A great read! Twisty, witty and just a little bit unhinged!

Meet Kelli, a small town journalist who is obsessed with true crime. After she caught a prolific serial killer and had her 15 minutes of fame, Kelli has yearned for more criminal action to get stuck into, so when there is a murder close to her home, Kelli is all in!

Kelli is a brilliantly unreliable narrator and her antics absolutely grabbed my attention! Is she an amateur sleuth, or a deadly psychopath?

Tam Barnett cleverly builds up the suspense whilst casting suspicion on a number of possible killers. There's plenty of dark humour and some jaw dropping twists, which lead to an exquisitely shocking ending. Loved it!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Tam Barnett and Boldwood, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

First, I want to thank @NetGalley, @boldwoodbooks and @tambarnett for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I would like to admit I should not rate books when I finish them right before bed (LOL)

Originally, last night I rated this book a 3.5 but then I realized the .5 was definitely a “me” issue.

This story follows journalist Kelli Amari, who is a self proclaimed true crime enthusiast that is so intense it borders on its own version of psychopathy. Who is also afraid of the dark, hmm. From the prologue, this book had me hooked and invested. Kelli finishes up a documentary on John Wayne Gacy (American serial unaliver), and when she turns to Twitter (I will never call it ‘X’, just like Kelli), the algorithm suggests a post:

Are you a clinical psychopath? Take our free test and see….

OKAY! I am in! Full disclosure, I am a psych student so true story or not, psychopathy is fascinating to me!

Kelli has formerly participated in the capture of a serial unaliver and now she has the itch. So when another one strikes, she wants that rush again. The “me” issue was there were a LOT of references to real serial unalivers and I knew only 3 (Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Son of Sam) so I found myself googling every single one to find out what they did, what was being referenced (this was NOT necessary, I am also a true crime enthusiast so it was definitely a ME issue) as long as you realize they are referencing other serial unalivers to compare character traits and MO’s, you will understand the story and it will still be engaging.

Through most of this book I was thinking “okay this is a great comedic mystery” … then we get to the second half … we got into thriller territory. I did not see any of the twists coming, I was completely shocked by who was guilty. Some of Kelli’s actions I did predict because I feel there were many suggestions leading up to that.

All in all … highly suggest for mystery, thriller lovers who also don’t mind a laugh or two to lighten the mood.

This grabbed me from the get-go. The minute I finished the prologue with its talk about doing a 'psychopathy checklist', I knew this was a book I was going to enjoy. Although I found the story slow to start, it certainly starts to pick up the pace halfway through. I read the last 60% in an evening.

The story follows the pov of Kelli, a journalist with an obsession for all things true crime that stems from witnessing her dad being sent down for manslaughter. After helping to capture the notorious serial killer known as ' The White Widower', she finds herself a bit lost in life with no real direction insight. When a dead body is discovered close to where she lives, something ignites within Kelli, and she can't help but get herself entangled with another killer on the loose.

As the story progresses, you realise that kelli isn't all she seems, and you realise how unreliable and a little unhinged she is. I've read a few books now with this format, and I really enjoy how it makes you question and doubt everything you think is going on with the plot. Her back story is interesting, and we learn how it has moulded her into the person she is today. I can't say I liked her. She makes you uncomfortable.

I really enjoyed the plot and how it cleverly played out. It is full of unpredictable twists and misdirection. It kept me guessing. What an ending. It didn't even cross my mind. It was one of those OMG moments for me.

It's dark, witty, and clever with a satisfyingly good ending. A killer of a debut to add to your tbr this year!

Thank you to Tam Barnett for my advanced copy through Boldwood Books and Netgalley.

My opinions are my own

“Rule number one of committing the perfect murder would be convincing everyone you weren’t contemplating a murder at all.”

This was a great read! It was a bit slow to start but once I got into the guts of the book, this was so gripping and kept me questioning the entire way.

As someone who notoriously guesses the plots of books early on, I was pleasantly surprised to not know who the murdered was until just before it was revealed. While this may be a silly point for some, it was a breath of fresh air for me.

Well rounded characters, a very well thought out and complex plot, I would definitely recommend this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

I enjoyed this mystery a lot and had a hard time putting this one down. There were plenty of twists and turns and the main character was complex and left me not quite sure how to feel about her. I wasn't sure who the actual killer was until reveal and I loved the ending. It was quite satisfying. Will definitely recommend this one to others in my book club!

I enjoyed How To Get Away With Murder, it was fast paced with twists and turns, it keeps you hooked!

This is the perfect book for anyone who loves true crime and crime thrillers in general. The opening is one heck of a hook! Kelli was a very interesting and entertaining character who I had a lot of fun following during this book. I would give this more than 5 stars if I could. I could not put it down.

This book was so good! 4 stars for me! I was hooked from the beginning and was kept guessing the whole time! I was not expecting the end though! I normally am not a fan of unreliable narrator but I like the way it was done in this book! I can’t say I honestly liked any of these characters but it made it that much better. Highly recommended! Thank you to the author/publisher and NetGalley for an ebook ARC.

How to Get Away with Murder by Tam Barnett is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With clever twists and a gripping plot, the story explores dark secrets, deception, and the lengths people will go to escape the consequences of their actions. The unpredictable narrative and engaging characters make this a must-read for fans of crime fiction.

How To Get Away With Murder begins with a psychopath test, and as someone who loves the crime genre, this really piqued my interest, both in the plot and in Kelli as a central character. Kelli is a first person narrator and she uses a colloquial tone, which made me feel as though she was talking to me and involving me in the story. She has a colourful background which really adds to the development of her character and I really hoped she would find the answers she needed. Her narrative is easy to read and I love how the author uses humour alongside much more serious issues to draw the reader in.

Kelli is surrounded by an interesting group of family and friends who provide the reader with an intriguing list of suspects. There were several developments in this story that I did not see coming even though they were right in front of my nose, and this kept me hooked the whole way through.

However, it's the ending where all the author's groundwork really pays off and the story bursts into life. It's really cleverly written and my jaw hit the floor as all the revelations came out.

I believe How To Get Away With Murder is Tam Barnett's debut novel and her writing is already accomplished! I can't wait to see what she does next!

Thanks so much for letting me borrow an arc copy of this book.

I enjoyed the book as a whole, although it was on the shorter side of books I would normally read. This is the kind of genre I enjoy and I loved the unexpected twists and turns.

Would definitely read books by this author again

This was an engaging and exciting read that I devoured in just under two days. Hooked from the start I was invested in Kelli’s story and desperate to see how the story unfolded. I loved that I was familiar with the setting of this book as there are few books based in the area so it added a level of familiarity that I appreciate read. The characters were well written and I had a few guesses throughout and despite suspicions I was still shocked at the reveal. I liked that the book had twists and turns until the very end and how easy it was to read!

I received this book for free and I am writing this review voluntarily.

Readers should know before they pick up this book that there are many triggers in the book and it can upset readers. Please check the trigger warnings.

How to Get Away With Murder is for mystery/thriller lovers who want to read a fast paced novel that could be finished in one day.

There is single point of view in the novel. We get to learn her life, her strange addiction to true crime and her relationships from Kelli. Kelli is a crime journalist, and it is safe to conclude that she has an obsession, true crime. She lives with her boyfriend Ben, has two good friends and her mother lives close to her. She also has an enemy, Grayson, which we almost immediately meet at the beginning of the novel.

Kelli has found one serial killer and hopes this is not her last. When killings start in the forest next to her house, she is thrilled (yes, I know it sounds weird). She wants to get the killer first. But things get complicated as the circle around the killer gets smaller.

Did I like this book? Yes. Would I recommend this novel? If you are fine with the triggers and like mysteries, then yes. It is a fast paced novel and everything eventually adds up. It is like a whirlpool with many things are revealed mostly towards the end but if you follow the clues then you might be able to find out before.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of How to Get Away with Murder in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the twist and turns of the story as you don't expect the end. I didn't like the relationship that the main character has with the psychopath and her obsession with murders as it was a bit unhealthy. Overall enjoyed the story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.
I was so excited to dive into this book. At time it was good but overall it just fell flat. It was just written in a way that seemed more like a work in progress vs a completed story. The plot was all over the place and it was very mysterious to me. It was a struggle to complete.

4.5

one of the best books this year. all my attention was focused on the plot, the whole time, and when I was already relaxed and just waiting for the end of the story, the unexpectedness of the plot twist hit me in the face, leaving me speechless, but with an incredible amount of emotions.

as for the plot, it's classic here - if you want to hide something, put it in the most visible place. and how does it work in this book, because I didn't guess the killer, but then, when everything falls into place, how obvious it was, but beautifully hidden. and the ending, which is simple: you can never relax when you read such books.

I'm obsessed with true crime. All the podcasts, the documentaries... I can't get enough.

And now there's a murderer on the loose where I live. What a rush!

Of course, some people might wonder if it's me. Am I an innocent soul with an unhealthy fascination, or a deadly psychopath?

It's the killer question. After all, I would love to know how to get away with murder…

My thoughts:

The story was told from the pov of Kelli, a journalist who is obsessed with true crime documentaries. When a series of murders happen near where she lives, Kelli is drawn into investigating them…..

The story was really clever. There are stacks of clues throughout the story, and it was interesting to see the story play out.

I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for an advance egalley of this story. Thoughts expressed here are my own.

digital ARC was provided by Netgalley and Boldwood Books

OK, so, it started out very promising and quite intriguing. But then, it evolved into a mess, and not even a hot one. We got a protagonist closing in to a serial killer ala Silence of the Lambs, but it just didn't work and I don't know where to begin. The protagonist was unlikeable (which, fair, they don't have to be) that I didn't care for her or when bad things happened to her (+people around her). The mystery (?) wasn't mystery-ing. The plot was all over the place that I wasn't sure what went wrong in the book. Skimread to get to the ending.

I read this over the course of 24 hours, I couldn't put it down! No spoilers...but at first it all seems glaringly obvious, however, the twists and turns throughout actually do keep you guessing. There's some dark humour, and what I will say is, you'll need to pay attention to keep track after the half way mark as there's a lot going on! Kelli is a likeable mess, the story is told entirely from her POV and takes place on one timeline. There are a good few true crime references throughout, there's been some good research and it's not overdone in my opinion. Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend! Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This true crime-inspired thriller dives headfirst into the obsession with murder, weaving an unreliable narrator with a dark fascination for how far someone might go to truly get away with it.

The book while attention-grabbing, left much to be desired stylistically. The characters, particularly Kelli, are deeply flawed, often unsympathetic, yet undeniably compelling. Their actions and decisions kept me curious, even if I found the protagonist a bit grating at times. Her relationship with a serial killer and her father’s criminal past added intriguing layers to the story. However, the frequent references to pop culture were distracting and felt unnecessary, pulling me out of the narrative.

The author’s occasional witty observations and dark humor shone in moments, like when the protagonist compares shared birthdays to a serial killer instead of a celebrity—a touch that’s disturbingly funny. Unfortunately, the plot eventually lost its way, bogged down by an unreliable narrator and an increasingly implausible storyline.

While there are moments of brilliance, this book ultimately wasn’t for me. The messy plot and unlikable cast overshadowed its potential.