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Murder Most Actual
From the author of Boyfriend Material and Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake comes a cozy mystery that revisits the Golden Age of detective fiction, starring a heroine who’s more podcaster than private eye and topped with a lethal dose of parody -- perfect for fans of Clue, Knives Out, and Only Murders in the Building!
When up-and-coming true crime podcaster Liza and her corporate financier wife Hanna head to a luxurious hotel in the Scottish Highlands, they're hoping for a chance to rekindle their marriage - not to find themselves trapped in the middle of an Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery with no way home. But who better to take on the case than someone whose entire profession relies on an obsession with all things mysterious and macabre? Though some of her fellow guests may consider her an interfering new media hack, Liza knows a thing or two about crime and – despite Hanna’s preference for waiting out the chaos behind a locked door – might be the only one capable of discovering the killer. As the bodies rack up and the stakes rise, can they save their marriage -- and their lives?
When up-and-coming true crime podcaster Liza and her corporate financier wife Hanna head to a luxurious hotel in the Scottish Highlands, they're hoping for a chance to rekindle their marriage - not to find themselves trapped in the middle of an Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery with no way home. But who better to take on the case than someone whose entire profession relies on an obsession with all things mysterious and macabre? Though some of her fellow guests may consider her an interfering new media hack, Liza knows a thing or two about crime and – despite Hanna’s preference for waiting out the chaos behind a locked door – might be the only one capable of discovering the killer. As the bodies rack up and the stakes rise, can they save their marriage -- and their lives?
302 pages, ebook
First published November 9, 2021
47 people are currently reading
3,825 people want to read
About the author
Alexis Hall
55 books14.4k followersOne of those intricate British queers.
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
Please note: I don’t read / reply to DMs. If you would like to get in touch, the best way is via email which you can find in the contact section on my website <3
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November 11, 2021Immensely enjoyable cosy mystery / romance mash up.
This is very much doing two things at once. One of them is a no-holds mash-up of all the Golden Age detective stories and cliches and plots, with a cast drawn from Christie, Sayers, Conan Doyle, and Cluedo to bonkers effect. (A fussy foreigner with a silly accent and a third-person self-reference habit, a femme fatale who wandered in from Dashiell Hammett, a Faceless Head of a Grand Criminal Organisation, a professor who eats plums and a cook called Mrs White: you get the drift.) The body count is bananas, the behaviours and dialogue suitably absurd and great fun.
The other thing is a really careful, tender, beautifully drawn picture of a marriage in trouble. Two people who love one another but have got stuck in bad places--too little time together, not enough talking, unspoken resentments and ongoing irritations. That comes across beautifully, as does the tentative efforts they're both making to do better and come back together, and the difficulty of that. It's a wonderful, serious love story threaded through a completely unserious murder plot.
I almost wonder if it works because the two halves are so different. Liza and Hanna are very real and very grounded in the now--Liza is a true crime podcaster, which is front and centre--whereas most of the cast are literally from different eras. (The Colonel is a colonial moustache type who 'did something in the war', there's a silly-ass titled amateur sleuth from the 1920s.) So the reality of Liza and Hanna's relationship stands out all the more against the brightly painted Golden Age world.
Enormous fun.
This is very much doing two things at once. One of them is a no-holds mash-up of all the Golden Age detective stories and cliches and plots, with a cast drawn from Christie, Sayers, Conan Doyle, and Cluedo to bonkers effect. (A fussy foreigner with a silly accent and a third-person self-reference habit, a femme fatale who wandered in from Dashiell Hammett, a Faceless Head of a Grand Criminal Organisation, a professor who eats plums and a cook called Mrs White: you get the drift.) The body count is bananas, the behaviours and dialogue suitably absurd and great fun.
The other thing is a really careful, tender, beautifully drawn picture of a marriage in trouble. Two people who love one another but have got stuck in bad places--too little time together, not enough talking, unspoken resentments and ongoing irritations. That comes across beautifully, as does the tentative efforts they're both making to do better and come back together, and the difficulty of that. It's a wonderful, serious love story threaded through a completely unserious murder plot.
I almost wonder if it works because the two halves are so different. Liza and Hanna are very real and very grounded in the now--Liza is a true crime podcaster, which is front and centre--whereas most of the cast are literally from different eras. (The Colonel is a colonial moustache type who 'did something in the war', there's a silly-ass titled amateur sleuth from the 1920s.) So the reality of Liza and Hanna's relationship stands out all the more against the brightly painted Golden Age world.
Enormous fun.
November 10, 2021
3.25 Stars. This was okay. I enjoyed parts of it, but as a whole the book didn’t really come together for me. I must admit, I’m pretty disappointed since I was really excited to read and hopefully love this. One of my all-time favorite sapphic investigator type characters is Kate Kane, from Hall’s Kate Kane series. When I heard they were writing another sapphic investigator type character, it gave me really high hopes, but unfortunately I didn’t connect to the main character of this book Liza, anywhere close to how I did Kate. The other main issue is I think I prefer when Hall writes more sarcastic humor, whereas this book was more quirky humor which I’m not as big of fan.
This is a mystery, and as I mentioned a very quirky one. It has that Clue style yet at times it seemed almost like it wanted to be more historical-fiction like (it’s not, it’s in modern times) but because it wasn’t historic it seemed a little clunky with odd dialogue that didn’t always fit the times. I have to be honest that I really struggle with the first half and kept putting the book down. I almost felt like I was falling into a reading slump. Luckily, the second half was much better and I read that in one sitting which was preferable for my reading style.
I mentioned not connecting with the main Liza, and I think it was mostly due to Hall writing in third person but only one POV. While you don’t have to write mysteries in first person, it is the most written perspectives in the mystery genre for a reason. Plus, the best part of writing in third is having multiple POV’s so why would you ever do just one? I didn’t connect with Liza as much as I wanted because my psychic distance was too far away not being in first, and I didn’t connect with her wife because we are never in her POV. I know I’m ranting here but I just don’t get it especially because Hall writes first person really well in their Kate Kane books.
While I just did a bunch of complaining, I did enjoy most of the mystery aspects. The whole mystery story is very over-the-top, and you have to suspend disbelief in parts, but most of it was interesting and well written. I was able to guess a few things right, but there was some that I had no idea about so that is always refreshing for me in mysteries. I think I can give this the cozy mystery tag, but if not it just barely misses it.
I also liked that the main character is in an already established married relationship. As others have mentioned, so many books have people meeting for the first time so this was a nice change. I also liked that they had some martial issues and were trying to work it out. However, I do think Hall dropped the ball on this a bit. I think it was more like ‘everything is now fine since there is a killer on the loose’, instead of them actually fixing things. But overall I think Hall was going in the right direction on the relationship.
TLDR: This is a very zany, cozy-like, mystery. I’m a huge mystery fan but the quirky feel of this book didn’t really work for me. It seemed odd to mix that feeling with a bunch of dead people, and I found myself missing Hall’s more sarcastic humor. I did think having an established sapphic married couple was a nice change of pace, but unfortunately the choice of third person, but only one POV, dampened my ability to connect to the characters. While the mystery was over-the-top, it was interesting to read and try to solve along with the main character. While this book only ended up in the okay category for me, I was so happy that Hall wrote more sapphic characters and I hope they will continue to do so. I think people who like very quirky mysteries might enjoy this more than I did.
