Review: Most Likely to Murder by Lish McBride

Author: Lish McBride
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Reader
Publication Date: March 24, 2026 

 The rumor mill has never been kind to Meadowvale High seniors and best friends Rick and Martina, labeling them outcasts (sure), stoners (no comment), and pranksters (okay, this one’s fair). But for the most part, they have successfully flown under the radar.

That is, until they’re targeted in a prank that replaces yearbook superlatives with grisly forecasts of student and faculty deaths. Sure, Rick and Martina were never going to be voted Most Likely to Succeed . . . but Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses? Thanks for the cute, no thanks on the corpse.

At first, the senior class is annoyed by the prank. But when the body of Mr. Stephens, Most Likely to Sleep with the Fishes, is dredged from the bottom of a lake, suspicions arise that something truly sinister is going on. And as more people turn up dead in the exact ways the yearbook promised, it becomes clear someone’s killing off the student body one page at a time.

Now Rick and Martina must find the yearbook killer before their vicious superlative comes true. So much for surviving high school without drawing attention. Now Rick and Martina just want to survive.

In Most Likely to Murder, the annual yearbooks come out with an unusual "most likely to..." list.  This one seems to predict the deaths of some of the seniors.  Rick and Martina are accused of being the pranksters.  When the first one one the list dies, the others on the list realize they must band together to solve who wrote the list before someone else dies.

I actually really enjoyed this one.  The teens weren't annoying even though they all fall into the stereotypical high school roles.  I was definitely kept guess because the reveal did kind of come out of nowhere. But, it did make sense in the end.  I really enjoyed the friendship between Rick and Martina. There is also a cute little romance in here.  I would recommend this one to lovers of YA mysteries.  I think it would make a good movie.    

Review: Who's All Going (to Die)? by Lisa Springer

Author: Lisa Springer
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: September 2025

Ariana could use a vacation. Her dreams of being a collegiate volleyball player have been crushed by an injury. So, when a new friend invites her and two guests to an all-expenses paid resort off the coast of Barbados, she accepts. Her only thoughts now should be about booking a masseuse, lounging on the beach, and maybe seeing what happens with Jadon, the cute guy in her villa.

But charismatic, self-help guru Juniper-Moon has other plans for the group. She keeps preaching lofty ideas on how to better oneself through unorthodox mindfulness activities, intense wellness treatments, and psychedelic microdosing. Plus, “accidents” seem to befall one guest after another, and yet Ari and Jadon are the only ones ready to run for the shores.

Once Juniper-Moon makes it clear that everyone must give back to this new community, Ariana and Jadon decide to team up to expose her web of lies and deceit before their loved ones become trapped in an iron-clad grip no one can free them from.

 I really wanted to like this one but in the end it was just OK.  I love closed room/stranded on the island creepy stories.  However, all I got were annoying teens who clearly ignore red flags that your average teen should have paid attention to. How any of these teens had zero sense of urgency at the outset of the first sign of trouble is beyond me.  Especially after the first person died.  I found Ariana annoying.  Constantly being reminded about her injury and how she didn't want to get involved with a boy got old very fast.  The cult formation plot "twist"  was kind of dumb and really unbelievable.  I wouldn't really recommend this one.

Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Myer and Tamara Moss

Author: Marissa Meyer & Tamara Moss

Publisher:
Publication Date:

 Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

I am a big fan of the Lunar Chronicles series.  But I haven't really been able to get into anything else that this author has written until now.  The Escape Game is a combination of reality TV and escape room madness.  After the murder of a contestant from season 4, season 5 taping of "The Escape Game" is underway.  Can Sierra figure out who murdered her sister and make it to the finale?

I thought this was a pretty fun book.  I kind of had to suspend my disbelief a few times in the book, so if you can do that, I think you will enjoy it as well.  I liked the game play.  The rooms seemed like they would be fun to explore in real life.  I also enjoyed all of the characters. I did like the multi POVs which isn't always the case.  It definitely helped me get to know each characters better.  The reveal was half of what I expected, so it nice to be a little surprised.  It was a fun read, so give it a try.

