find out more about the neighbours, get involved with a grief support group, and go to a book festival where they’ll meet lots of fans also touched by the death of Annie and the resultant loss of their favourite ‘tec, Leah.
The village with its small community of residents is entertaining – more in the quirky style of Midsomer Murders than a traditional Christie village. Everyone has secrets, and gradually the suspect list grows. As well as Leah, Niamh has inherited her mother’s cat, Brian, who is lovely and adds more humour to the story (and suffers no harm, animal lovers). When the fictional Leah first appeared in ‘real life’, I was momentarily put off – I’m not an enthusiast for mixing fantasy elements into crime. But the suggestion that she may simply be a projection of Niamh’s grief kept it grounded enough for me to buy into, and as the story went on, I was having too much fun to care if the boundaries were becoming ever more blurred.
Sarah Lotz is new to me, but apparently mixing thrills, mystery and humour is her trademark style, and in this one it works excellently. An unexpected success for me – should have been out of my comfort zone, but the warmth, humour and sense of kindness to her characters won me over completely. I look forward to reading some of her earlier books.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
March 2, 2026
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
Niamh is both deeply saddened and shocked at the sudden death of her beloved mother, bestselling author Annie Morrisey. Annie had recently moved to a small hamlet where the neighbours know each other’s business, including what everyone had for dinner (an over-exaggeration on my part!). Returning to her mother’s house (because she doesn’t really have anywhere else to go) and to sort out her mother’s affairs, Niamh discovers the manuscript of her mother’s new book. But that’s not all that turns up. Having convinced herself that her mother was murdered (she was a crime writer, it would fit…sort of!) she embarks on an investigation of her own. But who would want her mother dead…?
How to Kill a Crime Writer is a wonderful, heartfelt, compelling novel from the outset. You can’t help but feel sorry for Niamh, who, despite having a fairly good relationship with her mother, had managed to fall out with her days before her death. The regret the character exudes is palpable, and my heart really went out to her. Niamh hasn’t really achieved much in life, but her mother saw her potential and made sure to involve her daughter in all of her major plot decisions. Particularly when it came down to her main character, the character she was famed for, Leah Rebecca Overton. A character Niamh pretty much despised. There is such a lovely, unexpected twist to the story that I don’t want to reveal in this review so I’m going to skirt right over it and pretend it never happened (IYKYK).
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I wasn’t sure what to expect with How to Kill a Crime Writer but having read books by this author before, I knew I was in safe hands. It’s really very different to everything else I’ve read by Lotz, but that only made it stand out all the more. There is an author’s note at the end which had me in floods of tears. It helped me understand where the author was when she wrote the book. And it made me love Niamh just a little bit more than I already did (she’s such a wonderful, hilarious, sarcastic, down-to-earth, relatable character). The blurb doesn’t mention the twist, and if I were you, I would do everything in my power to avoid discovering it before reading the book (you’re safe here, no spoilers). Great characters, something a little bit different, and a compulsive, intriguing plot (I just had to know what had happened to Annie!). There’s a real warmth to the story but there’s a sadness too. A really lovely, well-written, laugh-out-loud tale. Recommended.
Niamh is both deeply saddened and shocked at the sudden death of her beloved mother, bestselling author Annie Morrisey. Annie had recently moved to a small hamlet where the neighbours know each other’s business, including what everyone had for dinner (an over-exaggeration on my part!). Returning to her mother’s house (because she doesn’t really have anywhere else to go) and to sort out her mother’s affairs, Niamh discovers the manuscript of her mother’s new book. But that’s not all that turns up. Having convinced herself that her mother was murdered (she was a crime writer, it would fit…sort of!) she embarks on an investigation of her own. But who would want her mother dead…?
How to Kill a Crime Writer is a wonderful, heartfelt, compelling novel from the outset. You can’t help but feel sorry for Niamh, who, despite having a fairly good relationship with her mother, had managed to fall out with her days before her death. The regret the character exudes is palpable, and my heart really went out to her. Niamh hasn’t really achieved much in life, but her mother saw her potential and made sure to involve her daughter in all of her major plot decisions. Particularly when it came down to her main character, the character she was famed for, Leah Rebecca Overton. A character Niamh pretty much despised. There is such a lovely, unexpected twist to the story that I don’t want to reveal in this review so I’m going to skirt right over it and pretend it never happened (IYKYK).
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I wasn’t sure what to expect with How to Kill a Crime Writer but having read books by this author before, I knew I was in safe hands. It’s really very different to everything else I’ve read by Lotz, but that only made it stand out all the more. There is an author’s note at the end which had me in floods of tears. It helped me understand where the author was when she wrote the book. And it made me love Niamh just a little bit more than I already did (she’s such a wonderful, hilarious, sarcastic, down-to-earth, relatable character). The blurb doesn’t mention the twist, and if I were you, I would do everything in my power to avoid discovering it before reading the book (you’re safe here, no spoilers). Great characters, something a little bit different, and a compulsive, intriguing plot (I just had to know what had happened to Annie!). There’s a real warmth to the story but there’s a sadness too. A really lovely, well-written, laugh-out-loud tale. Recommended.
April 12, 2026
This book was quirky, which I liked, but I found it very hard to get into.
Niamh is dealing (not very well) with the recent death of her mother, which happened under suspicious circumstances. Her mother's muse 'appears' and the two of them work through various scenarios trying to find out who killed her mother. Some of the characters are almost caricatures and the plots border on silly. But then Neevy starts to deal with her grief and discovers the truth of what happened.
If I had read the author note before reading, I think I would have enjoyed this more. The author's life has many parallels to Niamh's and I appreciated it more after reading it.
If you like quirky, you will probably enjoy this. I did really enjoy learning some new words - a sign of a good read for a word nerd like me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Niamh is dealing (not very well) with the recent death of her mother, which happened under suspicious circumstances. Her mother's muse 'appears' and the two of them work through various scenarios trying to find out who killed her mother. Some of the characters are almost caricatures and the plots border on silly. But then Neevy starts to deal with her grief and discovers the truth of what happened.
If I had read the author note before reading, I think I would have enjoyed this more. The author's life has many parallels to Niamh's and I appreciated it more after reading it.
If you like quirky, you will probably enjoy this. I did really enjoy learning some new words - a sign of a good read for a word nerd like me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2025
Review of ‘How To Kill A Crime Writer’ by Sarah Lotz, due to be published on 26 February 2026 by Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction.
Niamh is coming to terms with her mother Annie’s unexpected and untimely death. Niamh has moved into her mother’s cottage, in a quiet hamlet in the Countryside, unable to bring herself to read her mother’s final book, Overlooked, or listen to the final voice notes Annie sent.
