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A Murder Most Camp: A Mystery
The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.
Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.
Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party's finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn't involve throwing cash at his problems—he'll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)
Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can "do good" alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn't sure he'll be able to survive the camp's ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won't leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey's chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there's a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.
Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough "good" for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it…
Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.
Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party's finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn't involve throwing cash at his problems—he'll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)
Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can "do good" alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn't sure he'll be able to survive the camp's ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won't leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey's chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there's a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.
Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough "good" for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it…
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First published April 28, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 3 stars ✰
Not to start off on a serious note, but how come no one ever writes fiction about the adverse effects of cutting off someone from something that pretty much has been a certainty all of their lives? It's always the argument that it's for your own good to be a better person, but why do we never get a glimpse of how they may at first struggle from being deprived of that assured dependency?
Just saying. 🙆🏻♀️
Anyhoo, I did enjoy my trifecta with DiDomizio's works. Very easy breezy, pumpkin cheesy (literally) kind of a read for Saturday morning. Where as a millennial, thankfully, the many cultural pop references did not go over my head. 💪🏻 But, also, yes, sadly, were a tad too much, like I get that Mikey is a film aficionado, and it made for a great ringing endorsement of Clueless' revival, but yeah, it got a bit unnecessary pushed in at times. 😮💨
But not knowing Bonnie Tyler? What an affront! 😆 Although nowadays teens and tweens would probably only ever pick up on anything only when it's a viral sensation - on TikTok or the gram. 🤷🏻♀️ I can't say for certain if Annabelle and the SAG party were realistically portrayed, what with their offhand gay comments, but it was fun to see how Mikey dealt with their enthusiastic obsession into investigating Camp Lore's decade old cold case.
“It was just about getting you to a place where you care about your life.”
The mystery itself is a predictable chase, fairly reminiscent of Mikey's love of 90s cult campy classics. But, as an ode to those flicks that still make me smile and laugh for their campiness, there is that layer of trauma and self-reflection that shines amidst the adversity. 😤 One which even Mikey was struggling with, but burying deep, until he found his niche that allowed him to admit that he was someone with feelings allowed to care.
For it truly does live up to its name, of how A Murder Most Camp, not only in the literal sense, but one taking place at a summer camp exclusive for trust fund babies, packed with their own share of cliché family strife and a limited supporting cast. It's obvious, pretty early on, who is the likely culprit, which I suppose also fits the bill of campy teen thrillers. 😏
Ah, take me back to those good ole days. ⏳🙃
“But if this is truly what Mikey wanted, then why does it feel less like a victory and more like a sad inevitability?”
I'm not sure if it was a good thing that not everyone was of sound moral with traces of the f the darkest parts of humanity, his li, Jackson, included. but Jackson helping Mikey see that he was more than just the years of trauma, otherness, and rejection he was shouldering was sweet. 🥺 Their repartee had some endearing quips, and as a tag team that buoyed on conflicting emotions also nicely played out. And ew, Jamie. 😬 What a horrid little person. Good riddance to cheapskate rubbish.
And I hate to be that guy, but pretty smooth sailing in terms of editing till the end, where I picked up a couple of spelling errors. There was also a comment that I think might offend some. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but there was a comment that I think might be offensive to some - 😕
“... trying to define camp is perhaps the least campy thing one can do in the first place.”
Not to start off on a serious note, but how come no one ever writes fiction about the adverse effects of cutting off someone from something that pretty much has been a certainty all of their lives? It's always the argument that it's for your own good to be a better person, but why do we never get a glimpse of how they may at first struggle from being deprived of that assured dependency?
Just saying. 🙆🏻♀️
Anyhoo, I did enjoy my trifecta with DiDomizio's works. Very easy breezy, pumpkin cheesy (literally) kind of a read for Saturday morning. Where as a millennial, thankfully, the many cultural pop references did not go over my head. 💪🏻 But, also, yes, sadly, were a tad too much, like I get that Mikey is a film aficionado, and it made for a great ringing endorsement of Clueless' revival, but yeah, it got a bit unnecessary pushed in at times. 😮💨
But not knowing Bonnie Tyler? What an affront! 😆 Although nowadays teens and tweens would probably only ever pick up on anything only when it's a viral sensation - on TikTok or the gram. 🤷🏻♀️ I can't say for certain if Annabelle and the SAG party were realistically portrayed, what with their offhand gay comments, but it was fun to see how Mikey dealt with their enthusiastic obsession into investigating Camp Lore's decade old cold case.
“It was just about getting you to a place where you care about your life.”
The mystery itself is a predictable chase, fairly reminiscent of Mikey's love of 90s cult campy classics. But, as an ode to those flicks that still make me smile and laugh for their campiness, there is that layer of trauma and self-reflection that shines amidst the adversity. 😤 One which even Mikey was struggling with, but burying deep, until he found his niche that allowed him to admit that he was someone with feelings allowed to care.
For it truly does live up to its name, of how A Murder Most Camp, not only in the literal sense, but one taking place at a summer camp exclusive for trust fund babies, packed with their own share of cliché family strife and a limited supporting cast. It's obvious, pretty early on, who is the likely culprit, which I suppose also fits the bill of campy teen thrillers. 😏
Ah, take me back to those good ole days. ⏳🙃
“But if this is truly what Mikey wanted, then why does it feel less like a victory and more like a sad inevitability?”
I'm not sure if it was a good thing that not everyone was of sound moral with traces of the f the darkest parts of humanity, his li, Jackson, included. but Jackson helping Mikey see that he was more than just the years of trauma, otherness, and rejection he was shouldering was sweet. 🥺 Their repartee had some endearing quips, and as a tag team that buoyed on conflicting emotions also nicely played out. And ew, Jamie. 😬 What a horrid little person. Good riddance to cheapskate rubbish.
And I hate to be that guy, but pretty smooth sailing in terms of editing till the end, where I picked up a couple of spelling errors. There was also a comment that I think might offend some. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but there was a comment that I think might be offensive to some - 😕
Review of advance copy received from Éditeur
Funny, cute, full of heart, my favourite dated references, and lovable characters.
Add a mystery that kept my interest until the very end and the charming setting of a rustic summer camp, and I really enjoyed myself with this book.
I think this is the perfect mystery read for this summer.
Than you Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!
Add a mystery that kept my interest until the very end and the charming setting of a rustic summer camp, and I really enjoyed myself with this book.
I think this is the perfect mystery read for this summer.
Than you Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!
December 8, 2025
4.5
Guncle meets How to Solve Your Own Murder.
Mikey is a nepo baby with Dad's credit card and was doing JUST FINE thank you. Until Dad came down with the hammer - prove yourself before your 30 or kiss that inheritance buh-bye. The solution? Be a camp counsellor at Camp Lore where his 12 year old "Aunt" (think You've Got Mail) Annabelle is scheduled to attend for the first time
Mikey is APPALLED but the inheritance is worth it so off he goes. Except his group of kids has a different idea for their summer then campfires and archery. They want to solve the murder that happened a decade ago at Camp Lore and need Mikey's assistance to do so. Thank goodness his roommate Jackson is a dreamboat.
Read this book. Laugh out loud and fall in love with Mikey as he starts to think about who he really wants to be, how much he cares about his family and this group of kids at camp and find out how he suffered through dinner at Panera.
Guncle meets How to Solve Your Own Murder.
Mikey is a nepo baby with Dad's credit card and was doing JUST FINE thank you. Until Dad came down with the hammer - prove yourself before your 30 or kiss that inheritance buh-bye. The solution? Be a camp counsellor at Camp Lore where his 12 year old "Aunt" (think You've Got Mail) Annabelle is scheduled to attend for the first time
Mikey is APPALLED but the inheritance is worth it so off he goes. Except his group of kids has a different idea for their summer then campfires and archery. They want to solve the murder that happened a decade ago at Camp Lore and need Mikey's assistance to do so. Thank goodness his roommate Jackson is a dreamboat.
Read this book. Laugh out loud and fall in love with Mikey as he starts to think about who he really wants to be, how much he cares about his family and this group of kids at camp and find out how he suffered through dinner at Panera.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
A Murder Most Camp is a fun summer murder mystery with lots of twists and turns.
