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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
DNF at 8%. Unfortunately this was not doing it for me. I am a fan of shows like Criminal Minds and Law and Order, but instead of being dynamic and engaging like those shows, this was reading as a script of an episode without any of the emotion. There was a lot of telling instead of showing about the MMC/narrator and yet I still feel like I know nothing besides the fact that he’s British and wears nice suits.
I was looking forward to this being a fun little romance/mystery book but it’s just not it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
I was looking forward to this being a fun little romance/mystery book but it’s just not it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
Detective Rav Trivedi is a refreshing and magnetic lead—sharp, ambitious, and unapologetically stylish. This murder mystery blends classic procedural with modern flair, adding a dose of slow-burn romance that complicates all the right things.
The high-profile case is compelling, the dialogue crisp, and the chemistry between Rav and his prime suspect crackles with tension. A few plot points stretch plausibility, but the character work and sleek pacing more than make up for it.
A fun, fast, and fabulously queer twist on the classic detective story.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this early
The high-profile case is compelling, the dialogue crisp, and the chemistry between Rav and his prime suspect crackles with tension. A few plot points stretch plausibility, but the character work and sleek pacing more than make up for it.
A fun, fast, and fabulously queer twist on the classic detective story.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this early
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the free digital ARC. This was a good combination of Romance + police procedural. I loved the characters, even if some of them were more caricature than well-developed individuals. The romance between Rav and Jack was believable, even if a little too insta-lovey for my taste. I was rooting for them the whole time.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Detective Rav Trivedi is assigned to investigate the murder of an influential music mogul the investigation leads Rav to suspect number one: Jack Vale - lead singer of The New Knickerbockers - who had a known disagreement with the victim. Immediately intrigued by Jack, Rav has to keep his attraction sidelined if he wants to prove Jack's innocence.
For being just shy of" closed door", and as nondescript as possible when it comes to the intimacy, this book was super spicy. That early tension between Rav and Jack is quite delicious.
I was immediately interested to read this because of its comparison to Brooklyn Nine-Nine as I've recently started watching the show.
I appreciate that Erin Dunn made a proper mystery out of the story and didn't sideline it in order to only highlight the romance. I was kept guessing until the reveal at the end, although I had my certain roundabout suspicions.
I do appreciate that Erin Dunn shows the conflict of interest between Rav's feelings for Jack and Jack also being a potential murder suspect. I don't want to say too much in order to avoid spoilers but I felt like it was handled in a very convenient way order to keep up with the romantic aspect of the story. I do wish it was a bit more high stakes though.
There were moments where there was too much back and forth which, unfortunately, made it feel like it dragged a bit in places. There would seemingly be some break in the case, but then something would change - rinse and repeat. There were moments where the connects between Rav's case and another case were too tenuous but through the repetition Erin Dunn eventually made it work.
I do wish we had gotten more time with RavV and his co-workers. Honestly, Rav made this book. I Loved the way Rav is presented from his penchant for nice clothes and accessories to hating beer but loving wine and whiskey. We've seen the celebrity Rockstar but not often the intelligent dandy cop.
All this to say, you never know how things are going to go when you pick up a book by a new author. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I'll be on the lookout for more from Erin Dunn in the future.
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
*Thank you Netgalley for the free review copy!*
I thought He's to Die For was a cute and fun read overall. The narrator's voice really stood out to me—witty, engaging, and easy to root for. Their personality brought a lot of charm to the story and kept me turning the pages.
I thought He's to Die For was a cute and fun read overall. The narrator's voice really stood out to me—witty, engaging, and easy to root for. Their personality brought a lot of charm to the story and kept me turning the pages.
That said, I did find a couple of things a bit hard to connect with. The romance, while sweet in moments, felt like it came on a little suddenly. I would have loved to see more buildup or emotional groundwork between the characters to make it feel more natural and believable.
As for the mystery, I enjoyed the premise but found myself struggling to follow all the twists and turns. It wasn’t always clear how things were connecting, which made it hard to feel fully invested in the unraveling of the case.
Still, the cozy tone and the narrator’s personality made it a pleasant ride, even if some parts left me a little puzzled. I'd recommend it to readers looking for a light, voice-driven mystery with a splash of romance—just don’t go in expecting a tightly woven whodunit.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“It’s not on you. I just forget what it’s like to feel safe sometimes. It’s okay, though, because you’re reminding me.”
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 / 5
Spice: 0.5🌶️ / 5
This book opened with a bang, and not the kind I’m usually raving about on my spicy little corner of the internet. I was laughing out loud in the first few paragraphs and loved the quick banter between Rav and his partner. As the mystery unfolds, there’s plenty of action to keep you turning the page. It’s a slow-ish burn and the chemistry between Rav and Jack is palpable. I appreciated how much of their conversations we got to be part of. Often, romances will gloss over the “work” of relationship building. This doesn’t, even if their romance is whirlwind, and I loved that.
There’s a rich cast of supporting characters, all with their own quirks and all lovable in their own ways. The mystery and romance plots were well-balanced. I saw some of the twists coming, though it was still wildly entertaining to officially find out “whodunit.” There’s also tons of pop culture references, most of which I got and a few that made me chuckle.
Along with the levity, I appreciated how Dunn handled sensitive topics. There are some heavy mental and emotional health storylines that are human and purposeful; it’s clear they’re not used for shock value but are critical to these characters’ growth.
And I’m not one to seek out a LEO/military romance often (for lots of reasons) but this one did it right. Rav’s not a cookie cutter cop. He’s the son of a British Lord with a big ol’ chip on his shoulder and a closet full of bespoke suits. He’s also got a huge moral compass alongside his dry humor and general irreverence. And sweet bb Jack? He’s bae.
When it comes to the spicy scenes, I’ll call the door cracked. There’s kissing and heavy petting in detail, and there’s enough description to know what else happened, but we don’t get the details or the naming of most parts. What’s there is full of tension and very hot, though I still found myself wanting all the salacious tidbits (as one does).
A note on POV for those who need it: I read both third and first person and like each in the right context. I would’ve enjoyed this more if it had been first. We got lots of Rav’s internal thoughts along the way, and there was a moment a little past 50% where I thought it might be shifting to Jack (and I got SO excited) but then it didn’t. And I wanted more. Either a deeper dive into Rav’s head or a hop into Jack’s. Absolutely possible to enjoy the story as written (I did!) but wanted to mention for those who are on the fence with third person POV.
All in all, I loved it and will absolutely be following Erin Dunn for future works.
If you love the wit and banter of contemporary MM authors like Saxon James and Onley James, layered with a crime noir feel and heartfelt romance, this one is for you.
📚Fast facts📚
✨ Detective / Rockstar
✨ Hurt / comfort
✨ Dry British humor & banter
✨ Murder mystery but make it romcom
✨ Different worlds
✨ Damsel / rockstar in distress
✨ Mental health rep
✨ (Mostly) closed door
✨ Contemporary MM
✨ Standalone
✨ Third person limited, single POV, present tense
I am so grateful to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley to have received an advanced copy of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a fun merger of romcom and mystery. Rav, an NYPD detective, is investigating a murder - and one of the suspects is a dashing celebrity. Romance, intrigue, and an attempt to clear his name soon follow. Both characters are likable and easy to root for, though I wish Jack was a little better at picking up his phone! I could've used a little more pining, as once the romance came together, it came together pretty easily. Overall though, an easy fun read that makes for a great addition to your summer romance pile.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
Loveable characters:
Yes
4.5 stars!
Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member on the NYPD’s homicide unit, but he feels like a bit of an outsider within the department as an Ivy-league graduate and gay British man with a superior fashion sense. His commanding officer assigns him the lead on a high-profile murder and Rav is eager to prove he will succeed in closing the case, with hopes of the rest of the team accepting him.
The tagline for this book references it being a cross between Brooklyn 99 and The Charm Offensive, and usually I am very wary of this type of comparison, but I feel like it hit the mark here 🎯.
HE’S TO DIE FOR is told in Rav’s POV. Rav is a fashionable homicide detective who graduated from an Ivy-league university and who is quickly rising up the ranks. His solve rate on crimes is stellar, and he’s been handed a high-profile case to take the lead on and is hoping it will up his credibility amongst his peers in the homicide unit. I really loved Rav’s POV, he’s smart, hard-working, detail-oriented, and has great wit with an excellent sense of humour. I find that homicide detectives are often described as being rough around the edges, but Rav doesn’t fit into that description, he’s kind and compassionate, even with those who are prime suspects in his cases. He’s a true gentleman, honestly. His fashion sense is impeccable, and you’ll find him wearing big name labels more often than not. This aspect reminded me of Lucifer from the TV show Lucifer.
The novel is set in NYC which is truly one of the best settings. I loved the premise of the novel, quickly getting immersed into the murder mystery. I was intrigued as to how the investigation would play out and was able to figure out what happened just pages before it was revealed. Very cleverly done with a steady pace.
The romance is M/M and was such a treat to experience through Rav’s eyes. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, there’s just the right amount of pining, and some great fade-to-black spicy scenes. There’s some ups and downs, like with any relationship, but I loved how they navigated these. Both characters were kind and supportive of one another. I liked the nod to grief, anxiety, panic attacks, and mental health – this was done with good care. Do check the trigger warnings if these are topics that are sensitive to you.
As a debut, this is excellent, and I’ll be looking forward to whatever this author chooses to write next!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member on the NYPD’s homicide unit, but he feels like a bit of an outsider within the department as an Ivy-league graduate and gay British man with a superior fashion sense. His commanding officer assigns him the lead on a high-profile murder and Rav is eager to prove he will succeed in closing the case, with hopes of the rest of the team accepting him.
The tagline for this book references it being a cross between Brooklyn 99 and The Charm Offensive, and usually I am very wary of this type of comparison, but I feel like it hit the mark here 🎯.
HE’S TO DIE FOR is told in Rav’s POV. Rav is a fashionable homicide detective who graduated from an Ivy-league university and who is quickly rising up the ranks. His solve rate on crimes is stellar, and he’s been handed a high-profile case to take the lead on and is hoping it will up his credibility amongst his peers in the homicide unit. I really loved Rav’s POV, he’s smart, hard-working, detail-oriented, and has great wit with an excellent sense of humour. I find that homicide detectives are often described as being rough around the edges, but Rav doesn’t fit into that description, he’s kind and compassionate, even with those who are prime suspects in his cases. He’s a true gentleman, honestly. His fashion sense is impeccable, and you’ll find him wearing big name labels more often than not. This aspect reminded me of Lucifer from the TV show Lucifer.
The novel is set in NYC which is truly one of the best settings. I loved the premise of the novel, quickly getting immersed into the murder mystery. I was intrigued as to how the investigation would play out and was able to figure out what happened just pages before it was revealed. Very cleverly done with a steady pace.
The romance is M/M and was such a treat to experience through Rav’s eyes. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, there’s just the right amount of pining, and some great fade-to-black spicy scenes. There’s some ups and downs, like with any relationship, but I loved how they navigated these. Both characters were kind and supportive of one another. I liked the nod to grief, anxiety, panic attacks, and mental health – this was done with good care. Do check the trigger warnings if these are topics that are sensitive to you.
As a debut, this is excellent, and I’ll be looking forward to whatever this author chooses to write next!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes