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When Harriet Met Homicide: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27A small-town bookstore owner investigates the mysterious death of her favorite author, using all she has learned from fictional crimes in this charming adult debut mystery by award-winning author Meg Blakemore.
When reclusive, cult author Kaye Montgomery dies, her publisher calls Harriet Page, the thirtysomething owner of a small bookstore in Kaye’s rural New Hampshire hometown. The literary estate needs Harriet’s help to go through the copious amounts of writing that Kaye left behind, and as a Kaye Montgomery super-fan, Harriet is thrilled to get this behind the scenes view of the author she adored from afar. Before the work can even get going, though, Kaye’s death is declared a poisoning by hemlock. Harriet, along with her team of booksellers, decides to solve the crime.
As Harriet and the booksellers dig through clues and create color-coded spreadsheets, a hornet’s nest of suspects emerges. Kaye’s nephews, cousins Ezra and Wes, both handsome, both keeping secrets, enlist her help in finding the rumored second novel of their aunt. Also, on the the supremely prolific bestselling thriller author Harrison Magnus, who knew Kaye when they both went to Yale. There’s also Harriet’s on-again, off-again boyfriend who has a previously undisclosed interest in poisonous plants. With every twist and turn of the investigation, Harriet becomes entangled in a plot as engrossing as her favorite mysteries.
When reclusive, cult author Kaye Montgomery dies, her publisher calls Harriet Page, the thirtysomething owner of a small bookstore in Kaye’s rural New Hampshire hometown. The literary estate needs Harriet’s help to go through the copious amounts of writing that Kaye left behind, and as a Kaye Montgomery super-fan, Harriet is thrilled to get this behind the scenes view of the author she adored from afar. Before the work can even get going, though, Kaye’s death is declared a poisoning by hemlock. Harriet, along with her team of booksellers, decides to solve the crime.
As Harriet and the booksellers dig through clues and create color-coded spreadsheets, a hornet’s nest of suspects emerges. Kaye’s nephews, cousins Ezra and Wes, both handsome, both keeping secrets, enlist her help in finding the rumored second novel of their aunt. Also, on the the supremely prolific bestselling thriller author Harrison Magnus, who knew Kaye when they both went to Yale. There’s also Harriet’s on-again, off-again boyfriend who has a previously undisclosed interest in poisonous plants. With every twist and turn of the investigation, Harriet becomes entangled in a plot as engrossing as her favorite mysteries.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 12, 2027
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
Huge thanks to Netgallry and the publisher for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, as a cat and cozy murder mystery book lover, I couldn't press request fast enough when I saw this book on Netgalley!
While I did enjoy my time reading this story, I didn't love it as much as I had hoped, but let me explain because you decide if this review is going to detour you or not.
First things first, while this is a mystery, the aspect of this story that really sold me is the characters! There was such a great variety of fun and colourful folks that really helped make this book feel incredibly fun. Even when the characters weren't the most likeable people in the world, the various personalities added a lot of humor, heart and a bit of trouble and chaos.
It was this great cast of characters that helped keep me engaged and entertained during some of the slower parts of the story, especially the first 1/3 or so. Plus, Harriet's group of friends are seriously friends anyone would love to have.
Except George....I wasn't sad to see him go. Harriett, girl, it's crazy you let that man stick around for TEN years, but, as I always say, we listen and we don't judge! 😉
Speaking of George, another man in Harriet's life in the story is Ezra. There is a kind of sorta romance thing between them that I wasn't fully sold on. While I did like both characters separately, I just struggled to buy into their possible relationship.
Outside of the characters and relationship dynamics, I really enjoyed the cute and cozy atmosphere this book gave! As someone else mentioned in another review, Harriet's small town really does give Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls vibes, so if you're a fan of that show, you may really love this setting!
Now, in terms of the mystery itself, I thought it was really well done. I found it super intriguing, especially as we continued to learn more about the prices of the puzzle, eventually leading me to trust no one! I truly didn't know how the mystery was going to pan out.
With that said, I was a little disappointed in the ending. The epilogue was a little vague and didn't give me as much closer or conclusive information as I had hoped. Additionally, as I previously mentioned, there were times where the mystery parts of the story did feel a little slow moving.
Despite this, I wouldn't ever say I felt bored while reading. Even when things were a little slow, not only did the characters keep me interested, but so did the rich people's family drama. While I don't always love family drama, this story had just enough to keep me invested, but not so much that it overshadowed the rest of the story.
Furthermore, there is a bear named Maple that is frequently referenced throughout the story as she is on the loose in town. While she has no real relevance to the story or mystery itself, I LOVED her inclusion!
Now, for some context, my toxic treat is thinking every wild animal would recognize me as one of their own and allow me to snuggle with them and give them pets. So, what can I say? Maple brought me joy 🤣
Lastly, I feel I should mention that this book has a lot of literary and pop culture references. While I usually don't mind this, I struggled with many in this book, because I just didn't get the references. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with this, however, with the frequency in which they were used, it began to feel a little frustrating. Though, I know some people will absolutely adore these references!
Overall, I had fun reading this book and am glad I picked it up. If you are someone who loves small town amateur sleuths and thinks a bookstore is the best place in the world, I truly think you'll have a blast with this one! Heck, even if you aren't usually a cozy mystery person, but you love quirky and funny characters, you should put this on your TBR!
This book is being released on January 12th, 2027!
