Skip to main content
Digital Audiobook
How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

How to Cheat Your Own Death

The Castle Knoll Files (Related to this series)

Publisher
Quercus
Publish Date
28 April 2026
Run Time
9 hours 13 minutes
Format
Audiobook

Not available in your country

We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.

What to expect

*OUT NOW*

'Captivating' R. L. Killmore, author of A Cinnamon Falls Mystery

'Smart, original and lively . . . I loved it' Gilly MacMillan, author of The Nanny

'A slice of pure murder mystery joy' Kelly Mullen, author of This Is Not A Game

'A mystery with razor-sharp stakes. I was enthralled . . . A total pageturner!' Emily Freud, author of The Cliffhanger

The latest instalment in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series, in which Annie Adams and her Great Aunt Frances team up across decades to solve two interlocking murders

***************************************

LAURA NEVER MEANT TO LIE. BUT OLD HABITS DIE HARD.

When Annie Adams heads to London to visit her mother, Laura, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body. Least of all for it to be Fliss, the budding artist Laura had just taken under her wing.

Annie is no stranger to murder - after all, she's solved a few cases already. And something about the way Fliss died feels familiar. She's seen a case like this before. Or read about it, rather, in the journals of her dead Great Aunt Frances, whose close friend was killed in the 1960s in the exact same way: with her heart surgically removed from her chest.

As threats pile up on Laura's doorstep, it soon becomes clear that she's next, and that she's hiding something . . . With her mother's life on the line, can Annie find the killer before it's too late?

From the gritty streets of 1960s Soho to the lofty galleries of present-day West London, follow Annie and Frances as they race to bring a killer to justice.


***************************************

Praise for the Castle Knoll Files

'VERY funny' Jennie Godfrey

'Plenty of twists and red herrings' Guardian

'Smart, twisty, and original' Heat

'Thrilling' G. T. Karber

'Superb' Glamour

'Wildly original' Elly Griffiths

Critics Review

  • A modern master of the genre, Kristen Perrin breathes new life into cozy crime. You will be hooked from page one of How to Cheat Your Own Death, which weaves the vibrant art world of present-day London with the glamour of 1960s Soho into an intricate and enchanting dual mystery. Each Castle Knoll book is a slice of pure murder mystery joy

    Kelly Mullen, author of THIS IS NOT A GAME

  • An elegant blend of history, family secrets, and suspense. Perrin masterfully weaves a dual-timeline mystery that's both clever and emotionally resonant. The story is rich with atmosphere, layered red herrings, and a slow-burn romantic tension between Annie and investigator Rowan Crane that kept me turning the pages. With evocative writing and a twisty plot that ties past and present together in surprising ways, this novel is a captivating exploration of legacy, love and the lengths we go to uncover the truth.

    R. L. Killmore, author of A CINNAMON FALLS MYSTERY

  • How to Cheat Your Own Death is gripping and beautifully written, a vivid descent into 1960s Soho and a present-day mystery with razor-sharp stakes. I was enthralled by the haunting secrets that echo across decades. A total pageturner!

    Emily Freud, author of THE CLIFFHANGER

  • Swinging London in the 1960s makes a stylish backdrop for this cleverly braided reunion of Frances and Annie, both solving crimes in the backstabbing world of art. Deft brushstrokes of romance, family drama and clashes with the old guard make this a perfect picture of modern murder

    Christina Lynch, author of PONY CONFIDENTIAL

See more reviews
  • Slip into glittering London nights steeped in fame and fortune, art and artifice. Perrin threads two immersive timelines together with a ribbon of fate, creating one crackling mystery that ripples through generations. How To Cheat Your Own Death is the most riveting chapter yet of Annie and Frances' story

    Ande Pliego, USA Today bestselling author of YOU ARE FATALLY INVITED

  • With dual timelines, clever twists and a delightful cast of characters to root for (and suspect), How to Cheat Your Own Death is pure cozy mystery fun!

    Olivia Worley, author of SO HAPPY TOGETHER

  • A delicious mystery with a clever plot and real emotional depth

    Sarah Harman, author of ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS HATE ME

  • Propulsive and hugely entertaining

    Rebecca Bainbridge, author of THE POOL PARTY

  • A smart, original and lively art world mystery with a brilliant cast of characters and a dash of humour to temper the menace. I loved it.

    Gilly MacMillan

  • A cracking read

    Belfast Telegraph

  • Clever, witty and full of heart, How to Cheat Your Own Death is another winner from the brilliant Kristen Perrin. A cunningly-constructed case and a cast of characters to fall in love with - what more could you ask for? I loved this latest instalment in the Castle Knoll Files.

    Alex Hay, author of THE HOUSEKEEPERS

  • Two timelines, one murder, lots of twists. You'll cancel your plans just to finish it

    Irish Sun

  • A dark, twisty triumph that's rich in atmosphere and intrigue

    Woman's Weekly

User Reviews

No reviews yet.

Details

Author
Kristen Perrin
Narrator
Alexandra Dowling, Jaye Jacobs
Duration
9 hours 13 minutes
Release Date
28 April 2026
ISBN
9781529445718
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Quercus
Genre
Crime and mystery: cosy mystery, Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives, Historical crime and mysteries

Synopsis

*OUT NOW*'Captivating' R. L. Killmore, author of A Cinnamon Falls Mystery'Smart, original and lively . . . I loved it' Gilly MacMillan, author of The Nanny'A slice of pure murder mystery joy' Kelly Mullen, author of This Is Not A Game'A mystery with razor-sharp stakes. I was enthralled . . . A total pageturner!' Emily Freud, author of The CliffhangerThe latest instalment in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series, in which Annie Adams and her Great Aunt Frances team up across decades to solve two interlocking murders ***************************************LAURA NEVER MEANT TO LIE. BUT OLD HABITS DIE HARD.When Annie Adams heads to London to visit her mother, Laura, the last thing she expects to find is a dead body. Least of all for it to be Fliss, the budding artist Laura had just taken under her wing. Annie is no stranger to murder - after all, she's solved a few cases already. And something about the way Fliss died feels familiar. She's seen a case like this before. Or read about it, rather, in the journals of her dead Great Aunt Frances, whose close friend was killed in the 1960s in the exact same way: with her heart surgically removed from her chest.As threats pile up on Laura's doorstep, it soon becomes clear that she's next, and that she's hiding something . . . With her mother's life on the line, can Annie find the killer before it's too late? From the gritty streets of 1960s Soho to the lofty galleries of present-day West London, follow Annie and Frances as they race to bring a killer to justice. ***************************************Praise for the Castle Knoll Files'VERY funny' Jennie Godfrey'Plenty of twists and red herrings' Guardian 'Smart, twisty, and original' Heat'Thrilling' G. T. Karber'Superb' Glamour 'Wildly original' Elly Griffiths

About xigxag

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.