Killer in the Margins by Eliza Floretta

📜Killer in the Margins by Eliza Floretta📜

 Book One in The Red Pen Mysteries series.

📢 ARC READ!! 📢

📖 Expected Publication Date: September 10, 2025 📖

Blurb:

I’m Jessica Larsen. My mom’s a powerhouse entrepreneur, my sister’s a doctor, and I’m… an author with a normal 9-to-5 that I can’t seem to keep. After getting fired (again) and dumped by my boyfriend of two years (again), I have no choice but to take a job as a caretaker for my eccentric grandfather in a tiny town with nothing to do.

At least I’ll have time to write—unless, of course, I get roped into something ridiculous. Like bonding with my grandfather over his secret past as a detective. Or stumbling onto a murder way too close to home.

Now, with my grandfather’s old case files and a town full of quirky suspects, I have to solve this mystery-because surely, it can’t be that different from writing crime novels… right?

My thoughts:

Tropes and things you’ll like: 

📌 Small-town Charm 

📌 Sweet Romance

📌 Indie Author FMC 

📌 Neurodivergent amateur sleuth 

📌 Cold-case with a recent murder 

📌 Cat as companion 

📌 MMC is a Cop

📌 Fall vibes 

📌 Suspenseful moments 

“You only think your mind’s frazzled because that’s what everyone keeps telling you. You can’t keep up in this society, because this society wasn’t built for your mind—just theirs.”

Wow.. I cannot believe how suspenseful and thrilling that was! 🤯🤯 It seemed like after the first few chapters we’re thrown headfirst into a mystery that’ll make you wonder and turn pages furiously until you find out what happens next. 

~ Plot ~

It was like something happened, one after the other, and I couldn’t stop having my own theories of “who did what” and “who I think is bad”. I would’ve never guessed who did it if not for the minor clues and suspicous activity coming from that man…(no spoilers from me!) I also loved how this book gave Fall vibes! 🍁 

“He breathed a chuckle. ‘You’re a ten out of ten normally, but with a gun in your hand, you’re an eleven, so yeah, I’m willing to take the risk.’”

 

—> Jessica 

To put it simply, I loved her! 

(1) She was an Indie Fantasy Author [loved that!] (2) She was a quiet yet sweet soul who just needed somebody to love her for who she was. I wanted to give her a big hug! (3) Because she didn’t realize she was beautiful inside and OUT (and 4) In the end, she didn’t let people get the best of her. Although she made a terrible mistake of trying to change HERSELF for a man… she finally realized that she didn’t have to and that the right man would lover her for who she is. I practically was screaming MICHAEL, MICHAEL, MICHAEL!!! 

“I’m a man. I know how a guy’s mind works. And you, Jessica Larsen, you’re a catch worth taking a bullet for.”

—> Thomas 

Don’t get me started on him!!! He made my blood boil. Like who does this guy think he is to literally give up the BEST girl he could have and all because she was too dependent on him?!! All he was, was manipulative and toxic to Jessica (poor girl and her emotions). 

“You are the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time, Jessica Larsen. You’re funny and beautiful and smart as a whip. And I’d love for you to be my girlfriend. So, will you be my girlfriend?”

—> Michael 

swoons. Is there hope for man like him in my future?? I hope so… cuz he was the sweetest! So protective and kind, plus he was a Cop too 😏. I loved how he kept saying he’d wait and let Jessica think about having a relationship with him. It was adorable how he would constantly flirt giving her compliment after compliment 💞

In conclusion, I very much enjoyed this cozy mystery! There wasn’t a boring moment and I hope to continue this cozy series and see what mysteries and trouble Jessica gets into! 

*I received this eARC for free from the author and publisher! All opinions are my own.* 

Thank you the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this wonderful book! 

 ⚠️ Age recommendation: 13-14+ ⚠️

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ages 10-12 rating: ⭐️

Ages 13-14 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ages 15-16 rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sexual Content:

Some embraces and holding hands. Noticing, Winks, Flirting, Blushing, Some Warmth, Nearness, and Tingles. Mentions of dating, dates, and a breakup. Mentions of a man wanting to get to know and date Jessica. Mentions of a toxic relationship Jessica was in. Mentions of girlfriends and boyfriends. Having and starting to have feelings for a guy. Some emotions and very light love.(No Kissing in this book) 

Profanity:

None 

Violence: 

Some blood, death, a mention of having to kill someone for defense (by a police officer), threatening to kill, and murder.[Mild] Some pain, stress, and anxiety. Michael’s fiancé was killed and shot by a gun. Jessica learns how to shoot a gun for self-defense. A man was found dead in his office. [Mild] A mention of suicide. (All of this is pretty mildly detailed) 

Trigger Warnings‼️:

It is mentioned that Jessica has ADHD, and Jessica was in a toxic relationship. Murder scenes and some death and blood.

POV’s: 

Single POV (in 1st person) 

-Jessica Larsen 

194 pages