I've seen a mixed bag of reviews for this, Barnett's debut and I swear they've all been reading the wrong book, because I absolutely loved it!

I read the prologue and immediately knew it was the book for me. It's not every day someone decides they're taking a 'clinical psychopath test' is it, although I think I could be tempted; my curiosity would get the better of me.

It's a fun, twisty read and has some great, memorable characters. Kelli being a girl after my own heart, I too love anything true crime.

For me it was witty, wonderful and highly entertaining.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. This was a well-paced and compelling read, but I found Kelli a frustrating and unlikeable narrator. Although Barnett kept the reader guessing, in some ways, the story was quite predictable. That said, the final twist was shocking and left me wanting more.

I was going through the reviews for this book on goodreads and one of the reviews mentioned that this book seem to be going through an identity crisis and I agree. The book is trying to be both comic and dark and in it's quest to do these two things, it's unable to do either. It started on a promising note and initially it did capture my interest. I mean we did have a main character obsessed with true crime and she had a sort of friendship with a serial killer. This isn't something that i have personally read in books. So I was looking forward to read where the author was gonna take it and how dark it was going to get. But slowly it started going downhill and most of the twists were so predictable, almost every single one of them. Pretty much all the characters in this book were unlikable and unreliable, which just didn't work for me. If you are someone who does like books which are filled with unreliable narrators and unlikeable characters and you are also someone who likes books which read very much like true crime and involve serial killers then maybe you can try this book. Otherwise I will not recommended it.

This book was a fun twisty book. I want to start by saying i did not care for the main character.

It was awesome to think that you are so obsessed with serial killers that you think/wonder if you could be the one committing the murders. So funny and kept me engaged the whole time.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
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Unfortunately, I do not think this book was for me. I found it hard to read the main character and it was hard to follow the plot of the book at times, especially at the end of the book. The last few chapters, along with the big reveal, felt extremely rushed and didn't make sense to me in the end. This book was fast-paced and could be enjoyed by those really into true crime and its iterations.

3.5⭐
Genre ~ crime fiction
Setting ~ UK
Publication date ~ January 27, 2025
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 274 (p+ 40 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 3 minutes
Narrator ~ Imogen Church
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ debut, unreliable narrator, serial killer obsession

Kelli has always been fascinated with serial killers. Not a serial killer himself, but her own father was convicted of killing a man when she was young, so her obsession goes far back. Recently she’s famous for helping catch the notorious The White Widowerer. She even frequently visits him in prison as she pens a book based on him. They have quite the odd relationship. When new bodies begin to turn up in her own back woods she’s on the hunt to figure out who The Nailer is.

Kelli is as unreliable and unlikable as they come. She thinks she’s the cat’s meow and she’s anything but. Speaking of cats (view spoiler), which I didn’t care for. She seems to know alot about US killers, which was great and showed research, but she does quite a bit of name dropping. Pretty much all characters were unlikable.

There’s a nice amount of humorous one liners throughout. I really liked this one ~ ‘I’d never hit you, he says, turning to look at me. Bless his innocent cotton socks. ⬅️ that sentence cracked me up!

One thing that bothered me a little is that she barely acknowledged her mother, but when she received a sad diagnosis all of the sudden it seemed like finally she had time to spend with her.

Overall, I liked the concept and the pace was pretty steady. I was surprised about the killer, so that was nice. The author already has his sophomore book coming out this year, so I’ll probably give it a whirl.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'How To get Away With Murder' by Tam Barnett

This is Tam's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into his next guaranteed success and I just hope he is busy writing it as I write this!!!

OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE ,LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GRIPPING AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ!!

