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Murder and Mayheim
Cassie Mayheim, mystery bookstore owner and self-anointed super sleuth, has solved every fictional case she’s ever read. So when her best friend surprises her with an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise for her fortieth birthday, she’s ready to put her skills to the test. But the staged murder begins to feel all too real when Cassie senses danger lurking beneath the surface.
For seasoned cruise performer Hannah Garcia, the scripted mystery is just another day at work—until she stumbles into a deadly twist she never saw coming and her life is suddenly on the line. As danger closes in, the only person she can trust is Cassie, the captivating passenger she just met. But Cassie isn’t just another tourist—she’s Hannah’s only hope.
As the ship sails deep into icy waters, they must unravel a mystery that’s no longer a game—because this time, the killer isn’t playing by the script.
For seasoned cruise performer Hannah Garcia, the scripted mystery is just another day at work—until she stumbles into a deadly twist she never saw coming and her life is suddenly on the line. As danger closes in, the only person she can trust is Cassie, the captivating passenger she just met. But Cassie isn’t just another tourist—she’s Hannah’s only hope.
As the ship sails deep into icy waters, they must unravel a mystery that’s no longer a game—because this time, the killer isn’t playing by the script.
240 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Ronica Black
175 books145 followersRonica Black is an award-winning author and a three-time Lambda Literary Award finalist. Her books range from romance and erotica to mystery and intrigue, and she enjoys trying her hand at all. Ronica also enjoys drawing, painting, and sculpting. She lives in Glendale, Arizona, with her partner, where she relishes a rich family life and raising a menagerie of pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 stars 🌟
*I received a free audio copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, Tantor Media and the authors for the ARC.
NetGalley Description: "Cassie Mayheim, mystery bookstore owner and self-anointed super sleuth, has solved every fictional case she's ever read. So when her best friend surprises her with an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise for her fortieth birthday, she's ready to put her skills to the test. But the staged murder begins to feel all too real when Cassie senses danger lurking beneath the surface.
For seasoned cruise performer Hannah Garcia, the scripted mystery is just another day at work—until she stumbles into a deadly twist she never saw coming and her life is suddenly on the line. As danger closes in, the only person she can trust is Cassie, the captivating passenger she just met. But Cassie isn’t just another tourist—she's Hannah's only hope.
As the ship sails deep into icy waters, they must unravel a mystery that's no longer a game—because this time, the killer isn't playing by the script."
MY THOUGHTS
-This was a decent read. My expectations were slightly higher and not quite met, but the book itself was not bad.
-I felt quite lukewarm about the characters. They are decently written, but I couldn't connect with either of them.
-I found the book a bit scattered, as it switches between romance and murder mystery, and both to me felt underwhelming.
-The romance was essentially insta-love, and there wasn't enough build up. The smut also felt a bit out of place to me.
-I think the biggest problem with this book is that the characters drive the story, so it was hard to feel immersed in the events, specially when their reactions to the events are very underwhelming.
-I also feel this book would have benefited a lot more if Cassie and Hannah were a priorly established couple, instead of them meeting and getting together in this book, as that would have made it more impactful.
AUDIOBOOK COMMENTS
The narration was not bad but didn't personally work for me. Some of the characters had this "southern accent" of sorts which I did not enjoy. But overall it was fine.
Overall, not the worst book I have read but I do think it had potential to be way better.
Publication Date: 16th June, 2026
#Book 73 of 2026
#Book 11 for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Lesbian MCs
Review written on 8th June, 2026.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
..............
7/6/26: currently reading the Audio ARC!
*I received a free audio copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, Tantor Media and the authors for the ARC.
NetGalley Description: "Cassie Mayheim, mystery bookstore owner and self-anointed super sleuth, has solved every fictional case she's ever read. So when her best friend surprises her with an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise for her fortieth birthday, she's ready to put her skills to the test. But the staged murder begins to feel all too real when Cassie senses danger lurking beneath the surface.
For seasoned cruise performer Hannah Garcia, the scripted mystery is just another day at work—until she stumbles into a deadly twist she never saw coming and her life is suddenly on the line. As danger closes in, the only person she can trust is Cassie, the captivating passenger she just met. But Cassie isn’t just another tourist—she's Hannah's only hope.
As the ship sails deep into icy waters, they must unravel a mystery that's no longer a game—because this time, the killer isn't playing by the script."
MY THOUGHTS
-This was a decent read. My expectations were slightly higher and not quite met, but the book itself was not bad.
-I felt quite lukewarm about the characters. They are decently written, but I couldn't connect with either of them.
-I found the book a bit scattered, as it switches between romance and murder mystery, and both to me felt underwhelming.
-The romance was essentially insta-love, and there wasn't enough build up. The smut also felt a bit out of place to me.
-I think the biggest problem with this book is that the characters drive the story, so it was hard to feel immersed in the events, specially when their reactions to the events are very underwhelming.
-I also feel this book would have benefited a lot more if Cassie and Hannah were a priorly established couple, instead of them meeting and getting together in this book, as that would have made it more impactful.
AUDIOBOOK COMMENTS
The narration was not bad but didn't personally work for me. Some of the characters had this "southern accent" of sorts which I did not enjoy. But overall it was fine.
Overall, not the worst book I have read but I do think it had potential to be way better.
Publication Date: 16th June, 2026
#Book 73 of 2026
#Book 11 for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Lesbian MCs
Review written on 8th June, 2026.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
..............
7/6/26: currently reading the Audio ARC!
June 14, 2026
This cozy murder mystery has a cute setup: myster bookstore owner on a who-dun-it cruise where actual murder happens, a budding sapphic romance with one of the actresses, teaming up with a pair of eccentric elderly sisters, and a fun and not to simple mystery.
Those elements of the story were all fine. The characters were fun, the mystery was engaging, the humor was present and overall the book didn't take itself too seriously.
Unfortunately, the writing was bad. The whole "show don't tell" advice feels cliche, but this was a really good example of why just telling simply doesn't work. Internal narration was repeated by spoken dialogue, the dialogue and descriptions were sometimes needlessly detailed with mundane facts and thus felt unecessary and awkward - I don't need a detailed play-by-play of the protagonist ordering at a restaurant.
I read this in audio, and am usually pretty forgiving of writing style in this format, but in this case it was so egregious that I even noticed it in the audiobook.
Not a terrible book, but the reading experience was unfortunately lessened by the lacking writing quality.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Those elements of the story were all fine. The characters were fun, the mystery was engaging, the humor was present and overall the book didn't take itself too seriously.
Unfortunately, the writing was bad. The whole "show don't tell" advice feels cliche, but this was a really good example of why just telling simply doesn't work. Internal narration was repeated by spoken dialogue, the dialogue and descriptions were sometimes needlessly detailed with mundane facts and thus felt unecessary and awkward - I don't need a detailed play-by-play of the protagonist ordering at a restaurant.
I read this in audio, and am usually pretty forgiving of writing style in this format, but in this case it was so egregious that I even noticed it in the audiobook.
Not a terrible book, but the reading experience was unfortunately lessened by the lacking writing quality.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
June 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Thank you to the publisher and authors for the ARC!
I had a great time with Murder and Mayheim. The mystery kept me guessing, and I was invested in seeing how everything would come together. I especially enjoyed the character dynamics, which added a lot of charm to the story.
The audiobook was great and the narrators brought a lot of personality to the characters and really helped immerse me in the story.
While there were a few moments where the pacing felt a little uneven for me, overall this was a fun, engaging mystery that kept me listening. If you enjoy character driven mysteries then this is the book for you.
Thank you to the publisher and authors for the ARC!
I had a great time with Murder and Mayheim. The mystery kept me guessing, and I was invested in seeing how everything would come together. I especially enjoyed the character dynamics, which added a lot of charm to the story.
The audiobook was great and the narrators brought a lot of personality to the characters and really helped immerse me in the story.
While there were a few moments where the pacing felt a little uneven for me, overall this was a fun, engaging mystery that kept me listening. If you enjoy character driven mysteries then this is the book for you.
June 13, 2026
Murder and Mayheim was a quick read. We follow Cassie Mayheim, a mystery bookshop owner who gets invited to a murder mystery cruise with her friend. Things get a little too real when a cruise worker she’s crushing on, Hannah, turns up dead… or is she?
This was a quick read and I really enjoyed the setting, a murder mystery Alaskan cruise? Very fun idea! I also really liked the side characters Goldie and Rosie, they were hilarious and added some great comedy.
I didn’t really like Hannah and Cassie getting into a relationship. Hannah’s sister and friend just got murdered and you guys are banging while looking for their killer? Otherwise this was a fun read, just the romance felt out of place.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!
