this was a fun read. it really reminded me of the show Riverdale, if anyone has ever seen that! the drama was interesting, the “secret society” kept things interesting. i truly loved and enjoyed the characters. i appreciated there wasn’t any petty silly teenager drama. the twist!!! i did not see that coming AT ALL.
i was semi annoyed when no one really had heard about charles manson lmao…. i’m a true crime junky so that was a WTF moment to me.

🌸 ARIANA'S BOOK REVIEW 🌸

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Young Adult, Crime, Romance

Win Lose Kill Die, written by Cynthia Murphy, takes readers on a thrilling journey within the walls of Morton Academy, a prestigious school for high-achievers. As the race to become the coveted Head Girl reaches its peak, dark secrets and unexpected deaths begin to unravel. In this book review, we will explore the suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and captivating writing style that makes Win Lose Kill Die a must-read for mystery enthusiasts.

Murphy weaves an intricate web of mystery by introducing readers to a competitive environment where everyone strives to obtain the prestigious title of Head Girl. However, as the bodies pile up, our main characters - Liv, Taylor, Kat, Marcus, and Cole - find themselves embroiled in a quest for truth. The author skillfully maintains a high level of suspense, leaving readers guessing until the very end. Each clue and revelation deepens the intrigue, making it impossible to put the book down.

One of the strengths of Win Lose Kill Die lies in its well-developed characters. Liv, Taylor, Kat, Marcus, and Cole are distinct personalities, each bringing their unique perspectives and motivations to the story. As they strive to uncover the truth, readers become emotionally invested in their journey. Murphy masterfully reveals layers of complexity, humanizing the characters and making them relatable. Their determination to find answers adds an extra layer of tension and keeps readers engaged throughout the narrative.

Murphy's writing style is captivating, immediately drawing readers into the world of Morton Academy. With a perfect balance of description and dialogue, the author creates a vivid setting that comes alive in the imagination. The fast pace and well-crafted plot maintain a sense of urgency, making sure there is never a dull moment. Additionally, the author skillfully explores the dark secrets and hidden agendas that lurk behind the prestigious facade of Morton Academy, immersing readers in a world where nothing is as it seems.

Win Lose Kill Die is a gripping mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Cynthia Murphy's skillful storytelling, engaging plot, well-developed characters, and captivating writing style make this book a standout in the mystery genre. Fans of suspense and unexpected twists will thoroughly enjoy this thrilling read. I highly recommend Win Lose Kill Die to those seeking an intriguing and memorable journey through the halls of Morton Academy.

People who have read ‘Tag, You're Dead’ (Kathryn Foxfield), ‘This Book Kills’ (Ravena Guron) and ‘Five Survive’ (Holly Jackson) may like this book.

Thank you Cynthia Murphy, Delacorte Press, TBR And Beyond Tours and Netgalley for this delightful read. All opinions expressed here are purely my own.

A high-school slasher with a lethal twist, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson! The students at Morton Academy are high-achievers, selected based on academic excellence. So when a series of murders target the school's best and brightest, the pressure is on.

Win Lose Kill Die has everything you need in a book; murder, intrigue, secret societies and a decades old cult. Our main characters are determined to find out why their classmates our dying while also uncovering the mysteries of an old cult from the area. The story was well plotted and I couldn't even fathom a theory until the end. Then, well, mind blow. What a great twist to end the book on.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhousekids for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Pretty Little Liars meets The Skulls in this fast paced, dark, YA thriller. I thought I had it all figured out until I didn’t…such a good read.

Private schools and secret societies are always interesting to me, so I was intrigued by this story. While I enjoyed it, I feel like I didn't get to know the characters very well. I think some people will enjoy the twists. Unfortunately I figured one out so I was kind of looking for certain things. I don't usually wish a book at longer, but I feel like this one could have been fleshed out more.

Win Lose Kill Die offers a thrilling experience, the fast-paced narrative, set in Morton Academy with its intriguing history, creates a captivating atmosphere.

The unabashed exploration of murder adds an extra layer of intrigue, and the rich, scandalous backdrop of Morton Academy left me craving more. Whether through a prequel delving into its history or a sequel unfolding the next chapter, I'm eager for more stories in this enticing world.

Cynthia Murphy has solidified her place among my favorite authors, and I'm eagerly anticipating her future works. If you're a fan of teen thrillers with slasher vibes, dark academia, secret societies, cults, and a generous dose of murder and mystery, this book is a must-read!