A copy was given to me for a review.
This is a mystery, and as I mentioned a very quirky one. It has that Clue style yet at times it seemed almost like it wanted to be more historical-fiction like (it’s not, it’s in modern times) but because it wasn’t historic it seemed a little clunky with odd dialogue that didn’t always fit the times. I have to be honest that I really struggle with the first half and kept putting the book down. I almost felt like I was falling into a reading slump. Luckily, the second half was much better and I read that in one sitting which was preferable for my reading style.
I mentioned not connecting with the main Liza, and I think it was mostly due to Hall writing in third person but only one POV. While you don’t have to write mysteries in first person, it is the most written perspectives in the mystery genre for a reason. Plus, the best part of writing in third is having multiple POV’s so why would you ever do just one? I didn’t connect with Liza as much as I wanted because my psychic distance was too far away not being in first, and I didn’t connect with her wife because we are never in her POV. I know I’m ranting here but I just don’t get it especially because Hall writes first person really well in their Kate Kane books.
While I just did a bunch of complaining, I did enjoy most of the mystery aspects. The whole mystery story is very over-the-top, and you have to suspend disbelief in parts, but most of it was interesting and well written. I was able to guess a few things right, but there was some that I had no idea about so that is always refreshing for me in mysteries. I think I can give this the cozy mystery tag, but if not it just barely misses it.
I also liked that the main character is in an already established married relationship. As others have mentioned, so many books have people meeting for the first time so this was a nice change. I also liked that they had some martial issues and were trying to work it out. However, I do think Hall dropped the ball on this a bit. I think it was more like ‘everything is now fine since there is a killer on the loose’, instead of them actually fixing things. But overall I think Hall was going in the right direction on the relationship.
TLDR: This is a very zany, cozy-like, mystery. I’m a huge mystery fan but the quirky feel of this book didn’t really work for me. It seemed odd to mix that feeling with a bunch of dead people, and I found myself missing Hall’s more sarcastic humor. I did think having an established sapphic married couple was a nice change of pace, but unfortunately the choice of third person, but only one POV, dampened my ability to connect to the characters. While the mystery was over-the-top, it was interesting to read and try to solve along with the main character. While this book only ended up in the okay category for me, I was so happy that Hall wrote more sapphic characters and I hope they will continue to do so. I think people who like very quirky mysteries might enjoy this more than I did.
A copy was given to me for a review.
November 10, 2021
3.5 stars
The book was pretty goofy and quirky; in a good, fun murder-y sort of way. And I enjoyed it! rtc
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book was pretty goofy and quirky; in a good, fun murder-y sort of way. And I enjoyed it! rtc
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2021
Liza and Hanna.
They've been together for ten years now and things are not good in their marriage. That's why Hanna booked them into a castle hotel in Scotland for a romantic weekend getaway - without asking Liza - which is kinda part of their problems.
And instead of working on their relationship they land in the middle of a crazy murder mystery with all kinds of interesting hotel guests aka suspects.
Let the fun times begin ...
═════════════════
Well, that was interesting. And funny and crazy and a bit heartbreaking with their crumbling marriage.
It was like reading or watching one of those old murder mystery movie thingies where we're in some old library trying to guess who did it. You know? The Professor, the rich heir, the priest, the beautiful mysterious lady et cetera. 🤣
All those hotel guests locked in that hotel due to the snow storm and one dead guy (for starters) ... lots of suspects and mysteries and questions. Perfect for our crime podcaster Liza. But horrible for finance-numbers girl Hanna. She wanted to get away from their work to heal their marriage!
I think I don't really have to say much more - the beginning of the blurb already explains the book perfectly:
... a cozy mystery that revisits the Golden Age of detective fiction, starring a heroine who’s more podcaster than private eye and topped with a lethal dose of parody -- perfect for fans of Clue, Knives Out, and Only Murders in the Building!
I really liked detectiving with Liza and Hanna in this beautiful but slightly creepy setting! I so wouldn't mind seeing this as a movie!
I didn't love the extreme British-ness of the book. It needs to be British to be amazing - to be what it needs/wants to be, but it was a little bit too much for me. There were soo many expressions and words and names thrown in that a non-English person just doesn't know what to do with.
Also, the beginning of sentences were often weird. When someone talked, they kind of stuttered. "I... uh...it's...I...uhm." I know what it's supposed to achieve - and it would make sense if this were a movie, but in a book it just stops my reading flow. 😏
But still - I loved reading it. It wasn't edge-of-your-seat thrillerish, but it was cute and cozy and snowy and mysterious and dangerous ... just a cozy fun couch read!
MURDER MOST ACTUAL was a fun, cozy, snowy, British murder mystery! Run to your nearest bookstore to find out who the bad guy(s)/girl(s) is/are - and to see if Liza and Hanna will survive their romantic weekend! 😱
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November 29, 2021
What great fun this book was!
Cozy mystery in the style of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes but with f/f marriage in trouble romance subplot.
Light-hearted at times, dead (see what I did there :) serious - at others.
This is a charming cozy mystery a la Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes but with a f/f marriage in trouble romance subplot and I greatly enjoyed it.
The writing is brilliant as usual and had me engaged throughout the whole story. The murder mystery investigation is so over-the-top and charming and hilarious and I loved it. The marriage in trouble was my favourite part though. I found it to be very touching and real and I loved seeing two people who in a long-term relationship dealing some serious issues that have come up in their relationship. They love each but it does not automatically fix things between them. There are a lot of honest talks and confessions and apologies to be made but the support and the care are there and I am hopeful that Liza and Hanna will find their way back to each other.
The story is full of clever nods to staples in the detective novel genre - a group of strangers are snowed in (at Easter, mind you!) with no wifi/telephone connection, a slew of murders, a criminal mastermind, a femme fatale, a meddlesome amateur detective. It's ridiculous but also a lot of fun to read.
I highly recommend it if you like gorgeous writing telling a story that explores a romantic relationship in trouble while solving a classic murder mystery in the mean time.
Cozy mystery in the style of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes but with f/f marriage in trouble romance subplot.
Light-hearted at times, dead (see what I did there :) serious - at others.
This is a charming cozy mystery a la Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes but with a f/f marriage in trouble romance subplot and I greatly enjoyed it.
The writing is brilliant as usual and had me engaged throughout the whole story. The murder mystery investigation is so over-the-top and charming and hilarious and I loved it. The marriage in trouble was my favourite part though. I found it to be very touching and real and I loved seeing two people who in a long-term relationship dealing some serious issues that have come up in their relationship. They love each but it does not automatically fix things between them. There are a lot of honest talks and confessions and apologies to be made but the support and the care are there and I am hopeful that Liza and Hanna will find their way back to each other.
The story is full of clever nods to staples in the detective novel genre - a group of strangers are snowed in (at Easter, mind you!) with no wifi/telephone connection, a slew of murders, a criminal mastermind, a femme fatale, a meddlesome amateur detective. It's ridiculous but also a lot of fun to read.