Review: The Spiral Key by Kelsey Day

Author: Kelsey Day
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 2026

At the start of each school year, Madison Pembroke, the most popular girl at Lincoln Academy, sends out invitations to her epic birthday party in the form of custom forged spiral keys. For that one night, a few lucky teens get to enter Ametrine, a virtual paradise designed to be the party of the year—an unforgettable celebration that will secure their social status in the real world. As Madison’s hated ex-BFF, Bree Benson never receives a key.

Until this year.

Despite warnings from her boyfriend, Bree sees the invite as an olive branch, the perfect opportunity to rekindle her once-amazing friendship with Madison. But as the party games begin to turn provocative and violent, Bree finds that Ametrine might not be the virtual paradise she was promised. And that Madison may have let Bree enter Ametrine, but she has no intention of ever letting her leave . . .

Kelsey Day’s gripping debut shows that while best friends know each other the best, ex–best friends know how to hurt each other the worst.

I don't even know where to start with this one.  I am definitely not the  target audience for this book. But then I'm not sure that there is an audience for this book among younger YA readers.   Usually, I can read a YA mystery and enjoy it. Not so much with The Spiral Key.  I really didn't like this book.  It was promising in the beginning. I liked the virtual world funhouse aspect.  However, once you get down to it, none of the characters were anyone I could ever root for.  That includes the main character, Bree.  In fact, I think the only one I was rooting for was her little brother.

This may be a little spoilery here, so skip it if you want to read this book. How Bree really thought that Madison would all of a sudden want to make amends is beyond me.  She should have skipped the party.  This entire plot hinges on things that happened in middle school.  I mean, I get holding a grudge, but let's really address the elephant in the room.  Madison is a clear psychopath whose parents enable her behavior. Again, this plot was a way over the top reaction to the events that happened in MIDDLE SCHOOL.  Everything could have been cleared up with a few honest conversations. Maybe that is the moral of the story? By the end, I really didn't care.   I don't really recommend this one, but maybe you'll find something to like about it.

Review: The Obsession by Natasha Preston

Author: Natasha Preston
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: December 2025

 ARE YOU REALLY HOME ALONE?

Sixteen-year-old Connie has been dragged into the world of vlogging - her mum Lou's vlog is hugely popular, enough to bring in money for a new house, expensive lifestyle . . . and a lot of criticism.

While Lou and Connie's older sister Isla are touring colleges, Connie stays home alone, where she becomes increasingly paranoid about comments on the vlog. Plus someone is turning up at her school and following her on her way home.

Then Connie's best friend is attacked - the third teenage girl attacked in five weeks - and suspicion turns to Connie. Connie doesn't know who she can trust any more and goes on the run. But will the killer - whoever they are - catch up with her?

In The Obsession, Connie is forced to participate in family vlogging by her horrible mother.  She hates it, but goes along to keep the peace. When her mother and older sister leave for a college tour, she is left behind to take care of herself for 2 weeks.  Things begin to go sideways when her friends begin to be attacked.

Books by this author have kind of been a hit or miss for me.  I had high hopes for this one and as far as the reveal of who, I was surprised.  But, unfortunately that is about all I liked about the book.  The motive made no sense and literally came out of left field.  I'm sure the horrible mother and her behavior were some sort of commentary on the whole family vlogging issue that seems to be plaguing YouTube. There were loose ends that never got tied up.  And don't get me started on that ending.  I had to replay the last part of the audiobook to make sure I didn't miss anything.  Ending the book with literally no resolution was not clever and not cute, it only pissed me off.  I don't recommend this one.

Review: The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Author: Julie Soto
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: May 2025

Welcome to the Thrashers, the elite friend group at New Helvetia High.

They’re everything everyone wants to be.

Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them. Julian, Lucy, Paige, and the infamous Zack Thrasher are rich, sophisticated, and love attention. Jodi feels out of place, but Zack’s her childhood best friend, so she’s in.

Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies—and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As Emily’s journal surfaces, detectives close in, and Jodi faces an impossible choice: betray her friends or protect herself.

But as eerie messages and strange occurrences escalate, it becomes clear—Emily isn’t done with them yet.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, but sadly, I was not happy when I finished.  This review may get a bit spoilery, so skip it if you want to read the book.  The premise of the book is that there is a popular group called The Thrashers in the local high school.  Emily desperately wants to be a part of the group.  When she dies, the Thrashers are blamed for it after the police read her journal. Of course, there is more to her death and the truth in the end is a direction that I couldn't get behind. 

