Kristen Perrin

Dual-timeline mystery narratives and village whodunits gain an intricate puzzle structure in the Castle Knoll Murder Mystery series, which pairs long-buried English secrets with modern amateur sleuthing. Author Kristen Perrin made her adult fiction debut with the bestselling mystery novel How to Solve Your Own Murder, centering on a sixty-year-old prophecy and a high-stakes investigation led by an heiress seeking justice for her late relative.

Career & Background

Perrin grew up in Seattle, Washington, where she worked for several years as a bookseller before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a master's degree and a PhD. Her deep interest in stories centered on mysteries led her to begin her professional writing career in middle-grade fiction. Her debut series in that category, Attie and the World Breakers, reached an international audience through translations in German, Dutch, and Polish.

In March 2024, Perrin transitioned to adult fiction with How to Solve Your Own Murder, published by Quercus. The novel became a New York Times, USA Today, IndieBound, and Der Spiegel bestseller, earning selection as a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, an ALA Alex Award winner in 2025, and a longlist spot for the CWA Golden Dagger Award. Perrin resides with her family in Surrey, England, where she continues writing mystery novels while spending time visiting vintage bookstores, exploring outdoors with her two children, and growing her plant collection.

Writing Style & Themes

Perrin's mystery fiction is characterized by dual-timeline structures, intricate clue weaving, and a balance between lighthearted humor and suspense. Her work frequently contrasts historical events from the 1960s with contemporary investigations in rural English settings, exploring how family secrets, unresolved rivalries, and old grudges shape lives across generations.

Major Works

• How to Solve Your Own Murder — Perrin's 2024 adult debut features Frances, a woman who spends decades preparing for her predicted murder, and her great-niece Annie Adams, who must piece together Frances's extensive archives to identify the killer.
• Attie and the World Breakers — Perrin's middle-grade fantasy series that marked her initial publication history, released internationally in German, Dutch, and Polish translations.
• How to Cheat Your Own Death — A continuation of the Castle Knoll Mysteries, alternating between present-day sleuthing by Annie Adams and historical revelations from Frances's life in the 1960s.