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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Yes
I really enjoyed He's to Die For. It was a perfect blend of high-stakes mystery with a little bit of swoony steamy romance.
Rav Trivedi, polished gay NYPD homicide detective, is a risk-taker, and he finds himself in the middle of a murder case involving a very popular band -- with a very hot frontman -- complete with conspiracy theories, FBI involvement, puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together. Plus that very hot frontman, Jack Vale. He's falling for Jack, but he also can't let this case go, even when it's out of his jurisdiction. So he recruits his underground hacker friend, his partner, and Jack Vale's bodyguard to help him figure out what's going on.
I really enjoyed the mystery component of this. There's a lot of action, and it's a well laid out mystery that you as the reader can follow along with. Everything makes sense, but I was still on my toes trying to figure it out the whole time. And I loved the romance part of this too. It makes Rav feel like a whole person. And I really liked the writing, with funny asides or snarky remarks that are mentioned.
My only critiques are that 1) there were some occasional nods to the "being a cop is complicated especially in this climate" that are so valid and also felt a little like hitting the reader over the head with a moral club, and 2) I just wish female authors would write F/F stories more than M/M stories.
I really hope this becomes a series, because I would totally read another book about Rav (and maybe Mo?) solving crime with Jack by his side. Or at least, I'm excited to read whatever Erin Dunn writes in the future!
<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC of He's to Die For in exchange for an honest review.</i>
Rav Trivedi, polished gay NYPD homicide detective, is a risk-taker, and he finds himself in the middle of a murder case involving a very popular band -- with a very hot frontman -- complete with conspiracy theories, FBI involvement, puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together. Plus that very hot frontman, Jack Vale. He's falling for Jack, but he also can't let this case go, even when it's out of his jurisdiction. So he recruits his underground hacker friend, his partner, and Jack Vale's bodyguard to help him figure out what's going on.
I really enjoyed the mystery component of this. There's a lot of action, and it's a well laid out mystery that you as the reader can follow along with. Everything makes sense, but I was still on my toes trying to figure it out the whole time. And I loved the romance part of this too. It makes Rav feel like a whole person. And I really liked the writing, with funny asides or snarky remarks that are mentioned.
My only critiques are that 1) there were some occasional nods to the "being a cop is complicated especially in this climate" that are so valid and also felt a little like hitting the reader over the head with a moral club, and 2) I just wish female authors would write F/F stories more than M/M stories.
I really hope this becomes a series, because I would totally read another book about Rav (and maybe Mo?) solving crime with Jack by his side. Or at least, I'm excited to read whatever Erin Dunn writes in the future!
<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an eARC of He's to Die For in exchange for an honest review.</i>
A detective + a famous musician is not a combo I knew I needed until this book. Holy smokes they are so good together, I love how caring they are of each other even from the start. They share their pasts and their secrets parts of themselves and I love how they connect and understand each other. This was a light and fun book that kept you on your toes with the mystery and kept you swooning over the romance. I am really loving the romance + mystery subgenre and I finished this in one day! It had all my favorite aspects of both genres. I was shocked by the ending and loved the heart pounding race to the end (and the sweet sweet moments).
Note: I listened to the audiobook and it perfectly brought to life the complexity of the plot while keeping the tone overall pretty light and cheerful (except the ending wow!)
Thanks to the publishers for the free ARC and ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and it perfectly brought to life the complexity of the plot while keeping the tone overall pretty light and cheerful (except the ending wow!)
Thanks to the publishers for the free ARC and ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fun romp for the summer with a bit of murder.
There’s a large romance component, with the expected tropes, but they’re not so flat it becomes tiresome. The characters are fun to be around and you’re rooting for them.
I appreciate that the initial crime/murder mystery that sets up the characters meeting does not just fizzle out into the background, forgotten about after it did its initial work. It continues to be present and weaved into the plot. Its eventual resolution is not the most mind-bending twist of all times, but it doesn’t telegraph itself from the start either.
All in all, I had a fun time!
An ALC of this book was provided by Libro.fm and MacMillan Audio.
There’s a large romance component, with the expected tropes, but they’re not so flat it becomes tiresome. The characters are fun to be around and you’re rooting for them.
I appreciate that the initial crime/murder mystery that sets up the characters meeting does not just fizzle out into the background, forgotten about after it did its initial work. It continues to be present and weaved into the plot. Its eventual resolution is not the most mind-bending twist of all times, but it doesn’t telegraph itself from the start either.
All in all, I had a fun time!
An ALC of this book was provided by Libro.fm and MacMillan Audio.
adventurous
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
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.
It all starts with a musician who wants to buy back his masters. Wow, this was even more timely than the author, Erin Dunn, knew. The set up for this book is that Rav is a homicide detective, and his newest case brings him in contact with famous musician Jack.
I found this story a great blend of mystery, humor, and of course, romance. There's a strong tension around forbidden romance, and Jack is and is not a suspect. And there's so much to wonder about in terms of who did what and who is trustworthy. It's a mix of rom com and mystery that hit all the right notes (sorry - I had to).
And despite the overall light tone, I also felt it balanced in heavier themes well. In particular, I appreciated the conversation about policing; I needed that to enjoy a book with a police hero.
Sid Sagar did an amazing job narrating the many accents and voices. He was slightly less amazing with singing, but that's fair.
4.5 stars rounded up
It all starts with a musician who wants to buy back his masters. Wow, this was even more timely than the author, Erin Dunn, knew. The set up for this book is that Rav is a homicide detective, and his newest case brings him in contact with famous musician Jack.
I found this story a great blend of mystery, humor, and of course, romance. There's a strong tension around forbidden romance, and Jack is and is not a suspect. And there's so much to wonder about in terms of who did what and who is trustworthy. It's a mix of rom com and mystery that hit all the right notes (sorry - I had to).
And despite the overall light tone, I also felt it balanced in heavier themes well. In particular, I appreciated the conversation about policing; I needed that to enjoy a book with a police hero.
Sid Sagar did an amazing job narrating the many accents and voices. He was slightly less amazing with singing, but that's fair.
4.5 stars rounded up
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
As much as I am a fan of the romcom (and I am a huge fan of the romcom), I am perhaps an even bigger fan of the action-romcom, the adventure-plus-romance story, the rom-thriller or rom-mystery. He's to Die For is by Erin Dunn is the melding of two worlds, on the one hand a boy-meets-rock-God romance story, on the other a twisty murder investigation: in short, exactly what I was hoping it would be.
Rav Trivedi is a homicide squad hotshot, he might be young, and maybe a touch arrogant, but there's no arguing with his results. When his LT gives him the opportunity to run a high-profile case Rav recognises the opportunity for the test that it is, succeed and he proves himself ready for bigger things, fail and the the mockery of his older, straighter colleagues will be the least of his problems. But Rav has a problem, the prime suspect is Jack Vale, front-man of The Nicks. Or, to be more precise, the enigmatic, drop-dead-gorgeous, utterly compelling, entirely his type, knee-buckling, pulse-accelerating smokeshow of a man whose blue-green eyes haunt Rav's every moment from the first time they meet. And to make matters worse, Jack isn't some uppity, fame-crazed celeb, he's… kind, funny, warm, soft spoken, a little fragile… he's a bloody poet, and Rav is utterly doomed. As the case twists and turns, both men must contend with what their feelings mean for their futures.
I struggled to find comparison titles for this, in places it reminded me of Boyfriend Material, or really any Alexis Hall contemporary romance, and at other times it was a more straightforward mystery novel, it also had flavours of Notting Hill, with it's celebrity angle, although I would say Dunn cuts down on the angst, and focuses on the intimacy, the friendship, at the heart of this story.
Enjoyable and romance forward, He's To Die For had a sprawling cast, and I occasionally got confused about who was speaking, and where we had met them before, in part because Dunn goes back and forth between surnames, first names, full names and nicknames for a lot of the characters. This, combined with various elements of Rav's investigation, and the time devoted to building the central romance, did leave me wondering if we would ever get to the end of the mystery, that being said, I remained engaged throughout! Dunn has a talent for intimate, emotionally charged scenes, and naturalistic humour, both of which serve the story well.
3.5 stars.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn, was a quick read as I needed to know the ending. The writing flows, the characters are developed, and the mix of humor and mystery, makes this debut novel a fun and fast read. The main character, Rav, has duel citizenship as he was born in NYC, but his father is a British Lord. Rav is working as a NYC detective on a case which has twists and turns to keep the mystery. I’m hoping that there is a sequel as I love Rav and want to see the next steps in his journey. Definitely a 4.5 read, maybe even a 5.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read He’s to Die For. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read He’s to Die For. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Reading Journal Details
Book: He's to Die For by Erin Dunn
Format Read: Audiobook (~9 hours, 55 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
My Quick Take Review
He's to Die For is a fun, fast-paced mystery with heart, humor, and a memorable main character. A strong debut from Erin Dunn, and I'm definitely looking forward to delving into whatever she writes next.
My Full Review
Erin Dunn's debut, He's to Die For is a delightful and memorable murder mystery that mixes intrigue, humor, and splashes of romance. Its quirky charm and upbeat vibe gave me major Brooklyn Nine-Nine feels, making it an enjoyable and refreshing read.
The main character, Ravi Trivedi, is a lovable and charismatic character. He's confidently himself, even when making morally gray choices, and balances ambition and professionalism very well. His lively personality truly shines and makes him a standout character for me.
Then there's Jack, the main suspect, who's a literal rock star. He's also one of the sweetest characters you'll come across; think of him like a cinnamon roll with an anxiety glaze and lots of wide-eyed curiosity. His gentle, kind nature adds a softness to the story that nicely balances Ravi's bold confidence.
I feel the murder's resolution could have been a little clearer. A lot of the finale depends on backstories that weren't fully fleshed out earlier in the narrative, so it made the ending a little fuzzy. I liked the added depth those backgrounds brought, but weaving move of that history into the main plot would have made the conclusion feel more complete.
Huge shoutout to narrator Sig Sagar, who was an excellent match for the audiobook, perfectly capturing Ravi's charm and energy! His performance enriched the story and made both the funny and emotional parts even more enjoyable.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced listener's copy (ALC) of this spine-chilling thriller in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
Book: He's to Die For by Erin Dunn
Format Read: Audiobook (~9 hours, 55 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
My Quick Take Review
He's to Die For is a fun, fast-paced mystery with heart, humor, and a memorable main character. A strong debut from Erin Dunn, and I'm definitely looking forward to delving into whatever she writes next.
My Full Review
Erin Dunn's debut, He's to Die For is a delightful and memorable murder mystery that mixes intrigue, humor, and splashes of romance. Its quirky charm and upbeat vibe gave me major Brooklyn Nine-Nine feels, making it an enjoyable and refreshing read.
The main character, Ravi Trivedi, is a lovable and charismatic character. He's confidently himself, even when making morally gray choices, and balances ambition and professionalism very well. His lively personality truly shines and makes him a standout character for me.
Then there's Jack, the main suspect, who's a literal rock star. He's also one of the sweetest characters you'll come across; think of him like a cinnamon roll with an anxiety glaze and lots of wide-eyed curiosity. His gentle, kind nature adds a softness to the story that nicely balances Ravi's bold confidence.
I feel the murder's resolution could have been a little clearer. A lot of the finale depends on backstories that weren't fully fleshed out earlier in the narrative, so it made the ending a little fuzzy. I liked the added depth those backgrounds brought, but weaving move of that history into the main plot would have made the conclusion feel more complete.
Huge shoutout to narrator Sig Sagar, who was an excellent match for the audiobook, perfectly capturing Ravi's charm and energy! His performance enriched the story and made both the funny and emotional parts even more enjoyable.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced listener's copy (ALC) of this spine-chilling thriller in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are solely my own.
This was a fun book! I think the description of Brooklyn 99 meeting The Charm Offensive is a good place to start. The comparison of B99 bring a strong image and I don't think it hit the lofty aspirations I had for it, and that's not to say this book isn't worth a read - it absolutely is. It might have been better for me to come in with less B99 and The Charm Offensive experience - I hold those two in very high regard. Again - nothing against this book. I did enjoy it - I think I just set the bar too high. Additionally, I would say it focuses on the mystery more so than the romance, especially for a majority of the book (e.g. it keeps coming back to the mystery/murder), so if that's important, keep that in mind.
Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC!
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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