How to Get Away with Murder is a clever debut thriller that blends a traditional murder investigation with a chilling meta twist. After six months away from work recovering from a breakdown, Scotland Yard detective Samantha Hansen returns to duty when a fourteen-year-old girl is found murdered in a local park. The only clue is a self-help book found in the victim’s backpack titled How to Get Away with Murder, written by a mysterious man named Denver Brady who claims to be the world’s most successful serial killer. As Sam digs deeper into the case, and the book itself begins to go viral, she starts to suspect that the author may be far more real, and far more dangerous, than anyone first believed.
One of the things I really liked about this story was its structure. Alongside the main investigation, readers get pieces of the book written by Denver Brady, which outline his supposed methods and past crimes. This creates an interesting layered narrative where the investigation and the book begin to intersect in unsettling ways. It’s a smart concept that adds tension as both the detectives and the public begin analyzing Brady’s claims.
I listened to this one on audio, and the narration by Tamsin Kennard was excellent. She brought a really grounded tone to the story that fit Sam’s character well and made the investigation feel immersive. As a new-to-me narrator, she definitely impressed me and helped bring the characters to life.
Overall, I’d say I enjoyed about 90% of this book. It’s a solid mystery with strong pacing and good character development, especially when it comes to Sam herself. She’s a bit gruff and prickly on the surface, but you can clearly see the softer side underneath, which made her easy to root for. I also loved the small character moments, especially the scrappy dog storyline. I’m always a sucker for a stray dog finding a home, especially with someone who begrudgingly takes them in.
There were just a couple of things that kept this from being a full five-star read for me. One small frustration was how long it took Sam to actually sit down and read the serial killer book that’s central to the case. It felt like something that logically would have happened much earlier in the investigation. Toward the end, a few of her decisions also didn’t quite land for me.
The biggest issue for me, though, was the ending. It felt a little too neat for my taste, and I personally think the final few chapters could have been condensed or combined. The resolution just didn’t quite have the punch I was hoping for after such a strong build-up.
That said, I still really enjoyed this debut. It’s an engaging mystery with an intriguing premise, a compelling lead detective, and a concept that feels fresh within the genre. I’d definitely pick up another book by Rebecca Philipson in the future.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★★
How to get Away with Murder is out now. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
