A Field Guide to Murder - by Michelle L Cullen (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A cranky widower and his spirited caregiver team up to solve his neighbor's murder in this charming and original mystery, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.

Once a globe-trotting anthropologist, Harry Lancaster is now certain that all his grand adventures are behind him. Recently widowed and suffering from a fractured hip, Harry spends his days and nights behind a pair of binoculars, nose-deep in his neighbors' affairs. His millennial caregiver, Emma, is determined to get him out of his armchair and back into the world.

Fate intervenes when Harry's mysterious neighbor, Sue, phones, pleading for help. But instead of rescuing her, Harry and Emma find Sue dead: poisoned, days after a break-in at Sue's house. Harry resolves to find out what happened, and Emma insists on going along for the ride. Together, they discover motives and suspects abound in Harry's quaint condominium community--putting them both in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded killer.

Readers of Kristen Perrin and Deanna Raybourn will be charmed by this quirky, cross-generational murder mystery.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Field Guide to Murder
"A lovely debut cozy . . . Cullen constructs a sophisticated puzzle."
--Publishers Weekly

"[A] neighborhood cozy that ticks all the boxes."
--Kirkus Reviews

"A truly enjoyable mystery for listeners who love skilled and capable amateur sleuths."
--Library Journal

"A perfectly charming novel with enough quirky characters to make it a standout debut."
--Deadly Pleasures

"This cross-generational cozy-but-with-murder is sure to delight readers of Deanna Raybourn and Richard Osman."
--First Clue

"An original, cross-generational, deftly crafted, murder mystery by an author with a genuine flair."
--Midwest Book Review

"I did not want it to end. You cannot help but fall in love with Harry and Emma."
--Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"Giving off vibes of Rear Window and The Thursday Murder Club . . . A quick, fun read."
--Crime Fiction Review

"Seriously delightful in every way!"
--Wonder Women Sixty

"For fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series . . . This will make my top books of 2026 list!"
--Red Carpet Crash

"The neighbors can't be trusted in Michelle L. Cullen's fascinating condominium cozy . . . [A] superb cozy series."
--Gumshoe Review

"Michelle L. Cullen's delightful debut perfectly uses the "nosy neighbor" trope in a story that balances humor, heart, and good ol' juicy gossip. Can't wait for Harry and Emma's next (hopefully globe-trotting) adventure!"
--Mia P. Manansala, author of the best-selling Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series

"With an exceptionally well-crafted murder featuring a dash of Hitchcock and a whole lot of charm, Cullen's A Field Guide to Murder had me instantly hooked on grumpy anthropologist Harry and sunshiny caregiver Emma and their cross-generational banter and hijinks. Add in the heart-filled characters' journeys that kept me invested, and I'm already wanting the next book. This is a cracking debut that lovers of British mysteries and cozy crime will adore!"
--Celeste Connally, USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Petra Inquires mysteries

"The plot and subplots in A Field Guide to Murder intertwine seamlessly with humor, sorrow, heart, and hopefulness along with an intriguing mystery. I love a sleuthing duo and Harry and Emma became instant favorites."
--Sherry Harris, Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon mysteries

"A Field Guide To Murder, Michelle L. Cullen's debut mystery, is a devious delight! . . . A brilliantly written whodunit with wit, engaging characters, emotional depth, and a surprise ending. I can't wait for the next installment.
--Connie Berry, USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries

"Michelle L. Cullen's cleverly plotted and warm-hearted debut mystery blends the suburban neighborhood secrets of Desperate Housewives with the observational amateur sleuthing of Rear Window. Told in dual perspective by two very different, but equally engaging, protagonists--a retired international aid official with an injured hip and his young home nurse--A Field Guide to Murder is a fresh take on the cozy genre that will hopefully blossom into a series."
--Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery cozy mystery series and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series.

"Brimming with witty charm, an endearing protagonist, and a well-plotted mystery, readers will surely have a field day with this delightful debut."
--Vivien Chien, author of the Noodle Shop Mysteries

"Delightful intergenerational duo solving a compelling crime that will make sure you never look at the neighbors the same way again. Can't wait to embark on Harry and Emma's next adventure--dare we hope in an exotic foreign local!"
--Melinda Mullet, author of A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder and the Whiskey Business Mysteries

"Cullen perfectly balances charm and smarts in this sparkling debut. With a likeable odd couple leading the way, readers will enjoy a fresh spin on the senior sleuth mystery. Packed with wit, wisdom, and just the right amount of mayhem, A Field Guide to Murder is a delightful, cozy escape."
--Mindy Quigley, author of the Deep Dish mysteries

About the Author

Michelle L. Cullen has lived, traveled, and studied all over the world: from working as a (decent if powered by enough espresso) bilingual secretary in Paris; to backpacking around Europe, Central America, and Southern Africa; to helping rebuild communities after war throughout Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. She earned her master's degree in anthropology at Melbourne University in Australia and her PhD in sociology at the London School of Economics in England. A fan of adventure, she has a black belt in Taekwondo, has summited nine hundred feet rock climbing, and has flown a helicopter (once, during a lesson, for five terrifying minutes). She currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she's either doing yoga, playing outside, or plotting murder.