Unfortunately this just wasn’t up there with a good murder mystery. Definitely readable but it was repetitive and just not too enjoyable I’m afraid!

"Fair Play" by Louise Hegarty is a modern debut that blends mystery with elements of classic detective fiction. The premise initially piques interest: Abigail hosts a New Year's Eve murder mystery party for her brother, Benjamin, only to find him dead the next day, leading to a psychological exploration of grief and investigation. The writing is engaging, and has its unique approach and layers of complexity.

However, while the book is inventive, it’s not without its challenges. The structure and pacing can be a bit difficult to follow, with some parts feeling disjointed or incomplete. For example, one reader described the ending as “super weird,” and while the conclusion has a twist, it might leave some feeling unsatisfied. The narrative’s unconventional style may be a bit too much for those who prefer more straightforward storytelling.

Ultimately, I found the mystery promising but the execution didn't quite resonate with me, especially since modern stories aren't really my thing. While "Fair Play" has moments of intrigue and emotional depth, it just didn't fully connect. It's an interesting read for fans of layered mysteries, but it's not a book I’ll revisit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was well paced, entertaining and I couldn't put it down!

I loved the authors writing style.

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy.

Get ready for the intricately layered dual plotlines of Fair Play by Louise Hegarty! It is a captivating whodunnit that will have you on the edge of your seat, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, constantly second-guessing yourself, and ultimately leaving you reeling. Remember, as our imitable Detective Bell says, the solution is only as satisfying as the build-up!

In this ingenious tale, we follow Abigail as she rents a grand, mysterious old house to throw a spectacular murder mystery party for her brother Benjamin’s birthday on New Year’s Eve. The evening kicks off with the expected fun and frolics, but as the guests head to their rooms, tragedy strikes and when dawn breaks, Benjamin is found dead!

An exhilarating investigation ensues with unexpected twists, clever references, and jaw-dropping scandals. The mind-bending curveballs will have you flipping back through the pages, questioning every detail and desperately trying to piece together the puzzle.

With an unforgettable cast of duplicitous characters, a timeless backdrop, and all the essential elements of a classic locked-room mystery, this novel keeps you riveted from start to finish. And just when you think you have it all figured out, a brilliantly quirky detective and his sidekick enter the mix. I can’t reveal too much without dropping spoilers, but trust me—you’ll want to experience this for yourself!

Fair Play is a fabulously clever, stylish, and truly accomplished debut that’s worth every moment of the read, even if there’s very little fairness in the events at play. But more than just a whodunnit, it is a poignant portrait of grief—an emotional journey through the heartbreak of losing someone you love and the overwhelming sense of helplessness that follows.

Mark your calendars - Fair Play hits the shelves on April 3rd, and I can’t wait to hear what you think about this genre-defying story.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, but as always, this is an honest review.

A very interesting read. This book was split over grief and murder mystery and k felt myself longing for either part when I was reading the other.

It wasn’t my favourite

This is a strange book. Half murder mystery, half reflection on grief, and I am a bit sad that it did not quite work for me. It was a very interesting attempt to take a genre that is often quite flat and formulaic and do something new with it. At the centre of the story is the death of a brother - maybe suicide, maybe not - and the way people come to terms with it, but the books soon break off into other realities dominated by old school tips for writing a crime novel. Maybe it can work if you are in the right mood, but while I appreciated the vision, the characters left me a bit cold. Still - worth a read! It might catch you in the right situation, and it is anything but boring.

I found Fair Play a unique and interesting novel to read but it was also a little confusing and repetitive at times. I enjoyed the set up of a locked room mystery and all the echoes of golden age crime genre, plus the intrigue of what might have happened to Benjamin, I found it a little confusing how the group were staying in an AirBnB and then it became Abigail and Benjamin's house but they also each lived in their own flats away from the big house. It never quite made sense. Having said that I did enjoy being swept along by the story and I thought it was a very real portrayal of grief and how people are with you when you're grieving. This was an interesting novel but it's definitely one that you have to let yourself be swept along with rather than getting involved in trying to solve it.

Thanks so much to Picador Books, NetGalley and Louise Hegarty for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

What an interesting read, the structure slightly threw me off at first but the writing was captivating, I loved the murder mystery element and it definitely kept you on your toes and constantly guessing.

Mixed feelings, but a good read none the less

I’m really sorry but I just don’t think this book was for me. I couldn’t get into it at all but that could have been my frame of mind as I had a bad cold so apologies to the author but I did not finish it, I just found it too complicated. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
Well I suppose it’s an attempt at something different. This is a book which starts out as a party and then abruptly swerves into a fictional murder mystery - but first the intersection between the two is a list of rules for writing a detective novel. It’s very random and quite a swerve.
Eventually, as the “real” story progresses, I get the sense that the author intends the “fictional” side to be something like the main character attempting to work through her grief.
It ends as abruptly and unusually as the rest of the book - something like a vignette which doesn’t seem to relate to anything else within the narrative.
I think I get what the author was aiming for, but for me it’s a swing and a miss - if I hadn’t been reading to review I would probably have given up long before it became apparent why there was suddenly a separate “fictional” story.

I just don’t think I got this book, I really enjoyed part 1 and the set up for the murder but as soon as I got to part 2 with Bell I was like what is going on?? I didn’t love any of the characters and Bell breaking the fourth wall and stuff just confused me. You don’t really get to know anyone properly and it goes from being at the Airbnb to Abigail and benjamins house and I was like how did we get here! It’s definitely a different and unique murder mystery but not one I was clever enough for unfortunately.

‘IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN WHERE WE CELEBRATE BENJAMIN’S BIRTHDAY, RING IN THE NEW YEAR, AND SOLVE A MURDER!’
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What a fun and captivating book to start my year with! 2025 is off to a great start, and by the looks of the current forecast of interesting and out of the box mystery novels coming this year, I think we’re in for a good year!
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Fair Play by Louise Hegarty had me up till the early hours reading, flipping between narrator POV’s I was held in it’s pages trying my hardest to unravel the mystery, whilst also feeling myself fully immersed in the heart of the book, and the gut wrenching look at what life feels like when you lose someone you love and the helplessness you feel. Both the heartfelt moving side of the story and the twisty golden age vibes mystery were delivered with such craft and care that it has firmly put Louise Hegarty on the map and I’m excited to see what’s next after such a wonderful debut novel!
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Thank you to Kieran and Picador for sending me a copy of this one! I adored it!

There seem to be a fair few negative reviews of this book, which in a sense don't surprise me - it's all about opinions after all.

The book is often described as being confusing, repetitive and with a really poor ending. Although I enjoyed the book, I do see where its critics are coming from so would caution anyone going in to read this novel, that it is not your typical locked-door whodunnit.

The book is set out that way, in a manner which many recent mystery novels are set. A single location, a dead body and a list of suspects - one of whom must be the murderer. However, this book (for me) is almost a comical look at these types of novels with its tongue firmly in its cheek, almost like an homage to murder mystery novels of the past.

This will definitely not be for everyone, I will say that. The ending may annoy you.

But if you go into it with eyes open, mind open and few expectations, you will enjoy it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan | Picador for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

While I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this light hearted murder mystery, the sudden change was confusing and jarring and I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. I ended up picking it up and putting it down many times. It seems some people really loved this and I can see what the author is trying to do, but for me it didn’t really work.

The format of the book was interesting, I’ve never read something like this before, quite an unusual concept. At the beginning I was very confused, it definitely took me some time to settle into it. But I would say I still enjoyed it. Abigail’s grief and her thoughts between chapters are the parts that I liked the most, very well written.

The last couple of chapters of the murder mystery part were not to my taste and it was not a satisfying conclusion to the story. I think I understand what the author wanted to do with this, but I just didn’t like it. I felt worn out by the stupid detective who had guessed everyone did it.

I don’t know how I feel about this style. I think I would have enjoyed it more as just a murder mystery or just a literary fiction novel on grief.

I can see the appeal of this, but for me it just didn't work at allllllll... I don't know exactly why, we had to essentially read the same ending a million times but I ended this book actually none the wiser about what happened. Maybe I am not smart enough?

I read the reviews of this book and was quite confused by how negative some of them were. I thought this book was clever and a really interesting way of exploring grief and how we try to find meaning in situations with no clear answers.

My interpretation is that the murder mystery element is Abigail’s way of trying to find reason and meaning in what’s happened. Juxtaposed with her real life experiences of getting nowhere, finding nothing and struggling to keep moving. It was a very clever use of format and gave an honest glimpse into the grieving process.

The negatives for me were that I feel all the effort went into form and structure, so the characters felt a little underdeveloped. I wish we knew more about Abigail and Benjamin, had more of their relationship and then I think the narrative would be more affecting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

Part 1 of this book was excellent and really intriguing. I thought it was an excellent set up for a murder mystery. The set up for all the characters was very promising, and I was excited to see how that would play out.

Part 2 started off promisingly, and the tone and style was something completely different. At first, the unexpected style was fun and amusing, though I found it quickly became grating, and lost its appeal for me very quickly.

From about 80% of the way through the book, the book completely lost me. The ending, whilst I think I understand what the author was trying to do, quickly became tedious to me, and was not a satisfying conclusion to the story.

The style felt very experimental to me, and may well be something that people enjoy, but it was not for me.

I also, inevitably, didn't feel able to connect with any of the characters, or feel invested in any of their stories

Louise Hegarty’s Fair Play offers an inventive twist on the classic locked-room mystery, blending suspense with clever meta-narrative elements. This unique book starts with a seemingly straightforward setup: Abigail organises a murder mystery party at a grand old house to celebrate her brother Benjamin’s birthday. The gathering of friends leads to a night of revelry, tension, and emotional upheaval. However, the following morning brings a shocking discovery—Benjamin is dead.

The atmosphere shifts dramatically as a professional detective arrives to investigate, and the house transforms into a world where the butler, gardener, and housekeeper become central players in this mysterious tableau. As Abigail wrestles with her grief and the perplexing circumstances of her brother’s death, she begins to uncover hidden facets of Benjamin’s life. The narrative cleverly straddles the line between fiction and reality, introducing fourth-wall breaks and self-aware nods to the detective genre.

Hegarty’s writing is sharp and playful, paying homage to traditional whodunits while subverting expectations. The locked-room format, reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, is given new life through inventive storytelling techniques and character dynamics. The book delves into complex relationships, secrets, and betrayals, all while maintaining an engaging and often humorous tone.

Fair Play is a compelling read for fans of murder mysteries who enjoy a modern twist on classic tropes. With its blend of suspense, wit, and originality, this book stands out as both an homage to and a reinvention of the genre. It’s a must-read for those looking for a detective story that dares to break the mould.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

i can't decide how i feel about this one! really interesting and different format which had me confused at points but i appreciated the inclusion of the golden rules of murder mysteries, the alternate endings, the meta commentary. i just didn't find the actual characters and plot compelling. but really interesting way of telling the story