Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Suddenly a Murder had a real cool concept, but I didn't feel like it delivered what I wanted. Some of the elements were there, I just wasn't really a fan of the characters. Any of them really. First off, I didn't see any growth in the main character Izzy throughout the book. She started kinda selfish and by the end she was mostly the same aside from having more information that she did before. She didn't make any decisions that she couldn't have made at the beginning. There was just a lot going on in this book that made me roll my eyes because it was either so utterly unrealistic or because it was over dramatized. I tried to like it, I really did, and I always try to give grace to authors because writing a book is really hard, especially a mystery. I more or less knew who the killer was at the start of the story and the reasoning was in my opinion stupid, then what came after was equally as stupid.

The saddest part was that the 1920's party on a secluded island element didn't really affect the story that much. It could have taken place pretty much anywhere and it would have been the same. I would have liked to see the cool world building used in a more impactful way.

I do hope Munoz keeps writing though because it's clear she has a passion for it and a passion for mystery. The book wasn't bad, it just has a lot of other great mystery books to live up.

Definitely felt like there was a bit of suspension of disbelief necessary to get through the interrogation and investigation parts of this book, but on the whole I enjoyed this whodunit mystery from Lauren Muñoz! I personally am a huge fan of old movies, so that draw me to the story from the start. I really was reminded of One of Us is Lying, which is a fantastic YA novel, so props there. I felt a little disconnected from the characters just due to the ridiculous wealth, but that did seem to be on purpose, however I also felt disconnected from Izzy in the way that she kept things from the audience. It felt like she was simultaneously supposed to be the more down to earth, relatable POV character, but she also was supposed too fall into the "unreliable narrator" trope as well which had her in a bit of a tug o' war with herself. Also, the secret passage was more than a little too convenient, but...eh, suspension of disbelief, right?

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

Thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Muñoz, and the publisher for this ARC! Suddenly a Murder comes out on September 5th 2023!

I love a good old fashioned murder mystery! Even better, one that takes place in an old historical manor preserved in time, at a 1920s themed party. The kind of place I would love to go to, to escape into a different era for a night. But, reading about it is the second best thing! Ultimate Clue vibes!

Ashbury Manor comes with an interesting history. Picture rich oil paintings, stained glass windows, a grand staircase in the entry, roaring fires in front of grand pianos, candlesticks dripping with wax, and the scent of lavender perfume everywhere you go. The guests of the themed party are told that this will be a weeklong complete immersive experience, complete with fancy dinners, tennis, cocktail parties, card games and dancing, as close as they can get to mimicking how the original inhabitants actually lived back in the 1920s. Period outfits and butlers included. If an experience like this actually existed, I would sign up so fast, just for the fact alone that I’d get to wear gowns and historical wear for a week.

The atmosphere is what makes this book. The only thing better than actually getting to experience living in a 1920s manor with finishings that look like it’s straight out of a fairytale, is reading about it. This book is fully immersive.

This is also a really fast read. I realized that I was already about 40% through and the murder had only just occurred and everything else was just setting the stage for the rest of the book, but it didn’t feel like a long 40%. It felt like I had only read maybe 20 pages before then. It goes by really quickly. I did think this book had too many flashbacks. It was confusing and random, with there being different random flashbacks with different characters and different amounts of time. Maybe that’s just something that comes with the whole Clue vibe though.

Not a particularly thrilling or gripping book, but the atmosphere is what makes this book special. The detective work was cleverly done and Agatha Christie/Sherlock Holmes fans would appreciate it. The vibes of the book were immaculate but the killer was just too obvious and easy to guess, so I knocked off a star for that. I also found the ending resolution really unsatisfying and a bit frustrating.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

Based on the description, I expected more of a Gatsby-feel to the story, but it felt a bit more like a YA murder-mystery party instead. I didn't connect with the attitudes of many of the characters. There is a blend of present day, flashbacks, and interrogations, and that does add to the "whodunit" angle. Most of the twists weren't that surprising, and the big reveal was a bit predictable.

Thank you so much to Lauren Muñoz, Penguin Group, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Without a doubt, this book deserves every bit of the five-star rating I’m giving it. It satisfied all of my wants when it comes to a mystery: confusion, drama, multiple suspects, etc. This was like playing the game Clue by reading it instead. I was trying to figure out who did it, with what item(s), and what their motive was. The most embarrassing part for me was that I truly believed I had it all figured out, but I was thrown for a loop. Boy, was I wrong! However, that individual did something small that played a big part in the overall puzzle. I literally flew through the last 30% of this book, just wanting to know how it all was going to play out in the end. I cannot wait to read more by this author; I am just overall pleasantly surprised.

In celebration of graduating from high school, Izzy (Isadora), her best friend Kassidy, and five other friends head to Ashwood Manor for a week. The theme is the 1920s, and everything that wasn’t available during that time period is shipped back home. They truly will have an authentic final experience together before they head off to start their futures, or so it seemed.

Tensions were already high, but they hit their breaking point when Kassidy’s boyfriend is murdered. Everyone has a motive, and everyone had the opportunity. Investigators arrive on the scene, and the students soon begin many grueling interrogations. Underneath the surface, everyone has a reason for why the so-called "golden boy" just wasn’t so golden after all. The even crazier thing is that one investigator is secretly connected to one of the students. Trapped at the manor for multiple days after the murder due to a storm, the house becomes unsettled as the stories are put together and the murderer is discovered.