Seemingly from nowhere, the main protagonist in Annie’s book series, PI Leah Overton, appears leaving Niamh confused and questioning why her subconscious has manifested Leah. The answer lies in Leah’s belief that as part of Niamh’s grief journey, she should embark upon a ‘grief quest’ to get to the bottom of how Annie died.
Add in a missing ladder, a missing phone, crippling social anxiety, a cat named Brian, twitchy neighbours and stolen gnomes and you have an extraordinary story full of sarcasm, humour and grief that has fiction colliding with reality.
The story is well executed, both Niamh and Leah are well developed, and though there are dark moments of grief, the undercurrent of humour runs deep. The ending was a surprise twist, and unbeknownst to the reader is carefully threaded throughout the story. A recommended read.
Niamh is coming to terms with her mother Annie’s unexpected and untimely death. Niamh has moved into her mother’s cottage, in a quiet hamlet in the Countryside, unable to bring herself to read her mother’s final book, Overlooked, or listen to the final voice notes Annie sent.
Seemingly from nowhere, the main protagonist in Annie’s book series, PI Leah Overton, appears leaving Niamh confused and questioning why her subconscious has manifested Leah. The answer lies in Leah’s belief that as part of Niamh’s grief journey, she should embark upon a ‘grief quest’ to get to the bottom of how Annie died.
Add in a missing ladder, a missing phone, crippling social anxiety, a cat named Brian, twitchy neighbours and stolen gnomes and you have an extraordinary story full of sarcasm, humour and grief that has fiction colliding with reality.
The story is well executed, both Niamh and Leah are well developed, and though there are dark moments of grief, the undercurrent of humour runs deep. The ending was a surprise twist, and unbeknownst to the reader is carefully threaded throughout the story. A recommended read.
March 31, 2026
Funny and quirky
An enjoyable read
An enjoyable read
December 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/HarperFiction for the opportunity of reading this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Incredibly witty, funny and sarcastic.
Part of the cosy mystery genre, ‘How to kill a crime writer’ is a book which encompasses a surprisingly deep psychological arc. It focuses on Niamh, whose mother, an author, has mysteriously died in the countryside, while living all alone. The police has labelled it an accident, but circumstances arise and Niamh is motivated to learn the truth about her mother’s end.
Niamh is incredibly well-written. As a millennial myself, I found her relatable and representative for my generation at the same time — however, she is anything but stereotypical. Spiralling from depression and grief, she finds motivation to seek the truth behind her mother’s death. She is quite realistically written, and her journey through grief, in the middle of a life crisis of her own, is both touching and motivating. Her character arc and development should be familiar to anyone who has experienced loss and grief, and the vulnerability with which it is handled is easily noticeable. Niamh is a main character one cannot but help themselves to root for. I can’t give away the reason which pushed her towards investigating on her own, however, I can say it was rather clever — for one has physical children, but also children of the mind, a part of themselves which is born from them in a metaphysical way and leaves its mark around without many consciously realising it. The psychological aspect of her character arc was intriguing.
The plot is realistic; it’s tense and has quite a lot of suspense, and the course of action is perfectly fluid and logical. I have enjoyed the several dead ends encountered, as it reflects the reality of an investigation. Because, sometimes, even if everything has a perfectly logical explanation, there are mandatory steps for an actual detective which can be missed by someone like Niamh, inexperienced in criminal investigations. Her detective journey and deduction skills evolution was an entertaining experience. That being said, the plot twist happens at a timing which couldn’t be best. Structurally, the plot is neatly done and wrapped up quite satisfyingly.
The prose is incredibly vivid; perhaps because the author is also a screenwriter, but everything feels incredibly visual and tactile, even if the style itself is direct and succinct. I could easily envision every character, location and atmosphere in the book, and I must praise Sarah Lotz for managing that so well. I genuinely don’t know if I’ve read a book or watched a show!
I loved all the casually dropped references — books, movies, politics — they added both context and humour.
Would recommend this to anyone who wants a witty and sardonic main character. Niamh was very fun.
I hope to actually see this adapted into a show, I think it would do incredibly well. (Also because I couldn’t help myself from imagining millennial icon Eve Hewson as Niamh from the very first pages.)
Incredibly witty, funny and sarcastic.
Part of the cosy mystery genre, ‘How to kill a crime writer’ is a book which encompasses a surprisingly deep psychological arc. It focuses on Niamh, whose mother, an author, has mysteriously died in the countryside, while living all alone. The police has labelled it an accident, but circumstances arise and Niamh is motivated to learn the truth about her mother’s end.
Niamh is incredibly well-written. As a millennial myself, I found her relatable and representative for my generation at the same time — however, she is anything but stereotypical. Spiralling from depression and grief, she finds motivation to seek the truth behind her mother’s death. She is quite realistically written, and her journey through grief, in the middle of a life crisis of her own, is both touching and motivating. Her character arc and development should be familiar to anyone who has experienced loss and grief, and the vulnerability with which it is handled is easily noticeable. Niamh is a main character one cannot but help themselves to root for. I can’t give away the reason which pushed her towards investigating on her own, however, I can say it was rather clever — for one has physical children, but also children of the mind, a part of themselves which is born from them in a metaphysical way and leaves its mark around without many consciously realising it. The psychological aspect of her character arc was intriguing.
The plot is realistic; it’s tense and has quite a lot of suspense, and the course of action is perfectly fluid and logical. I have enjoyed the several dead ends encountered, as it reflects the reality of an investigation. Because, sometimes, even if everything has a perfectly logical explanation, there are mandatory steps for an actual detective which can be missed by someone like Niamh, inexperienced in criminal investigations. Her detective journey and deduction skills evolution was an entertaining experience. That being said, the plot twist happens at a timing which couldn’t be best. Structurally, the plot is neatly done and wrapped up quite satisfyingly.
The prose is incredibly vivid; perhaps because the author is also a screenwriter, but everything feels incredibly visual and tactile, even if the style itself is direct and succinct. I could easily envision every character, location and atmosphere in the book, and I must praise Sarah Lotz for managing that so well. I genuinely don’t know if I’ve read a book or watched a show!
I loved all the casually dropped references — books, movies, politics — they added both context and humour.
Would recommend this to anyone who wants a witty and sardonic main character. Niamh was very fun.
I hope to actually see this adapted into a show, I think it would do incredibly well. (Also because I couldn’t help myself from imagining millennial icon Eve Hewson as Niamh from the very first pages.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book was a way for the author to mourn and work her way through the grief of losing a loved one, she said this herself in the notes at the end of the book, and I think that you can feel that in the way in which the themes of grief and loss are treated here. Mind you, this is a mystery, and it stands pretty well on its own, but the way in which the author portrays the loss and talks about the mourning process has some personal nuances and she talks about painful themes, threading lightly between them all.
I really appreciated this side of the book.
I have also appreciated the general idea of the book, the point is that I don’t know how much I should be telling you, because the major selling point of the book (or one of those) is not written in the synopsis, so will be a spoiler if I tell you that? Honestly, I don’t consider it a spoiler, because it is the driving point of the whole plot, so… a major plot point shouldn’t be a spoiler, but since it has been kept from the synopsis… I think the author’s intentions are that you should discover that for yourself? I am a tad confused about this, and if you want to know, you can ask for it in the comments. I will answer you!
Anyway, to be completely honest, if this point had been highlighted in the synopsis, I wouldn’t have requested an ARC for this book. Because, indeed, it worked here, and it is also true that I called this part a selling point, because I am convinced this is a selling point, just not for me. I simply didn’t find the idea so appealing. I can understand the appeal, and I have a couple of books on my TBR that have the same sort of thing in them, but still… it’s not that I dislike it,I just don’t find it as appealing as other tropes.
But that’s enough of me being mysterious, I promise!
Let’s try to actually say something about this book. It is a mystery set in a quaint hamlet that I’d love to visit, dead mother of the MC aside, obviously. Because our MC is mourning her mother, a famous thriller writer, who suddenly and quite mysteriously died after moving to this small and scenic hamlet. Everyone is considering it an accident, but there are some particulars that don’t really work, and so, for peace of mind, our MC decides to try and make clarity to her mother’s death. The fact that she also has some mental health related issues doesn’t help here, while she tries to navigate the mystery and the mourning and find a direction for her own life. She has to shoulder quite a lot, and she tries her best to keep everything afloat, even if sometimes the results aren’t… optimal, or sometimes she finds some… original ways to deal with everything.
That said, the whole story is quite engaging, but the pace is quite slow. Some parts were really slow; they dragged more than a bit, and on the whole, I would have enjoyed everything more if things moved a bit more quickly.
That said, it did its job, we also have some adorable pets around and a really good twist.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book was a way for the author to mourn and work her way through the grief of losing a loved one, she said this herself in the notes at the end of the book, and I think that you can feel that in the way in which the themes of grief and loss are treated here. Mind you, this is a mystery, and it stands pretty well on its own, but the way in which the author portrays the loss and talks about the mourning process has some personal nuances and she talks about painful themes, threading lightly between them all.
I really appreciated this side of the book.
I have also appreciated the general idea of the book, the point is that I don’t know how much I should be telling you, because the major selling point of the book (or one of those) is not written in the synopsis, so will be a spoiler if I tell you that? Honestly, I don’t consider it a spoiler, because it is the driving point of the whole plot, so… a major plot point shouldn’t be a spoiler, but since it has been kept from the synopsis… I think the author’s intentions are that you should discover that for yourself? I am a tad confused about this, and if you want to know, you can ask for it in the comments. I will answer you!
Anyway, to be completely honest, if this point had been highlighted in the synopsis, I wouldn’t have requested an ARC for this book. Because, indeed, it worked here, and it is also true that I called this part a selling point, because I am convinced this is a selling point, just not for me. I simply didn’t find the idea so appealing. I can understand the appeal, and I have a couple of books on my TBR that have the same sort of thing in them, but still… it’s not that I dislike it,I just don’t find it as appealing as other tropes.
But that’s enough of me being mysterious, I promise!
Let’s try to actually say something about this book. It is a mystery set in a quaint hamlet that I’d love to visit, dead mother of the MC aside, obviously. Because our MC is mourning her mother, a famous thriller writer, who suddenly and quite mysteriously died after moving to this small and scenic hamlet. Everyone is considering it an accident, but there are some particulars that don’t really work, and so, for peace of mind, our MC decides to try and make clarity to her mother’s death. The fact that she also has some mental health related issues doesn’t help here, while she tries to navigate the mystery and the mourning and find a direction for her own life. She has to shoulder quite a lot, and she tries her best to keep everything afloat, even if sometimes the results aren’t… optimal, or sometimes she finds some… original ways to deal with everything.
That said, the whole story is quite engaging, but the pace is quite slow. Some parts were really slow; they dragged more than a bit, and on the whole, I would have enjoyed everything more if things moved a bit more quickly.
That said, it did its job, we also have some adorable pets around and a really good twist.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The tile of the book How to Kill A Crime Writer begs to be read as how indeed do you kill a crime writer, a writer with a big following and a writer known for her complex and yet manageable plots with a fantastic feme fatale as the PI who never, ever gives in or up.
How to Kill A Crime Writer from Sarah Lotz is a deeply immersive look at how the human psyche can change the game so very easily without ever leaving the darkness of the gaming world, a world Niamh Morrissey inhabits as it is the place she can safely hide from the world: essentially disappear.
But she is about to be dragged ruthlessly from the small world she as created as the death of her beloved, if somewhat irritating mother Ann Morrissey, simply does not make any sense, and even in her misery she can understand that.
Leah Rebecca Overton is the PI star of the books written by her mother, believed by Niamh to be the cerebral creation daughter of her mother, as her real daughter is an abject failure at most things in life.
Wallowing in a pity of her own making she is jolted into the everyday world by the appearance of none other than Leah Rebecca Overton; a vision in her home, a reality that simply can’t be but seems to be, and Leah wants answers.
Through a series of tortuous twists and turn, Niamh and Leah learn to ‘co-habitat’ and trade insults with aplomb. No matter how hard they try to work out why Ann is dead from a fall from ladder, they can’t put all the pieces the puzzle together without venturing outside Niamh’s comfort zone.
Serious blunders, too much alcohol, a trip to a Writers Festival, getting to know the very unusual neighbours and learning to live with a ‘ghost’, see Niamh finally beginning to interact with life once again in almost but not quiet Leah Rebecca Overton style!
Quirky, funny, with a seriously devious and complex plot, Sarah Lotz has created a flawed heroine of the modern generation whom readers of all ages will be able to relate to with ease.
How to Kill A Crime Writer is highly recommended
How to Kill A Crime Writer from Sarah Lotz is a deeply immersive look at how the human psyche can change the game so very easily without ever leaving the darkness of the gaming world, a world Niamh Morrissey inhabits as it is the place she can safely hide from the world: essentially disappear.
But she is about to be dragged ruthlessly from the small world she as created as the death of her beloved, if somewhat irritating mother Ann Morrissey, simply does not make any sense, and even in her misery she can understand that.
Leah Rebecca Overton is the PI star of the books written by her mother, believed by Niamh to be the cerebral creation daughter of her mother, as her real daughter is an abject failure at most things in life.
Wallowing in a pity of her own making she is jolted into the everyday world by the appearance of none other than Leah Rebecca Overton; a vision in her home, a reality that simply can’t be but seems to be, and Leah wants answers.