We follow Mickey Hartford IV, who's been pulled from his party filled lavish life of luxury and made to go to summer camp with his twelve-year-old aunt and redeem himself before he turns 30. If he doesn't make a change with his life and make a positive contribution to the world before then (in 3 months time), his trust fund will be revoked and he'll loose his lifestyle for good.
Mickey has the shock of his life when he arrives at Camp Lore to be a camp counsellor for the summer. And when a murder mystery literally drops into his lap, with the encouragement of his aunt and her new group of friends, Mickey rediscovers a passion from his childhood of making movies and seeks to uncover what really happened at Camp Lore many years ago when a previous camp counsellor went missing and was rumoured to have been murdered.
This was a fun, predictable, and camp read with discovery, finding oneself, reality checks, connection, and romance to name just a few things that the book unfolded with and it was a pleasant surprise and quick read. I didn't really gel with Mickey at the beginning, but by halfway through, I began to really like him and loved his connection and relationship with his aunt.
A Murder Most Camp is a fun summer murder mystery with lots of twists and turns.
We follow Mickey Hartford IV, who's been pulled from his party filled lavish life of luxury and made to go to summer camp with his twelve-year-old aunt and redeem himself before he turns 30. If he doesn't make a change with his life and make a positive contribution to the world before then (in 3 months time), his trust fund will be revoked and he'll loose his lifestyle for good.
Mickey has the shock of his life when he arrives at Camp Lore to be a camp counsellor for the summer. And when a murder mystery literally drops into his lap, with the encouragement of his aunt and her new group of friends, Mickey rediscovers a passion from his childhood of making movies and seeks to uncover what really happened at Camp Lore many years ago when a previous camp counsellor went missing and was rumoured to have been murdered.
This was a fun, predictable, and camp read with discovery, finding oneself, reality checks, connection, and romance to name just a few things that the book unfolded with and it was a pleasant surprise and quick read. I didn't really gel with Mickey at the beginning, but by halfway through, I began to really like him and loved his connection and relationship with his aunt.
July 31, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read a review copy of A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio. What a fun read this was - with some depth to it, as well.
I loved Mikey (ahem, Michael Hartford IV), the super-rich kid, who will be turning 30 soon and he can’t wait because that’s when he will come into his full inheritance. Or so he thinks. His father, in response to Mikey having frittered away time and money over the past few years, has added a new requirement for Mikey to get that fortune. He has to “do good” and the way his father wants him to do it is to work at a very rustic camp near Lake George (NY) for the whole summer (12 weeks!). Mikey is aghast, of course. Even though Lake George holds a special place in his heart. His family had a summer mansion on that lake when he was a kid. After his mom died (Mikey was 10), his father sold the place. It was Mikey’s happy place.
Mikey knows he’s a spoiled rich kid. He’s very self-aware and actually has begun questioning how he’s been spending his life in recent years. His first love was film, and after college he’d gone to LA to try to make it, failed, and gave up on his dreams. But lately he’s been dreaming of what he could do with that inheritance - bankroll films by more talented people, for example. And now he’s faced with not having any of that money to do that. Oh, forgot to mention, but it’s important to the story: Mikey is gay and clear about it.
The camp is incredibly rustic! It caters mostly to super-rich kids who need a dose of reality. I went to a few different sleepaway camps over the years and none were like this one! Yikes. Mikey is there, along with his 12-year-old aunt - really. Don’t ask, but the book will explain this. Annabelle finally finds real friends at this camp and comes into her own. As does Mikey. He really transforms - or lets the real Mike out, finally. Along the way, as the title implies, there’s a murder to solve - a cold-case, 13 years before. I loved how Mikey worked with the tweens in the Special Activities Group, to “make a documentary” and investigate what may have happened to Rose, a counselor who disappeared way back when. There’s also Jackson, a med student who has been lifeguarding there for many summers.
A fun, late-coming-of-age story with a mystery thrown in!
I loved Mikey (ahem, Michael Hartford IV), the super-rich kid, who will be turning 30 soon and he can’t wait because that’s when he will come into his full inheritance. Or so he thinks. His father, in response to Mikey having frittered away time and money over the past few years, has added a new requirement for Mikey to get that fortune. He has to “do good” and the way his father wants him to do it is to work at a very rustic camp near Lake George (NY) for the whole summer (12 weeks!). Mikey is aghast, of course. Even though Lake George holds a special place in his heart. His family had a summer mansion on that lake when he was a kid. After his mom died (Mikey was 10), his father sold the place. It was Mikey’s happy place.
Mikey knows he’s a spoiled rich kid. He’s very self-aware and actually has begun questioning how he’s been spending his life in recent years. His first love was film, and after college he’d gone to LA to try to make it, failed, and gave up on his dreams. But lately he’s been dreaming of what he could do with that inheritance - bankroll films by more talented people, for example. And now he’s faced with not having any of that money to do that. Oh, forgot to mention, but it’s important to the story: Mikey is gay and clear about it.
The camp is incredibly rustic! It caters mostly to super-rich kids who need a dose of reality. I went to a few different sleepaway camps over the years and none were like this one! Yikes. Mikey is there, along with his 12-year-old aunt - really. Don’t ask, but the book will explain this. Annabelle finally finds real friends at this camp and comes into her own. As does Mikey. He really transforms - or lets the real Mike out, finally. Along the way, as the title implies, there’s a murder to solve - a cold-case, 13 years before. I loved how Mikey worked with the tweens in the Special Activities Group, to “make a documentary” and investigate what may have happened to Rose, a counselor who disappeared way back when. There’s also Jackson, a med student who has been lifeguarding there for many summers.
A fun, late-coming-of-age story with a mystery thrown in!
March 15, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mikey Hartford is a self-loathing millionaire nepo baby on the cusp of his 30th birthday. He has internalized marxist theories, keeps the worst company, and refuses to be taken seriously. In a last attempt to straighten him out, his father threatens to withhold his inheritance unless he "does some good", meaning accompanying his 12‑year‑old aunt to summer camp, and helping her come out of her shell. But once there, Mikey quickly stumbles into an old mystery: a disappearance that took place over a decade ago...
I've read Nicolas DiDomizio before, so I was very excited to get this ARC, and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint; in fact, it surprised me. The author really seems to have come into his own since The Gay Best Friend . I expected it to hit hard (murder mysteries are my comfort genre, after all), but it still managed to catch me off guard. I had so much fun with this book.
The pacing is perfect, no notes. The emotional beats feel a bit repetitive in the first quarter [CW: death] (there's only so much whining I felt that I could take--my favorite parent is dead too and I don't have zillions of dollars to wipe my tears with, Mikey.) But once it finds its legs, the story progress smoothly from there. I worried the main character would be unlikeable, the setting would fall apart (a rickety summer camp for spoiled rich kids? stretches believability), that the mystery would have plot holes. Instead, I thought it all came together remarkably well. I guessed who the killer was (at 79%!), but it made me more proud of myself than annoyed, and I still enjoyed the climax afterwards. For me, that's true victory! 😆
I loved the characters and thoroughly enjoyed their respective journeys. I thought the author did a fantastic job building complex beings with emotionally resonant fears and motivations. The humor (and narrative voice) land perfectly, it never feels too cynical or too over the top. It meshes well with the more serious/emotional story beats. My only complaint would be with the setting: for a camp full of bratty millionaires, it sometimes felt somewhat empty (aside from the SAG, there aren't that many kids-related shenanigans mentioned), and the location itself lacked depth (aside from the cabins and a night by the lake, the book lacked descriptions of the setting-the smells, the landscapes, the bugs! the feeling of being out in nature). However, these felt like acceptable trade-offs in the end; the focus on characters and mystery kept the pacing tight and definitely avoided bloat. Lastly, the romance also worked perfectly for me; it never felt like it derailed the main plot or felt unnatural. The characters had true chemistry and every step on their path together felt earned: again, a clear amelioration from The Gay Best Friend, cementing how far DiDomizio has come in my opinion.
In the end, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy both rom-coms and murder-mysteries. Easily one of my favorite read of the year so far, and it's made me even more excited to crack open Nearlywed next time I need a comfort read!
