Title: Murder by Design (Edison Bixby #1)
Author: Lee Goldberg
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4★)
Release Date: June 1, 2026
Synopsis
Edison Bixby used to be one of the best investigators around, until a traumatic brain injury left him incapable of filtering his thoughts… or stopping himself from offending absolutely everyone around him.
Now working as an insurance investigator, Bixby solves unusual fraud and murder cases by analyzing the way environments and man-made structures can influence crimes.
Enter Wally Nash, a struggling actor hired to act as Bixby’s assistant and social buffer whenever Bixby inevitably insults someone.
Together, they investigate what appears to be a simple accident at a shopping mall, until Bixby becomes convinced the victim was actually murdered… by design.
My Thoughts
This was such an interesting read with a genuinely fun and unique premise.
As the blurb says, Bixby used to be an incredibly talented investigator, until getting shot in the face left him with a traumatic brain injury that basically removed whatever social filter he may or may not have had before.
So now he’s impulsively rude to absolutely everyone around him.
Which is exactly why Wally Nash gets hired: to smooth things over after Bixby inevitably insults people, witnesses, police officers, random strangers… honestly nobody is safe ...
The story is told entirely from Wally’s POV, and the dynamic between him and Bixby was probably my favorite part of the entire book. Their partnership gave me very strong Sherlock & Watson vibes, and I absolutely mean that as a compliment.
Wally acts as the more grounded and socially functional counterpart, while Bixby is the eccentric genius constantly analyzing details everyone else overlooks.
And honestly? The “murder by design” concept itself was really clever.
I loved how Bixby approached investigations by studying architecture, layouts, public spaces, and environmental design to figure out how someone could manipulate situations into causing deaths that looked accidental.
Despite being a short book, it still managed to fit several interconnected mysteries together without feeling rushed, and overall I think it worked really well as a series opener.
My only real complaint is that I occasionally wished we had at least a little bit of Bixby’s POV too. His thought process while solving cases was honestly one of the most fascinating parts of the story, and I would’ve loved seeing more directly inside his head.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Murder by Design was a clever, entertaining, and fast-paced mystery with a unique investigative concept and a detective duo that worked incredibly well together.
I’m definitely curious to continue the series and see what kind of bizarre cases Bixby solves next.
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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