Really uninspired and uninteresting mystery about murders at a private school. The writing was unengaging, the characters were forgettable and unrelatable. Not phenomenally bad, just incredibly mediocre.

Do you have a killer to-do list? If you do, this book is a perfect fit.

Everyone at Morton Academy, a school for those reaching for the stars, everyone wants to be the "it" or Head Girl. More importantly, the perks that come with it. Unfortunately, bodies began stacking up as the competition gets deadly. Race to the finish and find the killer....before it is too late.

Wow! I guessed everyone except the narrator. Well done indeed. At the very end, when you realize there's two choices left I still didn't pick her.

This was okay. I think that the direction of the mysteries, and the murders, it was pretty obvious. I also feel like the steaks didn't really exist. Our main characters never truly seem to be in danger, like yeah they could be killed but they also could have removed themselves pretty easily from that situation? I think given that there are a lot of popular ya thriller mysteries right now, this isn't necessarily going to stand out as the next big thing, but I do think this was pretty well written. I wish that the mystery had been a little bit more convoluted, honestly, because it was very easy to see the direction that the story was going in from the very beginning. Solid ya thriller mystery, though!

Cynthia Murphy's "Win, Lose, Kill, Die" takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey through the dark underbelly of an esteemed high school for high-achievers. With a lethal twist and a cast of ambitious characters, this slasher mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

Set in the prestigious Morton Academy, where academic excellence reigns supreme, the story follows a group of students vying for the coveted title of Head Girl. However, their dreams of success quickly turn into a nightmare when a series of gruesome murders begin targeting the school's brightest minds. As the bodies pile up, the pressure intensifies, and the race to uncover the truth becomes a matter of life and death.

Murphy expertly weaves together a thrilling plot filled with suspense, secrets, and unexpected twists. The author skillfully keeps readers guessing, leading them down a labyrinth of possibilities as the protagonists—Liz, Taylor, Kat, Marcus, and Cole—set out to unmask the killer. Each character brings their own unique perspective and motivation, making them both relatable and intriguing.

The author's portrayal of the academic pressure and cutthroat competition within Morton Academy adds depth to the narrative, making it more than just a typical slasher story. Murphy delves into the psyche of high-achieving students and explores the lengths they are willing to go to secure success, fame, and the coveted position of Head Girl.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, with every chapter delivering new revelations and increasing tension. Murphy's writing style is engaging and descriptive, effectively painting a vivid picture of the eerie atmosphere within Morton Academy. The author skillfully captures the fear and paranoia that plague the students as they navigate a web of dark secrets and hidden agendas.

While the book is undoubtedly gripping and suspenseful, some readers may find certain plot twists predictable or familiar. The slasher genre conventions are present, and the story does not deviate significantly from its established tropes. However, Murphy's execution and the strength of the characters make up for any predictability, ensuring an enjoyable reading experience overall.

"Win, Lose, Kill, Die" is an enthralling page-turner that will appeal to fans of Holly Jackson and those who relish in mysteries with a touch of horror. Cynthia Murphy's ability to craft an immersive and spine-chilling narrative showcases her talent for suspenseful storytelling. Prepare to lose yourself in the dark corridors of Morton Academy as you desperately try to uncover the identity of the killer before it's too late.

If you love Holly Jackson then you will love Cynthia Murphy! A highly enjoyable teen mystery where I couldn't put it down and felt like I was at Morton Academy with them! I would recommend this to teens and adults looking for something that will hook them in and get them to read in one sitting.

An elite high school, a secret society, and a killer going after members of it's club... who could the killer be? At Mortan Academy, only the best of the best get into this high school, and when you get into this school the greatest honor would be to get Head Girl, a position in the exclusive secret society that would give you a full ride scholarship and an in to any school of your choosing, its the ultimate access to prestige and success.... yet someone has started killing off people for that position. Friends and members of the society Liz, Taylor, Kat, Marcus and Cole will have to work together to figure out who is hunting them down... but while they do that they'll have to find a way to avoid getting killed themselves and they soon discover that their school has a much darker history itself. This was a unique twist to the story and overall I had fun with it. If you enjoy a quick slasher/who-done-it definitely give this one a go!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was a fun YA twist on And Then There Were None, and would be good for fans of Freida McFadden. I liked the element of surprise and the red herrings, but I, as an adult reviewer, felt that the killer's plan to throw others off their scent wasn't as strong as it could have been. YA readers may not be as concerned by that. Overall it was a good murder mystery with an element of horror that I really enjoyed.

Whew, this one was fast pace, and I finished it in several hours. A murder mystery at an elite boarding school for the super smart, some of them are clearly too smart for their own good. When I had girls at their school, all of them are in a secret society, start turning up dead everyone knows that something is going on. But not everybody at the school is what they seem or who they seem to be, and as secrets begin unraveling, and more people turn up dead The reader is left wondering exactly who any of these people are.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the advance copy of Win Lose Kill Die. I was surprised by some of the developments throughout the story, but I also never really felt like our main characters were in true danger. In a market that's pretty saturated with teen-focused thrillers, I think Win Lose Kill Die will be absorbed instead of standing out. It was fine. I enjoyed it, and I'm not mad I read it. But.... it's just not a stand out for me.

The ending was obvious. I was very bored the entire time and figured out the twist at the 25% mark.

The writing was good tho

I've read sillier things, but this was particularly annoying because the characters regularly inform you of how intelligent they are (generally while either performing a ridiculously foolish act or not observing a ridiculously obvious fact).

Thank you, #Random House Children's and #NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. If you loved any of Holly Jackson's books this one is for you to read! This book was awesome if you like murder mystery mixed with teenage prep school romance!

The way this was written kept me wanting to read more to see who was committing the crimes. The ending is shocking! I would have never thought that who was revealed as the killer would be the person behind all of the crimes. When you go back and look at the moments after finishing the novel it makes sense. I would be interested in a second book to see how the killer keeps up their current image. I really liked the chapters of the killer addressing us as the readers, because you are trying to figure out if there are any clues in what is being shared.

There is one character that I really liked and that was Kat, I really like that she at first was seen as some person who just worked out, but as the story went out she was shown as someone that also had intelligence.

One thing that felt flat to me and not developed was the love between Cole and Liz (Main Character). Their love felt a little forced and rushed. They barely know each other and they just fall in love after a day? I guess for me with everything going on at the school and Liz's problems with her recent head issues I feel could have developed a little bit more slowly.