Handmade Murder

by Emma Chapman

What if a villain believes they are a hero?

Our addiction to social media has created a new version of fame. And lurking beneath the surface of beautiful, polished social media accounts is a community being targeted by a killer.

Ela’s life is falling apart after she experiences a miscarriage. Her marriage dissolves while the rest of her life feels on hold. In order to deal with the grief and guilt from losing the pregnancy, Ela spends a lot of time on her phone. And the more time she spends online, the more her new identity begins to take shape.

Rosie has found a new group of friends, other women who also make their living online. She cares deeply for this group, and they are the first non-family members she tells about her new adventure—she’s pregnant! Through her connections and a chance encounter with a famous podcast host, Joan of This Is Now , Rosie and her friends begin to notice a bizarre trend among their influencer community. While it’s estimated up to 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, the stats seem to be much, much higher in their industry. And they soon discover many of the women have an eerily similar story.

Joan and Rosie race to find out who or what is behind these seemingly connected tragedies. But can they uncover the truth before it happens again?

Emma Chapman's debut novel, Handmade Murder, is a fast-paced thriller that begs the Can you be a serial killer if your victims aren’t born yet?

Genres: Mystery

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2023

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the unique trifecta of miscarriage, social media, and murder mystery. Emma's story kept me interested and entertained from beginning to end.

Frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and usage conventions were distracting for me as a reader. I would love to see Emma partner with an editor who could help avoid these mistakes and tighten up some of the rough edges of the writing and story.

I hope to see more from this persistent emerging writer!

[Laura Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the book was an interesting, quick read with a twist that surprised me, but what I really loved about the book was in the introduction message about creating art around miscarriage. The author is right, it’s all too common, but rarely is it talked about or is there art to support those affected. I loved that the author was brave enough to dive into this topic and created something that was fun to read.

[Jaycie Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have followed Emma Chapman’s blog and podcast since high school and was so eager to read her debut novel!! I immediately requested my library get a copy when she announced she had self published it.

For a first novel, I thought it was really promising! The premise was so unique and I’m automatically interested in anything involving social media/influencer culture. I found it to be really engrossing and finished the book in two sittings. Obviously a very dark and disturbing subject, but I think that made the stakes of finding the killer so high and Emma handled it with a lot of sensitivity. It was very hard to read at some points, though.

A few things that took me out of it:
- Frequent spelling/grammar errors. This was self published so obviously it’s hard to catch everything without an editor!
- Pacing that was too fast in some parts. I wish it hadn’t ended so abruptly and I wanted more from the epilogue.
- I liked the twists, unfortunately I did figure them out pretty early on.

Overall I’m really impressed by this novel and I hope Emma continues writing!!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've followed Emma's blog, IG, and podcast for YEARS. That made it a unique reading experience for me. I listened to the audiobook version and Emma did a FANTASTIC job of narrating this book. Even though I know her voice very well from the podcast, I forgot it was her voice except for a few times when she sounded like Emma a bit more. Looking at the reviews, it sounds like audiobook is the way to go. If there were spelling or grammar errors as mentioned in other reviews, those were completely not noticeable in the audio version. This is a quick read and I do hope Emma keeps writing more as this premise was very unique. Definitely a dark read, so pay attention to the pregnancy loss trigger warnings if that would be too hard for you.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done to a new writer on her debut novel! I don't generally read this genre but picked it up as a fan of ABM. I was hooked pretty quickly and found the plot and twists both interesting and unexpected. I ended up devouring the book in a couple days and can't wait to read more from this author! The only thing that took me out of the story a little was what I assume to be a grammar choice to remove a lot of punctuation, especially commas. I'm no expert in sentence structure; I just found some sections felt like run-on sentences and the meaning got lost a couple times. Aside from that, I greatly enjoyed the ride!

[Jo Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow start. Picked up the second half. 2.5 ⭐️

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m nearly finished with the audio version of this book, and I have powered through the whole book much faster than usual. I couldn’t stop listening! Emma did such an amazing job of narrating the novel (I love her podcast as well, so her voice is familiar and comforting) and really helped lead the listener through each scene. Everything was so vivid, and her personal experiences with the world of influencing, making things by hand, blogging, and motherhood really brought the world to life and made it accessible. Every character was relatable and sympathetic- I loved how nuanced they were. No one is purely good or evil, and it is understandable what their motivation and reasoning was. (Honestly, it took me a while to figure out who the “villain” was!) so many good twists and turns. I loved your murder novel, Emma! Amazing job!

