Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Suddenly a Murder

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz

2 reviews

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.

Content Warnings

chocolate_pondue's review against another edition

Go to review page

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!

Content Warnings

More...