Huge thanks to Netgallry and the publisher for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, as a cat and cozy murder mystery book lover, I couldn't press request fast enough when I saw this book on Netgalley!
While I did enjoy my time reading this story, I didn't love it as much as I had hoped, but let me explain because you decide if this review is going to detour you or not.
First things first, while this is a mystery, the aspect of this story that really sold me is the characters! There was such a great variety of fun and colourful folks that really helped make this book feel incredibly fun. Even when the characters weren't the most likeable people in the world, the various personalities added a lot of humor, heart and a bit of trouble and chaos.
It was this great cast of characters that helped keep me engaged and entertained during some of the slower parts of the story, especially the first 1/3 or so. Plus, Harriet's group of friends are seriously friends anyone would love to have.
Except George....I wasn't sad to see him go. Harriett, girl, it's crazy you let that man stick around for TEN years, but, as I always say, we listen and we don't judge! 😉
Speaking of George, another man in Harriet's life in the story is Ezra. There is a kind of sorta romance thing between them that I wasn't fully sold on. While I did like both characters separately, I just struggled to buy into their possible relationship.
Outside of the characters and relationship dynamics, I really enjoyed the cute and cozy atmosphere this book gave! As someone else mentioned in another review, Harriet's small town really does give Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls vibes, so if you're a fan of that show, you may really love this setting!
Now, in terms of the mystery itself, I thought it was really well done. I found it super intriguing, especially as we continued to learn more about the prices of the puzzle, eventually leading me to trust no one! I truly didn't know how the mystery was going to pan out.
With that said, I was a little disappointed in the ending. The epilogue was a little vague and didn't give me as much closer or conclusive information as I had hoped. Additionally, as I previously mentioned, there were times where the mystery parts of the story did feel a little slow moving.
Despite this, I wouldn't ever say I felt bored while reading. Even when things were a little slow, not only did the characters keep me interested, but so did the rich people's family drama. While I don't always love family drama, this story had just enough to keep me invested, but not so much that it overshadowed the rest of the story.
Furthermore, there is a bear named Maple that is frequently referenced throughout the story as she is on the loose in town. While she has no real relevance to the story or mystery itself, I LOVED her inclusion!
Now, for some context, my toxic treat is thinking every wild animal would recognize me as one of their own and allow me to snuggle with them and give them pets. So, what can I say? Maple brought me joy 🤣
Lastly, I feel I should mention that this book has a lot of literary and pop culture references. While I usually don't mind this, I struggled with many in this book, because I just didn't get the references. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with this, however, with the frequency in which they were used, it began to feel a little frustrating. Though, I know some people will absolutely adore these references!
Overall, I had fun reading this book and am glad I picked it up. If you are someone who loves small town amateur sleuths and thinks a bookstore is the best place in the world, I truly think you'll have a blast with this one! Heck, even if you aren't usually a cozy mystery person, but you love quirky and funny characters, you should put this on your TBR!
This book is being released on January 12th, 2027!
August 12, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley
5/5⭐️
When Harriet Met Homicidewas such a fun read! Meg Blackmore’s writing is extremely easy to get swept away in.
I love that Harriet is a strong and smart FMC. I also love that she’s in her 30s and living her best life.
Also, the whole Maple side story was so entertaining and I hope she makes an appearance in any future Harriet stories.
I hope this series continues!
Tropes/Microtropes
🖤Cozy Vibes
🖤Small Town
🖤Adorable and slightly ridiculous wild animal cameos
5/5⭐️
When Harriet Met Homicidewas such a fun read! Meg Blackmore’s writing is extremely easy to get swept away in.
I love that Harriet is a strong and smart FMC. I also love that she’s in her 30s and living her best life.
Also, the whole Maple side story was so entertaining and I hope she makes an appearance in any future Harriet stories.
I hope this series continues!
Tropes/Microtropes
🖤Cozy Vibes
🖤Small Town
🖤Adorable and slightly ridiculous wild animal cameos
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I have been trying to figure out why I didn't love this book, and I've come to the conclusion that it's because it tries too hard.
It is crammed with pop culture bits( which clearly the author thinks well of herself for dropping in), characters meant to evoke the town of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls (none of them really do),and a heroine who I really wanted to give a good shaking.
(BTW, there is no mention of Dorothy Sayers, whose immortal "Strong Poison"actually might be relevant to this book in terms of how the murder is committed. I can only hope that Harriet here wasn't named for Harriet Vane!)
And let's not leave out the ridiculous subplot about the bear. The less said,the better.
It is crammed with pop culture bits( which clearly the author thinks well of herself for dropping in), characters meant to evoke the town of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls (none of them really do),and a heroine who I really wanted to give a good shaking.
(BTW, there is no mention of Dorothy Sayers, whose immortal "Strong Poison"actually might be relevant to this book in terms of how the murder is committed. I can only hope that Harriet here wasn't named for Harriet Vane!)
And let's not leave out the ridiculous subplot about the bear. The less said,the better.
September 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced reader copy of When Harriet Met Homicide by Meg Blakemore in an exchange for an honest review. My words are my own.
In full transparency, this book is probably a 2.5 star read that I’ve rounded up to a 3. The premise and idea of When Harriet Met Murder is cute, cozy, and a book lovers dream. A small town bookseller in Mapleton, Vermont (but giving serious Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls vibes) finds herself investigating the murder of her favorite author, who just so happens to be a recluse who lived in the woods there but many of the colorful cast of characters have had interactions with but NOT the local bookstore owner. A character who perhaps has too much storyline that does nothing for the plot of Maple the bear who seems to be turning up everywhere and adds nothing.
Where When Harriet Met Homicide went wrong for me was the execution (no pun intended). The first third of the book is entirely too slow. To be honest, I pushed through just to see when the actual murder investigation starts taking place. I was wondering when we would start to meet characters who could be suspects and it takes time to meet about 3 potential suspects. The 4th, George, Harriet’s insufferable boyfriend were stuck with from the beginning.
This book tries to do too much, shoehorning in references and plot points of famous, more obscure, and fictional stories that in some cases help drive the plot, but often feel like nostalgia bait for bibliophiles. The dialogue tries too hard to be quirky and funny. There absolutely is an audience for this book and it was not me.
Completely unrelated and me being nit-picky; the fictional novel written by the murdered author Kaye Montgomery Doors Above Us, Doors Below, is incredibly reminiscent of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown from the few plot points we hear about in When Harriet Met Homicide. I know the concept of a door being a method to transport people to another world is nothing new, AND, in this instance it felt much more like an existing IP being repackaged.
In full transparency, this book is probably a 2.5 star read that I’ve rounded up to a 3. The premise and idea of When Harriet Met Murder is cute, cozy, and a book lovers dream. A small town bookseller in Mapleton, Vermont (but giving serious Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls vibes) finds herself investigating the murder of her favorite author, who just so happens to be a recluse who lived in the woods there but many of the colorful cast of characters have had interactions with but NOT the local bookstore owner. A character who perhaps has too much storyline that does nothing for the plot of Maple the bear who seems to be turning up everywhere and adds nothing.
Where When Harriet Met Homicide went wrong for me was the execution (no pun intended). The first third of the book is entirely too slow. To be honest, I pushed through just to see when the actual murder investigation starts taking place. I was wondering when we would start to meet characters who could be suspects and it takes time to meet about 3 potential suspects. The 4th, George, Harriet’s insufferable boyfriend were stuck with from the beginning.
This book tries to do too much, shoehorning in references and plot points of famous, more obscure, and fictional stories that in some cases help drive the plot, but often feel like nostalgia bait for bibliophiles. The dialogue tries too hard to be quirky and funny. There absolutely is an audience for this book and it was not me.
Completely unrelated and me being nit-picky; the fictional novel written by the murdered author Kaye Montgomery Doors Above Us, Doors Below, is incredibly reminiscent of The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown from the few plot points we hear about in When Harriet Met Homicide. I know the concept of a door being a method to transport people to another world is nothing new, AND, in this instance it felt much more like an existing IP being repackaged.
Did Not Finish
September 1, 2026thank you netgalley for the arc
DNF at 25%
writing is decent but leaning on bland. i can see the appeal for the abrupt sentences in 3rd pov but im not a fan
also the characters felt very surface level and unappealing and i don't feel any intrigue for kaye, the book says she's a big and influencial author but it doesn't feel like it
DNF at 25%
writing is decent but leaning on bland. i can see the appeal for the abrupt sentences in 3rd pov but im not a fan
also the characters felt very surface level and unappealing and i don't feel any intrigue for kaye, the book says she's a big and influencial author but it doesn't feel like it
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fast and easy debut cozy mystery from Meg Blakemore. The characters were all (except the few teenagers) grown adults and the mystery was intriguing. Kaye Montgomery is a local reclusive author who has apparently been murdered, and Harriet (who owns the local bookshop) and her friends form a “murder club” (name negotiable) to solve the murder. There are several potential suspects, including Ezra, a nephew, Wes, a nephew, George, a local birder and Harriet’s boyfriend, and Harrison Magnus, an author with an old connection to Kaye.
Harriet was a delight — late 30s, in a dead end (or at least non-defined) relationship, in a small town. She’s the local expert on Kaye Montgomery, so she gets tapped to help Ezra (one of the nephews and the literary executor) go through Kaye’s papers and books, hoping to find an unpublished manuscript. In the process of running a local bookshop, going through papers, and investigating the murder (unofficially), Harriet is plunged into a world of seeing all the possibilities.
The supporting characters were a mix of delightful and awful, and it was clear who the villains could be, even thought it took time to suss out the real murderer. Harriet was suspicious of almost everyone, and I was glad she trusted her gut (women KNOW).
There were a few characters that I found unlikable, but I think they were supposed to be that way — they made the trajectory of the story pretty obvious, but I didn’t mind that at all. I did love the references to older books that included murder as part of the plot. Overall, I had a good time with this one! Cozy mysteries aren’t supposed to be complicated, and this one was low-angst and low-stakes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy!
This was a fast and easy debut cozy mystery from Meg Blakemore. The characters were all (except the few teenagers) grown adults and the mystery was intriguing. Kaye Montgomery is a local reclusive author who has apparently been murdered, and Harriet (who owns the local bookshop) and her friends form a “murder club” (name negotiable) to solve the murder. There are several potential suspects, including Ezra, a nephew, Wes, a nephew, George, a local birder and Harriet’s boyfriend, and Harrison Magnus, an author with an old connection to Kaye.
