Don't just pre-order the book...
Unlock the room where it was written.

A dead body at a writing conference. A bestselling guide on how to write the perfect murder. And someone is following all the steps…

From the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.

My first-ever mystery novel releases September 22, and I can’t wait to confess ALL my secrets on how I wrote a murder!

I wrote the book on plot, then used it to plot the perfect murder.
Pre-order and I'll show you how I did it.
One unlocked bonus at a time.

Pre-order a copy by September 22, 2026 to instantly get the following bonuses made just for writers:

"How I Wrote a Murder" - My Spoiler-FULL Live Workshop (+ Replay)

Saturday, November 7, 2026 10:00 am – 12:00 pm pacific (recording available for 30 days)

Watch me pull back the curtain on how I built every twist, red herring, and reveal in the book, then turn them into strategies you can use to surprise readers in any genre. (Plus the Save the Cat! beats that hold it all together!)

I’m only doing this once! The only way into the room is to pre-order.

Save the Cat! Writes a Mystery Novel (Bonus eBook!)

All 15 beats, re-flavored for murder! Discover what each beat looks like when plotting a crime, including the best beats for planting clues and red herrings, the two-part Opening Image used to hook readers, the secret to making your theme pull double duty, and tons more tricks every mystery writer should have up their sleeve!

Includes a handy “beat map” for How to Write a Murder, showing you exactly where each beat falls (so you can study the book’s structure as you read!)

This 30-page eBook was written exclusively as a bonus gift and is not available anywhere else!

The Evolution of a Scene

Watch the book’s Opening Images transform from messy first draft to polished final draft (with every comment and tracked change!)

Includes draft-by-draft commentary on what I revised and why, plus a 10-draft map of the novel’s entire three-year journey: every word count, milestone, and revision pass!

The first 4 chapters of the book to read now!

Start reading (and spotting all my Save the Cat! easter eggs) before the book hits stores on September 22!

The Mystery Bonuses

The more people who pre-order the more bonuses everyone gets!
Pre-order now and I’ll instantly send you every mystery bonus the moment it unlocks!

LOCKED: Mystery Bonus #3 (Unlocks at 1,500 pre-orders)

Hint: Clues. Red herrings. Reveals. This bonus turns every mystery novel into a masterclass (including mine.) You’ll never read a murder the same way again.

Instantly available to everyone who’s already pre-ordered

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR BONUS GIFTS

Step 1: Pre-order How to Write a Murder from any retailer in any format

Get a signed, personalized copy with limited edition bookmark (ships to U.S. only):

Support an Indie Bookstore:

Other retailers:

Step 3: Receive Your Bonus GIfts

Once your proof of purchase has been validated, you'll instantly receive an email containing:

A ticket to the live “How I Wrote a Murder” Spoiler-FULL workshop (with replay)
Instructions on how to redeem your 3-month access to my Save the Cat! course
Links to download your digital gifts

Also, look out for future emails containing:

Links to download the mystery bonuses (sent the moment they unlock!)
A Zoom link for the “How I Wrote a Murder” live workshop (sent the week of November 1)
The replay of the “How I Wrote a Murder” workshop (sent on November 7)

If you didn’t receive your gifts, click here to send us a message!

Step 4: Share This Offer to Help Unlock More Bonuses!

Remember, the more people who pre-order, the more gifts everyone gets! Spread the word to fellow writers to help unlock more mystery bonuses!

Here are some handy shortcuts to help you spread the word!

Need a caption? Feel free to steal this one!

It’s a murder mystery…structured like a plotting guide for murder mysteries

One dead body. Seven mystery writers. And they all know how to get away with murder.

In this wickedly clever whodunit, the only thing more dangerous than the setting…is the guest list—from the bestselling author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.

If you want to write a murder, you have to set it in the right location—like an old, converted monastery with an ominous past, hidden deep in the mountains. Then, you have to invite the right people—like a group of mystery writers attending a prestigious mystery-writing conference.

Of course, someone should show up uninvited—like the disgraced literary agent accused of stealing from his top client. Everyone in the story must be hiding something so they can all become suspects when someone ends up dead. That’s when they’ll turn on each other, digging into the past to uncover dark truths—like a book canceled on the eve of publication, two million dollars in missing royalties, and an obsessive fan with a hidden agenda.

But don’t forget to trap everyone there—a landslide should do the trick—so they can’t escape when more people turn up dead. . . .

Welcome to the perfect murder. Nothing will go wrong. Because if anyone can get away with murder, it’s a writer.

“Laugh-out-loud funny and featuring a sparkling cast of characters, How to Write a Murder is delightful. This cleverly constructed mystery delivers twist after surprising twist. Such fun!”

“A playful wink at the genre that is full of surprises. Brody balances a tongue-in-cheek approach to all the tropes we love, with layered plots and secrets galore. A delightfully bold approach to classic crime, that manages to pay homage and do something new at the same time.”

“A gleeful demonstration of the universally acknowledged truth that 'if anyone can get away with murder, it’s a writer."

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IS THIS OFFER OPEN INTERNATIONALLY?

Yes! Anyone who pre-orders the book from any country is eligible for the preorder gifts.

HOW DO I CLAIM MY GIFT?

Use the form above to fill out your information and upload a copy, scan, screenshot, or picture of your receipt (proof of purchase) and that’s it!

Your digital gifts will arrive by email as soon as we validate your proof of purchase. (Mystery bonuses will be automatically emailed to you the moment they unlock!)

Your Zoom link for the “How I Wrote a Murder” live workshop on November 7 will be sent by email the week of the event.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY PRE-ORDER WAS SUCCESSFUL?

You will receive an email with a confirmation of your submission. Someone will get in touch if there are any problems. If you didn’t get an email, please check your spam folder first, then contact my team using my website contact form.

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY GIFTS?

Your digital gifts will arrive by email as soon as we validate your proof of purchase. They will be sent to the email address you provided in the form above. Mystery bonuses will be automatically emailed to you the moment they unlock!

Your Zoom link for the “How I Wrote a Murder” live workshop on November 7 will be sent the week of the event.

If you did not receive your gifts, use the contact form to get in touch

CAN I ORDER THE BOOK IN EBOOK OR AUDIOBOOK?

Yes! How to Write a Murder is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook and ANY format is available for the pre-order bonuses as long as you fill out the form above and submit your proof of purchase.

However, if you want an autographed copy (with limited-edition decoder bookmark), you must order a hardcover from Vintage Books)

DO I HAVE TO ORDER THE BOOK FROM A SPECIFIC RETAILER?

Nope. Any pre-order from any retailer in any format (hardcover, eBook, or audiobook) is eligible for the gifts. But you must fill out the form above to claim and receive your gifts.

If you want an autographed copy (with limited-edition decoder bookmark), you must order a hardcover from Vintage Books)

WHEN IS THE "HOW I WROTE A MURDER" LIVE WORKSHOP?

The Spoiler-FULL “How I Wrote a Murder” Live workshop will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 10:00 am pacific and run for 2 hours. (Click here to view the event time in your own timezone.)

Invites with the link to join will be sent out the week of the event.

If you can’t join live, you can watch the recording which will be sent to you via email after the event and available to watch for 30 days.)

**This event will include ALL the spoilers from How to Write a Murder. To get the most out of this deep-dive, it is highly recommended that you finish the book before attending the live event or watching the replay.

I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY PRE-ORDER FOR THE "WRITER'S LOCKED ROOM CHALLENGE." DO I NEED TO BUY ANOTHER COPY?

Nope! One pre-order unlocks EVERY gift that’s being offered for this book. Pre-order once, collect everything!

If you haven’t yet unlocked the “Writer’s Locked Room Challenge” game hidden inside the book, submit your proof of pre-order here! (US Residents, 18+. Ends September 21, 2026)

Don't just pre-order the book... Unlock the room where it was written.

I wrote the book on plot, then used it to plot the perfect murder. Pre-order and I'll show you how I did it. One unlocked bonus at a time.