Four Found Dead…so you know how many will live through this one night. Eight people are shutting down a movie theater in a mall for the last time. A story I can relate to as someone who hates malls, grew up in their heyday and is watching them being torn down in my town this week. Between a crazed killer boss running around and a construction company who took shortcuts, our characters are stuck in a mall with no escape. Weirdly, the tension sometimes just dropped away for me and a few parts seemed a bit boring. I liked the little bits of news and thoughts that ended many of the paragraphs. I could picture the inside of this empty and outdated structure. I have to admit it brought me back. All of the books I’ve read by Natalie Richards have been similar-young adults in dangerous and deadly situations-but I think it is a formula she can really work with. I’ll continue to seek out anything I can to read by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted e-book ❤️

Read if you like: Locked room, cat and mouse, haunting backstories

Wow. This was really different. I have never read anything like it. We know the killer from the beginning but not the reasons why. We follow Jo's POV. What a great choice. She is such a strong, level-headed, thoughtful character. This is a trapped in an area, cat and mouse type thriller. I loved it. My heart was pumping hard the whole time. It definitely stayed interesting to me. It's a very fast-paced and thrilling. I love the little nuggets of information with the news articles and such. This book made me cry. So good.. I recommend it!

Adrenaline pumping!!!

Super glad that Sourcebooks Fire gave me this ARC!

It started with Jo and her coworkers closing up a theater in a rundown mall that will be demolished soon. Right at the end of their shift, there was an unexpected visitor, and things started to escalate from that second.

We all know who the killer is from the beginning, but it didn't take away the tension. The cat and mouse situation put me on edge and I felt scared for them! I was hoping there will be a twist that the killer wasn't the actual killer, but nothing came up. But it didn't take away my enjoyment of reading this book.

There was a twist though or more like a revelation as to what was the reason the killer did all of this thing. I had my prediction and it was right, if you read a lot of mystery thrillers I bet you can figure it out from the beginning. But as I said, the story is still gripping. I was in a slump but this book made me keep going because I wanna know what will happen next.

I like Jo as the main character. She felt a bit unreliable at first but I ended up loving her. She went from a scared cat to someone who could stand up for her and her friends when they were in need. I also love the side characters, Quincy, Hudson, and Naomi. Each of them has different thoughts and approaches to how to deal with the killer, it made a dynamic team in my opinion. Throughout the book, I kept screaming internally for them to make it out alive. Did they escape? You have to find out yourself!

I regret finishing this book. I didn't care who died and it already says who the killer is from the beginning. It's boring and repetitive and the dialogue is cringey.

This is a really quick read, that tells you off the bad that four movie theater employees are murdered, and it delivers on that. If I hadn't started it at 9pm I easily could have finished it in a day. But that might have been the best part of it, and the rest of it mostly fell flat. 
*
Some of my issues: 
- There were no twists. Everything was exactly as it appeared. 
- Why exactly did the killer go on a murder spree? I have no idea, that was never explained
- The main character has "taken all first aid courses" and can treat shock but doesn't feel comfortable with CPR 
- They yelling to each other in an empty mall and somehow the killer doesn't hear them? Also some decision the killer made just made no sense... had them all pinned but then ran away? 
- The character development wasn't particularly deep and was repetitive 

Anyway, it's fast, and somewhat exciting, and would be a good beach read or something, but I can't really recommend this. Thanks anyway @netgalley, @goodreads, and @sourcebooksfire for the early copy!

2.5⭐️ I didn’t hate the concept of knowing whodunnit at the beginning; I have read a similar style book and didn’t mind it. I think there were just a lot of characters and they weren’t developed enough for me. It ended up being a bit difficult for me to get through.

Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Fire for a chance to read this book!

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Riverview Theaters is closing tonight, and now that the last show is over, all the moviegoers have left. Jo and her six coworkers are eager to finish up their cleaning shift and leave too but when, after witnessing an altercation between their manager Clayton and his wife, the power suddenly goes out, they realize Clayton has disappeared – along with the keys to the exit doors and the safe where all their phones are. Their fright as they realize they are locked in the theatre is only the beginning of a terrifying night when one of them is murdered – and the killer is now stalking them all. Their only chance of escape is now through the abandoned mall that connects to the theatre which is slated for renovation. Jo and her friends must work together to survive the night and find a way out before the killer catches up to them.

I’m always game to try a new thriller and just from the sound of the synopsis, I knew this would be one that would keep me at the edge of my seat. Fortunately I was right and with this book I seem to have finally broken my streak of disappointing reads I’ve been going through recently. Today’s review was supposed to be a different book, but I’m really enjoying that one so far so I’m taking my time finishing it.

Four Found Dead was basically a locked room mystery of sorts and was set in the timespan of a single night. I liked that the narrative was interspersed with newspaper articles detailing the aftermath of the night. It added another layer to the story and it made the ongoing events hit even harder.

The setting of the abandoned mall was an excellent setting and it made for a very creepy kind of atmosphere, especially given that the entire story took place in the dark. In hindsight, reading this in the evening was probably not the best idea.

The writing was pretty good and the narration was exactly what is needed for a book of this genre. It conveyed the tension in the story perfectly throughout and kept me on tenterhooks just as I predicted from beginning to end and I was so engrossed I read it in a single sitting.

There wasn’t much in terms of plot twists and the villain was made clear quite early on, to my surprise, so this was definitely less mystery and more thriller. There were some questions left hanging until the last few chapters, but none that turned out to be particularly significant. I was expecting this to be a whodunnit and the early reveal was a little disappointing from that angle, but in a way, knowing the killer’s identity made the stakes that much higher for the rest of the book.

There were quite a few characters in this book but the only POV was Jo’s, along with a mystery narrator who wasn’t revealed until the end. Still, I think that in the short timespan of this story, the author managed to make them all reasonably distinct and it was easy enough to keep them straight. They all also had similar amounts of page time which made the narrative that much more balanced.

Character development was somewhat lacking, especially for the villain because the reason for their actions and the path they chose was never really explained. I half expected this since this type of story rarely leaves much room for anything but plot, but it would have been a good addition. Jo was a decent main character and she was strong and logical which I rather appreciated (for some reason all the books in this genre I’ve read in recent months seem to be centered around ridiculously reckless characters), and she had a good backstory that tied in well to the plot of this story as well as her arc.

The last couple of chapters did have one surprise left and the character who ended things was not the one I would have predicted. All in all, it was a satisfying conclusion and left the question of which of the characters were going to make it out alive unanswered right until the last pages.

Four Found Dead was a fast paced novel, easy to read and utterly riveting. I absolutely loved the setting and it really enhanced the mood of the story. If you’re a fan of thrillers or are looking for a quick, yet interesting read, I would definitely recommend this book!

I found the concept for this book fun and it promised to be a fast-paced thriller. I also loved that there would be no surprise that four people would eventually die!
However, this one just didn’t hold up for me. I found myself dropped into a story where about 8 characters were introduced in the first chapter so I had a very hard time keeping anyone straight. No one had a specific personality, they just all seemed like stock characters. Also, parts of the plot just seemed so over the top that I just found myself rolling my eyes quite often.

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The last show is over and the movie theater is closing down for good. For Jo and her coworkers it’s supposed to be a night of celebration (well if you call afterwork pancakes a celebration, lol…and yes I would). They just need to finish cleaning up and shutting everything down, but something isn’t right. Yes, Clayton—the manager—is being a jerk, though that is nothing new, but Jo happens to see he’s carrying a gun tonight. Suddenly the idea of pancakes isn’t so important, she just wants to get the heck out of there, but everyone’s phones and keys are locked in the office safe. However before they can retrieve their items, Clayton’s wife shows up and there is an altercation between her and Clayton and soon thereafter the lights go out, screaming starts…and someone ends up dead. But if you took notice of the title of this book then you realize that’s just the first to drop. This was an enjoyable ‘locked room’ mystery with good characters, a decent plot, and some genuinely intense moments. I believe this is now either the third or fourth book I’ve read by Natalie Richards and I have to say she always entertains. I’d like to thank SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Four Found Dead.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Natalie D Richards for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Four Found Dead coming out May 2, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Riverview Theaters is showing movies for the last time. It’s the only open business in a dying shopping mall. The moviegoers have all left, and Jo and her six coworkers have the closing shift, a shift that quickly goes dark.

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

Now their only opportunity to get away from the killer is through the dark, abandoned mall. With its boarded-up exits and disabled fire alarms, the building is filled with hiding places. But will they be able to hide from the murderer or is the murderer among them? In order to survive, Jo and her friends have to trust each other, navigate to an open exit, and outwit a killer before he finds them.

I really enjoy Natalie Richards’ YA thrillers and murder mysteries. It’s one of my favorite genres. I enjoyed this was set in a mostly abandoned mall. There was definitely a survival aspect to it. I think there was a little bit of pacing issue with me. I thought the book was slightly too long and I was losing interest in a few parts. I think it could’ve been a little shorter and would’ve held my interest the whole time. I thought the characters were interesting, but the killer is known pretty early in the story. So it was slightly predictable after that.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers!

This was a game of cat and mouse, an escape room type. Almost felt like ‘final destination’ vibes.

Something was missing from this book, but I just can’t put my finger on it. I think I might have preferred a bit more of a back story of the characters, it was extremely face paced but not much foreshadowing.

Riverview Theatres is closing tonight, same with the boarded up mall that it’s in. Jo and her six coworkers have the final shift, a shift that turns dark real quick.

The theatre workers have to lock up their phones at the start at every shift. So when the manager goes missing with the keys to the safe and the lobby, and the power goes out, Jo and her coworkers are trapped inside. Stumbling upon one of her colleagues dead, they to escape immediately. A murderer is on the loose and there is no way out.



Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a DRC. Four Found Dead is available May 2.

I really enjoyed this book! It was one of those stories that just doesn't quit moving! It was go-go-go from the beginning, and I thought I had it figured out so many times, but the twist was something I did not expect. If you like YA thriller, this is for you!

Thank you to Natalie D. Richards, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had such high hopes for this book. I have read some of Natalie's other books and really liked them. I had high hopes for this but unfortunately, it didn't hit. Knowing who the killer was from the beginning took the suspense away in my opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! The premise of teenagers being stuck in an abandoned mall and being chased by a killer... it sounded like my type of book. And I think it was really well done!

I enjoyed the setup right from the start: Them working their last shift at a movie theater that's closing down. A theater that is in a mall where all the other businesses have already closed down. That place was locked up and ready to be torn down. The movie theater was the last one standing. And on the final night of the theater being open, things escalate quickly when the lights go out and they find one of their coworkers dead.

They can't get out the front door because their asshole of a manger has the keys, and they can't call for help because their phones are locked away while they were on shift (also the manager’s doing). So their only option is to escape out into the abandoned and boarded up mall.

I really enjoyed the setting! An empty mall in the dark with construction stuff everywhere was so creepy! I loved it! I enjoyed following the characters as they tried to find hiding places and things to protect themselves with in the mall.

Another thing I really liked about the book is that it took place in one night! I always love that in a book! It just made things feel more fast-paced, which I really liked, especially in a mystery thriller. The book was pretty tense overall, especially the end. And I really enjoyed the end running-away-from-the-bad-guy/fight scene and where it was set.

This was so good! I loved that it took place in one day, I loved the setting in an abandoned mall ready to be demolished, and I liked all the little letters and news reports at the end of the chapters that gave you insight into the future. And because you know the book is called Four Found Dead, you kept wondering throughout the whole thing which four characters were going to be the ones to wind up dead! And I liked the characters too: sweet Quincy, Hudson, and especially Jo and the character arc she went through. It was just a good book all around! I need to read more books from this author!

DNF @ 39%

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this one but unfortunately I had to DNF it. Nothing exciting was happening. Based on the title, you know how many people are going to die, it just revealed how they do. And by 30% in, you know who the killer is so it’s more of a cat-and-mouse rather than a whodunit. Jo’s revelation of “this isn’t the first time I’ve been stuck with a dead body” was VERY repetitive so it started to annoy me.

This one was not my cup of tea but I would still like to look at the authors other works in the future.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Four Found Dead had a lot of potential, but the execution fell a bit flat. I do think it did what thrillers are supposed to do for the most part, being fast-paced and focused on the sense of danger the central cast are in, so it at least works on that ftont. It’s a quick read, and it kept me constantly engaged. And the retrospective elements, like the news clippings, were cool as well.
But I felt a lot of substance was missing from two key factors, the first being that the characters have no real depth. They could be anyone from anywhere, and while I can understand that character development is not the point of books like this, it still would have helped to truly feel invested in whether these people lived or died (and we know four of them die!)
Also, with that knowledge that there are four victims at the end, there need to be a few more surprises, and the fact that there was never really a mystery around who the killer was made the story less interesting. The danger factor was still there, but I think it would have been heightened had some reveals been saved for later in the narrative.
While not the best-crafted thriller I’ve read, it makes for a quick thrill ride if you’re in the mood for that sort of thing.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of Four Found Dead by Natalie D Richards. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for this ARC.

Before I say anything else, I want to warn anyone with anxiety about mass shootings...this is not the book for you. I had to force myself to finish and read something lighter right after completing this novel.

This book is an excellent choice if you want a fun YA thriller. The book itself was well written and maintained the feeling of being trapped from start to finish. I give this book 3.5/5 stars.

"Four Found Dead" By Natalie D. Richards was a rollercoaster of twists and turns but the writing was not as good as I expected. I am not sure why I did not connect with this book on a personal level as I do with other murder mystery novels/ I do not feel the characters were described well, the personalities did not shine through, and their actions did not go with their characters. I will not spoil the ending however, I was not happy at all. I would rate this book two stars.

Four found Dead - Natalie D. Richards

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this captivating eARC.

This novel tells the story of a killing spree that occurs in a defunct mall (this is the last night the movie theater is still open) which results in a mass murder of four coworkers.

This novel kept me up all night (I finally finished it at 4 AM). Although this book is listed under mysteries and Thrillers, it is also listed as targeted for Teens and Y/A.

The "Teens" designation ALMOST made me overlook this book, please pick applicable interest areas carefully when you post books (dear publishers)! I fear you are limiting readers by adding that "Teens" tag to the list of categories this novel will appeal to, because although and it is ABOUT a group of young people, nothing prevent it from being listed under "Fiction", "Horror", or even Women's fiction" as it is a detailed account of a gun wielding maniac

I was mesmerized by this captivating thriller of a novel! The skilled plot and character development draws you IN (and your heart will race as though you are on that catwalk trying to survive right along with this gang)!

If you enjoy Stephen King or Bentley Little, give the fascinating novel "Four Found Dead" a read, Natalie D. Richards did a great job writing this novel, I will certainly be looking for more from this author!

Until next time, listen for things that go "bump" in the night, and be afraid, be VERY afraid...

Thank you @NetGalley and @SourcebooksFire for sending me an advance copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own!

I absolutely loved this book!! When I first started reading it, I wondered if the blurb and the information given in the first few pages gave away too much too soon, but the more I read, I realized that things were NOT so obvious. This book had intense suspense from beginning to end that kept me constantly guessing. I felt like I was there in those creepy dark hallways with the countless locked doors and no way out...I could feel the claustrophobia and the fear.

I loved how we got to see Jo change from a young woman trapped by an early trauma to a hero and leader. Each character's quirks added to the obstacles they faced.

Between chapters are newspaper articles about the later outcome of the whole mall situation. I found them distracting at first, but the more I learned about the characters and their actions, the more sense they made to me. There were also lines from a letter from an unknown author between chapters. I was confused at first, but these gave clues to the outcome and kept me trying to figure out whose thoughts they were.

I will definitely be adding this book to my classroom library--the constant action and suspense will keep my students reading!