Mikey Hartford is a self-loathing millionaire nepo baby on the cusp of his 30th birthday. He has internalized marxist theories, keeps the worst company, and refuses to be taken seriously. In a last attempt to straighten him out, his father threatens to withhold his inheritance unless he "does some good", meaning accompanying his 12‑year‑old aunt to summer camp, and helping her come out of her shell. But once there, Mikey quickly stumbles into an old mystery: a disappearance that took place over a decade ago...
I've read Nicolas DiDomizio before, so I was very excited to get this ARC, and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint; in fact, it surprised me. The author really seems to have come into his own since The Gay Best Friend . I expected it to hit hard (murder mysteries are my comfort genre, after all), but it still managed to catch me off guard. I had so much fun with this book.
The pacing is perfect, no notes. The emotional beats feel a bit repetitive in the first quarter [CW: death] (there's only so much whining I felt that I could take--my favorite parent is dead too and I don't have zillions of dollars to wipe my tears with, Mikey.) But once it finds its legs, the story progress smoothly from there. I worried the main character would be unlikeable, the setting would fall apart (a rickety summer camp for spoiled rich kids? stretches believability), that the mystery would have plot holes. Instead, I thought it all came together remarkably well. I guessed who the killer was (at 79%!), but it made me more proud of myself than annoyed, and I still enjoyed the climax afterwards. For me, that's true victory! 😆
I loved the characters and thoroughly enjoyed their respective journeys. I thought the author did a fantastic job building complex beings with emotionally resonant fears and motivations. The humor (and narrative voice) land perfectly, it never feels too cynical or too over the top. It meshes well with the more serious/emotional story beats. My only complaint would be with the setting: for a camp full of bratty millionaires, it sometimes felt somewhat empty (aside from the SAG, there aren't that many kids-related shenanigans mentioned), and the location itself lacked depth (aside from the cabins and a night by the lake, the book lacked descriptions of the setting-the smells, the landscapes, the bugs! the feeling of being out in nature). However, these felt like acceptable trade-offs in the end; the focus on characters and mystery kept the pacing tight and definitely avoided bloat. Lastly, the romance also worked perfectly for me; it never felt like it derailed the main plot or felt unnatural. The characters had true chemistry and every step on their path together felt earned: again, a clear amelioration from The Gay Best Friend, cementing how far DiDomizio has come in my opinion.
In the end, I'd recommend this book to people who enjoy both rom-coms and murder-mysteries. Easily one of my favorite read of the year so far, and it's made me even more excited to crack open Nearlywed next time I need a comfort read!
July 16, 2026
A summer camp, a rich young adult still trying to figure out his life, and a push for him to ground himself and find his path. I loved the setting and the twist of his aunt (who's way younger than him) and her obsession with true crime and classic horror movies. I liked the search for meaning and the interwoven mystery. I also love that the story was a little silly, had some truly funny moments, and didn't seem to take itself too seriously. A perfect, easy summer mystery. I listened to the audio and it was wonderful.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Murder Most Camp was such a pleasant surprise! I may have called the twist, but that didn't deter my enjoyment level once I started connecting with the characters. The first 30-ish % was a tad slow and DANG was Mikey (our MMC) annoying, but once he let his facade go to embrace his true self I really had a great time. Jamie sucks, Mikey's dad kinda sucks, Raymond is one of my favorite side characters (I love the sass and realness), Annabelle is precious....there's more, but I don't want to sound off the whole character list haha. I really enjoyed this one and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a summertime mystery.
June 3, 2026
⭐⭐ A Fun Premise Buried Under Endless Pop-Culture References
A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio had the ingredients for a fun Pride Month read: a queer murder mystery, a summer camp setting, and the possibility of humor, atmosphere, and real character moments. Unfortunately, the execution was a massive disappointment. The book leans so heavily on pop-culture references that they become clutter rather than characterization. Even the few touching moments were often undercut by another unnecessary reference, which made the story feel exhausting instead of clever.
Mikey was the biggest problem for me because he rarely felt like a believable person. His narration came across less like personality and more like a constant performance of references, jokes, and over-the-top reactions. The mystery itself also suffered, and at several points I forgot this was supposed to be a murder mystery at all. There were one or two jokes that made me laugh and a few moments with emotional potential, but not enough to overcome how artificial the book felt. What should have been a fun queer summer-camp mystery ended up feeling like a pop-culture performance that occasionally remembered there was supposed to be a story.
A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio had the ingredients for a fun Pride Month read: a queer murder mystery, a summer camp setting, and the possibility of humor, atmosphere, and real character moments. Unfortunately, the execution was a massive disappointment. The book leans so heavily on pop-culture references that they become clutter rather than characterization. Even the few touching moments were often undercut by another unnecessary reference, which made the story feel exhausting instead of clever.
Mikey was the biggest problem for me because he rarely felt like a believable person. His narration came across less like personality and more like a constant performance of references, jokes, and over-the-top reactions. The mystery itself also suffered, and at several points I forgot this was supposed to be a murder mystery at all. There were one or two jokes that made me laugh and a few moments with emotional potential, but not enough to overcome how artificial the book felt. What should have been a fun queer summer-camp mystery ended up feeling like a pop-culture performance that occasionally remembered there was supposed to be a story.
Read
February 17, 2026If the title give you a little spurt of humor, there's a good chance you might enjoy this book. At least, that's what worked for me. I absolutely loved the voice, the wry humor and the flair, with spurts of gay-friendly camp. I would actually have loved a novel of manners with this voice, without the murder mystery--but then I don't really much like murder mysteries if they get too dark. The fact that I finished this one is testament to all the other things I liked about the book.
Like the characters. The author did an excellent job of making an obnoxious trust-fund baby appealing. It was his self-awareness of what a jerk he can be, and how loyal he is to his total stinker of a best friend/crush, and his dysfunctional family.
His father posits a conviction: he spend time at a remote summer camp (which turned out to be the very opposite of the cushy experience he was expecting) with his aunt, who is a kid heavily invested in horror and true crime grim dark novels. He discovers a grim mystery, which starts sparking his dormant creative side . . . and things get real. Including romance with a guy who seems impossible at first . . .
Well, anyway, I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to the author's next.
Like the characters. The author did an excellent job of making an obnoxious trust-fund baby appealing. It was his self-awareness of what a jerk he can be, and how loyal he is to his total stinker of a best friend/crush, and his dysfunctional family.
His father posits a conviction: he spend time at a remote summer camp (which turned out to be the very opposite of the cushy experience he was expecting) with his aunt, who is a kid heavily invested in horror and true crime grim dark novels. He discovers a grim mystery, which starts sparking his dormant creative side . . . and things get real. Including romance with a guy who seems impossible at first . . .
Well, anyway, I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to the author's next.
June 21, 2026
An engaging MC and a bonkers plot. Passed a pleasant couple of hours.
April 29, 2026
It’s the last Wednesday of April, so you know what that means! Book review time. A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas DiDomizio was released yesterday (the 28th) from Poisoned Pen Press. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing!
A Murder Most Camp follows Mikey Hartford IV, the child (almost 30-year-old manchild) of a grocery chain empire who has done very little with his life outside of being the stereotypical rich kid. This all changes when daddy dearest changes the conditions of access to his trust. Mikey gets shipped off to a summer camp in the hopes that helping kids and being in nature will bring out his good side. Throw in solving a 13 year old murder with a bunch of tweens and falling for a “regular” guy, and maybe Mikey can change.
Plot: meh. I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The murder mystery part was beyond slow, mostly because there weren’t many suspects and it was super obvious that three out of four weren’t the baddie. It just really dragged. The romance was slightly better, but not much. It was a bit abrupt. There was also family stuff that drove the story more than anything. That was okay. But mostly, the book mostly felt like a shrine to ’90’s movie references. Mikey endlessly references Clueless and other movies that are older than him like they came out in his teens or something. At least pick references for things that would have been pivotal in his time. Or scale back on the references. Maybe one a chapter instead of five per page. It just made the book feel dated instead of cute.
Characters: pretty flat for the most part. Mikey gets a lot of development, but it feels forced. It’s like the author is trying to convince the reader that Mikey is a good person instead of letting the story show us that. There’s so much telling rather than showing. It’s like the author doesn’t trust the reader to see the character growth. It’s annoying. None of the other characters really get enough page time to come into their own, so they’re all a bit flat.
