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Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26They're not detectives. They're just two millennials with a murder to solve. A funny and wholesome mystery, perfect for fans of the Finlay Donovan series.
Grace’s life is turned upside down when she finds her boss’s dead body at his desk. After being questioned by the police, Grace takes it as a sign to declare her recent move to Philadelphia a bust and move back to Florida, until her boss’s widow, Jo, shows up and offers Grace a job as her assistant.
The catch? Jo only wants assistance with one solving her husband’s murder. Jo believes that the police can’t be trusted, and that two amateur millennial women will have much better luck cracking the case.
Armed with Jo’s creative “crime board” and various disguises – including a retired stripper and a pro bono housecleaner – they just might pull it off …
Hilarious, wholesome, and relatable, Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder speaks to everyone who’s ever believed that they could solve a mystery.
Grace’s life is turned upside down when she finds her boss’s dead body at his desk. After being questioned by the police, Grace takes it as a sign to declare her recent move to Philadelphia a bust and move back to Florida, until her boss’s widow, Jo, shows up and offers Grace a job as her assistant.
The catch? Jo only wants assistance with one solving her husband’s murder. Jo believes that the police can’t be trusted, and that two amateur millennial women will have much better luck cracking the case.
Armed with Jo’s creative “crime board” and various disguises – including a retired stripper and a pro bono housecleaner – they just might pull it off …
Hilarious, wholesome, and relatable, Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder speaks to everyone who’s ever believed that they could solve a mystery.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Jess Mey
1 book10 followersJess Mey is the author of cozy mystery Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder. (And also an ENFJ.)
Her writing journey started around 1994 when her parents gave her her first blank notebook. Even then, her stories often included a mysterious death, so it should be no surprise that her debut novel would be a mystery.
Jess has a degree in journalism with a minor in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She spent the first few years of her career in various marketing and copywriting roles, always helping small businesses promote their brands online. When she had her son in 2017, she found how unfriendly the marketing world can be to parents and families, and chose to become a stay-at-home mom. She’s kept up her writing skills by doing freelance work whenever it pops up and has practiced her small business skills by reselling thrifted clothing online.
Jess lives in the Pittsburgh suburbs with her husband, their two children, and their corgi, Clementine. After rediscovering her love of reading in 2024, she was inspired to write Grace & Jo. When she’s not reading, writing, or momming, you can find her playing The Sims 4 or thrifting. She’s a card-carrying member of the late ADHD diagnosis club
Her writing journey started around 1994 when her parents gave her her first blank notebook. Even then, her stories often included a mysterious death, so it should be no surprise that her debut novel would be a mystery.
Jess has a degree in journalism with a minor in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She spent the first few years of her career in various marketing and copywriting roles, always helping small businesses promote their brands online. When she had her son in 2017, she found how unfriendly the marketing world can be to parents and families, and chose to become a stay-at-home mom. She’s kept up her writing skills by doing freelance work whenever it pops up and has practiced her small business skills by reselling thrifted clothing online.
Jess lives in the Pittsburgh suburbs with her husband, their two children, and their corgi, Clementine. After rediscovering her love of reading in 2024, she was inspired to write Grace & Jo. When she’s not reading, writing, or momming, you can find her playing The Sims 4 or thrifting. She’s a card-carrying member of the late ADHD diagnosis club
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I was raised watching "Clue" and "Murder She Wrote" and grew to love cozy mysteries and the way they bring light and humor to serious moments. It's an honor to put my own spin on one for the first time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a NETGALLEY ADVANCED READING COPY :
Grace has left Florida to take a job she has gotten from a temp agency for an up and coming artist Garret Baros. Shortly into her new role she arrives at the office, which also serves as Garrets studio and she finds him slumped over his desk, dead. She gives the police detective, Sean, all the pertinent information she can and goes home in shock and exhaustion. That night a knock on her door startles her, she opens it to find Garrets widow, Jo standing there. She tells Grace that she needs her help and wants to hire her to help her find her husbands killer. She has no faith in the police due to an incident when she was in college and assaulted. Grace, against her better judgment agreed to take the job. More so out of her concern for the windows state of mind, her depression and endless tears and vulnerability of being the next victim of the killer who is still out there.
With no real leads, the police are at a standstill. Grace and Jo investigate every single person they can imagine that would have come into contact with Garret and have an interest in his money fame or a grudge. After several unsuccessful investigations and crossing people off the list they do get another jealous artist arrested for assault, one in which Grace almost suffered from but her pepper spray saved her from that plight. Along the way, she and Jo become extremely close regardless of how very different their lives are. Jo is an incredibly rich woman from generational wealth her father had made and Grace comes from a middle class background whose father was a cop and her mother was an accountant. She is very close to her parents and wasn’t sure she’d be able to last in Philadelphia when she first moved for her job with Garret but is proud of how much she’s grown and the friend she’s made in Jo.
Eventually the police use a video that Grace obtains from the apartment across the street from the studio where Garret was killed. They worked the grainy footage into something that clearly showed who the two men were that entered the building and left together. The revelation of the killers and the mastermind behind the murder was shocking and would be so devastating for Jo that Grace was at a loss how to even tell her. Instead Jo wants to see who they are in person and insists Grace not tell her as they drive to the police station where they’re currently being held. As they walk in, Jo is stunned and demands to hear the reason why this person she’s trusted could do something so horrific as kill the only man she has ever loved. It was of course financially motivated and because Jo and Garret kept their accounts separate, he was essentially killed for nothing because they couldn’t get into Jo’s account through accessing Garrets and with him dead she was no longer making deposits into it. It took her many many months to recover from the shock and she had Grace who remained in the house and as her friend in Philadelphia. They opened a children’s art center in the name of the family who had originally had their store their before Garret leased it and added Baros to it as well. Seven months after discovering the grisly details of the murder, the art center was open, Grace was dating Sean, the detective whom she had kept in close touch with throughout the investigation and Jo was slowly healing and doing her best to get over the brutal truth and the betrayal of the person who took her husband from her and the person she had loved and trusted in her life only to find out they’d killed her husband to try to access her money because their gambling and poor investments had made them destitute and desperate. It was a horrifying reality to live through and Grace made sure she was there for Jo and vowed to remain by her side until she was able to somewhat heal and learn to live her life una much different way but also in a way that she could find happiness through the loss and the grief.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, to #JessMay and this wonderful book she wrote #GraceandJoHaveNeverSolvedAmurder and to the publisher #DaturaBooks #PenguinHouse
Grace has left Florida to take a job she has gotten from a temp agency for an up and coming artist Garret Baros. Shortly into her new role she arrives at the office, which also serves as Garrets studio and she finds him slumped over his desk, dead. She gives the police detective, Sean, all the pertinent information she can and goes home in shock and exhaustion. That night a knock on her door startles her, she opens it to find Garrets widow, Jo standing there. She tells Grace that she needs her help and wants to hire her to help her find her husbands killer. She has no faith in the police due to an incident when she was in college and assaulted. Grace, against her better judgment agreed to take the job. More so out of her concern for the windows state of mind, her depression and endless tears and vulnerability of being the next victim of the killer who is still out there.
With no real leads, the police are at a standstill. Grace and Jo investigate every single person they can imagine that would have come into contact with Garret and have an interest in his money fame or a grudge. After several unsuccessful investigations and crossing people off the list they do get another jealous artist arrested for assault, one in which Grace almost suffered from but her pepper spray saved her from that plight. Along the way, she and Jo become extremely close regardless of how very different their lives are. Jo is an incredibly rich woman from generational wealth her father had made and Grace comes from a middle class background whose father was a cop and her mother was an accountant. She is very close to her parents and wasn’t sure she’d be able to last in Philadelphia when she first moved for her job with Garret but is proud of how much she’s grown and the friend she’s made in Jo.
Eventually the police use a video that Grace obtains from the apartment across the street from the studio where Garret was killed. They worked the grainy footage into something that clearly showed who the two men were that entered the building and left together. The revelation of the killers and the mastermind behind the murder was shocking and would be so devastating for Jo that Grace was at a loss how to even tell her. Instead Jo wants to see who they are in person and insists Grace not tell her as they drive to the police station where they’re currently being held. As they walk in, Jo is stunned and demands to hear the reason why this person she’s trusted could do something so horrific as kill the only man she has ever loved. It was of course financially motivated and because Jo and Garret kept their accounts separate, he was essentially killed for nothing because they couldn’t get into Jo’s account through accessing Garrets and with him dead she was no longer making deposits into it. It took her many many months to recover from the shock and she had Grace who remained in the house and as her friend in Philadelphia. They opened a children’s art center in the name of the family who had originally had their store their before Garret leased it and added Baros to it as well. Seven months after discovering the grisly details of the murder, the art center was open, Grace was dating Sean, the detective whom she had kept in close touch with throughout the investigation and Jo was slowly healing and doing her best to get over the brutal truth and the betrayal of the person who took her husband from her and the person she had loved and trusted in her life only to find out they’d killed her husband to try to access her money because their gambling and poor investments had made them destitute and desperate. It was a horrifying reality to live through and Grace made sure she was there for Jo and vowed to remain by her side until she was able to somewhat heal and learn to live her life una much different way but also in a way that she could find happiness through the loss and the grief.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, to #JessMay and this wonderful book she wrote #GraceandJoHaveNeverSolvedAmurder and to the publisher #DaturaBooks #PenguinHouse
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Datura for the ARC of Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder.
Describing this mystery as wholesome is an apt adjective - it definitely fits within the cozy mystery genre, and it focuses on building female friendships and navigating late 20s/30s in a way that I hope a lot of women find to be relatable. The writing style is straightforward, often focusing on even the tiniest of details in a step-by-step way that works for the mystery genre. I think connecting it to fans of Finlay Donovan may be a bit off - and I've said this before in other reviews that make the same connection because what drives the Finlay Donovan series is her believing she has committed murder and the ensuing issues vs other cozy mysteries where the protagonist is solving a murder and taking needed steps to do so -- they hit really opposite areas of the genre. I think it might be better to compare this to the upcoming Don't Cross Mo Ellery for the humor + mystery or Nina Simon for the focus on friendship/family + mystery.
There were a few areas I struggled with the story - the main one sort of being the premise of solving the murder/the murder itself. The stakes are miniscule for Grace - she agrees to help solve the murder because she's worried about returning to Florida a "failure", this seemed a bit odd as a motivation because we also know Grace was living rent-free at her parents, working for her mom, and hadn't had any relationships in 2 years, so she wasn't quite thriving prior to leaving regardless. It seemed like she would be welcomed home without any shame because people were confused she would leave Florida at all, not that she wasn't successful. It is also confusing why Jo selects Grace -- yes, she knows Grace did not murder her husband, and yes, she doesn't trust the cops, but we hear how she is a millionaire and very well-off, why wouldn't she just hire a private investigator who knows how to solve murders? I do want the story to take-off in their buddy-crime-solving and I appreciate we weren't falling into the usual storyline of one of them is a suspect and trying to clear their name, but the stakes for them to pair off are mostly non-existent, which does seem a bit forced. I also think the ending itself may have been a bit unbelievable/predictable, even by cozy standards, and I will not this for the publisher in more detail to avoid spoilers.
Overall I think this is a promising debut where the found friendship and the humor will lead in its strengths.
Describing this mystery as wholesome is an apt adjective - it definitely fits within the cozy mystery genre, and it focuses on building female friendships and navigating late 20s/30s in a way that I hope a lot of women find to be relatable. The writing style is straightforward, often focusing on even the tiniest of details in a step-by-step way that works for the mystery genre. I think connecting it to fans of Finlay Donovan may be a bit off - and I've said this before in other reviews that make the same connection because what drives the Finlay Donovan series is her believing she has committed murder and the ensuing issues vs other cozy mysteries where the protagonist is solving a murder and taking needed steps to do so -- they hit really opposite areas of the genre. I think it might be better to compare this to the upcoming Don't Cross Mo Ellery for the humor + mystery or Nina Simon for the focus on friendship/family + mystery.
There were a few areas I struggled with the story - the main one sort of being the premise of solving the murder/the murder itself. The stakes are miniscule for Grace - she agrees to help solve the murder because she's worried about returning to Florida a "failure", this seemed a bit odd as a motivation because we also know Grace was living rent-free at her parents, working for her mom, and hadn't had any relationships in 2 years, so she wasn't quite thriving prior to leaving regardless. It seemed like she would be welcomed home without any shame because people were confused she would leave Florida at all, not that she wasn't successful. It is also confusing why Jo selects Grace -- yes, she knows Grace did not murder her husband, and yes, she doesn't trust the cops, but we hear how she is a millionaire and very well-off, why wouldn't she just hire a private investigator who knows how to solve murders? I do want the story to take-off in their buddy-crime-solving and I appreciate we weren't falling into the usual storyline of one of them is a suspect and trying to clear their name, but the stakes for them to pair off are mostly non-existent, which does seem a bit forced. I also think the ending itself may have been a bit unbelievable/predictable, even by cozy standards, and I will not this for the publisher in more detail to avoid spoilers.
