Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

A very good and easy read.

The first few pages of the book are so infuriatingly meta that I feared the worse but, not to worry, once we get into the book proper, all is more conventional.

I see that the author has drawn partly from his own life in his character Tony Davis and this is quite enDEARYng. The story is good, good plot with some surprises, especially the Tony death one although both Aline and Tony are surprisingly slow with regard to Helen's attacker.

The book is very funny in places, Aline has a nice line in put downs and Mr Brown is just hilarious.

Definitely worth a read. Something a bit different and not at all taxing. 3.5 up to 4.

One of my favourite authors, MW Craven, raved about this book, so I was eager to read it myself.

The book starts in 1973, with four strangers meeting on a train, marooned in a single carriage together. The polite conversation takes an unexpected turn, when one of the travellers announces the words, “Actually, I’m a murderer”.

The story telling meanders through the thoughts and actions of the narrating characters, showing the same events from differing perspectives. Occasionally the timeline returns to our current time, giving a glimpse at the repercussions of that conversation on the train.

The attitudes and speech in the book reflect the opinions of 1973, to say that this wasn’t a positive experience for a female police officer, would be an understatement. Aline deals with these situations as best she can, but I certainly didn’t envy her daily battle.

I really wanted to love this book, but sadly I didn’t. I found my attention wandering frequently, and I wasn’t eager to pick up the book at every opportunity I could. Which tells me I wasn’t the right reader for the book, though I’m sure others will love this quirky read.

I’m aware of Terry Deary as the author of the Horrible History series for children. Actually, I'm A Murderer is emphatically not a children’s book. It starts with a 1973 journey by four strangers who occupy a train compartment and pass the time by guessing each other’s occupations. As you’ll have guessed from the book’s title, one of them claims to be a murderer and yes, there is a subsequent murder.

I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter is narrated by Tony Davies (a mediocre actor), John Brown (the self-confessed murderer) or Aline James (a policewoman who gets involved when the four leave the train at Sunderland). Deary’s plotting is meticulous, although I do wonder if anyone could really be as naïve / stupid as Tony!

The characters are beautifully depicted. Although Aline is clever and highly ambitious, Deary shows the huge challenges that women had to face in the workplace in 1973 and I’m afraid that it’s quite plausible that the police force was more misogynist than most other organisations. Aline’s fellow policeman, Greatorex, is an unpleasant bully and sex pest, driven by his lust for Aline. Tony wants to be an actor but isn’t a very good one and is – as Aline says in her first chapter – a buffoon. He subsequently discovers that his talent is for writing, not acting; and the book starts with him reflecting upon the events, fifty years later, when he is a rich and successful popular author. He is 77 years old when the book opens in 2023 – just as Deary was at that time – and was born in Sunderland, just like Deary. John Brown (probably not his real name, but “a name as good as any”) is a precise careful person. He describes himself as a sociopath, not a psychopath – someone who is not mentally ill but simply has no empathy at all with other people, so he can kill without any qualms or regrets.

Brown’s plans always include an escape plan, even if he cannot anticipate why he might have to invoke it but Deary shows how precise, carefully thought-out, plans can be derailed by people acting in unexpected ways. I enjoyed the way that Deary throws in unexpected twists. For example, Tony meets another policewoman who turns out to be Aline’s house-mate in a house whose landlord is the local villain. The ending is unexpected but also very clever. This is Deary’s first crime novel but it’s very good indeed and I shall definitely look out for any subsequent adult books he may care to write.

#ActuallyImAMurderer #NetGalley

I loved this book! I would definetly recommend to those loving a cosy murder mystery. It was not what I expected (in a positive way).

Four strangers occupy a train carriage, where one of them confesses to being a murderer. What happens next involves corporate espionage, blackmail and more murder.

The story is told from some point in the future, alternating between two of our characters, one of whom was in the train carriage and the other who was a police officer that the existence of the “murderer” was reported to.

It all unfolds with a level of humour one might expect from Terry Deary, and the plot is intriguing enough to keep you coming back to find out what happens.

This is one for fans of similarly humorous crime books, such as Richard Osman, and I’d recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

This book made me mad and sad and glad!!!!! The writing was very good and captured the trials and tribulations of women in the 70's and especially those in the police. I was getting so annoyed for the MFC and what she subjected to.
I enjoyed the multi character view's in the book and it was not confusing to following along at all. I also liked how the beginning and the ending all tied in with one another.

I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

An enjoyable adult crime caper from Terry Deary.

Quirky, funny in parts - though at times trying to hard to be funny - it's a good debut that reads quickly and is an entertaining romp. Full of characters that aren't really that likeable, it has vibes of 70s sitcoms which is the era in which its set.

It starts very well but there is a bit of a dip in proceedings through the middle but it all comes to a inventive finale that left me happy to have read this one. Feels very much like a standalone read but I hope Terry Deary has more adult fiction to come

Much Enjoyed

I wasn’t sure what to expect, we are horrible history fans… this didn’t disappoint! Nevermind who is the murderer - who is being murdered!!!! What a fun read!

This was such a good concept and I enjoyed the writing style. However non of the characters were likeable and even though they were at times sending themselves up it fell a little flat for me.

It was also incredibly obvious who the murderers were and none of the twists were a suprise to me. I'm not sure if this was deliberate but the clues were over done. I read a lot of murder mysteries so guessed very early on.

Having said that it was a fun read and I'd recommend it to people.

The story started quite slowly for me however it picked up and I’m glad I stayed with it. It does ramble at some places but it’s worth sticking with it. I quite enjoyed it and it was quite different from the usual psychological thrillers that I usually read.