[thisismalori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the pace of this book and the character/influncer storylines. It was fun and kitschy!

However, I can’t get over how heavily weaved the miscarriages are. I know it was the writers perspective to provide light to the hush hush tendencies society has around miscarriages, however it felt disconnected. I feel I have no friends to recommend this book to because they have been so affected by miscarriages or fear them, and I don’t think this would be an easy read for them.

I am eager for Emma to write more, because I so enjoyed her style! Hopefully with a lighter core theme!

[Alison Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: pregnancy loss, miscarriage. A little dark and slightly slow to start, but kept me turning by about the halfway point. Enjoyed it.

[Theresa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great debut! I loved the perspective changes, and a unique take on a murder mystery.

I can't wait to see what Emma Chapman writes next!

[Marissa List · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first, I will never look at bath bombs the same again. That might be a spoiler, sorry. I enjoyed this (debut) book by Emma. This was relatively short book and I liked the short chapters. Very unique view on influencers and miscarriage. Obviously in this day and age I think just about everyone can connect with some sort of influencer so it made the book feel very *real life*. I felt like the ending was kind of rushed and I think this book could have used a few more chapters to help wrap up the ending and adding extra details to help tie up the loose ends. Overall an enjoyable and unique story to keep you guessing.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly an original concept and I appreciated all the little Emma-isms after being a long time blog reader and listener of her podcast!

This book was a quick read, and though I connected the dots fairly early on I felt like I still wanted to keep reading and finish where she was going with it.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Emma releases next!

[Sarah Kerner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick read that fits nicely into the modern obsessions of social media and true crime podcasts. Springfield MO author!

[Rebecca Nickols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original idea for a mystery. A fun read!

[Paulina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am really glad I checked this out! I’m a fan of Emma’s work with A Beautiful Mess (long-time blog reader/podcast listener, but of course) and as someone who has self-published two novels of my own I was PUMPED to hear that Emma was self-publishing this book. It’s excellent to hear someone say that they are writing for the love of it and just want to share their work! I appreciate participating in that exchange from the reader side. :)

This leads right into my first point—the book’s design, both interior and exterior, was top tier. I loved the creative chapter headings and the way text messages were incorporated into the prose as bubbles. For a book about social media this was such a clever choice, and I’m sure a ton of work went into that design. Book layout can be super difficult, especially when self-publishing, and this novel really knocked it out of the park.

Emma also does an excellent job of balancing a wide cast of characters. As they were each introduced and I saw how their lives connected, it encouraged me to stay curious and engaged in each character’s place in the story.

I will note here a mix of good and bad, as I think these concepts are intertwined: like other reviewers, I found the copyediting lacking. No spelling issues or anything extreme, but a TON of issues with punctuation, especially around dialogue. This was unfortunately distracting and really dragged down my enjoyment of the story. A run-on sentence or misplaced series of commas can really ruin the dramatic impact of a line, and this novel has some BANGER lines that I unfortunately felt were weakened by clunky or incorrect punctuation.

Similarly, I did find the ending rushed. I would have liked to see more of a real conclusion come together. How did this discovery impact the characters’ lives? SPOLIERS ahead—the novel would have benefitted from showing us Caleb’s reaction to Pamela being this figure, among others. I also would have loved to see more of the courtroom drama play out—how did victims like Leena and Jackie react and interact while Pamela was on trial? How did this story affect Joan’s career and own family planning? These ideas are touched on in the first chapter but never fully shown. There was a lack of payoff that left me wanting more.

Additionally, seeing as Rosie is the only woman who keeps her baby, what an emotional triumph it would have been to meet that baby after she gives birth. Maybe Joan could have met the baby herself and been influenced in her decision with Monica. It feels like a fleshed-out third act was missing overall, with more impact and conclusion for the large cast of characters to whom we’ve grown attached.

In the end, I think this book would benefit heavily from at the LEAST a good round of copyediting. This could be done and rereleased as an updated version/printing. There’s no shame in that at all and would significantly enhance the emotional experience of reading the novel.

I included these long notes of feedback because it sucks to see such a good idea held back by some simple issues. Emma writes about this topic with admirable knowledge and intelligence. She knows the world well and so many influencer-related concepts touched on were fascinating to me as someone who only sees that industry from the outside. What’s more, she writes about the subject matter with such passion, whether it’s the influencer side of the story or the mystery itself. I heavily resonated with the author note at the beginning about miscarriage and art. This story was SO fresh and interesting, and if it weren’t for those copyediting and pacing issues I could see this story being on par with something like Gone Girl.