Harriet was a delight — late 30s, in a dead end (or at least non-defined) relationship, in a small town. She’s the local expert on Kaye Montgomery, so she gets tapped to help Ezra (one of the nephews and the literary executor) go through Kaye’s papers and books, hoping to find an unpublished manuscript. In the process of running a local bookshop, going through papers, and investigating the murder (unofficially), Harriet is plunged into a world of seeing all the possibilities.
The supporting characters were a mix of delightful and awful, and it was clear who the villains could be, even thought it took time to suss out the real murderer. Harriet was suspicious of almost everyone, and I was glad she trusted her gut (women KNOW).
There were a few characters that I found unlikable, but I think they were supposed to be that way — they made the trajectory of the story pretty obvious, but I didn’t mind that at all. I did love the references to older books that included murder as part of the plot. Overall, I had a good time with this one! Cozy mysteries aren’t supposed to be complicated, and this one was low-angst and low-stakes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy!
Harriet was a delight — late 30s, in a dead end (or at least non-defined) relationship, in a small town. She’s the local expert on Kaye Montgomery, so she gets tapped to help Ezra (one of the nephews and the literary executor) go through Kaye’s papers and books, hoping to find an unpublished manuscript. In the process of running a local bookshop, going through papers, and investigating the murder (unofficially), Harriet is plunged into a world of seeing all the possibilities.
The supporting characters were a mix of delightful and awful, and it was clear who the villains could be, even thought it took time to suss out the real murderer. Harriet was suspicious of almost everyone, and I was glad she trusted her gut (women KNOW).
There were a few characters that I found unlikable, but I think they were supposed to be that way — they made the trajectory of the story pretty obvious, but I didn’t mind that at all. I did love the references to older books that included murder as part of the plot. Overall, I had a good time with this one! Cozy mysteries aren’t supposed to be complicated, and this one was low-angst and low-stakes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy!
This was a fast and easy debut cozy mystery from Meg Blakemore. The characters were all (except the few teenagers) grown adults and the mystery was intriguing. Kaye Montgomery is a local reclusive author who has apparently been murdered, and Harriet (who owns the local bookshop) and her friends form a “murder club” (name negotiable) to solve the murder. There are several potential suspects, including Ezra, a nephew, Wes, a nephew, George, a local birder and Harriet’s boyfriend, and Harrison Magnus, an author with an old connection to Kaye.
Harriet was a delight — late 30s, in a dead end (or at least non-defined) relationship, in a small town. She’s the local expert on Kaye Montgomery, so she gets tapped to help Ezra (one of the nephews and the literary executor) go through Kaye’s papers and books, hoping to find an unpublished manuscript. In the process of running a local bookshop, going through papers, and investigating the murder (unofficially), Harriet is plunged into a world of seeing all the possibilities.
The supporting characters were a mix of delightful and awful, and it was clear who the villains could be, even thought it took time to suss out the real murderer. Harriet was suspicious of almost everyone, and I was glad she trusted her gut (women KNOW).
There were a few characters that I found unlikable, but I think they were supposed to be that way — they made the trajectory of the story pretty obvious, but I didn’t mind that at all. I did love the references to older books that included murder as part of the plot. Overall, I had a good time with this one! Cozy mysteries aren’t supposed to be complicated, and this one was low-angst and low-stakes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for a free arc in exchange for an honest review
DNF AT 20%
Honestly, I just couldn’t get into it and that was really disappointing. Every time I put the book down I try to convince myself that it wasn’t that bad, and then I pick it up again out of guilt, and remember that yes it actually is that bad
I kinda can’t stand Harriet. I feel like she was written to come off as this like quirky small down bookstore owner, but that just missed the mark for me. She feels a bit bland. Like even with her book store and murder investigation, she just reads pretty flat. As I’m writing this I’m trying to remember facts about Harriet and I’m coming up blank
The pop culture references also didn’t help. The was book after movie after song reference and I just started to get bored. I understand that a book about a bookseller will have books in it, but it felt like instead of just writing a strong character, the author tried to make Harriet feel real by giving her pop culture references.
Also I have beef with her long term boyfriend thing going on. Harriet is in her 40s, I’m not so maybe this is why it bothered me so much, and the issues she has with her longterm boyfriend (I forget his name), are issues that would have come up YEARS ago and not now that we’re 9 years in. I’m sorry his snoring bothers you and that he rearranged your books without asking and doesn’t ask about your day, but I’m sure that didn’t just start happening. And the fact that all of Harriet’s friends keep telling her to leave him, I’m also sure this isn’t new.
I’m trying to remember anything else, but honestly I’ve got nothing. It wasn’t bad per se, but nothing pulled me towards continuing to read it. I really like the cover though, I will say that
DNF AT 20%
Honestly, I just couldn’t get into it and that was really disappointing. Every time I put the book down I try to convince myself that it wasn’t that bad, and then I pick it up again out of guilt, and remember that yes it actually is that bad
I kinda can’t stand Harriet. I feel like she was written to come off as this like quirky small down bookstore owner, but that just missed the mark for me. She feels a bit bland. Like even with her book store and murder investigation, she just reads pretty flat. As I’m writing this I’m trying to remember facts about Harriet and I’m coming up blank
The pop culture references also didn’t help. The was book after movie after song reference and I just started to get bored. I understand that a book about a bookseller will have books in it, but it felt like instead of just writing a strong character, the author tried to make Harriet feel real by giving her pop culture references.
Also I have beef with her long term boyfriend thing going on. Harriet is in her 40s, I’m not so maybe this is why it bothered me so much, and the issues she has with her longterm boyfriend (I forget his name), are issues that would have come up YEARS ago and not now that we’re 9 years in. I’m sorry his snoring bothers you and that he rearranged your books without asking and doesn’t ask about your day, but I’m sure that didn’t just start happening. And the fact that all of Harriet’s friends keep telling her to leave him, I’m also sure this isn’t new.
I’m trying to remember anything else, but honestly I’ve got nothing. It wasn’t bad per se, but nothing pulled me towards continuing to read it. I really like the cover though, I will say that
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Harriet Page is having herself a pinch-me moment, a publisher of her favorite authors work has just reached out to her and offered her the job of going through the late author's work and see what all she left behind. Harriet is beyond ecstatic to have the chance to sift through Ms. Montgomery's work, but she soon learns that is not all she will being doing... the author was murdered and Harriet and her sleuthing friends are determined to find the killer!
When Harriet Met Homicide is a story that I won't soon forget, from the get-go this one started off with a bang and it didn't let up until the last page found me! Wow what a read!! Harriet is a hoot, her along with her bookselling friends had me laughing throughout the pages and rooting them on the whole way through.
Harriet has been given a big task, but she is determined to see it through. As you follow her through the pages you will be dazzled by the author's well penned words and her standout characters that are easy to connect to, so much so, that sometimes you will wish you were part of the crime solving group! I am holding out hope that this isn't the last of Harriet and her friends... hopefully there is series in the works! (fingers crossed!!)
If you love cozy mysteries with lots of laughs and shenanigans that I have no doubt you will love Harriet and her crime solving friends, they are a treat to meet! Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
When Harriet Met Homicide is a story that I won't soon forget, from the get-go this one started off with a bang and it didn't let up until the last page found me! Wow what a read!! Harriet is a hoot, her along with her bookselling friends had me laughing throughout the pages and rooting them on the whole way through.
Harriet has been given a big task, but she is determined to see it through. As you follow her through the pages you will be dazzled by the author's well penned words and her standout characters that are easy to connect to, so much so, that sometimes you will wish you were part of the crime solving group! I am holding out hope that this isn't the last of Harriet and her friends... hopefully there is series in the works! (fingers crossed!!)
If you love cozy mysteries with lots of laughs and shenanigans that I have no doubt you will love Harriet and her crime solving friends, they are a treat to meet! Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First of all, that title really caught my eye and fortunately, the book lived up to it. When Harriet Met Homicide was an entertaining mystery with a main character who is easy to root for without feeling like she was written to be perfect.
Harriet finds herself unexpectedly caught up in a murder investigation, and what starts as a situation she would probably prefer to avoid quickly becomes something she can't quite leave alone. As she tries to make sense of what happened, Harriet has to navigate suspicious circumstances, complicated people, and the increasingly inconvenient reality that murder has entered her life.
Harriet was definitely my favorite part of the book. She is likable, relatable, and feels like an actual person rather than someone who magically knows exactly what to do in every situation. I appreciated her reactions to everything being thrown at her, and watching her work through the mystery made the story easy to get invested in.
The mystery itself kept me interested, and I enjoyed the characters and the overall tone. There were definitely moments when I wanted to tell Harriet, Maybe don't do that, because apparently staying out of trouble is not nearly as entertaining as investigating a murder. But that's part of what made the book fun.
Overall, When Harriet Met Homicide was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a relatable protagonist and a title that delivers exactly the kind of trouble it promises. I wouldn't mind spending more time with Harriet if she finds herself involved in another murder.
Harriet finds herself unexpectedly caught up in a murder investigation, and what starts as a situation she would probably prefer to avoid quickly becomes something she can't quite leave alone. As she tries to make sense of what happened, Harriet has to navigate suspicious circumstances, complicated people, and the increasingly inconvenient reality that murder has entered her life.
Harriet was definitely my favorite part of the book. She is likable, relatable, and feels like an actual person rather than someone who magically knows exactly what to do in every situation. I appreciated her reactions to everything being thrown at her, and watching her work through the mystery made the story easy to get invested in.
The mystery itself kept me interested, and I enjoyed the characters and the overall tone. There were definitely moments when I wanted to tell Harriet, Maybe don't do that, because apparently staying out of trouble is not nearly as entertaining as investigating a murder. But that's part of what made the book fun.
Overall, When Harriet Met Homicide was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a relatable protagonist and a title that delivers exactly the kind of trouble it promises. I wouldn't mind spending more time with Harriet if she finds herself involved in another murder.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The word I keep coming back to describe this book is "nice" - a nice, quick mystery to read; a nice, relatable heroine, a nice, quiet setting. I appreciated having a female lead in the second half of her 30s, who is generally content, but a bit stuck in life. George and Magnus are awfully annoying, but unfortunately sound like people you know in real life. More than figuring out the mystery, what I enjoyed most were the small moments that celebrated a love of books: the literary references, the particulars of book organizing, owning multiple copies of the same book for the different editions.
No major criticisms; the only things that come to mind are being disappointed that Harriet never stands up for herself in her relationship, at one point blaming others for not intervening (even though multiple people had voiced their thoughts), wondering why she'd be suspicious of Ezra when Kaye trusted him enough to make him her literary executor, and that characters just disappear part way through the story (Bethany, Irene, the Doorks, etc.). It never dives into anything in-depth, so no extra twists or particularly introspective moments, but it's a story that is still fun to curl up with and read.