This was a quick read and I really enjoyed the setting, a murder mystery Alaskan cruise? Very fun idea! I also really liked the side characters Goldie and Rosie, they were hilarious and added some great comedy.
I didn’t really like Hannah and Cassie getting into a relationship. Hannah’s sister and friend just got murdered and you guys are banging while looking for their killer? Otherwise this was a fun read, just the romance felt out of place.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2026
Cassie owns a mystery bookstore so naturally she would go on a murder mystery cruise, especially as her best friend Krystal is treating her. Surprise! There is a real dead body and Cassie, Krystal and sisters Rosie and Goldie who are great fun and sharp as a tack, soon get on the case, until they solve the deadly mystery. With interesting details of cruise ship life and beautiful descriptions of Alaska, this is definitely more of a cosy crime book than a page-turning thriller, although a spicy romance does bring some heat.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 31, 2026
Murder and Mayheim
Quite the mystery cruise caper! I mean can you imagine booking a murder mystery Cruise, then being thrown into a real life murder? All you have to rely on is your ability to solve puzzles, your best friend, two old ladies who are as quirky as they are snappy, and a woman you are extremely attracted to, but is also at the center of this mystery.
That should be the cruise's brochure. This was a fun read!
Quite the mystery cruise caper! I mean can you imagine booking a murder mystery Cruise, then being thrown into a real life murder? All you have to rely on is your ability to solve puzzles, your best friend, two old ladies who are as quirky as they are snappy, and a woman you are extremely attracted to, but is also at the center of this mystery.
That should be the cruise's brochure. This was a fun read!
June 29, 2026
This was a cute story but it just felt like something was missing. The main character was a bit too know it all at times and it left the story lacking somewhat. I enjoyed the setting and the colorful cast of characters though and the narration was good. Overall, it was fun way to kill some time but I likely won't be revisiting it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2026
Perfect mix of mystery, thriller and romance. A who dunnit that actually kept me guessing. The line between real and fake murder being a little blurred helped with the illusions. Love that the actual saving came from an unexpected source.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder and Mayheim by Ronica Black and Toni Logan was such a fun mix of mystery, humor, romance, and suspense. From the opening pages, I found myself pulled into the story and eager to discover how all the pieces would fit together. 🚢🔎🍷
One thing I immediately enjoyed was the way the narrative was structured. The story kicks off with a tense glimpse of danger before taking readers back in time to unravel the events leading up to that moment. It was an effective hook that kept me curious and invested right from the start. 👀⚠️
Cassie was an absolute delight to follow. As the owner of Murder and Mayheim bookstore and wine bar, she already had me sold, but her enthusiasm for solving mysteries made her even more entertaining. She has a natural curiosity that constantly pulls her into trouble, and I loved tagging along for the ride. 📚🍷🕵️♀️
The setting was another huge highlight. A murder mystery-themed cruise ship is already a fantastic backdrop, but the authors cleverly blur the line between the planned entertainment and the genuine danger unfolding onboard. That combination created a unique atmosphere where every clue, suspect, and interaction felt suspicious. 🚢🔪🎭
The supporting cast truly elevated the story. Goldie and Rosie were standouts for me, bringing plenty of laughs, charm, and energy whenever they appeared. Their friendship with Cassie added warmth to the investigation and made the group dynamic incredibly enjoyable. Hannah and Krystal also played important roles, helping create a cast that felt engaging and memorable throughout. ❤️✨
I was also invested in the growing connection between Cassie and Hannah. Their relationship developed naturally alongside the mystery, and I found myself rooting for them as the story progressed. Readers should know there are a few more intimate scenes woven into the romance, which may be a little more explicit than some expect in a cozy mystery setting. 💕🔥
As for the mystery itself, it kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had identified the culprit, another revelation would emerge and shift my suspicions elsewhere. New information, changing motives, and an increasing sense of danger kept the investigation moving at a brisk pace. The cruise ship environment added a wonderfully enclosed feeling that heightened the tension and made escape feel impossible. 😱🔍
The short chapters worked perfectly for this type of story. They kept everything moving quickly, making it incredibly easy to keep reading "just one more chapter" until suddenly hours had passed. 📖⏳
While I enjoyed the overall resolution and appreciated that the story answered the major questions, I personally would have liked a little more buildup before the final explanations were revealed. Everything comes together, but the conclusion felt slightly rushed compared to the steady momentum of the rest of the book. It didn't ruin my enjoyment, but I wanted just a bit more room for the ending to breathe. 🤔
Overall, Murder and Mayheim is an entertaining, fast-moving mystery packed with colorful characters, intriguing twists, romance, humor, and plenty of suspense. If you enjoy amateur sleuths, quirky sidekicks, cruise ship mysteries, and relationships worth cheering for, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. And judging by the final pages, I'd happily join Cassie, Goldie, Rosie, Hannah, and Krystal on another adventure. 🚢📚❤️🔎
One thing I immediately enjoyed was the way the narrative was structured. The story kicks off with a tense glimpse of danger before taking readers back in time to unravel the events leading up to that moment. It was an effective hook that kept me curious and invested right from the start. 👀⚠️
Cassie was an absolute delight to follow. As the owner of Murder and Mayheim bookstore and wine bar, she already had me sold, but her enthusiasm for solving mysteries made her even more entertaining. She has a natural curiosity that constantly pulls her into trouble, and I loved tagging along for the ride. 📚🍷🕵️♀️
The setting was another huge highlight. A murder mystery-themed cruise ship is already a fantastic backdrop, but the authors cleverly blur the line between the planned entertainment and the genuine danger unfolding onboard. That combination created a unique atmosphere where every clue, suspect, and interaction felt suspicious. 🚢🔪🎭
The supporting cast truly elevated the story. Goldie and Rosie were standouts for me, bringing plenty of laughs, charm, and energy whenever they appeared. Their friendship with Cassie added warmth to the investigation and made the group dynamic incredibly enjoyable. Hannah and Krystal also played important roles, helping create a cast that felt engaging and memorable throughout. ❤️✨
I was also invested in the growing connection between Cassie and Hannah. Their relationship developed naturally alongside the mystery, and I found myself rooting for them as the story progressed. Readers should know there are a few more intimate scenes woven into the romance, which may be a little more explicit than some expect in a cozy mystery setting. 💕🔥
As for the mystery itself, it kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had identified the culprit, another revelation would emerge and shift my suspicions elsewhere. New information, changing motives, and an increasing sense of danger kept the investigation moving at a brisk pace. The cruise ship environment added a wonderfully enclosed feeling that heightened the tension and made escape feel impossible. 😱🔍
The short chapters worked perfectly for this type of story. They kept everything moving quickly, making it incredibly easy to keep reading "just one more chapter" until suddenly hours had passed. 📖⏳
While I enjoyed the overall resolution and appreciated that the story answered the major questions, I personally would have liked a little more buildup before the final explanations were revealed. Everything comes together, but the conclusion felt slightly rushed compared to the steady momentum of the rest of the book. It didn't ruin my enjoyment, but I wanted just a bit more room for the ending to breathe. 🤔
Overall, Murder and Mayheim is an entertaining, fast-moving mystery packed with colorful characters, intriguing twists, romance, humor, and plenty of suspense. If you enjoy amateur sleuths, quirky sidekicks, cruise ship mysteries, and relationships worth cheering for, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. And judging by the final pages, I'd happily join Cassie, Goldie, Rosie, Hannah, and Krystal on another adventure. 🚢📚❤️🔎
June 13, 2026
2/5 • - this audiobook was received as a netgalley arc - okay, this book was surprisingly difficult to get through, but not in a “this book is bad” way. to start, i think the romance didn’t do it for me. the characters instantly fell for each other and with the chaos of everything around them, they didn’t get a chance to really have much depth before getting serious. this leads me to what kind of felt like an odd dichotomy between murder mystery and romance, where i genuinely thought the plot was good, but the romance in between it sort of took me out of the story. i think it had to do with the way grief was tackled, and how unrealistic it felt as characters leapt from sobbing, to thinking about kissing, to gambling which just sent my head spinning. one of the mcs lost their twin sister, and while i understand that they weren’t raised together, i still feel there’d be a longer grieving period that would heavily stunt the romance side of the story. if i remember correctly, someone a character was close to died, and in that same day the two mcs had sex. it was just a bit jarring to go from one emotion to the next. there were times in the audiobook where the dialogue felt really stilted and all started sounding the same? almost as if they all had similar speech patterns even when deriving from different places. without the accents by the narrator, i don’t think i would have been able to tell who was speaking and when. this then follows the strange detailed descriptions of things that held no real meaning. there were times where there be a very detailed description of something around the character that ended up holding no real value in the end. it did seem like a lot of research was put into a cruise, but felt oddly placed in the story. that also ties into the way one of the mcs reads a lot of murder mystery, leading to how unrealistic it felt that it would help in a real murder. i don’t think much upset me until towards the end, where characters started going off on their own, while knowing full well the murderer on the loose. especially when said character is the target of the killer. what was crazy is how the other mc jumps into going off on their own right after, which truly blew my mind.