Overall I think this is a promising debut where the found friendship and the humor will lead in its strengths.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full disclosure: I know Jess personally, but my rating would be the same even if I didn't!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been in and out of reading slumps these past few years due to the state of the world, being a busy working mom, etc. But when Jess mentioned she had finished her book, I slid right out of that slump and straight into the world of Grace & Jo.
Jess is one of the funniest, wittiest, most meticulous people I know. She has such a knack for story telling and is the queen of one-liners; I knew anything she wrote would be great. But I was honestly not prepared for how great.
I was the go-to editor (humblebrag) for my college friend group and reading important things written by people you like is such an honor but can also be a burden. There is nothing worse than someone being so proud of something and then you read it and it's...not great.
Luckily that was absolutely not the case with Grace & Jo! From the very first draft I read, I was blown away. It wasn't just a handful of ideas and some witty dialogue masquerading as a book, it was legit. And as it has evolved through (minor) edits, it has only gotten better and better.
I have read hundreds and hundreds of books and I'm not very picky on genres so I had honestly never heard the term "cozy mystery" but this was such a great introduction to the genre!
It's witty and heartwarming. The characters are richly written and I want us to be friends so I can third wheel along on their next case. The plot is clever and nuanced and there are twists and turns I did not expect. Thanks to the "cozy" part, it did not send my anxiety through the roof (and what a gift that is these days).
I have the version of ADHD where as soon as I close a book, I forget all about it, but I found myself thinking about Grace and Jo long after I finished the last page. I am so excited for the rest of the world to get their hands on this book and I cannot wait to see what Jess comes up with next!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been in and out of reading slumps these past few years due to the state of the world, being a busy working mom, etc. But when Jess mentioned she had finished her book, I slid right out of that slump and straight into the world of Grace & Jo.
Jess is one of the funniest, wittiest, most meticulous people I know. She has such a knack for story telling and is the queen of one-liners; I knew anything she wrote would be great. But I was honestly not prepared for how great.
I was the go-to editor (humblebrag) for my college friend group and reading important things written by people you like is such an honor but can also be a burden. There is nothing worse than someone being so proud of something and then you read it and it's...not great.
Luckily that was absolutely not the case with Grace & Jo! From the very first draft I read, I was blown away. It wasn't just a handful of ideas and some witty dialogue masquerading as a book, it was legit. And as it has evolved through (minor) edits, it has only gotten better and better.
I have read hundreds and hundreds of books and I'm not very picky on genres so I had honestly never heard the term "cozy mystery" but this was such a great introduction to the genre!
It's witty and heartwarming. The characters are richly written and I want us to be friends so I can third wheel along on their next case. The plot is clever and nuanced and there are twists and turns I did not expect. Thanks to the "cozy" part, it did not send my anxiety through the roof (and what a gift that is these days).
I have the version of ADHD where as soon as I close a book, I forget all about it, but I found myself thinking about Grace and Jo long after I finished the last page. I am so excited for the rest of the world to get their hands on this book and I cannot wait to see what Jess comes up with next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to the author Jess May and Netgalley for ARC.
I am a big fan of cozy mysteries and a huge fan of Elle Cosimano series Finlay Donovan and this really reminds of the humor and banter that made me fall in love with cozy mystery genre.
Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder is a charming cozy mystery that balances humor, friendship, and murder with a light, engaging tone. The story follows unlikely amateur sleuths Grace and Jo as they investigate the death of Jo's husband, and I really enjoyed watching their partnership grow throughout the book.
One of the highlights for me was the relationship between the two women. Their friendship develops naturally as they navigate grief, uncover secrets, and rediscover who they are beyond the tragedy that brought them together. Grace's millennial perspective felt relatable, and her pop culture references and inner thoughts added plenty of humor without taking away from the mystery.
The investigation kept me interested, with just enough twists to make the story entertaining while maintaining the cozy mystery feel. I also appreciated the hint of romance woven into the plot, which complemented the story rather than overshadowing it.
Overall, this was a fun, comforting read with likable characters, witty dialogue, and a satisfying blend of mystery and heart. I'd happily return for another adventure with Grace and Jo and would recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, and strong female friendships.