Writing: the best part. Other than copious amounts of movie references, the writing was smooth. It was a quick and easy read. Something good for a day at the beach or a rainy day in.
Ultimately, I was disappointed in A Murder Most Camp. It was mediocre at best. I think I was just hoping for more than I should have. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Probably a little over 2.5 anyway. If you’re looking for an uncomplicated, mindless read to get you through a weekend trip or something, this is a good choice. Otherwise, give it a miss.
A Murder Most Camp follows Mikey Hartford IV, the child (almost 30-year-old manchild) of a grocery chain empire who has done very little with his life outside of being the stereotypical rich kid. This all changes when daddy dearest changes the conditions of access to his trust. Mikey gets shipped off to a summer camp in the hopes that helping kids and being in nature will bring out his good side. Throw in solving a 13 year old murder with a bunch of tweens and falling for a “regular” guy, and maybe Mikey can change.
Plot: meh. I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The murder mystery part was beyond slow, mostly because there weren’t many suspects and it was super obvious that three out of four weren’t the baddie. It just really dragged. The romance was slightly better, but not much. It was a bit abrupt. There was also family stuff that drove the story more than anything. That was okay. But mostly, the book mostly felt like a shrine to ’90’s movie references. Mikey endlessly references Clueless and other movies that are older than him like they came out in his teens or something. At least pick references for things that would have been pivotal in his time. Or scale back on the references. Maybe one a chapter instead of five per page. It just made the book feel dated instead of cute.
Characters: pretty flat for the most part. Mikey gets a lot of development, but it feels forced. It’s like the author is trying to convince the reader that Mikey is a good person instead of letting the story show us that. There’s so much telling rather than showing. It’s like the author doesn’t trust the reader to see the character growth. It’s annoying. None of the other characters really get enough page time to come into their own, so they’re all a bit flat.
Writing: the best part. Other than copious amounts of movie references, the writing was smooth. It was a quick and easy read. Something good for a day at the beach or a rainy day in.
Ultimately, I was disappointed in A Murder Most Camp. It was mediocre at best. I think I was just hoping for more than I should have. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Probably a little over 2.5 anyway. If you’re looking for an uncomplicated, mindless read to get you through a weekend trip or something, this is a good choice. Otherwise, give it a miss.
July 13, 2026
Mikey Hartford has spent his adult life living off his family fortune and lusting after his unavailable best friend, Jamie. But suddenly, his father is withholding all funds. What's more, he's arranged for Mikey to accompany his 12-year-old aunt (rich families are complicated!) to an exclusive, but nevertheless very rustic, summer camp on Lake George in upstate New York, where Mikey has to work as a counselor. Mikey is not amused. Not until he and his group of campers start trying to solve a murder that happened in a cabin no one is allowed to use anymore. Mikey doesn't think they'll learn anything new -- until someone seems determined to stop their investigation.I really enjoyed this book!
It got off to a rough start for me. I hated the writing style, which is a somewhat clunky third person-present tense that kept throwing me out of the story for the first 50 pages or so, until I adjusted to it. Plus I kept thinking "Didn't I just read this book, except it was called Pomona Afton?" But I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did.
Mikey really grew on me. His mother died when he was ten, and the way memories of her sneak into his head and trigger moments of grief rang very true. That thread made it easier to believe his character development as the book progresses. And that's what really made this story. The mystery is decently gripping, but also a bit overly contrived (even for the promise of "most camp"), plus the murderer was pretty obvious from very early on. I still hung onto the clues and flipped the pages compulsively. But it's the relationships in the story -- Mikey's relationship with his aunt Annabelle, with his cabin-mate Jackson, with Jamie, and with himself -- that make this book. They provide a depth I was not expecting, and which was well done, touching, and believable.
I'm not sure if this an intended series. This ended very satisfactorily as a standalone. But I'm game to find out if another installment can manage to be as good.
June 12, 2026
It’s just a fun gay romp about a trust-fund lost soul and some camp kids solving an unsolved murder. Nothing more. That’s what I expected and wanted, so it was fun.
July 4, 2026
1.5 stars!
Ugh, I read this for a challenge and I could feel myself losing brain cells as I read it. Between the incessant pop culture references (including Gilmore Girls, Clueless, Taylor Swift, Gone Girl, and so much more), the indolent billionaire main character 29-year-old with no real personality other than being sarcastic, entitled, and having a passion for film (but also having a ~deep side, of course), and the fact that this book could not stop bringing up tacky stereotypes of gay men that were tired in like...the 2000s, I was about ready to melt into the couch by the time it was over.
Maybe I'm just too cynical for campy shit.
tl;dr Mikey Hartford has never had to work for anything in his life thanks to his family's nationwide very successful grocery food chain. However, when his father interrupts his life of partying, sex, and alcohol by forcing him to work at a rustic and rural summer camp (and make a "positive influence" on the world) lest he lose his trust fund, he is horrified. But not as horrified as when he realizes that a murder happened at this camp 10 years ago...and the murderer may still be around.
I understand that the author was trying to write a satire of a rich nepo baby, but it was very difficult to like, sympathize, or even care about Mikey throughout the book. He just read as super out of touch and entitled, which, yes, is supposed to be his character, but given the damage that entitled billionaires are literally doing in the real world to society and the environment, I literally have zero interest reading about in their "problems." While the narrative tries to justify his decisions and personality with the fact that he uses it as a front to hide from the pain of his mom's early death from cancer, it also lowkey undermines itself whenever Mikey says that his mother "wanted" him to have a trust fund and never face any type of difficulty or obstacle in his life because she grew up poor. It really just read as super out of touch with...well, everything. As he deals with what happens at the camp and tries to solve the murder, Mikey sort of starts to realize that he needs to lower his guard and start living more authentically—but it never feels fully realized tbh.
The narrative also really tried to lean into how Mikey has a huge passion for film-making (mostly by having him quote obsessively from various movies—and also if I had to hear the word "passion" in relation to his film interest one more time, I would have set the book on fire). However, this man apparently quit a position as an assistant producer or something after at most three years because...they didn't take his movie ideas seriously? Like, did he expect to sweep into Hollywood right after graduating and take it by storm without working his way up? Because of this, he had lost his passion and started partying and sexing his way through life. This is "passion"? And after rediscovering his passion at the camp (initially by starting to work on a "documentary" about the murder and later I guess just by realizing he can genuinely care about people), he takes his trust fund and decides to just start a production/film company, which is honestly equally privileged and feels almost like he has learned nothing. How does he think he has the slightest idea how to run a production company when he does not seem to have any sense of work ethic, ability to tolerate frustration, or filter (or, for that matter, work experience in the last five years)?
Also—and really, this is a small point compared to everything else—it started really frustrating me every time Mikey would essentially say something that he didn't mean to say and then mention that he "winces as he says them" or knows that he shouldn't have said it or whatever, because it happened multiple times. Truly, if the book had ended with the murderer killing him to shut him up, I would have preferred it because he was fucking annoying.
Sadly, Mikey was not the only victim of the terrible writing. None of the other characters in this book had any character or development. The main side characters were Mikey's love interest, Jackson, and the group of kids at the camp that he was in charge of, especially his 12-year-old aunt, Annabelle (her mother, who is close to Mikey's age, married Mikey's grandfather because of course). The only thing I could tell you about Jackson is that he is built like a "Greek god," is in med school (and has worked as a lifeguard at the camp for 10 years), and is a golden retriever. Also, did you know that he's hot? That's mentioned a billion times in case you've forgotten. Meanwhile, Annabelle is an outcast at school and hates her parents' age gap, feels out of place, love true crime, and reads thrillers in her spare time. That's it. That's all we know about these side characters.
We know even less about the other kids in the group. They were all essentially interchangeable and...I truly don't have anything to say about them because there was nothing to say. The only one that sort of stood out was Annabelle's roommate, Miranda, and not in a good way. It's because she kept calling Mikey and other people "boo" at the end of almost every sentence. What child does this? Is this a Gen Alpha thing? Is this a rich people thing? JFC.