I highly recommend it if you like gorgeous writing telling a story that explores a romantic relationship in trouble while solving a classic murder mystery in the mean time.
October 31, 2021
This fun, frothy murder mystery is basically perfect for people who aren’t super into serious murder mysteries on account of the grimdark vibe of, y’know, all the murders. People who enjoy a good whodunnit but would prefer not to have to feel awful about people getting murdered really rather frequently. I.e., people like me. It’s a cosy, quick read with a great, appropriately dramatic and atmospheric setting. It’s witty and sparkly, it draws you right in, and the only thing it asks of you is to roll with the murder plot and for god’s sake don’t try to take it too seriously.
In the midst of all the whacky murdery fun, though, you can absolutely take the main characters seriously, which I thought balanced the story out beautifully. I loved Liza and Hanna and their extremely rocky relationship, which was handled with care and empathy. Among the cheerfully Cluedo-inspired game pieces that make up the side characters, they stood out as real people with real problems, and their struggle to save their marriage (in between trying not to get murdered or framed for murder) brought some wonderful emotional depth to the story. They both have legitimate issues with the way things are going, but they (mostly) try to communicate like adults and work on finding solutions rather than lashing out at each other, which was lovely. Did I occasionally wish that there was even more of a deep dive into their relationship and their issues as a couple? Sure, but that’s because I know how excellent Alexis Hall is at emotional deep dives, not because it was a lack in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In the midst of all the whacky murdery fun, though, you can absolutely take the main characters seriously, which I thought balanced the story out beautifully. I loved Liza and Hanna and their extremely rocky relationship, which was handled with care and empathy. Among the cheerfully Cluedo-inspired game pieces that make up the side characters, they stood out as real people with real problems, and their struggle to save their marriage (in between trying not to get murdered or framed for murder) brought some wonderful emotional depth to the story. They both have legitimate issues with the way things are going, but they (mostly) try to communicate like adults and work on finding solutions rather than lashing out at each other, which was lovely. Did I occasionally wish that there was even more of a deep dive into their relationship and their issues as a couple? Sure, but that’s because I know how excellent Alexis Hall is at emotional deep dives, not because it was a lack in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2022
Ok, listen up, this book was such a treat!
Among thrillers, detective and police procedural type books, murder mysteries are my jam! I love a good mystery and I love a good murder. Uhm, let's rephrase that. I don't love murder, but I do enjoy reading about it. Nope, still not better. Let's move on.
I've been a big fan of Columbo, Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes ever since I was a kid, so this book was just up my alley.
Murder mystery + a bit of domestic drama + Alexis Hall's writing = a fabulous time.
I loved the structure of the book, even the chapter names were brilliant. The pacing is quite perfect, the characters are a bunch of ridiculous individuals, and those things combined made the entire experience so much fun.
However, murderous aspect aside, what I liked most was the portrayal of Liza and Hanna's relationship. Ah, that got to me on a very personal level because, you know, married life really is hard. Life in general is hard. I don't know, I got extremely emotional reading those parts because I could see myself in so many of them.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Rakuten Kobo for giving me a copy of this book. I am extremely grateful.
Among thrillers, detective and police procedural type books, murder mysteries are my jam! I love a good mystery and I love a good murder. Uhm, let's rephrase that. I don't love murder, but I do enjoy reading about it. Nope, still not better. Let's move on.
I've been a big fan of Columbo, Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes ever since I was a kid, so this book was just up my alley.
Murder mystery + a bit of domestic drama + Alexis Hall's writing = a fabulous time.
I loved the structure of the book, even the chapter names were brilliant. The pacing is quite perfect, the characters are a bunch of ridiculous individuals, and those things combined made the entire experience so much fun.
However, murderous aspect aside, what I liked most was the portrayal of Liza and Hanna's relationship. Ah, that got to me on a very personal level because, you know, married life really is hard. Life in general is hard. I don't know, I got extremely emotional reading those parts because I could see myself in so many of them.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Rakuten Kobo for giving me a copy of this book. I am extremely grateful.
November 17, 2021
Sometimes all a failing marriage needs, are a few murders to spice things up. Some couples, when drifting apart, might feel that a holiday could help them reconnect. Liza and Hanna do too, but what actually does the trick is... murder. Maybe not so surprising, since Liza is a true crime podcaster. Hanna, however, isn't a true crime fan, and this is part of where they clash.
This is my fourth or fifth Alexis Hall book, and while it's a different genre, since what I've read before were romances, this has the exact same feel to it, and the dry, sarcastic writing style I've come to love. I also love the way Alexis Hall plays with genres and how this pulls directly from classic murder mysteries like Agatha Christie's, while also being tongue in cheek about those. There's a humorous undercurrent throughout the entire book that I really enjoyed.
All of this would make this book into a 5 star read, but unfortunately I wasn't the biggest fan of the murder mystery itself. It was intriguing enough to start with, but I found that it wrapped up quite messily and I think that was a shame.
This is my fourth or fifth Alexis Hall book, and while it's a different genre, since what I've read before were romances, this has the exact same feel to it, and the dry, sarcastic writing style I've come to love. I also love the way Alexis Hall plays with genres and how this pulls directly from classic murder mysteries like Agatha Christie's, while also being tongue in cheek about those. There's a humorous undercurrent throughout the entire book that I really enjoyed.
All of this would make this book into a 5 star read, but unfortunately I wasn't the biggest fan of the murder mystery itself. It was intriguing enough to start with, but I found that it wrapped up quite messily and I think that was a shame.
November 18, 2021
I enjoyed this book and it was definitely different from anything I've read before. I mostly agree with KJ Charles's review (here), except I'm not sure if I agree that the combination worked.
The mystery plot is openly silly, and the humor did work for me because it's very absurd. But I also didn't care about any of the characters except for Liza and Hanna. This is an interesting contrast to The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, which is also pretty absurd; I cared about the bizarre characters in many of the adventures, because they felt real to me. The characters in this book, though, seem like cartoons. So that aspect of the book is extremely lightweight, but the humor is exactly what I like.
A "marriage in trouble" plot isn't my usual taste as a reader, but whenever it was going to places I was uncomfortable with, the mystery picked back up. There's also a third thread to this story, of Liza gaining self-confidence in her career. I really liked the drawing-room wrap-up scene, because of the description of Liza's emotions at that moment. It was the emotional climax of the book for me and it worked very well.
Overall this book felt kind of experimental, but it was a fun read. I laughed out loud so many times. I appreciate that Alexis Hall continues writing different kinds of books and bringing us so much entertaining genre fiction with queer characters.
The mystery plot is openly silly, and the humor did work for me because it's very absurd. But I also didn't care about any of the characters except for Liza and Hanna. This is an interesting contrast to The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, which is also pretty absurd; I cared about the bizarre characters in many of the adventures, because they felt real to me. The characters in this book, though, seem like cartoons. So that aspect of the book is extremely lightweight, but the humor is exactly what I like.
A "marriage in trouble" plot isn't my usual taste as a reader, but whenever it was going to places I was uncomfortable with, the mystery picked back up. There's also a third thread to this story, of Liza gaining self-confidence in her career. I really liked the drawing-room wrap-up scene, because of the description of Liza's emotions at that moment. It was the emotional climax of the book for me and it worked very well.
Overall this book felt kind of experimental, but it was a fun read. I laughed out loud so many times. I appreciate that Alexis Hall continues writing different kinds of books and bringing us so much entertaining genre fiction with queer characters.
November 14, 2021
Five solid stars.
This was so entertaining and SO MUCH FUN! Engaging, well written, and full of quirky characters.
This was so entertaining and SO MUCH FUN! Engaging, well written, and full of quirky characters.
Read
November 23, 2021DNF @ 68%.
I don't think I'm the right reader for this. I generally don't gravitate toward mysteries/cozy mysteries so it's very likely that some of the winks/Easter eggs were lost on me. I struggled to get invested in the mystery, and the relationship angles felt underdeveloped for me, so I wasn't getting enough to be invested there either. I know a lot of people aren't fans of the "marriage/relationship in trouble" trope, but I actually quite like it and those parts didn't bother me. In some ways, I almost wanted more of the relationship exploration without the interruption of the mystery.
I don't think I'm the right reader for this. I generally don't gravitate toward mysteries/cozy mysteries so it's very likely that some of the winks/Easter eggs were lost on me. I struggled to get invested in the mystery, and the relationship angles felt underdeveloped for me, so I wasn't getting enough to be invested there either. I know a lot of people aren't fans of the "marriage/relationship in trouble" trope, but I actually quite like it and those parts didn't bother me. In some ways, I almost wanted more of the relationship exploration without the interruption of the mystery.
November 2, 2021
I was sent this book as an advance copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
I had so much fun reading this cozy murder mystery featuring an established couple of lesbians and a weird bunch of hotel guests.
One of the things I loved is how the not-so-serious tone is set right away so that you don't end up expecting something this book is not. Maybe it's because I've had Ace Attorney on my mind lately, but some characters and some dialogues reminded me so much of some of the ridiculousness you might find in that game series, and I say this in the most positive way. Despite the lightness of it, the danger in the atmosphere is still tangible as you keep reading, so I think the book really gives you the sense of "fun mystery" in all its aspects.
I loved Liza, the true crime podcaster whose marriage to Hanna is going through a bit of a crisis. I'm always a little torn about established relationships in fiction, especially when the story arc is about fixing it, but I liked how their problems felt real and kind of...down to earth? In a sort of mundane way. And I like how that ties in to the overall theme of the book. I also saw a lot of my own ADHD in Liza and I could relate to her so much, even though she never mentions she is and I'm not sure if the author wrote her with ADHD in mind. But she just made sense to me in a way neurotypical protagonists sometimes don't.
While I liked the ending I also found it a little underwhelming, and I think some details that I took note of throughout the book since I thought were going to be important for the mystery turned out to be nothing. I also didn't understand why this was set over the Easter weekend since it didn't really match nor publication date nor the more typically-wintery snowy setting. At some point I realized that the guests had spent the actual Easter Sunday in the hotel and I don't think it was even mentioned at all, not even by the actual vicar present? Anyway, those are all minor details that I thought about after reading and didn't actually impact my reading.
Overall I highly recommend this if you're into murder mysteries that don't take themselves too seriously and are just in for a fun time.
TWs from the author site: Murder (happens off page but is discussed), threat of violence, mentions of blood
4.5 stars
I had so much fun reading this cozy murder mystery featuring an established couple of lesbians and a weird bunch of hotel guests.
One of the things I loved is how the not-so-serious tone is set right away so that you don't end up expecting something this book is not. Maybe it's because I've had Ace Attorney on my mind lately, but some characters and some dialogues reminded me so much of some of the ridiculousness you might find in that game series, and I say this in the most positive way. Despite the lightness of it, the danger in the atmosphere is still tangible as you keep reading, so I think the book really gives you the sense of "fun mystery" in all its aspects.
I loved Liza, the true crime podcaster whose marriage to Hanna is going through a bit of a crisis. I'm always a little torn about established relationships in fiction, especially when the story arc is about fixing it, but I liked how their problems felt real and kind of...down to earth? In a sort of mundane way. And I like how that ties in to the overall theme of the book. I also saw a lot of my own ADHD in Liza and I could relate to her so much, even though she never mentions she is and I'm not sure if the author wrote her with ADHD in mind. But she just made sense to me in a way neurotypical protagonists sometimes don't.
While I liked the ending I also found it a little underwhelming, and I think some details that I took note of throughout the book since I thought were going to be important for the mystery turned out to be nothing. I also didn't understand why this was set over the Easter weekend since it didn't really match nor publication date nor the more typically-wintery snowy setting. At some point I realized that the guests had spent the actual Easter Sunday in the hotel and I don't think it was even mentioned at all, not even by the actual vicar present? Anyway, those are all minor details that I thought about after reading and didn't actually impact my reading.
Overall I highly recommend this if you're into murder mysteries that don't take themselves too seriously and are just in for a fun time.
TWs from the author site: Murder (happens off page but is discussed), threat of violence, mentions of blood
November 9, 2021
4 STARS!
This was a fun and witty "cozy" mystery about Liza and Hanna, a couple who decide to take some time away to work on their crumbling marriage. But, instead of being able to focus on their relationship, they find themselves right slap in the middle of a wild murder mystery.
I am a true crime junkie. My husband and I actually just finished Only Murders in the Building, which was fantastic, by the way, and highly worth the watch. We pretty much watch all the crime shows we can get our eyes on, and I also love a good true crime podcast.
This story had the feel of Clue or even Adam Sandler's Murder Mystery. Liza and Hanna are staying at a hotel in Scotland when a snow storm hits, and all the guests get locked in the building...along with a dead guy. One dead guy...for starters.
Liza is actually a very successful crime pod caster...something that's a bit of a sore subject at the moment since there were recent romantic rumors about her and her co-star...
This was such an entertaining read that I loved curling up with, with witty writing and an interesting cast of side characters (aka - suspects). It kept me guessing right up until the very end, and even then I was wrong!
I would recommend it to pretty much any fans of thriller/mystery/suspense reads, or even newbies to this genre who are just looking to dip their toe in to see if it's for them.
I did find some of the British expressions kind of hard to follow. I even had to look a few up because I had no idea what they were talking about.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely read Alexis Hall again!
... a cozy mystery that revisits the Golden Age of detective fiction, starring a heroine who’s more podcaster than private eye and topped with a lethal dose of parody -- perfect for fans of Clue, Knives Out, and Only Murders in the Building!
This was a fun and witty "cozy" mystery about Liza and Hanna, a couple who decide to take some time away to work on their crumbling marriage. But, instead of being able to focus on their relationship, they find themselves right slap in the middle of a wild murder mystery.
I am a true crime junkie. My husband and I actually just finished Only Murders in the Building, which was fantastic, by the way, and highly worth the watch. We pretty much watch all the crime shows we can get our eyes on, and I also love a good true crime podcast.
This story had the feel of Clue or even Adam Sandler's Murder Mystery. Liza and Hanna are staying at a hotel in Scotland when a snow storm hits, and all the guests get locked in the building...along with a dead guy. One dead guy...for starters.
Liza is actually a very successful crime pod caster...something that's a bit of a sore subject at the moment since there were recent romantic rumors about her and her co-star...
This was such an entertaining read that I loved curling up with, with witty writing and an interesting cast of side characters (aka - suspects). It kept me guessing right up until the very end, and even then I was wrong!
I would recommend it to pretty much any fans of thriller/mystery/suspense reads, or even newbies to this genre who are just looking to dip their toe in to see if it's for them.
I did find some of the British expressions kind of hard to follow. I even had to look a few up because I had no idea what they were talking about.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely read Alexis Hall again!
October 31, 2021
This is a tough review to write because I enjoyed the elements individually but not together. I liked the murder mystery; it was very clever. I liked that the romance was unique: it's about a lesbian couple going through a hard marriage and trying to make their relationship work again. But something about this book just didn't do it for me.
For starters, it's just... Silly. Ridiculous. I know this is Alexis Hall (I loved Boyfriend Material!!) but the humor felt too over the top here. Like, despite being a murder mystery, there is only so much suspension of disbelief I can handle. I understand it's also meant to be a satire, but then you have a weird experience with reconciling the tone... Are we meant to laugh or be horrified...
It didn't help that certain very important side characters really annoyed me. I was fine with our MCs individually but I honestly didn't understand why they were together? And yeah, the point of the book is that they're trying to remember too, but it doesn't make that a compelling romance.
Despite my lukewarm feelings about the first half, the second half redeemed itself and it's the reason I bumped it up to 3 stars instead of a 2. Again, I enjoyed the mystery aspect but everything else was just very meh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For starters, it's just... Silly. Ridiculous. I know this is Alexis Hall (I loved Boyfriend Material!!) but the humor felt too over the top here. Like, despite being a murder mystery, there is only so much suspension of disbelief I can handle. I understand it's also meant to be a satire, but then you have a weird experience with reconciling the tone... Are we meant to laugh or be horrified...
It didn't help that certain very important side characters really annoyed me. I was fine with our MCs individually but I honestly didn't understand why they were together? And yeah, the point of the book is that they're trying to remember too, but it doesn't make that a compelling romance.
Despite my lukewarm feelings about the first half, the second half redeemed itself and it's the reason I bumped it up to 3 stars instead of a 2. Again, I enjoyed the mystery aspect but everything else was just very meh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2021
I love a game of Clue or an Agatha Christie book every once in a while. This one combines these two, adds in established lesbian couple and it's about as good as you’d expect it to be.
First things first, there are some characters that speak in a sort of manner that just pulls me out I the story. I understand why the author did it, it's supposed to fit in with the feel of the book and the setting. For me this just doesn't work. A lot happens in this book over a long weekend but there are certain things that just don't seem to fit. Running low on food supplies for example, even though people are dying and there are less moutsphs to feed. Overall I think there is too much going on in too short of a time, doesn't add up.
The things that did work for me, chapter titles in Clue style, I loved it. An established lesbian couple as our main characters, one of which is a true crime podcaster, and she, Liza, is taking the lead in solving this puzzle of a weekend. The other half of the couple, Hanna, isn't too happy it it. Add to that their relationship woos (the actual reason they are in the expensive weekend getaway) and it makes for some realistic discussions, in a at times over the top cozy mystery setting.
Most of the time we don't get to read about established couples in lesfic, it's refreshing to see one. And to have them have troubles makes for the most realistic scenes in the book, the most heartfelt ones in my opinion. I actually would have liked to see them hash it out some more, we see hints of it and I know it isn't the main theme of the book, it does play a big role in the story. I just feel like we never get enough of it. Another tho that caught my eye is the way the story is told, at ties I thought we were “listening” to Liza’s podcast, later I figured it was the testimony to the police, and other times I supposed the story was just being told, but the tenses used make it hard for me to come up with a final verdict. I didn't mind it much, but it just left me wondering.
Overall I enjoyed it, you shouldn't get into reading this thinking it is a serious crime/mystery book. It's a cozy mystery with lots of murders and quirky characters. Enjoy playing this game of Clue disguised as a book.
Solid 3.5 stars from me.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
First things first, there are some characters that speak in a sort of manner that just pulls me out I the story. I understand why the author did it, it's supposed to fit in with the feel of the book and the setting. For me this just doesn't work. A lot happens in this book over a long weekend but there are certain things that just don't seem to fit. Running low on food supplies for example, even though people are dying and there are less moutsphs to feed. Overall I think there is too much going on in too short of a time, doesn't add up.
The things that did work for me, chapter titles in Clue style, I loved it. An established lesbian couple as our main characters, one of which is a true crime podcaster, and she, Liza, is taking the lead in solving this puzzle of a weekend. The other half of the couple, Hanna, isn't too happy it it. Add to that their relationship woos (the actual reason they are in the expensive weekend getaway) and it makes for some realistic discussions, in a at times over the top cozy mystery setting.
Most of the time we don't get to read about established couples in lesfic, it's refreshing to see one. And to have them have troubles makes for the most realistic scenes in the book, the most heartfelt ones in my opinion. I actually would have liked to see them hash it out some more, we see hints of it and I know it isn't the main theme of the book, it does play a big role in the story. I just feel like we never get enough of it. Another tho that caught my eye is the way the story is told, at ties I thought we were “listening” to Liza’s podcast, later I figured it was the testimony to the police, and other times I supposed the story was just being told, but the tenses used make it hard for me to come up with a final verdict. I didn't mind it much, but it just left me wondering.
Overall I enjoyed it, you shouldn't get into reading this thinking it is a serious crime/mystery book. It's a cozy mystery with lots of murders and quirky characters. Enjoy playing this game of Clue disguised as a book.
Solid 3.5 stars from me.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
November 10, 2021
This was a cute cozy mystery full of Clue and Agatha Christie bits (and probably others I don’t recognize).
It is a queer cozy mystery with romantic elements. Liza and Hanna have been together for 10 years, but their marriage has lost its spark. So they travel to the Scottish Highlands for a long weekend. Thus starts an Agatha Christie-esque weekend of murder and mayhem that only true crime podcaster Liza can solve!
If you like cozy mysteries (or Agatha Christie mysteries, especially Poirot), pick this up. I had no idea who the bad guy (or gal) was until the end.
It is a queer cozy mystery with romantic elements. Liza and Hanna have been together for 10 years, but their marriage has lost its spark. So they travel to the Scottish Highlands for a long weekend. Thus starts an Agatha Christie-esque weekend of murder and mayhem that only true crime podcaster Liza can solve!
If you like cozy mysteries (or Agatha Christie mysteries, especially Poirot), pick this up. I had no idea who the bad guy (or gal) was until the end.
Read
December 28, 2021I completely understand the Clue comparison: this is a murder mystery that is more wacky hijinks than serious drama, and there are also more direct references to the game/movie. The writing also reminds me of the wit and weirdness of Clue dialogue. Hanna remarks, "It’s like she’s come to a costume party as the abstract concept of heteronormative sex.” An awkward moment is described as: "the words still hung in the air like really unwelcome snowflakes." All together, these elements make it feel like a murder mystery party performance.
