What do you think?
Rate this book
The Pendleton Family's Guide to Accidental Murder
Not yet published
Expected 6 Apr 27For fans of Benjamin Stevenson and How to Solve Your Own Murder comes a wickedly fun whodunnit following a dysfunctional family of criminals who discover a fresh corpse no one cops to killing. With suspicions flying, it's only a matter of time before one last, spectacular crime brings the whole clan crashing down…
In this family of criminals, everyone is a suspect.
Emmeline Pendleton has been dealing with criminals her whole life. Or, as she calls them, her family. For generations, the Pendleton family has proudly produced a long line of thieves, forgers, grifters, and killers who live by three simple no secrets amongst family, no harming one another, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate.
When Em hosts a celebration for their grandfather's 90th birthday, the family's grand estate fills up with relatives. But even Em's most meticulous planning spreadsheets couldn't account for a dead body crashing the party.
Although each person claims not to be involved, Em is certain the culprit is at this party, and their secrets could endanger everyone. Em will do anything to protect her family, but the killer isn't the only one with something to hide, and the secrets she uncovers may tear the Pendletons apart forever.
In this family of criminals, everyone is a suspect.
Emmeline Pendleton has been dealing with criminals her whole life. Or, as she calls them, her family. For generations, the Pendleton family has proudly produced a long line of thieves, forgers, grifters, and killers who live by three simple no secrets amongst family, no harming one another, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate.
When Em hosts a celebration for their grandfather's 90th birthday, the family's grand estate fills up with relatives. But even Em's most meticulous planning spreadsheets couldn't account for a dead body crashing the party.
Although each person claims not to be involved, Em is certain the culprit is at this party, and their secrets could endanger everyone. Em will do anything to protect her family, but the killer isn't the only one with something to hide, and the secrets she uncovers may tear the Pendletons apart forever.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 27, 2027
About the author
Brianna Heath
3 books103 followersBrianna Heath is queer, neurodivergent author who writes books that can be broadly described as “Be Gay, Do Crime.” She aims to put stories out in the world that reflect the lives and experiences of people who often do not see themselves represented in media.
Brianna lives in Northern California with Beau, her rescued border collie/gremlin, who, like her, has absolutely no chill. She can be found on IG as @briannahwrites.
Brianna lives in Northern California with Beau, her rescued border collie/gremlin, who, like her, has absolutely no chill. She can be found on IG as @briannahwrites.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Me, meeting the Pendleton family: So... is anyone here NOT on a watchlist? 👀
Also, how y'all so charming that you can scam someone out of thousands of dollars and they still adore you? Y'all got an online class for that? 🤔
Asking for a friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
Okay folks, if you've followed me for a while, you know I love me a good cozy mystery. So when I saw this one features a family where *everyone* is a criminal? Wooo baby, I could not click that request button fast enough!
And this book truly did not disappoint. One of the things I loved most was the amazing cast of characters.
Let's start with Em, our narrator. I know some reviewers didn't love her, but I found her extremely relatable, because I too have slight control issues and like to keep a schedule 😅🫣 My family would like it on the record that "slight" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
Em is Type A through and through. The woman loves a spreadsheet, and she loves it even more when people actually stick to the schedule she made. She doesn't completely crash out the second something goes off plan, but it does drive her up the wall. Girl, I see you. I feel you. I, too, have a color coded calendar nobody else in my house looks at. 💅🏻
That might bug some readers, but I thought it fit her role perfectly. Everyone in the Pendleton family is a criminal. Everyone except Em, the one who holds it all together and protects them in ways they don't always see. So of course she's organized and disciplined! How else is one woman supposed to wrangle a family of professional chaos agents? You can't herd cats without a spreadsheet, and you definitely can't herd criminal cats without one. 🐈⬛
Under all that structure, it's clear Em loves her family to bits and would do anything for them. That heart is what kept me rooting for her the whole way through.
The rest of the family? ✨ Chaos. ✨ Delightful, distinct, personality packed chaos. You would never be bored at a Pendleton family dinner, although I would personally keep one hand on my wallet at all times. What I loved most is that, while they're all extremely morally grey, everyone who knows them says what kind, helpful people they are. Like, sure, they might commit a crime or two, but they'll also help you move. 🤷🏻♀️ And they share the same fierce love for each other that Em has.
I also really appreciated how inclusive the cast is. Uncle Morgan is a trans man, and while it's mentioned, it's never the focus and he's never tokenized. He's just part of the family, accepted for exactly who he is, and that's that. Made my heart very happy. 🥹
Okay, enough gushing about the characters (can you tell I adore them? 😉). On to the mystery!
Quick heads up: this is a cozy mystery, so don't come in expecting high-stakes action or edge-of-your-seat suspense. If that's what you're craving, this probably isn't your book.
That said, it is NOT slow, and it never drags. It reads more like a locked room mystery, with Em slowly gathering clues and making connections as she digs into the murder. As information surfaces, family secrets start spilling out, and Em is left trying to figure out who's lying to her and what exactly they're lying about.
In a family of criminals. 🤣 Babe. That's not a mystery, that's a full time job.
What I appreciated most was that this book kept me guessing. There are so many layers, with different family members tangled up in different ways. Every time something new came to light, the family drama ramped up and I was right back at square one on whodunnit. My suspect list changed more often than Em's schedule gets ignored, and that's saying something.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans who love untangling a web of secrets, lies, and family drama. Heck, even if you just love morally grey characters who are secretly big softies (and very funny), pick this one up!
This book comes out April 6th, 2027.
P.S. Em, you deserve a vacation. Somewhere with no cell service and absolutely zero relatives. 🏝️
Also, how y'all so charming that you can scam someone out of thousands of dollars and they still adore you? Y'all got an online class for that? 🤔
Asking for a friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
Okay folks, if you've followed me for a while, you know I love me a good cozy mystery. So when I saw this one features a family where *everyone* is a criminal? Wooo baby, I could not click that request button fast enough!
And this book truly did not disappoint. One of the things I loved most was the amazing cast of characters.
Let's start with Em, our narrator. I know some reviewers didn't love her, but I found her extremely relatable, because I too have slight control issues and like to keep a schedule 😅🫣 My family would like it on the record that "slight" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
Em is Type A through and through. The woman loves a spreadsheet, and she loves it even more when people actually stick to the schedule she made. She doesn't completely crash out the second something goes off plan, but it does drive her up the wall. Girl, I see you. I feel you. I, too, have a color coded calendar nobody else in my house looks at. 💅🏻
That might bug some readers, but I thought it fit her role perfectly. Everyone in the Pendleton family is a criminal. Everyone except Em, the one who holds it all together and protects them in ways they don't always see. So of course she's organized and disciplined! How else is one woman supposed to wrangle a family of professional chaos agents? You can't herd cats without a spreadsheet, and you definitely can't herd criminal cats without one. 🐈⬛
Under all that structure, it's clear Em loves her family to bits and would do anything for them. That heart is what kept me rooting for her the whole way through.
The rest of the family? ✨ Chaos. ✨ Delightful, distinct, personality packed chaos. You would never be bored at a Pendleton family dinner, although I would personally keep one hand on my wallet at all times. What I loved most is that, while they're all extremely morally grey, everyone who knows them says what kind, helpful people they are. Like, sure, they might commit a crime or two, but they'll also help you move. 🤷🏻♀️ And they share the same fierce love for each other that Em has.
I also really appreciated how inclusive the cast is. Uncle Morgan is a trans man, and while it's mentioned, it's never the focus and he's never tokenized. He's just part of the family, accepted for exactly who he is, and that's that. Made my heart very happy. 🥹
Okay, enough gushing about the characters (can you tell I adore them? 😉). On to the mystery!
Quick heads up: this is a cozy mystery, so don't come in expecting high-stakes action or edge-of-your-seat suspense. If that's what you're craving, this probably isn't your book.
That said, it is NOT slow, and it never drags. It reads more like a locked room mystery, with Em slowly gathering clues and making connections as she digs into the murder. As information surfaces, family secrets start spilling out, and Em is left trying to figure out who's lying to her and what exactly they're lying about.
In a family of criminals. 🤣 Babe. That's not a mystery, that's a full time job.
What I appreciated most was that this book kept me guessing. There are so many layers, with different family members tangled up in different ways. Every time something new came to light, the family drama ramped up and I was right back at square one on whodunnit. My suspect list changed more often than Em's schedule gets ignored, and that's saying something.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans who love untangling a web of secrets, lies, and family drama. Heck, even if you just love morally grey characters who are secretly big softies (and very funny), pick this one up!
This book comes out April 6th, 2027.
P.S. Em, you deserve a vacation. Somewhere with no cell service and absolutely zero relatives. 🏝️
November 3, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can only describe the first few chapters of this as "What if the Addams Family hosted the first 20 minutes of Home Alone", which is a strange blend but thoroughly enjoyable. That's an incredible premise, and if this pitch sounds interesting to you, you should definitely pick this book--the vibes are there!
Unfortunately, it fell a bit short for me. I found the book too unserious and unsubstantial. Everything lacked depth; it all felt surface-level. The humor is quirky, and the plot is very predictable. One example: you will hear ad nauseam about Em's color-coded spreadsheet, without ever learning what she's editing in it--it's always just "I updated my spreadsheets". As a spreadsheet girlie myself (don't get me started on my Sims medieval save's spreadsheet, I get intense), I do not claim this representation. 😆
The book also felt confused about what it was trying to convey, I think. You're supposed to find the criminal family endearing and "overlook" their crimes (spoiler) , while also condemning thoroughly (ending spoilers) The motive, too, while obvious very early on, felt like it was all-tell-no-show:
Anyway, I think the concept has strong legs--again, it has a fantastic premise. I can see the themes the author wanted to explore clearly. I also think they used some ingenious narrative tricks, like having Em not name her four (irrelevant) nephews-nieces-niblings because the cast was already overcrowded as it was. It did help a lot!
At the end of the day, I didn't mesh with this book as much as I hoped I would but I do see the good in it, and I hope it can find its audience! Go in expecting a lighthearted comedy with quirky characters. I can't say this enough: think The Addams Family meets Home Alone!
I can only describe the first few chapters of this as "What if the Addams Family hosted the first 20 minutes of Home Alone", which is a strange blend but thoroughly enjoyable. That's an incredible premise, and if this pitch sounds interesting to you, you should definitely pick this book--the vibes are there!
