Book Review:: Just Another Dead Author | Katarina Bivald

Katarina Bivald’s new book Just Another Dead Author is a cozy mystery set at a French writer’s retreat. When one of the most notable attendees winds up dead, the investigation begins.

Just Another Dead Author by Katarina Bivald Book Cover

Because this is a hungry set of mostly crime fiction/mystery/thriller writers, no one is scared off by a real life crime. Everyone wants to know whodunnit and how, and learn as much as they can about the investigation process as the retreat plows ahead. There are a lot of suspects, and motives aplenty – did one of them take their crime research a little too far?

Like all cozy mysteries I’ve read, this novel is prescriptive. You pick it up and know exactly what you’re getting. If you’re a mood reader, there is so much value in that.

The tone is somewhat detached and the investigation itself is quite clinical. This one had a few snippet chapters in the point of view of the killer which kept things interesting, but I never felt myself in edge-of-my-seat territory.

I believe this is the second book in this series by Katarina Bivald, so if you like this, you should check out The Murders in Great Diddling as well.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Just Another Dead Author
Author:: Katarina Bivald
Genre:: Cozy Mystery
Publisher:: Poisoned Pen Press
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 11h
Audiobook Narrator:: Megan Tusing
Published:: August 12th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars