Murder Will Out
- Judith D Collins
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
Narrator: Gail Shalan
ISBN: 9781250436016
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Minatour Books
Publication Date: 02/17/2026
Format: Audio
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)
Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that's as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.
Come for the memories. Stay for the murder...
Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue... even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn't seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.
The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.
Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
My Review
In Murder Will Out, Jennifer K. Breedlove creates a fascinating character, Willow Stone, your new favorite accidental detective! A Spooky, Slow-Burn Debut That Feels Like a Warm Blanket
The Hook:
A Ghostly Legacy. A young organist arrives on a misty Maine island for a funeral, only to realize her godmother’s accidental death was actually cold-blooded murder.
Elevator Pitch: Ghosts Meet Cozy Crime.
Murder, She Wrote meets the BBC comedy Ghosts when a reclusive musician inherits a haunted 200-year-old mansion and must team up with its spectral residents to catch a killer.
Setting:
Little North Island, a fictional, postcard-perfect community nestled off the rugged coast of Maine, and Cameron House, a sprawling, drafty estate packed with hidden corridors and ancient secrets.
Vibe:
Modern Gothic Cozy. Atmospheric, foggy, and mildly spooky, yet deeply comforting, slow-paced, and filled with small-town charm.
Genre: Paranormal Mystery / Cozy Crime Fiction.
Themes:
Greed and inheritance, the power of found family, and the necessity of bringing buried history to light.
Standout Characters:
Willow Stone, the shy, reclusive university organist turned accidental detective, and the Mansion's Phantoms, a charming, eccentric cast of historical ghosts who act as Willow's quirky investigative team.
Author Writing Standout
Masterful Atmosphere. Breedlove excels at crafting a slow-burn, sensory-rich environment where the foggy Maine coast feels like its own living character.
Takeaway
Justice outlives death. Secrets cannot stay buried forever, and the bonds of love cross the boundary of the grave.
Title Significance
Pulls from the classic idiom "murder will out," meaning a crime will always eventually be exposed, no matter how deeply it is hidden.
Metaphor
The Pipe Organ. Much like Willow's beloved instrument, the mansion's secrets require pulling the right stops and uncovering complex, hidden layers to create harmony.
Why You Should Read:
If you enjoy a rich, puzzle-box mystery without graphic gore, making it an ideal choice for fans of classic, character-driven detective stories.
My Thoughts
Charming and deliberate, Breedlove’s debut is incredibly impressive, offering a highly refreshing take on the paranormal cozy genre. While the pacing is a deliberate, atmospheric slow-burn, the clever red herrings and the delightful dynamic between Willow and the ghosts make every page worth the read.
Audio Standout: 🎧 Gail Shalan (A favorite)
Vocal Magic! Shalan’s narration perfectly captures Willow's quiet vulnerability while expertly giving distinct, memorable voices to the mansion's eccentric, centuries-old spirits. Gail Shalan turns this slow-burn modern gothic into a masterclass of vocal performance. She effortlessly anchors Willow’s quiet, anxious vulnerability while transforming into an entire cast of eccentric, 200-year-old island phantoms. A phenomenal, immersive listen!"
What makes the audio a standout is Gail’s incredible vocal range. She captures the deep emotional layers of grief and isolation, then instantly pivots to give distinct, hilarious, and memorable characterizations to the mansion's ghostly residents. It feels like a full-cast production resting entirely on her brilliant acting shoulder.
Verdict
"A spectacularly atmospheric debut that wraps you in a fog of small-town secrets and spectral charm. Breedlove masterfully balances a classic, rainy-day whodunit with a heartwarming paranormal twist, proving that while secrets can be buried, justice always finds a way to the surface. A must-read for anyone who wants their cozy mysteries with a side of phantoms and a whole lot of heart!"
Read This If You Liked:
The Maid by Nita Prose, The Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson, or classic Agatha Christie whodunits with a magical twist.
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio #MacAudio2026 and NetGalley for sharing an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 17, 2026
Feb 2026 Must-Read Books
Praise
“Breedlove’s marvelously entertaining debut deftly borrows elements from traditional mysteries and merges them with a ghostly, gothic vibe creating something delightfully different. . . Fans of Katherine Hall Page’s superiorly crafted traditional mysteries, Nancy Atherton’s delightful Aunt Dimity books, or Carolyn Hart’s ghostly cozy Bailey Ruth Raeburn series will fall under the spell of Breedlove’s equally enchanting novel.”
–Library Journal (starred review)
"A complex mystery with a surprise ending bolstered by charming characters, some of them still alive."
–Kirkus Reviews
"Breedlove debuts with an impressive paranormal-tinted mystery... [She] supplies enough suspects, red herrings, and family secrets to keep readers guessing until the final page." –Publishers Weekly
“[A] sparkling, energetic debut. . . a wonderfully tangled plot. . . oh-so-much fun.”
–FirstCLUE
"Attention, fans of Stephen King and Murder, She Wrote: you’ve just found your favorite new fictional murder set in Maine!”
–Kemper Donovan, USA Today Bestselling author of the Ghostwriter Mysteries and host of the All About Agatha podcast
“An unputdownable debut. Breedlove is an author to watch.”
–Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author
"A ghostly traditional mystery that is sure to keep readers guessing."
–Amanda Flower, USA Today bestselling author of Not They Who Soar
“Reading it feels like an episode of BBC's Ghosts meets Murder, She Wrote and every bit as much fun!”
–Jess Armstrong, USA Today bestselling author of The Curse of Penryth Hall
“A spellbinding debut mystery, rich with a gothic atmosphere, a mansion filled with secrets, and a heroine you’ll root for.”
–Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of the Secret Staircase Mysteries
"Atmospheric and witty. . . a love letter to small-town secrets and the power of coming home." –Danielle Arceneaux, author of the Glory Broussard Mysteries
“With its atmospheric setting and multigenerational mystery, Murder Will Out is a winner!” –Olivia Blacke, author of A New Lease on Death
About the Author
JENNIFER K. BREEDLOVE is a Chicago area composer, conductor, author, editor, and educator. A frequent visitor to Downeast Maine since childhood, she has an enduring affection for the wild beauty of the coastal islands and the warmth of the people who make their homes there. Her debut novel, Murder Will Out, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award, and was also a finalist for the Killer Nashville Claymore award. WEBSITE