the plot, however, had me hooked. a strange murder on a cruise, the constant twists and turns as they uncover who was behind everything, and the general eerie concept sold me. if it wasn’t for everything mentioned earlier, i think it would have been perfect.
tldr: i thought the plot was handled in a fun, twisty way, but i couldn’t get myself to care about the characters or their romance.
the plot, however, had me hooked. a strange murder on a cruise, the constant twists and turns as they uncover who was behind everything, and the general eerie concept sold me. if it wasn’t for everything mentioned earlier, i think it would have been perfect.
tldr: i thought the plot was handled in a fun, twisty way, but i couldn’t get myself to care about the characters or their romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Possible Spoilers*
While there are some interesting bits to it, Murder and Mayheim tries too hard. Cassie Mayheim is a mystery fanatic who owns an indie bookstore, called Murder and Mayheim. In an attempt at work life balance, her best friend books them a murder mystery cruise. Upon setting sail, Cassie discovers that her love for Sherlock Holmes is coming into clutch. When Cassie’s new friend and eye candy, Hannah, finds her sister dead, the two women traverse the decks playing Nancy Drew. (Apparently, reading Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle gives Cassie all the information on human psychology and toxicology that she needs to solve a case.)
The mystery itself is okay. Hannah has an SD card full of murder evidence. She doesn’t know who the culprit is, or why the card got sent to her. The murders pile up as the pair investigates. What interested me were the deaths. The sister dies at the bottom of a staircase with green foam in her mouth. Hannah’s friend gets washed ashore. Her coworker is found sitting in a chair, unmoving. I wish that, instead of just reading about the post-death investigation, we got chapters from the murder victims as they crossed lines and died. Fully understanding the victims’ involvement, would’ve let me collect evidence and draw my own conclusions.
Cassie and Hannah are boring. Cassie’s a nerdy workaholic whose parents died due to drunk driving. Cliches can be enjoyable, if developed. Unfortunately, literally nothing was done with Cassie’s. Her parents are mentioned, like once, in reference to not wanting to dump a dramatic backstory on Hannah. I don’t actually know anything about her. Why are mysteries her comfort genre? What was the relationship with her parents like? Cassie develops the plot, but the plot doesn’t develop her. There is no goal or growth to her character. There’s even less backstory for Hannah. I wasn’t presented with enough information to wonder about anything.
This book has grand dreams, but it didn’t quite reach them. There just wasn’t enough development. The main characters were boring, consequently, I didn’t care about why the murders affected them. There is something here, but a little excavation needed to happen. My biggest plus is that following the gist didn’t require much attention. If a somewhat engaging murder mystery with inconsequential characters seems interesting, this might be a perfect fit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will be posting this on Goodreads and/or TikTok and Instagram in late May.
While there are some interesting bits to it, Murder and Mayheim tries too hard. Cassie Mayheim is a mystery fanatic who owns an indie bookstore, called Murder and Mayheim. In an attempt at work life balance, her best friend books them a murder mystery cruise. Upon setting sail, Cassie discovers that her love for Sherlock Holmes is coming into clutch. When Cassie’s new friend and eye candy, Hannah, finds her sister dead, the two women traverse the decks playing Nancy Drew. (Apparently, reading Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle gives Cassie all the information on human psychology and toxicology that she needs to solve a case.)
The mystery itself is okay. Hannah has an SD card full of murder evidence. She doesn’t know who the culprit is, or why the card got sent to her. The murders pile up as the pair investigates. What interested me were the deaths. The sister dies at the bottom of a staircase with green foam in her mouth. Hannah’s friend gets washed ashore. Her coworker is found sitting in a chair, unmoving. I wish that, instead of just reading about the post-death investigation, we got chapters from the murder victims as they crossed lines and died. Fully understanding the victims’ involvement, would’ve let me collect evidence and draw my own conclusions.
Cassie and Hannah are boring. Cassie’s a nerdy workaholic whose parents died due to drunk driving. Cliches can be enjoyable, if developed. Unfortunately, literally nothing was done with Cassie’s. Her parents are mentioned, like once, in reference to not wanting to dump a dramatic backstory on Hannah. I don’t actually know anything about her. Why are mysteries her comfort genre? What was the relationship with her parents like? Cassie develops the plot, but the plot doesn’t develop her. There is no goal or growth to her character. There’s even less backstory for Hannah. I wasn’t presented with enough information to wonder about anything.
This book has grand dreams, but it didn’t quite reach them. There just wasn’t enough development. The main characters were boring, consequently, I didn’t care about why the murders affected them. There is something here, but a little excavation needed to happen. My biggest plus is that following the gist didn’t require much attention. If a somewhat engaging murder mystery with inconsequential characters seems interesting, this might be a perfect fit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will be posting this on Goodreads and/or TikTok and Instagram in late May.
June 28, 2026
Murder and Mayhem was a cute, quirky little mystery with a splash of romance that made for a really easy, enjoyable read.
The premise immediately caught my attention, and I have to give it credit for keeping me guessing. I genuinely didn't figure out where the mystery was heading, which is always a bonus. It's refreshing to read a murder mystery where the reveal isn't painfully obvious from chapter three!
The characters weren't the most deeply developed, but they were still fun to spend time with. Goldie and Rosie absolutely stole the show for me. Their quirky personalities and funny little mannerisms brought so much charm to the story, and I always enjoyed any scene they appeared in.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and overall I thought the narration was good. There were a few voices that didn't quite match how I'd imagined the characters, but it was an engaging performance that kept me listening.
That said, I did have a few issues with the writing. It often felt a little underdeveloped, particularly when it came to the emotional side of things. Characters would experience events that, in real life, would be completely life-altering, yet their reactions often felt surprisingly muted. It meant some of the bigger moments didn't quite have the impact they should have.
I also wasn't entirely sold on the romance. Considering both characters initially made it clear before being introduced that they weren't looking for or interested in romance, the speed and intensity of their connection didn't feel especially believable. I wanted a little more build-up before we got to the deep emotional attachment.
One thing that did irk me was the amount of unnecessary detail. If I had to hear one more description of someone flicking their wrist to activate their watch, I think I might have give up. There were quite a few moments where the writing focused on very mundane actions that didn't really add anything to the story. I would've much preferred that attention to detail be spent developing the characters or relationships instead.
Overall, though, I had a good time with this one. It isn't a book that's going to blow your mind, but it doesn't try to be. It's a light, quirky mystery with a touch of romance, fun characters, and enough twists to keep things interesting. If you're looking for a cosy-ish murder mystery that's quick to get through and not too heavy despite the subject matter, this is a book for you.
⭐️2.75 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Media for the ARC.
The premise immediately caught my attention, and I have to give it credit for keeping me guessing. I genuinely didn't figure out where the mystery was heading, which is always a bonus. It's refreshing to read a murder mystery where the reveal isn't painfully obvious from chapter three!
The characters weren't the most deeply developed, but they were still fun to spend time with. Goldie and Rosie absolutely stole the show for me. Their quirky personalities and funny little mannerisms brought so much charm to the story, and I always enjoyed any scene they appeared in.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and overall I thought the narration was good. There were a few voices that didn't quite match how I'd imagined the characters, but it was an engaging performance that kept me listening.
That said, I did have a few issues with the writing. It often felt a little underdeveloped, particularly when it came to the emotional side of things. Characters would experience events that, in real life, would be completely life-altering, yet their reactions often felt surprisingly muted. It meant some of the bigger moments didn't quite have the impact they should have.
I also wasn't entirely sold on the romance. Considering both characters initially made it clear before being introduced that they weren't looking for or interested in romance, the speed and intensity of their connection didn't feel especially believable. I wanted a little more build-up before we got to the deep emotional attachment.
One thing that did irk me was the amount of unnecessary detail. If I had to hear one more description of someone flicking their wrist to activate their watch, I think I might have give up. There were quite a few moments where the writing focused on very mundane actions that didn't really add anything to the story. I would've much preferred that attention to detail be spent developing the characters or relationships instead.
Overall, though, I had a good time with this one. It isn't a book that's going to blow your mind, but it doesn't try to be. It's a light, quirky mystery with a touch of romance, fun characters, and enough twists to keep things interesting. If you're looking for a cosy-ish murder mystery that's quick to get through and not too heavy despite the subject matter, this is a book for you.
⭐️2.75 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Media for the ARC.