Thank you to the author Jess May and Netgalley for ARC.
I am a big fan of cozy mysteries and a huge fan of Elle Cosimano series Finlay Donovan and this really reminds of the humor and banter that made me fall in love with cozy mystery genre.
Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder is a charming cozy mystery that balances humor, friendship, and murder with a light, engaging tone. The story follows unlikely amateur sleuths Grace and Jo as they investigate the death of Jo's husband, and I really enjoyed watching their partnership grow throughout the book.
One of the highlights for me was the relationship between the two women. Their friendship develops naturally as they navigate grief, uncover secrets, and rediscover who they are beyond the tragedy that brought them together. Grace's millennial perspective felt relatable, and her pop culture references and inner thoughts added plenty of humor without taking away from the mystery.
The investigation kept me interested, with just enough twists to make the story entertaining while maintaining the cozy mystery feel. I also appreciated the hint of romance woven into the plot, which complemented the story rather than overshadowing it.
Overall, this was a fun, comforting read with likable characters, witty dialogue, and a satisfying blend of mystery and heart. I'd happily return for another adventure with Grace and Jo and would recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, and strong female friendships.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book tells the story of Grace and Jo, who try to find the murderer of Jo’s husband, Garrett, after Grace finds him dead in his office.
In my opinion, the strongest point of the book is the friendship that develops between both protagonists, Grace and Jo. It goes from a work relationship while they try to solve this murder to a friendship in which they can rely on each other for comfort and emotional support when they both need it the most. They were both so cute and funny at times. Also, both characters were well developed on their own; we knew their fears, feelings, and intentions the whole time, even if Grace was the main protagonist. I only wish that the romance would have been a little more developed in the story itself.
The mystery that we find in this book is really interesting but still cozy; we meet all the suspects through the various stunts that Grace and Jo pull to try and find Garrett's murderer. These stunts sometimes lead to funny situations and wholesome characters, though not on all occasions. The investigation was interesting enough that it kept you on the edge of your seat while not generating anxiety, discomfort, or fear.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, cozy mystery with characters that you could relate to (especially if you are in the same age range as them), this is an amazing option !!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Jess Mey for the arc of this book.
In my opinion, the strongest point of the book is the friendship that develops between both protagonists, Grace and Jo. It goes from a work relationship while they try to solve this murder to a friendship in which they can rely on each other for comfort and emotional support when they both need it the most. They were both so cute and funny at times. Also, both characters were well developed on their own; we knew their fears, feelings, and intentions the whole time, even if Grace was the main protagonist. I only wish that the romance would have been a little more developed in the story itself.
The mystery that we find in this book is really interesting but still cozy; we meet all the suspects through the various stunts that Grace and Jo pull to try and find Garrett's murderer. These stunts sometimes lead to funny situations and wholesome characters, though not on all occasions. The investigation was interesting enough that it kept you on the edge of your seat while not generating anxiety, discomfort, or fear.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, cozy mystery with characters that you could relate to (especially if you are in the same age range as them), this is an amazing option !!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Jess Mey for the arc of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
That was a really fun read!
Even though there is a murder in the first chapter, this book is light, funny, and entertaining.
The writing is engaging and humorous and I read this book within a day.
The main characters have great rapport, I loved the whole cast, and while I did guess some of the fishiness, the mystery stayed true and kept me focussed the whole story.
I did feel attacked at the older half of the dynamic duo having my almost exact birthday, but I guess I just have to deal with that.
“Her outfit [consisted of] a floral blouse and a pair of yoga pants cosplaying as dress slacks. Grace felt there was something empowering about a pair of pants that looked office-appropriate but would allow you to do a split. You know, in an emergency.”
Old episodes of Fixer Upper indeed cure everything (Chip and Joanna can repair it all), mindless scrolling to catch up on celebrity gossip and Pinterest is always a good idea, and the big internet versus the small internet is very very real.
A delight! Would wholeheartedly recommend!
And a very big shoutout to the lovely cover!!
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
Even though there is a murder in the first chapter, this book is light, funny, and entertaining.
The writing is engaging and humorous and I read this book within a day.
The main characters have great rapport, I loved the whole cast, and while I did guess some of the fishiness, the mystery stayed true and kept me focussed the whole story.