There's an interesting contrast between this theatrical setting and characters with the sometimes painfully realistic depiction of a marriage on the rocks. The know each other deeply and care about each other a lot, but every disagreement is connected to every other argument they've ever had. There are layers of subtext to conversations. They walk on eggshells and take offence easily with each other--while also being protective of the other to anyone else. I think it worked well to ground the story and it gave it stakes, even when the murders don't have that same gravity.
There were lots of elements I loved, but I did feel like the middle dragged a bit. I was expecting to rave about this, but I didn't connect quite as much as I expected to. That's an intangible, vague complaint though, and I still liked it overall and had fun reading it.
Full review at the Lesbrary. (Review goes up Dec 31st.)
There's an interesting contrast between this theatrical setting and characters with the sometimes painfully realistic depiction of a marriage on the rocks. The know each other deeply and care about each other a lot, but every disagreement is connected to every other argument they've ever had. There are layers of subtext to conversations. They walk on eggshells and take offence easily with each other--while also being protective of the other to anyone else. I think it worked well to ground the story and it gave it stakes, even when the murders don't have that same gravity.
There were lots of elements I loved, but I did feel like the middle dragged a bit. I was expecting to rave about this, but I didn't connect quite as much as I expected to. That's an intangible, vague complaint though, and I still liked it overall and had fun reading it.
Full review at the Lesbrary. (Review goes up Dec 31st.)
Read
January 18, 2024DNF @ 18%. I’m going to put this in the same category as the Kate Kane series (or the first book in that series, technically, because I never got further) - aspiring to too high a concept within its particular sub-sub-genre(s). I liked the MCs and the relationship plotline, and I like the idea of this book, but every time a parodical side character speaks the joke ends up being hit a little too hard, for too long, and I lose interest.
Probably not helped by the fact that I prefer murder mysteries to be extremely well-edited if I’m going to read them all the way through. In such a predictable genre I expect authors to be able to bring some degree of originality to the table to balance all the tropes - and this book just isn’t bringing enough, at least in what I’ve read so far.
Probably not helped by the fact that I prefer murder mysteries to be extremely well-edited if I’m going to read them all the way through. In such a predictable genre I expect authors to be able to bring some degree of originality to the table to balance all the tropes - and this book just isn’t bringing enough, at least in what I’ve read so far.
October 30, 2021
You know the feeling, when you reach the end of a great mystery, and you have the urge to go back and look at all the moving parts to see how they fit together? Yeah. A bit of that.
Alternating between delight over a perfect turn of phrase and wondering what chaos would happen next, Alexis kept me guessing right to the end. And when I thought I’d figured it out, he proved me wrong again.
What a messy and hilarious game of Cluedo this was.
Alternating between delight over a perfect turn of phrase and wondering what chaos would happen next, Alexis kept me guessing right to the end. And when I thought I’d figured it out, he proved me wrong again.
What a messy and hilarious game of Cluedo this was.
November 22, 2021
This was my first foray into cozy mysteries. Normally I am not into mysteries (unless they are historical), but this being Alexis Hall, whose books I have previously enjoyed, I thought I would give it a go. Sadly, I just don't think this genre is for me. The writing was fine, the characters were fun and the mystery was interesting, but I still couldn't fully engage with the story. And I think that is because of the genre, it just doesn't do it for me. So if you enjoy cozy mysteries, please give this a try. I think you might like it 😊
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 10 Criminally Underrated YA Books with an LGBTQ Twist
November 24, 2021
Headlines:
Marriage on the rocks
Murders around every corner
Banter for days
Cosy mysteries aren't really my thing but Alexis Hall's books are totally my thing, so I thought I'd give this read a try. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
Murder Most Actual was purposely farcical and far fetched but the characters, particularly Liza and Hanna had you buying into the story. The dialogue and banter between these two was honestly hilarious and had me laughing out loud numerous times. I enjoyed the background depiction of a marriage stalled and their attempts to find their way back to common ground. The murders pretty much thwarted this plan though.
"Did you not hear the scream?"
"Yes, I heard the scream." Hanna was giving her a what-the-fuck look.
"That's why I'm staying in bed."
The cast of characters were an eclectic mix to put it mildly with only Hanna and Liza likeable. As bodies began to fall, working out the perpetrator was on the one hand, simple and on the other hand, more complex than I thought. Expect to be stretched to ridiculous ends and just go with the flow.
I loved the chapter headings, cluedo-style. While this cosy mystery didn't always float my boat, Alexis Hall brought his signature humour to the table and made me like it more than I would have without his wit and intelligence behind the pen.
Thank you to Kobo/netgalley for th early review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Marriage on the rocks
Murders around every corner
Banter for days
Cosy mysteries aren't really my thing but Alexis Hall's books are totally my thing, so I thought I'd give this read a try. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
Murder Most Actual was purposely farcical and far fetched but the characters, particularly Liza and Hanna had you buying into the story. The dialogue and banter between these two was honestly hilarious and had me laughing out loud numerous times. I enjoyed the background depiction of a marriage stalled and their attempts to find their way back to common ground. The murders pretty much thwarted this plan though.
"Did you not hear the scream?"
"Yes, I heard the scream." Hanna was giving her a what-the-fuck look.
"That's why I'm staying in bed."
The cast of characters were an eclectic mix to put it mildly with only Hanna and Liza likeable. As bodies began to fall, working out the perpetrator was on the one hand, simple and on the other hand, more complex than I thought. Expect to be stretched to ridiculous ends and just go with the flow.
I loved the chapter headings, cluedo-style. While this cosy mystery didn't always float my boat, Alexis Hall brought his signature humour to the table and made me like it more than I would have without his wit and intelligence behind the pen.
Thank you to Kobo/netgalley for th early review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
November 4, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really (really!) wanted to like this book, and I fully expected to. Firstly, because Alexis Hall wrote it, and he wrote Boyfriend Material, an all time favourite of mine.
Secondly, because it has an Agatha Christie-ish mystery and I am such a sucker for a good mystery.
Thirdly because the story takes place in a snowed-in Scottish hotel.
However: the story was boring. I had to drag myself through the various murders and was constantly tempted to skip pages. The pacing was all wrong.
The characters were very unlikeable, although I don't think this was intentionally.
I also didn't like how often the word "wife" was used, it seemed like Alexis Hall was overjoyed to have a lesbian couple in his book, and had to keep reminding himself that this was actually happening.
The ending was just...no. There's Agatha Christie far-fetched and there's Alexis Hall far-fetched and the latter is not something I enjoy. It was messy, it was unnecessary and it was very annoying.
What I did like: how Liza and Hannah's marriage slowly healed. Apparently Alexis Hall is just a lot better at writing relationships than mysteries.
I really (really!) wanted to like this book, and I fully expected to. Firstly, because Alexis Hall wrote it, and he wrote Boyfriend Material, an all time favourite of mine.
Secondly, because it has an Agatha Christie-ish mystery and I am such a sucker for a good mystery.
Thirdly because the story takes place in a snowed-in Scottish hotel.
However: the story was boring. I had to drag myself through the various murders and was constantly tempted to skip pages. The pacing was all wrong.
The characters were very unlikeable, although I don't think this was intentionally.
I also didn't like how often the word "wife" was used, it seemed like Alexis Hall was overjoyed to have a lesbian couple in his book, and had to keep reminding himself that this was actually happening.
The ending was just...no. There's Agatha Christie far-fetched and there's Alexis Hall far-fetched and the latter is not something I enjoy. It was messy, it was unnecessary and it was very annoying.
What I did like: how Liza and Hannah's marriage slowly healed. Apparently Alexis Hall is just a lot better at writing relationships than mysteries.
January 13, 2023
This was fun, but I think I like Alexis Hall's romances better than his mysteries. Loved all the references for mystery lovers. This book is very playful. Not a huge fan of "marriage in trouble" stories, so that probably had a lot to do with as well, but I liked the ending so rounding up.
[3.5 stars]
[3.5 stars]
November 10, 2021
New book from Alexis Hall? Sign me up and stay all night to read it!
Murder most actual is the perfect story for any reader who wants to get lost in a beautiful Scottish setting, a ten years old marriage on the rocks, a gateway holidays with some smart laughs and murder after murder to unveil an unexpected culprit for me.
If you haven’t read the author before, try it out and you won’t regret it .
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.
Murder most actual is the perfect story for any reader who wants to get lost in a beautiful Scottish setting, a ten years old marriage on the rocks, a gateway holidays with some smart laughs and murder after murder to unveil an unexpected culprit for me.
If you haven’t read the author before, try it out and you won’t regret it .
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.
November 18, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
This was such a fun book! Despite there being a lot of murder going on throughout the whole book, it was still a light read.
I haven’t played Clue in YEARS (I’m thinking 25 years? like, when I was 12yo?), so it took me a minute to notice that all of the OG characters are in this book. I was trying so hard to figure out whodunnit, but it kept me guessing until the end. I freaking LOVED the chapter titles, they were just so perfect. And despite this definitely being a cozy mystery, which I usually don’t read, it still had all the goodness of an AJH novel, which l am 100% here for. Also, I’ve been craving porridge brûlée ever since I read about it in the book, and then immediately googled it (how is it even possible to crave something I’ve never even had???).
So, one of the plots in the book is ‘a marriage in trouble’ and I actually really liked how that whole storyline was written. I really liked that they got to a better place by just realizing that they’re not in the same place they were when they met or when they got married and that’s okay. I really connected with that, because I think my own marriage is pretty similar to that; we are definitely not the same people we were when we met 22 years ago.
Overall, very much fun, highly recommend.
This was such a fun book! Despite there being a lot of murder going on throughout the whole book, it was still a light read.
I haven’t played Clue in YEARS (I’m thinking 25 years? like, when I was 12yo?), so it took me a minute to notice that all of the OG characters are in this book. I was trying so hard to figure out whodunnit, but it kept me guessing until the end. I freaking LOVED the chapter titles, they were just so perfect. And despite this definitely being a cozy mystery, which I usually don’t read, it still had all the goodness of an AJH novel, which l am 100% here for. Also, I’ve been craving porridge brûlée ever since I read about it in the book, and then immediately googled it (how is it even possible to crave something I’ve never even had???).
So, one of the plots in the book is ‘a marriage in trouble’ and I actually really liked how that whole storyline was written. I really liked that they got to a better place by just realizing that they’re not in the same place they were when they met or when they got married and that’s okay. I really connected with that, because I think my own marriage is pretty similar to that; we are definitely not the same people we were when we met 22 years ago.
Overall, very much fun, highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This was enjoyable overall! I really loved all of the references to Clue here with the chapter titles (like person, in this room, with this object), locations, and little things like the colonel was in a mustard-colored room. This was quite fun and cheesy (in a good way!).
The pacing was alright overall. There were moments of danger and excitement, but there were also moments digging into the main characters' relationship which did sometimes drag. It felt like this story was trying to be both a murder mystery and a romance, and it just didn't quite blend together well for me.
The setting was fabulous! The characters are snowed in at this hotel in the Scottish Highlands, so I loved this closed circle/locked room type element. Admittedly, the story does get a bit silly at times with conspiracies, but it's pretty amusing overall. It definitely has some funny moments but also some serious ones as well. I liked the mystery itself, and I didn't really guess who did it.
Liza was enjoyable overall. I liked how she has a true crime podcast and that she wants to solve these murders. She's smart but obviously not a professional detective, so I liked seeing where she guesses things correctly and where she doesn't. There are some nice moments where Liza and her wife Hanna work on their relationship. They've been married a while and have drifted apart, and I liked seeing if these events bring them closer together or not. I also liked seeing Hanna realize some things about Liza and try to support her.
I very much enjoyed Ruby, a mysterious woman at the hotel. I found her to be quite funny and brazen. The rest of the characters are a mix of personalities - there's a private investigator, wealthy people, a clergyman, a professor, and more. It's fun to see how people are connected (if they are) and if they're based on someone from Clue!
This was an enjoyable book overall! I would recommend it, especially if you're a fan of closed circle/locked room murder mysteries.
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.
This was enjoyable overall! I really loved all of the references to Clue here with the chapter titles (like person, in this room, with this object), locations, and little things like the colonel was in a mustard-colored room. This was quite fun and cheesy (in a good way!).
The pacing was alright overall. There were moments of danger and excitement, but there were also moments digging into the main characters' relationship which did sometimes drag. It felt like this story was trying to be both a murder mystery and a romance, and it just didn't quite blend together well for me.
The setting was fabulous! The characters are snowed in at this hotel in the Scottish Highlands, so I loved this closed circle/locked room type element. Admittedly, the story does get a bit silly at times with conspiracies, but it's pretty amusing overall. It definitely has some funny moments but also some serious ones as well. I liked the mystery itself, and I didn't really guess who did it.
Liza was enjoyable overall. I liked how she has a true crime podcast and that she wants to solve these murders. She's smart but obviously not a professional detective, so I liked seeing where she guesses things correctly and where she doesn't. There are some nice moments where Liza and her wife Hanna work on their relationship. They've been married a while and have drifted apart, and I liked seeing if these events bring them closer together or not. I also liked seeing Hanna realize some things about Liza and try to support her.
I very much enjoyed Ruby, a mysterious woman at the hotel. I found her to be quite funny and brazen. The rest of the characters are a mix of personalities - there's a private investigator, wealthy people, a clergyman, a professor, and more. It's fun to see how people are connected (if they are) and if they're based on someone from Clue!
This was an enjoyable book overall! I would recommend it, especially if you're a fan of closed circle/locked room murder mysteries.
I received a copy of this for review from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Kobo Originals for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review. I’ve really enjoyed the other Alexis Hall books I’ve read in the past, so when I saw this I wanted to read it immediately- even though I’m not always a mystery lover.
I loved the podcaster crime solver, as she was inexperienced enough to be fun to follow and yet had some insight from studying how other murderers were caught. I had some ideas of who did it, but I really just enjoyed following along for the ride. I also really liked the marriage in jeopardy/working on relationship situation, especially as they talked and came to understand each other better. Definitely recommend for Agatha Christie fans who would like an updated, diverse cast of characters, queer romance fans who’d like to dip their toes into a mystery, and anyone who likes true crime podcasts and wonders how they would do if murders started popping up around them.