June 30, 2026
I actually was really enjoying this one until the romance really started to set in. This book takes place on an Alaskan cruise and the first chapter seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the book. It's like a POV chapter from one of the characters as she's about to get murdered and then the book goes backwards like a few days and so the whole book you're waiting for this experience to happen.
This book would have been so much better if all of the characters that died had a chapter like that very first one.
Anyway moving on. Basically you have Cassie who is on the cruise with her best friend Crystal she bumps into Hannah on the first day. Hannah works for the cruise and has snuck in her twin sister Olivia so that she could experience a cruise as well. When Olivia adds up dead at the bottom of the stairs Hannah and Les the help of Cassie and Crystal and two elderly sisters to help figure out what the hell is going on. There is a mysterious SD card with evidence of a murder and such like that.
I feel like the mystery part of this was okay. The characters are where this book suffers. For one you should not have three characters with names that start with C, there's a Cassie, a crystal, and a Callie and I kept getting them all mixed up the whole time. None of them are distinguishable enough that you really remember which one's which. Second off you're telling me that this girl's sister just was murdered and she has one sub session and then she's done grieving?
The way this book handles grief is probably its worst trait. It's actually wild and at the end there's some comment about how she gained three new sisters and the insensitivity of that was insane.
But also you're going to try and tell me that you're going to find time to fuck some person you just met when you trying to figure out who murdered your sister and is after you when you are in a confined space of a cruise ship and you know the murderer is on board? Absolutely wild.
Second off the one character is a bookstore owner and an avid reader of mysteries and there's this whole plot point where she thinks that she can solve any mystery ever had because she reads so many mystery books and I'm not sure how functional that life experience truly is but it felt weird.
Overall this one started good for me but went downhill as soon as the two characters started fucking. It takes place over like 5 days. You cannot tell me that you are in the mood for sex when your twin sister was just murdered. I know that I'm asexual but like that can't be real right?
This book would have been so much better if all of the characters that died had a chapter like that very first one.
Anyway moving on. Basically you have Cassie who is on the cruise with her best friend Crystal she bumps into Hannah on the first day. Hannah works for the cruise and has snuck in her twin sister Olivia so that she could experience a cruise as well. When Olivia adds up dead at the bottom of the stairs Hannah and Les the help of Cassie and Crystal and two elderly sisters to help figure out what the hell is going on. There is a mysterious SD card with evidence of a murder and such like that.
I feel like the mystery part of this was okay. The characters are where this book suffers. For one you should not have three characters with names that start with C, there's a Cassie, a crystal, and a Callie and I kept getting them all mixed up the whole time. None of them are distinguishable enough that you really remember which one's which. Second off you're telling me that this girl's sister just was murdered and she has one sub session and then she's done grieving?
The way this book handles grief is probably its worst trait. It's actually wild and at the end there's some comment about how she gained three new sisters and the insensitivity of that was insane.
But also you're going to try and tell me that you're going to find time to fuck some person you just met when you trying to figure out who murdered your sister and is after you when you are in a confined space of a cruise ship and you know the murderer is on board? Absolutely wild.
Second off the one character is a bookstore owner and an avid reader of mysteries and there's this whole plot point where she thinks that she can solve any mystery ever had because she reads so many mystery books and I'm not sure how functional that life experience truly is but it felt weird.
Overall this one started good for me but went downhill as soon as the two characters started fucking. It takes place over like 5 days. You cannot tell me that you are in the mood for sex when your twin sister was just murdered. I know that I'm asexual but like that can't be real right?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Toni Logan; Ronica Black and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ronica Black and Toni Logan deliver such a fun and twisty mystery with Murder and Mayheim. I loved that the story opens in the future with what appears to be Cassie being hunted aboard the cruise ship because it immediately creates tension and suspense before jumping back five days earlier to show how everything unfolded. Cassie was such an entertaining protagonist with her Murder and Mayheim bookstore and wine bar and her obsession with solving mysteries. The murder mystery cruise setting was also perfect for this story because it blurred the lines between the fake whodunnit events and the real murders happening onboard. Hannah and Cassie had great chemistry throughout the book with Cassie being a great support system for Hannah after critical secrets are uncovered.
The mystery itself kept me fully engaged because every reveal seemed to raise the stakes even higher. I loved how the investigation became more addictive and intense as new suspects were introduced. Cassie, Hannah, Krystal, Goldie, and Rosie worked really well together to uncover what was really happening on the cruise ship. Goldie and Rosie were such fun additions to the story and brought humor and charm to the investigation. The growing sense of danger surrounding Hannah added another layer of tension, especially as it became clear that someone onboard might be closer to the truth than anyone realized. The suspects constantly shifted, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece together what was going on alongside Cassie.
The pacing stayed fast throughout and the cruise ship setting made everything feel claustrophobic in the best way possible. The ending offered a cozy wrap-up after all the tension, and the hint of another whodunnit adventure at the end made me excited for the potential to read more adventures with this group of characters. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with humor, danger, strong character dynamics, and a locked-room style cruise ship atmosphere, this was a really entertaining read!
Ronica Black and Toni Logan deliver such a fun and twisty mystery with Murder and Mayheim. I loved that the story opens in the future with what appears to be Cassie being hunted aboard the cruise ship because it immediately creates tension and suspense before jumping back five days earlier to show how everything unfolded. Cassie was such an entertaining protagonist with her Murder and Mayheim bookstore and wine bar and her obsession with solving mysteries. The murder mystery cruise setting was also perfect for this story because it blurred the lines between the fake whodunnit events and the real murders happening onboard. Hannah and Cassie had great chemistry throughout the book with Cassie being a great support system for Hannah after critical secrets are uncovered.
The mystery itself kept me fully engaged because every reveal seemed to raise the stakes even higher. I loved how the investigation became more addictive and intense as new suspects were introduced. Cassie, Hannah, Krystal, Goldie, and Rosie worked really well together to uncover what was really happening on the cruise ship. Goldie and Rosie were such fun additions to the story and brought humor and charm to the investigation. The growing sense of danger surrounding Hannah added another layer of tension, especially as it became clear that someone onboard might be closer to the truth than anyone realized. The suspects constantly shifted, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece together what was going on alongside Cassie.
The pacing stayed fast throughout and the cruise ship setting made everything feel claustrophobic in the best way possible. The ending offered a cozy wrap-up after all the tension, and the hint of another whodunnit adventure at the end made me excited for the potential to read more adventures with this group of characters. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with humor, danger, strong character dynamics, and a locked-room style cruise ship atmosphere, this was a really entertaining read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder and Mayheim introduces a new amateur sleuth, Cassie, alongside her best friend Krystal, love interest Hannah, and fellow cruise ship guests Goldie and Rosie. Together, the gang unravels the mystery behind a real murder on their murder mystery cruise ship. The book is a comedic romance/mystery with a touch of suspense.
The setting for this book was fun. It made me want to go on an Alaskan cruise and murder mystery dinner theater. Krystal, who's treating Cassie to her birthday cruise, is loaded thanks to her divorce, so Cassie and Krystal get to enjoy all that the cruise and excursions have to offer. I've never been on a cruise myself so I can't say how realistic it was, but the setting was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The stars of the show for me were Goldie and Rosie. They're retired sisters who march to the beat of their own drum, wearing tie-dyed pants with floral blouses, lots of jewelry, and fun wigs and makeup. They provide a lot of the comic relief in the book, and order a lot of the wine that Cassie and the rest of the gang enjoy.
Unfortunately, I felt the mystery didn't work too well in this one. There weren't many clues shared with readers who want to crack the case, and the reveal at the end felt underwhelming. Part of this may have been that the book was a little uneven in the lead-up; it tries to keep a light, humorous tone and the gang continue to enjoy cruise amenities while investigating the murder of someone very close to Hannah. It didn't always feel like the cast appreciated the stakes.
This worked alright as a romance, though Cassie and Hannah fall for each other basically immediately, and the progression of their relationship is weird given what Hannah is going through. For those wondering, there are two smut scenes in the middle of the book. They come in quick succession (the scenes and our leads).
Thank you to Bold Stroke Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. This book may appeal to fans of contemporary mystery/romance who want a sapphic read, or those who enjoy the authors' other works.
The setting for this book was fun. It made me want to go on an Alaskan cruise and murder mystery dinner theater. Krystal, who's treating Cassie to her birthday cruise, is loaded thanks to her divorce, so Cassie and Krystal get to enjoy all that the cruise and excursions have to offer. I've never been on a cruise myself so I can't say how realistic it was, but the setting was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The stars of the show for me were Goldie and Rosie. They're retired sisters who march to the beat of their own drum, wearing tie-dyed pants with floral blouses, lots of jewelry, and fun wigs and makeup. They provide a lot of the comic relief in the book, and order a lot of the wine that Cassie and the rest of the gang enjoy.