Really clever plot idea and deftly woven narratives from three different narrators. I also enjoyed the humour in the book and the brilliant, yet unexpected ending. Very clever and very readable.

Actually I'm a Murderer is actually brilliant! It's just like watching a quirky BBC2 drama or even an episode of Inside No 9.

Most of the story takes place in 1973, where four strangers meet on a train. Things take an unexpected turn when one of the passengers, Mr Brown, announces to the others that Actually I'm a Murderer.

Soon after, the lives of the other passengers, plus local police officer Aline, become tangled together with some unintended consequences (and a murder or two!)

I loved the mix of character viewpoints, including Mr Brown and his clinical hitman professionalism. Terry Dearey has proven that he's not just a great children's author, and I can't wait to read more.

In 1973, 4 strangers meet on a train, with one revealing he is a murderer. By the end of the next day, one of the other travellers is dead, The story is then told from multiple points of view, including that of a young female police officer who gets entangled in the case.

I really liked how the book wove together the stories of the different characters, in both 1973 and then fifty years later in 2023. The story was cleverly written, drip feeding details to the reader. There are many twists along the way, and the book is both amusing and emotive, with a great ending.

What a treat this book is, a very Hitchcock like tale that is funny and mysterious. It’s 1973 and 4 strangers meet on a train. To fill in time on the journey they ask each other what their occupations are. One is a lawyer, one a writer another soon to be a successful entrepreneur but the fourth person? The small unremarkable man with the glasses and tiny moustache well actually, he says, I am a murderer.
By the end of the next day one of them will be dead, and one will be blackmailed into committing a crime.
So begins this funny, smart tale of murder and mayhem. Narrated from different points of view including the young police officer who is on to the murderer. The dialogue is snappy, the plot funny and unpredictable. A real treat to read.

#ActuallyIAmAMurderer. #NetGalley

Thank you to the author, publishers Constable and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

A seemingly chance encounter in a train carriage with a self-confessed murderer changes the life of four people. In 24 hours one of them is dead, one’s committed a crime and one’s turned to blackmail, with an astute suspicious police officer convinced there’s something being hidden.

A light, gently funny story about being in the wrong place at the right time, and taking advantage of opportunities and loopholes.

No one is quite what they seem in this story, but the twists unfold gently, intended to amuse rather than shock. It’s not laugh-out-loud comedy but there’s a quintessentially British-ness about the humour that makes the whole tale feel comfortable.

In 1973, four people miss their train and to kill time, they try and guess each others jobs. Tony Davies is a struggling actor, Claire Thirwell is in Computing, Edward Belmont is a lawyer and government advisor, all of whom were correctly guessed by Mr Brown who declares '"Actually, I'm a Murderer."

This book is the story told by three people from the present day (being 2023) recalling events that happened 50 years earlier. There's no time jumping here, the story happens in 1973 from three points of view. Tony (actor), Alina (PC), and Mr Brown (murderer).

We're treated the to chauvinistic attitudes of the times with Alina being subject to sexual advances of her colleagues and opinions dismissed. She's clearly very clever and observant and the reader instantly knows she's someone to be reckoned with

The plot is enjoyable and moves along at a good pace. All of the characters are likeable, even Mr Brown. Its interesting reading the murderers point of view alongside the police and friends of victims. It links together well, especially the ending which tied everything together nicely.

I would like to convey my thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK Publishers for providing the opportunity to review this novel. All opinions are my own.

2.5 stars

I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded so good, but I wasn't convinced.

It's very rambly. It's all a sort of, stream of consciousness which is fine in small doses, but when its the case of 300+ pages and all the characters, it becomes a bit of a struggle.

I introduced lots of characters with their own stream of consciousness which meant I got so confused as to who was who and what they were as they all just merged into one and I found it didn't flow well.

I did like how different it was. I read a lot of thrillers and murder mysteries and whatnot, and as much as I love the majority of them, they do get quite samey. So I appreciate what Terry has done with the genre. Its not about the whodunnit, it's instead about the person who is killed and why.

I wasn't really into the Horrible History books as a kid and so the fact he's the same writer didn't really mean much to me.

I have been so excited about this book and I was saving it to when I needed a great read, and whilst there were elements I liked, on the whole I was disappointed. I loved the uniqueness and quirkiness and it was an interesting premise, but I found the characters unlovable. I'm fine with unlovable characters to a point. It's not fun to have 100% happy, fun, good characters, you need a villain or two. But with these, I didn't like any of them and I didn't dislike any of them, they were just there on the page, which meant I didn't really care for any of them.

It did get better as it went along but I'd say at least the first 1/4 was a big slog and I could have DNF at several points.

I believe this is his first foray into adult crime, but I'm unsure if it's first adult novel full stop. Either way, I think there's definitely promise but from this book only, I don't think his talent lies in serious adult murder mysteries. It's an acceptable read, but confusing and a bit flat.

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group Uk and NetGalley for a copy of “Actually , I’m A Murderer “ for an honest review.

Both of my sons , and myself, were big fans of Terry Derry’s Horrible History series of books , so I was intrigued to see what sort of mystery novel he could come up with .
I was very impressed , and was hooked straight away, by the storyline and interesting characters.
The story was clever and witty , and although I had guessed a few of the surprises it was a a joy of a read from start to finish.
I’ll definitely be reading any more adult fiction that he writes.

Terry Deary’s debut crime fiction novel Actually, I’m A Murder is a slightly quirky but enjoyable book with a good storyline that is told by many of the main characters which adds to the overall readability and enjoyment.

There is also some humour which also adds to the story that kept this reader engaged throughout.

I love Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories books and was interested to see a book in a different genre. Unfortunately I was left slightly disappointed. Although I liked the writing style, the characters were unlikeable and the plot was predictable.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.