A personal comment before the review of Jaime Lynn Hendricks’ I Didn’t Do It. My reviews have always been my personal opinion. I know there are books that I liked or disliked, and others will have the opposite opinion. In fact, I love to see readers who say my negative reviews attracted their attention, and they’re going to read the book. Good for you! I do also say, as I will for this one, that this book just wasn’t for me, but I know there are readers who will love it.

Murderpalooza is starting in New York City. It’s the premiere thriller conference, and five authors are up for the Thriller of the Year award, including Kristin Bailey and Vicky Overton. Before the first day is over, there are rumors spreading through the conference that Kristin Bailey has been found murdered in her hotel room. And, someone is texting four people at the conference, warning them that they might be next.

Vicky Overton is one of the nominees for the Thriller of the Year Award. Davis Walton is the newest hot author, all over the media, with a movie deal, and his book isn’t even out for another three months. At 37, Mike Brooks feels washed up. He had four bestsellers, and he was once the hot author. Now, he’s struggling to make a comeback with the help of an anonymous co-author. Suzanne Shih is a young woman, so excited to be at her first conference. She has an agent who hopes to sell her book. When a Twitter account targets these four, warning them they may be next, they band together to figure out who is behind the social media campaign and veiled threats. They all have secrets, and their secrets connect them to Kristin. But, as much as they would like to work together, they find themselves caught up in the Twitter campaign as they turn on each other. Now, who is a murder suspect, and who is a possible victim?

As I said, I know there will be readers eager to read this novel. I was excited about the setting at a mystery conference. However, when I realized all four of these characters, plus the victim, Kristin, had voices in the story, it became too much for me. And, I felt manipulated. The ending didn’t really come as a surprise, but, by that time, I really didn’t care. I didn’t care for any of the characters, and their problems no longer interested me by the end.

If you pick up I Didn’t Do It, I hope you love it, and come back to tell me what you thought. I love to see an opposing viewpoint.

I Didn’t Do It by Jaime Lynn Hendricks. Scarlet/Penzler Publishers, 2023. ISBN 9781613164112 (hardcover), 336p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley on NetGalley in order to review the book for a journal, with no promise of a positive review.