Unfortunately, it fell a bit short for me. I found the book too unserious and unsubstantial. Everything lacked depth; it all felt surface-level. The humor is quirky, and the plot is very predictable. One example: you will hear ad nauseam about Em's color-coded spreadsheet, without ever learning what she's editing in it--it's always just "I updated my spreadsheets". As a spreadsheet girlie myself (don't get me started on my Sims medieval save's spreadsheet, I get intense), I do not claim this representation. 😆
The book also felt confused about what it was trying to convey, I think. You're supposed to find the criminal family endearing and "overlook" their crimes (spoiler) , while also condemning thoroughly (ending spoilers) The motive, too, while obvious very early on, felt like it was all-tell-no-show:
Anyway, I think the concept has strong legs--again, it has a fantastic premise. I can see the themes the author wanted to explore clearly. I also think they used some ingenious narrative tricks, like having Em not name her four (irrelevant) nephews-nieces-niblings because the cast was already overcrowded as it was. It did help a lot!
At the end of the day, I didn't mesh with this book as much as I hoped I would but I do see the good in it, and I hope it can find its audience! Go in expecting a lighthearted comedy with quirky characters. I can't say this enough: think The Addams Family meets Home Alone!
October 18, 2026
I made room in my reading pile for Brianna Heath’s The Pendleton Family’s Guide to Accidental Murder after receiving a wonderfully early e-copy. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy. Anyway, who doesn’t have a dysfunctional family? I know mine is. At least I haven’t needed a suspect list for a birthday party. Yet.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Brianna is such a lovely person, and I wanted to make time for this one even with publication still a ways off. A family full of thieves, forgers, grifters, and killers? Well, that certainly makes the usual family gossip seem tame.
Em is organizing her grandfather’s birthday celebration when a body turns up on the family estate. The Pendletons have three rules: no secrets among family, no hurting one another, and no crimes on the property. Clearly, someone missed the family meeting.
I had a soft spot for Em, who is trying to keep everyone organized while figuring out what they’re hiding. She has her spreadsheets, her plans, and relatives who make both considerably less useful. Being the person doing all the worrying and behind-the-scenes work while everyone else carries on? That part felt familiar. The criminal enterprise, thankfully, less so.
What I enjoyed most was the affection underneath the questionable decisions. These people are exasperating and suspicious, but they also love each other fiercely. I found myself wanting answers without necessarily wanting everyone arrested, which says something about how attached you can get to fictional people with terrible judgment.
And Em has more to untangle than a murder. Questioning the people she would do anything to protect gives the family secrets a little extra sting. The dark humor kept things entertaining, but that need to feel appreciated by your own family gave me something more to care about.
I’ll be listening again when the audiobook comes out. I love hearing a narrator’s take on characters I’ve already met on the page, and this bunch should make interesting company on my commute.
Which fictional family would you invite to dinner, despite knowing better?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Brianna is such a lovely person, and I wanted to make time for this one even with publication still a ways off. A family full of thieves, forgers, grifters, and killers? Well, that certainly makes the usual family gossip seem tame.
Em is organizing her grandfather’s birthday celebration when a body turns up on the family estate. The Pendletons have three rules: no secrets among family, no hurting one another, and no crimes on the property. Clearly, someone missed the family meeting.
I had a soft spot for Em, who is trying to keep everyone organized while figuring out what they’re hiding. She has her spreadsheets, her plans, and relatives who make both considerably less useful. Being the person doing all the worrying and behind-the-scenes work while everyone else carries on? That part felt familiar. The criminal enterprise, thankfully, less so.
What I enjoyed most was the affection underneath the questionable decisions. These people are exasperating and suspicious, but they also love each other fiercely. I found myself wanting answers without necessarily wanting everyone arrested, which says something about how attached you can get to fictional people with terrible judgment.
And Em has more to untangle than a murder. Questioning the people she would do anything to protect gives the family secrets a little extra sting. The dark humor kept things entertaining, but that need to feel appreciated by your own family gave me something more to care about.
I’ll be listening again when the audiobook comes out. I love hearing a narrator’s take on characters I’ve already met on the page, and this bunch should make interesting company on my commute.
Which fictional family would you invite to dinner, despite knowing better?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A family of criminals, an accidental murder, a mystery to untangle, and a cast inclusive of queer characters. There was plenty going on in this novel that I wanted to like, but ultimately neither the story or writing style lived up to the premise.
The story centers on the Pendleton family, a close-knit group of criminals with a complicated family dynamic. When a body is discovered on their estate, things fall into further disarray as Em sets out to untangle the murder mystery.
Unfortunately, I found the execution of the novel considerably less compelling than the premise. I had a difficult time connecting with Em as a character, particularly because her voice often felt younger to me than I expected for someone in her thirties. The writing style also felt unpolished and I found some of the humor and character descriptions became very repetitive over the course of the novel. In particular, the repeated references to Dahlia’s children as “the things” and Em’s spreadsheets started to lose their charm for me as the story went on. The way Danny viewed and spoke about women, often reducing them to their physical appearance, was also unenjoyable to read, even knowing that this was part of his characterization. Most of the characters came across lacking nuance. Taken all together, these choices gave the novel a younger, more YA-leaning tone than I was anticipating.
Part of what I love most about the mystery genre is a strong sense of mood and a story that feels deeply rooted in its setting. I was hoping for more of that here, but neither the atmosphere or setting came through for me.
This will be a dependable, charming murder mystery for some, but I never found myself particularly invested in reading or solving this one.
A family of criminals, an accidental murder, a mystery to untangle, and a cast inclusive of queer characters. There was plenty going on in this novel that I wanted to like, but ultimately neither the story or writing style lived up to the premise.
The story centers on the Pendleton family, a close-knit group of criminals with a complicated family dynamic. When a body is discovered on their estate, things fall into further disarray as Em sets out to untangle the murder mystery.
Unfortunately, I found the execution of the novel considerably less compelling than the premise. I had a difficult time connecting with Em as a character, particularly because her voice often felt younger to me than I expected for someone in her thirties. The writing style also felt unpolished and I found some of the humor and character descriptions became very repetitive over the course of the novel. In particular, the repeated references to Dahlia’s children as “the things” and Em’s spreadsheets started to lose their charm for me as the story went on. The way Danny viewed and spoke about women, often reducing them to their physical appearance, was also unenjoyable to read, even knowing that this was part of his characterization. Most of the characters came across lacking nuance. Taken all together, these choices gave the novel a younger, more YA-leaning tone than I was anticipating.
Part of what I love most about the mystery genre is a strong sense of mood and a story that feels deeply rooted in its setting. I was hoping for more of that here, but neither the atmosphere or setting came through for me.
This will be a dependable, charming murder mystery for some, but I never found myself particularly invested in reading or solving this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I am voluntarily leaving this review after having received an ARC from netgalley.*
This was a pretty fun one! I enjoyed the plot for the most part, and I definitely didn't put together who the murderer was, so that was a nice surprise. The cast of characters is large but handled well. Each character felt distinct and I never had a problem remembering who was who. I also liked the dual perspectives and getting to know the other side of the story. Maybe the best part of this book was the queer normativity. A lot of the cast is queer, and everyone just vibes with it. It's always nice to see queerness being portrayed as natural and not necessarily something to focus on.
There were 5 or 6 grammar errors/typos I found, as well as 2 minor continuity errors, but I assume these will be cleaned up before publication. They'll be easy to fix.
So why only 3 stars? To put it mildly, I did not care for our protagonist. If I knew her in real life, I would have a very hard time dealing with her. She's obsessive and controlling, constantly meddling in everyone else's business. And the one time someone does something for her, she goes off on them, saying she never asked for them to do that. Guess what, girly? Nobody else ever asked you for your input, yet here you are all up in their business all the time! I was so sick of her by the end of the book. Perhaps her worst characteristic is her refusal to learn her nieces' and nephews' names. She calls them the Things, which irritated me endlessly. There was no need for her to dehumanize these children. The author seems to think this is cute and funny, and it just isn't.
I think a lot of people will really enjoy this book. I wish I could have enjoyed it more.
This was a pretty fun one! I enjoyed the plot for the most part, and I definitely didn't put together who the murderer was, so that was a nice surprise. The cast of characters is large but handled well. Each character felt distinct and I never had a problem remembering who was who. I also liked the dual perspectives and getting to know the other side of the story. Maybe the best part of this book was the queer normativity. A lot of the cast is queer, and everyone just vibes with it. It's always nice to see queerness being portrayed as natural and not necessarily something to focus on.
There were 5 or 6 grammar errors/typos I found, as well as 2 minor continuity errors, but I assume these will be cleaned up before publication. They'll be easy to fix.
So why only 3 stars? To put it mildly, I did not care for our protagonist. If I knew her in real life, I would have a very hard time dealing with her. She's obsessive and controlling, constantly meddling in everyone else's business. And the one time someone does something for her, she goes off on them, saying she never asked for them to do that. Guess what, girly? Nobody else ever asked you for your input, yet here you are all up in their business all the time! I was so sick of her by the end of the book. Perhaps her worst characteristic is her refusal to learn her nieces' and nephews' names. She calls them the Things, which irritated me endlessly. There was no need for her to dehumanize these children. The author seems to think this is cute and funny, and it just isn't.
I think a lot of people will really enjoy this book. I wish I could have enjoyed it more.
November 4, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
I really wanted to love this one because the premise had so much potential! A family full of thieves, con artists, and other assorted criminals gathering at their estate for a birthday celebration, only for a dead body to make an unexpected appearance? Sign me up! Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept.
I enjoyed the eccentric family dynamics and the ridiculousness of a household where criminal behavior is practically a family tradition. There were some entertaining moments, and I appreciated the different perspectives that gradually revealed how everyone was connected to the victim. However, I struggled to connect with the humor, and the overall story felt a little too shallow for my taste. I wanted more substance, stronger character development, and a mystery that felt more compelling.
Emmeline was particularly difficult for me to warm up to. Her need to manage everyone’s lives, coupled with her constant references to her beloved spreadsheets, became repetitive rather quickly.
I also found myself wishing the story had a clearer sense of direction. It seemed unsure whether it wanted to be a murder mystery, a quirky family comedy, or a story about the complicated loyalties that hold a dysfunctional family together. I could appreciate the themes being explored, but I never felt they were developed as deeply as they could have been.
Ultimately, this was a case of loving the premise more than the actual execution. I can absolutely see the appeal for readers who enjoy eccentric characters, unconventional families, and lighthearted mysteries. It just wasn’t quite the reading experience I had hoped for!
I really wanted to love this one because the premise had so much potential! A family full of thieves, con artists, and other assorted criminals gathering at their estate for a birthday celebration, only for a dead body to make an unexpected appearance? Sign me up! Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept.
I enjoyed the eccentric family dynamics and the ridiculousness of a household where criminal behavior is practically a family tradition. There were some entertaining moments, and I appreciated the different perspectives that gradually revealed how everyone was connected to the victim. However, I struggled to connect with the humor, and the overall story felt a little too shallow for my taste. I wanted more substance, stronger character development, and a mystery that felt more compelling.
Emmeline was particularly difficult for me to warm up to. Her need to manage everyone’s lives, coupled with her constant references to her beloved spreadsheets, became repetitive rather quickly.
I also found myself wishing the story had a clearer sense of direction. It seemed unsure whether it wanted to be a murder mystery, a quirky family comedy, or a story about the complicated loyalties that hold a dysfunctional family together. I could appreciate the themes being explored, but I never felt they were developed as deeply as they could have been.
Ultimately, this was a case of loving the premise more than the actual execution. I can absolutely see the appeal for readers who enjoy eccentric characters, unconventional families, and lighthearted mysteries. It just wasn’t quite the reading experience I had hoped for!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
The Pendleton's are a family of criminals. Bank robbers, con artists, bookies, art thieves, forgers and contract killers. The one place they all feel safe is their secluded mansion.
Emmaline "Em" Pendleton is unlike the rest of her family. She never really found her niche, preferring to run the family antique store and organizing her life with spreadsheets.
Em's latest project is gathering the family for her grandfather's 91st birthday. When the family arrives early, it throws Em's meticulously planned preparations into chaos. And then a mystery man is discovered dead in the fountain.
Em is determined to discover who the man was and who killed him. The family wants her to let it go and no one admits to the killing. Em is confused as the one rule this family has is to always tell each other the truth.
Along the way, Em discovers secrets long held and how much the family is willing to do to protect each other.
I loved this book. It was full of quirky characters . Em's investigation reveals to her how much her family really does appreciate her and knows how she has been helping them "behind the scenes." There were several times I teared up as Em finally realized her family's love for her and that she had been seen by her family all along.
5 Stars
The Pendleton's are a family of criminals. Bank robbers, con artists, bookies, art thieves, forgers and contract killers. The one place they all feel safe is their secluded mansion.
Emmaline "Em" Pendleton is unlike the rest of her family. She never really found her niche, preferring to run the family antique store and organizing her life with spreadsheets.
Em's latest project is gathering the family for her grandfather's 91st birthday. When the family arrives early, it throws Em's meticulously planned preparations into chaos. And then a mystery man is discovered dead in the fountain.
Em is determined to discover who the man was and who killed him. The family wants her to let it go and no one admits to the killing. Em is confused as the one rule this family has is to always tell each other the truth.
Along the way, Em discovers secrets long held and how much the family is willing to do to protect each other.
I loved this book. It was full of quirky characters . Em's investigation reveals to her how much her family really does appreciate her and knows how she has been helping them "behind the scenes." There were several times I teared up as Em finally realized her family's love for her and that she had been seen by her family all along.
5 Stars
October 21, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of this title. All opinions are my own. ✨
I’m going to start by saying the premise of this book is what really intrigued me, but it fell flat for me.
I really wanted to love this, but none of the characters were likable, except Tessa & Grandpa. Emmeline came off as if she were in her early-mid twenties, not a 34-year-old woman. That alone made it hard for me to connect, even though I’m in my early thirties.
Obviously the Pendleton Family Rules are key in this story, as to how they operate, but it began to be redundant hearing “we aren’t supposed to lie to each other” after every. single. lie.
Twists are good, but the twists in this book didn’t deliver that satisfaction with typical reveals in mysteries.. probably because I was too occupied being annoyed with Emmeline’s incessant whining about being lied to and having her ex-girlfriend in her family home. Or because it felt like the lies overshadowed the actual reveals.
I did enjoy that Danny ended up being the victim and that bit not being revealed right away was the only twist I honestly enjoyed.
I wanted to love this so bad, especially when I saw it had comparison to How To Solve Your Own Murder, which is one of my favorite books.
I know there are people out there who would love this and I would definitely recommend it to them, but as someone who reads more mysteries than other genres, this one isn’t one I would reach for again.
I’m going to start by saying the premise of this book is what really intrigued me, but it fell flat for me.
I really wanted to love this, but none of the characters were likable, except Tessa & Grandpa. Emmeline came off as if she were in her early-mid twenties, not a 34-year-old woman. That alone made it hard for me to connect, even though I’m in my early thirties.
Obviously the Pendleton Family Rules are key in this story, as to how they operate, but it began to be redundant hearing “we aren’t supposed to lie to each other” after every. single. lie.
Twists are good, but the twists in this book didn’t deliver that satisfaction with typical reveals in mysteries.. probably because I was too occupied being annoyed with Emmeline’s incessant whining about being lied to and having her ex-girlfriend in her family home. Or because it felt like the lies overshadowed the actual reveals.
I did enjoy that Danny ended up being the victim and that bit not being revealed right away was the only twist I honestly enjoyed.
I wanted to love this so bad, especially when I saw it had comparison to How To Solve Your Own Murder, which is one of my favorite books.
I know there are people out there who would love this and I would definitely recommend it to them, but as someone who reads more mysteries than other genres, this one isn’t one I would reach for again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 8, 2026Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
I was totally taken in by the Pendleton family and their life of crime. They have it all - thieves, forgers, family that ‘cooks the books’ and accountants to hide their tracks - even two contract killers!!
Their life of crime is generational and while celebrating one of their patriarchs 90th birthday- a crime happens at their home!
It’s a murder that needs to be solved and Em takes on the task to investigate her intrepid criminal family. Despite their criminal activities they are very devoted to each other which makes this investigation very hard for Em.
It’s a very good twisty mystery that keeps you guessing to the end.
I was totally taken in by the Pendleton family and their life of crime. They have it all - thieves, forgers, family that ‘cooks the books’ and accountants to hide their tracks - even two contract killers!!
Their life of crime is generational and while celebrating one of their patriarchs 90th birthday- a crime happens at their home!
It’s a murder that needs to be solved and Em takes on the task to investigate her intrepid criminal family. Despite their criminal activities they are very devoted to each other which makes this investigation very hard for Em.
It’s a very good twisty mystery that keeps you guessing to the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance review copy (ARC) of this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
It took me two attempts to get into this book. I think it's due, in large part, to my dislike of the FMC/third-person narrator, Emmeline (or, Em, as she prefers to be called, apparently). Honestly, she was kind of giving me Lord Farquad vibes with how much she insisted on order and structure in her own family. It became very irritating, very quick. (Not everything needs a spreadsheet, Em.)
The rest of the family, however, were a delight. Honestly, I would have loved to award this book a higher rating purely for the Pendleton clan alone, because I loved their shenanigans and fond tormenting of one another. For all the book's flaws, I do feel that this is one thing the author nailed to perfection - how a large family will, inevitably, cause chaos and mayhem and most likely light something on fire. But you could feel how much they loved each other, and that is something that really stood out for me while I was reading.
Which does kind of make choosing a rating a bit difficult, because, again, I wanted to give this a much higher score. In the first half, I was leaning towards a four. Then it dropped to three. And by the time I reached the end, I just couldn't see myself rating it higher than a two. I'm as disappointed by that as anyone else. I'd just started to really enjoy this book, and then I started checking how many pages were left.
The murder vic was an absolute dud. Seriously, would anyone even miss this guy? Every time his name came up on my screen, I wanted to groan. Dude was not an interesting character. Em's attempts at playing Hercule Poirot fell flat. If she was aiming for subtlety, outright asking your family members "where were you on that night between the hours of ten and eleven" is not only a mouthful, it's the opposite of subtle. And calling your nieces and nephews "the Things" doesn't exactly scream loving auntie. I know your family's chaotic, but you couldn't be bothered to learn four more people's names? Em outright says she won't until the kids turn eighteen - mind you, the youngest is four in this story.
What really cinched it for me, though, was the finale. The grand reveal, if you will. I can't really put my finger on why this disappointed me so much, but it just didn't sit right. There were so many good candidates with much better motives that would have made a far more interesting and, honestly, believable ending, but nope, we're going with... That. Okay. Sure.
You know what, while I'm on my little soapbox here, I'm just going to say it: I don't buy the whole 'Emmeline protects us' thing. You are literally a family of world-class criminal masterminds, but you rely on an anxious, OCD introvert who can't do laundry without needing a spreadsheet to help you successfully do crimes? Either Em should have been written with something akin to a personality, or you all are really not as good at being Bad™ as you think you are. Maybe both.
Bottom line: I went into this expecting (hoping) it would be an Addams Family-adjacent adventure, and got this instead. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get, so I'm just going to chalk this up as one of those it's not you, it's me books and move on to something else.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read an early copy of this book.
It took me two attempts to get into this book. I think it's due, in large part, to my dislike of the FMC/third-person narrator, Emmeline (or, Em, as she prefers to be called, apparently). Honestly, she was kind of giving me Lord Farquad vibes with how much she insisted on order and structure in her own family. It became very irritating, very quick. (Not everything needs a spreadsheet, Em.)
The rest of the family, however, were a delight. Honestly, I would have loved to award this book a higher rating purely for the Pendleton clan alone, because I loved their shenanigans and fond tormenting of one another. For all the book's flaws, I do feel that this is one thing the author nailed to perfection - how a large family will, inevitably, cause chaos and mayhem and most likely light something on fire. But you could feel how much they loved each other, and that is something that really stood out for me while I was reading.
Which does kind of make choosing a rating a bit difficult, because, again, I wanted to give this a much higher score. In the first half, I was leaning towards a four. Then it dropped to three. And by the time I reached the end, I just couldn't see myself rating it higher than a two. I'm as disappointed by that as anyone else. I'd just started to really enjoy this book, and then I started checking how many pages were left.
The murder vic was an absolute dud. Seriously, would anyone even miss this guy? Every time his name came up on my screen, I wanted to groan. Dude was not an interesting character. Em's attempts at playing Hercule Poirot fell flat. If she was aiming for subtlety, outright asking your family members "where were you on that night between the hours of ten and eleven" is not only a mouthful, it's the opposite of subtle. And calling your nieces and nephews "the Things" doesn't exactly scream loving auntie. I know your family's chaotic, but you couldn't be bothered to learn four more people's names? Em outright says she won't until the kids turn eighteen - mind you, the youngest is four in this story.
What really cinched it for me, though, was the finale. The grand reveal, if you will. I can't really put my finger on why this disappointed me so much, but it just didn't sit right. There were so many good candidates with much better motives that would have made a far more interesting and, honestly, believable ending, but nope, we're going with... That. Okay. Sure.
You know what, while I'm on my little soapbox here, I'm just going to say it: I don't buy the whole 'Emmeline protects us' thing. You are literally a family of world-class criminal masterminds, but you rely on an anxious, OCD introvert who can't do laundry without needing a spreadsheet to help you successfully do crimes? Either Em should have been written with something akin to a personality, or you all are really not as good at being Bad™ as you think you are. Maybe both.
