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To Die For
“I thoroughly enjoyed this most suspenseful, intriguing and entertaining story… It definitely had Big Little Lies vibes!” —Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond
From bestselling author Lisa Gray comes a thrilling tale of a cutthroat contest for the ultimate house-selling commission… one million dollars.
In the elite world of luxury real estate, it is often kill or be killed, something agent Andi Hart knows all too well—and after recent events, she’s ready to set her own rules. So when her boss challenges the team to find a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house, with a prize commission of a cool $1 million, she knows it’s her ticket to a new life.
But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it…
When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?
From bestselling author Lisa Gray comes a thrilling tale of a cutthroat contest for the ultimate house-selling commission… one million dollars.
In the elite world of luxury real estate, it is often kill or be killed, something agent Andi Hart knows all too well—and after recent events, she’s ready to set her own rules. So when her boss challenges the team to find a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house, with a prize commission of a cool $1 million, she knows it’s her ticket to a new life.
But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it…
When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
6218 people are currently reading
15888 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Gray
8 books1,162 followersLisa Gray is an Amazon #1, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and has sold over one million books. She has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize and an ITW Thriller Awards finalist. Lisa previously worked as the chief Scottish soccer writer at the Press Association and the books columnist at the Daily Record Saturday Magazine. She is the author of the bestselling Jessica Shaw series and standalone thrillers The Dark Room, To Die For, and The Final Act. Lisa lives in Glasgow and writes full time. Learn more at www.lisagraywriter.com and connect with Lisa on social media @lisagraywriter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,129 reviews
July 29, 2023
3.5 rounded up
A glorious beach front brand spanking new house is up for sale in Malibu - yours for $50 million. The competition is hot between the five real estate agents with the potential of a $1 million bonus. Andi Hart, Hunter Brooks, Krystal Taylor, Verona King and Myles Goodman roll up their sleeves and prepare to fend each other off. Let’s hope no one gets hurt in the process. Whoops, spoke too soon, there’s a dead body floating in the luxury property pool on the day of the open house. Too much Dom Perignon quaffed maybe? Who is it and why? Let the games begin. The story is told Before and After and from six points of view which is a lot!
This is an entertaining read from start to finish and I like the authors engaging style. The competition between the five agents is something else, each revealing their very sharp teeth of ambition a few other issues besides. Dirty Tricks R Us should be the name of the company rather than it’s rather sedate title!
The setting is atmospheric, you certainly get a good guided tour of La-La Land which saves me the bother of jetting over! The plot has multiple twists and the final one is especially good, lifting the star rating that’s for sure. The pace is pretty quick making it an easy zip through read, just how I like them! I enjoy how we don’t know the identity of the floater until nearly the end which keeps you guessing. Considering the multiple points of view the author does a decent job of defining the characters in some way.
Overall, this is a page turner and a perfect relaxing by the pool read, without the dead body!
A glorious beach front brand spanking new house is up for sale in Malibu - yours for $50 million. The competition is hot between the five real estate agents with the potential of a $1 million bonus. Andi Hart, Hunter Brooks, Krystal Taylor, Verona King and Myles Goodman roll up their sleeves and prepare to fend each other off. Let’s hope no one gets hurt in the process. Whoops, spoke too soon, there’s a dead body floating in the luxury property pool on the day of the open house. Too much Dom Perignon quaffed maybe? Who is it and why? Let the games begin. The story is told Before and After and from six points of view which is a lot!
This is an entertaining read from start to finish and I like the authors engaging style. The competition between the five agents is something else, each revealing their very sharp teeth of ambition a few other issues besides. Dirty Tricks R Us should be the name of the company rather than it’s rather sedate title!
The setting is atmospheric, you certainly get a good guided tour of La-La Land which saves me the bother of jetting over! The plot has multiple twists and the final one is especially good, lifting the star rating that’s for sure. The pace is pretty quick making it an easy zip through read, just how I like them! I enjoy how we don’t know the identity of the floater until nearly the end which keeps you guessing. Considering the multiple points of view the author does a decent job of defining the characters in some way.
Overall, this is a page turner and a perfect relaxing by the pool read, without the dead body!
August 19, 2023
EXCERPT: 'You're with the listing agency, aren't you? Be a sweetheart and show us where the pool is?'
'Of course,' said the agent. 'It's around the side of the house. It's custom tiled and really quite stunning. Follow me.'
Louboutin and Manolo heels click-clacked on the tiled floor as the trio made their way through the open pocket doors onto the balcony and turned the corner onto the pool deck.
The wind whipped at their hair. The sun momentarily blinded their eyes. A faint smell of salt and seaweed carried on the breeze. The three women walked toward the pool.
First, they noticed the blood.
Then they saw the body floating facedown in the water.
That's when the screaming began.
ABOUT 'TO DIE FOR': In the elite world of luxury real estate, it is often kill or be killed, something agent Andi Hart knows all too well—and after recent events, she’s ready to set her own rules. So when her boss challenges the team to find a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house, with a prize commission of a cool $1 million, she knows it’s her ticket to a new life. But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it… When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?
