Every summer, fans of Carol Goodman look forward to her newest crime fiction release. From the moment she first dropped The Lake of Dead Languages, Goodman has continued to amass a following as loyal as one is likely to find in crime fiction. This, of course, is largely due to her incredible consistency—each book is uniquely its own and yet provides exactly what the reader is looking for. Carol Goodman’s 2026 release—Our Marriage is Murder—is no exception. It may be the biggest stretch this powerhouse author has made so far, but she nails it with the precision her fans expect and is likely to bring a whole new readership to this fandom.
If you can imagine a Carol Goodman novel being called “cozy” and “light,” Our Marriage is Murder would be that book. Now understand, these terms are used in relation to the typical Carol Goodman aesthetic—there’s really very little cozy or light about her brand of murder. But with just a few tweaks to tone and topic, Carol Goodman makes Our Marriage is Murder a fun read. Not to worry, we still get plenty of her impeccably plotted murders, but this novel is definitely her most light-hearted—which makes it perfect for our current World situation.
Set in a castle in Italy during MurderCon—a crime fiction convention, a husband and wife writing duo on the verge of divorce must contend with rabid fans, jealous rivals, folklore regarding buried treasure, and a looming deadline—all while trying to get to their panels on time.
Carol Goodman is the perfect insider for this task. She peppers the plot with details any reader who has attended these types of conventions will relate to. Just as Jackie Collins used to do in her “industry” novels, Carol Gooman’s characters are composites of real-world “types” making it fun to guess who each suspect might be loosely based on. While treading lightly, there is no denying how fiendishly satisfying it can be to match these characters with their possible real-world equivalents. Yes, let the gossip begin!
Yet in the end, it’s all in service to the story—and in this case the murder mystery more than satisfies. The crimes seem to echo those in the first novel by Fred and Thea Morgan-Lane—the reigning golden couple of crime fiction. Is someone jealous of their lengthy and celebrated career? If so, won’t they be shocked to learn that behind the scenes this perfect partnership is on the verge of collapse? The troubled couple will need to put aside their differences to figure out who is behind these shocking deaths.
Our Marriage is Murder may not be the slow-burn-yet-sinister psychological suspense readers are used to from Carol Goodman, but rest assured it is every bit as entertaining as her dark academia books everyone loves so much. “Book” a trip to Italy and settle in for a very satisfying read.
BUY LINKS: Our Marriage is Murder by Carol Goodman
Disclaimer: An e-galley copy of this title were provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
