A Delightfully Trashy Escape: Murder on Sex Island Delivers Unexpected Thrills

 

I’ll admit it—I’m a creature of habit when it comes to books. Give me a cozy British country house mystery or a solid police procedural set somewhere misty and proper, and I’m happy. New York? Private islands for the ultra-rich? Not exactly my scene. So when I picked up Murder on Sex Island by Jo Firestone (without having read the first in the series), I genuinely thought I might be wasting my time.

 I’ve rarely been happier to be wrong.

 The story follows Marie Jones, who moonlights as the wonderfully eccentric detective Luella van Horn. Fresh off solving a murder on the reality show Sex Island, Marie is now broke, sweating through an August heat wave, and staring down eviction. Then comes the call: a simple surveillance job on Murder Island, an exclusive enclave for the super-rich just outside New York City. The task? Catch a suspected cheating spouse.

 What starts as a straightforward infidelity case quickly spirals into something far juicier. A murder. Layers of scandalous secrets. A den of iniquity that could shock the world. And yes—there’s even a boat chase on the East River. The plot is wild, fun, and surprisingly gripping, packed with sex, money, and murder in all the right proportions.

 What really sold me was Luella/Marie herself. She’s flawed, messy, and deeply human, but also incredibly lovable. In a cast full of mostly despicable rich characters, she shines as the sarcastic, clever outsider trying to navigate their world. The supporting characters are colorful (some hilariously awful), and I actually found myself invested in the relationships she forms along the way. For once, the detective isn’t entirely alone.

I tore through this book in two days, chores be damned. It hooked me from the very first pages and never let go. Even though it’s a far cry from my usual British fare, it works perfectly as a standalone. Jo Firestone’s voice is sharp, witty, and just the right amount of mad genius.

If you’re in the mood for something escapist, funny, and a little bit filthy, give Murder on Sex Island a shot. Highly recommended—even (or especially) if it’s not your usual genre. I’ll definitely be back for more.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 You can order a copy here.

 Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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