THE AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER ~ BEATRIZ WILLIAMS / LAUREN WILLIG / KAREN WHITE ~ REVIEW

 

(Book for review courtesy of NetGalley ~ William Morrow ~ November 12)

The Author's Guide to Murder offers a fun look into being a writer and the obsession with true crime. Three writers (probably based on the authors themselves) team up to write a book about an unsolved murder at a Scottish castle. What they really hope to do is to solve the murder themselves. They attend a writers' retreat in the castle, sponsored by a male author who neglects to make an appearance. Cassie is a mom of six kids, unsure she should even be there. Emma is the historian of the trio. Kat is a sex-pert in thigh high stiletto boots. The novel flits between the three writers being interviewed by police about a current murder, then goes back to before the murder. The prose tends to be a bit cliche - BFFs and bestie are bandied about - A LOT. Sometimes the prose forces a "we're hip and in the know cuz we're authors" vibe. Overall the book is a fun, light-hearted read.