Bottom line: I went into this expecting (hoping) it would be an Addams Family-adjacent adventure, and got this instead. The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get, so I'm just going to chalk this up as one of those it's not you, it's me books and move on to something else.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read an early copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i loved this book! i think the end was really really good and i loved the dual point of view that it had. i was not expecting the ending at all but i am happy with how it went! the whole house (me) loves uncle morgan
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had such an amazing time reading this story, and it is officially one of my favorite reads of the month. The vibes, the dialogue, the characters, and the crime-solving were all too good.
The Pendleton family as a whole is as bizarre as they come, but also super cool, witty, and loyal to the bone. So, who cares if they are all criminals? They rock.
The conversations they have when they find a c0rps3 in the garden are priceless. You will find dark humor and sarcasm at their best, absolute chef's kiss. I laughed so freaking much!
And let's not start on what they consider acceptable when it comes to raising the kids. Of course, every kid should learn how to pick locks at 5, and forge signatures at 9. Basic knowledge, if you ask me, jajajaja.
The main character, and one I'm very fond of, is Em. Just the fact that she loves spreadsheets was enough for me to love her. But seriously, she is such a mama bear when it comes to keeping everyone safe from the shadows that it is impossible not to like her.
We get to see more of some characters than others, but they are all very lovable. This family protects their own no matter what, and they accept each other just the way they are.
My favorite parts are, on one hand, every time Em calls her little nieces and nephews "The Things", and on the other hand, the bickering between the two uncles. I know I already said it, but I had a freaking amazing time reading about this family.
The crime-solving part was nicely done, and as I mentioned before, I would be the worst detective ever. I never see the plot twist coming, and I never figure out who the culprit is. But I honestly think that nobody would be able to tell who did it in this book.
Although this is mostly a dark comedy, there were a very few emotional moments when things got real between the characters. It was the perfect balance.
I enjoyed every second of this book, and my only complaint is that there were no pics of Em's spreadsheet. I honestly need to see them. As someone who spent days on end working on my booktracker spreadsheet, I'm really, really curious about it.
For me, this book is an absolute yes. Having a good time while reading this book is guaranteed. You will fall for these characters and root for them no matter what.
The Pendleton family as a whole is as bizarre as they come, but also super cool, witty, and loyal to the bone. So, who cares if they are all criminals? They rock.
The conversations they have when they find a c0rps3 in the garden are priceless. You will find dark humor and sarcasm at their best, absolute chef's kiss. I laughed so freaking much!
And let's not start on what they consider acceptable when it comes to raising the kids. Of course, every kid should learn how to pick locks at 5, and forge signatures at 9. Basic knowledge, if you ask me, jajajaja.
The main character, and one I'm very fond of, is Em. Just the fact that she loves spreadsheets was enough for me to love her. But seriously, she is such a mama bear when it comes to keeping everyone safe from the shadows that it is impossible not to like her.
We get to see more of some characters than others, but they are all very lovable. This family protects their own no matter what, and they accept each other just the way they are.
My favorite parts are, on one hand, every time Em calls her little nieces and nephews "The Things", and on the other hand, the bickering between the two uncles. I know I already said it, but I had a freaking amazing time reading about this family.
The crime-solving part was nicely done, and as I mentioned before, I would be the worst detective ever. I never see the plot twist coming, and I never figure out who the culprit is. But I honestly think that nobody would be able to tell who did it in this book.
Although this is mostly a dark comedy, there were a very few emotional moments when things got real between the characters. It was the perfect balance.
I enjoyed every second of this book, and my only complaint is that there were no pics of Em's spreadsheet. I honestly need to see them. As someone who spent days on end working on my booktracker spreadsheet, I'm really, really curious about it.
For me, this book is an absolute yes. Having a good time while reading this book is guaranteed. You will fall for these characters and root for them no matter what.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nothing says family togetherness quite like Grandpa’s 91st birthday, a house full of criminals, and a dead body in the fountain.
The entire Pendleton family is gathering at the family estate for Grandpa’s birthday, and Em is trying to keep everything under control. She is the organizer of the family, the one with the spreadsheets, the schedules, and apparently the ability to keep a collection of grifters, thieves, and contract killers functioning as something resembling a family. She’s the only Pendleton who hasn’t chosen a criminal “specialty” of her own, preferring to stay in the background and help everyone else with theirs. Unfortunately, everyone arrives early.
For Em, this may be the first crime of the weekend.
Then a body turns up in the fountain. The man has been stabbed, nobody seems to know who he is or why he was there, and considering the Pendleton family résumé, the suspect list is rather inconveniently close to home.
Running alongside the murder mystery is a second storyline beginning several weeks earlier, when an inept private investigator continues his predecessor’s legacy of digging into the Pendletons. He is determined to expose the family and finally bring at least one of them to justice. The two storylines gradually work their way toward each other, adding another layer to the mystery without giving away too much too soon.
Em was easily my favorite character. I loved that the person holding this entire criminal enterprise together is armed primarily with organizational skills and spreadsheets. I also found it hysterical that she can manage the complicated lives of her relatives but cannot be bothered to remember the names of her nieces and nephews, referring to them simply as Things 1 through 4.
Even better, Em is genuinely appalled to discover that members of her family are lying to her.
Ma’am. They are criminals.
The humor throughout the book is tongue-in-cheek rather than slapstick, and much of it comes from the Pendletons treating completely abnormal situations as ordinary family business. That worked very well for me.
The mystery itself was solid and kept me interested. I wanted to know who the dead man was, why he was on the property, and, perhaps most importantly, which member of this highly suspicious family put him in the fountain.
My biggest complaint was the romance. There were moments when I wanted the story to stop worrying about who might be attracted to whom, whose feelings were getting hurt, and return to the more pressing matter at hand.
Priorities, people! There is a dead man in the fountain!
Those moments occasionally earned an eye roll from me because the mystery and the wonderfully dysfunctional Pendleton family were more than enough to hold my attention. I didn’t need the romantic elements competing for page space while I was busy trying to solve a murder.
Still, this was a good, solid four-star read. It kept me entertained and curious, and I genuinely enjoyed Em and the bizarre family she somehow manages to keep functioning. It didn’t keep me up past my bedtime, and the dust bunnies remained in moderate danger, but I had fun.
Readers who enjoy quirky family mysteries, dark humor, criminal hijinks, LGBTQ+ representation, and some romance mixed with their murder should have a good time with the Pendletons. Readers looking for a darker crime thriller or a tightly focused murder investigation may find the romantic side plots a little more distracting.
Content warnings should include murder, violence, drowning/death by drowning, and criminal activity. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The entire Pendleton family is gathering at the family estate for Grandpa’s birthday, and Em is trying to keep everything under control. She is the organizer of the family, the one with the spreadsheets, the schedules, and apparently the ability to keep a collection of grifters, thieves, and contract killers functioning as something resembling a family. She’s the only Pendleton who hasn’t chosen a criminal “specialty” of her own, preferring to stay in the background and help everyone else with theirs. Unfortunately, everyone arrives early.
For Em, this may be the first crime of the weekend.
Then a body turns up in the fountain. The man has been stabbed, nobody seems to know who he is or why he was there, and considering the Pendleton family résumé, the suspect list is rather inconveniently close to home.
Running alongside the murder mystery is a second storyline beginning several weeks earlier, when an inept private investigator continues his predecessor’s legacy of digging into the Pendletons. He is determined to expose the family and finally bring at least one of them to justice. The two storylines gradually work their way toward each other, adding another layer to the mystery without giving away too much too soon.
Em was easily my favorite character. I loved that the person holding this entire criminal enterprise together is armed primarily with organizational skills and spreadsheets. I also found it hysterical that she can manage the complicated lives of her relatives but cannot be bothered to remember the names of her nieces and nephews, referring to them simply as Things 1 through 4.
Even better, Em is genuinely appalled to discover that members of her family are lying to her.
Ma’am. They are criminals.
The humor throughout the book is tongue-in-cheek rather than slapstick, and much of it comes from the Pendletons treating completely abnormal situations as ordinary family business. That worked very well for me.
The mystery itself was solid and kept me interested. I wanted to know who the dead man was, why he was on the property, and, perhaps most importantly, which member of this highly suspicious family put him in the fountain.
My biggest complaint was the romance. There were moments when I wanted the story to stop worrying about who might be attracted to whom, whose feelings were getting hurt, and return to the more pressing matter at hand.
Priorities, people! There is a dead man in the fountain!
Those moments occasionally earned an eye roll from me because the mystery and the wonderfully dysfunctional Pendleton family were more than enough to hold my attention. I didn’t need the romantic elements competing for page space while I was busy trying to solve a murder.
Still, this was a good, solid four-star read. It kept me entertained and curious, and I genuinely enjoyed Em and the bizarre family she somehow manages to keep functioning. It didn’t keep me up past my bedtime, and the dust bunnies remained in moderate danger, but I had fun.
Readers who enjoy quirky family mysteries, dark humor, criminal hijinks, LGBTQ+ representation, and some romance mixed with their murder should have a good time with the Pendletons. Readers looking for a darker crime thriller or a tightly focused murder investigation may find the romantic side plots a little more distracting.
Content warnings should include murder, violence, drowning/death by drowning, and criminal activity. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, & Brianna Heath for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Pendleton Family’s Guide to Accidental Murder was a fun spin on a locked-room mystery. The Pendletons are a family of contract killers, bank robbers, thieves, and grifters, except for Em, who hasn’t found their criminal calling yet. The family lives by three rules: don’t harm one another, don’t keep secrets from family, and don’t commit crimes at the family estate. So when everyone gathers for Grandpa Max’s 91st birthday and a body turns up on the estate, Em decides to figure out who broke the rules and why.
The book has two POVs: Em and Danny, a private investigator who learns about the Pendletons after inheriting his late mentor’s files. I liked seeing both sides of the family through them, the loving family members Em knows and the criminals Danny is investigating. I connected with the Pendletons enough that despite them being the “bad guys,” I wanted every single one of them to succeed and stay out of jail.
I also really enjoyed the LGBTQIA+ representation and that their identities were simply part of who they were rather than the focus of the story. I know a loving and accepting family isn’t everyone’s experience, but I enjoyed seeing that here.
My biggest issue was Danny. By his own admission, most of his breaks in the case come from luck or falling into a correct assumption, so I never understood why a family this competent at crime took his half-assed threats seriously. He never really explains what he wants from them, and if he needs information from you, that’s probably a good indication he doesn’t have enough to go to the authorities. Also, two members of this family are contract killers. Just kill him????
The family dynamic was easily my favorite part. You could tell they loved each other fiercely even when poor communication and secrets caused conflict. I especially liked Em feeling like they didn’t have a place in the family enterprise because they hadn’t found their criminal specialty, while slowly realizing their family did see and appreciate all the planning, research, and behind-the-scenes work Em was already doing for them.
By 50% I was HOOKED and didn’t put this down except to eat. Some of the mystery, especially everything involving Danny, just didn’t hold up for me, but I had so much fun with the Pendletons that I still really enjoyed the read. I would absolutely pick up another book about this family
The Pendleton Family’s Guide to Accidental Murder was a fun spin on a locked-room mystery. The Pendletons are a family of contract killers, bank robbers, thieves, and grifters, except for Em, who hasn’t found their criminal calling yet. The family lives by three rules: don’t harm one another, don’t keep secrets from family, and don’t commit crimes at the family estate. So when everyone gathers for Grandpa Max’s 91st birthday and a body turns up on the estate, Em decides to figure out who broke the rules and why.
The book has two POVs: Em and Danny, a private investigator who learns about the Pendletons after inheriting his late mentor’s files. I liked seeing both sides of the family through them, the loving family members Em knows and the criminals Danny is investigating. I connected with the Pendletons enough that despite them being the “bad guys,” I wanted every single one of them to succeed and stay out of jail.
I also really enjoyed the LGBTQIA+ representation and that their identities were simply part of who they were rather than the focus of the story. I know a loving and accepting family isn’t everyone’s experience, but I enjoyed seeing that here.
My biggest issue was Danny. By his own admission, most of his breaks in the case come from luck or falling into a correct assumption, so I never understood why a family this competent at crime took his half-assed threats seriously. He never really explains what he wants from them, and if he needs information from you, that’s probably a good indication he doesn’t have enough to go to the authorities. Also, two members of this family are contract killers. Just kill him????
The family dynamic was easily my favorite part. You could tell they loved each other fiercely even when poor communication and secrets caused conflict. I especially liked Em feeling like they didn’t have a place in the family enterprise because they hadn’t found their criminal specialty, while slowly realizing their family did see and appreciate all the planning, research, and behind-the-scenes work Em was already doing for them.
By 50% I was HOOKED and didn’t put this down except to eat. Some of the mystery, especially everything involving Danny, just didn’t hold up for me, but I had so much fun with the Pendletons that I still really enjoyed the read. I would absolutely pick up another book about this family
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc of this book.
I love me a good cozy mystery and this book what just that. I loved the vibes and the setting, the characters and their dynamics sm. I also feel like I read this book very fast I mean, I might have taken time but only because I was extremely busy but once I got to reading this story, i was super fast with it. The language is very accessible and understandable and the overall tone of this book was extremely cozy (as cozy as a murder mystery can get, i fear).
let's talk about the characters. first of all I'd like to say that Em is a much better person than me for not attacking her family at one point but I guess that's the difference between me and her. she has patience and understanding, which I respect her for and maybe also i should try to be more like her. the love she has for her family is very admirable, i love everything about her (especially her spreadsheets).
Dahlia was a character that i understood, and i may not resonate with her entirely but living with a Dahlia of my own makes me understand and respect her character overall.
Quentin...oh Quentin. idk. getting with your sister's ex of two years isn't a very good first impression. he, like his sister, loves his family sm and is willing to do whatever for them so i'm willing to forgive him for that.
also, uncle Hank and uncle Morgan should definitely get together. i totally loved their banter sm.
there were many characters in this book but i never felt overwhelmed with them. i loved how each of these characters had their unique plotline and journey and were fun in their own way. i loved the trans and queer representation, it was flawlessly done and beautifully intergrated into the story.
though I found the Things 1-4 bit kind of funny, i couldn't much get behind it. idk maybe it's just that i've been treated as a Thing my entire life, it's kinda hard to joke about it.
Danny, terrible at his job, but I appreciate the enthusiasm.
Overall, i loved reading this book. it was charming, enjoyable and funny too. i loved how these characters loved and cared for each other so much and are willing to do whatever for each other.
maybe I should take some lessons.
I really hope more people get into this book because oh my god. more people need to get into this book.
I love me a good cozy mystery and this book what just that. I loved the vibes and the setting, the characters and their dynamics sm. I also feel like I read this book very fast I mean, I might have taken time but only because I was extremely busy but once I got to reading this story, i was super fast with it. The language is very accessible and understandable and the overall tone of this book was extremely cozy (as cozy as a murder mystery can get, i fear).
let's talk about the characters. first of all I'd like to say that Em is a much better person than me for not attacking her family at one point but I guess that's the difference between me and her. she has patience and understanding, which I respect her for and maybe also i should try to be more like her. the love she has for her family is very admirable, i love everything about her (especially her spreadsheets).
Dahlia was a character that i understood, and i may not resonate with her entirely but living with a Dahlia of my own makes me understand and respect her character overall.
Quentin...oh Quentin. idk. getting with your sister's ex of two years isn't a very good first impression. he, like his sister, loves his family sm and is willing to do whatever for them so i'm willing to forgive him for that.
also, uncle Hank and uncle Morgan should definitely get together. i totally loved their banter sm.
there were many characters in this book but i never felt overwhelmed with them. i loved how each of these characters had their unique plotline and journey and were fun in their own way. i loved the trans and queer representation, it was flawlessly done and beautifully intergrated into the story.
though I found the Things 1-4 bit kind of funny, i couldn't much get behind it. idk maybe it's just that i've been treated as a Thing my entire life, it's kinda hard to joke about it.
Danny, terrible at his job, but I appreciate the enthusiasm.
Overall, i loved reading this book. it was charming, enjoyable and funny too. i loved how these characters loved and cared for each other so much and are willing to do whatever for each other.
maybe I should take some lessons.
I really hope more people get into this book because oh my god. more people need to get into this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The family that murders together, stays together, right? You'll fall in love with this dysfunctional family whose story is part Adams Family, mixed with Knives Out, as they try to figure out who amongst them has done the dastardly deed. They are all innocent of course.
Emmeline Pendleton has spent her entire life surrounded by criminals. For generations, the Pendleton family has excelled as thieves, forgers, con artists, and even killers, all while adhering to three family rules: never keep secrets from family, never harm another Pendleton, and never commit crimes on the family estate.
Those rules are put to the test when relatives gather to celebrate their grandfather's ninetieth birthday, only to discover a fresh corpse on the grounds, one that every family member insists they had nothing to do with. With suspicion falling on everyone, Em finds herself investigating the one mystery she never expected: which member of her own family broke the code?
Heath's greatest triumph is her cast of eccentric, morally questionable characters. The Pendletons are impossible to describe as "good people," yet they are endlessly entertaining. Their criminal talents, bizarre family traditions, and razor sharp banter make every interaction sparkle with humor. Rather than relying solely on clever plotting, Heath invests in the relationships among her characters, creating a family whose loyalty is genuine even when their ethics are anything but.
Their antics are so amusing, you are more entertained by that, then actually who committed the crime. How they uncover the culprit is the only journey you want to be on.
Emmeline is an especially engaging amateur sleuth. Her meticulous planning, practical intelligence, and growing realization that those closest to her may be hiding dangerous truths make her an easy protagonist to root for. She approaches murder with the same organizational precision others reserve for weddings or corporate retreats, and that fuels much of the novel's comedy.
The author does a great job balancing comedy and suspense. Heath understands that humor works best when the stakes remain real. Beneath the witty dialogue and outrageous family dynamics lies a genuine mystery with meaningful emotional consequences.
Emmeline Pendleton has spent her entire life surrounded by criminals. For generations, the Pendleton family has excelled as thieves, forgers, con artists, and even killers, all while adhering to three family rules: never keep secrets from family, never harm another Pendleton, and never commit crimes on the family estate.
Those rules are put to the test when relatives gather to celebrate their grandfather's ninetieth birthday, only to discover a fresh corpse on the grounds, one that every family member insists they had nothing to do with. With suspicion falling on everyone, Em finds herself investigating the one mystery she never expected: which member of her own family broke the code?
Heath's greatest triumph is her cast of eccentric, morally questionable characters. The Pendletons are impossible to describe as "good people," yet they are endlessly entertaining. Their criminal talents, bizarre family traditions, and razor sharp banter make every interaction sparkle with humor. Rather than relying solely on clever plotting, Heath invests in the relationships among her characters, creating a family whose loyalty is genuine even when their ethics are anything but.
Their antics are so amusing, you are more entertained by that, then actually who committed the crime. How they uncover the culprit is the only journey you want to be on.
Emmeline is an especially engaging amateur sleuth. Her meticulous planning, practical intelligence, and growing realization that those closest to her may be hiding dangerous truths make her an easy protagonist to root for. She approaches murder with the same organizational precision others reserve for weddings or corporate retreats, and that fuels much of the novel's comedy.
The author does a great job balancing comedy and suspense. Heath understands that humor works best when the stakes remain real. Beneath the witty dialogue and outrageous family dynamics lies a genuine mystery with meaningful emotional consequences.
November 10, 2026
The Pendleton Family's Guide to Accidental Murder by Brianna Heath Releases April 2027 Poisoned Pen Press
Plot: When Emmeline hosts her grandfather’s 90th birthday party, a fresh corpse turns up in the garden fountain , forcing Em to use her organizational and research skills—including spreadsheets—to figure out which of her shady relatives is the killer.
This family has only three rules: No secrets amongst family, no harming one another, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate. Well all the rules are getting broken in this fun dysfunctional family gathering.
Emmeline (Em) is a girl after my own heart with her spreadsheets. Though I think she needed less spreadsheet entries and more sneakiness to figure out what her family was up to. And she really needed to chill a bit with the over organization.
Em lives on a family estate with her parents and her grandpa Max who she loves dearly and plans a big party to celebrate his 90th birthday…only a year late. When all the guests arrive early and some unexpectedly, Em’s over planned timeline is thrown out of whack but that won’t be the only thing that gets her planning askew. As each family member arrives, it has Em questioning why they are all arriving early. While Em runs the family antique store, her family members are not known for their traditional job roles (grifters, con artists, bookies, contract hits and bonnie & clyde copycats). Then the fun gets upscaled when a dead body is found by the Things (kids) and no one except Em is concerned about who did it.
This whodunnit story had me laughing out loud as Em runs in circles trying to untie each suspects lies, avoid her ex girlfriend and the Things, and prepare for the birthday festivities. It is a super entertaining read with some extremely colorful characters in the family. You will not be disappointed if you get into the mystery of it. While this is a true dysfunctional family, they all love each other and protect each other no matter what.
If you got to choose a new career would it be a grifter, art thief, contract hit or bank robber?
Tropes: Amateur Sleuth, Dysfunctional Crime Dynasty
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
Plot: When Emmeline hosts her grandfather’s 90th birthday party, a fresh corpse turns up in the garden fountain , forcing Em to use her organizational and research skills—including spreadsheets—to figure out which of her shady relatives is the killer.