Suicide as a form as revenge is not a likable plotline.  All of the teens in this book were horrible, even Jodi. She made some really poor decisions. Of course the golden boy Zach gets away with his crime and Julian, the only semi-likable character, gets the worst ending. It made me want to through my book across the room. I really would not recommend this book. 

Review: Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson

Author: Liz Lawson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: April 2025

Grace, Henry, and Ally grew up together on the same block. They used to be best friends--until Grace's testimony put Henry's brother, Jake, away for killing their English teacher. Now, two years later, Ally and Henry hate Grace, and Grace is doubting what she thinks she saw that night. 

It feels like everyone's getting a second chance, then, when due to a mistrial, Jake is suddenly released. And Henry knows his brother is innocent, but when Grace reaches out to say she’s rethinking what she saw the night of the murder, Jake’s reaction is confusing. He doesn’t want Henry—or Grace--getting involved.

For Ally not getting involved isn’t an option, and there’s nothing Grace can say to convince Ally she’s not the enemy. But can Ally afford to push Grace out when she’s one of the only other people willing to believe in Jake’s innocence?  

The clock is ticking. Jake’s new trial date is about to be set, and he's sure to be foud guilty again unless there's new evidence to prove he's innocent. Grace, Henry, and Ally are going to have to decide whether you can trust an old friend now that they’re your enemy.

In Murder Between Friends, Henry's brother was convicted of murdering his English teacher.  Grace, Henry and Ally used to be friends until Grace's testimony was key in putting Jake away.  Not, Jake is out after his conviction was overturned and the trio must band together to figure out what really happened before Jake is back up for retrial.

I thought this was a really enjoyable YA msytery.  It picks up two years after Jake's conviction and you get to see the aftermath of the tragedy and how it affected the trio's friendship.  Also how Henry is treated at school because everyone thinks his brother killed their favotire teacher.  The msytery was really good.  I kind of called the one part of the ending, but I was completely surprised by a second twist. In fact there were a few twist that I didn't expect.  I love when that happens.  The characters were interesting and I liked watching them slowly get their friendship back.  I don't want to spoil anything else.  I do highly recommend this one.

Review: We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso

Author: Chelsea Ichaso
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: March 2025

 Everyone knows the legend of Fairport Village: twenty-five years ago, a shocking murder closed the place down. This year, the ruins will be bulldozed at last. But tonight, it's not too late to die.

All her life, Eden Stafford has heard the lore about the abandoned beach resort at the edge of town: ever since the notorious murder there, anyone who sets foot on the property is cursed to die, It's more than just a story: over the years, two high school students who dared to explore the ruins of Fairport Village were killed there.

Eden is no stranger to notoriety, having endured a family scandal that's made her a target at school. So when she reluctantly attends an overnight party at the ruins, she's on edge―not because of some legend, but because the clique that has made her life hell for years is there, too, including Caleb Durham, the worst of them all.

Yet out of all the things Eden expected to happen that night, finding another student dead at Fairport Village wasn't one of them.

Though the death is ruled an accident, Eden knows she saw something suspicious at the ruins―and Caleb and her other longtime tormentors did too. Now they're all being followed by a deadly stranger, and to save themselves, they must work together to uncover the truth about Fairport Village. But after all that's happened, can Eden really trust Caleb and his friends? Or will they leave her to face a killer alone?

In We Were Warned, Eden is helping a classmate to film a documentary about a local "curse".  They are there the same night as some of her classmates are spending the night before Senior year starts.  When one of the group is found dead, Eden begins to suspect that the curse may be real.

I really enjoyed this one.  It is another YA mystery that I would have loved in high school.  I read it in one sitting. The atmosphere was creepy and the tension was high.  I loved that I didn't know who to trust. And that no one was safe. I didn't call any of the twists because I thought the story was going in a completely different direction.  I also enjoyed the characters, especially Eden. It's nice when there are no annoying teens in the book.  I don't want to give too much away because it's better to go into the book blind like I did.  I highly recommend this one.  

Review: The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos

Author: Rebecca Podos
Publisher: Balzer and Bray
Publication Date June 2016

All Imogene Scott knows of her mother is the bedtime story her father told her as a child. It’s the story of how her parents met: he, a forensic pathologist, she, a mysterious woman who came to identify a body. A woman who left Imogene and her father when Imogene was a baby, a woman who was always possessed by a powerful loneliness, a woman who many referred to as “troubled waters.”

Now Imogene is seventeen, and her father, a famous author of medical mysteries, has struck out in the middle of the night and hasn’t come back. Neither Imogene’s stepmother nor the police know where he could’ve gone, but Imogene is convinced he’s looking for her mother. And she decides it’s up to her to put to use the skills she’s gleaned from a lifetime of reading her father’s books to track down a woman she’s only known in stories in order to find him and, perhaps, the answer to the question she’s carried with her for her entire life.

 In The Mystery of Hollow Places, Imogene's father has disappeared.  There doesn't seem to be any urgency about where he has gone. When she finds a clue in the house, she is convinced he is looking for her long lost mother. I have had this on my TBR list for a while.  I was looking forward to diving in when I finally picked it up.  I had high expectations based on the summery and based on the opening of the book. 

I was really disappointed with this one.  It all boils down to it being boring as hell.  I'm not sure why I finished the book.  I kept waiting for something to happen.    Imogene was a very uninteresting person.  I got to a point that I didn't care if she discovered the truth.  The reveal at the end was so disappointing and a major let down.  Her father's excuses were lame and misguided.  I don't really have much more to say other than I really don't recommend this one.

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt from Beyond the Cemetery Gate: The Secret Keeper's Daughter by Valerie Biel

BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE

The Secret Keeper's Daughter

by Valerie Biel

March 3 - 28, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

When the police rule her dad’s death an accidental overdose, 16-year-old Chloe refuses to believe it and vows to find his killer. Alone against a potentially corrupt, small-town police force, a persistent social worker seeking proof that she has adult supervision, and precariously low funds, Chloe learns that her dad’s life as a cemetery caretaker masked a web of family secrets that quite possibly led to his death—and are now putting her in mortal danger.

Needing freedom to investigate, Chloe pretends that her only surviving relative, a famous war correspondent, has returned from an overseas assignment to be her guardian. But living alone in the caretaker’s house in the middle of the cemetery, mere feet from the crime scene, puts Chloe’s nerves on edge even before she unearths clues about the shadowy side of her small town. Help comes from unlikely and surprising allies: the colorful owner of the local retro diner, the quiet new classmate with his near-perfect memory, and a spirit who visits in her moments of greatest need.

But as Chloe gets closer to the truth, someone else is getting closer to Chloe, watching her every move. And when her aunt turns up on international news reporting from a war zone, Chloe’s cover is blown. Now the race is on to reveal her dad’s killer—but perhaps—Chloe isn’t as alone as she thought.

Praise for Beyond the Cemetery Gate: The Secret Keeper's Daughter:

Recently voted Notable 100 Best Indie Book of 2024 (from Shelf Unbound) and a Semi-Finalist for the CIBA YA Fiction Book Award (Chanticleer International Book Awards)

"A stand-out mystery...offering readers an unforgettable journey." ★★★★★ 5-Stars
~ Readers' Favorite

"This taut, suspenseful mystery goes beyond the cemetery gate and settles, creaking, into our very bones."
~ Silvia Acevedo, author of the award-winning God Awful series

"A gripping mystery that succeeds due to a headstrong protagonist who's unwilling to fail."
~ Kirkus Reviews

"... a must-read and recommended for fans of mysteries looking for a gripping and compelling story."
~ 5-Stars - Reader Views Kids

"A haunting YA mystery. Touching on everything from police ineptitude and community solidarity to the endless frustration of being patronized as a young person, this paranormal thriller confidently combines timely and relatable themes within a page-turning storyline."
~ Self-Publishing Review

"Not all secrets are buried in the grave. Beyond the Cemetery Gate is a nonstop read through a dark, twisting plot and the dangerous world of shadows and sinister people that 16-year-old Chloe must outrun and outsmart."
~ Patricia Skalka, Author of the Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries

Book Details:

Genre: Young Adult Mystery Suspense
Published by: Lost Lake Press
Publication Date: October 31, 2024
Number of Pages: 342
ISBN: 9780998173641 (ISBN10: 0998173649)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

In Beyond the Cemetery Gates, Chloe wakes up one night and discovers her father dead in the cemetery.  The police think he overdosed.  Chloe knows better and she is determined to prove he was murdered.  I ended up really enjoying this book.  I loved Chloe's character and her resiliency.  The msytery kept me engaged and guessing.  My favorite part of the book was the group of people who surrounded Chloe to help her.  The friendship that she developed with Jarvis was endearing.  I definitely recommend this one.

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

CHLOE

In the space between sleep and wakefulness, a sound seeped into my consciousness. The sense that something wasn’t quite right pulled me fully awake. I listened beyond my own breathing for it to come again.

A wail pierced the silence. An animal in pain? Only it wasn’t. I knew it was human. I slipped from bed to stare out into the cemetery. The tombstones always made for fascinating or eerie shadows, depending on how you felt about graveyards. I never minded, which was a good thing, considering my house was smack dab in the middle of one.

The sound came again, more of a moan this time, followed by a murmur of voices. I couldn’t tell what they were saying, but people were definitely in the cemetery. One of them was scared or maybe hurt. Dad wasn’t going to like this. He locked the gate tight every night. The only way in was to scale the tall, spiked iron fence or pick the lock. Either one was going to piss him off.

In the distance, a pinpoint of light moved away from where I perched. It was too small to be a flashlight . . . maybe a cell phone?

I padded down the hall to Dad’s bedroom, calling for him. His door was ajar, and the hall light was enough to show his empty bed, the covers rumpled and thrown back as though he’d gotten up quickly. He must have heard the same thing.

His boots weren’t in their usual spot by the back door, so I knew for sure he’d gone to investigate. I had to help because Dad and I were a team, small and mighty, he said. We always made it through everything together.

In my hurry I forgot to stop the screen door from slamming behind me when I stepped out onto the porch, cringing when the sound echoed through the night.

I waited a moment and then whispered, “Dad,” as loudly as I dared.

No answer.

I angled toward the part of the cemetery where the small light had been, thinking I’d find him corralling some kids from high school pulling a prank. It happened once in a while but usually in a few weeks—closer to Halloween. I knew more than a handful of idiots my age who would think this was funny.

I hadn’t heard the wailing or voices since I left the house. Maybe whoever it was had left? That hopeful thought disappeared as a weird combination of worry and fear crawled up the base of my spine. Just in case it was something more menacing than kids, I hid my approach behind the cemetery’s largest and oldest tombstones. Maxwell, Bell, Ludington . . . I touched their cold granite and the mossy green lichen growing up their sides as I slid between them. I expected to find Dad by now. Where was he?

A terrible thought pushed me into full fear mode. What if the person making that horrible scream was Dad? It hadn’t sounded like him, but … what if he was out here somewhere and hurt? I had to find him!

My breath quickened and a damp sheen of sweat prickled my skin.

I sped up, more concerned with finding him than being seen. The cemetery was big, but I had to be close to where I’d spotted the light. I calmed myself long enough to pivot in a slow circle, my bare feet sliding on the dewy grass. The main gate was open, obviously where the trespassers came in—and hopefully where they’d gone out.

It was quiet and dark.

The cemetery had no lights of its own, and the glow of streetlights reached only to the second row of graves. Here and there, solar decorations shimmered for dead loved ones as cheerfully as possible but didn’t shine far enough to be helpful. The darkness didn’t hinder me. The cemetery had been my playground since preschool, so even in the dark I was able to avoid every tree root, odd stone, or divot that might trip me up.

I decided to be systematic and jogged a grid pattern, snaking through the rows. I stopped short and gasped at the next turn. A body was slumped against the base of my favorite statue, a white marble angel holding a sword and shield.

“Dad!”

He didn’t move. In two quick strides, I was at his side. “Dad!”

I gave his shoulder a gentle shake, and his head tipped sideways.

“Oh my god! Wake up!”

I needed a better look and found the light on my phone. What I saw scared me even more. Dad’s face was pale, his eyes unfocused. I needed help—fast!

Dialing 911 seemed impossibly slow for three simple numbers.

“911. What’s your emergency?”

“It’s – it’s my dad. He won’t wake up.”

“What’s your location?”

“I’m in the city cemetery. My dad is the caretaker here.”

“What’s your name?”

“C-Chloe Cowyn.”

“Okay, Chloe, can you check whether your dad’s breathing?”

I bent low and placed my face close to Dad’s mouth. “I don’t think so. Please hurry!”

This didn’t make sense. Had someone hit him? I didn’t see any blood. I swept my eyes over his legs and arms—stopping abruptly at what I saw.

“Nooooo.”

At first, I thought the wailing had returned, until I realized that I was the one making the sound eerily like what woke me.

“Chloe, are you okay? I have help on the way. Stay on the line with me until they arrive.”

“No. No. No.” My cell phone dropped from my hand as I backed away.

Tears blurred my view until I could no longer see the needle stuck in my dad’s arm.

***

Excerpt from BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE: The Secret Keeper's Daughter by Valerie Biel. Copyright 2024 by Valerie Biel. Reproduced with permission from Valerie Biel. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Valerie Biel writes books for middle grade to adult audiences--stories inspired by her travels and her insatiable curiosity. Her award-winning, young adult fantasy series, Circle of Nine, was inspired by the myth and magic of Ireland's ancient stone circles. She's also the author of Haven, a contemporary middle grade novel, and Beyond the Cemetery Gate, a YA mystery suspense story. She helps other authors with their book promotion and marketing and frequently teaches writing workshops to students of all ages. When Valerie's away from the computer, you might find her wrangling her overgrown garden, traveling the world, and reading everything she can get her hands on. Once upon a time, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in journalism and political science. She lives with her husband on a (tiny) portion of her family's century-old farm in rural Wisconsin, but regularly dreams of finding a cozy cottage on the Irish coast where she can write and write.

Catch Up With Valerie Biel:
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Review: The Champions by Kara Thomas

Author: Kara Thomas
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: August 2024

When a mysterious accident befalls a member of the all-star high school football team, the town's deadly history stands to repeat itself—and the price of discovering the truth is higher than anyone could imagine.

It was the deaths of five cheerleaders that made the town of Sunnybrook infamous. Eleven years later, the girls' killer has been brought to justice, and the town just wants to move on. By the time Hadley moves to Sunnybrook, though, the locals are more interested in the Tigers, the high school's championship-winning football team. The Tigers are Sunnybrook’s homegrown heroes--something positive in a town with so much darkness in its past.

Hadley could not care less about football, but shortly after she gets assigned to cover the team's latest championship bid for the school newspaper, one of the Tigers is poisoned at a party, and almost immediately after, Hadley starts getting strange emails warning her to stay far away from the football team.It's becoming clear Sunnybrook's golden boys have secrets, and after a second player is mysteriously killed, Hadley’s beginning to suspect that someone wants the team to pay for their sins. Or does this new target on the football team have something to do with what happened to the cheerleaders all those years ago?As an outsider in Sunnybrook, Hadley feels like she's the only one who can see the present clearly, but it looks like she’s going to have to dig up the darkness of the past to get to the bottom of what’s happening now. Luckily, there are still some Sunnybrook High grads who never left--people who were around eleven years ago—and if she can just convince them to talk, she might be able stop a killer before another Tiger dies.

I really enjoyed The Cheerleaders, so I was excited to see a sequel to the book.  The Champions takes place years later and features Hadley, an aspiring journalist, who gets tangled up in another mystery involving athletes from Sunnybrook High School.  I wish I could say I liked this one just as much, but sadly, it fell short for me.

First, there were way too many characters to keep track of in this book.  None of the teens were likable.  It's hard to like a book when there is no one to root for.  Even Hadley annoyed me.  It was also not realistic.  The lack of attention from the teachers (including Hadley's mother) to a potential cheating scandal among the athletes was astonishing.  The survey she sent out was fine.  I thought the upset over it by everyone was way over the top.  I felt like the book was really unfocused.  I found myself zoning out toward the end and when the reveal happened, I was underwhelmed.  I'm not sure I would recommend this one.  Stick with the first book.

Review: Hemlock House by Katie Cotugno

Author: Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: August 2024

They did some bad things.

More than a year after childhood friends Michael Linden and Holiday Poirot solved a headline-making murder on Martha’s Vineyard, Linden is ready to start over as a freshman at Harvard—and, he hopes, to reunite with his old girlfriend, Greer. But just as things start to heat up between them, a friend is found dead in Greer’s dorm, Hemlock House.

The police believe the death is the result of an overdose, but Linden suspects there’s more to the story. The victim was wearing Greer’s clothes and sleeping in Greer’s bed when she died . . . and Greer has a long list of enemies. Was this a case of mistaken identity? Was someone trying to kill Greer? Is she in danger? Is he?

Nearly everyone on campus has something to hide—and some mysteries are better left buried. 

 I was iffy on the first book involving these characters, so I probably should have skipped Hemlock House. This one takes place a year after the events of Liar's Beach.  Linden is at Harvard on a sports scholarship.  He runs into his ex-girlfriend, Greer, and gets pulled into another murder mystery when  her  roommate dies.

As with the first book. every character in this book annoyed me.  Linden's obsession with his ex was tiring.  She was extremely unlikable and he really needed to move on.  Holiday was probably the least annoying one here.  The solution just kind of happened.  They didn't really do any sleuthing that gets them any where .  Holiday just kinds of solves it and presents it to Linden.  It was very anticlimactic.  I  was just really bored throughout the entire book.  I'm pretty much done with this series should there be a third book. I think I'll skip it 

Review: The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

Author: Holly Jackson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: April 2024

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

Bel's motther went missing when she was s toddler.  Now, Bel is ready to graduate high school and a true crme film maker wants to tell Bel and her family's story.  Halfway into filming, her mother comes back.  Bel has an inkling that Rachel can't be rsuted and vows to get to the bottom of waht really happened.

Not going to lie, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one in the beginning  I didn't like Bel and found her a bit whiny.  I felt for her, but hated her attitude.  Also, they were making money off of the documentary, so I didn't feel too badly.  It was their choice to do it.  The attraction between her and the camera man kind of gave me the ick and felt it wasn't necessary. Once Rachel showed back up, I found myself sucked in and began to really enjoy the book.  There were so many twists to this book that it will make your head spin. I did not see that ending coming.  It's best to go into the book only knowing what is shared in the synopsis. Stick it out and you won't be sorry. I definitely recommend this one.

Review: The Dare by Natalie Preston

Author: Natasha Preston
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: May 2024

 I triple dog dare you . . .

As senior year comes to an end, senior pranks are just beginning. It all starts innocently enough. Marley and her friends—Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse—egg houses, set chickens free on the quad, and fill the principal’s office with glitter-filled balloons.

But when Jesse accepts a dare to drive danger alley, a ten-mile stretch of winding road that’s notorious for car wrecks, with no headlights, things take a turn for the worst.

Now, the four friends are bound by a tragic accident—and a dark secret that threatens their bright futures

The Dare is told through Marley's perspective as she takes part in the end of senior year pranks at her school.  In her high school, the senior pranks are a big deal and the ultimate way to end their high school career.  This year, the dares seem dangerous and when Marley and her friends have a dare go wrong, their futures might be in jeopardy.

I really didn't like this one.   Especially as I got to know the characters, I didn't like any of them.  This is only through Marley's perspective, however, I'm not sure I would like any of the other characters any more had I been in their heads.  The entire premise of the accident and the aftermath was very far-fetched.  There is a little twist and some "justice" in the end.  I didn't like that part. It left a bad taste in my mouth.  Without giving anything ways, I especially didn't care for Marley got away with. Maybe if I had liked her more, but I just didn't. 

Review: Bad Like Us by Gabriella Lepore

Author: Gabriella Lepore
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publication Date:  March 2024

Spring break is a vibe—until someone gets murdered

Partying with popular classmates they barely know is not what Eva and her BFFs had in mind for their spring break. But things have been off ever since Miles' academic career took a turn for the worse (they don't talk about it), so a trip to a private beach lodge might be exactly what they need. And Eva won’t admit it, but the chance to reconnect with Colton is worth putting up with Piper’s constant livestreams to her thousands of “besties.”

At first, it’s all sand and waves, but tensions run high when an anonymous letter shakes up an already-flailing love triangle.

