Sleuths

by Samantha Moody

Your favourite actor has been pictured with a missing woman. What would you do?

SHE’S A FAN

Melody runs a fan account for TV’s hottest actor, Griff Beckett. But when one of the photos she posts shows Griff kissing an unknown woman, angry fans turn on Melody and accuse her of posting a fake.

HE’S A CELEBRITY

Hurt and angry, Melody enlists the help of her closest friends to prove the photo is real and their favourite actor is no longer single…until, instead of a girlfriend, they find a missing person report.

AND HE’S…KIDNAPPED SOMEONE?

It should be a job for the authorities, but no cop will take them seriously. Armed with just two friends and one very sexy (and distracting) journalist, Levi, Melody is going to solve the crime, save the girl, and maybe get the guy, too. Surely it’s not that hard to be a real sleuth?

The laugh-out-loud, thrilling debut for fans of Only Murders in the Building and any Netflix true crime!

Genres: Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 21, 2026

Reviews

[Laura❄️📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher Avon Books UK for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Lately I’ve been mostly reading fantasy and romantasy so I decided to branch out a bit and try reading different things. I did enjoy this book but I struggled to connect with Melody, I think the problem is that I’ve never been so obsessed with something that I’ve created or followed a Fanpage or account. This book does raise some interesting questions about our obsession with celebrity and superfandom.

That being said I did laugh out loud at places and it was good to read something different to what I normally read. I think this book is definitely worth a read if you are looking for something different.

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon / HaperCollins for my advanced copy.

This book is already compared to Only Murders In The Building, but it really shouldn't be. It is its own witty and dark stands alone story and doesn't need the comparison at all.

That said, let's talk about how 3 fans of a sexy period drama and most importantly of all the handsome leading man stumble upon a very dark secret and set out to save the day.

Mel is floundering at work and in life. She is living the London dream in a tiny flat, eking out an existence, but her fandom page and socials dedicated to Larksholm keep her going and are the centre of her world, that is until one day a grainy video from a night club brings her (virtual) world crashing down and she decides to make it right by finding out the why, where and what for behind the video. Helped (and often hindered) by her fellow fans Aggie and Priya she delves into full detective mode little realising it's going to be taking her to the dark underbelly of London and far away from her beloved regency world.

So I really enjoyed this book, although a lot of the fan stuff passed me by as I have never been a super fan of anything, but the story was captivating enough to keep me hooked. It was witty and dark in equal measure, and I absolutely loved how they just kept coming up with such ludicrous plans that worked.

The only downside for me was the sex scene between Mel and Levi. I just didn't add anything to the book or the plot!

[Jessica Gadziala]

TBR this. I loved it!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!

A solid 4 stars.

I enjoyed the pacing, the storyline, and the characters were very well written (mostly), and I just felt like I wanted to know how it ends!

A little unbelievable? Yes, maybe a little, but I was happy to suspend my belief that this all could happen in reality.
Some parts a little rushed, and some drag on a little too long? Maybe.

And add in a spicy intimacy scene for all too!

Overall, an enjoyable amateur sleuth thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Erin Wolak · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

*I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review*

I genuienly enjoyed this book. I will say that the beginning took a little bit to get going but once everyone came together and started actually planning things out and putting eachother to work it ramped up and became one of those books that I didn't want to put down. All of the characters felt like they were written very well and felt like they responded in a real way to the things happening around them, however I will never claim to completely understand the hardcore fandom individuals so maybe that isn't really how some of them act. I liked that there was a romantic interest included in the story but that it in no way took a front seat to the event they were trying to solve, it felt like an added bonus that made my heart happy.

[Chloë · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, thrilling & full of humour ~ 4✨
Would I recommend? ☑️

⭑ Publication date: 21st May 2026
⭑ Format: Paperback & Audiobook (ebook?)
⭑ Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Suspense, Dark Comedy, Romance
⭑ Tropes: Online fandom culture, Found family, Slow-burn romance & Murder mystery
⭑ Great for : True Crime enthusiasts, Fans of Only Murders in the Building & Armchair detectives

❗️Inclusion/mention of murder, human trafficking, kidnapping/missing persons & exploitation.