Unfortunately, I felt the mystery didn't work too well in this one. There weren't many clues shared with readers who want to crack the case, and the reveal at the end felt underwhelming. Part of this may have been that the book was a little uneven in the lead-up; it tries to keep a light, humorous tone and the gang continue to enjoy cruise amenities while investigating the murder of someone very close to Hannah. It didn't always feel like the cast appreciated the stakes.
This worked alright as a romance, though Cassie and Hannah fall for each other basically immediately, and the progression of their relationship is weird given what Hannah is going through. For those wondering, there are two smut scenes in the middle of the book. They come in quick succession (the scenes and our leads).
Thank you to Bold Stroke Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. This book may appeal to fans of contemporary mystery/romance who want a sapphic read, or those who enjoy the authors' other works.
June 25, 2026
The publisher does not call this a cozy. But the cover, and the description made me think-cozy mystery. So I started reading it with that mindset.
Our main character Cassie owns a murder mystery book shop, Murder and Mayhiem. Her last name is Mayhiem. Her best friend gifts her a murder mystery themed cruise for Cassie's birthday. Can you get more Cozy Mystery? They team up with two flamboyant sisters to help solve the cruise ship's scripted murder mystery. However, things take a turn when one of the actors ends up in a real murder mystery and our characters rush to solve the true crime. Perfect cozy mystery right? The murder isn't described violently and there are just a few swear words. BUT-it goes from an interesting cozy to a steamy 5 chili pepper read and then we head into thriller territory.
I was provided with both the digital and audio arcs for this book. The narrator is terrific. I really enjoyed listening to her read. The murder mystery is well written and interesting. But if you're looking for a sweet cozy with low key romance and violence. You're only partway there. There are some very descriptive steamy sexy time scenes. And the last couple of chapters had me on the edge of seat. The story even had me exclaiming out loud "thank god they're alive!" while I was listening and driving. But yet, it wasn't a typical thriller. So I do agree with other reviewers, this book is struggling to find its identity. It's not mainstream thriller or mystery. It's also not a full on cozy mystery. If you're a cozy mystery reader like I am, then you'll enjoy the story, just fast forward the sexy time if you want. If you're a mainstream mystery or thriller reader who scoffs at the thought of a themed cozy murder mystery then I do not recommend this book for you.
I am giving this 4 stars. I love the setting and the characters and I closed the book hoping there will be a 2nd story involving our mystery solving crew. Just be prepared for the cozy fun to turn into sexy time and an exciting cozy conclusion.
Thank you #BoldStrokesBooks, #netgalley, and #tantormedia for the arc digital and audio versions of #MurderandMayheim.
Our main character Cassie owns a murder mystery book shop, Murder and Mayhiem. Her last name is Mayhiem. Her best friend gifts her a murder mystery themed cruise for Cassie's birthday. Can you get more Cozy Mystery? They team up with two flamboyant sisters to help solve the cruise ship's scripted murder mystery. However, things take a turn when one of the actors ends up in a real murder mystery and our characters rush to solve the true crime. Perfect cozy mystery right? The murder isn't described violently and there are just a few swear words. BUT-it goes from an interesting cozy to a steamy 5 chili pepper read and then we head into thriller territory.
I was provided with both the digital and audio arcs for this book. The narrator is terrific. I really enjoyed listening to her read. The murder mystery is well written and interesting. But if you're looking for a sweet cozy with low key romance and violence. You're only partway there. There are some very descriptive steamy sexy time scenes. And the last couple of chapters had me on the edge of seat. The story even had me exclaiming out loud "thank god they're alive!" while I was listening and driving. But yet, it wasn't a typical thriller. So I do agree with other reviewers, this book is struggling to find its identity. It's not mainstream thriller or mystery. It's also not a full on cozy mystery. If you're a cozy mystery reader like I am, then you'll enjoy the story, just fast forward the sexy time if you want. If you're a mainstream mystery or thriller reader who scoffs at the thought of a themed cozy murder mystery then I do not recommend this book for you.
I am giving this 4 stars. I love the setting and the characters and I closed the book hoping there will be a 2nd story involving our mystery solving crew. Just be prepared for the cozy fun to turn into sexy time and an exciting cozy conclusion.
Thank you #BoldStrokesBooks, #netgalley, and #tantormedia for the arc digital and audio versions of #MurderandMayheim.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
** Thank you to the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
This book is the picture perfect definition of a fun summer read, especially if you like a little murder, spice, and everything nice.
The mystery here was nothing groundbreaking, but for a story like this I wasn’t expecting it to be. The characters are what really shone in this novel.
Our protagonist Cassie, a sharp witted mystery book store owner, certainly served as the perfect vehicle to deliver this story. And the dual POV with Hannah served to keep the reader guessing, especially towards the beginning of the book when we’d yet to figure out what her whole deal was. I think the authors did a great job divvying up the switching POVs, putting them in when the story needed them most.
By far my favorite characters were Rosie and Goldie. Perhaps the definition of camp, these sisters stole every scene they were in. I wish we’d gotten more from Krystal, I feel like she faded into the background for a majority of the story and if not serving as the money to get Cassie on the cruise, I’m not sure what her purpose would have been.
The central romance? Had me hooked. My god, Cassie and Hannah were incredibly hot together. I don’t think it was necessarily realistic for them to be moving so quickly given the great personal tragedy that seemed to befall Hannah every other chapter, but I certainly wasn’t mad about it. In fact, I would have even loved more intimacy between them given the gratuitous nature of the story, but I suppose we can save that for the next one.
All in all this a book in great fun, despite all of the murder. And the epilogue was the perfect ending that tied everything together. When that Napa Valley sequel is ready for advanced readers, please give me a ring, I’ll be here eagerly waiting!
This book is the picture perfect definition of a fun summer read, especially if you like a little murder, spice, and everything nice.
The mystery here was nothing groundbreaking, but for a story like this I wasn’t expecting it to be. The characters are what really shone in this novel.
Our protagonist Cassie, a sharp witted mystery book store owner, certainly served as the perfect vehicle to deliver this story. And the dual POV with Hannah served to keep the reader guessing, especially towards the beginning of the book when we’d yet to figure out what her whole deal was. I think the authors did a great job divvying up the switching POVs, putting them in when the story needed them most.
By far my favorite characters were Rosie and Goldie. Perhaps the definition of camp, these sisters stole every scene they were in. I wish we’d gotten more from Krystal, I feel like she faded into the background for a majority of the story and if not serving as the money to get Cassie on the cruise, I’m not sure what her purpose would have been.
The central romance? Had me hooked. My god, Cassie and Hannah were incredibly hot together. I don’t think it was necessarily realistic for them to be moving so quickly given the great personal tragedy that seemed to befall Hannah every other chapter, but I certainly wasn’t mad about it. In fact, I would have even loved more intimacy between them given the gratuitous nature of the story, but I suppose we can save that for the next one.
All in all this a book in great fun, despite all of the murder. And the epilogue was the perfect ending that tied everything together. When that Napa Valley sequel is ready for advanced readers, please give me a ring, I’ll be here eagerly waiting!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this book. It was an unusual quirky story and I had to stop after the murder to make sure I hadn't misunderstood the plot. I hadn't, I just wasn't expecting a plot twist so early on. Neither the sex scenes.
The story is told by the two main Characters. Cassie a passenger on board the cruise ship and Hannah one of the staff members. This works for the story because not only do you get both perspectives as they look for clues but it also means the characters know different people, things or can go different places. I liked the characters, especially the elderly sisters who end up getting involved in the investigation and provide some interesting and colourful disguises. There are a hoot.
The mystery moved along nicely. It was easy to work out the motive and method but not so much who the killer was. The cruise ship setting was a lot of fun and I look forward to the next book.
When Cassie's best friend surprises her with a trip on a cruise ship solving a whodonit mystery for her 40th birthday, she expected to be solving a mystery player out by actors. Instead she gets a real one to solve, one that involves the life or death of the very woman she is falling in love with.. Hannah doesn't know who to trust but something is very wrong on board the cruise ship. She will need to use all her acting skill if she wants to stay alive. With somebody targeting her and ransacking her cabin quarters looking for something, Hannah turns to Cassie and her new friends for help in working out what is going on and why she might be a target.
I liked the narrator. Once again I think the sisters stole the show and I loved the voices she provided them.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The story is told by the two main Characters. Cassie a passenger on board the cruise ship and Hannah one of the staff members. This works for the story because not only do you get both perspectives as they look for clues but it also means the characters know different people, things or can go different places. I liked the characters, especially the elderly sisters who end up getting involved in the investigation and provide some interesting and colourful disguises. There are a hoot.
The mystery moved along nicely. It was easy to work out the motive and method but not so much who the killer was. The cruise ship setting was a lot of fun and I look forward to the next book.
When Cassie's best friend surprises her with a trip on a cruise ship solving a whodonit mystery for her 40th birthday, she expected to be solving a mystery player out by actors. Instead she gets a real one to solve, one that involves the life or death of the very woman she is falling in love with.. Hannah doesn't know who to trust but something is very wrong on board the cruise ship. She will need to use all her acting skill if she wants to stay alive. With somebody targeting her and ransacking her cabin quarters looking for something, Hannah turns to Cassie and her new friends for help in working out what is going on and why she might be a target.
I liked the narrator. Once again I think the sisters stole the show and I loved the voices she provided them.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was kindly gifted an e-ARC of Murder and Mayheim by Ronica Black via NetGalley.
The story follows Cassie Mayheim, a mystery bookstore owner and amateur sleuth who is gifted an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise for her 40th birthday. She’s thrilled to test her fictional detective skills in real life, but the staged mystery turns deadly when a real killer strikes.
Cassie teams up with her friends (new and old) to figure out who is rewriting the script before it's too late.
The premise is exactly what drew me in—who doesn’t love the idea of a themed mystery cruise turning into a real investigation? There are a decent number of murders and some genuinely interesting side stories to keep the plot moving. However, as a whole, the book left a few things to be desired.
My main issue was with the genre identity. It tries to pull in classic cozy crime elements, but it never quite gets there because the narrative jumps between mystery and romance a bit too frequently. The pacing of the relationship felt off; Cassie and Hannah go from 0 to 100 incredibly fast. Because the overall characterizations felt a bit flat to me, this instant intensity didn’t feel entirely natural given the high-stakes circumstances they were facing. I also felt like the inclusion of two elderly ladies in the cast was a bit forced, existing purely to tick a stereotypical "cozy mystery" box rather than naturally fitting the narrative.
Despite the body count and the setting, there was a noticeable lack of tension or suspense. Every time the mystery started to build momentum, it would shift focus.
Ultimately, Murder and Mayheim was a decent, okay read with a fantastic concept, but a tighter focus on the suspense and more natural character development would have made this a much stronger novel.
The story follows Cassie Mayheim, a mystery bookstore owner and amateur sleuth who is gifted an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise for her 40th birthday. She’s thrilled to test her fictional detective skills in real life, but the staged mystery turns deadly when a real killer strikes.
Cassie teams up with her friends (new and old) to figure out who is rewriting the script before it's too late.
The premise is exactly what drew me in—who doesn’t love the idea of a themed mystery cruise turning into a real investigation? There are a decent number of murders and some genuinely interesting side stories to keep the plot moving. However, as a whole, the book left a few things to be desired.
My main issue was with the genre identity. It tries to pull in classic cozy crime elements, but it never quite gets there because the narrative jumps between mystery and romance a bit too frequently. The pacing of the relationship felt off; Cassie and Hannah go from 0 to 100 incredibly fast. Because the overall characterizations felt a bit flat to me, this instant intensity didn’t feel entirely natural given the high-stakes circumstances they were facing. I also felt like the inclusion of two elderly ladies in the cast was a bit forced, existing purely to tick a stereotypical "cozy mystery" box rather than naturally fitting the narrative.
Despite the body count and the setting, there was a noticeable lack of tension or suspense. Every time the mystery started to build momentum, it would shift focus.
Ultimately, Murder and Mayheim was a decent, okay read with a fantastic concept, but a tighter focus on the suspense and more natural character development would have made this a much stronger novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Murder and Mayheim is a silly over the top romance murder cozy by Ronica Black & Toni Logan. Due out 16th June 2026 by Bold Strokes Books, it's 222 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
This is a undemanding and very light cozy mystery, first in a series, featuring a 40 year old bookstore owner as an amateur sleuth. The largely female cast is filled with quirky humorous characters, over the top and silly, but mostly superficially appealing.
There are a lot of trope aspects: a collection of eccentric oddballs for local color, amateur dramatics in the form of a murder-mystery themed cruise, and lots and lots of snark. The dialogue aims for very light bantering humor and mostly succeeds. Some of the dialogue is so unrealistic that it yanked me out of the story, but mostly, it's standard for the subgenre. The author does a good job with including enough world building backstory to move the narrative along without drowning readers in too much info.
The romance plot is F/F and there is light spice/intimacy involved. Language is PG/R rated for a few scattered f-bombs.
It's a very lighthearted, often silly cozy mystery with oddball characters and a completely over the top denouement and resolution. The solution was foreshadowed fairly heavily, but there were a couple of twists in the climax which, although completely crazy and entirely unrealistic, added a bit of excitement.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours 44 minutes and is capably read by Kate Wisniewski. She has a well modulated alto voice and a neutral American West Coast accent for this read. She does a good job of delineating a disparate cast of characters, both male and female, and a range of ages. There are some regional accents which seemed to be difficult for her, but they're brief and fleeting and don't really detract from the read.
Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for a binge/buddy cozy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Murder and Mayheim is a silly over the top romance murder cozy by Ronica Black & Toni Logan. Due out 16th June 2026 by Bold Strokes Books, it's 222 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
This is a undemanding and very light cozy mystery, first in a series, featuring a 40 year old bookstore owner as an amateur sleuth. The largely female cast is filled with quirky humorous characters, over the top and silly, but mostly superficially appealing.
There are a lot of trope aspects: a collection of eccentric oddballs for local color, amateur dramatics in the form of a murder-mystery themed cruise, and lots and lots of snark. The dialogue aims for very light bantering humor and mostly succeeds. Some of the dialogue is so unrealistic that it yanked me out of the story, but mostly, it's standard for the subgenre. The author does a good job with including enough world building backstory to move the narrative along without drowning readers in too much info.
The romance plot is F/F and there is light spice/intimacy involved. Language is PG/R rated for a few scattered f-bombs.
It's a very lighthearted, often silly cozy mystery with oddball characters and a completely over the top denouement and resolution. The solution was foreshadowed fairly heavily, but there were a couple of twists in the climax which, although completely crazy and entirely unrealistic, added a bit of excitement.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours 44 minutes and is capably read by Kate Wisniewski. She has a well modulated alto voice and a neutral American West Coast accent for this read. She does a good job of delineating a disparate cast of characters, both male and female, and a range of ages. There are some regional accents which seemed to be difficult for her, but they're brief and fleeting and don't really detract from the read.
Three and a half stars. It would be a good choice for a binge/buddy cozy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 7, 2026
2 1/2 stars. Overall, a solid mystery that takes place on a Murder cruise up to Alaska. Hannah, one of the actors for the murder story receives a USB stick and a warning from a friend to trust no one. But who is she suppose to trust when someone dies because of mistaken identity. Can she trust the guest who has caught her eye, Cassie Mayheim, the owner of a mystery bookstore? Cassie loves mysteries but the real one she ends up on the cruise is no longer an intellectual puzzle but lives on the line for real and maybe her heart.
This story is told in from alternating pov of Cassie and Hannah. It is easy to get the personality of both characters. My only real complaint with the characters is that they fall into love/lust to quickly, particularly when Hannah is grieving and her life is on the line. Ok, sometimes in emotionally charged situations people do form quick connections but they don't usually last and I just didn't really buy it. Maybe if they didn't jump into having sex so quickly, it would have seemed more real to me. And, the sex scenes were explicit than you usually find in a cozy. It was obvious that one character was being set up as the person Cassie and Hannah were suppose to think was the culprit. But that was too obvious for it to really have been that person.
But inspite of those things, I did enjoy story. I liked Cassie and Hannah. And I really enjoyed the secondary characters. The older sisters were fun and Cassie's best friend I could imagine being good friends with.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This story is told in from alternating pov of Cassie and Hannah. It is easy to get the personality of both characters. My only real complaint with the characters is that they fall into love/lust to quickly, particularly when Hannah is grieving and her life is on the line. Ok, sometimes in emotionally charged situations people do form quick connections but they don't usually last and I just didn't really buy it. Maybe if they didn't jump into having sex so quickly, it would have seemed more real to me. And, the sex scenes were explicit than you usually find in a cozy. It was obvious that one character was being set up as the person Cassie and Hannah were suppose to think was the culprit. But that was too obvious for it to really have been that person.
But inspite of those things, I did enjoy story. I liked Cassie and Hannah. And I really enjoyed the secondary characters. The older sisters were fun and Cassie's best friend I could imagine being good friends with.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Read
May 26, 2026Murder and Mayheim by Toni Logan and Ronica Black features Scottsdale mystery bookstore owner, Cassie Mayheim. Cassie is also a sleuth who has solved every mystery that she has ever read. Cassie is tied to her store day and night, so her best friend Krystal, surprises Cassie with an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise for her fortieth birthday. Cassie is excited to test her skills onboard the ship by solving their staged murders.
Hannah Garcia is a cruise ship employee who is a participant in the scripted murder mysteries. She is also a bartender at the ship's smoothie bar which is her primary job. Hannah and Cassie meet prior to boarding the ship for the Alaskan cruise and and both are captivated with the other person. Little do they know what awaits them on this mystery cruise.
This was a highly entertaining story that kept that action moving through the ongoing actual murder mystery plot. With two authors the writing was seamless and action packed. I enjoyed the women featured in this story including the two main characters plus Cassie's best friend Kystal and the sisters, Rosie and Goldie, who started as main dining room tablemates, but became active participants in helping solve the murders. The plot kept me guessing until the satisfying ending. On a funny note, I will never think of dental floss in the same way again! 4.5 stars. The 0.5 point deduction was for a couple of errors spotted in the book.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hannah Garcia is a cruise ship employee who is a participant in the scripted murder mysteries. She is also a bartender at the ship's smoothie bar which is her primary job. Hannah and Cassie meet prior to boarding the ship for the Alaskan cruise and and both are captivated with the other person. Little do they know what awaits them on this mystery cruise.
This was a highly entertaining story that kept that action moving through the ongoing actual murder mystery plot. With two authors the writing was seamless and action packed. I enjoyed the women featured in this story including the two main characters plus Cassie's best friend Kystal and the sisters, Rosie and Goldie, who started as main dining room tablemates, but became active participants in helping solve the murders. The plot kept me guessing until the satisfying ending. On a funny note, I will never think of dental floss in the same way again! 4.5 stars. The 0.5 point deduction was for a couple of errors spotted in the book.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2026
(3.5 Stars) A fun who done it mystery on an Alaskan cruise. Cassie Mayheim owns a mystery bookstore. Thanks to her eidetic memory, solving clues in her books comes easily. Her friend Krystal treats her to a luxury Alaskan Cruise which includes a scripted mystery. On her first night she meets Hannah Garcia, who is one of the performers.
The next day a woman falls down a flight of stairs and dies. Was it an accident or murder? Cassie quickly realizes that Hannah was the intended target but they need to figure out why and who is behind it. Krystal’s sisters also help round out the Scooby Doo gang adding some lighter moments.
I am going on an Alaskan cruise in three weeks so it upped my interest as I have been learning about the port towns that are part of this story. The mystery itself works as the sleuths follow the clues they find. Emotionally I’m not sure the romance felt realistic. It is only a seven day cruise, and Hannah hasn’t had time to grieve, but she chooses to seek comfort with Cassie. While I appreciate the spice, I’m not sure it was the time.
I enjoy cozy mysteries and series. But I don’t commit to a series based on the first book. So hopefully there will be a second adventure and more where I can get to know the characters more in depth.
I’ve read previous books by both authors and my first thought was, they probably had a good time writing together. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
The next day a woman falls down a flight of stairs and dies. Was it an accident or murder? Cassie quickly realizes that Hannah was the intended target but they need to figure out why and who is behind it. Krystal’s sisters also help round out the Scooby Doo gang adding some lighter moments.
I am going on an Alaskan cruise in three weeks so it upped my interest as I have been learning about the port towns that are part of this story. The mystery itself works as the sleuths follow the clues they find. Emotionally I’m not sure the romance felt realistic. It is only a seven day cruise, and Hannah hasn’t had time to grieve, but she chooses to seek comfort with Cassie. While I appreciate the spice, I’m not sure it was the time.
I enjoy cozy mysteries and series. But I don’t commit to a series based on the first book. So hopefully there will be a second adventure and more where I can get to know the characters more in depth.
I’ve read previous books by both authors and my first thought was, they probably had a good time writing together. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley & Bold Strokes Books for the e-ARC.
Murder and Mayhem by Ronica Black and Toni Logan was a fun, engaging mystery that made great use of its unique premise. Cassie is gifted an Alaskan murder mystery cruise by her best friend, Krystal, for her birthday, expecting a week of scripted clues, amateur sleuthing, and staged murders. Instead, while most passengers remain focused on solving the fictional mystery, Cassie begins to suspect that real crimes are occurring behind the scenes, blurring the line between the cruise's entertainment and a much more dangerous reality.
As questions mount, Cassie and Krystal find themselves drawn into the mystery alongside sisters Goldie and Rosie. The sisters were easily some of my favorite characters—eccentric, outspoken, and rarely seen in anything less than a memorable outfit. Their personalities brought plenty of charm and humor to the story, and I enjoyed watching the unlikely group work together as events onboard became increasingly suspicious. The Alaskan cruise setting was also a great backdrop, adding both atmosphere and a sense of isolation to the unfolding mystery.
The pacing was steady throughout, and the story struck a nice balance between suspense, humor, and friendship. While the mystery itself kept me engaged, it was the cast of characters that really made the book enjoyable. Overall, Murder and Mayhem was an entertaining, easy-to-read mystery and a solid 4-star read.
Murder and Mayhem by Ronica Black and Toni Logan was a fun, engaging mystery that made great use of its unique premise. Cassie is gifted an Alaskan murder mystery cruise by her best friend, Krystal, for her birthday, expecting a week of scripted clues, amateur sleuthing, and staged murders. Instead, while most passengers remain focused on solving the fictional mystery, Cassie begins to suspect that real crimes are occurring behind the scenes, blurring the line between the cruise's entertainment and a much more dangerous reality.
As questions mount, Cassie and Krystal find themselves drawn into the mystery alongside sisters Goldie and Rosie. The sisters were easily some of my favorite characters—eccentric, outspoken, and rarely seen in anything less than a memorable outfit. Their personalities brought plenty of charm and humor to the story, and I enjoyed watching the unlikely group work together as events onboard became increasingly suspicious. The Alaskan cruise setting was also a great backdrop, adding both atmosphere and a sense of isolation to the unfolding mystery.
The pacing was steady throughout, and the story struck a nice balance between suspense, humor, and friendship. While the mystery itself kept me engaged, it was the cast of characters that really made the book enjoyable. Overall, Murder and Mayhem was an entertaining, easy-to-read mystery and a solid 4-star read.
June 14, 2026
I received an ALC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
This book feels like it was wrongly advertised as a who dunnit murder mystery. In reality it was more of an insta love LGBTQ open door romance with a little mystery subplot. In my eyes that is not okay. I did NOT sign up for open door sex scenes between two women that hardly know each other!
The main characters see each other and IMMEDIATELY behave as if they had been in love with each other for the longest time. Their declarations of devotion and love felt quite overdone and took me out of the (supposed) main plot of the murder mystery quite often. Going from “what’s your name” to “babe” within a few hours is just not it for me.
The mystery portion would have been solid and enjoyable, but unfortunate it felt underdeveloped because of the strong emphasis on the romance.
The frame of the story was a murder mystery cruise, which unfortunately was completely dropped as a plot line as soon as the first real murder happened. If made the story feel a little lost 😞
The biggest plus to this book was the two side characters, older sisters with quite the humor and eccentric behavior. They brightened up every scene they entered.
The narration was okay, neither outstandingly well done nor a reason to not continue.
Over all I am sadly quite disappointed in this audiobook and will not be continuing the series (if the teaser at the end should be taken seriously and there will be a book 2).
This book feels like it was wrongly advertised as a who dunnit murder mystery. In reality it was more of an insta love LGBTQ open door romance with a little mystery subplot. In my eyes that is not okay. I did NOT sign up for open door sex scenes between two women that hardly know each other!
The main characters see each other and IMMEDIATELY behave as if they had been in love with each other for the longest time. Their declarations of devotion and love felt quite overdone and took me out of the (supposed) main plot of the murder mystery quite often. Going from “what’s your name” to “babe” within a few hours is just not it for me.
The mystery portion would have been solid and enjoyable, but unfortunate it felt underdeveloped because of the strong emphasis on the romance.
The frame of the story was a murder mystery cruise, which unfortunately was completely dropped as a plot line as soon as the first real murder happened. If made the story feel a little lost 😞
The biggest plus to this book was the two side characters, older sisters with quite the humor and eccentric behavior. They brightened up every scene they entered.
The narration was okay, neither outstandingly well done nor a reason to not continue.
Over all I am sadly quite disappointed in this audiobook and will not be continuing the series (if the teaser at the end should be taken seriously and there will be a book 2).
