Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Publication Date: June 17, 2025
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
Welcome to the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival, the place for stars of the genre to meet their adoring fans . . . but be careful, this year the murders aren't just on the page.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 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 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.
Review:
A Novel Murder by E.C. Nevin was a really enjoyable murder mystery, especially for fans of the book world. Set at a crime thriller convention in England, the story follows Jane Hepburn, an author who feels completely out of place amidst the bustle of bestselling writers, agents, and publishing insiders. But when one of the most prominent literary agents is found dead in the book sale tent, Jane and her awkward, grieving, and far outside her comfort zone self, decides to help the police investigate, convinced the motive may lie within the world of books and publishing.
I really enjoyed the layered "inception" feel of a murder mystery about mystery writers and the business surrounding them. Jane is a charmingly quirky main character: a bit older, still processing the loss of her mother, and trying to navigate both the convention and her amateur sleuthing. Her awkward determination made her easy to root for, and I appreciated seeing her confidence grow over the course of the novel.
The plot itself was engaging, with some moments that lagged slightly, but the curiosity of "whodunnit" kept me turning the pages. I especially liked the nods to classic mystery tropes and other crime fiction as Jane and her new friends pieced things together. The ending was satisfying and clever, bringing everything together in a way that worked well for the story.
Overall, A Novel Murder is a fun, bookish mystery perfect for readers who enjoy stories set in the publishing world with a relatable amateur sleuth at the center. I’d happily read more adventures with Jane!
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