No major criticisms; the only things that come to mind are being disappointed that Harriet never stands up for herself in her relationship, at one point blaming others for not intervening (even though multiple people had voiced their thoughts), wondering why she'd be suspicious of Ezra when Kaye trusted him enough to make him her literary executor, and that characters just disappear part way through the story (Bethany, Irene, the Doorks, etc.). It never dives into anything in-depth, so no extra twists or particularly introspective moments, but it's a story that is still fun to curl up with and read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed When Harriet Met Homicide. It was my first book by Meg Blakemore, and I’ll admit the title was what reeled me in. How could I resist a title like that? I love a good whodunit, and this one pulled me in and kept me invested.
The writing was excellent, with the warmth and wit of a true book lover. There were so many literary references that I was in book-nerd heaven. The supporting characters also made the story feel like a close-knit family, and I enjoyed the small-town atmosphere—something I could relate to.
I was split on who had committed the murder, and the pieces didn’t fully come together until the end, when the one missing clue finally made sense. Still, I was disappointed by the conclusion. I wanted a more definite resolution, perhaps an update from the local newspaper confirming an arrest. Instead, the case felt as though it was left hanging.
The epilogue left me similarly unsure about Harriet and Ezra’s romance. Although they were spending time together, I wasn’t sure what they were or where their relationship was headed. It felt like Harriet was back in the same uncertain position she’d been in with George.
With a more conclusive ending, this would have been a five-star read for me.
The writing was excellent, with the warmth and wit of a true book lover. There were so many literary references that I was in book-nerd heaven. The supporting characters also made the story feel like a close-knit family, and I enjoyed the small-town atmosphere—something I could relate to.
I was split on who had committed the murder, and the pieces didn’t fully come together until the end, when the one missing clue finally made sense. Still, I was disappointed by the conclusion. I wanted a more definite resolution, perhaps an update from the local newspaper confirming an arrest. Instead, the case felt as though it was left hanging.
The epilogue left me similarly unsure about Harriet and Ezra’s romance. Although they were spending time together, I wasn’t sure what they were or where their relationship was headed. It felt like Harriet was back in the same uncertain position she’d been in with George.
With a more conclusive ending, this would have been a five-star read for me.
September 25, 2026
Every time I opened this story, I knew I was going to have a good time reading it. Harriet is relatable and entertaining – I loved reading a character in her 30s in a small town that doesn’t try to be perfect in any sense of the word. If only I could go to Sweethearts Diner with Harriet to see what she would choose today – she made a different decision each time she went! This cozy mystery makes you a part of a “murder club” on accident and you get to meet Harriet’s friends she’s known forever as well as some new faces that she’s just getting to know. The mystery itself kept me interested but watching her and the characters work through each piece of the puzzle together was what kept me the most invested in the story. The book felt like a small-town game of “Clue”, and it kept me guessing up until the very last second. No person was safe and no one in this book likes staying out of trouble! My favorite part was the references to other books scattered throughout – as a reader, this was SO fun to see and made you want to continue looking for them!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In the interest of full disclosure, this was probably more like 2.5 stars, but I’m rounding to 3 because the ending was exciting for me.
I had a hard time getting into this book, to be honest, mostly because the pacing felt off. It was just slow for a while, which I didn’t expect because it’s a murder mystery. That being said, once I hit about 1/3 of the way, I got more into the story.
Harriet was a pretty good amateur detective which made it a lot easier to root for her. She was overall competent and had a good head on her shoulders — she wasn’t making stupid mistakes or putting herself at risk unnecessarily. I appreciated that about her.
There were a lot of suspects and red herrings, which all good mysteries should have, and combined with the bookish backdrop, it made for an overall good premise. If the beginning didn’t take so long to interest me, I think my rating would have been higher.
Not bad though, and I could definitely see Harriet solving some more bookish crimes in the future!
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Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC!
I had a hard time getting into this book, to be honest, mostly because the pacing felt off. It was just slow for a while, which I didn’t expect because it’s a murder mystery. That being said, once I hit about 1/3 of the way, I got more into the story.
Harriet was a pretty good amateur detective which made it a lot easier to root for her. She was overall competent and had a good head on her shoulders — she wasn’t making stupid mistakes or putting herself at risk unnecessarily. I appreciated that about her.
There were a lot of suspects and red herrings, which all good mysteries should have, and combined with the bookish backdrop, it made for an overall good premise. If the beginning didn’t take so long to interest me, I think my rating would have been higher.
Not bad though, and I could definitely see Harriet solving some more bookish crimes in the future!
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Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Harriet Met Homicide is a fun, quirky cozy mystery with an entertaining premise and plenty of charm. Harriet is the kind of amateur sleuth who can’t help but get involved, and I enjoyed following her as she stumbled her way through clues, suspects, and more than a little trouble.
The mystery itself kept me curious, and I loved the cozy atmosphere, humor, and colorful cast of characters. There were moments where the pacing dragged a bit for me, and I didn’t feel quite as invested in the story as I’d hoped. Still, it was an enjoyable read with enough twists and personality to keep me turning the pages.
Overall, this was a cute and entertaining cozy mystery that should appeal to readers who enjoy amateur sleuths, quirky characters, and a lighter approach to murder and mayhem. I’d definitely be interested in seeing where Harriet’s adventures take her next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication: January 12, 2027.
The mystery itself kept me curious, and I loved the cozy atmosphere, humor, and colorful cast of characters. There were moments where the pacing dragged a bit for me, and I didn’t feel quite as invested in the story as I’d hoped. Still, it was an enjoyable read with enough twists and personality to keep me turning the pages.
Overall, this was a cute and entertaining cozy mystery that should appeal to readers who enjoy amateur sleuths, quirky characters, and a lighter approach to murder and mayhem. I’d definitely be interested in seeing where Harriet’s adventures take her next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication: January 12, 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Give me a bookstore, a mystery, an author with secrets, and a murder to solve and I’m probably going to say yes. 😂📚
I had such a fun time with When Harriet Met Homicide. The bookish setting was probably my favorite part, and I loved how much of the story revolves around authors, books, and the little mysteries that can exist behind the pages.
Harriet was such an enjoyable character to follow, and I liked watching her get more wrapped up in everything as the story unfolded. There’s a good mix of mystery, personal relationships, and small-town charm that kept this from feeling like just a murder mystery.
And honestly, I’m always going to have a soft spot for a book that makes me want to curl up with my own book and a cup of coffee while I try to figure out what’s going on.
A fun, bookish mystery with plenty to keep you turning the pages. 📖☕️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
I had such a fun time with When Harriet Met Homicide. The bookish setting was probably my favorite part, and I loved how much of the story revolves around authors, books, and the little mysteries that can exist behind the pages.
Harriet was such an enjoyable character to follow, and I liked watching her get more wrapped up in everything as the story unfolded. There’s a good mix of mystery, personal relationships, and small-town charm that kept this from feeling like just a murder mystery.
And honestly, I’m always going to have a soft spot for a book that makes me want to curl up with my own book and a cup of coffee while I try to figure out what’s going on.
A fun, bookish mystery with plenty to keep you turning the pages. 📖☕️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**Romance and mystery… my cup of tea!** ☕📚
That statement may come back to haunt me. 😂 Okay, on to the review!
Harriet is in a rut and stuck in a lackluster relationship. She lives in the same town as her favorite reclusive author, and she’s a bookseller (okay, that part is amazing. We all aspire to that level!). She meets a grumpy mystery man… and then we have a murder! 🔪
Full of pop culture references, I found myself getting invested in this one. There are a few awkward moments (I don’t handle secondhand embarrassment well 🤷♀️), but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud.
I really enjoyed this story! Harriet and her friends seem like they’d be fun to hang out with. The plot kept me guessing, and the conclusion was cute and satisfying.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
That statement may come back to haunt me. 😂 Okay, on to the review!
Harriet is in a rut and stuck in a lackluster relationship. She lives in the same town as her favorite reclusive author, and she’s a bookseller (okay, that part is amazing. We all aspire to that level!). She meets a grumpy mystery man… and then we have a murder! 🔪
Full of pop culture references, I found myself getting invested in this one. There are a few awkward moments (I don’t handle secondhand embarrassment well 🤷♀️), but there were also moments that made me laugh out loud.
I really enjoyed this story! Harriet and her friends seem like they’d be fun to hang out with. The plot kept me guessing, and the conclusion was cute and satisfying.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Meg Blakemore for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute, cozy read! I really liked the small town and close knit circle that Harriet has. Her back-and-forth with Ezra was also entertaining, and definitely one of the highlights of the book for me. In terms of the mystery, however, I felt a little disconnected from it as it takes a while to really dig into who Kaye actually was aside from being a reclusive author with a cult following. Once the reveals start coming in, things finally got interesting, and I found myself getting more invested.
For just the vibes alone, I'd recommend this if your perfect night-in involves curling up in bed with a warm drink and a cozy mystery!
This was a cute, cozy read! I really liked the small town and close knit circle that Harriet has. Her back-and-forth with Ezra was also entertaining, and definitely one of the highlights of the book for me. In terms of the mystery, however, I felt a little disconnected from it as it takes a while to really dig into who Kaye actually was aside from being a reclusive author with a cult following. Once the reveals start coming in, things finally got interesting, and I found myself getting more invested.
For just the vibes alone, I'd recommend this if your perfect night-in involves curling up in bed with a warm drink and a cozy mystery!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Harriet Met Homicide ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A dead reclusive author. A missing manuscript. Hemlock poisoning. Suspiciously handsome cousins. And booksellers solving murder with color-coded spreadsheets? The cozy mystery ingredients were absolutely there. 📚🔎🌿
This was a cute, bookish whodunit with plenty of literary shenanigans, quirky suspects, and small-town charm. I enjoyed the premise and had fun following Harriet down the murdery little rabbit hole, but overall it didn’t quite hook me as much as I hoped.
Charming? Yes. Cozy? Absolutely. Did it knock me off my reading chair? Not quite.
Still a fun pick if you like your mysteries bookish, quirky, and lightly sprinkled with homicide. 📖☠️✨
A dead reclusive author. A missing manuscript. Hemlock poisoning. Suspiciously handsome cousins. And booksellers solving murder with color-coded spreadsheets? The cozy mystery ingredients were absolutely there. 📚🔎🌿
This was a cute, bookish whodunit with plenty of literary shenanigans, quirky suspects, and small-town charm. I enjoyed the premise and had fun following Harriet down the murdery little rabbit hole, but overall it didn’t quite hook me as much as I hoped.
Charming? Yes. Cozy? Absolutely. Did it knock me off my reading chair? Not quite.