Knives Out meets One of Us is Lying as a group of friends celebrate the end of high school in a famous Manor with a week long 1920's themed getaway.... that ends up with one of them dead and a locked room mystery to solve. Izzy Morales is going to spend a week long getaway with her best friend Kassidy, who is throwing a 1920's themed getaway at the famous Ashwood Manor to celebrate the end of high school with a few other friends. Along for the getaway is Blaine (Kassidy's long time boyfriend) who has been cheating on her, Marlowe ( the studious boy who Izzy has been crushing on). Ellison (an aspiring Olympic athlete) , Fergus (a theater kid) , and Chloe Li (the valedictorian who's mother is doing business with Kassidy's family). Things are tense as everyone has a complicated relationship with each other but when Blaine turns up dead... soon a detective and a investigator both show up and now the clock is ticking as they try and crack the case... yet everyone has a motive and the deeper they look into the relationships between everyone the more reason there could be for anyone to want to kill Blaine. Izzy has her own dark secret... she's the one who brought the knife to the party.... but the question is: did she kill him or did someone else do it? This was such a fun mystery that definitely had me guessing at who could have done it and it perfectly fit the Knives Out vibes! I really had fun with this one and would definitely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

7 Friends go on a graduation trip. One ends up murdered.

I had figured out who the killer was about halfway through, but I was blindsided (in the best way) by the other reveal in this book.

The flashbacks were a little confusing at first but by the end I felt that they really did let us get to know the characters more & helped flesh out the story.

This is an excellent debut! If you are a fan of Agatha Christie or Karen McManus this book is for you!

This was a fun and exciting book! It was a YA murder mystery/thriller. I was hesitant at first because of the age group but I really enjoyed this book! It was fast-paced and intriguing.
A group of friends throw a 20s themed party, when someone is murdered. The group must discover who is the killer and why.
It was fun and exciting! I loved a murder mystery party story. The 20s theme made it cool and unique. I wasn't sure what to expect from the story and was pleasantly surprised. The author kept me guessing until the end.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a thrilling and light escape. Thank you to NetGalley!

A really fun isolated murder mystery, which is among my favorite kinds.

My only complaint is that it’s a pet peeve when narrators tease a big secret, especially when they make you think it’s worse than it really is. And also, there’s no way the detectives would have let them stay in the house and that it wouldn’t have all been a crime scene. We can suspend reality though.

But that aside, it was fun trying teasing out everyone’s secrets and lies.

Forced proximity and the clue vibes I wanted. I love books like this plus mystery novels are always fun to try and solve before they give you the answers. I’ve been waiting to read this one for a long time and it didn’t disappoint I will say at some parts the characters over took the overall plot but I feel like it just was such a well written book.

The book was truly engaging, thanks to its solid characters and well-written dialogue. The teenagers were portrayed in a way that felt authentic, capturing the essence of those on the cusp of adulthood. The romantic entanglements were believable, and the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages. Although the beginning was a bit slow, the action quickly picked up and never slowed down until the satisfying conclusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tightly written little murder mystery. It gave off serious 'Agatha Christie' vibes and kept me guessing pretty much the whole time.

Solid characters and well-written dialogue made this an engaging read. The teenagers acted and sounded authentically like teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. The romantic entanglements were totally believable, and the mystery was a real page-turner. After a bit of a leisurely start, the action picked up and never slowed back down until the quite satisfying ending. A perfect book to take to the beach for the afternoon.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Loved the locked-room/Clue vibes all tucked into a YA novel. It was engaging, and I honestly didn't predict the outcome! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

A absolutely love locked room mysteries. This YA is about a 1920s themed party and, Bam murder! It's like a YA version of clue! I absolutely loved this book!! 6 stars if I could. Absolutely amazing!
I just reviewed Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz. #SuddenlyaMurder #NetGalley
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I really enjoyed this one! The mystery was fun and twisty and the characters were great. I was really surprised by the ending, as well!

When I read the summary, I knew I needed to read Suddenly a Murder.

A Gabsy themed weekend turned murder mystery?! Yes, please!

And let me tell you, it exceeded every expectation and left me craving more!

I can't wait to see whatelse Munoz writes.

I don’t usually read mystery / thrillers but something about this one caught my eye so I decided to give it a try. I absolutely loved the Agatha Christie / And Then There Were None meets Knives Out vibes of the mystery itself and the major plot twist was fantastic. The story leads the reader in a certain direction and made me think the book was about something entirely different. I loved the misdirection. The characters were complex and rich with secrets and while I kind of disliked them all at some point, they made for excellent suspects.

If you’re looking for a mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat, look no further than this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Suddenly a murder by Lauren Munoz

What a predicament we have here after a high school graduation and a 1920’s themed party there is a murder. But The Who is second to the why and how,,,,well we know that much, a knife. This is certainly not what you think and while I felt as though I was reading a YA book, I could not place the murderer. It eluded me and made the ending much more powerful. Extremely well written and very powerful. I do not really want to compare this book to anything else but hope that one day soon, we will see this one on the big screen.


5 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

I wanted to like this locked-door whodunnit so much, but I could not get into the story. The exposition felt a bit forced and heavy-handed, but also left gaps in the characters' backgrounds. And I get that the characters have opulent wealth, but it was so over-the-top that I couldn't tell if it was intended to be satirical. Clearly, this wasn't a fit for me, but I think there definitely is an audience who will enjoy this more.