When someone turns up dead, Eva can’t even trust her closest friends—but she thinks she can trust Colton. As they get closer to the truth, they uncover secrets that upend everything they thought they knew about their fellow spring breakers

Bad Like Us is a YA "Isolation" mystery.  Eva and a bunch other friends go to a cabin for spring break of their senior year is high school.  All of the have secrets and someone ends up dead.  I was really looking forward to this one since I have enjoyed the last 2 books that I have read by this author.  Sadly, this one was disappointing.

The reality is that I was bored.  There is no tension.  Nothing is creepy.  There were way too many characters and too many perspectives.  Most of the boys sounded the same and I had a hard time keeping everyone straight.  It wasn't hard to figure out who ends up murdered. There is also another reveal that I called very early on.  The fact that there is no resolution to that reveal in the end was a major disappointment. I also have an issue with two of the characters and their college money problem.  Given their financial circumstances, both boys would be prime candidates for financial aid as well as scholarships.  Also, they could choose to go to a local college and live at home.  That saves a lot of money. A simple conversation with their guidance counselor would have cleared that up for them. Why are we using that for crime motivation?  I know it's nitpicky, but it's not reality and it's a tired trope.  Anyway, this was a disappointment.  I'm not sure I would really recommend it.  I hope that the next book is better.

Review: Thin AIr by Kellie M. Parker

Author: Kellie M. Parker

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: October 2023

Eight hours. Twelve contestants. A flight none of them might survive. A flight to Paris full of teenagers seeking opportunity turns deadly in this suspenseful, locked-door YA thriller. Perfect for fans of Diana Urban, Karen McManus, and Jessica Goodman.

Seventeen-year-old boarding school student Emily Walters is selected for an opportunity of a lifetime—she’ll compete abroad for a cash prize that will cover not only tuition to the college of her choice, but will lift her mother and her out of poverty.

But almost from the moment she and 11 other contestants board a private jet to Europe, Emily realizes somebody is willing to do anything to win. Between keeping an eye on her best friend’s flirty boyfriend and hiding her own dark secrets, she’s not sure how she’ll survive the contest, much less the flight. Especially when people start dying…

In Thin Air, a group of students are flying to France to compete for a scholarship that will cover their full tuition.  They all come from prestigious boarding schools.   Having to compete in games on the plane, the students soon find themselves fighting for their lives.

I'm not going to lie, I didn't really love this one. It's short, so that is why I finished it.  The story is told solely through Emily's point of view.  She isn't a very likable character.  She lied to get in the competition.  People are dying around her and all she can think about is if the cute boy likes her and if he will kiss her.  I mean, she kind of solves the case, so there is that. The rest of the teens weren't really any better.  The major issue I had with the book was the ending and the solution to the case.  It came out of left field and was really lame. I mean, there were zero clues that would help the reader solve it.  I wouldn't even call it a twist.  I won't spoil it, but I wasn't a fan.  I don't really recommend this one.  There are better closed room YA mysteries out there.

Review: The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

Author: Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: May 2023

 Alice Ogilvie and Iris Adams became the talk of Castle Cove when they cracked the biggest case of the fall: the death of Brooke Donovan. Together, the Agathas put Brooke's killer away for good, and since then things around town have been almost back to normal. Quiet, even.

But if Alice and Iris know anything, it's that sometimes quiet is just the calm before the storm. The truth is, Brooke's disappearance wasn't the first mystery to rock Castle Cove, and it won't be the last. So when their school dance at the infamous Levy Castle—the site of film starlet Mona Moody's unsolved death back in the 1940s—is interrupted by a violent assault, Iris and Alice pull out their murder boards and get back to work.

To understand the present, sometimes you need to look into the past. And if the Agathas want a chance at solving their new case, that's exactly where they'll need to start digging. Only, what they uncover might very well kill them.

I really liked the first book, The Agathas so I was looking forward to The Night in Question.   This time around, Alice and Iris try to prove that their classmate is not responsible for stabbing another classmate at the school dance. This one should not be read as a stand alone.  It does spoil the first book for you.

I'll be honest, I was underwhelmed by this one.  It didn't draw me in like the first one did. The story was kind of boring.  I didn't feel the same excitement following  Iris and Alice while they solved the msytery.  Even the older mystery involving the movie star from the 1940s was underwhelming.  There was too much teen/romance angst and I just didn't care.  I'm hoping the next one is better than this one.