This family has only three rules: No secrets amongst family, no harming one another, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate. Well all the rules are getting broken in this fun dysfunctional family gathering.
Emmeline (Em) is a girl after my own heart with her spreadsheets. Though I think she needed less spreadsheet entries and more sneakiness to figure out what her family was up to. And she really needed to chill a bit with the over organization.
Em lives on a family estate with her parents and her grandpa Max who she loves dearly and plans a big party to celebrate his 90th birthday…only a year late. When all the guests arrive early and some unexpectedly, Em’s over planned timeline is thrown out of whack but that won’t be the only thing that gets her planning askew. As each family member arrives, it has Em questioning why they are all arriving early. While Em runs the family antique store, her family members are not known for their traditional job roles (grifters, con artists, bookies, contract hits and bonnie & clyde copycats). Then the fun gets upscaled when a dead body is found by the Things (kids) and no one except Em is concerned about who did it.
This whodunnit story had me laughing out loud as Em runs in circles trying to untie each suspects lies, avoid her ex girlfriend and the Things, and prepare for the birthday festivities. It is a super entertaining read with some extremely colorful characters in the family. You will not be disappointed if you get into the mystery of it. While this is a true dysfunctional family, they all love each other and protect each other no matter what.
If you got to choose a new career would it be a grifter, art thief, contract hit or bank robber?
Tropes: Amateur Sleuth, Dysfunctional Crime Dynasty
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
October 13, 2026
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Pendleton Family’s Guide to Accidental Murder centers on Emmaline “Em” Pendleton, the glue holding together her family of eccentric criminals. The Pendletons have their hands in all manner of criminal enterprises, from forgery and theft to grifting, sports betting, and *gasp* even contract killing. Despite their questionable professions, the family lives by three sacred rules: no keeping secrets from one another, no harming each other, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate.
But when a dead body turns up during a family celebration at the estate, Em’s faith in her family’s commitment to those rules begins to unravel. With the clock ticking, she must figure out which of her many criminally talented relatives is responsible for the murder.
If I had to sum up this book in one phrase, it would be: “Be gay, do crimes.” 😂 I absolutely loved seeing so many queer characters in one book, rather than the obligatory token queer character thrown into the mix. I also loved reading from the perspective of a clearly neurodivergent protagonist and recognizing so many of my own quirks in Em.
The mystery itself was a bit of a slow burn, with the pace really picking up in the final quarter of the book. As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I appreciated how this novel captured some of my favorite elements of her mysteries: an atmospheric setting, a satisfying conclusion, and plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. The chaotic Pendleton family also reminded me of Ernie’s family in one of my favorite books, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.
Ultimately, this was such an enjoyable read! With no shortage of suspects, I couldn’t figure out who was responsible until the big reveal. The ending was satisfying but bittersweet, and left me hoping this won’t be the last we see of the Pendletons. I would love to revisit this delightfully dysfunctional family for more quarrels, heart-to-hearts, and wonderfully wacky crimes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Pendleton Family’s Guide to Accidental Murder centers on Emmaline “Em” Pendleton, the glue holding together her family of eccentric criminals. The Pendletons have their hands in all manner of criminal enterprises, from forgery and theft to grifting, sports betting, and *gasp* even contract killing. Despite their questionable professions, the family lives by three sacred rules: no keeping secrets from one another, no harming each other, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate.
But when a dead body turns up during a family celebration at the estate, Em’s faith in her family’s commitment to those rules begins to unravel. With the clock ticking, she must figure out which of her many criminally talented relatives is responsible for the murder.
If I had to sum up this book in one phrase, it would be: “Be gay, do crimes.” 😂 I absolutely loved seeing so many queer characters in one book, rather than the obligatory token queer character thrown into the mix. I also loved reading from the perspective of a clearly neurodivergent protagonist and recognizing so many of my own quirks in Em.
The mystery itself was a bit of a slow burn, with the pace really picking up in the final quarter of the book. As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I appreciated how this novel captured some of my favorite elements of her mysteries: an atmospheric setting, a satisfying conclusion, and plenty of humor sprinkled throughout. The chaotic Pendleton family also reminded me of Ernie’s family in one of my favorite books, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.
Ultimately, this was such an enjoyable read! With no shortage of suspects, I couldn’t figure out who was responsible until the big reveal. The ending was satisfying but bittersweet, and left me hoping this won’t be the last we see of the Pendletons. I would love to revisit this delightfully dysfunctional family for more quarrels, heart-to-hearts, and wonderfully wacky crimes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for this book from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Mystery is not normally my cup of tea but the premise of "The Pendleton Family's Guide to Accidental Murder" intrigued me and it sounded genuinely fun. A family of criminals meet at their formidable estate in Northern California to celebrate the 90th/ 91st birthday of Grandpa Max, the family patriarch, and somehow a mysterious man turns up dead on the property. Emmeline "Em" Pendleton, the only non-criminal of the family, takes it upon herself to put her trusty spreadsheets to use and investigate the murder. The book is structured by switching between Em and the murder victim's perspectives, giving the reader insight to each family member's ties to the murder victim. There were definitely some red herring thrown along the way and I can honestly say I had no idea who the ultimate killer was going to be because it seemed plausible that each family member had motive to commit the crime.
This book is being marketed as having the same vibes as Knives Out meets Addams Family but honestly, it felt more like the Disney movie, Encanto, if the members of the Madrigal family were criminals instead of possessing magic. Em Pendleton is essentially Mirabel since she's not really a criminal, the same way Mirabel does not really have any inherent magic. However, both characters are fiercely loyal to their family and would do anything to protect it. I mean even the Pendleton estate is a character of its own the same way the Madrigal mansion was in the movie.
Anyway, I gave this book 3.5 stars because although I thoroughly enjoyed it, the murder just did not feel that high-stakes to me. The victim's motivation for looking into the Pendleton family did not feel strong enough for him to go through all the trouble. Because the family members' saw the victim as mostly incompentent and not someone to take that seriously, it was really hard to care what happened to him, but I guess that's the point. This book is more about exploring family dynamics and what it takes to keep a family like the Pendleton going and even thriving. The mystery is secondary.
Mystery is not normally my cup of tea but the premise of "The Pendleton Family's Guide to Accidental Murder" intrigued me and it sounded genuinely fun. A family of criminals meet at their formidable estate in Northern California to celebrate the 90th/ 91st birthday of Grandpa Max, the family patriarch, and somehow a mysterious man turns up dead on the property. Emmeline "Em" Pendleton, the only non-criminal of the family, takes it upon herself to put her trusty spreadsheets to use and investigate the murder. The book is structured by switching between Em and the murder victim's perspectives, giving the reader insight to each family member's ties to the murder victim. There were definitely some red herring thrown along the way and I can honestly say I had no idea who the ultimate killer was going to be because it seemed plausible that each family member had motive to commit the crime.
This book is being marketed as having the same vibes as Knives Out meets Addams Family but honestly, it felt more like the Disney movie, Encanto, if the members of the Madrigal family were criminals instead of possessing magic. Em Pendleton is essentially Mirabel since she's not really a criminal, the same way Mirabel does not really have any inherent magic. However, both characters are fiercely loyal to their family and would do anything to protect it. I mean even the Pendleton estate is a character of its own the same way the Madrigal mansion was in the movie.
Anyway, I gave this book 3.5 stars because although I thoroughly enjoyed it, the murder just did not feel that high-stakes to me. The victim's motivation for looking into the Pendleton family did not feel strong enough for him to go through all the trouble. Because the family members' saw the victim as mostly incompentent and not someone to take that seriously, it was really hard to care what happened to him, but I guess that's the point. This book is more about exploring family dynamics and what it takes to keep a family like the Pendleton going and even thriving. The mystery is secondary.
September 24, 2026
Thank you very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for this advance copy!
From the first page it's easy to tell that Heath is a competent author. The writing flows well and is easily readable and understood. A very large cast of characters is introduced to us within the first 40-50 pages, but they are distinct and staggered apart enough that it's easy to keep them straight (no pun intended). I really appreciated that this is a very queer-normative book; almost everyone is gay, bi, pan, trans, or some combination thereof. My favourite character was Tessa, but I also really liked Uncle Morgan (and his dynamic with Uncle Hank in particular).
I do think that in some ways the cast of characters was too large to be wholly effective. Very few characters—not even Em, the protagonist—get much character development. I also found Em quite unlikeable: her only personality traits are that she loves her family (but not all of her family, despite what she says, as she calls her nieces and nephews "Things" in a frankly dehumanising manner), and that she enjoys spreadsheets and planning. Sometimes a reader's love for a character can bridge the gap between secondary characters and the reader: if main character loves secondary character, and the reader loves main character, then the reader also cares about the secondary character by proxy. I did not find this to be the case for me.
In an effort to keep this spoiler-free, I'll simply say that the Pendletons, although we're told they're incredibly good at being criminals, are quite lackadaisical about a murder occurring on the grounds and don't seem to consider the friends and family of the victim possibly looking for them? This is made even more egregious and glaring by reveals happening through the book: there is simply no good reason that they would be unconcerned about this particular body appearing and the implications of it.
Overall, this was a fun read! It was very witty and I enjoyed the diversity in the cast. If you enjoyed Knives Out or the works of Benjamin Stevenson, this book may be for you.
From the first page it's easy to tell that Heath is a competent author. The writing flows well and is easily readable and understood. A very large cast of characters is introduced to us within the first 40-50 pages, but they are distinct and staggered apart enough that it's easy to keep them straight (no pun intended). I really appreciated that this is a very queer-normative book; almost everyone is gay, bi, pan, trans, or some combination thereof. My favourite character was Tessa, but I also really liked Uncle Morgan (and his dynamic with Uncle Hank in particular).
I do think that in some ways the cast of characters was too large to be wholly effective. Very few characters—not even Em, the protagonist—get much character development. I also found Em quite unlikeable: her only personality traits are that she loves her family (but not all of her family, despite what she says, as she calls her nieces and nephews "Things" in a frankly dehumanising manner), and that she enjoys spreadsheets and planning. Sometimes a reader's love for a character can bridge the gap between secondary characters and the reader: if main character loves secondary character, and the reader loves main character, then the reader also cares about the secondary character by proxy. I did not find this to be the case for me.
In an effort to keep this spoiler-free, I'll simply say that the Pendletons, although we're told they're incredibly good at being criminals, are quite lackadaisical about a murder occurring on the grounds and don't seem to consider the friends and family of the victim possibly looking for them? This is made even more egregious and glaring by reveals happening through the book: there is simply no good reason that they would be unconcerned about this particular body appearing and the implications of it.
Overall, this was a fun read! It was very witty and I enjoyed the diversity in the cast. If you enjoyed Knives Out or the works of Benjamin Stevenson, this book may be for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Spreadsheets, contract killers, and a body in the fountain—such a fun read! Rating: ★★★★☆
I picked up The Pendleton Family's Guide to Accidental Murder hoping for a witty, chaotic mystery, and Brianna Heath completely delivered. If you love dysfunctional family dynamics mashed up with a classic country-estate whodunnit, this book is an absolute blast.
The setup hooks you right away: the entire Pendleton clan—a family made up of grifters, thieves, and contract killers—gathers at the family estate for Grandpa’s 91st birthday. When a dead guy turns up in the fountain and nobody in the house actually claims credit for killing him, everyone is immediately a suspect.
Emmeline (Em) was easily my favorite part of the book. Having the one person holding this massive criminal enterprise together be armed strictly with spreadsheets, schedules, and organizational skills—rather than her own criminal specialty—was hilarious. Her genuine outrage at discovering her family of literal criminals is lying to her had me grinning the whole way through. The dual timeline with the completely inept private investigator trying to take the family down also added a great layer of tension and humor. Plus, getting a sharp, well-written queer protagonist leading a cozy-adjacent caper is always a huge win.
The only reason this is a solid 4 stars for me instead of a 5 is that the pacing lost a tiny bit of steam near the end, and a few of the side plot threads pulled focus away from the main murder investigation right when I just wanted them to solve the crime. Still, the tongue-in-cheek humor and the sheer entertainment value of the family's antics more than made up for it. Definitely recommend picking this up if you want a lighthearted, clever mystery with a cast of lovable scoundrels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I picked up The Pendleton Family's Guide to Accidental Murder hoping for a witty, chaotic mystery, and Brianna Heath completely delivered. If you love dysfunctional family dynamics mashed up with a classic country-estate whodunnit, this book is an absolute blast.
The setup hooks you right away: the entire Pendleton clan—a family made up of grifters, thieves, and contract killers—gathers at the family estate for Grandpa’s 91st birthday. When a dead guy turns up in the fountain and nobody in the house actually claims credit for killing him, everyone is immediately a suspect.
Emmeline (Em) was easily my favorite part of the book. Having the one person holding this massive criminal enterprise together be armed strictly with spreadsheets, schedules, and organizational skills—rather than her own criminal specialty—was hilarious. Her genuine outrage at discovering her family of literal criminals is lying to her had me grinning the whole way through. The dual timeline with the completely inept private investigator trying to take the family down also added a great layer of tension and humor. Plus, getting a sharp, well-written queer protagonist leading a cozy-adjacent caper is always a huge win.
The only reason this is a solid 4 stars for me instead of a 5 is that the pacing lost a tiny bit of steam near the end, and a few of the side plot threads pulled focus away from the main murder investigation right when I just wanted them to solve the crime. Still, the tongue-in-cheek humor and the sheer entertainment value of the family's antics more than made up for it. Definitely recommend picking this up if you want a lighthearted, clever mystery with a cast of lovable scoundrels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2026
•Review of an Advanced copy received from NetGalley•
As a fan of Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I was ecstatic to be approved for this ARC. The premise immediately felt like it would be right up my alley.
The Pendletons are a family of criminals with rules. Cons, schemes, and crimes are all fair game—just never on the Pendleton property, and never in a way that can lead back to the family. Naturally, that rule is exactly where the trouble starts.
On the surface, they’re your typical dysfunctional family—full of drama, secrets, tension, and complicated relationships—just with a particular talent for crime. That makes the whodunit especially fun because nearly everyone feels suspicious at some point.
The mystery kept me second-guessing myself throughout. Every character seems capable of something, and even when the answer feels obvious, the story finds a way to make you question it.
There are a few side storylines I think the book could have done without, especially if the goal was to sharpen the mystery and give the central whodunit more room to breathe. At times, those threads pulled focus away from the strongest part of the story.
Still, if you’re looking for something fun, chaotic, funny, and wrapped around a murder mystery, this absolutely delivers. It’s entertaining, clever, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
With so many lies layered throughout the story, I genuinely had no idea where the ending was going to land. The final reveal caught me off guard in a way that made the whole ride feel worth it.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and definitely worth picking up—especially if you enjoy dysfunctional families, messy secrets, humor, and a murder mystery that keeps you guessing.
As a fan of Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I was ecstatic to be approved for this ARC. The premise immediately felt like it would be right up my alley.
The Pendletons are a family of criminals with rules. Cons, schemes, and crimes are all fair game—just never on the Pendleton property, and never in a way that can lead back to the family. Naturally, that rule is exactly where the trouble starts.
On the surface, they’re your typical dysfunctional family—full of drama, secrets, tension, and complicated relationships—just with a particular talent for crime. That makes the whodunit especially fun because nearly everyone feels suspicious at some point.
The mystery kept me second-guessing myself throughout. Every character seems capable of something, and even when the answer feels obvious, the story finds a way to make you question it.
There are a few side storylines I think the book could have done without, especially if the goal was to sharpen the mystery and give the central whodunit more room to breathe. At times, those threads pulled focus away from the strongest part of the story.
Still, if you’re looking for something fun, chaotic, funny, and wrapped around a murder mystery, this absolutely delivers. It’s entertaining, clever, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
With so many lies layered throughout the story, I genuinely had no idea where the ending was going to land. The final reveal caught me off guard in a way that made the whole ride feel worth it.
Overall, this was an entertaining read and definitely worth picking up—especially if you enjoy dysfunctional families, messy secrets, humor, and a murder mystery that keeps you guessing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance reading copy of this book.
CHARACTERS
🔲 flat and underdeveloped
🔲 too stupid to live
🔲 a bit too capable to be believable
🔲 all the energy is absorbed by the main character/s, nothing left for the others
🔲 serviceable but believable
✅ all the complexity you can imagine
🔲 I want to be friends with them, or just follow them around
PLOT
🔲 goes nowhere
🔲 predictable
🔲 tedious or confusing
✅ tight, clear, leads you in
🔲 exceptional
🔲 wow, that’s amazing!
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 real world or present day
🔲 not enough described to make sense
🔲 adequate
✅ solid or good start (series)
🔲 even the physics works
🔲 I kept forgetting it wasn’t real
ATMOSPHERE or STYLISTIC CHOICES
🔲 bland
🔲 journeyman — adequate
✅ steady writing, no flourishes
🔲 so real, so compelling
🔲 completely absorbing and evocative
🔲 translation, so any clunky bits are hard to judge. Is it the author or the translation?
PACING
🔲 too slow
🔲 hindered by info-dumps or exposition crammed into dialogue
🔲 inconsistent
✅ slow start
🔲 page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
ROMANCE
✅ none, thank heavens
🔲 where did that come from
🔲 not believable
🔲 problematic
🔲 completely believable, arises naturally
🔲 sigh, where have you been all my life?
🔲 and they lived happily ever after
AUDIOBOOK NARRATION
🔲 Voices annoying (whispery or shouty, etc.)
🔲 One gender’s voice distracting or problematic
🔲 Characters not particularly well differentiated
✅ Well differentiated and well chosen
🔲 Extraordinary, a wonderful performance
(Rubric idea and structure based on Melinda’s)
Combined rating: 3.5 stars
All of the elements worked, but there is something unsettling to me about an entire family of criminals. Not all gentle criminals, but assassins and con men as well as forgers and art thieves. That said, the idea that all of them have decided to protect Emmeline is quite charming.
I’m not sure whether the interleaving of POV chapters from the murdered man worked for me. I understand that without his scenes, we wouldn’t understand what was going on, since Emmeline is in the dark until the very end.
I think I would read more by this author, as I really liked Emmeline’s voice and clear awareness of herself.
CHARACTERS
🔲 flat and underdeveloped
🔲 too stupid to live
🔲 a bit too capable to be believable
🔲 all the energy is absorbed by the main character/s, nothing left for the others
🔲 serviceable but believable
✅ all the complexity you can imagine
🔲 I want to be friends with them, or just follow them around
PLOT
🔲 goes nowhere
🔲 predictable
🔲 tedious or confusing
✅ tight, clear, leads you in
🔲 exceptional
🔲 wow, that’s amazing!
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 real world or present day
🔲 not enough described to make sense
🔲 adequate
✅ solid or good start (series)
🔲 even the physics works
🔲 I kept forgetting it wasn’t real
ATMOSPHERE or STYLISTIC CHOICES
🔲 bland
🔲 journeyman — adequate
✅ steady writing, no flourishes
🔲 so real, so compelling
🔲 completely absorbing and evocative
🔲 translation, so any clunky bits are hard to judge. Is it the author or the translation?
PACING
🔲 too slow
🔲 hindered by info-dumps or exposition crammed into dialogue
🔲 inconsistent
✅ slow start
🔲 page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
ROMANCE
✅ none, thank heavens
🔲 where did that come from
🔲 not believable
🔲 problematic
🔲 completely believable, arises naturally
🔲 sigh, where have you been all my life?
🔲 and they lived happily ever after
AUDIOBOOK NARRATION
🔲 Voices annoying (whispery or shouty, etc.)
🔲 One gender’s voice distracting or problematic
🔲 Characters not particularly well differentiated
✅ Well differentiated and well chosen
🔲 Extraordinary, a wonderful performance
(Rubric idea and structure based on Melinda’s)
Combined rating: 3.5 stars
All of the elements worked, but there is something unsettling to me about an entire family of criminals. Not all gentle criminals, but assassins and con men as well as forgers and art thieves. That said, the idea that all of them have decided to protect Emmeline is quite charming.
I’m not sure whether the interleaving of POV chapters from the murdered man worked for me. I understand that without his scenes, we wouldn’t understand what was going on, since Emmeline is in the dark until the very end.
I think I would read more by this author, as I really liked Emmeline’s voice and clear awareness of herself.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thank you to #NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review!
This was a fun read to me. Very quirky family where everyone has their own niche market, if you want to call it that! LOL! Illegal activities must be in the genes because all together they have a slew of experts from forging, to robberies and hey, even hit men! But for some reason, in the Pendleton Estate home, off the beating path behind a long-gated entrance way, this family is close and caring about each other, they only like swingling others, not each other! Lol!
However, what happens when days before a big birthday celebration for the old timer in the family (Max) someone shows up dead in the backyard? Well, the planner of the party and the apparent cement person that holds the family together, Em is now on the hunt to solve the mystery. With her prized excel charts in hand, she begins the cumbersome investigation to quickly find the killer. But it is apparent it was by someone in the family who’s hiding it from her!
