Overview

We are dropped straight into a very public death. Bryce Horrigan, a provocative TV presenter with millions of online followers, is found murdered shortly after posting from his own social media account. The case quickly spirals beyond a standard investigation. With threats, insults, and grudges scattered across the internet, Detective Sorrell must sort through a digital crowd where almost everyone wanted the victim silenced. Journalists April Lavender and Connor Presley are pulled into the chaos as the story explodes across screens.

Voice & Atmosphere

We found the tone fast, knowing, and deliberately sharp. The writing mirrors the speed of social media, with short chapters, rapid scene changes, and a sense of constant noise. The atmosphere feels like living inside a rolling news feed where outrage, humour, and cruelty sit side by side. Even darker moments keep a light, satirical edge.

Characters

Bryce Horrigan looms large even after his death, defined by ego and controversy. April and Connor bring a mix of journalistic drive and personal doubt, questioning how far a story should be pushed. Detective Sorrell provides a steadier counterpoint, focused on evidence rather than clicks. We saw the characters working best as parts of a wider system shaped by fame and attention.

Themes

The novel digs into online outrage, public shaming, and the blur between accountability and entertainment. We are asked who bears responsibility when hatred is amplified by algorithms and applause. The book also looks at how constant exposure changes behaviour, turning conflict into content and people into targets.

What Worked

• Quick pacing: the structure suits the subject and keeps the story moving.
• Topical focus: the collision of crime and digital celebrity feels current.
• Humour: satire softens the darkness without ignoring it.

Minor Quibbles

• Some characters are sketched more broadly than deeply.
• The technology occasionally feels more dramatic than realistic.
• The balance between satire and seriousness does not always land evenly.

Final Thoughts

We found DM for Murder sharp, readable, and very much of its moment, a crime novel that understands how attention can be as dangerous as any weapon.

Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)