A Novel Murder

A Mystery

De: E. C. Nevin

Narrado por: Clare Corbett

Welcome to the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival, the place for star writers of the genre to meet their adoring fans. But be careful—this year the murders aren’t just on the page.

In the quaint English town of Hoslewit, the biggest names in crime writing have congregated to celebrate all things bookish and murderous. Author Jane Hepburn is determined to make her time at the Killer Lines festival worthwhile. This is her chance to change her fortunes and make her fictional Private Detective Baker a household name. And if she has to resort to sneaking into the book tent after hours to rearrange some books so hers are front and center, so be it.

But when Jane encounters the dead body of renowned (and reviled) literary agent Carrie Marks, the festival takes on a decidedly different tone. Joined by Carrie's newest client, debut novelist Natasha Martez, and the agency's hapless intern, Daniel Thurston, Jane decides to put her fictional sleuthing skills to use in the real world—she's going to solve the murder. But the list of suspects is long: seemingly everyone at the festival has a motive to kill Carrie, and the more Jane and her new friends investigate, the closer they come to a dangerous truth—one that’s stranger than fiction.

©2025 E. C. Nevin (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The pseudonymous Nevin, a former publishing professional, has written a fun, tongue-in-cheek debut that spoofs the publishing industry and social media’s impact (BookTok, anyone?). . . . Jane is a delight. Readers will root for the lonely sleuth as she makes new friends and develops joyful self-confidence. . . . An appealing cozy star is born."—Kirkus Review

"With its cozy bookish setting and mystery-writer protagonist, this will be a hit with fans of Janice Hallett and Robert Thorogood."—Library Journal

"E.C. Nevin transports readers to a lethal literary festival in, A Novel Murder. . . . E.C. Nevin is a pseudonym for a former publishing professional who worked with crime novels and thrillers. That knowledge shapes A Novel Murder, where every character is connected to the literary industry in some way. Nevin threads humor throughout the novel, too, creating a winning combination in this debut cozy mystery."—BookPage

Fun Read

The story draws you in right away in the first few minutes! I found this book a lot like a carnival ride, some points seemed like they were moving along slowly, right before they dropped you over the hill and into a sprint race. It was a whirlwind of a ride. I was able to relate a lot to the main character and loved her interpersonal connections that she made with the other characters. Many twists and turns that leave you guessing and second guessing who the killer is, because each suspect seems just plausible enough to make you switch. Some of the slow points felt like they were a little too long, but I feel the rush of the more energetic sections made up for it nicely, and the narrator did splendidly throughout!

Uninspiring but OK

The problem for me was the slow start. I had trouble staying interested until towards the end. When I put podcasts before a book I am listening to it is a good indication the story leaves something to be desired. The narrator kept me going. If there were a book two waiting I would not rush to buy it, but would probably read it eventually. Jane and friends do have potential.