How To Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson #HowToGetAwayWithMurder @BeccaPhilipson @TransworldBooks #BookReview #SerialKiller

 

Denver Brady claims to be the most successful serial killer of our time – and that’s precisely why you’ve never heard of him.

But with the publication of How to Get Away With Murder, his manual for aspiring serial killers, that’s about to change.

When a copy of Denver's book is found at a crime scene, DI Samantha Hansen is given the job of tracking down the elusive author.

As Denver and Sam’s stories unfold and converge, it becomes clear that there’s more to both than meets the eye.

And once Denver’s book goes viral, the pressure to find and bring him to justice brings Sam to breaking point.

But in this dark and twisted tale, who is hunting whom?

How To Get Away With Murder by Rebecca Philipson is published on 12 March 2026 by Bantam. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson is a dark, clever and hugely readable crime novel that kept me turning the pages late into the night. At around 350 pages, it’s the kind of thriller that’s very easy to get engrossed with, the chapters are short, the tension builds quickly and the premise is immediately intriguing.

The novel centres on Denver Brady, a man who claims to be the most successful serial killer of modern times, and this is because nobody has ever heard of him. When his book, How to Get Away With Murder, begins circulating online, it quickly attracts attention. But when a copy of the book turns up at a real-life crime scene, the situation becomes far more sinister. DI Samantha Hansen is tasked with finding the mysterious author before more lives are lost, and what follows is a gripping investigation that slowly reveals there is far more going on beneath the surface.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is the “book within a book” idea. Passages from Denver’s manual are woven into the story, and the way the fictional instructions echo the real crimes adds an extra layer of tension. It’s an ingenious premise and the author is very clever with her use of it, creating a sense that the killer is always one step ahead of the police.

The investigation is led by Samantha Hansen, a strong and complex protagonist who is returning to work after a difficult period away from the job. Her determination to prove herself again, while dealing with the pressure of a high-profile case, adds an emotional thread that runs throughout the story. She’s supported by an interesting team of colleagues, and their interactions help ground the darker elements of the plot.

The story moves at a steady pace, with plenty of twists and revelations along the way. I really enjoyed how the narrative alternates between different perspectives, gradually bringing the threads of the story together. Rebecca Philipson does a great job of keeping the reader guessing without making things overly complicated.

For me, it was the concept of the novel that really sold it. The idea of a killer openly publishing a guide to murder, and daring the police to catch them, is both chilling and incredibly compelling. It creates a tense, atmospheric read that crime fiction fans will find hard to resist.

Overall, How to Get Away with Murder is a smart and entertaining thriller with a memorable premise and a satisfying mystery at its core. It’s a solid, enjoyable crime novel with a difference,  and I’ll definitely be interested to see what Rebecca Philipson writes next.

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.

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys all things book-related, netball, travelling and spending time with friends and family.

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