This Is Not a Game

‘Miss Marple meets Only Murders in the Building’ Jennie Godfrey 
 
 FIVE-STAR READER REVIEWS:‘Such a fun read!’ ‘My favourite book this year’‘Fantastically done’ 
 
 77-year-old Mimi is giving up her usual evening crossword and Gibson martini to attend her neighbour Jane Ireland’s extravagant auction party. 
 
 None of the other guests know that Mimi has been blackmailed into attending, which is why she ropes her granddaughter, Addie, into accompanying her. 
 
 As Addie spots celebrities in the halls of Jane’s grand old mansion and Mimi wonders how to confess the real reason for their presence, a scream pierces the air. Jane is dead. 
 
 And when the second body turns up, Mimi and Addie soon become the unlikeliest of sleuths as they race to narrow down the suspects. 
 
 In a house whose labyrinthine rooms are brimming withsecrets, it’s going to take more than a Gibson to survive the night . . . 
 
 
PRAISE FOR THIS IS NOT A GAME . . .‘Fabulous, over-the-top fun’ The Guardian 
 
 ‘A delightful game of twists’ Chris Chibnall 
 
 ‘Slick and witty’ Daily Mail 
 
 'Agatha Christie brought bang up to date' Clare Mackintosh 
 
 'Deliciously twisty' Lucy Clarke 
 
 
'A thriller with a twist!' Cosmopolitan 
 
'A quirky variation on Golden Age locked room mysteries with a modern zest of eccentricity and humour' Crime Time 
 
'This locked room mystery delivers classic whodunnit drama along with a sprinkle of joy' i Paper 
 
‘A grand finale reveal Poirot would be proud of’ Woman & Home 
 
'A wonderfully vibrant take on the classic whodunit!' Kristen Perrin 
 
'Crackles with wit and cosy crime goodness' Vaseem Khan

Mullen debuts with an impressive closed-circle whodunit

Thrilling and heartwarming... This Is Not a Game is a playful mix of classic whodunnit and modern wit stirred to perfection

Despite the title, this is absolutely a game from the first word to the last

A fun, atmospheric debut with sharp humour and classic whodunnit charm

A quirky variation on Golden Age locked room mysteries with a modern zest of eccentricity and humour, US author Kelly Mullen’s debut is very much a crowd pleaser in the mould of the KNIVES OUT movie series

A grand finale reveal Poirot would be proud of

This locked room mystery delivers classic whodunnit drama along with a sprinkle of joy.

One body. Two unlikely sleuths. The time for playing nicely is over... 
 
Widower Mimi is rarely one to ask for help. She knows where to buy her favourite sourdough. And she knows the unmatched pleasure of an evening crossword with her cocktail of choice – a Gibson. 
 
But when Mimi receives an invite to her wealthy neighbour’s charity auction, she knows she needs back-up – fast – and she knows just who to ask. 
 
Mimi’s granddaughter Addie needs help too. Three months ago she was toasting her engagement and the success of the hit video game she created with her fiancé. Now she’s single and her ex has cut out of a deal to sell their murder mystery game for millions. A weekend with her grandmother promises welcome relief from endless reruns of Buffy and Poirot. 
 
But what Mimi isn’t telling Addie is that a blackmail threat looms over the invitation. 
 
The auction is barely underway when the host’s body is discovered in the lavish halls of her own mansion. Soon Mimi and Addie are caught in a dangerous game as they use their unique skills to narrow down the suspects. 
 
And when another body turns up, it’s clear that only the winner will survive…

Kelly Mullen

Snappy, original, and irresistibly fun - this book is brimming with surprises and leaves you thirsty for more!

A wonderfully rich cast of suspects plus a murder in the classiest of locked-room destinations! Go mix yourself a Caketini, settle back and enjoy!

Every single character jumps off the page. This book will intoxicate you from the very first sip.

A Murder in Eight Cocktails is a deliciously clever whodunnit, with Knives Out vibes and a glam, cocktail-soaked twist. It’s a smart, stylish murder mystery with irresistible characters, sharp humour, and a killer premise. I was thoroughly entertained!

Mix one old flame with a splash of suspicion for the perfect. . . murder. 
 
In the seaside haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Willa Keane’s marriage is in a rut. As a retired interior-designer-turned-influencer, she’s sure life begins at fifty-five, whereas her husband, Marty, is more interested in watching his beloved birds. 
 
So when Willa is invited to the opening of the chicest new cocktail bar in town, she hopes the evening will rekindle their flame. But arriving at the party, Willa is shaken to discover it’s being hosted by her charming ex-husband, Paul. 
 
The night is thrown into even deeper chaos when the bar’s enigmatic owner is found dead on the rocks below. A suicide message suggests there’s no foul play, but Willa’s heightened senses aren’t so sure. Now she must solve the mystery together with her husband…and her ex-husband. 
 
Can they find the killer before another victim is served their last cocktail?_____________ 
 
Praise for Kelly Mullen 
 
'I adored this deliciously twisty and wickedly sharp murder mystery' Lucy Clarke 
'Agatha Christie brought bang up to date' Clare Mackintosh 
'A thriller with a twist!' Cosmopolitan 
'Slick and witty' Daily Mail 
'Entertaining from start to finish' Jennie Godfrey 
'A stunning read. So gripping and atmospheric, I barely made it out alive' Steve Jones

Kelly Mullen

Praise for A Murder in Eight Cocktails

As fun as murder gets!

Snappy, original, and irresistibly fun - this book is brimming with surprises and leaves you thirsty for more!

A wonderfully rich cast of suspects plus a murder in the classiest of locked-room destinations! Go mix yourself a Caketini, settle back and enjoy!

As fun as murder gets!

Snappy, original, and irresistibly fun - this book is brimming with surprises and leaves you thirsty for more!

A wonderfully rich cast of suspects plus a murder in the classiest of locked-room destinations! Go mix yourself a Caketini, settle back and enjoy!

As fun as murder gets!

Snappy, original, and irresistibly fun - this book is brimming with surprises and leaves you thirsty for more!

A wonderfully rich cast of suspects plus a murder in the classiest of locked-room destinations! Go mix yourself a Caketini, settle back and enjoy!

Books by Kelly Mullen

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter