Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before immigrating to the UK to do a masters and PhD. Her debut murder mystery, How to Solve Your Own Murder, is the first book in the Castle Knoll Files, and has been translated into more than twenty languages. The book was also a Good Morning America Buzzpick, was featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and has been a New York Times, Indiebound, USA Today, and Der Spiegel bestseller. She lives with her family in Surrey, England, where she is hard at work on more books in the series.

"Blending the character-focused storytelling of Jane Austen and the clever sleuthing skills of Agatha Christie, the Castle Knoll series is perfect for fans of Julia Seales, Alan Bradley, and Robert Thorogood."--Booklist (starred review)

"Ingenious plotting and a menacing atmosphere make this irresistible."--Publishers Weekly

"Perrin handles the twin narratives deftly, giving careful attention to each and permitting their connection to develop richly... And she draws a vivid picture of London, both past and present."--Kirkus

"Kristen Perrin's How to Cheat Your Own Death is a delightfully twisty ride through London's art world, past and present, that bubbles with sparkling prose and sly humor. If this is your first Castle Knoll Murder Mystery, you'll be racing to savor the others!"--Rachel Ekstrom Courage, New York Times bestselling author of Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery

"Slip into glittering London nights steeped in fame and fortune, art and artifice. Perrin threads two immersive timelines together with a ribbon of fate, creating one crackling mystery that ripples through generations. How To Cheat Your Own Death is the most riveting chapter yet of Annie and Frances' story."--Ande Pliego, USA Today bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited

"A delicious mystery with a clever plot and real emotional depth."--Sarah Harman, author of All the Other Mothers Hate Me

"With dual timelines, clever twists, and a delightful cast of characters to root for (and suspect), How to Cheat Your Own Death is pure cozy mystery fun!"--Olivia Worley, author of So Happy Together

"Swinging London in the 1960s makes a stylish backdrop for this cleverly braided reunion of Frances and Annie, both solving crimes in the backstabbing world of art. Deft brushstrokes of romance, family drama and clashes with the old guard make this a perfect picture of modern murder."--Christina Lynch, author of Pony Confidential

"A modern master of the genre, Kristen Perrin breathes new life into cozy crime. You will be hooked from page one of How to Cheat Your Own Death, which weaves the vibrant art world of present-day London with the glamour of 1960s Soho into an intricate and enchanting dual mystery. Each Castle Knoll book is a slice of pure murder mystery joy."--Kelly Mullen, author of This is Not a Game

"How To Cheat Your Death by Kristen Perrin is an elegant blend of history, family secrets, and suspense. Perrin masterfully weaves a dual-timeline mystery that's both clever and emotionally resonant. The story is rich with atmosphere, layered red herrings, and a slow-burn romantic tension between Annie and investigator Rowan Crane that kept me turning the pages. With evocative writing and a twisty plot that ties past and present together in surprising ways, this novel is a captivating exploration of legacy, love and the lengths we go to uncover the truth."--R.L. Killmore, author of A Cinnamon Falls Mystery

Publisher: Dutton

Pub date: 2026-04-28

Length: 336 pages