He's to Die for - by Erin Dunn

About the Book

"Sweet and sexy and satisfying enough to make me almost forget there were actual lives at stake." - Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive in this sparkling romantic murder mystery: it's murder cute in the first degree when a detective finds himself falling for the lead suspect in a career-making case. At 29, Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member of the NYPD's homicide squad, and his future looks bright. He may be a bit of an outsider in the department-an ivy-league educated gay Brit with a weakness for designer suits-but his meteoric rise and solve rate prove he belongs. So when his CO assigns him lead on the high-profile murder of a record executive, Rav is ready for action. He won't be distracted by TV crews, tabloids, or what's trending on social media, nor by the ridiculously hot rock star with a clear motive and no alibi. This is it, his shot, and he is not going to screw it up-certainly not by falling in love with his number one suspect..."-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

"Sweet and sexy and satisfying enough to make me almost forget there were actual lives at stake." - Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

Brooklyn 99 meets The Charm Offensive in this sparkling romantic murder mystery: it's murder cute in the first degree when a detective finds himself falling for the lead suspect in a career-making case.

At 29, Detective Rav Trivedi is the youngest member of the NYPD's homicide squad, and his future looks bright. He may be a bit of an outsider in the department--an ivy-league educated gay Brit with a weakness for designer suits--but his meteoric rise and solve rate prove he belongs.

So when his CO assigns him lead on the high-profile murder of a record executive, Rav is ready for action. He won't be distracted by TV crews, tabloids, or what's trending on social media, nor by the ridiculously hot rock star with a clear motive and no alibi.

This is it, his shot, and he is not going to screw it up--certainly not by falling in love with his number one suspect...

Review Quotes

The Nerd Daily, "Anticipated Book Releases Hitting Shelves In 2025"

Crime Reads, "The Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2025"

Out Magazine, "Support queer art! 34 new LGBTQ+ books coming out this summer"

"With plenty of panache and great precision, Dunn skillfully creates a work of romantic suspense by walking the line between an intriguing procedural mystery in the manner of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books and a sizzling romance à la Casey McQuiston's Red, White, & Royal Blue (2019), all while writing with a sense of dry wit so sharp it could be considered a weapon in its own right." - Booklist (starred review)

"Mystery and romance play equal parts in this fast-paced cozy, which revs up on its way to a truly surprising twist ending." - Publishers Weekly

"At times suspicious and brooding, other times sultry and steamy with sexual tension, the writing nimbly treads the line between genres without missing any trope beats...This witty, sexy, and mysterious debut is certain to satisfy both whodunit fans and romance lovers." - Library Journal

"Give yourself a treat and get a copy of He's to Die For, which miraculously succeeds as a romance as much as it is a suspense novel. [T]his is already one of my favorite novels of 2025." - First Clue

"This book is great. The chemistry between Rav and Jack is off the charts, the music business takes center stage as well and the supporting characters rock. This is a sexy, fun gay rom-com, that's perfect for the summer beach reading season." - Red Carpet Crash

"Utterly fabulous. I came for the crime and stayed for the romance - Dunn delivers perfectly on both." - Kat Ailes, author of The Expectant Detectives

"A fun, sexy mix of mystery and romance. Hot, hot, hot!" - Michelle Chouinard, author of The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco

"In a knockout debut novel, Erin Dunn proves that opposites do indeed attract when NYPD detective Rav Trivedi sits down to question heartthrob rocker Jack Vale about a murder in their midst. These two guys have nothing in common--other than an instant mutual attraction that threatens careers and, ultimately, lives. There's plenty of action while the bodies pile up, and along the way to proving whodunit, Rav and Jack grapple with a bigger question: Will they or won't they? (But that would be telling.) He's To Die For is a romp and a romance wrapped in the intrigue of a rock-solid crime plot. You'll love it. And as you close the book, it'll leave you wanting more." - Michael Craft, award-winning author of the Dante & Jazz Mysteries

"With a voice as fresh and stylish as its protagonist, He's To Die For is the perfect blend of mystery and romance, with a twisty plot that will keep you guessing to the end and enough steam to power a sauna. I'll be following Detective Rav Trivedi on all his future investigations!" - Jenny Elder Moke, author of She Doesn't Have A Clue

"An absolute joyride with a spectacular cast of characters! I hope Dunn's pedantic protagonist considers gracing us with his presence in a sequel." - Hannah Morrissey, author of Hello, Transcriber

"Whether you come for the mystery or the romance, Erin Dunn's He's To Die For is as urbane and charming as its hero, Detective Rav Trivedi. Forget the old-school cliché of a rumpled cynic in an ill-fitting suit; your new favorite sleuth is a dapper Anglo-American with a killer fashion sense and famous parents. When a high-profile investigation brings Rav into the orbit of brooding rockstar Jack Vale, the tension is equal parts will-they-or-won't-they and did-he-or-didn't-he, since Vale is the prime suspect in the murder of a sleazy record executive. Like its New York setting, To Die For mixes glitz and grittiness with an irresistible romance. Streaming services, take note--and make sure your wardrobe budget is ready to do justice to Detective Trivedi." - Amanda Sellet, author of Hate To Fake It To You

"I loved Rav Trivedi, the sharp-dressed, sharp-eyed detective at the center of Erin Dunn's He's to Die For, and was holding my breath to see how he'd manage to "get his man" and get his man, if you feel me. The romance in He's to Die For was perhaps the biggest surprise of all, as it was sweet and sexy and satisfying enough to make me almost forget there were actual lives at stake. Almost . . . " - Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers

About the Author

ERIN DUNN loves twisty mysteries and swoony rom-coms, so she decided to combine the two. A native of Calgary, Canada, Erin has lived in Brooklyn long enough to officially call herself a New Yorker, or so she is informed. When she's not writing, you can find her playing music, cooking, or sampling other people's cooking.