Although the plot was pretty straightforward and predictable, that wasn't even my main issue with this book given the terrible writing and characters. It was nothing to write home about, though the reliance on information dumping via found diary entries was honestly unrealistic since it literally just spelled everything else for the most part. Tons of telling and not enough (or really, any showing) throughout the book. Jackson and Mikey getting together felt rushed with not enough development on either end, so it was just an insta-love plot and y'all know how much I love those. 🙄
The plot aside, the writing was pretty awful. I already mentioned the author's over-dependence on pop culture references earlier; he truly just throw as many different movie quotes and other references into this book as possible, and it was jarring Every. Single. Time. He also really liked to reuse the same words and phrases throughout the book, such as "passion" as I stated previously, or saying that Mikey had "spent all of his life shield from" XYZ. Finally, and to be honest, the most egregious issue: This book was full of stereotypes of gay men—not just described, but literally spelled out and stated by the characters themselves. For example:
Or:
I think this is the author trying to lean into the campy aspect of this book, but it really came across as cringey 2000s offensive humor more than anything else, especially since this book was written and takes place in 2026. At one point, character described himself as being bullied in school because he had an "uncontrollable gay voice." WTF does that mean?! It was so heavy-handed that the characters all came across as gay caricatures rather than real people, which is never good when portraying minorities of any type. Someone on PageBound commented while I was reading this that if this author wasn't queer himself, it would feel almost like the book was homophobic, which put into words exactly how I felt about it.
So uh, to sum up this 1k-word review, I would recommend it to...people who like reading about billionaire millennials and their problems? Or more seriously, people who don't mind leaning into the camp aspect of this book and can ignore problematic gay stereotypes, cardboard characters, and insta-love romance with zero development. c:
Ugh, I read this for a challenge and I could feel myself losing brain cells as I read it. Between the incessant pop culture references (including Gilmore Girls, Clueless, Taylor Swift, Gone Girl, and so much more), the indolent billionaire main character 29-year-old with no real personality other than being sarcastic, entitled, and having a passion for film (but also having a ~deep side, of course), and the fact that this book could not stop bringing up tacky stereotypes of gay men that were tired in like...the 2000s, I was about ready to melt into the couch by the time it was over.
Maybe I'm just too cynical for campy shit.
tl;dr Mikey Hartford has never had to work for anything in his life thanks to his family's nationwide very successful grocery food chain. However, when his father interrupts his life of partying, sex, and alcohol by forcing him to work at a rustic and rural summer camp (and make a "positive influence" on the world) lest he lose his trust fund, he is horrified. But not as horrified as when he realizes that a murder happened at this camp 10 years ago...and the murderer may still be around.
I understand that the author was trying to write a satire of a rich nepo baby, but it was very difficult to like, sympathize, or even care about Mikey throughout the book. He just read as super out of touch and entitled, which, yes, is supposed to be his character, but given the damage that entitled billionaires are literally doing in the real world to society and the environment, I literally have zero interest reading about in their "problems." While the narrative tries to justify his decisions and personality with the fact that he uses it as a front to hide from the pain of his mom's early death from cancer, it also lowkey undermines itself whenever Mikey says that his mother "wanted" him to have a trust fund and never face any type of difficulty or obstacle in his life because she grew up poor. It really just read as super out of touch with...well, everything. As he deals with what happens at the camp and tries to solve the murder, Mikey sort of starts to realize that he needs to lower his guard and start living more authentically—but it never feels fully realized tbh.
The narrative also really tried to lean into how Mikey has a huge passion for film-making (mostly by having him quote obsessively from various movies—and also if I had to hear the word "passion" in relation to his film interest one more time, I would have set the book on fire). However, this man apparently quit a position as an assistant producer or something after at most three years because...they didn't take his movie ideas seriously? Like, did he expect to sweep into Hollywood right after graduating and take it by storm without working his way up? Because of this, he had lost his passion and started partying and sexing his way through life. This is "passion"? And after rediscovering his passion at the camp (initially by starting to work on a "documentary" about the murder and later I guess just by realizing he can genuinely care about people), he takes his trust fund and decides to just start a production/film company, which is honestly equally privileged and feels almost like he has learned nothing. How does he think he has the slightest idea how to run a production company when he does not seem to have any sense of work ethic, ability to tolerate frustration, or filter (or, for that matter, work experience in the last five years)?
Also—and really, this is a small point compared to everything else—it started really frustrating me every time Mikey would essentially say something that he didn't mean to say and then mention that he "winces as he says them" or knows that he shouldn't have said it or whatever, because it happened multiple times. Truly, if the book had ended with the murderer killing him to shut him up, I would have preferred it because he was fucking annoying.
Sadly, Mikey was not the only victim of the terrible writing. None of the other characters in this book had any character or development. The main side characters were Mikey's love interest, Jackson, and the group of kids at the camp that he was in charge of, especially his 12-year-old aunt, Annabelle (her mother, who is close to Mikey's age, married Mikey's grandfather because of course). The only thing I could tell you about Jackson is that he is built like a "Greek god," is in med school (and has worked as a lifeguard at the camp for 10 years), and is a golden retriever. Also, did you know that he's hot? That's mentioned a billion times in case you've forgotten. Meanwhile, Annabelle is an outcast at school and hates her parents' age gap, feels out of place, love true crime, and reads thrillers in her spare time. That's it. That's all we know about these side characters.
We know even less about the other kids in the group. They were all essentially interchangeable and...I truly don't have anything to say about them because there was nothing to say. The only one that sort of stood out was Annabelle's roommate, Miranda, and not in a good way. It's because she kept calling Mikey and other people "boo" at the end of almost every sentence. What child does this? Is this a Gen Alpha thing? Is this a rich people thing? JFC.
Although the plot was pretty straightforward and predictable, that wasn't even my main issue with this book given the terrible writing and characters. It was nothing to write home about, though the reliance on information dumping via found diary entries was honestly unrealistic since it literally just spelled everything else for the most part. Tons of telling and not enough (or really, any showing) throughout the book. Jackson and Mikey getting together felt rushed with not enough development on either end, so it was just an insta-love plot and y'all know how much I love those. 🙄
The plot aside, the writing was pretty awful. I already mentioned the author's over-dependence on pop culture references earlier; he truly just throw as many different movie quotes and other references into this book as possible, and it was jarring Every. Single. Time. He also really liked to reuse the same words and phrases throughout the book, such as "passion" as I stated previously, or saying that Mikey had "spent all of his life shield from" XYZ. Finally, and to be honest, the most egregious issue: This book was full of stereotypes of gay men—not just described, but literally spelled out and stated by the characters themselves. For example:
"He’s got none of the qualities that normally cause Mikey’s gaydar to perk up: Sardonic wit, inexplicable defensiveness, a tendency to speak exclusively in abbreviations and/or references. The usual Fire Island personality cocktail.”
Or:
"I thought gays loved karaoke!"
"You're thinking of an entirely different breed of gay," Mikey explains. "Musical theatre gays and/or drag queens. I'm a film school gay with chronically tired gay tendencies—huge difference."
I think this is the author trying to lean into the campy aspect of this book, but it really came across as cringey 2000s offensive humor more than anything else, especially since this book was written and takes place in 2026. At one point, character described himself as being bullied in school because he had an "uncontrollable gay voice." WTF does that mean?! It was so heavy-handed that the characters all came across as gay caricatures rather than real people, which is never good when portraying minorities of any type. Someone on PageBound commented while I was reading this that if this author wasn't queer himself, it would feel almost like the book was homophobic, which put into words exactly how I felt about it.
So uh, to sum up this 1k-word review, I would recommend it to...people who like reading about billionaire millennials and their problems? Or more seriously, people who don't mind leaning into the camp aspect of this book and can ignore problematic gay stereotypes, cardboard characters, and insta-love romance with zero development. c:
May 4, 2026
Nicolas DiDomizio just stuns on his mystery debut.
I was entrapped in this book straight from the beginning. Found family, found friends and a slow burn?? everything was just perfect.
Mikey and Annabelle come from a different type of family. Mikey is a spoilt rich guy, who comes from a very wealthy background. He is sent to Camp Lore to better himself in order to become humanised again. Annabelle on the other hand, comes from the same background but is seen as ‘different’ from her parents as she is captured by reading, true crime and mystery instead of fashion and makeup.
Annabelle hides her true identity of being Mikey’s Aunt, as in her past it has kept her from making true friends and always had her be teased about having a 30 year old Nephew. Through having very little friends at her age, Annabelle keeps to herself until she finds her own little group of misfits who become gripped in a 13 year old murder mystery that has never been solved.
It very much reminded me of the classic movie ‘Stand By Me’, which makes complete sense as Mikey is a film major and completes every sentence with a pop culture quote or reference. It makes me wonder if DiDomizio did this on purpose for the entertainment nerds reading his book.
All together, this book was highly enjoyable. It had a great nuance of mystery, romance, and pure highs of camp friendships. The character development from Mikey and Annabelle was a joy to see, and I almost felt like I was exploring this mystery with them.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
I was entrapped in this book straight from the beginning. Found family, found friends and a slow burn?? everything was just perfect.
Mikey and Annabelle come from a different type of family. Mikey is a spoilt rich guy, who comes from a very wealthy background. He is sent to Camp Lore to better himself in order to become humanised again. Annabelle on the other hand, comes from the same background but is seen as ‘different’ from her parents as she is captured by reading, true crime and mystery instead of fashion and makeup.
Annabelle hides her true identity of being Mikey’s Aunt, as in her past it has kept her from making true friends and always had her be teased about having a 30 year old Nephew. Through having very little friends at her age, Annabelle keeps to herself until she finds her own little group of misfits who become gripped in a 13 year old murder mystery that has never been solved.
It very much reminded me of the classic movie ‘Stand By Me’, which makes complete sense as Mikey is a film major and completes every sentence with a pop culture quote or reference. It makes me wonder if DiDomizio did this on purpose for the entertainment nerds reading his book.
All together, this book was highly enjoyable. It had a great nuance of mystery, romance, and pure highs of camp friendships. The character development from Mikey and Annabelle was a joy to see, and I almost felt like I was exploring this mystery with them.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
May 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC of this work!
I was really intrigued and excited to start with this work. It sounded like a fun, campy take on the sleep-away camp slasher genre and I was intrigued to see how the queer angle would play out. However, I left this not only disappointed, but just plain bored.
Maybe this was my fault, but the title leaning into ‘camp’ (not just actual forest camping, but camp as art) created an expectation that, sadly, was not fulfilled. I did not connect with this main character, and just felt like I was sort of…there. I was not invested, that by the time we reached the titular camp, I was looking for the exit. Also, the amount of references and callbacks to pop culture moments left me groaning a bit. There is having too much of a good thing.
I’ll give this points for messaging and character development, but that’s about where it ends. Overall, maybe it’s better for someone else, just not for me.
I was really intrigued and excited to start with this work. It sounded like a fun, campy take on the sleep-away camp slasher genre and I was intrigued to see how the queer angle would play out. However, I left this not only disappointed, but just plain bored.
Maybe this was my fault, but the title leaning into ‘camp’ (not just actual forest camping, but camp as art) created an expectation that, sadly, was not fulfilled. I did not connect with this main character, and just felt like I was sort of…there. I was not invested, that by the time we reached the titular camp, I was looking for the exit. Also, the amount of references and callbacks to pop culture moments left me groaning a bit. There is having too much of a good thing.
I’ll give this points for messaging and character development, but that’s about where it ends. Overall, maybe it’s better for someone else, just not for me.
April 20, 2026
This was a delight! I liked this take on a murder mystery at a campground, subverting Friday the 13th tropes. And I’ll never have a problem with a murder mystery that has me kicking my feet in delight when they kiss.
Mikey’s character development is subtle but arguably one of the best parts of the story. He’s mildly self-aware but through his summer with SAG and Jackson and this mystery he learns to become a better person. Or, really, be the better person he knew he could’ve always been.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nicolas DiDomizio, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mikey’s character development is subtle but arguably one of the best parts of the story. He’s mildly self-aware but through his summer with SAG and Jackson and this mystery he learns to become a better person. Or, really, be the better person he knew he could’ve always been.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nicolas DiDomizio, and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2025
Imagine a mystery set at an Adirondack summer camp with all the red herrings of an Agatha Christie infused with Andy Cohen's camp sensibility. A Murder Most Camp is bitchy fun from the very first page. Stick with our annoyingly privileged protagonist and you'll be rewarded with a heartfelt portrait of personal growth that rings true. Who-done-it mystery meets will-they-won't-they romance in this wild ride of a novel that I slurped up faster than an espresso martini!
May 8, 2026
Predictable story, flat characters, boring writing
July 13, 2026
Oh, boy. Where do I begin with this mess?
1. The premise of a bunch of 12-year-olds trying to solve a murder case (with an adult!) made me raise an eyebrow early on. Not so much because of how ridiculous it sounds, but mostly from how not like 12-year-olds they sound like and how they talk and how they conduct interviews with suspects(!)?
2. The adult who's supposed to be supervising is acting way more stupidly than the kids at an attempt to fulfil his artistic ambitions and he keeps calling them snooping around an investigation, like they're in CSI: Summer Camp.
3. The same adult is obsessed with Clueless and he keeps making all these references that no one around him (adult or kids) gets and that's one my pet peeves in books; when an author is obsessed with something so much that they'll make his character not shut up about it. Also, from a gay perspective, can we just stop with all the cultural references that under this untold rule, all gays must a) be familiar with and b) make sure eeeverybody knows they are familiar with? Yes, I am aware they're called stereotypes for a reason, I just find it very annoying.
4. The romance, that produced an "I love you" after what, a month? Month and a half? And even worse, it even produced an alibi based on how nice and honest he is and that "he would never do anything like that" based on the five weeks you've know him?
5. The murder case, which is so ridiculous and absurd that even if I forget about 1-4, this is enough to drop this to a one-star review. Because what do you mean that all this happened because of a sorority?? Because of "social circles, events, networks"? Seriously?
6. The writing that is constantly trying to justify actions and feelings and behaviours in lengthy paragraphs between a scene and/or dialogue; another one of my pet peeves. Combined with the "investigation" and the going through the clues, trying to piece everything together for the group (but also the reader) made this feel waaay too long; not to mention the back and forth between suspects and how easy and naive it was for them to jump from one to the next and be, like, he did it!
7. And don't get me started about the daughter who, by the end, seems to be absolutely ok about what happened to her mom, that is happy to move on? I get they didn't have a good relationship but we're just gonna ignore how f'd up that is, to treat her mother like a crime book character and then be, like, ohh I wonder what are the next unsolved murders I can get my hands on?
You get the point by now, I was kinda enjoying this until the last 20% or so when everything just became so messy I was skipping pages and by the end I was so annoyed by the revelations and the conclusion I low-key hated it lol.
1. The premise of a bunch of 12-year-olds trying to solve a murder case (with an adult!) made me raise an eyebrow early on. Not so much because of how ridiculous it sounds, but mostly from how not like 12-year-olds they sound like and how they talk and how they conduct interviews with suspects(!)?
2. The adult who's supposed to be supervising is acting way more stupidly than the kids at an attempt to fulfil his artistic ambitions and he keeps calling them snooping around an investigation, like they're in CSI: Summer Camp.
3. The same adult is obsessed with Clueless and he keeps making all these references that no one around him (adult or kids) gets and that's one my pet peeves in books; when an author is obsessed with something so much that they'll make his character not shut up about it. Also, from a gay perspective, can we just stop with all the cultural references that under this untold rule, all gays must a) be familiar with and b) make sure eeeverybody knows they are familiar with? Yes, I am aware they're called stereotypes for a reason, I just find it very annoying.
4. The romance, that produced an "I love you" after what, a month? Month and a half? And even worse, it even produced an alibi based on how nice and honest he is and that "he would never do anything like that" based on the five weeks you've know him?
5. The murder case, which is so ridiculous and absurd that even if I forget about 1-4, this is enough to drop this to a one-star review. Because what do you mean that all this happened because of a sorority?? Because of "social circles, events, networks"? Seriously?