✅ If you love dark humour, dry wit & sarcasm paired with a fast paced, thrilling yet entertaining plot - welcome to the world of Sleuths!

~

✧ S U M M A R Y ✧

• Murder, missing women & a shady secret nightclub…
• A toxic but surprisingly knowledgeable online fandom & a trio of friends who will stop at nothing to get to the truth…
• One infuriatingly charming but arrogant love interest & all the dry wit, sarcasm & dark humour you could hope for…

🟰One heck of a story.

~

Sleuths was the perfect balance of darkness & light. The fast paced gritty mystery had laugh out loud humour, found family vibes & a slow burn romance running throughout. I really enjoyed the inclusion of things like Aggie’s one liners & Priya’s innocent optimism which were always timed to perfection. However, it’s important to note that the hard hitting themes such as kidnapping, exploitation, trafficking & just downright shady behaviour were approached with great care & consideration.
Sleuths is a book I would definitely recommend ☑️


✧ C H A R A C T E R S ✧

Whilst I enjoyed Levi’s arrogant charm & Amir’s unexpected softer side, the female characters killed it. Mel, Aggie & Priya’s sisterhood was such a great dynamic. Their contrasting personalities made for some extremely entertaining moments but I loved how they all shared the same strong willed, determined, not afraid to jump feet first into the flames kind of nature. Yes ok, at times their behaviour was a little reckless. HOWEVER, it’s important to remember that their actions were always driven by a desire to help others!! Questionable behaviour with a strong motive - we’ve all been there 👀


✧ F I N A L • T H O U G H T S ✧

As a huge true crime fan everything about this book jumped out at me. I loved the cover - the bold colours against the dark background instantly drew my eye & the mention of Only Murders in the Building was like a beacon calling me home (If you haven’t watched the show, I cannot recommend it enough. Dark comedy, unlikely friendships, murder mystery & more).
I appreciated how Samantha explored not only the toxic nature that some fan cultures can exhibit but also the community coming together/strength in numbers aspect.

Overall Sleuths was an entertaining, exhilarating read that I would definitely recommend. OH & that open ending?
I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for more of Samantha’s work! > If you enjoy true crime, crazy toxic online fandom’s, mystery & intrigue, strong minded females & a slow burn steamy romance - you should too!

~

❣️A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK & Samantha Moody for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleuths is a fun debut novel that is thoroughly of its time. It focuses on pop culture and super-fandom while introducing a dark and sinister plot possibility involving a celebrity. Incorporating social media posts and articles about fandom throughout the story makes for an interesting and enjoyable read that is certain to appeal to popcorn thriller fans who like to give new authors a try.

Melody is a fangirl: she is obsessed with the star of a British period drama and has created a popular fan social media account that analyzes the on-screen and personal activities of her idol. When he is captured on hidden video at an exclusive and secret night club with an unknown woman, the gossip begins to circulate. The fervor only escalates when the gossip account pulls the video a few hours after posting it. Melody tries to analyze the situation on a live video feed and gets massively misinterpreted, forcing her to close her accounts in the face of being canceled. She and two of her fellow fans embark on an investigation into who their idol's paramour might be, and in the process they uncover what may be evidence of a human trafficking ring. The plot is thickened by Melody's awkward involvement with a journalist whom she meets while trying to gain access to the secret night club.

The story is fast-paced and very entertaining, and while Melody makes some ridiculous choices, she is likable and easy to root for. The examination of the parasocial relationships between fans and celebrities is timely and spot-on, and this social commentary enhances the plot by making the story feel fresh and new. The author did a fantastic job of creating a fictional fandom very similar to the toxic communities that surround real-life productions and celebrities.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Catharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Improved. Investigated. Informed.

I’ll admit it: this book and I did not hit it off at first. The world of online fandoms and celebrity obsession? Not my scene, not my hobby, and not somewhere I’m hoping to vacation anytime soon. For the first few chapters, I was basically side-eyeing everyone.