MY THOUGHTS: To Die For is a quick and easy read. It's entertaining and does nothing to improve the already scurrilous reputations of most real estate agents. To Die For is cleverly plotted and peopled with characters who mostly belong in a soap opera.
Everyone has secrets, including our main character, Andi, whom I liked. She isn't prepared to cheat or manipulate the other agents to reach her goals. She's the only one.
The author cleverly keeps the identity of the body in the pool concealed until the end, and I was way off base with my guess as to who it was. The twist at the end was totally unexpected and greatly enjoyed; a twisted sort of justice is delivered. Unconventional, twisted, yet entirely satisfying. Just desserts!
The story is told over two timelines - before and after the discovery of the body - from multiple points of view. This mostly worked well but occasionally I found myself thinking I was in one time period only to find that I was in the other.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I will definitely be looking out for her next.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#ToDieFor #NetGalley
I: @lisagraywriter @amazonpublishing
T: @lisagraywriter @amazonpub
#contemporaryfiction #crime #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Gray decided at a young age that she wanted to write features for magazines and somehow ended up working as a football journalist for almost 20 years instead. She now writes novels full-time.
An avid reader, she was hooked on Sweet Valley High and Point Horror books as a youngster, before turning to crime.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of To Die For by Lisa Gray for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
'Of course,' said the agent. 'It's around the side of the house. It's custom tiled and really quite stunning. Follow me.'
Louboutin and Manolo heels click-clacked on the tiled floor as the trio made their way through the open pocket doors onto the balcony and turned the corner onto the pool deck.
The wind whipped at their hair. The sun momentarily blinded their eyes. A faint smell of salt and seaweed carried on the breeze. The three women walked toward the pool.
First, they noticed the blood.
Then they saw the body floating facedown in the water.
That's when the screaming began.
ABOUT 'TO DIE FOR': In the elite world of luxury real estate, it is often kill or be killed, something agent Andi Hart knows all too well—and after recent events, she’s ready to set her own rules. So when her boss challenges the team to find a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house, with a prize commission of a cool $1 million, she knows it’s her ticket to a new life. But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it… When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?
MY THOUGHTS: To Die For is a quick and easy read. It's entertaining and does nothing to improve the already scurrilous reputations of most real estate agents. To Die For is cleverly plotted and peopled with characters who mostly belong in a soap opera.
Everyone has secrets, including our main character, Andi, whom I liked. She isn't prepared to cheat or manipulate the other agents to reach her goals. She's the only one.
The author cleverly keeps the identity of the body in the pool concealed until the end, and I was way off base with my guess as to who it was. The twist at the end was totally unexpected and greatly enjoyed; a twisted sort of justice is delivered. Unconventional, twisted, yet entirely satisfying. Just desserts!
The story is told over two timelines - before and after the discovery of the body - from multiple points of view. This mostly worked well but occasionally I found myself thinking I was in one time period only to find that I was in the other.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I will definitely be looking out for her next.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#ToDieFor #NetGalley
I: @lisagraywriter @amazonpublishing
T: @lisagraywriter @amazonpub
#contemporaryfiction #crime #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Gray decided at a young age that she wanted to write features for magazines and somehow ended up working as a football journalist for almost 20 years instead. She now writes novels full-time.
An avid reader, she was hooked on Sweet Valley High and Point Horror books as a youngster, before turning to crime.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of To Die For by Lisa Gray for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
December 26, 2023
In the elite world of luxury real estate, it is often kill or be killed, something agent Andi Hart knows all too well—and after recent events, she’s ready to set her own rules. So when her boss challenges the team to find a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house, with a prize commission of a cool $1 million, she knows it’s her ticket to a new life.
But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it…
When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?
Hot diggity! Where to start with describing To Die For? The first I’ve read by Lisa Gray, one thing I know for sure is that this one definitely won’t be my last. There was plenty to love and very little to dislike, so let’s get started, shall we?
Right off the bat, one of my favorite aspects was the cast of characters. From a few you’ll love to hate to some you’ll happily rally behind, the multiple POVs drew a fantastically complete picture including plenty of secrets and lies. As if that wasn’t enough, the dual timelines kept me guessing as the suspense continued to build.
One minor flaw that I found, however, was tied to this, for the high number of named characters and backstories throughout became somewhat overwhelming. Unfortunately, there was so much information that it muddied the plot a bit and left me scratching my head several times. Did it ruin the book for me? Not a chance! But it was, sadly, somewhat distracting.
Now back to those pluses! Namely some truly epic twists. While I may have predicted one or two, the rest created a story utterly riveting and wholly unputdownable. It was so enjoyable, in fact, that I read the entire novel in just under a day from start to finish. Even better, one particular twist was saved for the very end, which provided a satisfactory end to say the least (and one that I totally didn’t see coming). Bravo, Ms. Gray, bravo!
But I simply cannot end this review without mentioning the first-rate premise. Breathtakingly original, it automatically brought to mind those reality TV shows like Selling LA and magically turned it into a mysterious murder mystery. And this quick, easy read was complete with plenty of deep, dark secrets providing tons of possible suspects each with their own devious motives. The only problem it has left me with now is which of Lisa Gray’s books to read next. Because this psychological thriller/police procedural definitely left me wanting more by this author ASAP. Rating of 4 stars.
Trigger warning: infertility, infidelity, blackmail, gambling addiction, cancer, assault, stalking, spousal abuse, robbery, mention of: alcoholism
PUB DATE: August 1, 2023
*Thank you to Lisa Gray, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
**Synopsis provided by the publisher.
But she’s not the only one who not only wants but needs the money. Each of her four colleagues has secrets they’re eager to hide—secrets $1 million would go a long way in concealing. And soon, it becomes clear all five would do just about anything to get their hands on it…
When a dead body is found at the open house, the dream home becomes a nightmarish crime scene. Has the contest reached a deadly new level, or is there something more sinister at work?
Hot diggity! Where to start with describing To Die For? The first I’ve read by Lisa Gray, one thing I know for sure is that this one definitely won’t be my last. There was plenty to love and very little to dislike, so let’s get started, shall we?
Right off the bat, one of my favorite aspects was the cast of characters. From a few you’ll love to hate to some you’ll happily rally behind, the multiple POVs drew a fantastically complete picture including plenty of secrets and lies. As if that wasn’t enough, the dual timelines kept me guessing as the suspense continued to build.
One minor flaw that I found, however, was tied to this, for the high number of named characters and backstories throughout became somewhat overwhelming. Unfortunately, there was so much information that it muddied the plot a bit and left me scratching my head several times. Did it ruin the book for me? Not a chance! But it was, sadly, somewhat distracting.
Now back to those pluses! Namely some truly epic twists. While I may have predicted one or two, the rest created a story utterly riveting and wholly unputdownable. It was so enjoyable, in fact, that I read the entire novel in just under a day from start to finish. Even better, one particular twist was saved for the very end, which provided a satisfactory end to say the least (and one that I totally didn’t see coming). Bravo, Ms. Gray, bravo!
But I simply cannot end this review without mentioning the first-rate premise. Breathtakingly original, it automatically brought to mind those reality TV shows like Selling LA and magically turned it into a mysterious murder mystery. And this quick, easy read was complete with plenty of deep, dark secrets providing tons of possible suspects each with their own devious motives. The only problem it has left me with now is which of Lisa Gray’s books to read next. Because this psychological thriller/police procedural definitely left me wanting more by this author ASAP. Rating of 4 stars.
Trigger warning: infertility, infidelity, blackmail, gambling addiction, cancer, assault, stalking, spousal abuse, robbery, mention of: alcoholism
PUB DATE: August 1, 2023
*Thank you to Lisa Gray, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
**Synopsis provided by the publisher.
July 11, 2023
2023 reads, #57. This was my latest pick in the Amazon Prime Reads program, in which the company chooses around a dozen titles from its in-house publishing imprints and lets all Prime members choose one of them to read for free, basically as a way of "goosing" the engagement on these underseen books. As long-time friends know, I have a complicated history with these Prime Reads books, and generally have disliked nearly every single one of the 20 or so titles I've ended up downloading; but I still commit myself each month to reading one anyway, and in recent months have decided to exclusively make my picks crime novels each time, because I now have a growing amount of freelance clients who are these exact kinds of Kindle Unlimited self-publishing crime novelists themselves, and I like having this monthly chance to stay up some on the latest trends and tropes in this genre.
Unfortunately, Lisa Gray's To Die For is exactly like all the others, the kind of middling, mediocre book that you can only justify reading because it was free and only took a day and a half to get entirely through, but not the kind of book you would've been happy about if you had spent $28.95 for the hardback paper edition. Like most of these Prime Reads crime thrillers, it has all the sophistication and nuance of a random Law & Order repeat caught on cable on a Tuesday afternoon while half-distractedly folding laundry, with characters that are painted as broadly as possible (the Kardashian, the Gay, the Middle-Aged Black Mom, etc.), dialogue that's as cheesy as possible, and plot developments that are as clunky as possible, with very basic information purposely withheld in an attempt to artificially create tension where no natural tension exists (we don't even learn the identity of the victim until two-thirds of the way through, even though the body is discovered literally in the first chapter, because doing so immediately reveals the rest of this simplistic, undercooked plot), and as always with these kinds of books from middle-class suburban white women, tries to develop character by mentioning brand names over and over, for which the developmental editor in me must once again admonish all you middle-class suburban female authors that mentioning what brands of designer clothes your characters like is not an adequate way of developing that character's complexity, and never will be.
Before I started editing Kindle Unlimited crime novels myself, all this would've gotten the book a score of 2 stars from me; and while I now acknowledge that, compared to the relative quality of all the other Kindle Unlimited crime novels that are out there, this book actually deserves an extra star simply from the act of grading on a curve, I simply can't in good conscience give a book like this a higher score than 3 stars, because it's just such a textbook example of a book that was literally designed to help you kill a few boring moments here and there throughout your day of chores and errands (10 minutes while waiting in line at the store, 10 minutes while on the toilet, 10 minutes while waiting for your food to finish cooking), but not one that any literary fan can truly get excited about. Buyer beware.
Unfortunately, Lisa Gray's To Die For is exactly like all the others, the kind of middling, mediocre book that you can only justify reading because it was free and only took a day and a half to get entirely through, but not the kind of book you would've been happy about if you had spent $28.95 for the hardback paper edition. Like most of these Prime Reads crime thrillers, it has all the sophistication and nuance of a random Law & Order repeat caught on cable on a Tuesday afternoon while half-distractedly folding laundry, with characters that are painted as broadly as possible (the Kardashian, the Gay, the Middle-Aged Black Mom, etc.), dialogue that's as cheesy as possible, and plot developments that are as clunky as possible, with very basic information purposely withheld in an attempt to artificially create tension where no natural tension exists (we don't even learn the identity of the victim until two-thirds of the way through, even though the body is discovered literally in the first chapter, because doing so immediately reveals the rest of this simplistic, undercooked plot), and as always with these kinds of books from middle-class suburban white women, tries to develop character by mentioning brand names over and over, for which the developmental editor in me must once again admonish all you middle-class suburban female authors that mentioning what brands of designer clothes your characters like is not an adequate way of developing that character's complexity, and never will be.
Before I started editing Kindle Unlimited crime novels myself, all this would've gotten the book a score of 2 stars from me; and while I now acknowledge that, compared to the relative quality of all the other Kindle Unlimited crime novels that are out there, this book actually deserves an extra star simply from the act of grading on a curve, I simply can't in good conscience give a book like this a higher score than 3 stars, because it's just such a textbook example of a book that was literally designed to help you kill a few boring moments here and there throughout your day of chores and errands (10 minutes while waiting in line at the store, 10 minutes while on the toilet, 10 minutes while waiting for your food to finish cooking), but not one that any literary fan can truly get excited about. Buyer beware.
July 20, 2023
L.A./Malibu
Money
Lots of it
A 50 million dollar house to be sold
With a Million Dollar commission
And a set of hungry realtors vying to sell it, all with their own agenda’s, secrets and powerful reasons to want the commision, literally they are prepared to do anything to get it and then the story starts
And it’s absolutely fabulous ( darling? ) if you are going to do one of these style of books you have to do it well, and done well it is, to perfection and back again
Vile characters, stunning settings, oodles of cash, the best eating places, scandals, murky pasts and glam, so much glam…..oh and murder
Wish it had been 600 pages tbh, my ideal read and pretty much word perfect ( for me anyway ) 💜😎🤗
Money
Lots of it
A 50 million dollar house to be sold
With a Million Dollar commission
And a set of hungry realtors vying to sell it, all with their own agenda’s, secrets and powerful reasons to want the commision, literally they are prepared to do anything to get it and then the story starts
And it’s absolutely fabulous ( darling? ) if you are going to do one of these style of books you have to do it well, and done well it is, to perfection and back again
Vile characters, stunning settings, oodles of cash, the best eating places, scandals, murky pasts and glam, so much glam…..oh and murder
Wish it had been 600 pages tbh, my ideal read and pretty much word perfect ( for me anyway ) 💜😎🤗
February 10, 2023
Wow! This was the first book I’ve read by Lisa Gray but will not be the last!
I am so thankful for the chance to review this early!
This book follows 5 real estate agents in CA.
They each have a secret and a reason why they need a $1,000,000 commission.
What none of the agents bargain for is the mayhem and competition that follows that ultimately leads to death!
I would recommend this book to any thriller lover who also loves some competition and all the finer things in life!
I am so thankful for the chance to review this early!
This book follows 5 real estate agents in CA.
They each have a secret and a reason why they need a $1,000,000 commission.
What none of the agents bargain for is the mayhem and competition that follows that ultimately leads to death!
I would recommend this book to any thriller lover who also loves some competition and all the finer things in life!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2023
As with many books lately, I took one look at the cover of To Die For by Lisa Gray and knew I had to read it. Never mind I also loved the title and the tagline, because let's be real, I think some of us would do some crazy things for a million bucks. This was a jaw-dropping, fast-paced ride that I finished in 1 day because I had to know whodunnit and how all these characters would tie together. There were quite a few to keep track of and at first, I did find myself struggling a bit to remember who was who, but once I caught on I really enjoyed the various viewpoints. This story is filled with never-ending drama and loads and loads of secrets that will finally all be known to the reader. Basically, the only person with nothing to hide was Detective Aribo, and while I feel like this made him one of the least 'interesting' characters, I still loved him.
And speaking of things to die for (see what I did there?) the audiobook has a full cast of narrators and Eva Kaminsky, Samara Naeymi, Andrew Eiden, Michael Crouch, JD Jackson, David de Vries, & Susan Dalian all blew my mind with how excellent their narration was. There wasn't a single one that I thought didn't fit their character or offer something to the story. Needless to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway, I highly recommend the audio of To Die For as the preferred reading method. I also think this is a wonderful book to go into as blindly as possible, and I do not regret not looking at the synopsis beforehand. Gray's writing really sucks a person in, and I immediately put her entire backlist on hold at the library. Last words from me to you are to read this book, you will not regret it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
And speaking of things to die for (see what I did there?) the audiobook has a full cast of narrators and Eva Kaminsky, Samara Naeymi, Andrew Eiden, Michael Crouch, JD Jackson, David de Vries, & Susan Dalian all blew my mind with how excellent their narration was. There wasn't a single one that I thought didn't fit their character or offer something to the story. Needless to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway, I highly recommend the audio of To Die For as the preferred reading method. I also think this is a wonderful book to go into as blindly as possible, and I do not regret not looking at the synopsis beforehand. Gray's writing really sucks a person in, and I immediately put her entire backlist on hold at the library. Last words from me to you are to read this book, you will not regret it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 19, 2023
I had a difficult time reading this book. It was too chaotic for me, too many POV's and it made it hard to follow.
July 2, 2023
Money money money, must be funny, in the rich man’s world… 🎶
To Die For is a riveting mystery thriller that takes a classic Agatha Christie scenario - a bunch of rich people all have motives for a murder committed in a luxurious mansion - and sets it in contemporary Malibu. I’ve read and enjoyed the author’s Jessica Shaw series, wasn’t so keen on her other stand-alone, but liked the sound of this one. Most of the characters are deliciously awful, but she does a good job with the twists and I didn’t guess the victim or the perpetrator until they were revealed.
Andi Hart is a young real estate broker agent hoping to set up on her own after problems at the swish agency she currently works for. Then her employers reveal they have been commissioned to sell a 50 million dollar beachfront property, and the successful agent will receive one million dollars. Suddenly the gloves are off, and each of Andi’s colleagues is desperate to win the prize - but will they resort to murder?
I started out despising almost all of the characters here - they claim to have money worries, yet drive ridiculous cars and most of their problems are self inflicted. The story is told from various perspectives, including Aribo, the detective leading the investigation - about the only sympathetic personality in it, so I hope Gray brings him back in future books. We don’t learn who has been killed until quite far into the book, although the various possibilities are gradually eliminated. This plot device has been used a lot in recent crime fiction, but it was well done here and I didn’t feel cheated by the various reveals. Overall, an entertaining holiday thriller with a satisfying ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. To Die For is published on August 1st.
To Die For is a riveting mystery thriller that takes a classic Agatha Christie scenario - a bunch of rich people all have motives for a murder committed in a luxurious mansion - and sets it in contemporary Malibu. I’ve read and enjoyed the author’s Jessica Shaw series, wasn’t so keen on her other stand-alone, but liked the sound of this one. Most of the characters are deliciously awful, but she does a good job with the twists and I didn’t guess the victim or the perpetrator until they were revealed.
Andi Hart is a young real estate broker agent hoping to set up on her own after problems at the swish agency she currently works for. Then her employers reveal they have been commissioned to sell a 50 million dollar beachfront property, and the successful agent will receive one million dollars. Suddenly the gloves are off, and each of Andi’s colleagues is desperate to win the prize - but will they resort to murder?
I started out despising almost all of the characters here - they claim to have money worries, yet drive ridiculous cars and most of their problems are self inflicted. The story is told from various perspectives, including Aribo, the detective leading the investigation - about the only sympathetic personality in it, so I hope Gray brings him back in future books. We don’t learn who has been killed until quite far into the book, although the various possibilities are gradually eliminated. This plot device has been used a lot in recent crime fiction, but it was well done here and I didn’t feel cheated by the various reveals. Overall, an entertaining holiday thriller with a satisfying ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. To Die For is published on August 1st.
August 14, 2023
My first by this author. I thought it was pretty good. I have no complaints so that rated it a 5 star for me. Her pacing is spot on! She keeps you engaged and wanting more. I really liked Andi. And her story is good! A few twists and I’ll look for more books by this author!
July 20, 2023
-you know that SNL skit “the californians”?? this book felt like that part where they name all the roads and highways and stuff over and over
-the reasoning of the the estranged dads interest in his daughter literally never got explained like wtf was that
-too much deep diving into backgrounds of side-ish characters
-i guess you could almost call a cozy murder mystery??
-Idk it was fine i guess i wouldnt read it again
-enjoyed the easy writing style, even WITH the multiple POVs and timelines
-the reasoning of the the estranged dads interest in his daughter literally never got explained like wtf was that
-too much deep diving into backgrounds of side-ish characters
-i guess you could almost call a cozy murder mystery??
-Idk it was fine i guess i wouldnt read it again
-enjoyed the easy writing style, even WITH the multiple POVs and timelines
September 13, 2023
I can't even remember what this is about and I finished it an hour ago.
September 2, 2025
I had a great time reading this book! I loved all the different perspectives. There weren't too many characters, which made it easy to keep track of everyone. Plus, I really liked the ending; it wrapped everything up nicely!
September 16, 2025
Average.
February 24, 2023
First and foremost, I want to thank Netgalley for an Arc of this book. It's my first ARC from Netgalley and I did enjoy it.
My review: what would you do for a million dollars? It's kind of cliche. You've seen that question on questionaires and on social media but what if your a realtor and you've been asked to sell a fifty million dollar home and get a commission of a million. Yea. It hits home. But it's a serious question. What Would You Do with a million dollars???
I found the book to be entertaining and interesting. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and I personally couldn't like any character either. My biggest complaint and why I have it a four out of five was because of the point of views from SIX people. That's a bit much. It made the book complicated, confusing and bit hard to retain all the information. All in all though, I found the book to be unique. I've not seen another book that's a murder mystery with real estate agents. It was a nice spin. It wasn't suspensful or thrilling. It did keep you entertained though and kept my attention. I did not find anything predictable because I couldn't even figure out who killed who. I really liked the ending although I think some people didn't. I found the ending like a recap but with new characters which means...new secrets. I liked it. It too was a nice spin.
I gave this a 4/5 just because of all the povs but I found the book to be enticing and entertaining. I really liked the spin on the murder mystery.
I would recommend reading
My review: what would you do for a million dollars? It's kind of cliche. You've seen that question on questionaires and on social media but what if your a realtor and you've been asked to sell a fifty million dollar home and get a commission of a million. Yea. It hits home. But it's a serious question. What Would You Do with a million dollars???
I found the book to be entertaining and interesting. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and I personally couldn't like any character either. My biggest complaint and why I have it a four out of five was because of the point of views from SIX people. That's a bit much. It made the book complicated, confusing and bit hard to retain all the information. All in all though, I found the book to be unique. I've not seen another book that's a murder mystery with real estate agents. It was a nice spin. It wasn't suspensful or thrilling. It did keep you entertained though and kept my attention. I did not find anything predictable because I couldn't even figure out who killed who. I really liked the ending although I think some people didn't. I found the ending like a recap but with new characters which means...new secrets. I liked it. It too was a nice spin.
I gave this a 4/5 just because of all the povs but I found the book to be enticing and entertaining. I really liked the spin on the murder mystery.
I would recommend reading
February 24, 2023
This was great. Fast paced, lots of POVs, plenty of potential suspects with shady motives. All the ingredients for a great thriller and Lisa Gray delivers.
The story follows a group of real estate agents who are given the assignment of landing a buyer for a $50 million dollar property which would net them a million in commission. How far will they go to land a deal?
I read this book in one sitting because it was juicy, twisted, with perfectly defined characters. Every POV was distinct it was never hard to figure out which timeline the character was in and even with all the dark secrets I never guessed the murderer. Loved it!
The story follows a group of real estate agents who are given the assignment of landing a buyer for a $50 million dollar property which would net them a million in commission. How far will they go to land a deal?
I read this book in one sitting because it was juicy, twisted, with perfectly defined characters. Every POV was distinct it was never hard to figure out which timeline the character was in and even with all the dark secrets I never guessed the murderer. Loved it!
September 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and read it in less than a day. It centers on a group of real estate agents who are duking it out for an exclusive listing that will net someone a $1M commission. While the POVs switch between the realtors (as well as some other characters), the real main character is Andi, who is the top realtor at the company and is trying to rebuild her life in LA after having moved from New York.
The book kept me guessing and I think the author did a fantastic job of creating viable red herrings that threw me off track when it became clear that all was not as it seems. I enjoyed the side stories of the other realtors; even though they weren't likable, they were fun to read about. I thought Andi was a very real character and I was rooting for her. The end of the book was both sad and vindicating in a couple different ways and I really liked the way it turned out.
All in all, super fun read that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys light mysteries as well as reading about the rich and famous. Looking forward to another one by this author.
The book kept me guessing and I think the author did a fantastic job of creating viable red herrings that threw me off track when it became clear that all was not as it seems. I enjoyed the side stories of the other realtors; even though they weren't likable, they were fun to read about. I thought Andi was a very real character and I was rooting for her. The end of the book was both sad and vindicating in a couple different ways and I really liked the way it turned out.
All in all, super fun read that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys light mysteries as well as reading about the rich and famous. Looking forward to another one by this author.
July 2, 2023
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
So, I think a lot of people already have a fixed impression of an estate agent. And this usually isn’t the most glowing of opinions. In this story, Gray takes these ideas to the limits with a group of estate agents who are out for themselves – whatever the cost.
So, I think a lot of people already have a fixed impression of an estate agent. And this usually isn’t the most glowing of opinions. In this story, Gray takes these ideas to the limits with a group of estate agents who are out for themselves – whatever the cost.
July 31, 2023
“Selling Sunset” w/ a twist. This book is exactly why I find myself amused with reality tv. A bit ridiculous, and amusing, but it does not require much thought. I liked the multiple POVs but I could see why some might not. I find myself coming back to this little filler thrillers.
July 4, 2023
Rating: 2.2/5
If you are looking for for some lightweight escapism wrapped up in the form of a murder mystery with all the glitz and gloss that you could wish for, then "To Die For" could well be right up your street.
For much of the story this is every bit as much a "whogotdun?" as it is a "whodunnit?". The colourful cast of characters comprises lots of people with plenty of motivation to do the deed to somebody or other. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, but they are all just a bit too convenient to be taken seriously. The credibility of the plot developments wouldn't pass muster in a more earnest murder mystery, but are just about forgivable in a more tongue-in-cheek affair such as this.
"To Die For" isn't going to go down as a classic example of the genre - nor is it likely to live overly long in the memory - but if you enjoy the kind of glitzy, glamourous US-made mysteries that seem to get frequently repeated on the digital tv channels, then this could well have some appeal.
If you are looking for for some lightweight escapism wrapped up in the form of a murder mystery with all the glitz and gloss that you could wish for, then "To Die For" could well be right up your street.
For much of the story this is every bit as much a "whogotdun?" as it is a "whodunnit?". The colourful cast of characters comprises lots of people with plenty of motivation to do the deed to somebody or other. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, but they are all just a bit too convenient to be taken seriously. The credibility of the plot developments wouldn't pass muster in a more earnest murder mystery, but are just about forgivable in a more tongue-in-cheek affair such as this.
"To Die For" isn't going to go down as a classic example of the genre - nor is it likely to live overly long in the memory - but if you enjoy the kind of glitzy, glamourous US-made mysteries that seem to get frequently repeated on the digital tv channels, then this could well have some appeal.
September 27, 2023
A fast-paced murder mystery involving real estate agents competing for a $1 million dollar commission to sell a $50 million dollar house. Set in Los Angeles, the story is told through multiple POVs, and it works well as I get to read about each character's motives and secrets. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
July 18, 2023
what was the ending 🙄
June 8, 2024
Fun, well-paced, lots of character development and unpredictable plots!! (Audiobook)
February 20, 2023
How far would you go to make a million dollars? Me, I am not sure but certainly I would not be stooping to the level of these Real Estate Agents!
To Die For is set in Sunny California. I really enjoyed the scenic descriptions of the book, could almost feel the humidity upon me while in the dead of winter here in Canada. lol
Saint Realty agents Andi, Hunter, Krystal, Myles & Verona are tasked with a huge assignment. Sell a 50 million dollar beachfront home in Malibu. The agent who sells the home will make a one million dollar commission. No sooner than the task is given, do the dollar signs start floating in everyones eyes. What a difference it could make to each of them for their own reasons.
The book took me a bit to settle in to because there were so many POV's - not just the Real Estate agents but the detectives as well and let's throw in a random POV later as well for good measure. The POV's told each of their stories, their secrets and their need for the one million dollars.
At an invite only Broker's Open House to show off the immaculate mansion, a body is discovered in the pool and there is a murder to solve. We read about the events leading up to the open house party and how some agents are not beneath being vindictive and malicious to try and get the sale.
Overall, the book was an attention holder. I liked the fact the setting and characters were a bit different. I did not see the end twist coming which is unusual for me! lol
Four solid stars!! Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC copy to read and review!
Watch for publication date of August 14, 2023!
PS - love the cover, was what caught my attention!
To Die For is set in Sunny California. I really enjoyed the scenic descriptions of the book, could almost feel the humidity upon me while in the dead of winter here in Canada. lol
Saint Realty agents Andi, Hunter, Krystal, Myles & Verona are tasked with a huge assignment. Sell a 50 million dollar beachfront home in Malibu. The agent who sells the home will make a one million dollar commission. No sooner than the task is given, do the dollar signs start floating in everyones eyes. What a difference it could make to each of them for their own reasons.
The book took me a bit to settle in to because there were so many POV's - not just the Real Estate agents but the detectives as well and let's throw in a random POV later as well for good measure. The POV's told each of their stories, their secrets and their need for the one million dollars.
At an invite only Broker's Open House to show off the immaculate mansion, a body is discovered in the pool and there is a murder to solve. We read about the events leading up to the open house party and how some agents are not beneath being vindictive and malicious to try and get the sale.
Overall, the book was an attention holder. I liked the fact the setting and characters were a bit different. I did not see the end twist coming which is unusual for me! lol
Four solid stars!! Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC copy to read and review!
Watch for publication date of August 14, 2023!
PS - love the cover, was what caught my attention!
February 22, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in less than a day. The prologue of the book opens with a murder at a prestigious house on Malibu Beach Drive, and the rest of the book goes back and forth between timelines before and after the murder, and between the POVs of all the real estate agents that could benefit from the sale of the house. We also get the POV of the detective investigating the murder.
All of the character back stories added the perfect amount of drama and suspicion. We aren't even sure who the murder victim is until the characters and story have been established and you feel like you just have to find out more. I also loved how the author worked in the title of the book (a common phrase) throughout the story. The twists and big reveal were both unexpected, and the epilogue kinda leaves you thinking a similar situation could happen again (or at the very least, more backstabbing/vindictiveness between real estate agents).
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommend!!
I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in less than a day. The prologue of the book opens with a murder at a prestigious house on Malibu Beach Drive, and the rest of the book goes back and forth between timelines before and after the murder, and between the POVs of all the real estate agents that could benefit from the sale of the house. We also get the POV of the detective investigating the murder.
All of the character back stories added the perfect amount of drama and suspicion. We aren't even sure who the murder victim is until the characters and story have been established and you feel like you just have to find out more. I also loved how the author worked in the title of the book (a common phrase) throughout the story. The twists and big reveal were both unexpected, and the epilogue kinda leaves you thinking a similar situation could happen again (or at the very least, more backstabbing/vindictiveness between real estate agents).
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Highly recommend!!
July 4, 2023
This was a brilliant book. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. A great Amazon First Reads.
August 12, 2023
A cutthroat world of real estate agents and brokers? Who knew? In and of itself, that doesn't sound too exciting. And for the most part, it wasn't. But my lack of enthusiasm mostly happened because the plot seemed lacking in transition; while the technique of jumping from time period to time period - allowing readers to gradually see what happened before that led to the current situation - can be effective, it just didn't work well for me in this case (maybe my opinion was colored by the fact that the identity of the murder victim wasn't revealed until way past the halfway point). Besides that, it was a bit of a letdown to realize that real estate really wasn't the issue at all.
Despite the aforementioned caveats, it's an entertaining story that's worth reading. Once I got used to the presentation and the changes in perspectives no longer required me to go back to my notes to re-discover who was who, I became more involved in the details. Basically, Andi Hart is a realtor whose firm has landed a representation contract for a $50 million Malibu beach home - clearly a financial boon to the firm and the agent who reels in the buyer (to the tune of a cool million dollars - hardly chump change). Needless to say, competition turns ugly; the firm's agents and the husband-and-wife owners are, understandably, hot to trot to get it done and apparently willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
The story is complicated by the fact that each of the characters, Andi included, carries secrets they'd rather no one else knows. An already bad situation takes a turn for the worse when, during an posh post-staging party for brokers, a dead body turns up in the swimming pool. But who is the victim, what was the motive for the murder and - most important - who did the dirty deed? Little by little, readers get hints about both, until all is revealed at the end (which I'd describe as mostly satisfying). For the details, though, you'll have to read it for yourself; as for me, I'll just say thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read a pre-release copy.
Despite the aforementioned caveats, it's an entertaining story that's worth reading. Once I got used to the presentation and the changes in perspectives no longer required me to go back to my notes to re-discover who was who, I became more involved in the details. Basically, Andi Hart is a realtor whose firm has landed a representation contract for a $50 million Malibu beach home - clearly a financial boon to the firm and the agent who reels in the buyer (to the tune of a cool million dollars - hardly chump change). Needless to say, competition turns ugly; the firm's agents and the husband-and-wife owners are, understandably, hot to trot to get it done and apparently willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
The story is complicated by the fact that each of the characters, Andi included, carries secrets they'd rather no one else knows. An already bad situation takes a turn for the worse when, during an posh post-staging party for brokers, a dead body turns up in the swimming pool. But who is the victim, what was the motive for the murder and - most important - who did the dirty deed? Little by little, readers get hints about both, until all is revealed at the end (which I'd describe as mostly satisfying). For the details, though, you'll have to read it for yourself; as for me, I'll just say thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read a pre-release copy.
February 8, 2023
How far would you go for a million dollars? That is the question faced by five Hollywood real estate agents when their boss tasks them with finding a buyer for a glitzy Malibu beach house. Each agent not only wants—but needs—the money, desperately. The competition grows ruthless as secrets come to light and old grudges take on new passion.
Oh the joy of watching five prominent real estate agents compete for a property worth a cool 50 million dollars, then throw in corpse floating in a pool, followed by crowded crime scene and what we have is excellent fodder for the reader. This has it all, affairs, jealousy, the lives of the so called beautiful people and the desire to win shows us just how desperate we can become when we want something so valuable. Money really does bring out the worst in some people. I am not going to say anymore regarding the plot, I really think you should just go in blind and see where the book takes you.
When I read the blurb for this book I was not really expecting a lot but something said to me to take a chance and I am so glad I did. This is a very entertaining book which I then read in an afternoon as I was enjoying it so much. I highly recommend this if you need to pass a few hours and let the rest of the world go by, I do not think you will be disappointed. Again, this is a new author for me so I will have to go and have a look at her other work. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unbiased review. 5 stars
Oh the joy of watching five prominent real estate agents compete for a property worth a cool 50 million dollars, then throw in corpse floating in a pool, followed by crowded crime scene and what we have is excellent fodder for the reader. This has it all, affairs, jealousy, the lives of the so called beautiful people and the desire to win shows us just how desperate we can become when we want something so valuable. Money really does bring out the worst in some people. I am not going to say anymore regarding the plot, I really think you should just go in blind and see where the book takes you.
When I read the blurb for this book I was not really expecting a lot but something said to me to take a chance and I am so glad I did. This is a very entertaining book which I then read in an afternoon as I was enjoying it so much. I highly recommend this if you need to pass a few hours and let the rest of the world go by, I do not think you will be disappointed. Again, this is a new author for me so I will have to go and have a look at her other work. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest unbiased review. 5 stars
April 2, 2024
This book was a quick and easy read. The story is told over two timelines one before the crime and one after.
We saw the story unfold from multiple points of view. I usually hate switching POV and this story had 6… 7 with the last chapter but it worked really well. With all the characters and their secrets I feel like it worked really well because we got to know all the characters through their POV.
Biggest tip before you pick this book up is read the name of the chapter to know who’s POV and timeline you’re in.
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