6. The writing that is constantly trying to justify actions and feelings and behaviours in lengthy paragraphs between a scene and/or dialogue; another one of my pet peeves. Combined with the "investigation" and the going through the clues, trying to piece everything together for the group (but also the reader) made this feel waaay too long; not to mention the back and forth between suspects and how easy and naive it was for them to jump from one to the next and be, like, he did it!
7. And don't get me started about the daughter who, by the end, seems to be absolutely ok about what happened to her mom, that is happy to move on? I get they didn't have a good relationship but we're just gonna ignore how f'd up that is, to treat her mother like a crime book character and then be, like, ohh I wonder what are the next unsolved murders I can get my hands on?
You get the point by now, I was kinda enjoying this until the last 20% or so when everything just became so messy I was skipping pages and by the end I was so annoyed by the revelations and the conclusion I low-key hated it lol.
April 28, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn’t on my radar until I received a message from the publisher inviting me to read it. Having enjoyed previous books by this author, and after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t click the “Read Now” button fast enough—and I couldn’t be happier that I did, because I had a great time.
Mikey is about to turn 30, and after a life of privilege, he must turn things around and do something meaningful as a condition for accessing his trust fund. When he is forced to work at a summer camp his twelve-year-old aunt is attending—where, a decade earlier, a possible murder took place—he gets the chance to prove he can do something worthwhile.
At first, you might think he’ll be one of those annoying, insufferable rich-kid characters, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, he’s privileged, and his lifestyle reflects that. But that behavior is really a defense mechanism against the lack of love from the people around him, as well as an attempt to buy their affection and cope with the loss of his mother when he was ten.
Annabelle—Mikey’s aunt—is the other breakout star. A twelve-year-old addicted to crime novels and true crime, she is hilarious, and her relationship with her “gnephew” is my favorite part of the story.
The writing is witty and full of pop culture references, which some readers may dislike, but I personally loved. The mystery is engaging enough, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the pages turning.
The perfect story if you’re in the mood for something heartwarming with a dose of thrills and humor.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn’t on my radar until I received a message from the publisher inviting me to read it. Having enjoyed previous books by this author, and after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t click the “Read Now” button fast enough—and I couldn’t be happier that I did, because I had a great time.
Mikey is about to turn 30, and after a life of privilege, he must turn things around and do something meaningful as a condition for accessing his trust fund. When he is forced to work at a summer camp his twelve-year-old aunt is attending—where, a decade earlier, a possible murder took place—he gets the chance to prove he can do something worthwhile.
At first, you might think he’ll be one of those annoying, insufferable rich-kid characters, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, he’s privileged, and his lifestyle reflects that. But that behavior is really a defense mechanism against the lack of love from the people around him, as well as an attempt to buy their affection and cope with the loss of his mother when he was ten.
Annabelle—Mikey’s aunt—is the other breakout star. A twelve-year-old addicted to crime novels and true crime, she is hilarious, and her relationship with her “gnephew” is my favorite part of the story.
The writing is witty and full of pop culture references, which some readers may dislike, but I personally loved. The mystery is engaging enough, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the pages turning.
The perfect story if you’re in the mood for something heartwarming with a dose of thrills and humor.
May 29, 2026
While this mystery treads familiar ground: a feckless main character who is dropped into an unfamiliar environment and must figure out how to deal, while discovering things about themselves and their relationships, it’s still a fun read.
Mikey Hartford IV gets a reality check from his dad, who says no go on receiving his inheritance until he manages to demonstrate some level of maturity and purpose in his life. As an incredibly wealthy 29 year-old, he’s swanned through his life since college, pining after his best friend, and buying anything, and doing everything but what he wants, which is to make movies.
Mikey’s shipped off to a summer camp for wealthy kids while shepherding Annabelle, his tween aunt (her mother married Mikey’s grandfather). Mikey is frankly horrified at the camp conditions, and the idea of sharing his cabin, but he gets along well with the kids he’s in charge of. These kids, and he, want to investigate a several years ago disappearance of one of the former camp counsellors. Mikey sees the possibility of making a movie about the mystery, but quickly gets into trouble with camp management, who want him to find something else to do with the kids as it’s believed that the disappearance was a hoax. Mikey can’t stop, and keeps finding clues, while getting involved with his hunky roommate.
As already stated, this doesn’t break new ground, but the interactions between Mikey and Annabelle take this book from interesting to charming. And how Mikey finally grows up over the summer is also enjoyable.
Author Nicholas DiDomizio’s story about finding oneself and meaningful connection and community, is sweet, but it’s also funny and romantic.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Mikey Hartford IV gets a reality check from his dad, who says no go on receiving his inheritance until he manages to demonstrate some level of maturity and purpose in his life. As an incredibly wealthy 29 year-old, he’s swanned through his life since college, pining after his best friend, and buying anything, and doing everything but what he wants, which is to make movies.
Mikey’s shipped off to a summer camp for wealthy kids while shepherding Annabelle, his tween aunt (her mother married Mikey’s grandfather). Mikey is frankly horrified at the camp conditions, and the idea of sharing his cabin, but he gets along well with the kids he’s in charge of. These kids, and he, want to investigate a several years ago disappearance of one of the former camp counsellors. Mikey sees the possibility of making a movie about the mystery, but quickly gets into trouble with camp management, who want him to find something else to do with the kids as it’s believed that the disappearance was a hoax. Mikey can’t stop, and keeps finding clues, while getting involved with his hunky roommate.
As already stated, this doesn’t break new ground, but the interactions between Mikey and Annabelle take this book from interesting to charming. And how Mikey finally grows up over the summer is also enjoyable.
Author Nicholas DiDomizio’s story about finding oneself and meaningful connection and community, is sweet, but it’s also funny and romantic.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
June 24, 2026
Heartwarming and funny! The mystery was a bit predictable, but still felt fresh and had me hooked.
July 2, 2026
3.5*
Fun campy vibessssssss for summerween
Fun campy vibessssssss for summerween
July 22, 2026
A Murder Most Camp 🏕️ was such a fun read! I loved all of the characters, but especially Mikey. He had me laughing out loud quite literally with his sarcastic humor (much like my own) and pop culture references (particularly the ones from Clueless).
I enjoyed watching Mikey, Annabelle, and the rest of the SAG kids dive head first into the Rose Churchill mystery; a decades old murder case which remained unsolved. While dodging death threats, stomaching sloppy joes, and desperately trying to NOT have a roommate, albeit a very kind and HOT roommate; Mikey is determined to not only stick out his father’s condition for his inheritance but to also help his 12 year old AUNT thrive in this situation.
This story is a quirky and fun little queer cozy mystery with lots of laughs, maybe a watery eye or two, and tons of campy cliches & pop culture references.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this for free. This is my honest review and opinions. I would definitely love to read another of Nicolas Didomizo’s work.
I enjoyed watching Mikey, Annabelle, and the rest of the SAG kids dive head first into the Rose Churchill mystery; a decades old murder case which remained unsolved. While dodging death threats, stomaching sloppy joes, and desperately trying to NOT have a roommate, albeit a very kind and HOT roommate; Mikey is determined to not only stick out his father’s condition for his inheritance but to also help his 12 year old AUNT thrive in this situation.
This story is a quirky and fun little queer cozy mystery with lots of laughs, maybe a watery eye or two, and tons of campy cliches & pop culture references.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this for free. This is my honest review and opinions. I would definitely love to read another of Nicolas Didomizo’s work.
July 31, 2026
Really liked this one! This is my first read from this local author, and it was really fun. A quick, good summer read. Totally didn’t pick the suspect lol.
March 24, 2026
A Murder Most Camp is a perfectly cozy, and fun, mystery perfect for summer!
FMC Mikey, has just been hit with an ultimatum to receive his trust fund...he has to do something "good" that isn't just donating money to charity, or he won't gain access to his trust fund at all! Unfortunately his father (and step-grandmother) have also already chosen what his good deed will be, a camp counselor at his Aunt's (yes his 12 year old aunt) summer camp. Initially Mikey thinks this won't be so bad, as he remembers his bougee summer camp experience. But when he and Annabelle arrive, he soon realizes this is not the camp he was expecting. He is also dubbed the special activities coordinator, which somehow spirals into a murder mystery movie, turned real murder investigation.
