A Novel Murder

Nevin (a pseudonym for former Hodder and Stoughton editorial director Eve Hall) debuts with an entertaining whodunit centered on 40-something mystery author Jane Hepburn. Jane has avoided the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival in the English village of Hoslewit for as long as she can remember, scared to mix with her professional peers. This year, though, she’s decided to attend in support of her underperforming PI Sandra Baker series. When she sneaks into the book tent in the wee hours with plans to rearrange the display and place her own books front and center, Jane discovers the dead body of hard-charging literary agent Carrie Marks. With the assistance of Carrie’s new star client, the unassuming but hugely popular Natasha Martez, and Carrie’s struggling intern, Daniel, Jane takes it upon herself to figure out who hated Carrie enough to kill her. The only problem? Plenty of people did. Nevin’s premise, while clever, trods familiar ground, but she elevates it with a well-rounded list of suspects and her lovably flawed heroine. Cozy fans will hope this is the start of a new series. Agent: Hannah Todd, Janklow & Nesbit U.K. (June)