Review: Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich

Author: Brenna Ehrlich

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Publication Date: March 2022

Summer in Ferry, Connecticut, has always meant long, lazy days at the beach and wild nights partying in the abandoned mansions on the edge of town. Until now, that is.
 
Natalie Temple, who’s never been one for beaches or parties in the first place, is reeling from the murder of her favorite teacher, and there’s no way this true-crime-obsessed girl is going to sit back and let the rumor mill churn out lie after lie—even if she has to hide her investigation from her disapproving mom and team up with the new boy in town…
 
But the more Natalie uncovers, the more she realizes some secrets were never meant to be told. 

Killing Time is a slow burn YA mystery featuring 18 year old Natalie, a lover of anything true crime.  When her favorite HS teacher is murdered, Natalie decides to find out what really happened to her and to feature it on her podcast. I really wanted to love this book.  While I did like it, I didn't love it. I did like one of the twists, but I predicted the killer fairly early one. 

What I didn't love was the pacing.  The story takes a little too much time to get to the point.  We get the present story of Natalie as she hunts down the truth.  Then we get flashbacks to when Helen, Natalie's mother, is in her freshman year at college.  She gets involved as a reporter investigating the disappearance of a fellow student.  Those flashbacks do give us incite into why Helen is so protective of Natalie.  But I found it frustrating that she refused to impart any of her learned wisdom to her daughter.  Especially once she turned 18 and about to leave for college herself.  Instead of giving a reason, it's more just do what I say..."because".  

I think the best part about the book is the growth that Natalie experiences throughout the book.  In the beginning, she is kind of selfish and only focused on the true crime part of her goal.  But by the end, she is able to realize that behind every true crime story, there are real people who were victims and real people who are left behind to pick up the pieces.  I also liked that she does see consequences for the multiple poor choices she makes in the book.  Her mother is engaged and present.    It's not a bad book, it's just wasn't what I was hoping for.