How to Cheat Your Own Death
From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Solve Your Own Murder comes the third book in the Castle Knoll Files
Published on 28. April 2026
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-5294-4567-1 (ISBN)
Description
*OUT NOW*
'Captivating' R. L. Killmore, author of A Cinnamon Falls Mystery
'Smart, original and lively . . . I loved it' Gilly MacMillan, author of The Nanny
'A slice of pure murder mystery joy' Kelly Mullen, author of This Is Not A Game
'A mystery with razor-sharp stakes. I was enthralled . . . A total pageturner!' Emily Freud, author of The Cliffhanger
The latest instalment in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series, in which Annie Adams and her Great Aunt Frances team up across decades to solve two interlocking murders
***************************************
LAURA NEVER MEANT TO LIE. BUT OLD HABITS DIE HARD.
When Annie Adams heads to London to visit her mother, Laura, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body. Least of all for it to be Fliss, the budding artist Laura had just taken under her wing.
Annie is no stranger to murder - after all, she's solved a few cases already. And something about the way Fliss died feels familiar. She's seen a case like this before. Or read about it, rather, in the journals of her dead Great Aunt Frances, whose close friend was killed in the 1960s in the exact same way: with her heart surgically removed from her chest.
As threats pile up on Laura's doorstep, it soon becomes clear that she's next, and that she's hiding something . . . With her mother's life on the line, can Annie find the killer before it's too late?
From the gritty streets of 1960s Soho to the lofty galleries of present-day West London, follow Annie and Frances as they race to bring a killer to justice.
***************************************
Praise for the Castle Knoll Files
'VERY funny' Jennie Godfrey
'Plenty of twists and red herrings' Guardian
'Smart, twisty, and original' Heat
'Thrilling' G. T. Karber
'Superb' Glamour
'Wildly original' Elly Griffiths
'Captivating' R. L. Killmore, author of A Cinnamon Falls Mystery
'Smart, original and lively . . . I loved it' Gilly MacMillan, author of The Nanny
'A slice of pure murder mystery joy' Kelly Mullen, author of This Is Not A Game
'A mystery with razor-sharp stakes. I was enthralled . . . A total pageturner!' Emily Freud, author of The Cliffhanger
The latest instalment in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series, in which Annie Adams and her Great Aunt Frances team up across decades to solve two interlocking murders
***************************************
LAURA NEVER MEANT TO LIE. BUT OLD HABITS DIE HARD.
When Annie Adams heads to London to visit her mother, Laura, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body. Least of all for it to be Fliss, the budding artist Laura had just taken under her wing.
Annie is no stranger to murder - after all, she's solved a few cases already. And something about the way Fliss died feels familiar. She's seen a case like this before. Or read about it, rather, in the journals of her dead Great Aunt Frances, whose close friend was killed in the 1960s in the exact same way: with her heart surgically removed from her chest.
As threats pile up on Laura's doorstep, it soon becomes clear that she's next, and that she's hiding something . . . With her mother's life on the line, can Annie find the killer before it's too late?
From the gritty streets of 1960s Soho to the lofty galleries of present-day West London, follow Annie and Frances as they race to bring a killer to justice.
***************************************
Praise for the Castle Knoll Files
'VERY funny' Jennie Godfrey
'Plenty of twists and red herrings' Guardian
'Smart, twisty, and original' Heat
'Thrilling' G. T. Karber
'Superb' Glamour
'Wildly original' Elly Griffiths
Reviews / Votes
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 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 How to Cheat Your Own Death is gripping and beautifully written, a vivid descent into 1960s Soho and a present-day mystery with razor-sharp stakes. I was enthralled by the haunting secrets that echo across decades. A total pageturner! -- Emily Freud, author of THE CLIFFHANGER 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 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 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 A delicious mystery with a clever plot and real emotional depth -- Sarah Harman, author of ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS HATE ME Propulsive and hugely entertaining -- Rebecca Bainbridge, author of THE POOL PARTY A smart, original and lively art world mystery with a brilliant cast of characters and a dash of humour to temper the menace. I loved it. -- Gilly MacMillan A cracking read * Belfast Telegraph * Clever, witty and full of heart, How to Cheat Your Own Death is another winner from the brilliant Kristen Perrin. A cunningly-constructed case and a cast of characters to fall in love with - what more could you ask for? I loved this latest instalment in the Castle Knoll Files. -- Alex Hay, author of THE HOUSEKEEPERS Two timelines, one murder, lots of twists. You'll cancel your plans just to finish it * Irish Sun * 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, author of MURDER BY CHEESECAKEMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
N/A
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5294-4567-1 (9781529445671)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Kristen Perrin
How to Cheat Your Own Death
From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Solve Your Own Murder comes the third book in the Castle Knoll Files
E-Book
04/2026
Quercus
€10.99
Available for download
Person
Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before moving to the UK to do a master's and a PhD. She lives with her family in Surrey, where she can be found poking around vintage bookstores, stomping in the mud with her two kids, and collecting too many plants. How To Solve Your Own Murder is her debut adult novel.