Making a Killing

by Iain McGilp

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2026

Reviews

[Andrea Hulme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual and fun crime caper. A mix of comedy but with a darker twist to keep it interesting and the reader invested in the story. It was very witty at times with some comedy gold moments - there is a car chase scene in this that had me in stitches! The book also gave me a bit of a treasure hunt/Scavenger Hunt kind of vibe which I really enjoyed.

There's a large cast of characters introduced early on in the book that took a little bit of time getting used to, but as the crime romp progressed you could see how these characters all fitted in. The Marples sisters were hilarious and I loved PC Primrose. He was my favourite character but they all had a chance to shine.

I found the story slightly chaotic but this suited the storyline and added to the sense of fun and humour throughout the book. There's a lot of references to antiques and classical references which were enjoyable to read about. And we're taken all over the place in pursuit of the truth and treasure. We fly off to Switzerland, the heart of London and sleepy Suffolk...or is it?! The research that must have gone into this is astounding.

The concept was fascinating and proved to be a really enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a gifted copy of this book.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out of the realm of what I would normally read; the twists and turns from using local terms, and yes, in some cases I thought they were typos. Only to realise he was trying to put across their accent (well done for confusing me hehe)

I was not expecting drunk Morris dancers either, and seeing the landlord walk home in the rain oh my, how I felt bad for him. This book is one I had added to my wishlist as I would like to revisit it, as it was so charming to read. A large cast is introduced early on, but stick with it—every character earns their place. PC Derek Primrose as a character is warm and charming and everything a policeman should be. Very empathetic and full of humour

And that car chase? One of the most inventive, and I felt it could have been a fever dream; it is one of the best I've ever read.

[Mel Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Making a Killing had a premise that immediately caught my attention, and I went into it expecting a tense, gripping thriller. Unfortunately, it just didn't fully work for me.

I never really connected with the characters, and I found myself waiting for the story to pick up. There were moments that hinted at something exciting, but the pacing felt uneven and the suspense never quite reached the level I was hoping for. By the time the twists arrived, they didn't have the impact I'd expected.

That said, I can definitely see why other readers might enjoy this one. The concept is intriguing, and there are some clever ideas throughout the story. It just wasn't the right fit for my reading taste.

Overall, while I don't regret reading it, it's not one I'll be thinking about for long. A decent read, but not one of my favourites.

[Books Fizz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I believe this book was intended to be a light-hearted crime romp, full of inside jokes and wordplay. While the skeleton of the plot itself was quite good, it was unfortunately rather over-written. I gave it two stars because I think the bare bones of the plot was quite clever, and there were moments where i saw a twinkle of good wordplay and banter between characters, but ultimately I just feel that the author tried to do too much. It was clearly quite well-researched when it comes to birds, plants, and the antiquities, but too much information was crammed into the text in unnatural ways.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for graciously giving me an ARC for review.*

[Nicola Malloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books of the year so far. The humour level is peak British, dry, quirky and brilliantly sarcastic and I loved every second of it. Travelling from the sleepy, rural, English countryside to Geneva with side quests, chaotic murders and clever mysteries along the way, I whizzed through this book. I’d highly recommend it to anyone wanting a genuinely funny mystery to read this summer

[Marcie McPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚔 𝗔 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Making a Killing hooked me from the very first chapter. Iain McGilp's sharp, witty writing, seamless literary references and genuinely funny dialogue made this one of the most original crime novels I've read in a long time.

PC Derek Primrose was an instant favourite, bringing warmth, kindness and quiet humour to an already memorable cast. And that car chase? One of the funniest and most inventive I've ever read.

Clever, original and full of heart.

Thank you to Iain McGilp, The Book Guild and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.