I loved the podcaster crime solver, as she was inexperienced enough to be fun to follow and yet had some insight from studying how other murderers were caught. I had some ideas of who did it, but I really just enjoyed following along for the ride. I also really liked the marriage in jeopardy/working on relationship situation, especially as they talked and came to understand each other better. Definitely recommend for Agatha Christie fans who would like an updated, diverse cast of characters, queer romance fans who’d like to dip their toes into a mystery, and anyone who likes true crime podcasts and wonders how they would do if murders started popping up around them.
November 9, 2021
Auto-buy author for me! I see Alexis Hall, I read it. No questions asked! Even if, how could I turn down a cozy mystery meets Clue with a marriage in trouble trope. Also, I’m always down to read queer books so I was stoked to see this on NetGalley!
Murder Most Actual was pretty good! At the end I kinda wanted to back track and read parts over again to see what I missed and how it all fit together. I was certainly guessing the whole book who the killer was and didn’t figure it out until it was all laid out. Stuff frequently goes over my head lol. I’m always surprised with mysteries I feel like. So many fun and odd characters kept it interesting and kept me guessing.
The story is about Liza and Hanna, they have been married for 10 years and go on a trip to a hotel in the Scottish Highlands to try and save their marriage. Then murders start to happen and their little getaway turns into IRL Clue. Liza is a murder podcaster so that really added to the scenario because she was immediately invested in what was going on while Hanna wanted to stay out of it.
There is romance in this book but it’s definitely a side plot to the mystery. A good blend of both.
Thanks to NetGalley & Valentine PR for the advanced copy! This book was released today and is exclusive to Kobo!
Murder Most Actual was pretty good! At the end I kinda wanted to back track and read parts over again to see what I missed and how it all fit together. I was certainly guessing the whole book who the killer was and didn’t figure it out until it was all laid out. Stuff frequently goes over my head lol. I’m always surprised with mysteries I feel like. So many fun and odd characters kept it interesting and kept me guessing.
The story is about Liza and Hanna, they have been married for 10 years and go on a trip to a hotel in the Scottish Highlands to try and save their marriage. Then murders start to happen and their little getaway turns into IRL Clue. Liza is a murder podcaster so that really added to the scenario because she was immediately invested in what was going on while Hanna wanted to stay out of it.
There is romance in this book but it’s definitely a side plot to the mystery. A good blend of both.
Thanks to NetGalley & Valentine PR for the advanced copy! This book was released today and is exclusive to Kobo!
February 12, 2025
Love, as it turned out, was like arsenic . Over time, it built up in the system and, contrary to what Mithridates believed, you could never truly immunise yourself.
3.5 stars. I liked this a lot; as I knew I would, from one of my favourite authors. But the book didn't turn out to be a new favourite, sadly. This had a really good beginning, but the middle part really slowed down, and I wasn't really sure I was on board with how we were handling the mystery, and how certain things were written. Then, by the time we got around to the end, it picked up, and I did enjoy the resolution. So, it had its up and down, but I ultimately ended it on a good note. We're following Liza and Hanna, a married couple going through a rough patch in their relationship. Hanna books them a stay at a remote Scottish hotel, to get some time to reconnect. Things go wrong on the very first night, however, when there's a mysterious death, and from there, things only escalate even further. There's a cast of eccentric, archetypal characters, a stately manor house converted into a hotel, they all get snowed in, and then people start dying one by one, and we know it HAS to be one of the guests... all great tropes that I LOVE.
I immediately really clicked with Liza and Hanna, the main characters. I don't read a lot of marriage in trouble romances, but this is a great version of that, for what it's worth. (The focus really isn't on the romance; more's the pity.) The author did a great job depicting their relationship and the strain they're on, from the very first argument in the car. Even while they're bickering, we get glimpses of how they're good to one another and good for one another. The problems in their marriage aren't surface level; there are definitely things they need to work out and have actual conversations about. I'm glad that it wasn't just like, one lil misunderstanding that caused their problems. But I'm also glad it didn't go too far in the other direction. They were never outright mean to each other, and their arguments never went to a place I felt they couldn't come back from. IDK, whatever it was about the way the author wrote them, I really liked this couple.
The mystery started off strong, too. Some of the recent mysteries I've read have shown me that I actually get kinda annoyed if it takes too long for people to start dying, lol. Like, any book needs at least a little bit of setup, of course. But the first body should drop early in act 1, and this book stuck to that rule, happily. A big part of the book is that Liza runs a true crime podcast with her best friend, and though she's horrified to find herself in the middle of a real life murder, she's also very intrigued, and immediately throws herself into investigating and trying to solve the mystery, much to her wife's chagrin. Amateur sleuths, my beloved! This makes a lot of references, explicit and implicit, to classic mysteries, and I loved it. I was SO tickled the the first mention of a Trichinopoly cigar. And we have a little foreign detective who's clearly a (loving) Poirot ripoff. A lot of the side characters were classic mystery mainstays, and since it was, of course, written like that deliberately, it was really charming, in a way? Having those old-school mystery vibes in a modern story, with the rich, unhappy couple, the war hero, the vicar, the professor, the rich elderly aunt, the sexy femme fatale... It felt like being in the middle of a classic mystery but also a game of Clue. And I loved that.
The middle part really slowed down for me, unfortunately. While there were constant developments in the plot, constant new clues that I had to tally up and think about, this didn't really give me a sense of urgency. While Liza was gunho to figure out the mystery, I sorta... wasn't. I was just sorta along for the ride, when I expected that I'd be theorising nonstop, especially after a certain number of deaths. I did figure out a couple things, but mostly by guesswork. And some things didn't really make sense to me, even though we were given explanations.
The characters were really well-written, and Hall, as always, writes about emotions and the human condition in a way that's humourous and a little quippy, but ultimately very relatable and realistic. And the fact that the characters felt so realistic meant that I noticed it all the more when they acted in ways that DIDN'T seem really apt for the situation? Like, almost no one was freaking out as much as I would expect, for being snowed in in a remote location with a KILLER on the loose, and bodies DROPPING almost every day. I know that Liza does true crime for a living, but the adjustment period was so tiny, it was a blip. Obviously, I loved that fact that she threw herself into the sleuthing, but there was almost no fuss. I love the way Hall writes wry humour, but sometimes it felt a little misplaced. Or like, I wanted it to go all the way and lean into the humour, because only having little bits of it sometimes felt misplaced. At one point, later in the book, a character has a full on freak out about the situation they're in, and IMO, that should have come way earlier.
I did end up liking the mystery. It's a solution that I tend to like, and was apt for this plot. I think I'd have def. figured it out way sooner if I'd been putting more thought into it, (and certain parallels, especially) but I'm glad that certain things caught me by surprise.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Remmie Milner and really liked it! This was a pretty quick listen, and it was helped along by how much I liked her voice. This was a success, overall, though I am who I am, and I wish the romance had been the main focus. Still, I'd definitely read a mystery from Hall again.
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April 26, 2022I like Hall's writing style and sense of humor, but didn't love this one the way I do some of his other books. I think this is largely just because I'm only occasionally interested in mysteries, and not very much at all interested in true crime podcasting. A quick, entertaining read, but not really for me.
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