For a debut novel this is very promising and I’m excited to see what Emma writes next. I truly believe that with some extra care paid to copyediting, and perhaps some attention paid to pacing, her work will only get better and better and she will be a writer to watch.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally picked up this book thinking it was going to be more of a cozy murder or a more comical light hearted suspenseful book. Boy, was I wrong. This book has a trigger warning for pregnancy miscarrying and please take that to heart since the whole book basically revolves around it. It was a quick read that had some suspense but at the end fell flat for me with no real conclusion. I think that the villain character with her 2 separate identities was smart from an author's point of view to keep the reader guessing but also left the reader with a lot of open loops in the story. For example Ela/Pam suffered a miscarriage also from a bath bomb? Does that mean she did it to herself pregnant or accident and then she wanted revenge. She also witnessed a child being hit by a car? I'm not sure how that was relevant when we already know that she has a longing not to have children. I do see how the two stories helped different the "two" characters though and give them both motives.

The writing at times felt choppy with not a lot of transitions. This did not bother me though since I felt it had more light hearted mystery vibes.

Overall enjoyed for the depth of the psychology of the villain but did not enjoy the writing style as much as I thought I would.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the beginning and appreciated the extra details and perspectives of the characters. The writing was really fun to read and made a lot of good points about the weirder parts of life in a social media age.

The villains motivation didn't fully make sense to me. It was a really interesting idea and maybe could have if explained more but it partially seemed split between revenge for feeling wronged and also a mixed up idea that she was saving both from future pain and I didn't see how the two motivations fit together at once.

Although, maybe the messiness of her motivations makes it more human, as truth is usually stranger than fiction.

I had heard about Emma writing this book on her podcast, was cheering her on and got to vote on what the cover should look like, so it was fun to read something I felt a bit of a personal connection to and I'm looking forward to more in the future :)

[Ellena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by this book! I found out about this book as a follower of Emma's on social media, and I wasn't expecting much since she is a new author, but I thought I'd give it a read to support her. I was immediately pulled into the story and completely forgot who wrote it.

The plot is so interesting, and the social media influencer "setting" really pulls you in. I always love when writers are able to "write what they know" and give you more information about a niche subject they know well, and Emma totally did that with this book. Even though I don't typically read any crime fiction, I was really fascinated by the topics of influencers, investigative podcasts, women online, pregnancy and miscarriage that it pulled me in and I could barely put the book down. I really recommend the book to anyone who wants a quick, enjoyable (albeit somewhat dark) read!

[Tahni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and read it under 24 hours, basically in one setting! I have followed Emma’s blog and socials for years so was keen to support her writing and purchase the book. It is a really clever and unique take on a murder mystery, I really enjoyed the female perspective in this space. It was fun knowing the parts of Emma’s life she shares online and on the podcast and seeing this world reflected throughout the book.

The book does go into miscarriage and grief, I thought this was handled pretty sensitively despite finding myself crying in the airport.

I hope Emma keeps writing as I would definitely read more of her work. Congratulations Emma!

If you are into supporting female authors, social media and murder mysteries but also after a pretty easy read, Handmade Murder is for you!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the whole book in one sitting - it's so good!! I enjoyed the dark/unique plot that I haven't seen in a murder mystery before, and the characters that felt very true to life.

I don't know that I was necessarily surprised by any of the twists, but it was such a well-written, intriguing story that I didn't mind at all. Definitely not one of those books where you put the pieces together and then have to slog through the written reveal. It's a super enjoyable read even if you happen to figure it out along the way.

The plot heavily centers on miscarriage/pregnancy loss. So if you don't want to read about that, this book is not for you. There is some adult language, just an FYI if occasional f-bombs bother you.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy read. It was very of the moment and easy to relate to.

I didn’t love all the talk of miscarriage and would def not recommend it to anyone who is currently pregnant or looking to become pregnant in the future unless you plan to have a *complex* about bath bombs. 😂

I felt some of the influencer chat was very “in defense of the profession” which I suppose is understandable given the rap that influencing as a profession can get, but I also kind of feel like the audience for this book is intelligent enough to “get” it and it wasn’t totally necessary. (Assuming the audience is largely ABM podcast listeners)

I liked Jackie and wished there was more Rosie and Jackie content—maybe a sequel????

[Klara Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this and got through it within a couple of days. The idea was interesting and I liked the insight to the daily lives of influencers and bloggers, as I’m a blogger and it’s always refreshing to have blogging/influencing portrayed accurately in fiction by someone actually in the industry.
The book could have really benefitted from both a thorough developmental edit to make the story really shine, and a copy edit to give it that professional polish. When self-publishing, I believe it’s important for a book to go through the same rigorous processes (and the many drafts!) that a traditionally published book would go through.
Overall I’m looking forward to whatever comes next for Emma Chapman.

[Jessie Swenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique and dark storyline, fast paced and kept me turning pages for sure! I did feel the characters lacked depth (even just in physical descriptions/character development and background) and the “whodunnit” was a little obvious but with a good twist on it at end. There were also several grammatical errors and misuse of commas/repetitive language that were distracting for me as a reader. I do know Emma self published this and for a first novel it was a fantastic and entertaining read. excited for what’s next for the author and for her creative story telling to be paired with great editing and more in depth storylines! Great work Emma! Excited to read the next one! <3

[Michelle C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally read it in a weekend. I couldn't put it down. And it's refreshing to read social media and influencer commentary that doesn't feel like a caricature. The story juggles several characters, but they still all felt very real and grounded. It helps that Emma really understands this world.

I'm also generally a fan of darker thrillers, and I've absolutely never seen a story like this. It explores some heavy topics that I think often get overlooked. It has twists and turns, but that's not really the point. For me, it has the perfect amount of mystery to keep me excited and thoroughly invested in the characters.

[Olivia Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed Emma's journey writing this book and was super excited to read it!

I loved the thoughtful details she added to each character and felt the dialogue was smooth and thorough. I also liked the subtle graphics throughout the book that referenced social media and some of the ethical conversations around it. I smiled when references were made to Springfield, MO--it was fun to reimagine places around my former college town.

The book started a little slow for me, but I really enjoyed the twists near the end. This being Emma's first [self-published!] novel, I can't wait to see where she goes next!

[Kayla Doolady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this read! I finished it in one night - it was the perfect length for this sort of story, and Emma’s writing and plot twist had me flipping pages. This mystery made an extremely dark plot very fun to read. I suspected the reveal, but Emma still picked up a lot of breadcrumbs which had me doubting my suspicions.

Two silly things:
• I LIVED for the Pam-Ela reveal (who else was surprised to see the name spelled with one “L”!?).
• And my hometown, Columbia, MO, was so cool to see mentioned.

I’m excited to see what Emma writes in the future! I hope she continues with creative plots like this!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has followed Emma + A Beautiful Mess for years, I was excited to read her debut book! I did struggle through the sentence structure (it felt very choppy) and at times was confused when the POV would switch mid chapter.

The end left much to be desired. I felt the first 2/3 of the book were a bit inflated with info/details that weren’t really adding to the story and at the beginning of the last third it was obvious what was happening and nothing really new or exciting happened from there.

Overall I’m glad to have read it, and supported Emma with a book sale. I liked the premise and creativity behind the idea and hope Emma keeps writing!

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a longtime ABM reader, I was so excited to purchase and support Emma on this great achievement. I think my favorite part of this book was imagining which parts of each character’s story was inspired by Emma’s life. Between the influencer lifestyle and fertility journey, I imagined Emma has felt what many of the characters did. I figured out pretty early what the cause of the miscarriages were, but was delighted when I found out the twist on the identify of the villain. Overall quick fun read!

[Ashlee Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've followed Emma and her sister, Elise, for over a decade on their blog, A Beautiful Mess. I enjoyed Emma's debut novel! She has worked so hard on it and I was so excited to read it. I requested for my library to purchase it.

It was a short (super fast, once I had time to read, I finished it in a day), but captivating murder mystery. I really appreciated the warning at the beginning about the hard topics that would be in the book. I wish that there were fewer characters so that I could get to know them better, but overall, well done, Emma!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller novel from one of my favourite podcasters/bloggers! It was a page turner! I really enjoyed all the different women's stories and perspectives, and how the mystery unfolded. I also loved seeing some of the personal details come through (references to podcast/influencers/blogging, Missouri, thrifting, mug collection, etc), it felt like Easter eggs. Plus the cover is such a great collage, I loved going back to it as I kept reading the book. Congratulations on your first, very well-written, (weird and creepy,) novel!! ❤️ TW: miscarriage