Release date: February 24, 2026
Publisher: Minotaur
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
This fresh debut thriller finds a Scotland Yard detective trying to find the author of a self-help book that promises quite literally to teach readers how to get away with murder, which seems to have inspired London’s newest murderer.
Detective Inspector Samantha Hansen has been on leave for six months, recovering from a breakdown she suffered at work, but when a fourteen-year-old girl is murdered in a local park, Sam jumps at the chance to return to the job and prove that she’s still got what it takes to be the Yard’s most successful homicide detective. One of the cases only leads is a copy of a self-help book found in the victim’s backpack called How To Get Away With Murderby a man named Denver Brady.
Brady claims to be the most successful serial killer of our time, which is why no one’s ever heard of him. Chapter by chapter, he details his methodology and his past victims, and as Sam’s investigation progresses and the details of the book go viral, Sam begins to suspect that there’s more to the author than what he’s revealed. But in order to find a killer and get justice for young Charlotte, Sam must learn to trust her instincts once again, before Denver Brady–or someone else–really does get away with murder.
Review:
How to Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipsonis such a sharp, clever debut that completely hooked me with its structure alone. I’m always a sucker for a book within a book, and this one absolutely delivered. The concept of a Scotland Yard detective investigating a murder potentially inspired by a self help manual written by a supposed serial killer is bold — and it works. The excerpts from the fictional guide are unsettling, intelligent, and laced with just enough dark British humor to make it all feel wickedly smart rather than overdone.
Detective Inspector Samantha Hansen is coming back to work after a breakdown, and that layer of vulnerability adds real depth to the investigation. I loved Sam as a character, she’s sharp, complicated, and deeply human. Watching her read through the killer’s book while simultaneously working the case made the experience feel immersive, like you’re piecing everything together right alongside her. It adds tension in such a clever way.
This is a strong premise executed with confidence. It’s engaging, polished, and feels surprisingly assured for a debut. As someone who loves a serial killer thriller, this hit the spot, and honestly, I’d read an entire series centered on Sam without hesitation.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 