Through a series of tortuous twists and turn, Niamh and Leah learn to ‘co-habitat’ and trade insults with aplomb. No matter how hard they try to work out why Ann is dead from a fall from ladder, they can’t put all the pieces the puzzle together without venturing outside Niamh’s comfort zone.
Serious blunders, too much alcohol, a trip to a Writers Festival, getting to know the very unusual neighbours and learning to live with a ‘ghost’, see Niamh finally beginning to interact with life once again in almost but not quiet Leah Rebecca Overton style!
Quirky, funny, with a seriously devious and complex plot, Sarah Lotz has created a flawed heroine of the modern generation whom readers of all ages will be able to relate to with ease.
How to Kill A Crime Writer is highly recommended
March 12, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
AHHHHH, this was such an amazing read!
This story was a perfect blend of a murder mystery set in a quiet town and the exploration of grieving a loved one in a way that felt raw and real, but also hopeful and charming.
I enjoyed Niemah as our protagonist immensely. Not because she was a badass know-it-all that barreled her way through the story with clever punchlines and impressive fighting skills, but because she was the opposite of that. She felt so achingly human in every scene, sometimes crushed by the weirdest things that triggered her grief (because it has a way to show up when you least expect it) or on the brink of a panic attack caused by the possibility of an interaction with her neighbours in the local town shop. She was awkward, chaotic, struggled with her new reality, but never lost her humour and always managed to pull herself out of her despair (sometimes with a little help of a very special frenemy of hers) and I felt protective over her towards the end of the story.
Which brings me to the mystery of it all: This was a cat and mouse game if I've ever seen one. The protagonist was constantly bombarded with new clues, leads and possibilities to figure out her mothers "accident" and at no point in the story was I able to figure out, if it was leading up to a big reveal or just another dead end. It was so much fun to play detective alongside her and trying to piece together the puzzle. The pacing of the book was amazing and perfectly balanced, although I wished the ending would have been fleshed out a bit more. It seemed a tiny bit rushed for me, which could also just be my deep desire talking for this story to never end.
Big thanks to Harper Collins UK for this e-arc!
AHHHHH, this was such an amazing read!
This story was a perfect blend of a murder mystery set in a quiet town and the exploration of grieving a loved one in a way that felt raw and real, but also hopeful and charming.
I enjoyed Niemah as our protagonist immensely. Not because she was a badass know-it-all that barreled her way through the story with clever punchlines and impressive fighting skills, but because she was the opposite of that. She felt so achingly human in every scene, sometimes crushed by the weirdest things that triggered her grief (because it has a way to show up when you least expect it) or on the brink of a panic attack caused by the possibility of an interaction with her neighbours in the local town shop. She was awkward, chaotic, struggled with her new reality, but never lost her humour and always managed to pull herself out of her despair (sometimes with a little help of a very special frenemy of hers) and I felt protective over her towards the end of the story.
Which brings me to the mystery of it all: This was a cat and mouse game if I've ever seen one. The protagonist was constantly bombarded with new clues, leads and possibilities to figure out her mothers "accident" and at no point in the story was I able to figure out, if it was leading up to a big reveal or just another dead end. It was so much fun to play detective alongside her and trying to piece together the puzzle. The pacing of the book was amazing and perfectly balanced, although I wished the ending would have been fleshed out a bit more. It seemed a tiny bit rushed for me, which could also just be my deep desire talking for this story to never end.
Big thanks to Harper Collins UK for this e-arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz**
When Niamh Morrissey retreats to her late mother's country cottage after bestselling crime writer Annie Morrissey's suspicious death, she isn't hiding from the world so much as trying to stay close to the person she's lost. And then Leah Rebecca Overton walks into the kitchen, and everything shifts.
Leah is Annie's fictional sleuth. The heroine of a beloved crime series. Competent, driven, and absolutely not real — except that Niamh can see her, hear her, and be thoroughly bullied by her. Whether Leah is a ghost, a hallucination, or something stranger entirely is a question the novel holds with remarkable delicacy. That deliberate blurring of the line between the fictional and the real is where Sarah Lotz does her most dazzling work.
The village hums with secrets. The neighbours are suspicious in exactly the way crime fiction demands, except Lotz is too sharp a writer to let them stay as types. The mystery builds with genuine tension. She knows when to withhold, when to release, and when to let a scene breathe.
But the true pleasure is Niamh and Leah themselves. They are opposites in every sense, and their partnership is funny — genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny — but also quietly moving. Leah forces Niamh out of her grief not through warmth but through sheer refusal to let her stay still.
Wickedly entertaining, emotionally grounded, and shot through with wit that makes you slow down to savour the sentences. This is Sarah Lotz at the top of her game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a chance to review this ARC
When Niamh Morrissey retreats to her late mother's country cottage after bestselling crime writer Annie Morrissey's suspicious death, she isn't hiding from the world so much as trying to stay close to the person she's lost. And then Leah Rebecca Overton walks into the kitchen, and everything shifts.
Leah is Annie's fictional sleuth. The heroine of a beloved crime series. Competent, driven, and absolutely not real — except that Niamh can see her, hear her, and be thoroughly bullied by her. Whether Leah is a ghost, a hallucination, or something stranger entirely is a question the novel holds with remarkable delicacy. That deliberate blurring of the line between the fictional and the real is where Sarah Lotz does her most dazzling work.
The village hums with secrets. The neighbours are suspicious in exactly the way crime fiction demands, except Lotz is too sharp a writer to let them stay as types. The mystery builds with genuine tension. She knows when to withhold, when to release, and when to let a scene breathe.
But the true pleasure is Niamh and Leah themselves. They are opposites in every sense, and their partnership is funny — genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny — but also quietly moving. Leah forces Niamh out of her grief not through warmth but through sheer refusal to let her stay still.
Wickedly entertaining, emotionally grounded, and shot through with wit that makes you slow down to savour the sentences. This is Sarah Lotz at the top of her game.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a chance to review this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Edition
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 368 pages
⏱ Reading time: 5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Berkley
📅 ARC provided by NetGalley – Publishing July 21, 2026
I requested this book from NetGalley for the meta brilliance. A crime writer's daughter solving her mother's murder using lessons from cozy mysteries. What is there to not get thoroughly invested? The book turned out to be even better than I hoped. Niamh, whose name I absolutely adored (because how often do you see Irish names done right in fiction?), her famous mother Annie Morrissey, and Annie's fictional protagonist Leah, who becomes startlingly real as the mystery unfolds.
Sarah Lotz crafted something genuinely fresh here. The premise doesn't just dangle as a gimmick; it's woven into every twist, every red herring, every moment where you're not sure if you're reading Niamh's investigation or Annie's manuscript. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, but the character work carries it through.
And then... the ending. I won't spoil it, but I will say this: it deflated. After all that buildup, all those brilliant breadcrumbs, it felt like the story shrugged and said, "Eh, nevermind." The resolution didn't land for me, and that's what knocked it from a solid four-star to a three-star read. Still, the journey was worth it, and the uniqueness of the concept alone makes this one to watch.
Would I recommend it?
This is cozy mystery meets literary mind-bender, and Lotz nails the tone. Just brace yourself for an ending that might not stick the landing. It's a fun, fresh read with gorgeous character work, even if the final chapter left me wanting more payoff.
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 368 pages
⏱ Reading time: 5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Berkley
📅 ARC provided by NetGalley – Publishing July 21, 2026
I requested this book from NetGalley for the meta brilliance. A crime writer's daughter solving her mother's murder using lessons from cozy mysteries. What is there to not get thoroughly invested? The book turned out to be even better than I hoped. Niamh, whose name I absolutely adored (because how often do you see Irish names done right in fiction?), her famous mother Annie Morrissey, and Annie's fictional protagonist Leah, who becomes startlingly real as the mystery unfolds.
Sarah Lotz crafted something genuinely fresh here. The premise doesn't just dangle as a gimmick; it's woven into every twist, every red herring, every moment where you're not sure if you're reading Niamh's investigation or Annie's manuscript. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, but the character work carries it through.
And then... the ending. I won't spoil it, but I will say this: it deflated. After all that buildup, all those brilliant breadcrumbs, it felt like the story shrugged and said, "Eh, nevermind." The resolution didn't land for me, and that's what knocked it from a solid four-star to a three-star read. Still, the journey was worth it, and the uniqueness of the concept alone makes this one to watch.
Would I recommend it?
This is cozy mystery meets literary mind-bender, and Lotz nails the tone. Just brace yourself for an ending that might not stick the landing. It's a fun, fresh read with gorgeous character work, even if the final chapter left me wanting more payoff.
December 6, 2025
Sarah Lotz’s How to Kill a Crime Writer is a witty, inventive mystery that plays with the boundaries between fiction and reality in the most entertaining way.
When bestselling author Annie Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh refuses to accept the official story. The village may seem uneventful, the suspects suspiciously ordinary, but Lotz quickly reveals that beneath the quiet surface lies a tangle of secrets waiting to be unearthed. The arrival of Annie’s final manuscript—its pages humming with suspense—adds a deliciously meta twist, blurring the line between her crime fiction and the investigation unfolding in real life.
Lotz’s trademark humour and sharp storytelling shine throughout. The novel balances its playful tone with genuine intrigue, making every dead end, every “normal” suspect, feel like part of a larger puzzle. Niamh’s determination, guided by lessons learned from her mother’s novels, gives the story warmth and grit, while the village setting provides the perfect backdrop for secrets that refuse to stay buried. What makes this book so compelling is its blend of satire and suspense. It’s funny, clever, and mind-bending, yet still delivers the satisfying twists of a classic whodunnit. Lotz invites readers to question not just the crime at hand, but the very act of storytelling itself.
How to Kill a Crime Writer is a fresh, entertaining mystery that lingers long after the final page—perfect for readers who love their crime fiction with a wink, a twist, and a touch of mischief.
With thanks to Sarah Lotz, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
When bestselling author Annie Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh refuses to accept the official story. The village may seem uneventful, the suspects suspiciously ordinary, but Lotz quickly reveals that beneath the quiet surface lies a tangle of secrets waiting to be unearthed. The arrival of Annie’s final manuscript—its pages humming with suspense—adds a deliciously meta twist, blurring the line between her crime fiction and the investigation unfolding in real life.
Lotz’s trademark humour and sharp storytelling shine throughout. The novel balances its playful tone with genuine intrigue, making every dead end, every “normal” suspect, feel like part of a larger puzzle. Niamh’s determination, guided by lessons learned from her mother’s novels, gives the story warmth and grit, while the village setting provides the perfect backdrop for secrets that refuse to stay buried. What makes this book so compelling is its blend of satire and suspense. It’s funny, clever, and mind-bending, yet still delivers the satisfying twists of a classic whodunnit. Lotz invites readers to question not just the crime at hand, but the very act of storytelling itself.
How to Kill a Crime Writer is a fresh, entertaining mystery that lingers long after the final page—perfect for readers who love their crime fiction with a wink, a twist, and a touch of mischief.
With thanks to Sarah Lotz, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Niamh's mother was a famous crime writer, who she has lost in a tragic accident. Or was it?
As Niamh deals with social anxiety and grief, she starts to question whether her mother's death was the tragic accident everyone assumed. Paired with the help of Leah Overton, her mother's no nonsense Yorkshire protagonist, Niamh delves into her late mother's life and the people that live in the hamlet.
Lotz's book shows that there is no one way to grieve and it can be debilitating. I can see many people being frustrated with Niamh's lack of motivation - but that's what I liked about it. Niamh is a reality that we don't often see portrayed in fiction, she's not continuously crying, seeking revenge or setting out to change the world, she's just existing.
The story itself throws out many red herrings, perfect for a potential murder of a crime writer. I wasn't able to guess the twists, which is another reason why it is a good read. The fact that Niamh sees and talks to Leah, her mother's character, is an interesting take and gives an antithesis in some ways to Niamh2, but the only frustrating thing is not knowing why Niamh all of a sudden sees Leah. There is a point at which they come across another literary character and no explanation is given. Why does the other one appear? I still don't know
Despite that frustration I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for anyone that would like a murder mystery with a slightly different take.
As Niamh deals with social anxiety and grief, she starts to question whether her mother's death was the tragic accident everyone assumed. Paired with the help of Leah Overton, her mother's no nonsense Yorkshire protagonist, Niamh delves into her late mother's life and the people that live in the hamlet.
Lotz's book shows that there is no one way to grieve and it can be debilitating. I can see many people being frustrated with Niamh's lack of motivation - but that's what I liked about it. Niamh is a reality that we don't often see portrayed in fiction, she's not continuously crying, seeking revenge or setting out to change the world, she's just existing.
The story itself throws out many red herrings, perfect for a potential murder of a crime writer. I wasn't able to guess the twists, which is another reason why it is a good read. The fact that Niamh sees and talks to Leah, her mother's character, is an interesting take and gives an antithesis in some ways to Niamh2, but the only frustrating thing is not knowing why Niamh all of a sudden sees Leah. There is a point at which they come across another literary character and no explanation is given. Why does the other one appear? I still don't know
Despite that frustration I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it for anyone that would like a murder mystery with a slightly different take.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of those books where the idea is so good it pulls you in immediately—but the execution doesn’t fully live up to it.
The premise? So interesting. A woman grieving her bestselling crime writer mother suddenly finds herself working alongside her mom’s fictional detective to figure out if her death was actually a murder. It has that meta, slightly surreal edge that makes you want to keep reading just to see how it all plays out.