June 17, 2026
Murder and Mayheim should have been one I thoroughly enjoyed. Our amateur sleuth, Cassie, is a bookstore owner on a murder mystery cruise in Alaska with her best friend. They team up with a pair of elderly sisters who are just hilarious. Cassie meets a potential love interest, Hannah, within seconds of boarding. It's Hannah's sister who ends up dead after falling down the stairs. Cassie and Hannah are convinced she was murdered and are determined to find the killer.
The mystery was actually pretty decent. The clues tied together well and we had several potential suspects. The problem for me, which I didn't realize from the blurb, was just how much the growing relationship between the two women would overshadow the mystery. I didn't realize we would have full-fledged graphic sex scenes between these two people who just me. And that's probably my fault for not reading more reviews or knowing the author, but it took me out of the plot. And the dialogue, even between the two of them, was often stilted and repetitive.
The cruise ship setting was fun, but I wish it had been incorporated more. Aside from one kayak outing and the first scene in the whodunit, we don't really get may cruise activities.
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. She gave each woman a distinct voice and I enjoyed how she brought the characters to life.
Will I read the next in the series, which was hinted at at the end of this one? Maybe.
The mystery was actually pretty decent. The clues tied together well and we had several potential suspects. The problem for me, which I didn't realize from the blurb, was just how much the growing relationship between the two women would overshadow the mystery. I didn't realize we would have full-fledged graphic sex scenes between these two people who just me. And that's probably my fault for not reading more reviews or knowing the author, but it took me out of the plot. And the dialogue, even between the two of them, was often stilted and repetitive.
The cruise ship setting was fun, but I wish it had been incorporated more. Aside from one kayak outing and the first scene in the whodunit, we don't really get may cruise activities.
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job. She gave each woman a distinct voice and I enjoyed how she brought the characters to life.
Will I read the next in the series, which was hinted at at the end of this one? Maybe.
July 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Cassie is the owner of a mystery book store down in Arizona who just has a knack for solving the mysteries in books. So when her friend thinks she needs time away from work she takes her on a who-dunnit cruise that turns out to be a bit more real than anyone expected.
Honestly, this book started out feeling a little bit campy in the way the Clue movie is. Cassie and her friend meet up with some quirky older ladies and they start with overly staged mystery actors. When one of the actors turns up dead off script things get a whole lot more serious. I thought it was fun that the setting of the book was a cruise ship and that they included some of the outside day trips that you get on cruises as part of the mystery. The sisters were a bit over the top, but still a fun set of ladies. The mystery was a little obvious, but nicely done. Hannah's parentage was a little confusing to me, but I did listen to the audiobook and may have been a little less focused in the early part of the book when it was discussed.
I really wish that this book was billed as a romance in addition to being a mystery. I have no problems with sapphic fiction with a love story, but I was a bit blindsided by the open door sex scenes. It was just more than I was anticipating out of any mystery and was not to my taste.
Cassie is the owner of a mystery book store down in Arizona who just has a knack for solving the mysteries in books. So when her friend thinks she needs time away from work she takes her on a who-dunnit cruise that turns out to be a bit more real than anyone expected.
Honestly, this book started out feeling a little bit campy in the way the Clue movie is. Cassie and her friend meet up with some quirky older ladies and they start with overly staged mystery actors. When one of the actors turns up dead off script things get a whole lot more serious. I thought it was fun that the setting of the book was a cruise ship and that they included some of the outside day trips that you get on cruises as part of the mystery. The sisters were a bit over the top, but still a fun set of ladies. The mystery was a little obvious, but nicely done. Hannah's parentage was a little confusing to me, but I did listen to the audiobook and may have been a little less focused in the early part of the book when it was discussed.
I really wish that this book was billed as a romance in addition to being a mystery. I have no problems with sapphic fiction with a love story, but I was a bit blindsided by the open door sex scenes. It was just more than I was anticipating out of any mystery and was not to my taste.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Murder and Mayhem by Toni Logan and Ronica Black starts with a premise that immediately caught my attention: a whodunit mystery set aboard a themed mystery cruise. It's a fun, creative setup with plenty of potential for suspense, intrigue, and entertaining twists. Unfortunately, while the concept was strong, the execution didn't quite live up to the promise for me. My biggest disappointment was the mystery itself. Given the setting, I expected a compelling puzzle that would keep me guessing, but the actual investigation felt underwhelming and lacked the tension needed to make the story truly engaging. The plot moved slowly, and the mystery never really gained momentum or delivered the excitement I was hoping for. I also struggled with the character relationships. Many of the interactions felt superficial and rushed, with connections forming so quickly that they didn't feel believable. In particular, I never felt any real chemistry between the main character and the potential love interest. Their relationship seemed forced rather than natural, making it difficult to become invested in their romance.
Overall, Murder and Mayhem had all the ingredients for an enjoyable cozy mystery: an original setting, a fun premise, and the promise of both mystery and romance. However, the slow pacing, weak mystery, and unconvincing character dynamics kept the story from fully taking off. While I appreciated the creativity behind the concept, the book ultimately fell flat for me.
Overall, Murder and Mayhem had all the ingredients for an enjoyable cozy mystery: an original setting, a fun premise, and the promise of both mystery and romance. However, the slow pacing, weak mystery, and unconvincing character dynamics kept the story from fully taking off. While I appreciated the creativity behind the concept, the book ultimately fell flat for me.
June 12, 2026
I wanted to like this book, I really did. It’s right up my alley with a cozy mystery with some romance thrown in. What I got instead was an unrealistic romance plot with a not-very-strong mystery plot.
The book has its moments: retirees going in circles on an ocean kayak, disguise-based hijinks, and moments of Alaska peppered throughout. I finished the book in less than 2 days, which means the plot was enough to keep me interested and engaged.
Ultimately, I don’t know if I would pick up another book in this series, but it wasn’t an wholly awful read.
[Spoiler] I clocked the murderer when he was first introduced because he’s literally the only male character described as being handsome. It should have been caught by the editors, but throughout the book only women are described as being attractive, and men are described by their general characteristics. It stuck out in the moment, and I was suspicious from that point forward.
Favorite non-spoiler moment: A seal getting cookies from a kayak, like a good boy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing an ARC.
Note: I listened to the audiobook, so spellings my be incorrect
The book has its moments: retirees going in circles on an ocean kayak, disguise-based hijinks, and moments of Alaska peppered throughout. I finished the book in less than 2 days, which means the plot was enough to keep me interested and engaged.
Ultimately, I don’t know if I would pick up another book in this series, but it wasn’t an wholly awful read.
[Spoiler] I clocked the murderer when he was first introduced because he’s literally the only male character described as being handsome. It should have been caught by the editors, but throughout the book only women are described as being attractive, and men are described by their general characteristics. It stuck out in the moment, and I was suspicious from that point forward.
Favorite non-spoiler moment: A seal getting cookies from a kayak, like a good boy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for providing an ARC.
Note: I listened to the audiobook, so spellings my be incorrect
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2026
Thanks NetGalley and Tantor Media for an ALC of this. Murder and Mayheim is available now.
Cassie Mayheim is a mystery bookstore owner, which is fitting considering she proclaims that there isn't a mystery/case she can't solve. Also fitting that her best friend Crystal has invited her on an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise as a birthday present. For a fake murder mystery cruise, it starts to feel all too real. This WhoDunIt is just another day for cruise performer Hannah Garcia... until there's a deadly twist forcing the performance to go off script for her. Now her life is in danger, and she can only trust Cassie. Together, they must unravel this mystery, all while staying alive.
4/5 stars. This was a fun whodunit and was quit entertaining! Cassie, Crystal, Hannah, and the two elderly sisters they befriend were hilarious as a group together! I would read more adventures with the 5 of them.
This murder mystery did remind me of a telenovela at points because of who the victim was (not spoiling!). I definitely did not pick the killer for who they were out of the cast of characters, the red herrings did their job!
Cassie Mayheim is a mystery bookstore owner, which is fitting considering she proclaims that there isn't a mystery/case she can't solve. Also fitting that her best friend Crystal has invited her on an Alaskan WhoDunIt cruise as a birthday present. For a fake murder mystery cruise, it starts to feel all too real. This WhoDunIt is just another day for cruise performer Hannah Garcia... until there's a deadly twist forcing the performance to go off script for her. Now her life is in danger, and she can only trust Cassie. Together, they must unravel this mystery, all while staying alive.
4/5 stars. This was a fun whodunit and was quit entertaining! Cassie, Crystal, Hannah, and the two elderly sisters they befriend were hilarious as a group together! I would read more adventures with the 5 of them.
This murder mystery did remind me of a telenovela at points because of who the victim was (not spoiling!). I definitely did not pick the killer for who they were out of the cast of characters, the red herrings did their job!
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