A nice book I had fun with, but felt lacking in some points. Rav Trivedi is a detective in the NYPD and is finally getting to be the lead detective in a high-profile case. A record executive has been murdered and the prime suspect is the lead singer of a popular band, Jack Vale. Soon, Rav can understand the fans pining for him, but he has to stay professional... right? I really liked that premise, and the beginning was exciting, their banter funny. The mystery was also well made. I didn't guess who the killer was, though one person seemed suspicious and I wasn't totally wrong. The mix of romance and mystery was pretty good, and I generally liked both parts and liked the characters. Now, to my critique, which is mostly subjective. Like, it all made sense in the story, but I personally just wanted a bit more actual investigating. Not that there wasn't, but due to something that happens relatively early on, it's more like the case is happening around them, and only near the end, there is more of that again. Also, the whole "I can't fall for my suspect" thing gets solved a bit too quickly, as well as the falling in love part. Jack didn't feel as present in the story, which made sense since he is a celebrity and really busy, and Rav is the POV character. They were cute together, and I enjoyed their romance, but I guess there was just a bit of depth missing for me. Same goes for the side characters. While I didn't guess what was going on in the mystery department, there weren't that many characters as suspects and even less with more than just a few lines. The band had 4 members, two guys (Jack and Ryan) and two women, but I can't even remember their names because they were hardly there and when one of them met Rav and asked him a few questions, she also drops a Harry Potter reference... like, really, in a queer book in 2025? And it was such an unnecessary line. There were multiple other pop culture references already (and many celebrities I didn't know since I'm not into that), why would you add that 🙃 So yeah, generally a pretty good book, but no highlight or anything.

"He’s to Die For" by Erin Dunn is a thrilling blend of murder mystery and heartfelt romance. When Jack, the front singer of a famous band, crosses paths with Detective Rav during a high-profile murder case, they’re thrown into a web of secrets, lies, and danger. As the investigation unfolds, the list of suspects grows longer, and just when I thought I had it figured out… the truth hit me completely out of the blue. The mystery is smart, tense, and full of twists, but what made me truly love this book was Jack and Rav’s relationship. They’re wholesome in the best way - lifting each other up, bringing out the best in one another, and proving that even in dark times, love can be a safe place. I turned the last page feeling both satisfied and a little sad to leave them behind. If you’re looking for a read that keeps you guessing while also making your heart feel full, this one’s absolutely worth picking up.

Das Buch hat mich gepackt und nicht losgelassen. Ich habe zwischendrin das Buch bewusst weggelegt, obwohl ich es weiterlesen wollte, weil ich nicht wollte, dass es endet. Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und packend. Ich liebe den Humor, den die Beschreibungen, aber auch die Charaktere ausmacht. Was mich besonders begeistert hat war die Dualität des Buches. Zum einen der Fall, aber auch die Romanze, die sich niemals gestört, verdrängt oder die Show gestohlen haben. Der Fall war nicht so einfach, wie es den Anschein hatte und hat sich durch das ganze Buch gezogen. Ich habe das Ende und die Auflösung nicht kommen sehen. Was ich sehr mag. Die Romanze war einfach Chef Kiss. Die Chemie zwischen Rav und Jack war einfach toll. Ich war sofort dabei und habe mitgefiebert. Besonders die Beschreibung auf dem Konzert! Das war der Hammer! (IYKYK!!) Rav und Jack können natürlich auch nicht die Finger voneinander lassen, aber die Beschreibungen waren so gut gewählt, dass sie nicht explizit waren, aber man immer wusste, was gerade losgeht. Genau das Futter, dass mein Kopfkino braucht und ich würde sagen auch perfekt für alle Leute, die keine expliziten Spice Szenen brauchen. Ich mag sehr gerne, dass die Charakter einfach queer sein können und es hat keine Rolle gespielt. Ja, Rav hat von seinen Kollegen manchmal den ein oder anderen Spruch abbekommen, aber so stellt man es sich irgendwie in einem Department der Polizei vor. Aber ansonsten war es nie ein Thema. Ich bin sehr traurig, dass das Buch zu ende ist und dass es noch nichts anderes von Erin Dunn zu lesen gibt! Ich möchte mehr! Gefühl – Was ist das erste Gefühl, nachdem du das Buch beendet hast? Begeistert Unterhaltungswert & Pacing Fesselnd Charaktere & Originalität Tiefgründig & Spannend Empfehlung Unbedingt Lesen!