The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Tam!! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it is actually his first and only book!! What an absolutely EPIC debut novel !! If THIS is what you can create for your very first book then I just cannot wait to see what on Earth you will come out with next!! This is definitely THE BEST DEBUT book I have ever read and it is also one of my favourite crime thrillers of all times!!! You seriously have to grab your copy of this twisty and gripping crime thriller today!! Just OMG!!! The uniqueness, the suspense, the characters, the absolutely MIND BLOWING TWISTS AND TURNS!!! This book NEEDS to be turned into a movie and I hope to God he is busy writing his next book because I need it in my life now. The looks I was getting from my partner because of the amount of times I shouted out 'WTAF!!' , 'OMFG!!' and 'No FLexking way did THAT just happen' I seriously lost count. I mean seriously I cannot describe just how AMAZING this book is!!! There are just no words. I mean I'll try but my advice is stop reading this review and GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! If you love thrillers, crime, unique, mind blowing, action packed ... Do you know what...whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I absolutely LOVED this addictive and explosive page turner!!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the start to the end. It was just one heck of an amazing read!!! Filled with suspense, revenge, torture, drama, crime, violence, murder, heartbreak, humour, tension and everything and more that you could ask for in a book you wont be able to put down! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Tam absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! There was no way I could put this book down until I had finished it. I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to my kindle for a few hours!! Tam's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I just cannot wait to get hooked into his next book!!! I have just never come across a book or movie anything like this one and I doubt I will again!!!! I just genuinely love, love, LOVED IT!!! This book will suck you in and keep you gripped in the pages until your thrown out at the end with a racing heart!! A truly unforgettable one in a million page turner!!!! Get ready to pick your jaw up from the floor at the twists that you will NEVER see coming!! An absolute must read that I wont be forgetting about anytime soon!!

I hope your busy writing your next book Tam as I just cannot wait to see what bombshell twist and explosive storyline you have up your sleeve for us next!!!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. I absolutely LOVE the fact that our protagonist Kelli is so flawed as it makes her unique, intriguing and fascinating to get to know. Tam's evocative descriptions really makes each of the characters jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. The fact that this is Tam's debut novel yet he has managed to create these amazing, unique and strong characters is just absolutely amazing!!! All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!! I just cannot wait to see what characters this amazing author comes up with next!!! Hint hint Tam 😉 !!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic Tam's writing skills are as she completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create an absolutely twisty, humorous, gripping and addictive page turner!!!

This book is one of the BEST crime thrillers I have ever read !!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up this morning and had completely devoured it in a few hours!!! When the hell is this being made into a film and when are you bringing your next book out Tam as I need my next hit!!!

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, intriguing crime thriller that will keep you up at night on the edge of your seat with a pounding heart!!

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First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for an honest review

As a debut novel this was absolutely brilliant! It has good pacing and kept you guessing until the very end. I kept thinking I had it all figured out but kept being proven wrong. I do have to admit though I had to push through the first few chapters as I really hate the main character but understand that this just adds an extra depth to the story.

Looking forward to seeing what is coming next from this author.

"How to Get Away with Murder" by Tam Barnett is a delightfully twisty and darkly comic crime thriller. The story follows Kelli, a true crime-obsessed journalist who is best known for catching a prolific serial killer. However, when another killer emerges in her own village, Kelli finds herself captivated once again. The novel explores whether Kelli's fascination with true crime is merely a hobby or something more sinister.
Tam Barnett's debut novel is a deliciously dark and humorous dive into the world of true crime obsession. Kelli, our protagonist, is a witty and unreliable narrator who keeps readers trying to understand and speculating. Her perspective is both entertaining and unsettling, keeping me on the edge and having fun.
The book delights in its ambiguity, blending humour, intrigue, and outright creepiness in a way that keeps you speculating until the very end. Barnett’s writing is sharp and clever, with plenty of gallows humour and true crime references to delight fans of the genre. The twists and turns are delivered with precision, ensuring that the suspense never wanes. Just when you think you've figured it out, Barnett delivers another twist that changes your supposed conclusions. The ending packs a final punch that is both shocking and satisfying.
In short, "How to Get Away with Murder" is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller with a darkly comic edge.
It’s highly recommended and I thank Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

What the cats think:

Harry: "Andry, have you heard about this book called *How to Get Away with Murder* by Tam Barnett? It's a twisty and darkly comic crime thriller."
Andry: "Oh, Harry, does it have anything to do with food? You know I love food!"
Harry: "Not quite, Andry. It's about Kelli, a journalist obsessed with true crime. She's famous for catching a serial killer, but then another killer shows up in her village, and she's hooked again."
Andry: "Wow, that sounds intense! Is Kelli just into true crime for fun, or is there something more to it?"
Harry: "That's the intriguing part. The novel explores whether her fascination is just a hobby or something darker. Kelli is a witty but unreliable narrator, which keeps readers guessing."
Andry: "I love a good mystery! Does the book have lots of twists and turns?"
Harry: "Absolutely, Andry. The story blends humor, intrigue, and creepiness, keeping you on edge. Just when you think you've figured it out, Barnett throws in another twist."
Andry: "Sounds like a rollercoaster! Is the ending good?"
Harry: "The ending is both shocking and satisfying. It's a great read for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a darkly comic edge."
Andry: "I might give it a try, but only if there's a snack break in between chapters!"
Harry: "And maybe a bit of catnip to keep things interesting!"

This was a fun read. Which seems like a weird thing to say when you're talking about a book about a serial killer, but what can I say? Tam Barnett made it easy to feel that maybe Kellie's insecurity about whether she was capable of murder was something that grew because of her obsession with serial killers. And she was very obsessed. She could name almost all of the most historical killers in Europe and the US.

Kellie is edgy in all the right ways. She's friends with a prisoner. She lives in her boyfriend's mansion, but despite listening to all the true crime podcasts (or maybe because of them) she's afraid to go up the stairs in the dark. She's got a hate/hate relationship with a fellow news reporter ("...you're a runt with a capital 'C'."). She can't cook ("It's not that I can't cook, but I do often end up using the smoke alarm as a timer." - a girl after my own heart!).

There are some clever twists and witty repartee as the book careens toward the inevitable ending. This was a solid debut thriller by Barnett.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader's copy.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

A good read, took me a bit to get into the story and follow along/feel it out. I did not expect the twist and the ending was what really grabbed me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is what I would consider to be a great quick beachy read. Coming in at less than 300 pages, I was able to finish it rather quickly, and the chapter lengths helped attribute to this. I will say that the end 40% or so seemed to move a bit quicker than the first portion, which at times felt a bit lost in the details until everything came together. Told from one POV, I did struggle at times to care about the MC, as some of her actions/justifications seemed over the top for the situation. Despite this, I did in fact fall for the red herring for the whodunnit aspect and was pleasantly surprised with the last chapter. Would recommend this one if you are looking for a campy whodunnit for your next beach read.

i had a really hard time with the perspective on this one, the first person pov made the language seem more basic and hurt the story for me

thank you netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for my honest feedback!

Thank you Boldwood books for providing me to read on Netgalley in advance.
It was a really nicely done thriller with twists, turns and an amazing ending. The book was a delightful thriller read.
The story hooks you from very early on and doesn't let go. Tam Barnett lets us guess along the way who the killer might be and is it the MC which is falling apart on her own?
The atmosphere was great - sometimes a little eerie and then quirky and lighter but again tense.
All-in-all a great debut by Tam Barnett. Looking forward reading more from the author.

This book seemed to be having an identity crisis. I thought the premise sounded good but the book struggled. The first half showed glimmers of the dark humor promised, but by the second half the book seemed to just be a bit messy…..and predictable.
Perhaps this book should have been titled how NOT to get away with murder…..

A must-read for fans of the true crime genre, this dark yet comic story is told from Kelli's viewpoint. She is a crime journalist, obsessed with true crime since her father's arrest. Kelli was instrumental in the arrest of a serial killer. Kelli is a flawed and unreliable narrator, but as you get to know her, she has many redeeming features. The cast of characters is diverse, vibrant, and relatable. The ethos is dark but kept upbeat with Kelli's irreverent humour. It uses sensory imagery well and makes imagining the characters and events easy. Whilst this is not my favourite genre, this was an entertaining read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This novel, while not without its flaws, ultimately proves to be a captivating read. The intriguing plot immediately hooks the reader, though the first half feels somewhat uneven. The main character, unfortunately, lacks depth and her motivations remain unclear, making it difficult to connect with her. This occasionally creates a sense of distance from the narrative.
However, the second half significantly improves. The pacing picks up considerably, and the character development deepens, holding the reader's attention throughout. The twists and turns are cleverly crafted, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. The conclusion is truly surprising and unforgettable, leaving a lasting impact.
Despite a slightly weak beginning, the powerful conclusion more than makes up for it, making this a worthwhile read for those who enjoy thrilling and unpredictable stories. Recommended for readers who appreciate suspenseful plots and surprising twists.

Thank you Netgalley for this one! It sounded so like something I would enjoy reading and i bloody loved it!! I loved how intense it was and also the relating to previous serial killers being a crime fan myself i related to Kelli! So good and you never see it ending how it did!

Journalist and true crime fanatic Kelli is the narrator of this story and what a story it is!
Kelli has previously helped to put a murderer behind bars , and now there is another killer on the loose in the local vicinity.
Can she help to track them down?
Does Kelli know more about the murders than she’s letting on ?
This story is full of twists and turns and the main character is a very complex and at times down right odd!
Loved the twist at the end !
Really enjoyed this book a bit of a different read!
A promising debut !
Looking forward to reading more from the author .
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.