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xapoptosisx's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was pure trashy rich teenage drama with murder and I'm here for it. The ending is also definitely something very poetic I'd say but yeah good mystery book definitely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
styxx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, it was layered, and not super predictable. Once a particular clue was revealed I knew who the killer was but wasn't clear on why. The final few twists kept the book interesting. I didn't find many of the characters likable however, some were but many weren't.
The narrator did a fantastic job and helped make the book come to life.
I also liked how the author made it so that technology wasn't a giant part of the mystery. That added to the atmosphere of the story.
Overall a decent mystery with great narration.
The narrator did a fantastic job and helped make the book come to life.
I also liked how the author made it so that technology wasn't a giant part of the mystery. That added to the atmosphere of the story.
Overall a decent mystery with great narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Blood, Murder, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Violence
bekah1210's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A huge thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me a gorgeous copy finished copy of this book to read and review. This is one of those books where, even though I finished it a few months ago, I remember it so vividly because I was hooked from start to finish!
I mentioned in a previous post that this book is marketed as a YA version of Knives Out, and that was an incredibly accurate description! We had a big shot detective who showed up uninvited, a glamorous locked-room setting, and a suspicious cast of characters who all had motive and opportunity. The fabulous wealth of these teens is tempered by our main character Izzy, a Latina student who was only able to attend their fancy private school because her mom is a teacher there. Izzy had her own secrets to hide and ended up helping and hindering the official investigation whenever it fit her agenda. Some parts of this book were quite dark, which pleasantly surprised me; I wasn't expecting that level of intensity from a YA book.
I was immediately swept up in the glitz and glamour of the island manor setting while trying to keep track of all the secrets and motives. Not spoiling anything, but Muñoz had a clever way of keeping Izzy up-to-date on the investigation so that the reader doesn't feel limited by her 1st person POV. Rather, it felt like we were solving the mystery alongside her as the plot thickened and the lies were revealed one by one. The ending was a wild ride and there was one aspect of it that I would have done differently, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. Again, I can't say much without revealing too much, so you'll have to experience this one for yourself! I can't wait to see what Muñoz writes next after this fun, twisty debut.
I mentioned in a previous post that this book is marketed as a YA version of Knives Out, and that was an incredibly accurate description! We had a big shot detective who showed up uninvited, a glamorous locked-room setting, and a suspicious cast of characters who all had motive and opportunity. The fabulous wealth of these teens is tempered by our main character Izzy, a Latina student who was only able to attend their fancy private school because her mom is a teacher there. Izzy had her own secrets to hide and ended up helping and hindering the official investigation whenever it fit her agenda. Some parts of this book were quite dark, which pleasantly surprised me; I wasn't expecting that level of intensity from a YA book.
I was immediately swept up in the glitz and glamour of the island manor setting while trying to keep track of all the secrets and motives. Not spoiling anything, but Muñoz had a clever way of keeping Izzy up-to-date on the investigation so that the reader doesn't feel limited by her 1st person POV. Rather, it felt like we were solving the mystery alongside her as the plot thickened and the lies were revealed one by one. The ending was a wild ride and there was one aspect of it that I would have done differently, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. Again, I can't say much without revealing too much, so you'll have to experience this one for yourself! I can't wait to see what Muñoz writes next after this fun, twisty debut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Alcohol, and Deportation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Drug use
kassidyreads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Deportation
chocolate_pondue's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Suddenly a Murder is an outstanding murder mystery novel about 7 friends, one murdered having been stabbed to death in his bedroom, and the other 6 who all have complicated histories and clear motives. And of course, our main character who brought the knife. As a huge murder mystery fan, I loved this novel. It was very reminiscent of Knives Out, where the answer seems obvious but has a surprising twist. And though I was able to identify the murderer and their motive, there were still secrets that shocked me and had me rethinking the entire events. The main character, Izzy, is very relatable and charming. It is evident how much she loves and cares for those around her and the lengths she would take to protect them and herself. Her relationship with Kassidy was endearing. I really felt the love between the two which really drove it all home when the true culprit's motive was revealed. The shifts between the present and the months leading up to the murder perfectly illustrated the dangerous tension with not only the victim but with each other. The creepy 1920's atmosphere as well as the charismatic detective Pilar de Leon reminded me of the classic murder mysteries with striking detective Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie, one my favorite mystery authors of all time.
One criticism I have with the book is the ending seemed hectic and rushed. The murder's motive could have been fleshed out more and the information surrounding Izzy's father came out of the left field and didn't seem to fit into the tone. I also would have liked more suspension and development on the other characters. I believe there was too much focus on Izzy's secret and not enough on the others. Everyone had solid motives, but none moved or acted suspicious enough to be considered real options. Not including Kassidy or Izzy, Ellison was the only other believable suspect, the rest would have fallen flat. Marlowe, Izzy, and Kassidy were also the only characters with dynamic development towards the end while the others remained stagnant.
Overall, I give this book an 8/10. It was a thrilling, gratifying mystery with a lot of heart. If you're a fan of classic murder mysteries with a modern feel, this is an excellent choice!
Overall, I give this book an 8/10. It was a thrilling, gratifying mystery with a lot of heart. If you're a fan of classic murder mysteries with a modern feel, this is an excellent choice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
starklinqs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was a bit of a slow start for me but once it got started it was great! I think our cast of characters were likeable enough but in the way characters in Succession or The White Lotus or Knives Out are - they’re uber rich (save for our main!) and I don’t think I was really rooting for any of them, but I was also invested in their stories. While I figured out who committed the murder, I didn’t particularly love the end for that character? That and the dad reveal marked off a star for me personally, but overall this book was great! I had a fun time with this murder mystery.
I also adored the flashbacks. It gave us great insight into the characters and provided them their own POV (and motives). It was so much better than just hearing about them in their interviews or through Izzy’s eyes - this made the characters feel more fleshed out and helped me empathize with them each a bit more. I’d honestly love for more murder mysteries to work that way because it’s such a quick but effective way to make me more invested in an ensemble of characters.
This book was a bit of a slow start for me but once it got started it was great! I think our cast of characters were likeable enough but in the way characters in Succession or The White Lotus or Knives Out are - they’re uber rich (save for our main!) and I don’t think I was really rooting for any of them, but I was also invested in their stories. While I figured out who committed the murder, I didn’t particularly love the end for that character? That and the dad reveal marked off a star for me personally, but overall this book was great! I had a fun time with this murder mystery.
I also adored the flashbacks. It gave us great insight into the characters and provided them their own POV (and motives). It was so much better than just hearing about them in their interviews or through Izzy’s eyes - this made the characters feel more fleshed out and helped me empathize with them each a bit more. I’d honestly love for more murder mysteries to work that way because it’s such a quick but effective way to make me more invested in an ensemble of characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Drug use