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. The only thing keeping it from 4 stars which for me means I REALLY liked it is the predictability and disappointment from certain reveals. I know this is written for YA and I believe someone who is a Thriller newbie would not have analyst it as much and would have enjoyed the ride. Because ya'll it was a fun one.

Our FMC Liz is returning to her super exclusive boarding school for her senior year after spending the summer recovering from a head injury. We meet all of her friends that gave me Breakfast Club vibes. The joke, the brain, the beauty, you get the picture. She is the shy and quiet one.

So, every few chapters we get the POV of a killer. What killer you ask?? It's the person running around offing the head girls. This is a fun spin on the final girl theme we see on horror. Well maybe fun isn't the right word because them girls keep getting dead but I liked the creative spin.

Also mix in a secret society and a Manson like cult and things get a bit who dun it.

I would recommend this book and would love to see it adapted. All the characters were likable. I wish more background/engagement had been provided with the cult and secret society but overall it was entertaining.

I loved the last one to die by Cynthia Murphy and couldn’t wait to read this one and to say it was great is a nonstarter. No one puts teens in perril like Cynthia Murphy and she certainly didn’t disappoint with a private elite club called Jewel and bone at an even more elite academy for brilliant students. Whenever they find the head of the secret society dead and pick a new one it seems the murders are not over but who is doing it? This is a great book and the kind of narrative I’ve come to expect from this author I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the next one. I want to thank Random house children and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

With "Win Lose Kill Die", Murphy created a fast-paced teen thriller that will excite fans of Riverdale and of dark academia. At the elite Morton Academy, only the best and brightest are accepted; the school's secret society, Jewel and Bones, accepts only the most ruthless. So, when the society's head girls are picked off one by one, the group finds itself in chaos.

The narrative follows Liz, one of the J&B members recovering from a traumatic head injury following the first head girl killing the school year prior. Liz relies on her close-knit friend group (who are also part of the J&B) and new student crush, all of them trying to work together to uncover who the killer is. But Liz and co can't protect everyone, even those in their own circle, and no one is above suspicion.

This was a quick read that is sure to engross those who enjoy slasher thrillers. I found it a little difficult to work through considering the amount of death within the first 75 pages; while this was intentional to keep the quick pace of the book, it put me off just a bit. I will say that the twist at the end as to who the killer was certainly surprised me, although it did require a bit of suspension of reality.

I couldn't seem to attach to any of the characters but I still liked the writing, the plot, and the twists. Kids are dying all over, so it is probably best not to get attached anyway. Ohnd the setting is perfect for the mystery!
Overall, I liked it enough.

A quick and enjoyable read. It was a little predictable and somewhat cheesy during some parts but I think that it was worth the read for sure. The characters were realistic and the ending was well done. All in all a solid story and entertaining.

The book is just brilliantly written. I have read a few murder mystery stories with unique plots and unexpected twists. But this book delivers the story on another level. It is my first time reading an unreliable narration. Such a type of narration in a murder novel has made the story great.

Liz, a high school student, witnessed her classmate's "accidental" death last summer; while she was in her recovery phase, another "accidental" death occurred. The story revolves around Liz and her friends trying to find the reason behind the deaths.

To be very honest, I found the murderer at the very beginning of the story. But the interesting part is, even after I was sure about the murderer, the story wasn't boring. The thrill that starts at the beginning of the book lasts till the end. Overall, this novel is a must-read for those who appreciate murder mysteries with a compelling narrative structure.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the Kindle version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Here we are in the UK in a boarding school for high school juniors and seniors that are by far more intelligent than the average student. They have been hand picked to attend Morton Academy where they seem to have no contact with the outside world. No cell phones allowed, although some have burner phones.

Liz is a senior who spent six weeks recovering from a head injury that happened before their break from school. She hit her head when the canoe she and Morgan were in tipped over. Morgan died in this accident (or was it an accident?) Liz is also our narrator of the story.

Liz and her small group of best friends spend the semester trying to figure out who is murdering the "Head Girl".

The story is full of twists and turns with many past secrets about the school and some of the characters slowly being revealed. Because it is a small school it seems that everyone is a suspect in the murders.

Win Lose Kill Die is another mystery set in an exclusive boarding school. The mystery has a nice twist, but somehow it just didn't do it for me. None of the characters seemed to be real people, and the normal teens would probably have a hard time relating to the setting. to them. There was not much character development and the dialogue did not do much to pull me in. I received this as an arc from NetGalley and was not pressured for a positive review.

This was suspenseful all the way to the end! Fun to read, easy to pick up and put down as needed. I like that the chapters are short, because I get uninterested if they’re really long. The suspense was insane and I had multiple thoughts running through my head while I read, just to be thrown off again by something else! The end was a turn that I never expected, I absolutely love this book!