The story is engaging and humorous. It shows multiple points of view but the main character, Em dominates the storyline. Danny, the bungling detective is trying to find a way to pin something, anything on the Pendleton family as they have, to date, been elusive from prosecution. The writer somehow made the family members quite likeable. I*’ve never read anything quite like this before but I really enjoyed it. Amateur sleuth Em works hard to try to fit all the pieces together and you, the reader, go along for the hunt!
This was a fun read to me. Very quirky family where everyone has their own niche market, if you want to call it that! LOL! Illegal activities must be in the genes because all together they have a slew of experts from forging, to robberies and hey, even hit men! But for some reason, in the Pendleton Estate home, off the beating path behind a long-gated entrance way, this family is close and caring about each other, they only like swingling others, not each other! Lol!
However, what happens when days before a big birthday celebration for the old timer in the family (Max) someone shows up dead in the backyard? Well, the planner of the party and the apparent cement person that holds the family together, Em is now on the hunt to solve the mystery. With her prized excel charts in hand, she begins the cumbersome investigation to quickly find the killer. But it is apparent it was by someone in the family who’s hiding it from her!
The story is engaging and humorous. It shows multiple points of view but the main character, Em dominates the storyline. Danny, the bungling detective is trying to find a way to pin something, anything on the Pendleton family as they have, to date, been elusive from prosecution. The writer somehow made the family members quite likeable. I*’ve never read anything quite like this before but I really enjoyed it. Amateur sleuth Em works hard to try to fit all the pieces together and you, the reader, go along for the hunt!
August 31, 2026
I thought this book was fine - I didn't find myself wondering what was going on when I wasn't reading it, which is usually my marker of a great mystery. I think the author was attempting some whimsy here. While I think some of the characters were charming, I didn't find myself very invested in any of them. I'd give the character development about a B.
On the topic of representation - I love a LGBTQ+ character and representation matters tremendously. Representation in this book felt forced and slightly pandering in its excessiveness and lack of subtlety. Letting the reader discover that the investigator was bi, the FMC was a lesbian, the brother was pan, the niece was trans, the uncle was trans....you get my point perhaps....instead of just allowing it to be discovered felt a little self-gratifying than cool.
The premise was fine - a family of criminals home for a birthday party - and are somehow shocked that they all lie and someone dies. "Not an accidental murder* - that's not a spoiler, just acknowledging the title isn't right. I think a more charming presence WOULD have been if it was an accident and this family of criminals had a hard time dealing with it - hilarious. That is not what happened here.
Some holes - why did the PI care so much? Why did the family not just talk about what happened?
I did NOT hate this book - it was fine. Won't be my first recommendation within the genre though.
On the topic of representation - I love a LGBTQ+ character and representation matters tremendously. Representation in this book felt forced and slightly pandering in its excessiveness and lack of subtlety. Letting the reader discover that the investigator was bi, the FMC was a lesbian, the brother was pan, the niece was trans, the uncle was trans....you get my point perhaps....instead of just allowing it to be discovered felt a little self-gratifying than cool.
The premise was fine - a family of criminals home for a birthday party - and are somehow shocked that they all lie and someone dies. "Not an accidental murder* - that's not a spoiler, just acknowledging the title isn't right. I think a more charming presence WOULD have been if it was an accident and this family of criminals had a hard time dealing with it - hilarious. That is not what happened here.
Some holes - why did the PI care so much? Why did the family not just talk about what happened?
I did NOT hate this book - it was fine. Won't be my first recommendation within the genre though.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
In a family full of criminals, Em is the only one who doesn’t participate in the family tradition of breaking the law. Em makes sure her family is close-knit, that the crimes stay under the radar, and that everything runs smoothly. When a dead body shows up at the family estate - breaking the rule of crime on the family’s property - Em makes it her mission to find out who in the family is a killer.
This was campy and fun! I love a mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously and this definitely qualifies. I don’t think it’s groundbreaking or particularly memorable but it’s an enjoyable read for the most part. While I enjoyed Em’s point of view and how she is the heart of the family, I hated being in the investigator Danny’s. He’s just such a sexist loser. I understand why we needed his POV, but I didn’t enjoy it.
I loved how casually queer and trans the family is. I can’t remember the last time I picked up a book with more than one trans character who is essential to the story.
Some parts of the story are definitely left open-ended which makes me think that Heath would like to write a sequel or even turn it into a series. I don’t know if I’d pick up a sequel, but I’m always happy for there to be more queer mysteries in the world.
In a family full of criminals, Em is the only one who doesn’t participate in the family tradition of breaking the law. Em makes sure her family is close-knit, that the crimes stay under the radar, and that everything runs smoothly. When a dead body shows up at the family estate - breaking the rule of crime on the family’s property - Em makes it her mission to find out who in the family is a killer.
This was campy and fun! I love a mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously and this definitely qualifies. I don’t think it’s groundbreaking or particularly memorable but it’s an enjoyable read for the most part. While I enjoyed Em’s point of view and how she is the heart of the family, I hated being in the investigator Danny’s. He’s just such a sexist loser. I understand why we needed his POV, but I didn’t enjoy it.
I loved how casually queer and trans the family is. I can’t remember the last time I picked up a book with more than one trans character who is essential to the story.
Some parts of the story are definitely left open-ended which makes me think that Heath would like to write a sequel or even turn it into a series. I don’t know if I’d pick up a sequel, but I’m always happy for there to be more queer mysteries in the world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Pendletons like your typical family in that the Pendleton family members tend to go into the same field. However, while many families focus on medicine or becoming dentists, the Pendletons are all criminals. Some are contract killers; mom and dad were bank robbers, while a cousin is starting a crime as a painting forger. All that is, except for Emmeline who merely runs the antique store (where she does do a touch of money laundering) and keeps the family together with her abundance of spreadsheets. The Pendletons have three rules: no secrets amongst family, no harming one another, and absolutely no committing crimes on the family estate. However, during their grandfather’s 90th birthday party, all three rules get broken when someone is murdered on the estate.
The victim is an incompetent PI who inherited his late mentor’s folder on the Pendletons and some how managed to rattle someone in the family enough to kill him. Em, in her quest to keep the family safe makes it her job to figure out who.
I enjoyed this book. There was lots of black humor - Em eliminates one suspect, for example, because they would have known how to dispose of the body rather than leaving it in the garden.
Highly recommend. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.com that I voluntary reviewed.
The victim is an incompetent PI who inherited his late mentor’s folder on the Pendletons and some how managed to rattle someone in the family enough to kill him. Em, in her quest to keep the family safe makes it her job to figure out who.
I enjoyed this book. There was lots of black humor - Em eliminates one suspect, for example, because they would have known how to dispose of the body rather than leaving it in the garden.
Highly recommend. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.com that I voluntary reviewed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emmeline Pendleton has elaborately planned for her Grandpa Max's 90th birthday celebration. She has multiple spreadsheets and has each minute planned during the week leading up to the party. Em's plans are thrown off as her siblings and extended family arrive early or sans RSVP. The Pendleton family, with the exception of Em, are criminals - grifters, bank robbers, art forgers, and hit men. However, each person's crimes are secret and the family doesn't discuss business, especially as their family estate. The family is wacky and dysfunctional, but care about each other. This comes into play when a dead body is discovered on the property. Em wants to solve the murder and starts to suspect each of her relatives. As she investigates, alibis don't line up and Em discovers that each person has a connection to the murdered man and has a potential motive. Em is determined, despite her family's misgivings, to figure out who this man is and who killed him.
This book was pretty entertaining, kept me guessing, and had some funny moments. I enjoyed the family dynamics. Despite their questionable morals, they truly love each other. I read the ebook, but I imagine that the audiobook would be highly entertaining!
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for this ARC!
This book was pretty entertaining, kept me guessing, and had some funny moments. I enjoyed the family dynamics. Despite their questionable morals, they truly love each other. I read the ebook, but I imagine that the audiobook would be highly entertaining!
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Review Copy.
Another great book by Brianna Heath! I was very excited to see she was writing another murder mystery and it certainly lived up to my expectations and more.
The Pendleton Family does crime. A lot. And they're very skilled and careful about it. But no matter how careful you are, someone is going to start putting the pieces together.
Em Pendleton is throwing a birthday party for 91 year old grandfather and the entire family is invited. The corpse found in the garden certainly was not invited or welcome, and sends Em into a tailspin as she tries to find out who in her family is a liar and a murderer - other than the usual suspects, of course.
For those of you who enjoy untangling alibis, discovering evidence, and watching people fail at amateur detective work, this book is for you!
I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries, large and crazy families, and those who enjoy their detectives having good intentions but bad execution.
Five out of five. I hope there are more Brianna Heath books to come!
Another great book by Brianna Heath! I was very excited to see she was writing another murder mystery and it certainly lived up to my expectations and more.
The Pendleton Family does crime. A lot. And they're very skilled and careful about it. But no matter how careful you are, someone is going to start putting the pieces together.
Em Pendleton is throwing a birthday party for 91 year old grandfather and the entire family is invited. The corpse found in the garden certainly was not invited or welcome, and sends Em into a tailspin as she tries to find out who in her family is a liar and a murderer - other than the usual suspects, of course.
For those of you who enjoy untangling alibis, discovering evidence, and watching people fail at amateur detective work, this book is for you!
I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries, large and crazy families, and those who enjoy their detectives having good intentions but bad execution.
Five out of five. I hope there are more Brianna Heath books to come!
September 14, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC! I had a really good time reading this book. I loved the dysfunctional family dynamics and conversations between the characters. There is plenty of dark humor and sarcasm throughout the book that had me laughing out loud at times.
The dual POV with Em, who is trying to figure out which criminal mastermind in her family is responsible for the murder, and Danny, the victim, was really interesting. It’s not often you get the murder victims POV and I found it added depth to the story. We get to simultaneously try to solve the murder with Em and discover the events that led to the murder with the victim. The family’s inability to tell the truth, despite their family rule of never keeping secrets from each other, keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is as you try to unravel truth from lies with Em.
I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of the Pendleton’s. A family full of criminal masterminds could make for a great series. I also felt like there was a lot left to explore with some of the relationships between various family members, which makes me hopeful for another book. Overall, I give this book 4.25 stars.
The dual POV with Em, who is trying to figure out which criminal mastermind in her family is responsible for the murder, and Danny, the victim, was really interesting. It’s not often you get the murder victims POV and I found it added depth to the story. We get to simultaneously try to solve the murder with Em and discover the events that led to the murder with the victim. The family’s inability to tell the truth, despite their family rule of never keeping secrets from each other, keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is as you try to unravel truth from lies with Em.
I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of the Pendleton’s. A family full of criminal masterminds could make for a great series. I also felt like there was a lot left to explore with some of the relationships between various family members, which makes me hopeful for another book. Overall, I give this book 4.25 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews