Whoa whoa whoa, what a trip. This is the fastest paced book I’ve read in awhile, and the action is practically non-stop from start to finish. The story takes place in a shuttered mall where the movie theatre has just finished its last day before also closing. To me, the setting is perfect… there are so many sad malls closing these days and I know of two that had movie theaters that eventually bit the dust. I’ve watched YouTube videos of urban explorers going through a local dead mall and it’s utterly fascinating. Because of this I found the plot of the teens equally fascinating because I could picture it so easily in my mind.

At first there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but once the plot moves from movie theatre to mall it’s easier to keep track of them. I felt like Jo’s character development was A+ but since the book takes place entirely from her point of view the other characters fell a little flat to me. I thought there was an opportunity to really play up Summer’s character through another POV but that was sadly missed. I can’t tell you why, but man I really wish I knew more about what she was going through.

If you like fast paced crime this is definitely the book for you! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. As always, opinions are my own.

If Clue was sexier and modern this was it. It had Clue/murder mystery vibes and I for one love that style of reading/writing.
This was entertaining and kept my attention the entire time.

3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars on here)

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The premise behind this one was really good and I had such high expectations going into this book. However, it just fell a little flat for me. I absolutely love a good locked room thriller; but the author revealed who the killer was pretty early on. I feel like it would have been more suspenseful if we didn’t know who was doing the killing until later on in the book because I feel like that is where the book just kinda fell flat. We are following the characters being chased around an empty mall and movie theatre by the killer and just became very predictable. I still read the entire book, so it wasn’t like it was a DNF for me, but I’m just not sure how much I would recommend it, other than to people who are looking for a mindless read that isn’t too thrilling. Like it was still decent enough to finish, just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

Well, that was a disappointment. Four Found Dead is a locked room mystery. But it's not the typical whodunit plot. At the get-go, we are made aware of who the killer is, but the motive is unclear. I guess that was the point -- to determine the motive of the killer. Not the best narrative, in my opinion. I would have preferred (for the sake of suspense,) to be left biting my nails till the end to find out who the killer was and the motive behind the murders.

So, as soon as the killer is revealed, the story just lost all of its oomph. The reveal occurred fairly early so at 34% I was done. Too bad because it probably would have been an excellent read for me, otherwise. One unfortunate star.

I received a digital ARC from Sourcebooks Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Six teenagers are working in an mall movie theater one last time. The mall is closing up and the theater is having its last run. Suddenly the electricity goes out and they can’t leave. They are locked in and one by one, something happens to each of them. This reads like an 80s horror movie and I was here for it!

3.5 stars

Jo and her coworkers are cleaning up after their last shift in a movie theater in a rundown mall. Their phones and stuff are tucked in a safe waiting for them to be done. There’s an argument between their boss, Clayton, and his wife and afterwards, Jo sees a gun on Clayton. Shots are fired, one coworker is killed and the other 5 flee into the abandoned mall to find an exit away from the killer.

While you know who has the gun and is the killer pretty much the majority of the book, you don’t know who the four dead will be and the dynamics between the group. Some people are acting suspiciously and most are just trying to get out alive.

This was a good atmospheric thriller that while you hoped the end game was that the four that lived did not include the killer, you weren’t actually sure. There could have been more surprises but it’s a decent ya thriller. Very reminiscent of Christopher Pike books from the 90s.

Thanks to NetGalley and and Sourcebooks Fire for this eARC. Four Found Dead comes out May 2nd, 2023.

1 star ⭐️

Riverview Theaters is closing it’s doors forever. Jo and her coworkers are working their final shift when things start to go wrong. Then Jo discovers the dead body of one of her coworkers, and the night becomes a game of survival.

You know who the killer is from the first few pages. Sometimes this works in a book. It didn’t work with this one, it was all too predictable. The plot had potential to be a creepy locked door thriller but it just fell flat.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

It was supposed to be the last night working at the theater, before it closes forever. Jo and her coworkers just had to make it to the end of their shifts. But everything goes downhill when a stranger comes throwing around accusations and soon after follows the power outage. But the most horrifying of it all is one of them is now dead.⁣
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I really enjoyed Four Found Dead it was such an interesting read and a superb YA mystery novel. The suspense in the novel was killing me! There was so much adrenaline and over all I couldn’t get enough of it!⁣
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Four Found Dead releases on May 2nd and it’s a novel you will not want to miss!

Tonight, Riverview Theaters is closing forever, the last remaining business in a defunct shopping mall. The moviegoers have left, and Jo and her six coworkers have the final shift, a shift that quickly takes a dark turn.

First a stranger arrives with a chilling accusation. Then the power goes out and their manager disappears, along with the keys to the lobby doors and the theater safe, where the crew's phones are locked each shift. The crew's tension turns to terror when Jo discovers the dead body of one of her co-workers.

Now their only chance to escape the murderer in their midst is through the dark, shuttered mall. With its boarded-up exits and disabled fire alarms, the complex is filled with hiding places for both pursuer and pursued. In order to survive this night, Jo and her friends must trust one another, navigate the sprawling ruins of the mall, and outwit a killer before he kills them all.

This was a page turner! I couldn't put it down! The story was so thrilling that I needed to know what happened next. It was a terrifying concept (being stuck in a mall with a killer). It was a different take, since the killer was known from the beginning. I thought the backstory with Jo was unnecessary and took away from the actual story. I kept thinking that it was going to tie in to what was happening, but it didn't really. I didn't feel that the motive was really revealed, but I was okay with that part. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys thriller, edge of your seat books!

The last night of Riverview movie theatre. The mall is already shut down, now all that left to do is see the last theatregoers depart, lock up and finish off for the last time. The staff is going about business as usual, but Clayton, the manager, seems wound up. What’s that strange shape Jo can see tucked into his waistband under his shirt?

This book raises more questions than it answers, why clean and replenish restrooms when the doors are being locked for the final time? Why put the tickets neatly in a box, won’t they be useless? Why clean a soda machine that will probably end up as trash (as it obviously seems to be more trouble than it’s worth)? Why so many uses of the word “gun”? And this is just the first chapter!

I’ve not read this author before so had no preconceptions, but this became too predictable and not for me. The idea of a deserted mall and a closed down cinema was really enticing, but there was too much repetition and filler. Jo’s flashback seemed to be in every chapter, too much!! And once they had met with plywood and plastic sheeting, did we have to know every time?

Are we in big trouble? I should say this book is.

Sorry, not one I enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley.

Four Found Dead is the 9th book by Natalie Richards for young adults. For the last time, Jo and her co-workers are closing the movie theater doors in a dying mall frightening disturbing visitor arrives yelling accusations at the theater manager. Then the power goes out, the manager disappears with the keys to the doors and the safe where all phones are locked up. A body is discovered in the dark and the pulse-pounding plot continues!

*** NOTE TO PUBLISHER: My review will be posted on my blog, vendors, and Goodreads closer to the publication date.

This is my third book by Natalie D. Richards so I was really sad that this was a 3 star read for me. Granted, the other two books I read were in 2016 (My Secret to Tell and One Was Lost), and maybe I’ve changed as a readers since then. That could be a part of it, but I do think there’s more to it than that.

While Richards’ previous novels were mystery/suspense… Four Found Dead reads more like the plot to a teen slasher flick. Because that’s what it is. A group of teenagers trapped in an abandoned mall with a killer. There were no real surprises and it all felt pretty repetitive.

One thing Richards’ does that I enjoy is include little snippets that don’t belong in the story, sort of as clues to something else that’s going on. And in the other two books I really enjoyed those. I enjoyed them in this book as well, but in the end they didn’t have the same impact as the previous books I read.

This book is told through the eyes of Jo. The movie theatre she’s worked at for years is shuttering its doors for the last time, and all she and her friends/coworkers want to do is close things up and head out to enjoy some late night pancakes. But then things get weird and before they know it, one of Jo’s friends is dead. Together, the group must illude a killer.

This could be awesome. But we know who the killer is from the get go. And we’re never truly given a solid motive for their actions.

What I did enjoy was the nostalgia, for me, of movie theatre employment. I sold popcorn and movie tickets myself as a teen my senior year of high school through college. To this day, it was probably the greatest job I’ve ever had. Movie theatre friendships are built to last. Alas, that nostalgia wasn’t enough to save this book for me.

I just needed…. more. More motive revealed. More build up to the start of the killing spree. And more variation of what happens while they’re on the mall.

I’m willing to give Richards another chance. She has plenty of books to choose from!

Have you read Four Found Dead? Did it work for you?

Imagine being trapped with six of your coworkers in an abandoned shopping mall. Now imagine also being pursued by a murderer with a gun. This is what happens to Jo. JO and her coworkers are working the final shift at the movie theater. The power is cut, and the doors are all blocked and locked, allowing no exit. Meanwhile, their crazy boss Clayton pursues them relentlessly.

You know from the title that four will die, but the question is: Which four? I couldn't put this book down; the author does a great job of building the tension as they are pursued.

I didn't give it five stars because I felt the ending was not as good as the rest of the book.

Jo and her coworkers are finishing their last shift ever at the Tempest movie theater. It's closing for good because it's the last business standing in a decrepit old mall. The power goes out. A gun is spotted. A coworker is acting erratically, and the teens have to flee into the boarded up mall to try to escape and survive the night.

I absolutely loved the setting -- a creepy, abandoned mall at night: perfect.

I don't quite understand why they were bothering to clean everything if they were never coming back. I think most teenagers would be stealing candy and breaking stuff (but maybe that's just what I would have been doing?) I also didn't love that we knew who the killer was the entire time - some guessing would have been fun, and I wish there'd been a little more exploration of why he went on a rampage. That said, trying to guess who the four dead people would be kept things interesting, and there was a ton of tension the entire time.

I didn’t know what to expect but this this book is eerily plausible & creepy. If you were a Fear Street or Christopher Pike fan growing up, this book is up your alley. It’s a fast paced thriller about having to stay alive in crazy circumstances. My only issue (and this is purely what I inferred from the book blurb) is that I was hoping it’d have more of a mystery vibe & more surprises along the way. It’s more of a straight forward book, you know who the killer is & that’s that. However the writing is strong & I was getting a lot of 90’s slasher vibes off it which was fun.

Normally, I love Natalie Richards ability to craft an entire story in one setting. This time, not so much. I think the concept of a movie theater/mail was super cool, but by the end the constant switching of rooms, hallways, etc wore me down. I found myself skimming a lot towards the end and I hate when I feel like I have to do that. The “twist” was really no twist to me in fact it was a tale as old as time. It was an “enjoyable” read I suppose, but not one that I will be raving to others about.

This book was so intense for a YA mystery/thriller, and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. It gave me more teen slasher movie vibes than a puzzling mystery like other young adult mystery/thrillers can be. It was a super fast read for me with a satisfying conclusion that I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a new thriller to dive into.

Definitely not my cup of tea. I wonder if the teen murder mystery craze has hit its peak and is now on the downturn end- four found dead is absolutely chock-full of characters, so much so I literally kept a spreadsheet to keep everyone straight. The forbidden love- age gap thing is a Big Ick, and there wasn't nearly as much discussion on how wrong that was as there should have been.

I was absolutely hooked from the off set. I loved the characters & their dynamic for survival was great. I was so intrigued by the premise and couldn’t wait to see how it concluded.

I was slightly disappointed by the reveal and I also found the mall/arcade/cinema description really overwhelming and didn’t make much sense. I struggled to picture it in my head.

Maybe a map would be a great idea!