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Oliver Popp's Travel Guides to Murder #1
How to Have a Killer Time in D.C.
A young gay autistic travel writer takes a head-spinning detour when murder and romance unbalance his well-planned life and career in this fun, quirky debut mystery.
Autism is just another fact of life for twenty-four-year-old Oliver Popp. As long as he sticks to a comfortable itinerary planned well in advance, he gets by just fine as a staff writer for Offbeat Traveler magazine. But a curve ball drops into Oliver’s budding career when his first feature assignment takes him to Washington, D.C. to chronicle the latest tourism trends.
His freelance project photographer is Ricky Warner, a gregarious and impulsively adorable shot of adrenaline. If the flirty gay photographer isn’t enough to unbalance shy Oliver from the get-go, there’s also an unsettling chance encounter with old acquaintance, Elise Perkins, and a congressional hearing that’s shaking up both the Capitol and an entrepreneurial billionaire. The unexpected distractions soon collide when a speeding car kills Elise. Funny how she just stared it down like she knew it was coming. Forget the National Mall and Mt. Vernon Square. Oliver and Ricky are game for something much more: solving a mystery and a murder.
Autism is just another fact of life for twenty-four-year-old Oliver Popp. As long as he sticks to a comfortable itinerary planned well in advance, he gets by just fine as a staff writer for Offbeat Traveler magazine. But a curve ball drops into Oliver’s budding career when his first feature assignment takes him to Washington, D.C. to chronicle the latest tourism trends.
His freelance project photographer is Ricky Warner, a gregarious and impulsively adorable shot of adrenaline. If the flirty gay photographer isn’t enough to unbalance shy Oliver from the get-go, there’s also an unsettling chance encounter with old acquaintance, Elise Perkins, and a congressional hearing that’s shaking up both the Capitol and an entrepreneurial billionaire. The unexpected distractions soon collide when a speeding car kills Elise. Funny how she just stared it down like she knew it was coming. Forget the National Mall and Mt. Vernon Square. Oliver and Ricky are game for something much more: solving a mystery and a murder.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published April 29, 2025
34 people are currently reading
4468 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
April 30, 2025
This was a fun start to a new cozy series. I love DC and enjoyed the thought of someone traveling there for the first time to write an article for a travel magazine. I instantly loved Oliver and his drive and bravery stepping into new unknown situations. For someone on his first assignment, I was proud of him for getting comfortable so quickly. I did wish there was a little more focus on the travel writer content/idea as that's what hooked me, but was quickly dropped. It was a bit slow and dragged to get started, before a lot of the drama happened.
I did appreciate the timely subject of the dangers of self driving cars and the company politics in the new tech company. I didn't love the romance as much as I thought I would, and I think I just didn't feel any chemistry between the MCs and kind of didn't like their vibe together at all. Ricky treated Oliver pretty inappropriately pretty quickly and poor Oliver was so uncomfortable, I felt so bad. It will be interesting to see if this is continued or not. I was shocked by the reveal and the dramatic ending!
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC; my review and thoughts are my own.
I did appreciate the timely subject of the dangers of self driving cars and the company politics in the new tech company. I didn't love the romance as much as I thought I would, and I think I just didn't feel any chemistry between the MCs and kind of didn't like their vibe together at all. Ricky treated Oliver pretty inappropriately pretty quickly and poor Oliver was so uncomfortable, I felt so bad. It will be interesting to see if this is continued or not. I was shocked by the reveal and the dramatic ending!
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC; my review and thoughts are my own.
March 31, 2025
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
How to Have a Killer Time in D.C. immediately caught my eye when I spotted it in Netgalley and when I discovered the main character was gay and autistic, I was even more excited as those aren't things you see very often in cozies. And I am autistic myself and like reading about autistic characters. I have to say I started this book with quite high expectations and sadly this book just wasn't fully for me and it made me sad as I really wanted to enjoy this book.
Something about the writing style didn't quite work for me, add in some wrong expectations and parts that didn't quite work for me and I was almost ready to DNF it and am not quite sure that wouldn't have been better. There were parts I enjoyed and others I struggled with, so I ended up having very mixed feelings about this book.
I think I went into this book with the wrong expectations. I was thinking there would be a lot of traveling around the city for the article Oliver is writing, I wanted to see the city come to live and experience it that way. And I was looking forward to reading about an autistic main character and how that would impact things.
The travel aspect is mostly the backdrop and set up for the story, but the book focuses more on the mystery and romance. Which is fine, but not what I expected, the travel bits seemed to flew by and the city and places they visited didn't really come alive for me. Even Oliver and Ricky didn't really seem to have much motivation for the travel bits when they could be solving a murder.
Then there is Oliver being autistic and I think the representation is decently done, it just felt like less part of the story than I had expected. There are some scenes were Oliver being autistic really was obvious, but other parts less so. He seemed to handle things better than I expected with all the stress of what's going on and only some autistic traits really come through, again that's fine, I just expected that to be a bigger part of the book. I also thought Oliver was quite easily pulled away from his original plans to solve the mystery by Ricky and I just would've liked a bit more about him taking care of himself and standing up for what he wanted. Then again he didn't seem to mind the change in plans too much and liked going along with Ricky.
The mystery part of the story I actually quite enjoyed. I wasn't quite sure I would at first especially with the mystery being slow to start with the murder only happening around 20-25% I think it was. There also is this whole thing with self driving cars involved, which felt a bit off and like a weird jab at a current company at first, but I enjoyed the unique situation it added to the mystery later on. It certainly felt like a very modern murder mystery. There are some interesting twists and turns and I really liked the reveal at the end. I don't think that reveal would be easy to predict, but I like how despite that I think you could still guess who the murderer is. I didn't manage to predict the murderer, but I did think it made sense and there are some nice clues pointing in that direction when I looked back.
There were a few small things about the mystery and how it was handled that bothered me, but that was mostly related to how the characters got about investigating at times. There is a scene were Oliver uses someone's interest in him against that person and that whole scene made me feel very uncomfortable, both for Oliver and the other guy. It felt very icky for both of them and wished they had found another way to get what they needed. Then there is an ex of Ricky who they keep bothering multiple times, which also just didn't feel right to me with how those interactions were handled.
Despite my issues with some of the characters behaviors I did mostly like both Oliver and Ricky. I also thought their connection was clear, but the romance does follow a very pronounced back and forth pattern, which felt a bit much on top of the mystery. They would grow closer and have these nice sweet scenes and then decide to be friends again or something happened that put some friction between them. It just felt the whole book was like that. It has a bit of a happy for now ending with it not being fully clear what the future looks like romance wise. I assume in future books that will change.
To summarize: I really wanted to like this book, but struggled with it a bit. There is less about the traveling than I had expected and the travel scenes that are there weren't really interesting, the city didn't come alive for me. I would've liked more about Oliver being autistic as that was one of the reasons I picked up this book, but the parts that dealt with him being autistic did feel well written, there just wasn't as much of it as I had expected. I mostly liked the characters, except for some of their behaviors when investigating the murder and how they treated some side characters. The romance has a very pronounced back and forth swing with them getting closer and then something pulling them apart. I liked them together, but didn't care for the whole push and pull vibes. The mystery was quite good and I liked how that played out. There is an interesting reveal at the end and while I didn't guess the murderer, I could see some clues when looking back. I am sad I didn't enjoy this book more, but if you want a modern mystery featuring electric self-driving cars with a gay couple in it, you might enjoy this one.
How to Have a Killer Time in D.C. immediately caught my eye when I spotted it in Netgalley and when I discovered the main character was gay and autistic, I was even more excited as those aren't things you see very often in cozies. And I am autistic myself and like reading about autistic characters. I have to say I started this book with quite high expectations and sadly this book just wasn't fully for me and it made me sad as I really wanted to enjoy this book.
Something about the writing style didn't quite work for me, add in some wrong expectations and parts that didn't quite work for me and I was almost ready to DNF it and am not quite sure that wouldn't have been better. There were parts I enjoyed and others I struggled with, so I ended up having very mixed feelings about this book.
I think I went into this book with the wrong expectations. I was thinking there would be a lot of traveling around the city for the article Oliver is writing, I wanted to see the city come to live and experience it that way. And I was looking forward to reading about an autistic main character and how that would impact things.
The travel aspect is mostly the backdrop and set up for the story, but the book focuses more on the mystery and romance. Which is fine, but not what I expected, the travel bits seemed to flew by and the city and places they visited didn't really come alive for me. Even Oliver and Ricky didn't really seem to have much motivation for the travel bits when they could be solving a murder.
Then there is Oliver being autistic and I think the representation is decently done, it just felt like less part of the story than I had expected. There are some scenes were Oliver being autistic really was obvious, but other parts less so. He seemed to handle things better than I expected with all the stress of what's going on and only some autistic traits really come through, again that's fine, I just expected that to be a bigger part of the book. I also thought Oliver was quite easily pulled away from his original plans to solve the mystery by Ricky and I just would've liked a bit more about him taking care of himself and standing up for what he wanted. Then again he didn't seem to mind the change in plans too much and liked going along with Ricky.
The mystery part of the story I actually quite enjoyed. I wasn't quite sure I would at first especially with the mystery being slow to start with the murder only happening around 20-25% I think it was. There also is this whole thing with self driving cars involved, which felt a bit off and like a weird jab at a current company at first, but I enjoyed the unique situation it added to the mystery later on. It certainly felt like a very modern murder mystery. There are some interesting twists and turns and I really liked the reveal at the end. I don't think that reveal would be easy to predict, but I like how despite that I think you could still guess who the murderer is. I didn't manage to predict the murderer, but I did think it made sense and there are some nice clues pointing in that direction when I looked back.
There were a few small things about the mystery and how it was handled that bothered me, but that was mostly related to how the characters got about investigating at times. There is a scene were Oliver uses someone's interest in him against that person and that whole scene made me feel very uncomfortable, both for Oliver and the other guy. It felt very icky for both of them and wished they had found another way to get what they needed. Then there is an ex of Ricky who they keep bothering multiple times, which also just didn't feel right to me with how those interactions were handled.
Despite my issues with some of the characters behaviors I did mostly like both Oliver and Ricky. I also thought their connection was clear, but the romance does follow a very pronounced back and forth pattern, which felt a bit much on top of the mystery. They would grow closer and have these nice sweet scenes and then decide to be friends again or something happened that put some friction between them. It just felt the whole book was like that. It has a bit of a happy for now ending with it not being fully clear what the future looks like romance wise. I assume in future books that will change.
To summarize: I really wanted to like this book, but struggled with it a bit. There is less about the traveling than I had expected and the travel scenes that are there weren't really interesting, the city didn't come alive for me. I would've liked more about Oliver being autistic as that was one of the reasons I picked up this book, but the parts that dealt with him being autistic did feel well written, there just wasn't as much of it as I had expected. I mostly liked the characters, except for some of their behaviors when investigating the murder and how they treated some side characters. The romance has a very pronounced back and forth swing with them getting closer and then something pulling them apart. I liked them together, but didn't care for the whole push and pull vibes. The mystery was quite good and I liked how that played out. There is an interesting reveal at the end and while I didn't guess the murderer, I could see some clues when looking back. I am sad I didn't enjoy this book more, but if you want a modern mystery featuring electric self-driving cars with a gay couple in it, you might enjoy this one.
June 17, 2025
Just okay. Unusual mystery, unconvincing characters. I'm unlikely to continue the series.
May 25, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
How to Have a Killer Time in DC was such a satisfying and FUN read after getting through some dark thrillers. This cozy mystery not only has autism representation but LGBTQIA rep as well. Oliver is the autistic protagonist of the story, who must have everything scheduled down to the minute in order to feel safe and in control. He’s a writer for a travel magazine and has headed to Washington, D.C. for a regular travel piecce.
But on the plane to DC, he runs into his childhood friend, Elise, who just so happens to be a tech for an electric car company that sounds an awful lot like you-know-who’s personality and business. Soon, Oliver meets up with his freelance photographer, Ricky, whom he finds very attractive and doesn’t seem to live on any schedule.
When Elise is hit by an electric car that Oliver and Ricky are riding in, Oliver wants to get to the bottom of how the car could malfunction so badly, and who was responsible for Elise’s death.
I absolutely loved the fresh neurodivergent representation. That also goes hand in hand with the dialogue-driven writing; I’ve always been one to skim the long descriptive passages in a novel. How to Have a Killer Time in DC is a playful, character-focused mystery that blends discovering oneself and romance rather than an intense thriller. And I am here for it!
How to Have a Killer Time in DC was such a satisfying and FUN read after getting through some dark thrillers. This cozy mystery not only has autism representation but LGBTQIA rep as well. Oliver is the autistic protagonist of the story, who must have everything scheduled down to the minute in order to feel safe and in control. He’s a writer for a travel magazine and has headed to Washington, D.C. for a regular travel piecce.
But on the plane to DC, he runs into his childhood friend, Elise, who just so happens to be a tech for an electric car company that sounds an awful lot like you-know-who’s personality and business. Soon, Oliver meets up with his freelance photographer, Ricky, whom he finds very attractive and doesn’t seem to live on any schedule.
When Elise is hit by an electric car that Oliver and Ricky are riding in, Oliver wants to get to the bottom of how the car could malfunction so badly, and who was responsible for Elise’s death.
I absolutely loved the fresh neurodivergent representation. That also goes hand in hand with the dialogue-driven writing; I’ve always been one to skim the long descriptive passages in a novel. How to Have a Killer Time in DC is a playful, character-focused mystery that blends discovering oneself and romance rather than an intense thriller. And I am here for it!
April 27, 2025
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my gosh, I'm so glad I requested this ARC! The premise sounded good to me, but honestly it exceeded expectations! First, the 'who dunnit' of it all really kept me going until the very end. I did guess correctly, but there were a lot of context clues I had to pay attention to to realize what was going on. Next, the CHEMISTRY between Oliver and Ricky 🥵. Watching their relationship blossom from strangers to kind of friends to maybe something more had me begging for more. I definitely will be continuing this series solely to see what happens to the both of them next. And lastly, the representation was *chefs kiss* AMAZING. The BIPOC people throughout, the queerness, the neurodiversity, just everything was so amazingly well written. I genuinely look forward to reading the next installment of this series, and seeing where adventure takes Oliver and Ricky next!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my gosh, I'm so glad I requested this ARC! The premise sounded good to me, but honestly it exceeded expectations! First, the 'who dunnit' of it all really kept me going until the very end. I did guess correctly, but there were a lot of context clues I had to pay attention to to realize what was going on. Next, the CHEMISTRY between Oliver and Ricky 🥵. Watching their relationship blossom from strangers to kind of friends to maybe something more had me begging for more. I definitely will be continuing this series solely to see what happens to the both of them next. And lastly, the representation was *chefs kiss* AMAZING. The BIPOC people throughout, the queerness, the neurodiversity, just everything was so amazingly well written. I genuinely look forward to reading the next installment of this series, and seeing where adventure takes Oliver and Ricky next!
May 1, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this entertaining cozy mystery with a travelogue twist. It is the first book in Sam Lumley’s Oliver Popp’s Travel Guides to Murder series and appears to be the author’s debut work. As a lifelong resident of the DMV (that’s the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro area), I am always curious about books set here. I’m happy to say that Lumley did a really nice job with both getting the details right for the setting, as well as bringing the city and some of the surrounding area to life.
I found this one a lot of fun and a great start to a new series. I really like Oliver and Ricky as a couple and I am looking forward to the chance to follow along as their relationship grows. I am definitely excited for more adventures.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this entertaining cozy mystery with a travelogue twist. It is the first book in Sam Lumley’s Oliver Popp’s Travel Guides to Murder series and appears to be the author’s debut work. As a lifelong resident of the DMV (that’s the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro area), I am always curious about books set here. I’m happy to say that Lumley did a really nice job with both getting the details right for the setting, as well as bringing the city and some of the surrounding area to life.
I found this one a lot of fun and a great start to a new series. I really like Oliver and Ricky as a couple and I am looking forward to the chance to follow along as their relationship grows. I am definitely excited for more adventures.
Read Jay's review in its entirety here.
July 21, 2025
Oliver Popp likes things predictable. He has a routine and likes to stick to it. He's happy working for a travel magazine in San Francisco and living with his mother and his aunts.
When his boss suggests he travel to DC to write a column, it's pretty far outside his comfort zone, but he also wants to prove he's up to the task. So, off he goes. As soon as he connects with Ricky, his assigned photographer and guide, that comfort zone quickly fades into the far distance. Within a day, he's involved in investigating a murder, breaking into hotel rooms, and flirting with strangers.
It's a delightful new series reminescent of Rob Osler's Hayden and Friends series (if you haven't read that one yet, do so. ) I'm looking forward to having more adventures with Oliver and Ricky.
When his boss suggests he travel to DC to write a column, it's pretty far outside his comfort zone, but he also wants to prove he's up to the task. So, off he goes. As soon as he connects with Ricky, his assigned photographer and guide, that comfort zone quickly fades into the far distance. Within a day, he's involved in investigating a murder, breaking into hotel rooms, and flirting with strangers.
It's a delightful new series reminescent of Rob Osler's Hayden and Friends series (if you haven't read that one yet, do so. ) I'm looking forward to having more adventures with Oliver and Ricky.
April 11, 2025
Get ready for a wild ride with the upcoming mystery novel “How To Have A Killer Time In D.C.” by Sam Lumley! This quirky tale is set to hit the shelves on April 29, 2025, courtesy of Kensington Publishing Corp. Don’t miss out!
I was thrilled to get my hands on an advance copy of this captivating book about Oliver, a 24-year-old gay travel writer from California who also happens to be on the autism spectrum. He’s tackling his first assignment in Washington, D.C., and is determined to stick to his schedule. But then, he gets paired up with Ricky, a flirtatious freelance photographer who loves to throw caution to the wind and often finds himself off the clock, making Oliver a bit uneasy.
Things take a thrilling turn when they find themselves playing detective after a test drive in a self-driving car leads to an unexpected involvement in the hit-and-run death of someone from Oliver's past. As they piece together the mystery, a charming romance blossoms between Oliver and Ricky, turning them into an adorable duo of amateur sleuths working to uncover the truth while also crafting a new article.
With plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, the story builds up to an exhilarating conclusion. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes Oliver and Ricky next!
I was thrilled to get my hands on an advance copy of this captivating book about Oliver, a 24-year-old gay travel writer from California who also happens to be on the autism spectrum. He’s tackling his first assignment in Washington, D.C., and is determined to stick to his schedule. But then, he gets paired up with Ricky, a flirtatious freelance photographer who loves to throw caution to the wind and often finds himself off the clock, making Oliver a bit uneasy.
Things take a thrilling turn when they find themselves playing detective after a test drive in a self-driving car leads to an unexpected involvement in the hit-and-run death of someone from Oliver's past. As they piece together the mystery, a charming romance blossoms between Oliver and Ricky, turning them into an adorable duo of amateur sleuths working to uncover the truth while also crafting a new article.
With plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, the story builds up to an exhilarating conclusion. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes Oliver and Ricky next!
May 7, 2025
3.5 rounded up
A solid cozy mystery debut featuring Oliver Popp, a 24-year old gay journalist with autism who travels to DC on his own for the first time to write a story about tourism in the city only to get caught up with his guide/cameraman and together the two try to solve a murder involving legislation around self-driving cars. The main character was likable, the mystery was twisty and kept me entertained and I liked that there was also a little bit of romance and good anxiety rep. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next book in the series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
A solid cozy mystery debut featuring Oliver Popp, a 24-year old gay journalist with autism who travels to DC on his own for the first time to write a story about tourism in the city only to get caught up with his guide/cameraman and together the two try to solve a murder involving legislation around self-driving cars. The main character was likable, the mystery was twisty and kept me entertained and I liked that there was also a little bit of romance and good anxiety rep. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next book in the series! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 27, 2025
Oh my! This book checks all the boxes for me. It's a book about a young, queer man with autism just being a young man. He has all the same issues as anyone else, just with a really strange murder thrown in to make it all even more complicated. Oliver manages his life by making a plan and sticking to it. What will he do in a strange city when he's confronted with an old acquaintance in an unexpected place, self-driving homicidal cars, political scandals, and a very attractive, alluring photographer? The romance is especially sweet. I can't wait for the next book so I can see what happens with Ollie and Ricky.
March 14, 2025
I love a good cozy mystery, and this delivered on the cozy and mystery vibes! The characters are lovable, and I liked the twists to the story.
I was hoping for more of the “travel writer” aspect of the story, and I do think the romance overtook the mystery a little bit for me.
Thank you to Kensington for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I was hoping for more of the “travel writer” aspect of the story, and I do think the romance overtook the mystery a little bit for me.
Thank you to Kensington for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 1, 2025
I found this book at the library and have NO regrets about picking it up. It was such a good, quick read. I can’t wait to see what Oliver gets up to next.
May 13, 2025
Was just kind of fluff that didn’t go anywhere.
June 17, 2025
2 - 2.5 stars
Unfortunately the pacing was a real issue for me
Unfortunately the pacing was a real issue for me
May 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the DRC! this title is out now!
Having your supervisor and your mom plot to set you up with someone while you're away for work is crazy work but hilariously ridiculous.
Oliver Popp is a very relatable character (even for those who might not be neurodivergent) and it was cute to see an early career freelance journalist set out on their first big scoop. Drea seemed like a very cool and understanding supervisor who instilled the tools in confidence in him to succeed. Alas, things always go awry when you want them to the least.
Ricky (or Tariq) was also an interesting character. We meet a ton of his hookups and dates and while they all kind of glare at him, it didn't seem like those relationships ended on horrible terms due to cheating or generally being an ass. I think that helped lower Oliver's hesitance about him.
I really enjoyed this read and am happy to see it's going to be a series. I am down to read all the others when they're published!
Having your supervisor and your mom plot to set you up with someone while you're away for work is crazy work but hilariously ridiculous.
Oliver Popp is a very relatable character (even for those who might not be neurodivergent) and it was cute to see an early career freelance journalist set out on their first big scoop. Drea seemed like a very cool and understanding supervisor who instilled the tools in confidence in him to succeed. Alas, things always go awry when you want them to the least.
Ricky (or Tariq) was also an interesting character. We meet a ton of his hookups and dates and while they all kind of glare at him, it didn't seem like those relationships ended on horrible terms due to cheating or generally being an ass. I think that helped lower Oliver's hesitance about him.
I really enjoyed this read and am happy to see it's going to be a series. I am down to read all the others when they're published!
April 19, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the e-arc of this book! [This in no way affected my review / opinion]
"How to have a killer time in DC" was a book I spotted on Netgalley and I just knew it would be right up my ally. I mean, it's a (cozy) murder mystery mixed with a queer romance?! We all know I eat that up!!
I absolutely loved the diversity of characters and the way the author touched serious topics was really well done for me. Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and I absolutely flew through this book! I started reading in the morning & finished the book the same day (and had such a fun time reading!). The plottwists are well done and honestly, I couldn't guess who did it while reading the book! Looking back, the clues were there for sure, but I didn't catch them while reading. For me, that makes the murder mystery aspect well thought out and well done!
Now let's take a little sidenote on something that was "missing" for me. While I really enjoyed the murder mystery, I also lowkey missed the travel aspect. I hoped to see more of Oliver and Ricky working / visiting places. The focus on that aspect was gone pretty fast and switched to the whole mystery and murder part, which is kinda understandable but still left me with a little missing. I hope that, in future books, we would see a little more of that! In my opinion, this book also started a little slow, but I am glad I just pushed through and carried on to read it, because after the first 15 / 20% it really sucked me into the story completely!
But besides that, I had a great time with this book. It's an easy & quick read and I think it's perfect to take with you on a little (beach) vacation! Our main characters are lovely, I had a lot of fun with them and even (most) of our side characters were enjoyable and interesting.
This is the first book in a series & I think I would read the next books aswell!
"How to have a killer time in DC" was a book I spotted on Netgalley and I just knew it would be right up my ally. I mean, it's a (cozy) murder mystery mixed with a queer romance?! We all know I eat that up!!
I absolutely loved the diversity of characters and the way the author touched serious topics was really well done for me. Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and I absolutely flew through this book! I started reading in the morning & finished the book the same day (and had such a fun time reading!). The plottwists are well done and honestly, I couldn't guess who did it while reading the book! Looking back, the clues were there for sure, but I didn't catch them while reading. For me, that makes the murder mystery aspect well thought out and well done!
Now let's take a little sidenote on something that was "missing" for me. While I really enjoyed the murder mystery, I also lowkey missed the travel aspect. I hoped to see more of Oliver and Ricky working / visiting places. The focus on that aspect was gone pretty fast and switched to the whole mystery and murder part, which is kinda understandable but still left me with a little missing. I hope that, in future books, we would see a little more of that! In my opinion, this book also started a little slow, but I am glad I just pushed through and carried on to read it, because after the first 15 / 20% it really sucked me into the story completely!
But besides that, I had a great time with this book. It's an easy & quick read and I think it's perfect to take with you on a little (beach) vacation! Our main characters are lovely, I had a lot of fun with them and even (most) of our side characters were enjoyable and interesting.
This is the first book in a series & I think I would read the next books aswell!
