Devi Nair
Edition š±š Read on Kindle š 368 pages ā± Reading time: 5 hours š·ļø Publisher: Berkley š ARC provided by NetGalley ā Publishing July 21, 2026
I requested this book from NetGalley for the meta brilliance. A crime writer's daughter solving her mother's murder using lessons from cozy mysteries. What is there to not get thoroughly invested? The book turned out to be even better than I hoped. Niamh, whose name I absolutely adored (because how often do you see Irish names done right in fiction?), her famous mother Annie Morrissey, and Annie's fictional protagonist Leah, who becomes startlingly real as the mystery unfolds.
Sarah Lotz crafted something genuinely fresh here. The premise doesn't just dangle as a gimmick; it's woven into every twist, every red herring, every moment where you're not sure if you're reading Niamh's investigation or Annie's manuscript. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, but the character work carries it through.
And then... the ending. I won't spoil it, but I will say this: it deflated. After all that buildup, all those brilliant breadcrumbs, it felt like the story shrugged and said, "Eh, nevermind." The resolution didn't land for me, and that's what knocked it from a solid four-star to a three-star read. Still, the journey was worth it, and the uniqueness of the concept alone makes this one to watch.
Would I recommend it? This is cozy mystery meets literary mind-bender, and Lotz nails the tone. Just brace yourself for an ending that might not stick the landing. It's a fun, fresh read with gorgeous character work, even if the final chapter left me wanting more payoff.
Edition š±š Read on Kindle š 368 pages ā± Reading time: 5 hours š·ļø Publisher: Berkley š ARC provided by NetGalley ā Publishing July 21, 2026
I requested this book from NetGalley for the meta brilliance. A crime writer's daughter solving her mother's murder using lessons from cozy mysteries. What is there to not get thoroughly invested? The book turned out to be even better than I hoped. Niamh, whose name I absolutely adored (because how often do you see Irish names done right in fiction?), her famous mother Annie Morrissey, and Annie's fictional protagonist Leah, who becomes startlingly real as the mystery unfolds.
Sarah Lotz crafted something genuinely fresh here. The premise doesn't just dangle as a gimmick; it's woven into every twist, every red herring, every moment where you're not sure if you're reading Niamh's investigation or Annie's manuscript. The pacing dips slightly in the middle, but the character work carries it through.
And then... the ending. I won't spoil it, but I will say this: it deflated. After all that buildup, all those brilliant breadcrumbs, it felt like the story shrugged and said, "Eh, nevermind." The resolution didn't land for me, and that's what knocked it from a solid four-star to a three-star read. Still, the journey was worth it, and the uniqueness of the concept alone makes this one to watch.
Would I recommend it? This is cozy mystery meets literary mind-bender, and Lotz nails the tone. Just brace yourself for an ending that might not stick the landing. It's a fun, fresh read with gorgeous character work, even if the final chapter left me wanting more payoff.