Now Read This: How to Have a Killer Time in D.C. by Sam Lumley

 

In the mood for a good mystery, with a touch of gay romance? How to Have a Killer Time in D.C. might be just what you\re looking for; Lumley debuts with a sure-footed romantic mystery featuring a 24-year-old gay, autistic travel writer. 

Oliver Popp’s tightly organized life gets upended when his editors at Offbeat Traveler assign his first feature, which requires that he travel from his home in Northern California to Washington, D.C., to report on tourism trends.  

He’s met at the airport by handsome, impulsive photographer Ricky Warner, who will shoot the story. Sparks immediately fly between the two, despite their opposing temperaments. While reporting, Oliver runs into his high school friend Elise, an MIT graduate who now works for billionaire tycoon Kelsey King’s Moonshot Motors. A series of high-profile accidents involving Moonshot’s cars have taken Elise to Washington to testify in front of a House committee on safety regulations. 

When Elise is killed before her day at the Capitol, Ricky convinces a reluctant Oliver to put their Offbeat Traveler assignment on the back burner and investigate. Lumley surrounds his gumshoes with a colorful cast of plausible suspects, but the real draw is the sweet and clumsy chemistry between Oliver and Ricky. Cozy fans will hope this heralds the start of a globe-trotting new series. 

Release date: March 17, 2025.