You know when a book just delivers exactly what you hoped for – clever, cosy, a little bit camp, and absolutely cramped with red herrings? This was This Is Not a Game for me. A classic murder mystery in a snowed-in mansion, but with a quirky modern twist (and a lot of martinis).
What’s it about?
Mimi is 77, sharp as a tack, and would really just like to be left alone with her crossword and her Gibson (always three onions, never two). But when her manipulative neighbour invites her to a lavish charity auction party – and also happens to be blackmailing her – Mimi ropes in her heartbroken granddaughter Addie to come along for moral support.
Cue: a sprawling mansion on Mackinac Island, a flapper-themes party, a looming snowstorm, and a guest list full of celebrities, influencers, and people with secret. And then…murder.
Actually, multiple murders.
With the island cut off and the police unable to reach them, Mimi and Addie – a reluctant amateur sleuthing duo – take matters into their own hands. Mimi has instincts. Addie has video game logic. And they’ve got a growing body count and a notebook-turned-murderboard to work with.
What I Liked
- The Tone: This book knows exactly what it is – cosy, campy, locked-room goodness with a wink. Think Agatha Christie meets Cluedo meets The White Lotus (if the White Lotus had snow, secret passageways, and a lot more blackmail)
- Mimi and Addie: Their dynamic is everything. Grumpy, self-sufficient grandmother meets anxious, techy, millennial granddaughter, and somehow it works. They bicker, they bond, they become the murder-solving dream team I didn’t know I needed.
- The Setting: A snowed-in mansion with a drawbridge, a moat, and a gathering of the world’s most suspicious socialites? Yes please. Plus: the vibes were immaculate – secret rooms, scandalous affairs, and one very helpful super-smeller named Veronique.
- The Murder Mystery Itself: This isn’t trying to be revolutionary, and that’s kind of the charm. It’s a classic format, but executed with wit and a good dose of fun. I guessed some things, missed others entirely, and stayed thoroughly entertained.
Any Niggles?
The set up is a little bit slow, but once the snowstorm hits, things really get moving.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you like a smart, self-aware cosy mystery with a fun cast, escalating drama, and unlikely detectives, this will be right up your street. It’s not trying to change the genre – it’s just having a lot of fun playing in it.
Have you read this one? Did you suspect the killer? Would love to know your thoughts – and also your cocktail of choice if you were trapped in a snowed-in murder mansion… 🍸🔪
Books With Megz 