Mikey's character is just perfect! While he seems a bit snobbish with his yachting and constant partying, once we get to know him better, he really does have a great heart. Forced to work at this horrible summer camp, without his usual luxuries, Mikey is not sure he will last the summer. I can't blame him, the cabins sound dreadful, and getting only 15mins of shower time a day would be rough. Add in the fact that his counselor room mate is "an aggressively attractive straight man with the perfect amount of chest hair peeking through his bright red USC tank top? Literal abuse." Mikey does request the use of Cabin 1, which is unoccupied, but is told it is not available. This starts the path down figuring out why no one is allowed to use it. The kids, including Annabelle, that join the special activities group decide they want to try and solve this decades old mystery, and will shoot a true crime doc as their chosen activity. Unfortunately, the more investigating the kids do, the more this mystery seems like a true murder.
While Mikey struggles to navigate keeping the kids in line, learning he has a maybe not so straight room-mate, actually staying at this camp to earn his inheritance, deciding what he wants to do with his life once this is done, he also manages to tangle himself right in the middle of a possible murder cover up.
I love all the movie references that Mikey makes. Not only is he into movie making, but he of course loves all the greats, Mean Girls, Scream, Coyote Ugly, etc. He also makes a lot of hilarious comments, and his conversations with Raymond are the absolute best! Mikey also helps Annabelle really come out of her self-imposed isolation as he better gets to know her.
With every chapter shedding light on yet another piece to the puzzle that is Rose Churchill's disappearance, and Mikey's comedic personality, you won't be able to put this story down!!
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, the author, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Look like Mr. Clean and the old guy from Home Alone whisked their sperm together and turkey baster-ed it into Khloe Kardashian's surrogate, yes." "What's terrifying is that I'm pretty sure you actually think that's how surrogacy works.""
"How do normal people do this every day? Especially normal people with mild wine hangovers? It's like sensory overload on crack. The only thing more plentiful than the hordes of sweaty travelers is the jumbled collection of overhead letters and numbers that allegedly indicate where he and Annabelle are supposed to go catch their train."
"Annabelle squints toward the lodge's front entrance. "Where are all the people?" "Churning butter, I'd imagine. Or perhaps fashioning masks out of human skin?""
"Judy smiles. She's got remarkably white teeth for someone Mikey would've assumed doesn't have access to modern luxuries like toothpaste or a sink."
"Actually? Log cabin is far too generous a term. These are more like log sheds. Log shoeboxes."
"In grand summer camp tradition, nighttime ushers in a blur of bonfires, bug spray, and marshmallows."
""Think wacky and silly," he tries. "But in a smart way, because camp is never cheap. Camp is...well...trying to define camp is perhaps the least campy thing one can do in the first place. It's a sensibility that requires years or trauma, otherness, and rejection to develop.""
"And good God-the situation beneath Jackson's trunks is even better than Mikey's been imagining. He tries to resist the urge to stare, but f***. Screw the algae-Mikey would risk it all to explore every inch of this man's skin right now."
""I don't mean to laugh," Raymond says, laughing, "but leave it to you to go upstate for the summer and get embroiled in a homicide scandal.""
FMC Mikey, has just been hit with an ultimatum to receive his trust fund...he has to do something "good" that isn't just donating money to charity, or he won't gain access to his trust fund at all! Unfortunately his father (and step-grandmother) have also already chosen what his good deed will be, a camp counselor at his Aunt's (yes his 12 year old aunt) summer camp. Initially Mikey thinks this won't be so bad, as he remembers his bougee summer camp experience. But when he and Annabelle arrive, he soon realizes this is not the camp he was expecting. He is also dubbed the special activities coordinator, which somehow spirals into a murder mystery movie, turned real murder investigation.
Mikey's character is just perfect! While he seems a bit snobbish with his yachting and constant partying, once we get to know him better, he really does have a great heart. Forced to work at this horrible summer camp, without his usual luxuries, Mikey is not sure he will last the summer. I can't blame him, the cabins sound dreadful, and getting only 15mins of shower time a day would be rough. Add in the fact that his counselor room mate is "an aggressively attractive straight man with the perfect amount of chest hair peeking through his bright red USC tank top? Literal abuse." Mikey does request the use of Cabin 1, which is unoccupied, but is told it is not available. This starts the path down figuring out why no one is allowed to use it. The kids, including Annabelle, that join the special activities group decide they want to try and solve this decades old mystery, and will shoot a true crime doc as their chosen activity. Unfortunately, the more investigating the kids do, the more this mystery seems like a true murder.
While Mikey struggles to navigate keeping the kids in line, learning he has a maybe not so straight room-mate, actually staying at this camp to earn his inheritance, deciding what he wants to do with his life once this is done, he also manages to tangle himself right in the middle of a possible murder cover up.
I love all the movie references that Mikey makes. Not only is he into movie making, but he of course loves all the greats, Mean Girls, Scream, Coyote Ugly, etc. He also makes a lot of hilarious comments, and his conversations with Raymond are the absolute best! Mikey also helps Annabelle really come out of her self-imposed isolation as he better gets to know her.
With every chapter shedding light on yet another piece to the puzzle that is Rose Churchill's disappearance, and Mikey's comedic personality, you won't be able to put this story down!!
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, the author, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
""Look like Mr. Clean and the old guy from Home Alone whisked their sperm together and turkey baster-ed it into Khloe Kardashian's surrogate, yes." "What's terrifying is that I'm pretty sure you actually think that's how surrogacy works.""
"How do normal people do this every day? Especially normal people with mild wine hangovers? It's like sensory overload on crack. The only thing more plentiful than the hordes of sweaty travelers is the jumbled collection of overhead letters and numbers that allegedly indicate where he and Annabelle are supposed to go catch their train."
"Annabelle squints toward the lodge's front entrance. "Where are all the people?" "Churning butter, I'd imagine. Or perhaps fashioning masks out of human skin?""
"Judy smiles. She's got remarkably white teeth for someone Mikey would've assumed doesn't have access to modern luxuries like toothpaste or a sink."
"Actually? Log cabin is far too generous a term. These are more like log sheds. Log shoeboxes."
"In grand summer camp tradition, nighttime ushers in a blur of bonfires, bug spray, and marshmallows."
""Think wacky and silly," he tries. "But in a smart way, because camp is never cheap. Camp is...well...trying to define camp is perhaps the least campy thing one can do in the first place. It's a sensibility that requires years or trauma, otherness, and rejection to develop.""
"And good God-the situation beneath Jackson's trunks is even better than Mikey's been imagining. He tries to resist the urge to stare, but f***. Screw the algae-Mikey would risk it all to explore every inch of this man's skin right now."
""I don't mean to laugh," Raymond says, laughing, "but leave it to you to go upstate for the summer and get embroiled in a homicide scandal.""
April 29, 2026
What happens when you take a bitchy trust fund gay out of his natural surroundings (tony NYC) and plop him at a rustic summer camp to learn about responsibility? You get this wacky and wonderful romp that is as frothy and decadent as a a frozen fruity drink, the perfect book to read poolside this summer! I would solve crimes or watch Bravo with Mikey any day!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press, via NetGalley, for the ARC!
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press, via NetGalley, for the ARC!
April 26, 2026
Thank you @poisonedpenpress for the digital copy to review. A Murder Most Camp is hilarious and fun, truly a millennial coded book if there ever was one. I was laughing hysterically all day.
Mikey was incredibly easy to root for, and I loved his growth in this book. Yes, he was a trust fund kid cut off, but man did he have some learning to do. The kids were hilarious. Jackson was fantastic. The mystery was wonderful, and the romance was a sweet bonus. I loved the end too, what a blast. 🥰🥰🥰
Love @nicdidomiziobooks so please preorder or request from your library so he can keep writing me funny and heartwarming books. Tysm!
Mikey was incredibly easy to root for, and I loved his growth in this book. Yes, he was a trust fund kid cut off, but man did he have some learning to do. The kids were hilarious. Jackson was fantastic. The mystery was wonderful, and the romance was a sweet bonus. I loved the end too, what a blast. 🥰🥰🥰
Love @nicdidomiziobooks so please preorder or request from your library so he can keep writing me funny and heartwarming books. Tysm!
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