Still a fun pick if you like your mysteries bookish, quirky, and lightly sprinkled with homicide. 📖☠️✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A lovely cozy murder mystery. Normally, murders aren't exactly lovely or cozy, but this one is in all the best ways possible. Harriet, a local bookstore owner, tasks herself with solving the mystery of the death of her favorite author, the reclusive Kaye Montgomery. Along the way, she works with some interesting (and some quite horrible) characters. I appreciated that Harriet isn't the normal mystery hero, yet she does an amazing job of fulfilling that role. A great read!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 17, 2026
ARC from NetGalley!
This was a cute, cozy mystery with a bookstore setting, a murder, lots of books, and a whole cast of suspicious characters—so obviously I wanted to love it more than I did.
I really liked the overall premise, especially Harriet being such a huge fan of Kaye Montgomery and then getting pulled into the investigation surrounding her death. The bookstore atmosphere was definitely one of my favorite parts, and I enjoyed the little bookish touches throughout the story.
The mystery itself was entertaining, but I think I was expecting a little more from it. There were a LOT of suspects and clues, and while I enjoyed trying to piece everything together, the investigation sometimes felt a little scattered. I also didn't feel super attached to all of the characters, which made some of the reveals feel less impactful.
That said, it was an easy, cozy read with a fun premise, a charming setting, and enough twists to keep me interested. It just didn't quite have that "I need to know what happens" factor for me.
This was a cute, cozy mystery with a bookstore setting, a murder, lots of books, and a whole cast of suspicious characters—so obviously I wanted to love it more than I did.
I really liked the overall premise, especially Harriet being such a huge fan of Kaye Montgomery and then getting pulled into the investigation surrounding her death. The bookstore atmosphere was definitely one of my favorite parts, and I enjoyed the little bookish touches throughout the story.
The mystery itself was entertaining, but I think I was expecting a little more from it. There were a LOT of suspects and clues, and while I enjoyed trying to piece everything together, the investigation sometimes felt a little scattered. I also didn't feel super attached to all of the characters, which made some of the reveals feel less impactful.
That said, it was an easy, cozy read with a fun premise, a charming setting, and enough twists to keep me interested. It just didn't quite have that "I need to know what happens" factor for me.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A delightfully witty cozy mystery, set in small-town New Hampshire.
Bookseller Harriet is devastated when her favorite author, who has lived in seclusion for decades, is found dead in the woods outside of town. Rumor has it that there's a final manuscript, hidden somewhere on her estate...and that her death was no accident! Between arrogant authors, pushy publishers, frenzied fans and finagling family members, there's no shortage of suspects.
Can Harriet and her quirky crew figure out the puzzle and put things to rights?
Bookseller Harriet is devastated when her favorite author, who has lived in seclusion for decades, is found dead in the woods outside of town. Rumor has it that there's a final manuscript, hidden somewhere on her estate...and that her death was no accident! Between arrogant authors, pushy publishers, frenzied fans and finagling family members, there's no shortage of suspects.
Can Harriet and her quirky crew figure out the puzzle and put things to rights?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you netgalley and atria publishing for this arc.
this was a fun quick read with lots of high jinks and memorable characters. the mystery was engaging and i had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. the literary references and banter between harriet and sunny were probably my favorite parts. wasn’t completely sold on the romance between harriet and ezra. he was pretty meh to me as a romantic lead, but overall i liked this book.
this was a fun quick read with lots of high jinks and memorable characters. the mystery was engaging and i had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. the literary references and banter between harriet and sunny were probably my favorite parts. wasn’t completely sold on the romance between harriet and ezra. he was pretty meh to me as a romantic lead, but overall i liked this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ebook as an uncorrected proof from Net Galley for an independent review.
This was a fun cozy mystery. I liked the characters and the story line (except for George) He was horrible. There are several suspects to keep you guessing and there is a romance in it as well. It doesn't seem set up as anything other than a stand alone book but I wouldn't mind a series.
This was a fun cozy mystery. I liked the characters and the story line (except for George) He was horrible. There are several suspects to keep you guessing and there is a romance in it as well. It doesn't seem set up as anything other than a stand alone book but I wouldn't mind a series.
August 19, 2026
I personally feel that more cozy mysteries written like this one are needed in this world. A modern story with an air of yesteryear.
The story itself could have used more connection, as I did not feel anything towards the characters.
The story itself could have used more connection, as I did not feel anything towards the characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book. I loved it! This was a great story, great characters, mystery with a hint of romance! I loved Mabel & Scamp too!! Highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received an ARE (advanced reader edition) of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway.
This is such a fun book. It's a mix of mystery, romance, and thriller. I was guessing until the end! I feel like this has potential to be an exciting series! Glad I was able to read it early.
This is such a fun book. It's a mix of mystery, romance, and thriller. I was guessing until the end! I feel like this has potential to be an exciting series! Glad I was able to read it early.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
So this was a quick and easy read over the weekend. It was ok, didn’t set the world on fire. The heroine was a bit flaky for my taste and I found myself liking the dead person a great deal by the end.
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thanks for the win Goodreads and publishers!! This was SUCH a fun read!! Absolutely loved Harriet and great strong secondary characters!! Very much highly recommend!!
Want to Read
October 11, 2026sounds so fun!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 13, 2026
Delightful! Harriet is relatable, the ensemble is entertaining, and the mystery is solid. Fans of Roz Noonan will enjoy this.
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
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