I did feel attacked at the older half of the dynamic duo having my almost exact birthday, but I guess I just have to deal with that.
“Her outfit [consisted of] a floral blouse and a pair of yoga pants cosplaying as dress slacks. Grace felt there was something empowering about a pair of pants that looked office-appropriate but would allow you to do a split. You know, in an emergency.”
Old episodes of Fixer Upper indeed cure everything (Chip and Joanna can repair it all), mindless scrolling to catch up on celebrity gossip and Pinterest is always a good idea, and the big internet versus the small internet is very very real.
A delight! Would wholeheartedly recommend!
And a very big shoutout to the lovely cover!!
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
arc received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
in some ways, this novel made me feel seen. i related deeply to grace's mid-twenties feelings and struggles painfully. i liked her as a character and narrator, she was likeable and quirky and interesting. however, outside of grace, there wasn't much else i liked. the premise of it is interesting — i enjoy a cozy mystery, but the story it's built around fell flat and boring to me. perhaps it was too cozy? there weren't high stakes involved for anyone, and even the murder suspects were just vague time and place coincidences. i liked the parts where grace went under cover, but other than that the actual investigation and theorizing itself was boring to me because it felt as if barely anything happened. the romance also felt unecessary to me, the relationship that stood out was definitely grace and jo's unlikely friendship. interesting premise and concept, just was too cozy to the point nothing actually happened to keep me interested.
in some ways, this novel made me feel seen. i related deeply to grace's mid-twenties feelings and struggles painfully. i liked her as a character and narrator, she was likeable and quirky and interesting. however, outside of grace, there wasn't much else i liked. the premise of it is interesting — i enjoy a cozy mystery, but the story it's built around fell flat and boring to me. perhaps it was too cozy? there weren't high stakes involved for anyone, and even the murder suspects were just vague time and place coincidences. i liked the parts where grace went under cover, but other than that the actual investigation and theorizing itself was boring to me because it felt as if barely anything happened. the romance also felt unecessary to me, the relationship that stood out was definitely grace and jo's unlikely friendship. interesting premise and concept, just was too cozy to the point nothing actually happened to keep me interested.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Grace & Jo Have Never Solved a Murder is exactly the kind of cozy mystery I love to sink into. Grace and Jo are the perfect duo funny, believable, and full of the kind of chemistry that makes you want to follow them into every misadventure. Their friendship is the heart of the story, and I found myself just as invested in their dynamic as I was in the mystery itself.
The mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace, balancing clever twists with plenty of humor and charm.While I guessed a few pieces along the way, the journey was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind. The supporting cast adds personality and warmth, making the world feel lived in and setting the stage for what I hope becomes a long-running series.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with lovable amateur sleuths, witty banter, and a friendship you’ll want to spend more time with, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and Datura for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace, balancing clever twists with plenty of humor and charm.While I guessed a few pieces along the way, the journey was so enjoyable that I didn’t mind. The supporting cast adds personality and warmth, making the world feel lived in and setting the stage for what I hope becomes a long-running series.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with lovable amateur sleuths, witty banter, and a friendship you’ll want to spend more time with, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and Datura for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this so much! 3.75*
This book is more than just a simple murder mystery. It's whimsy, it's an inspection of grief and honestly it's a really nice focus on friendship. Grace and Jo absolutely sell this book - well in particular, my gal Grace. She is such a 'girl next door' and I love her. To be honest, the crime isn't that complex but this mystery is more than that. It's the crazy ways Grace does to try and solve the murder. It's her friendship with Jo and her blossoming relationship with Jo which is what truly matters.
Jess Mey, if you want to create another series, SIGN me up!
I'd have rated it higher if I hadn't have guessed the murderer.
I enjoyed this so much! 3.75*
This book is more than just a simple murder mystery. It's whimsy, it's an inspection of grief and honestly it's a really nice focus on friendship. Grace and Jo absolutely sell this book - well in particular, my gal Grace. She is such a 'girl next door' and I love her. To be honest, the crime isn't that complex but this mystery is more than that. It's the crazy ways Grace does to try and solve the murder. It's her friendship with Jo and her blossoming relationship with Jo which is what truly matters.
Jess Mey, if you want to create another series, SIGN me up!
I'd have rated it higher if I hadn't have guessed the murderer.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After her boss is found dead at his desk, Grace decides to give up on her relocation to Philadelphia and move back to Florida once more.
