He's To Die For By Erin Dunn Book Review

I’ll be honest, “He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn” surprised me. I picked it up for the queer romance, but the witty, suspenseful vibe kept me turning pages. If you like murder mysteries with a big dose of humor and an engaging main character, this one feels worth your time.

Key Takeaways

He’s to Die For is a funny and queer romantic murder mystery.
The main character is easy to like and understand.
The book mixes jokes and tense moments well.
It does not feel too serious. Sometimes the story moves slower, and there are some overused ideas. But the story still feels fun and full of emotion.

Quick Verdict

Who Will Enjoy It

I have to admit, I read He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn in one sitting, curled up on my couch with a mug of tea that went cold. If you love queer romance, snappy banter, and a murder mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this book will probably hit your sweet spot. I found myself grinning at the dialogue and rooting for the main character, even when he made questionable choices.

You might especially enjoy this book if:

You want a break from grim, gritty crime stories.
You appreciate a story that pokes fun at itself and the genre.
You want a mystery that keeps you guessing but doesn’t leave you feeling drained.

Main Appeal

The main reason I kept turning the pages of He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn? The voice. The main character, Detective Rav Trivedi, feels like someone I’d want to grab coffee with. He’s sharp, funny, and a little bit of a mess, which makes him easy to root for. The romance is sweet but never overshadows the murder mystery. Instead, the two threads twist together in a way that feels natural and fun.

The humor stands out. I laughed out loud more than once, which almost never happens with murder mysteries.
The chemistry between the leads is believable and gives the story heart.
The mystery kept me guessing, but I never felt lost or overwhelmed.
The book balances light moments with real stakes, so I cared about what happened.

To be fair, He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn isn’t perfect, but it delivers exactly what it promises: a witty, queer romantic mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you want a book that feels like a cozy night in with friends, this one fits the bill.

Plot & Characters

Story Overview

I started He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn expecting a typical whodunit, but the story surprised me. The book kicks off with a strong hook. Someone turns up dead, and the main character gets pulled into the mess right away. The plot mixes a murder mystery with a queer romance, and both threads feel important.

Here’s what I noticed about the story structure:

The book introduces key players early, so I never felt lost.
Each character has secrets. I kept guessing who was hiding what.
There are plenty of red herrings. I fell for a few of them!
The romance builds alongside the mystery, adding tension and heart.
The ending ties up loose ends and delivers a satisfying reveal.

Note: The story uses classic murder mystery moves—misdirection, plot twists, and a likable sleuth. The romance never feels forced. Instead, it adds another layer to the suspense.

Narrative Element	Description
Sleuth	Detective Rav Trivedi leads the case and the story.
Sidekick	The love interest helps, but also complicates things.
Red Herring	Several characters seem suspicious at first.
Plot Twists	Surprises kept me on my toes.
Satisfying Ending	The final reveal made sense and felt earned.

Detective Rav Trivedi

Rav Trivedi stands out as a protagonist. He’s smart, but he’s also a bit of a mess. I related to his awkward moments and his dry sense of humor. Rav works as a detective, but he doesn’t have it all together. He makes mistakes, second-guesses himself, and sometimes lets his feelings get in the way.

What I liked about Rav:

He feels real. He’s not a superhero, just a guy trying to do his job.
His background shapes how he sees the world and the case.
He cares about people, even when he tries to act tough.
His chemistry with the love interest feels genuine, not forced.

Rav’s flaws make him easy to root for. I wanted him to solve the case, but I also wanted him to find happiness. That balance kept me invested from start to finish.

What Works

Humor & Style

I have to give props to Erin Dunn for the humor in this book. I actually laughed out loud—rare for me with mysteries. The jokes land because they feel natural, not forced. The writing style is sharp and quick, which kept me hooked.

I noticed the author uses tension relief humor a lot, making the story feel warmer and the characters more likable. Here’s a quick look at how different types of humor can shape how we see a story:

Humor Appeal Type	Impact on Reader Perception
Tension Relief Humor	Makes characters feel friendly and sincere
Incongruity Resolution	Makes the story seem clever and creative
Self-Disparagement	Can make characters seem less competent
Other-Disparagement	Hurts both warmth and competence

The book mostly sticks to the first two, which works in its favor. The humor made the suspense less heavy and the whole reading experience more fun.

Character Chemistry

The chemistry between Rav and his love interest felt real to me. I rooted for them from their first awkward meeting. Their banter had me grinning, and their softer moments gave the story heart. I could see why they liked each other, which made the romance believable. The side characters also added to the fun, never stealing the spotlight but making every scene pop.

The dialogue sparkles with wit.
Every interaction feels honest, not cheesy.
The romance grows with the mystery, not in spite of it.

Themes

This book surprised me with its depth. It’s not just about solving a crime or falling in love. The story explores trust, identity, and what it means to take risks for happiness. I noticed these themes pop up again and again, giving the book more weight than I expected. The way the author weaves these ideas into the plot made me think about my own choices and relationships.

The story’s themes don’t just sit on the surface. They show up in the characters’ actions and the twists in the plot. I liked how the book balanced humor with these deeper moments, making the experience both light and meaningful.

Drawbacks

Pacing

I have to admit, the pacing in this book didn’t always work for me. Some chapters zipped by, but others felt like they dragged. I found myself checking the page count during the middle section, waiting for the story to pick up again. My energy dipped, and I even lost track of the plot a couple of times.

Some scenes felt slow, especially when the story shifted away from the main mystery.
The middle section seemed to lose momentum, making it hard to stay fully engaged.
I noticed my attention wandering, which doesn’t happen often with a suspenseful read.

Note: Reader engagement often drops when pacing slows. Studies show that reminders and notifications can help keep readers on track, but I didn’t have that here. I wish the story had more consistent momentum to keep my heart rate up and my mind focused.

Weaknesses

No book is perfect, and this one has a few rough spots. I noticed some common issues that pop up in similar books:

Predictable moments: A few plot twists felt familiar, almost like I’d seen them before.
Minor clichés: The story leaned on some classic tropes, which made parts of it less surprising.
Side characters lacked depth: I wanted to know more about them, but they sometimes felt flat.
Occasional tone shifts: The humor sometimes clashed with the suspense, making the mood feel uneven.

I still enjoyed the ride, but these weaknesses kept the book from being a jaw-dropping favorite. If you can look past a few bumps, you’ll still find plenty to love.

Audiobook

Narration

I have to give props to the narrator for this one. I listened to a few chapters late at night, curled up in bed, and the voice acting pulled me right in. The narrator didn’t just read the words—they performed them. Each character sounded unique, and I could feel the emotion in every scene. I’ve learned from surveys that most audiobook fans, including me, care a lot about narration quality.

If the voice is flat or monotone, I lose interest fast. Here, the narrator used different accents and tones, which made the story feel alive. I never got bored or confused about who was speaking. The pacing felt just right, and the emotional moments landed. I’ve quit audiobooks before because of bad audio, but this one kept me hooked.

Tip: If you’re picky about narration, you’ll probably enjoy this performance. A skilled narrator can make or break a story, and this one definitely made it better.

Format Options

I know not everyone loves audiobooks, but I like having choices. Sometimes I want to read on my Kindle, and other times I want to listen while walking my dog. Studies show that more people are trying audiobooks, especially young professionals who want a break from screens.

During the pandemic, lots of folks switched to audio for comfort and relaxation. I saw that about 6% of Canadian readers prefer audiobooks, which matches what I see in the US—print still rules, but audio is growing.

Audiobooks are great for multitasking or relaxing.
E-books work well for travel or late-night reading.
Print still feels special, especially for collectors.

No matter your favorite format, this book is easy to find. I liked having the option to switch between listening and reading, depending on my mood.

He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn: Final Thoughts

Overall Rating

I’ll be honest, I finished He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn with a smile. The book gave me a cozy, witty mystery with a queer romance that felt real. I didn’t get a jaw-dropping twist, but I had fun. The rating system I use looks at each part of the book—plot, characters, pacing, and style.

For this book, I landed at a 6/10. It’s a solid, enjoyable read, but not a new favorite.

Recommended For

I think this book works best for readers who want:

A queer romance that feels sweet, not sappy
A murder mystery with humor and heart
Characters who mess up and feel real
A story that’s light but still keeps you guessing

If you like to laugh and want a break from dark, gritty crime stories, you’ll probably enjoy He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn. I’d hand this to anyone who loves witty banter and a little suspense with their romance.