Title: How To Get Away With Murder
Author: REBECCA PHILIPSON
ISBN: 9781250409430
Publisher: Random House UK Transworld Publishers
Pages: 368
Source: NetGalley
Detective Inspector Samantha Hansen has been on leave for six months, recovering from a breakdown she suffered at work, but when a fourteen-year-old girl is murdered in a local park, Sam jumps at the chance to return to the job and prove that she’s still got what it takes to be the Yard’s most successful homicide detective. One of the cases only leads is a copy of a self-help book found in the victim’s backpack called How To Get Away With Murder by a man named Denver Brady.
Brady claims to be the most successful serial killer of our time, which is why no one’s ever heard of him. Chapter by chapter, he details his methodology and his past victims, and as Sam’s investigation progresses and the details of the book go viral, Sam begins to suspect that there’s more to the author than what he’s revealed. But in order to find a killer and get justice for young Charlotte, Sam must learn to trust her instincts once again, before Denver Brady–or someone else–really does get away with murder.
Official Summary
09 April 2026
What an incredible debut novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for this review copy. After reading the blurb, I simply had to pick this one up—and it did not disappoint. I’ll say upfront that this is a five-star read. I could not turn the pages fast enough.
This novel uses a book-within-a-book format with dual narration, and it works brilliantly. The author creates two very distinctive voices, and the result is nothing short of impressive.
DI Sam Hansen has been on leave, recovering from PTSD, but she is eager to get back to work. On her very first day back, she convinces her superior—and godfather—to let her assist on a case involving the murder of a fourteen-year-old girl. However, she is initially kept on the sidelines and tasked with investigating Denver Brady, the author of a chilling “how-to” guide for serial killers, after the team discovers unsettling similarities between the murder and one of the book’s chapters.
Interspersed throughout the novel are excerpts from Brady’s guide, woven seamlessly into the police investigation. This allows the reader to follow two narratives at once, adding depth and tension as you join Sam in the hunt for the killer. The twists keep coming, and while it’s a fast-paced thriller, it also has a surprisingly smooth, almost effortless flow—before you know it, you’ve reached the final page.
The book-within-a-book format really worked for me here. The author does a fantastic job of maintaining two distinct voices, and the short, gripping chapters make this a very quick and compelling read.
Sam Hansen is a strong and complex protagonist. As she returns to work, she is determined to prove herself, but the pressure of a high-profile case begins to take its toll. This adds an emotional layer that runs throughout the story. Her determination—especially when interviewing the victim’s best friend—highlights her commitment to justice, which I really admired.
This is a dark, clever crime novel with a unique twist. I highly recommend adding it to your TBR if you haven’t already. I’m very excited to see what Rebecca Philipson writes next.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Rebecca Philipson grew up in a mining town in County Durham, where she still lives. Educated in a small convent, she set up her own business at 21 and won both the North East Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Artemis Award for inspirational women in business.
Rebecca was inspired to write How to Get Away with Murder after starting a True-Crime blog during the pandemic and becoming fascinated by the ways in which serial killers are treated like celebrities.
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