What she doesn't expect is for her boss's wife Jo to follow her there and offer her job. The aforementioned job, unfortunately, is to help Jo investigate her husband's death - because Jo feels that the police did not do a proper job of it. But can two inexperienced millennials really do any better?
A charming story with well drawn characters, this book will appeal to many readers. It easily earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
What she doesn't expect is for her boss's wife Jo to follow her there and offer her job. The aforementioned job, unfortunately, is to help Jo investigate her husband's death - because Jo feels that the police did not do a proper job of it. But can two inexperienced millennials really do any better?
A charming story with well drawn characters, this book will appeal to many readers. It easily earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 25, 2026
The highlight of this cosy mystery is Grace and the friendship that develops between her and Jo throughout the story. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story, and the different ways Grace began to investigate the various suspects was fun.
I did find the premise a bit of a stretch, I couldn't quite believe why Grace would end up investigating the murder in this way even as someone who is happy to suspend belief for cosy crime. I also felt like more could've been made about actually getting to the solution to the mystery, it ended up happening quite quickly and the pacing wasn't always even.
I did enjoy this overall, and would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I did find the premise a bit of a stretch, I couldn't quite believe why Grace would end up investigating the murder in this way even as someone who is happy to suspend belief for cosy crime. I also felt like more could've been made about actually getting to the solution to the mystery, it ended up happening quite quickly and the pacing wasn't always even.
I did enjoy this overall, and would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75⭐️ This was a fun, cozy mystery. I was interested in this since I was marketed that the main character was a millennial and as a millennial I was able to relate to some choices she made. I feel like this had the same chaotic amateur sleuth vibes with a side of romantic interest as the Finlay Donovan series, which I really like. I enjoyed the dynamic between Grace and Jo and thought their personalities complemented each other so well. Overall the story was a good blend of humor and mystery. I feel like this could become a series and I would definitely read the next one if so.
July 13, 2026
I truly loved this book. Grace & Jo Have Never Solved A Murder is a funny, clever, and endearing story about two amateur sleuths. When Jo’s husband is poisoned (and found by Grace!) the two of them team up to solve his murder. They conduct their own investigation in a hilarious way that had me laughing out loud at times.
Jess Mey totally nailed the cozy mystery genre with this novel and I’m definitely a new fan of her writing! I happily enjoyed this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Jess Mey totally nailed the cozy mystery genre with this novel and I’m definitely a new fan of her writing! I happily enjoyed this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review for arc received from Netgalley
Grace & Jo Have Never Solved A Murder was a cozy mystery following two amateur sleuths, Grace and Jo, as they try to solve the murder of Jo's husband. I really enjoyed the bond these two women created as they dealt with grief and discovered who they were outside of this tragedy. Grace was a main character I could relate to, and many of her millennial references had me laughing. Would definitely recommend for fans of cozy mystery and female friendship!
Grace & Jo Have Never Solved A Murder was a cozy mystery following two amateur sleuths, Grace and Jo, as they try to solve the murder of Jo's husband. I really enjoyed the bond these two women created as they dealt with grief and discovered who they were outside of this tragedy. Grace was a main character I could relate to, and many of her millennial references had me laughing. Would definitely recommend for fans of cozy mystery and female friendship!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What millennial woman doesn’t think she could solve a murder?? After Grace finds her boss dead in his art studio, she forms an unlikely alliance with his grieving wife to sort through the suspect list and catch a killer. This story shines with both comedic hijinks and vulnerable moments, and the throughline of what women can achieve when the odds are against them makes this a delightfully feminist, relatable sleuthing duo.
August 19, 2026
This was such a cosy little murder book, I can imagine it being a Netflix movie. It almost certainly will be a Netflix movie.
I found the actual mystery a little lacking in that it was a bit too obvious whodunnit but there were several one-liners that were so funny I spit my tea out.
Worth a read.
3.5⭐️
I found the actual mystery a little lacking in that it was a bit too obvious whodunnit but there were several one-liners that were so funny I spit my tea out.
Worth a read.
3.5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found myself struggling to connect with these characters and their reasons for wanting to solve Garrett's murder. They do develop a sweet friendship and grow in their own ways while working together to find the murderer.
Thank you NetGalley and Datura for the ARC
Thank you NetGalley and Datura for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was asked to blurb this book, and I absolutely adored it!
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July 11, 2026Oct 2026
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