And honestly, that’s what kept me going.
There’s a strong emotional layer here too. The grief feels real—not rushed, not overly dramatized—and you can feel how lost Niamh is. The contrast between her and Leah (this confident, controlled fictional character) is what drives the story, and at times, that dynamic really works.
But… it didn’t fully hit for me.
The pacing drags in spots, especially in the middle, and the writing style can feel a little uneven or even slightly confusing at times. There were moments where I felt pulled out of the story instead of fully immersed. The relationship between Niamh and Leah had a lot of potential, but it didn’t always feel as strong or as impactful as I wanted it to.
I also think this is one of those books where if you connect with the emotional side, you’ll probably love it. But if you’re here for a tight, fast-paced thriller, it’s going to feel slow and a little underwhelming.
The premise? So interesting. A woman grieving her bestselling crime writer mother suddenly finds herself working alongside her mom’s fictional detective to figure out if her death was actually a murder. It has that meta, slightly surreal edge that makes you want to keep reading just to see how it all plays out.
And honestly, that’s what kept me going.
There’s a strong emotional layer here too. The grief feels real—not rushed, not overly dramatized—and you can feel how lost Niamh is. The contrast between her and Leah (this confident, controlled fictional character) is what drives the story, and at times, that dynamic really works.
But… it didn’t fully hit for me.
The pacing drags in spots, especially in the middle, and the writing style can feel a little uneven or even slightly confusing at times. There were moments where I felt pulled out of the story instead of fully immersed. The relationship between Niamh and Leah had a lot of potential, but it didn’t always feel as strong or as impactful as I wanted it to.
I also think this is one of those books where if you connect with the emotional side, you’ll probably love it. But if you’re here for a tight, fast-paced thriller, it’s going to feel slow and a little underwhelming.
March 12, 2026
Sarah Lotz is one of my favourite writers, and she writes very different genres so you never know what to expect. A good book, that is what to expect.
I would probably classify this one as a cozy funny mistery/crime novel. Althought I've never read anything quite like it. And what is really incredible (and also incredibly sad) is that at the end of the book the author explains how she recently and unexpectedly lost her husband, and since she had a contract for two novels and obviously didn't feel like writing another romance (by the way, "Impossible" is a wonderful romance!!) so she decided to write something funny, while tackling from afar her own grief. She did that beautifully. The protagonist is mourning (or trying not to) the untimely loss of her mother, but the tone is never sad or heavy. There is some crime investigation, and a small bit of magical realism (or hallucinations, if you wish to think so). I guess I would have bought this book even more eagerly if a small but big plot thread was anticipated in the blurb, but since it wasn't I guess it's the author's (or editor's??) intention that we go blind into that. I won't say more, but if you've read Sarah Lotz before than you know that something impossible is always happening! Ops, sorry for the pun!
I would probably classify this one as a cozy funny mistery/crime novel. Althought I've never read anything quite like it. And what is really incredible (and also incredibly sad) is that at the end of the book the author explains how she recently and unexpectedly lost her husband, and since she had a contract for two novels and obviously didn't feel like writing another romance (by the way, "Impossible" is a wonderful romance!!) so she decided to write something funny, while tackling from afar her own grief. She did that beautifully. The protagonist is mourning (or trying not to) the untimely loss of her mother, but the tone is never sad or heavy. There is some crime investigation, and a small bit of magical realism (or hallucinations, if you wish to think so). I guess I would have bought this book even more eagerly if a small but big plot thread was anticipated in the blurb, but since it wasn't I guess it's the author's (or editor's??) intention that we go blind into that. I won't say more, but if you've read Sarah Lotz before than you know that something impossible is always happening! Ops, sorry for the pun!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz is an entertaining mystery with a likable main character and plenty of intrigue to keep you hooked. When Niamh moves back into her mom’s house after her death, she’s overwhelmed with grief, regret, and guilt. Her mom, Annie, was a crime writer and Niamh can’t shake the feeling that her death wasn’t the simple accident everyone says it was.
Things get even more interesting when the sleuth main character, Leah Rebecca Overton, from Annie’s books suddenly appear and only Niamh can see her. She nudges her into investigating, and that’s when the amateur sleuthing really kicks off. There are just too many details about her mom’s death that don’t add up, and with her fictional sidekick egging her on, Niamh starts asking the questions no one else will.
I loved Niamh’s personality. She’s funny, sarcastic, unsure of herself in a relatable way, and way too easily influenced by a Leah who is intent of solving this mystery. Along the way, there’s healing, new friendships, and a surprising amount of warmth woven into the story.It is a clever, heartfelt, and genuinely entertaining read.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Things get even more interesting when the sleuth main character, Leah Rebecca Overton, from Annie’s books suddenly appear and only Niamh can see her. She nudges her into investigating, and that’s when the amateur sleuthing really kicks off. There are just too many details about her mom’s death that don’t add up, and with her fictional sidekick egging her on, Niamh starts asking the questions no one else will.
I loved Niamh’s personality. She’s funny, sarcastic, unsure of herself in a relatable way, and way too easily influenced by a Leah who is intent of solving this mystery. Along the way, there’s healing, new friendships, and a surprising amount of warmth woven into the story.It is a clever, heartfelt, and genuinely entertaining read.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
|| Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||
I really enjoyed the book and I have to say I wasn't expecting Leah to appear (not really a spoiler as it happens at the beginning of the book) and being so important for the story. It was funny, sometimes far-fetched, with a dash of dark humour, and honestly that was great. I wasn't expecting all the stages of grief to be present and important here and I did find it was a good way to bring them in this book, with a bit of humour to feel detached to it yet still being able to relate and understand what Niamh goes through.
The different plots, red herrings, little investigations and discoveries were nice. I mostly enjoyed seeing Niamh's growth - as well as Leah's - thanks to her "quest". I really enjoyed the dénouement, and the badass part at the end!
I only had a bit of a hard time with multiple references by Niamh, and also the changing (to me) writing style. But a huuuuge huge point for the aroace childfree rep, as one myself it feels so good to read!!
I really enjoyed the book and I have to say I wasn't expecting Leah to appear (not really a spoiler as it happens at the beginning of the book) and being so important for the story. It was funny, sometimes far-fetched, with a dash of dark humour, and honestly that was great. I wasn't expecting all the stages of grief to be present and important here and I did find it was a good way to bring them in this book, with a bit of humour to feel detached to it yet still being able to relate and understand what Niamh goes through.
The different plots, red herrings, little investigations and discoveries were nice. I mostly enjoyed seeing Niamh's growth - as well as Leah's - thanks to her "quest". I really enjoyed the dénouement, and the badass part at the end!
