A review by outsmartyourshelf
Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
A group of seven friends (or should that be frenemies) travel to Ashwood Manor, a mansion which is being turned into a museum. Before the big opening the group get to stay at the Manor, isolated on Sparrow Island, for a week's holiday after graduating. Izzy Morales is there with Kassidy, latest crush Marlowe, Kassidy's boyfriend, Blaine, school athlete & rower Ellison, theatre kid Fergus, & newcomer to the group Chloe. There are tangled group dynamics & secrets galore, one of which culminates in a murder. Two detectives arrive from the mainland to question the group, & they are suddenly all trapped there whilst a storm rages. Whodunnit & why, & are they finished with just one?
I was looking forward to this from the synopsis & it turned out to be rather Agatha Christie-esque in parts: a group isolated in a grand house, a murder, lots of suspects all with motives, & the big reveal by the detectives at the end. I loved the setting & the fact that the friends were having a 1920s themed stay - it's one of my favourite historical eras. I found that apart from main character Isadora (Izzy) & Marlowe (to an extent) the rest of the group's characters were just 'bored rich kid'. I also found it amusing that Izzy would say she was just nipping to fetch more tea or get a book or something & would disappear down a secret passageway & eavesdrop on the detectives interviewing the group one by one. She must have been gone quite a while each time but the rest hardly ever wondered where she had been for all that time. Odd. Anyway, it was interesting enough to finish reading but I can't say as I would be in a rush to re-read it.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bonnier Books UK/Hot Key Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
I was looking forward to this from the synopsis & it turned out to be rather Agatha Christie-esque in parts: a group isolated in a grand house, a murder, lots of suspects all with motives, & the big reveal by the detectives at the end. I loved the setting & the fact that the friends were having a 1920s themed stay - it's one of my favourite historical eras. I found that apart from main character Isadora (Izzy) & Marlowe (to an extent) the rest of the group's characters were just 'bored rich kid'. I also found it amusing that Izzy would say she was just nipping to fetch more tea or get a book or something & would disappear down a secret passageway & eavesdrop on the detectives interviewing the group one by one. She must have been gone quite a while each time but the rest hardly ever wondered where she had been for all that time. Odd. Anyway, it was interesting enough to finish reading but I can't say as I would be in a rush to re-read it.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bonnier Books UK/Hot Key Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Adult/minor relationship