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A review by starklinqs
Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz
- 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