I only had a bit of a hard time with multiple references by Niamh, and also the changing (to me) writing style. But a huuuuge huge point for the aroace childfree rep, as one myself it feels so good to read!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When bestselling crime author Anne Morrissey is found dead, her daughter Niamh has a feeling that this was not an accident. Staying in the quiet village her mother lived, the suspects seem strangely normal. Niamh finds that the secrets of this mystery may be hidden in Annie’s books. Will Niamh discover the truth?
This was my first book by this author but I liked the concept of combining reality and fiction, especially enjoying a book within a book. I don’t want to give too much away as it’s fun to discover this when reading, however it didn’t pan out exactly as I was expecting. Although this was a fun read and having enjoyed the execution at first, I found that I soon tired of the writing style and it started to grate on me. I also found the pacing to be overly slow.
Even though I had some mixed feeling on the overall book, I did appreciate that this was a clever story and loved the humour, wittiness and relatable references. I enjoyed how it all came together and the exploration of sensitive subjects was done well. This was a solid story overall and an author I would read more of. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
This was my first book by this author but I liked the concept of combining reality and fiction, especially enjoying a book within a book. I don’t want to give too much away as it’s fun to discover this when reading, however it didn’t pan out exactly as I was expecting. Although this was a fun read and having enjoyed the execution at first, I found that I soon tired of the writing style and it started to grate on me. I also found the pacing to be overly slow.
Even though I had some mixed feeling on the overall book, I did appreciate that this was a clever story and loved the humour, wittiness and relatable references. I enjoyed how it all came together and the exploration of sensitive subjects was done well. This was a solid story overall and an author I would read more of. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Read
April 27, 2026Finally surfacing from her bout of mind-numbing grief at the sudden loss of her mother, Niamh's brain begins to doubt the tidy explanation for her mother's death. According to the police, Annie Morrissey died due to a fall which occurred while she was climbing a very tall ladder to fix a gutter. But her mystery-writing mum had a debilitating fear of heights. And where is her phone? And the ladder! The ladder is also missing.
Niamh has to deal with her own feelings of inadequacy and failure plus overcome her anxiety to try to unravel all the clues. With a bit of help, she begins to investigate her neighbors and then broadens her net of suspicion to include others that might have had a problem with her mom's books and her main character - Leah Rebecca Overton.
With the inquest just around the corner, can Niamh uncover the evidence she needs to prove that her mom's death was no accident?
This was a fun read! I agree with others that reading the author's note will help frame the story with a bit of perspective. And I now have a new vacation destination! I definitely want to take a trip to Wales.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC!
Niamh has to deal with her own feelings of inadequacy and failure plus overcome her anxiety to try to unravel all the clues. With a bit of help, she begins to investigate her neighbors and then broadens her net of suspicion to include others that might have had a problem with her mom's books and her main character - Leah Rebecca Overton.
With the inquest just around the corner, can Niamh uncover the evidence she needs to prove that her mom's death was no accident?
This was a fun read! I agree with others that reading the author's note will help frame the story with a bit of perspective. And I now have a new vacation destination! I definitely want to take a trip to Wales.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz was such a fun read. Niamh is your typical millennial having a quarter life crisis after the unexpected death of her mom. She's actively avoiding her grief while living in her mom's cottage and taking care of her mom's cat when Leah, her author mother's protagonist, shows up and tells her that her mom was murdered.
Niamh is such a relatable character and her relationship with Leah is funny. Putting her idea of her mother's "perfect child" into the mix of solving what happened is such a great twist on the crime aspect. I love a good crime novel but this one was different. It was definitely a cozy crime novel about a girl and her grief journey trying to figure out what happened. I was hooked on knowing what happened and how Niamh would react to things. Inside of the mystery is moments of introspect about grief and how it interacts with all areas of your life.
All in all, I truly enjoyed reading this book! If you want something entertaining but not high stakes definitely pick it up!!!
How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz was such a fun read. Niamh is your typical millennial having a quarter life crisis after the unexpected death of her mom. She's actively avoiding her grief while living in her mom's cottage and taking care of her mom's cat when Leah, her author mother's protagonist, shows up and tells her that her mom was murdered.
Niamh is such a relatable character and her relationship with Leah is funny. Putting her idea of her mother's "perfect child" into the mix of solving what happened is such a great twist on the crime aspect. I love a good crime novel but this one was different. It was definitely a cozy crime novel about a girl and her grief journey trying to figure out what happened. I was hooked on knowing what happened and how Niamh would react to things. Inside of the mystery is moments of introspect about grief and how it interacts with all areas of your life.
All in all, I truly enjoyed reading this book! If you want something entertaining but not high stakes definitely pick it up!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How to Kill a Crime Writer
By Sarah Lotz
Annie Morrissey was a crime fiction writer. She had written a series of books about PI Leah Rebecca Overton. Leah is a young, beautiful, confidant and competent character who manages to overcome adversity in all sorts of situations, never losing her cool.
But Annie dies by falling off a ladder and hitting her head – an accident, or so it seems. Annie's daughter Niamh (the antithesis of Leah) has moved in to Annie's cottage and is living with her mother's cat Brian. Niamh has yet to deal with her mother's death.
Enter Leah. A hallucination? A figment of her imagination? Whatever she is, Leah tells Niamh that her mother's death was NOT an accident and that they need to work together to catch the murderer.
What follows is an entertaining yarn. Sometimes funny, often thought- provoking. There are any number of the red herrings expected in murder mysteries. It is an oddball tale. My only reservation here was that it was a little too long. But still, well worth the read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By Sarah Lotz
Annie Morrissey was a crime fiction writer. She had written a series of books about PI Leah Rebecca Overton. Leah is a young, beautiful, confidant and competent character who manages to overcome adversity in all sorts of situations, never losing her cool.
But Annie dies by falling off a ladder and hitting her head – an accident, or so it seems. Annie's daughter Niamh (the antithesis of Leah) has moved in to Annie's cottage and is living with her mother's cat Brian. Niamh has yet to deal with her mother's death.
Enter Leah. A hallucination? A figment of her imagination? Whatever she is, Leah tells Niamh that her mother's death was NOT an accident and that they need to work together to catch the murderer.
What follows is an entertaining yarn. Sometimes funny, often thought- provoking. There are any number of the red herrings expected in murder mysteries. It is an oddball tale. My only reservation here was that it was a little too long. But still, well worth the read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
December 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz
This was a clever and entertaining mystery with a novel take on the crime genre. When bestselling author Annie Morrissey dies in her small village, her daughter Niamh is unconvinced it was an accident. As she starts to investigate, unsettling links emerge between her mother’s final novel and the events unfolding around her, blurring the boundary between fiction and reality when the private investigator, Leah, from her mother’s novels, joins the cast of characters helping to unravel the mystery of her death.
I enjoyed the fresh approach to storytelling. The village setting works well, with a cast of characters who gradually reveal hidden motives and secrets, keeping the tension ticking along.
Overall this was a fun, humorous and thoughtful mystery with a distinctive edge. A strong and enjoyable read, rounded up to four stars.
This was a clever and entertaining mystery with a novel take on the crime genre. When bestselling author Annie Morrissey dies in her small village, her daughter Niamh is unconvinced it was an accident. As she starts to investigate, unsettling links emerge between her mother’s final novel and the events unfolding around her, blurring the boundary between fiction and reality when the private investigator, Leah, from her mother’s novels, joins the cast of characters helping to unravel the mystery of her death.
I enjoyed the fresh approach to storytelling. The village setting works well, with a cast of characters who gradually reveal hidden motives and secrets, keeping the tension ticking along.
Overall this was a fun, humorous and thoughtful mystery with a distinctive edge. A strong and enjoyable read, rounded up to four stars.
March 6, 2026
Anxious Millennium slacker Niamh is poleaxed when her mother, the successful crime writer Annie Morrissey, dies. Niamh moves into her mother's cottage and tries to work through her grief with gaming and spider avoidance. Then she sees her mother's main protagonist, the diametric opposite to her, the fictional Leah Rebecca Overton. this 'apparition' convinces Niamh that her mother was murdered and they set out to solve the crime. However, with a huge list of suspects and no proof, can Niamh gain the courage to act.
This is a rather clever cosy crime mystery which builds on the quirkiness of Lotz's previous book but in a new direction. The idea of an imaginary 'guide' isn't a new one but this makes for a rather entertaining double act. the murder is very low key and there are loads of red herrings and false leads. Characters are quirky and mainly endearing and the book is as much about the anxiety-prone as it is about a crime.
This is a rather clever cosy crime mystery which builds on the quirkiness of Lotz's previous book but in a new direction. The idea of an imaginary 'guide' isn't a new one but this makes for a rather entertaining double act. the murder is very low key and there are loads of red herrings and false leads. Characters are quirky and mainly endearing and the book is as much about the anxiety-prone as it is about a crime.
March 17, 2026
This book was amazing. As someone who has personally experienced the loss of a parent and the complicated journey that grief brings, this story felt incredibly refreshing and honest.
The author handled grief in a way that felt real and deeply human. It wasn’t overly dramatized or rushed—it allowed space for the emotions, the confusion, and the healing that comes with loss.
I especially loved following Niamh and Leah throughout the story. Their journey felt meaningful and heartfelt, and I found myself really invested in their growth and experiences. Watching their story unfold made the emotional moments hit even harder.
Overall, this was a powerful and authentic read about grief, healing, and the ways people find their way forward. It’s a story that stayed with me after I finished the final page.
May 14, 2026
This was such a wild ride. The acknowledgements at the end made the book that much more valid for me and I’m sorry to hear of what Sarah Lotz went through, losing her partner suddenly.
I loved Impossible when it came out a few years ago, bought for me by my now-husband, and I was so excited to see she had a new book out and this was fantastic.
A breath of fresh air on the crime thriller genre, with a lovely village setting (if slightly claustrophobic as it’s one of those everyone knows everyone places!) and I loved the fictional character comes to life trope. Plus she was named Leah which made it all the better.
I thought Niamh was flawed and real and messy and I liked that.
This was a cracking read-in-one-day novel that I couldn’t put down for love nor money (but I managed for lunch 😂😂).
I loved Impossible when it came out a few years ago, bought for me by my now-husband, and I was so excited to see she had a new book out and this was fantastic.
A breath of fresh air on the crime thriller genre, with a lovely village setting (if slightly claustrophobic as it’s one of those everyone knows everyone places!) and I loved the fictional character comes to life trope. Plus she was named Leah which made it all the better.
I thought Niamh was flawed and real and messy and I liked that.
This was a cracking read-in-one-day novel that I couldn’t put down for love nor money (but I managed for lunch 😂😂).
December 28, 2025
This was such a fun and clever crime novel. I loved the premise and thought it was executed really well.
Following the death of her crime writer mother, Niamh finds herself investigating the possibility of murder. With help from the fictional detective her mother created. Leah Rebecca Overton stepping into the story was such a smart twist, and their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book.
The mystery kept me engaged, but what really stood out was the heart. The exploration of grief, legacy, and living in someone else’s shadow was handled beautifully. It felt fresh, funny, and emotional in equal measure.
A great crime story with an imaginative edge. Plus points for cats and dogs.
Following the death of her crime writer mother, Niamh finds herself investigating the possibility of murder. With help from the fictional detective her mother created. Leah Rebecca Overton stepping into the story was such a smart twist, and their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book.
The mystery kept me engaged, but what really stood out was the heart. The exploration of grief, legacy, and living in someone else’s shadow was handled beautifully. It felt fresh, funny, and emotional in equal measure.
A great crime story with an imaginative edge. Plus points for cats and dogs.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz follows our female lead, Niamh, alongside Leah Overton, the fictional detective from her late mother’s crime series as they work together to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death. What was believed to be a tragic accident begins to unravel into something far more suspicious, pushing Niamh to question everything she thought she knew.
It leans more toward a comedic take on a crime novel, filled with quirky moments and lots of banter. While I can see the appeal, I personally just couldn’t get into it. I finished the book, but it felt like something was missing—something that would have fully pulled me in and kept me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It leans more toward a comedic take on a crime novel, filled with quirky moments and lots of banter. While I can see the appeal, I personally just couldn’t get into it. I finished the book, but it felt like something was missing—something that would have fully pulled me in and kept me hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed the plot of this one.
Niamh is grieving the loss of her crime writer mother and Leah is the fictional detective from her mothers stories that has someone joined reality. Together they try to solve the case of what happened to Niamh’s mother. An unexpected mix of “real” and imaginary but it works.
Although I had to read some sentences more than once (my American brain had to take a minute to understand some of the Welsh? terminology), I came to want more and more of Niamh and Leah. They def grew on me.
Some parts had me confused but it does seem to be by design once we get to the end of the book.
Overall… I’d recommend it for sure.
Thank you NetGalley and PRH for the ARC.
Niamh is grieving the loss of her crime writer mother and Leah is the fictional detective from her mothers stories that has someone joined reality. Together they try to solve the case of what happened to Niamh’s mother. An unexpected mix of “real” and imaginary but it works.
Although I had to read some sentences more than once (my American brain had to take a minute to understand some of the Welsh? terminology), I came to want more and more of Niamh and Leah. They def grew on me.
Some parts had me confused but it does seem to be by design once we get to the end of the book.
Overall… I’d recommend it for sure.
Thank you NetGalley and PRH for the ARC.
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