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy is an action-packed YA thriller. Unfortunately, I saw spoilers on another IG account, so I knew what happened. Otherwise, I would have been surprised by the twists and turns this story took. I enjoyed not knowing what to think about the different characters…at times so many of them were likable, but at other times they were also suspicious. My favorite part was the short chapters from the killer’s perspective. I found them so intriguing and they really made me wonder about who the killer could be. This is a book that I’d eagerly recommend to my high school thriller/murder mystery fans.

Thank you to @netgalley @randomhousechildrens and @cynthiamurphyya for the opportunity to review this title.

#bookstagram #highschoollibrary #highschoollibrarian #schoollibrarian #winlosekilldie #cynthiamurphy #yathrillers #yabooks #randomhousechildrensbooks #netgalley

I received this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The highest of the high-achieving students at this elite boarding school are being targeted, one by one. Someone is determined to kill them each and the reader gets the task of trying to figure out who is doing it and why.

I thought this was a fun YA novel, reminiscent of a boarding school/college slasher film. I like how the chapters switch narrators so we got to spend some time in the killer's mind before we know who it is. I'm not sure I was sold on the "why" of it all, but then again, how often does a slasher killer's rationalization make sense? If you're looking for the book equivalent of a quick slasher, I'd say check this out.

A secret society, a cult, murder, all taking place in an exclusive, scholarship-only boarding school - what more could a reader want? I really enjoyed this quick read, and didn’t see the murderer reveal coming.

“I didn’t mean to kill the first one. Honest. It was just… too easy, I suppose.”

Morton Academy is a high-end school filled with the smartest students. Morgan, your typical mean girl who was perceived by the adults and the school as a ball of sunshine, was murdered the previous year in a boating “accident.” The school is now in shambles and mourning for Morgan. However, mysterious events keep happening that result in multiple deaths. More victims start to pop up who all have one thing in common: they were the “perfect girls,” the ones who held the title of head girl for Morton Academy. Why is this happening? Someone is trying to climb their way to the top, but who? Sometimes the enemies we don’t know of are the ones who we keep close.

I did not particularly love this book because it fell flat. The setting and plot were decent and unique in their own ways, but the characters were one-dimensional. I couldn’t really form an attachment to any of them; they were one-note characters. All the girls who had died had something in common—they were perfect and the head girl of the school. Liz, the main character, is the antithesis of that. She is not perfect, her family is terrible, and she wants more out of her life. Yet, she was boring and predictable. She wanted it all; she wanted to be what Taylor is at the school. Taylor is the current head girl and has her life together—she is pretty, she is sweet, she has a great boyfriend, she has everything. Apply these characteristics to Morgan, Jameela, Taylor, Emily, and Kat. There is no diversity or substance to the characters. No spoilers, but the twist at the end of the book was… a choice. It could have been a good twist if done well. However, I would have liked it if it wasn’t so obvious. Within the first few pages I knew who the culprit was, and the author did not really leave any breadcrumbs for the audience. I wish I was not made aware of certain characters and how they act before the twist was revealed.

The quick cut: A series of murders starts taking out students at a high achievement private school. Chaos ensues as everyone tries to figure out who's behind the killings.

A real review:
Thank you to Delacorte Press for providing the arc for an honest review.

Achievement in high school tends to be a common focus for many because it can lead to better opportunities for the future. How much of your life are you willing to risk to get the most? For the students at Morton Academy, it may be too much when a string of murders begin.

Everyone at the exclusive Morton Academy is a high achiever, especially since entry is based on academic excellence. However, the title of Head Girl is one that comes with prestige and success. When students start dying for it though, it seems one among them is willing to kill for it. Who could be killing the student body?

I really found the premise of this story interesting, especially since it combines thriller and elite school stories together. Unfortunately, I got to the end and felt frustrated instead. The killer reveal is one I definitely should have seen coming, but the story failed to properly engage me from the start. Its the only way that plot twist works.

This is another one of those stories where it feels like they drop you into it as a reader in the middle. Due to that lack of foundational setup, you really don't get to know any of the characters well from the start. This leads to them all blending together and not really standing out on their own. In the end, without that caring about the characters as individuals, you end up uninvested as a reader.

The story here also isn't helped by the fact that there's a lot of private school stories, many of which were written far better than the one here. I found myself comparing a lot as a read, which only highlighted the flaws here. When it takes getting two thirds of the way through to pique my interest, that's not a good sign.

A story with unrealized potential.

My rating: 3 out of 5