April 27, 2025
In Sam Lumley's debut novel, How To Have A Killer Time In D.C., readers are introduced to an awkward but likeable Oliver Popp, who's tasked with getting a feature written and published in his first-ever opportunity to advance the ranks of his job and become something great. But when he meets up with the photographer he's meant to work with, and someone ends up dead, his carefully crafted plans turn upside-down, and he finds himself chasing two stories: one about motorcars, and one about killers.
I was gifted an ARC copy of this novel by Sam Lumley's agent: Kimberly Fernando, in a giveaway. I usually shy away from "cozy" subgenres of any fictional work, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one. It was an absolutely adorable, cunning, and mysteriously wholesome read. Lumley sets the scene with characters the reader can't help but fall in love with, a world familiar to a wide spectrum of eyes, and a story of two castaways determined to find their place in the world.
One of my favorite things about this novel was the Autistic and Neurodivergent representation included. From the get-go, even before the word "Autism" was used, I could tell Oliver Popp was some flavor of Neurodivergent. I related to him immensely, and that relatability grew ever more present throughout the narrative. The Autism representation is immaculate, and this story is well worth the read (and reread!)
The only note I have, and this could be because I've read an absurd amount of mystery and generally know what to expect, is that the answer to the mysteries in the plot seemed rather obvious from the starting point. However, that didn't make this novel any less enjoyable. A definite must-buy for readers in need of fluffy but complex romance, mystery with all its trappings, and a memorable setting!
I was gifted an ARC copy of this novel by Sam Lumley's agent: Kimberly Fernando, in a giveaway. I usually shy away from "cozy" subgenres of any fictional work, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one. It was an absolutely adorable, cunning, and mysteriously wholesome read. Lumley sets the scene with characters the reader can't help but fall in love with, a world familiar to a wide spectrum of eyes, and a story of two castaways determined to find their place in the world.
One of my favorite things about this novel was the Autistic and Neurodivergent representation included. From the get-go, even before the word "Autism" was used, I could tell Oliver Popp was some flavor of Neurodivergent. I related to him immensely, and that relatability grew ever more present throughout the narrative. The Autism representation is immaculate, and this story is well worth the read (and reread!)
The only note I have, and this could be because I've read an absurd amount of mystery and generally know what to expect, is that the answer to the mysteries in the plot seemed rather obvious from the starting point. However, that didn't make this novel any less enjoyable. A definite must-buy for readers in need of fluffy but complex romance, mystery with all its trappings, and a memorable setting!
April 28, 2025
When a young, autistic travel writer teams up with a flirty photographer for his first assignment flying solo, there’s no shortage of shenanigans that might ensue. But despite his careful planning and preparation, there’s one thing Oliver Popp didn’t prepare for: murder. HOW TO HAVE A KILLER TIME IN D.C. is an entertaining and exhilarating ride as Oliver and Ricky traverse D.C. in search of clues instead of photo ops.
I really appreciated the fun approach to unraveling this mystery, complete with its colorful, entertaining characters and clever twists and turns. Readers get just enough information to feel like an insider in the investigation, while the suspense and intrigue will keep them reading to see what happens.
The burgeoning romance between Ricky & Oliver is sweet and subtle despite their colossal set up. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other as well as the dynamic they share. Oliver’s character is told in a way that feels open & honest; his autism isn’t treated as a limitation or with abject ableism - just thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that impact specific situations throughout the story. I was also delighted that Ricky’s character doesn’t fall into a stereotypical caregiver role. He’s kind, considerate, and respectful - all the things Oliver deserves.
The whole Moonshot Motors plot is WILD. I'm always wary of being too technochauvinist despite my tendency toward early adoption, and this story is a fantastic reminder that humans create technology. No matter how hard we try, the systems we create include fallacies and vulnerabilities that open to considerable exploitation. I don’t know about you, but I won’t be riding in a self-driving car anytime soon. :)
*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*
I really appreciated the fun approach to unraveling this mystery, complete with its colorful, entertaining characters and clever twists and turns. Readers get just enough information to feel like an insider in the investigation, while the suspense and intrigue will keep them reading to see what happens.
The burgeoning romance between Ricky & Oliver is sweet and subtle despite their colossal set up. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other as well as the dynamic they share. Oliver’s character is told in a way that feels open & honest; his autism isn’t treated as a limitation or with abject ableism - just thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that impact specific situations throughout the story. I was also delighted that Ricky’s character doesn’t fall into a stereotypical caregiver role. He’s kind, considerate, and respectful - all the things Oliver deserves.
The whole Moonshot Motors plot is WILD. I'm always wary of being too technochauvinist despite my tendency toward early adoption, and this story is a fantastic reminder that humans create technology. No matter how hard we try, the systems we create include fallacies and vulnerabilities that open to considerable exploitation. I don’t know about you, but I won’t be riding in a self-driving car anytime soon. :)
*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*
February 20, 2025
📖 💻 Autistic travel writer Oliver Popp’s carefully planned trip to D.C. takes an unexpected turn when he stumbles into a murder investigation. Teaming up with charismatic photographer Ricky Warner, his work trip turns into a whirlwind of mystery, discovery, and an unexpectedly sweet romance.
I was thrilled when I was offered the chance to read this book about a gay, autistic sleuth. While I’m not diagnosed neurodiverse, I recognize some of Oliver’s traits in myself - social anxiety, sensory struggles, and the feeling of being “wrong” for things that are just part of who you are. It was incredibly validating to see that on the page.
Beyond the mystery, I loved how the book explored D.C. - not from a political angle, but through a local’s perspective.
And I have to mention my favorite detail: Mimi asking a dog owner what their dog’s pronouns were 🐶 That moment was big lolz!
I technically guessed the killer, but it was pure luck - I had no clue about the why or the how! And while I’m not usually into romance, I adored Oliver’s first-love storyline. He’s just so lovable.
This seems to be the start of a series, and I can’t wait for more. A huge shoutout to the publisher for bringing this book to readers - it’s such a gem.
Thanks to @Netgalley and
@kensingtonbooks for access to this advanced readers copy
I was thrilled when I was offered the chance to read this book about a gay, autistic sleuth. While I’m not diagnosed neurodiverse, I recognize some of Oliver’s traits in myself - social anxiety, sensory struggles, and the feeling of being “wrong” for things that are just part of who you are. It was incredibly validating to see that on the page.
Beyond the mystery, I loved how the book explored D.C. - not from a political angle, but through a local’s perspective.
And I have to mention my favorite detail: Mimi asking a dog owner what their dog’s pronouns were 🐶 That moment was big lolz!
I technically guessed the killer, but it was pure luck - I had no clue about the why or the how! And while I’m not usually into romance, I adored Oliver’s first-love storyline. He’s just so lovable.
This seems to be the start of a series, and I can’t wait for more. A huge shoutout to the publisher for bringing this book to readers - it’s such a gem.
Thanks to @Netgalley and
@kensingtonbooks for access to this advanced readers copy
July 16, 2025
Sam Lumley’s lively and head-spinning debut adventure, “How to Have a Killing Time in D.C.,” will please armchair detectives and mystery aficionados.
Oliver Popp, a young, gay, autistic travel writer, sets off for Washington, D.C., to write an article for his publication, “Offbeat Traveler,” about the latest trends in D.C.
Along the journey, he encounters some people from his past. While boarding, Oliver unexpectedly runs into a high school friend, Elise Perkins, whose itinerary helps fuel the deftly built whodunit. While running around, gathering notes for his article, interviewing, and gathering his sources that will help shape his article, he also stumbles upon a few of his exes, distracting him from the reason for the trip.
It is the gregarious and handsome freelance project photographer, Ricky Warner, for whom Oliver falls head over heels.
The unexpected distractions become cruel and unusual when a speeding car strikes and kills Oliver’s friend Elise in front of him. As Oliver investigates, he thinks something about the hit-and-run seems staged. Questions arise, but no one can put their finger on it until Oliver rummages through Elise’s suspicious past to find a killer.
Raucous, colorful, and oodles of fun, readers will clamor for more from these two delightful characters and mysterious, far-flung conspiracies.
July 26, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars. Wonderful premise but a lack of any good execution.
Plot-
I had such high hopes and expectations for this book, queer romance and cozy mystery! The execution of these genres all falls flat. The mystery was exciting at first but the book can’t misses every trope of the cozy genre or twists it into an unpalatable version. The romance was a total miss for me. I absolutely hated how the ML treated the MC. And all the padding!!! There’s so much padding in this book!
Characters-
As stated above the ML is awful! MC is autistic and constantly ML is violating boundaries and forcing MC into uncomfortable situations he doesn’t want to take part in. ML constantly downplays MCs feelings and also blames him for the situation ML creates. The worst example was during the arrest, as an autistic person all of my close people know they need to advocate for me if I’m in a state of shut down or meltdown. Well ML thinks it’s ok to blame MC for his fight or flight response and not advocate for him and make MC apologize!!! There’s also so much ableist rhetoric being spewed around regarding the MC that I was shocked to see from autistic author.
All other characters were such one note or flimsy pastiche’s of real life people.
Summary-An interesting premise couldn’t be saved by poor execution and crummy characters writing
Plot-
I had such high hopes and expectations for this book, queer romance and cozy mystery! The execution of these genres all falls flat. The mystery was exciting at first but the book can’t misses every trope of the cozy genre or twists it into an unpalatable version. The romance was a total miss for me. I absolutely hated how the ML treated the MC. And all the padding!!! There’s so much padding in this book!
Characters-
As stated above the ML is awful! MC is autistic and constantly ML is violating boundaries and forcing MC into uncomfortable situations he doesn’t want to take part in. ML constantly downplays MCs feelings and also blames him for the situation ML creates. The worst example was during the arrest, as an autistic person all of my close people know they need to advocate for me if I’m in a state of shut down or meltdown. Well ML thinks it’s ok to blame MC for his fight or flight response and not advocate for him and make MC apologize!!! There’s also so much ableist rhetoric being spewed around regarding the MC that I was shocked to see from autistic author.
All other characters were such one note or flimsy pastiche’s of real life people.
Summary-An interesting premise couldn’t be saved by poor execution and crummy characters writing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
3.75/5
How to Have a Killer Time in DC by Sam Lumley is a charming and cozy mystery that offers a refreshing perspective through the eyes of an autistic protagonist navigating adulthood, new friendships, and a budding romance with a proud Howard grad, no less.
What stood out most for me was how rooted this story is in the real Washington, DC. As someone who considers the city a second home, I often find myself cringing at authors who misplace landmarks or flatten the city's personality into political clichés. But Lumley got it right. From the rhythm of the neighborhoods to the subtle details that make the setting feel lived in rather than just described.
The character work was equally enjoyable. Seeing an autistic adult represented with care and depth (and humor!) made this an easy read to root for. The romance felt sweet and grounded, and the friendships gave the narrative heart.
That said, the ending lost a bit of steam for me. It seemed to veer off course from the original plot, as if it was more concerned with teeing up the next book than resolving this one cleanly. I’m all for a good series, but I wish this installment had stuck the landing a bit more firmly.
Still, How to Have a Killer Time in DC is a fun, cozy read that offers solid rep, a realistic setting, and a storyline that will especially delight DC lovers.
How to Have a Killer Time in DC by Sam Lumley is a charming and cozy mystery that offers a refreshing perspective through the eyes of an autistic protagonist navigating adulthood, new friendships, and a budding romance with a proud Howard grad, no less.
What stood out most for me was how rooted this story is in the real Washington, DC. As someone who considers the city a second home, I often find myself cringing at authors who misplace landmarks or flatten the city's personality into political clichés. But Lumley got it right. From the rhythm of the neighborhoods to the subtle details that make the setting feel lived in rather than just described.
The character work was equally enjoyable. Seeing an autistic adult represented with care and depth (and humor!) made this an easy read to root for. The romance felt sweet and grounded, and the friendships gave the narrative heart.
That said, the ending lost a bit of steam for me. It seemed to veer off course from the original plot, as if it was more concerned with teeing up the next book than resolving this one cleanly. I’m all for a good series, but I wish this installment had stuck the landing a bit more firmly.
Still, How to Have a Killer Time in DC is a fun, cozy read that offers solid rep, a realistic setting, and a storyline that will especially delight DC lovers.
February 3, 2025
I NEED MORE OF THESE TWO!
Oliver and Ricky are such a chaotic pair, and I absolutely loved it! I really hope there will be more books to come featuring these two characters, because it hurt to say goodbye to them at the end of this book.
Oliver is an autistic 24 year-old who writes for a travel magazine and still lives at home with his mom. He gets a big break when the magazine he writes for sends him to Washington DC for his first big feature article, where he will be working with freelance photographer, Ricky.
Oliver is determined not to mess this opportunity up, and wants to stick closely to the itinerary he has been given. Ricky wants to branch out a bit and have some fun, which doesn’t go well with Oliver’s autism and need for structure.
In the process of seeing the sights in DC to gather content for his article, Oliver happens upon the opportunity to write another article about a startup electric car company and the issues they have been having with their auto driving software. In the process, an acquaintance of Oliver’s ends up dead and Oliver and Ricky are hunting for clues to find out what really happened.
Can they find a killer before the killer finds them?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.
Oliver and Ricky are such a chaotic pair, and I absolutely loved it! I really hope there will be more books to come featuring these two characters, because it hurt to say goodbye to them at the end of this book.
Oliver is an autistic 24 year-old who writes for a travel magazine and still lives at home with his mom. He gets a big break when the magazine he writes for sends him to Washington DC for his first big feature article, where he will be working with freelance photographer, Ricky.
Oliver is determined not to mess this opportunity up, and wants to stick closely to the itinerary he has been given. Ricky wants to branch out a bit and have some fun, which doesn’t go well with Oliver’s autism and need for structure.
In the process of seeing the sights in DC to gather content for his article, Oliver happens upon the opportunity to write another article about a startup electric car company and the issues they have been having with their auto driving software. In the process, an acquaintance of Oliver’s ends up dead and Oliver and Ricky are hunting for clues to find out what really happened.
Can they find a killer before the killer finds them?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.
March 21, 2025
5/5 stars: This is the first entry in Lumley's Oliver Popp's Travel Guides to Murder series which is a 2SLGBTQIA+ Literary Travel Cozy Mystery that follows a California autistic, gay travel writer, on his first assignment in Washington, DC, and his local flirty freelance project photographer as they team up to turn sleuth after they're involved in hit-and-run death of an old acquaintance's while test “driving” a self-driving car. The woman had just given testimony at a congressional hearing about the safety and security of her company's AI software and it didn't go well. With plenty of suspects, the two men will have to work fast to not only meet his deadline but figure out who's behind the murder before they end up next. With plenty of twists and turns, Lumley has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Lumley's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Oliver, who's a gem, and Ricky, who's just as lovable, are great and I love getting to meet them. I very much look forward to reading more of this duo's sleuthing adventures! Also I loved being a tourist in and around DC with Oliver and Ricky. I very much appreciate how Lumley's written Oliver's Autistic representation, which he states as being largely based on his own experiences. With tact and sensitivity, Lumley touches on some tough topics; so take care and CWs. A great, fun read; Highly recommend!
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
July 12, 2025
“𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐭. 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭.”
How To Have A Killer Time in DC is a wonderful launch to a new cozy mystery series!
Oliver Pope is comfortable with his life as a staff writer for a travel magazine, but getting the opportunity to travel to DC for his first feature article is irresistible. Enter flirty (and kind) freelance photographer, Ricky Warner, a chance encounter with an old acquaintance, a driverless car, an entrepreneurial billionaire, and a murder. Forget tourist attractions - Oliver and Ricky have a mystery to solve! I adore an amateur sleuth; Sam Lumley creates such a loveable one in Oliver, who happens to have autism and is gay, like the author himself. Ricky is sweet and enchanting, and treats Oliver with respect, offering help when things get too overwhelming for him. The romance between them develops at a believable pace. I appreciated that there is an undertone of attraction throughout the story, but that Lumley allows Oliver and Ricky’s friendship to grow rather than jumping into a relationship right away. The story is both mysterious and fun. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout - the number of connections Ricky has in DC due to previous hookups made me laugh. The descriptions made me feel like I was in Washington, which peaked my interest in going to visit someday, and the mystery is solid. It reminded me a lot of a favourite season 1 Murder, She Wrote episode where a driverless car also murders someone. Although there could’ve been a few more suspects to really make the ending more impactful, I truly enjoyed every page of this story.
How To Have A Killer Time In DC is a joyful mystery with two amateur sleuths that you’ll root for. I am so happy to see that it is the beginning of a series. I am looking forward to traveling again with Oliver and Ricky! Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC!
How To Have A Killer Time in DC is a wonderful launch to a new cozy mystery series!
Oliver Pope is comfortable with his life as a staff writer for a travel magazine, but getting the opportunity to travel to DC for his first feature article is irresistible. Enter flirty (and kind) freelance photographer, Ricky Warner, a chance encounter with an old acquaintance, a driverless car, an entrepreneurial billionaire, and a murder. Forget tourist attractions - Oliver and Ricky have a mystery to solve! I adore an amateur sleuth; Sam Lumley creates such a loveable one in Oliver, who happens to have autism and is gay, like the author himself. Ricky is sweet and enchanting, and treats Oliver with respect, offering help when things get too overwhelming for him. The romance between them develops at a believable pace. I appreciated that there is an undertone of attraction throughout the story, but that Lumley allows Oliver and Ricky’s friendship to grow rather than jumping into a relationship right away. The story is both mysterious and fun. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout - the number of connections Ricky has in DC due to previous hookups made me laugh. The descriptions made me feel like I was in Washington, which peaked my interest in going to visit someday, and the mystery is solid. It reminded me a lot of a favourite season 1 Murder, She Wrote episode where a driverless car also murders someone. Although there could’ve been a few more suspects to really make the ending more impactful, I truly enjoyed every page of this story.
How To Have A Killer Time In DC is a joyful mystery with two amateur sleuths that you’ll root for. I am so happy to see that it is the beginning of a series. I am looking forward to traveling again with Oliver and Ricky! Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 31, 2025
God I love a good mystery novel with a non detective protagonist! This probably comes from my unabashed love for JB Fletcher and the whole Murder She Wrote Universe. There's just an extra layer of fun shenanigans that comes from a layperson sleuth. I also had a fun time with the mystery which felt like an excuse to dunk on Elon Musk in the best way. Initially I was unsure how I would feel about the romance element of the book since Oliver was kind of isolated and I find romances that have a strong supporting cast of friends most compelling. However, it worked really well for me in this case. I really hope that we get to see Ricky and Oliver reunited and they go on a bunch of silly mystery solving adventures. Also if you grew up in the D.C. area I think this book will be a fun read for you since it's a real love letter to the city.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: on page panic attacks and autistic meltdowns
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: on page panic attacks and autistic meltdowns
June 2, 2025
I loved the diverse representation in this book, especially the autism representation in relation to shock, trauma, and death.
I really enjoyed the mix of romance and mystery in this book. The slow increase in tension as you get farther into the story is satisfying.
I especially loved the caretaking aspect in the romance, when the investigation gets more dangerous, and I like how Oliver is taken care of by Ricky without infantilizing him or his autism.
The one thing I would have loved is a more even pacing throughout the investigation. I felt that it dragged on a little bit in the beginning to the middle, and only picked up and got intense in the last quarter of the book.
Overall, this is a good entry point for readers wanting to get into murder mysteries, as it is not too violent or intense, but is still satisfying.
A huge thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the mix of romance and mystery in this book. The slow increase in tension as you get farther into the story is satisfying.
I especially loved the caretaking aspect in the romance, when the investigation gets more dangerous, and I like how Oliver is taken care of by Ricky without infantilizing him or his autism.
The one thing I would have loved is a more even pacing throughout the investigation. I felt that it dragged on a little bit in the beginning to the middle, and only picked up and got intense in the last quarter of the book.
Overall, this is a good entry point for readers wanting to get into murder mysteries, as it is not too violent or intense, but is still satisfying.
A huge thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2025
Sam Lumley’s debut mystery is a delightful blend of travelogue, quirky humour, emotional insight, and unexpected danger — all wrapped up in the voice of one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve read in a while. How To Have A Killer Time In DC surprised me in the best way
Oliver Popp, our 24-year-old autistic narrator and travel writer for Offbeat Traveler magazine, is the beating heart of this story — shy, sweet, highly structured, and brimming with honest vulnerability. I really liked him. There’s a quiet confidence to his voice that grows as the mystery unfolds, and I found myself rooting for him on every page — not just to crack the case, but to step into his own power (and maybe let a certain charming photographer get a little closer).
As someone with an autistic nephew — he has been diagnosed with Asperger’s and, at 21, still requires daily support and guidance — I found Oliver’s portrayal refreshing and sensitively handled. It’s clear Lumley didn’t write Oliver to be an archetype or a teaching moment. Instead, he’s just... Oliver. Quirky. Observant. Loving a structured itinerary. Prone to overload. Learning how to make room for change, even if it throws off his plans. I felt a lot of affection reading him, and couldn’t help but wonder what the world might look like for my nephew in a few more years.
The writing is wonderfully immersive, balancing playful tension with emotional depth. Lumley has a gift for vivid scenes and distinct character voices — and DC shines with detail and atmosphere. There’s something effortlessly charming about the whole experience, from the flirtatious chaos Ricky brings, to the sly humour tucked between lines of suspense.
This is a murder mystery with a beating heart, a celebration of neurodiversity without turning it into a spectacle, and a quirky queer romance that’ll charm your socks off. A solid and satisfying read that left me eager to see what Sam Lumley does next.
Oliver Popp, our 24-year-old autistic narrator and travel writer for Offbeat Traveler magazine, is the beating heart of this story — shy, sweet, highly structured, and brimming with honest vulnerability. I really liked him. There’s a quiet confidence to his voice that grows as the mystery unfolds, and I found myself rooting for him on every page — not just to crack the case, but to step into his own power (and maybe let a certain charming photographer get a little closer).
As someone with an autistic nephew — he has been diagnosed with Asperger’s and, at 21, still requires daily support and guidance — I found Oliver’s portrayal refreshing and sensitively handled. It’s clear Lumley didn’t write Oliver to be an archetype or a teaching moment. Instead, he’s just... Oliver. Quirky. Observant. Loving a structured itinerary. Prone to overload. Learning how to make room for change, even if it throws off his plans. I felt a lot of affection reading him, and couldn’t help but wonder what the world might look like for my nephew in a few more years.
The writing is wonderfully immersive, balancing playful tension with emotional depth. Lumley has a gift for vivid scenes and distinct character voices — and DC shines with detail and atmosphere. There’s something effortlessly charming about the whole experience, from the flirtatious chaos Ricky brings, to the sly humour tucked between lines of suspense.
This is a murder mystery with a beating heart, a celebration of neurodiversity without turning it into a spectacle, and a quirky queer romance that’ll charm your socks off. A solid and satisfying read that left me eager to see what Sam Lumley does next.
July 21, 2025
I started this book having high hopes, seeing how I love DC and my grandmother read this book and loved it, but as I started reading it just wasn't hitting me. Oliver and Ricky were interesting, but I found myself reading the first half just to get through it.
That all changed about the half way point. Their investigation started to pick up (to the point where it kinda felt rushed) and I found myself really wanting to see where it took them. And the ending was just amazing! But, with that said, I still don't think it compares to the books that I find to be 4 or 5 starts. I think that if the plot started earlier in the book or it was just longer then the book may have been better as it wouldn't have felt so rushed.
P.S. Let it be said that Ricky's views on Maryland drivers is completely accurate.
That all changed about the half way point. Their investigation started to pick up (to the point where it kinda felt rushed) and I found myself really wanting to see where it took them. And the ending was just amazing! But, with that said, I still don't think it compares to the books that I find to be 4 or 5 starts. I think that if the plot started earlier in the book or it was just longer then the book may have been better as it wouldn't have felt so rushed.
P.S. Let it be said that Ricky's views on Maryland drivers is completely accurate.
April 11, 2025
A good cozy mystery with a compelling lead.
Oliver is a journalist for Offbeat Traveler magazine and is going to D.C. to write his first big article. His trip starts out with running into an old friend Elise, who is going to D.C. to defend the self driving cars she works on in a congressional hearing. When Oliver meets up with Ricky, the adventurous photographer he is paired with for the article, the two decide to dig deeper into the story behind the self driving cars rather than just write a tourism article.
The premise of this book seemed to be a bit of a stretch to me, but it led to an entertaining story. The mystery was fun and took some good twists and turns. I really liked Oliver as a character and enjoyed going on the journey with him.
3.5 stars
Oliver is a journalist for Offbeat Traveler magazine and is going to D.C. to write his first big article. His trip starts out with running into an old friend Elise, who is going to D.C. to defend the self driving cars she works on in a congressional hearing. When Oliver meets up with Ricky, the adventurous photographer he is paired with for the article, the two decide to dig deeper into the story behind the self driving cars rather than just write a tourism article.
The premise of this book seemed to be a bit of a stretch to me, but it led to an entertaining story. The mystery was fun and took some good twists and turns. I really liked Oliver as a character and enjoyed going on the journey with him.
3.5 stars
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