But then… it clicked.

The writing is genuinely excellent — vivid, sharply observed, and surprisingly funny in places. And Melody, who initially baffled me, slowly shook off the fangirl fog and morphed into a rather determined little sleuth. Once she found her stride, I found mine too.

It ends up being a light, easy read that still manages to orbit around something far darker beneath the surface. And honestly? For a debut, Samantha Moody has done a cracking job.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC of “Sleuths” by Samantha Moody.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was fun and unique! I can definitely see myself rereading this book again in the future. For some reason I think it would also be really enjoyable in audiobook form. And I can also see this as a really fun and silly movie, think The Spy Who Dumped Me sort of situation.

We've got a fan account, an actor, a missing woman, angered fans, and the need to solve a mystery.

This was fun, quick, and had a touch of humor. And I found that humor to be quite successful (an important thing to note in my book).

And I really liked the conversation on fan culture that was this entire book. It took it to extremes, but it was very relevant and I liked it.

Would definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

setting: UK
Rep: n/a

If you enjoy fandom madness, Only murders in the building, true crime, and social media, you'll probably enjoy this. I flew through this book in a few hours thanks to a fast paced and action packed plot. the writing itself is fine, appropriate for the genre; I think Mel was a good balanced character though at times I did find her quite irritating and she was quick to throw herself into ridiculously dangerous situations, though I got the sense there was almost a satirical element to the story as there were several genre call outs.

[Jine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I picked up this book! But I absolutely loved it!
First it has a great mystery sprinkle in some bad guys and a charming love interest with a smirk I’m in!
The story follows a woman and her friends who are part of a community interested in a tv show and its actors and trying to prove an actor has a girlfriend but they stumble upon a shady club with gangsters and trafficking of women! I read this in one setting and truly hope there is a book 2!
#Sleuths #NetGalley.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little bit hit and miss at times for me, I enjoyed the friendship between Mel, Aggie and Priya but can’t say I was sold on the whole fandom thing.

In the end I went with 4 stars because it was fun overall despite being totally unbelievable but I think that just added to the story.

This was a great debut and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Thanks to netgalley for the eARC.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

twisty and intense thriller with a strong focus on fan culture. it all worked quite well. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Liz]

Too modern for me

[Izzati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc from netgalley.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title and cover made me think this was a funny and cozy mystery, and I was hoping it was a cozy mystery, but it is a rom-com thriller. I did like how the book jumps right into the action. The situations Melody finds herself in at work are very funny and relatable.
A few trigger warnings: This book does bring up stalking, murder, and human trafficking. There is also a spicy scene.
This book draws attention to the world of Fandom. I can’t quote the book directly, since is an advanced reader copy, but essentially there is a line about how famous people don’t deserve threats just because the person isn’t with the person the fans want them to be with. Also, the star is a character on TV. They are not the same as the role they are playing. Don’t live vicariously through the character.
Melody, the main character and how quirky and awkward she is one completely lovable. I thought the romance she has wasn’t necessary. FYI, there is spice in this book.
Where the book lost me was how Melody and her friends go about investigating what was going on. Netflix documentaries have drawn a lot of attention to internet sleuths. Their methods can be genius. In this book, the methods used and the in-person physical investigations required me to suspend my beliefs. The situations were highly unlikely.
I feel the pacing was off on this book. It started off with a lot of action. Then there were the events of Melody getting cancelled, but the rest of the book fell off after that.
I’m having a difficult time on who I would recommend this book to. I would not recommend this to someone who wants a cozy mystery. The subject matter is almost too serious for romantic comedy, but not serious enough for a thriller novel. The information on fandom was interesting and drew me in, but I didn’t find the rest of the book kept my attention.

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am not the right reader for this novel. The blurb sounded fun and mysterious, but at the 15% mark, which is where I am quitting, it just makes me feel old. I can't relate to the level of obsessive interest in minor celebrities, nor to the need to comment online about things that are nothing to do with you. Nothing has really happened to this point and nothing about it made me laugh, but as I say, maybe I am just too old to appreciate this book.