Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am happy to share my thoughts today about A Field Guide to Murder: A Novel by Michelle L. Cullen.
A Field Guide to Murder: A Novel
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Ohio
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
Publication date : January 27, 2026
Print length : 320 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 : 979-8892424622
Paperback
ISBN-13 : 979-8892424639
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 979-8892424646
Audiobook
ASIN B0FTBRD14R
A cranky widower and his spirited caregiver team up to solve his neighbor’s murder in this charming and original mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.
Once a globe-trotting anthropologist, Harry Lancaster is now certain that all his grand adventures are behind him. Recently widowed and suffering from a fractured hip, Harry spends his days and nights behind a pair of binoculars, nose-deep in his neighbors’ affairs. His millennial caregiver, Emma, is determined to get him out of his armchair and back into the world.
Fate intervenes when Harry’s mysterious neighbor, Sue, phones, pleading for help. But instead of rescuing her, Harry and Emma find Sue dead: poisoned, days after a break-in at Sue’s house. Harry resolves to find out what happened, and Emma insists on going along for the ride. Together, they discover motives and suspects abound in Harry’s quaint condominium community—putting them both in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded killer.
Readers of Kristen Perrin and Deanna Raybourn will be charmed by this quirky, cross-generational murder mystery.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Harry Lancaster is not used to sitting still. His career as an anthropologist has taken him around the world, but he recently lost his wife and is now dealing with a broken hip. He may be sidelined, but that doesn’t mean his big adventures are over. For now, he is keeping his eyes on his neighbors and the neighborhood.
Emma Stockton is Harry’s caregiver. Her job as a critical care nurse had taken its toll, and caregiving is a role she can easily handle. She is young, friendly, and knows how to put Harry through his paces for a successful recovery.
When Harry receives a phone call from his neighbor, Sue Daniels, begging for help, Emma rushes to Sue’s home, and Harry follows. They find the woman has died, apparently poisoned. Harry is determined to find out who killed her and why. Emma is ready, willing, and able to help. As they work to uncover what has been happening in their community, they realize they both have become targets of the person they want to put behind bars.
Will Harry and Emma get to the truth and catch the killer? Or will the killer catch them first?
Harry is a cantankerous human being right now because of his current situation. He has lost most of his independence because of his lack of mobility. His mind is not lacking, though; his knowledge about many things sets him up to be a great amateur sleuth. Millennial Emma is on a mission to help Harry get back on his feet while dealing with a variety of things in her personal life. She is a wonderful Watson to Harry’s Sherlock. The author impressed me by taking the time to introduce these characters, and gave this reader time to get invested in their lives. Then we witnessed a friendship that bloomed naturally as Harry and Emma came to trust each other and realize their importance to each other overall.
Something was happening in Harry’s neighborhood. He watched some strange happenings behind a pair of binoculars. Sue’s death was thought to be an accident, but Harry did not believe it. Detective Bradford soon learned Harry was not going to back down. There were plenty of suspects to observe and question. After another neighbor was attacked, people started to open up to Harry and Emma while the police were hitting walls. Clues started to come together during a gathering, but the actual killer remained unclear. Harry has an a-ha moment that sets up a tragic showdown in the middle of a powerful thunderstorm. Ms. Cullen’s vivid descriptions enable readers to feel they are right on the scene. But wait, that’s not the end of the story; Harry is still following clues.
A Field Guide to Murder contains a clever, twisted whodunit with engaging protagonists and quirky supporting characters set in an intriguing condominium community. It’s an emotional story with a feel-good ending. Harry and Emma’s relationship is genuinely heartwarming. The ending hints at a new adventure, which put a huge smile on my face, knowing this is not the end of their story. A Field Guide to Death and Deceit is coming September 15, 2026. I am excited to tag along on Harry and Emma’s next adventure.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
Michelle L. Cullen has lived and traveled all over the world: from working as a (decent if powered by enough espresso) bilingual secretary in Paris to backpacking around Europe, Central America, and Southern Africa, to helping rebuild communities after war throughout Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. She earned her master’s degree in anthropology at Melbourne University in Australia and her Ph.D. in sociology at the London School of Economics in England. A fan of adventure, she has a black belt in Taekwondo, has summited 900 feet rock climbing, and has flown a helicopter (once, during a lesson, for five terrifying minutes). She currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she’s either doing yoga, playing outside, or plotting murder.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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