I was so intrigued by the premise that I requested an ARC of this. I was granted in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me. For me, it was predictable and I found myself wanting more. I just don't think it was meant for me!

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy was a very intriguing story.
It will appeal to fans of young adult horror and thrillers.
I was not disappointed in the storyline. I thought the mystery was good with lots of twists that I didn't see coming and kept me glued to my Kindle.
The author has written a suspenseful, mysterious and compelling novel.
This book kept me absolutely hooked until the very end with a wild ending.
A page turner of a suspense novel that will suck you in quickly so sit down read, and enjoy the ride.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc of Win Lose Kill Die. First, YA thrillers are really a hit or miss for me, unfortunately this was a miss. While I didn't pinpoint one twist in the story, I pretty much figured out who the "slasher:" was, who was involved and who was going to get killed. I was really annoyed by some of the dialogue and it wasn't that thrilling. The story at times was hard to keep up with and boring at times. I pretty much skimmed the book and the ending lacked luster. I would recommend it for people just getting into YA thriller and it gives a little Cruel Intentions vibe.

Thank you Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a quick and engaging read. I love books based on elite schools with a murder mystery aspect. The overall storyline was intriguing and honestly the ending had my mouth dropping.

However, I just did not really care about the relationships between the main characters and her friends/boyfriend. For some reason, the relationship building felt lackluster for me. But, the story was engaging enough for me to want to finish it. Honestly, if the relationship building was better this would've been a 4 star for me because the story line was really good.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. This was a very fast paced thriller that I truly didn’t see the twist coming for.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. While the pacing of this story was good, overall the mystery didn't amount to much for me, as I fairly quickly figured out the reveal. It was enjoyable, but not as complex and I feel I need from a thriller/mystery. Some people will love this, I just think it wasn't really meant to be for me :)

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-arc. I loved how fast paced this book was. It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed my time reading this book.

The writing was decent enough for me to finish the book. I easily guessed the culprit, but it also didn't make much sense in the long run. Various scenes were written so it wasn't so much a twist as a confounding ending.

I am baffled that that many deaths didn't result in more intense investigations. I can't see how she (Patel) managed to pay off enough police to not investigate, and baffled that Liz was the culprit. I had guessed it but the asides from the killer don't really add up to her being the guilty person. And, a silly point but didn't see the point of her switching her name to Beth

3.5/5 ⭐️

First off, thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I think this book was a fantastic YA thriller, mystery novel! I did not see the twist coming, and I was left guessing until the end!

I think I’m reaching the point where I’m not in love with YA anymore, and phasing out. But for those who enjoy YA, this is a fantastic book for the genre!!

"Win Lose Kill Die" was a fast-paced enjoyable read! I thought the author did a great job crafting a plot with twists, mystery and suspense.

The Dark Academia genre is one of my favorites to read. When you take a Thriller and set it in an Elite School with a dubious past and secret society the story instantly becomes more atmospheric and intriguing to me.

While most of my "whodunnit" theories were correct I did not predict that ending. It you're a fan of the YA Mystery Thrillers genre you're going to want to add this one to your TBR.

Thank you Cynthia Murphy, Net Galley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book took me on a wild and twisty ride from the first page to the last.
We have a secret society, murders happening left and right, along with the possibility of a cult.
Win Lose Kill Die is a super fast-paced novel where you never know what is going to happen next, or who is next on the chopping block. It sucked me in and I didn't put it down until I turned the last page, and that ending was a complete surprise!

This is the second book I've read by this author and I've really enjoyed both! I look forward to reading her other books!

Deep within Morton academy, there’s a secret society known as Jewel and Bone, where the best of the best meet and are given exclusive opportunities. Their head girl drowned at the end of summer term and they receive a note claiming it wasn’t an accident. The threats aren’t taken seriously until their new appointed head girl also ends up dead The group realizes they are being targeted by a killer and no one is safe. Someone is trying to claw their way to the top, one by one and will stop at nothing to claim a top spot. Lizzie is fourth in line for the next head girl. How many bodies will drop before it’s her turn?

What did I like about this?

🔪This was fast paced and easy to get into.

🔪I liked the subtle nods to Scream though- Prescott Times and Billy Loomis.

🔪the ending!

What didn’t I like?

🔪The flaw with books like this is that things move so fast that the characters feel heartless when their classmates start dying. They just didn’t seem to care or take any threats seriously.

🔪The dialogue felt off to me-unnatural.

🔪A bit predictable

I love books like this, that keep you guessing until the end. I had it basically pegged early on, however I enjoyed the ride. This would be a great book to read if you love teen dramas with a touch of romance and murder!

This was such a twist!! I truly thought that I knew exactly who was responsible for all the deaths and shenanigans that was going on and then BAM! Another twist! This had me hooked from the start and I honestly couldn't put it down. Every spare second I had, you could find me eagerly reading what comes next. This was an AWESOME book and highly recommend everyone to get as twisted as I did reading this!

This book gives me Riverdale vibes, but very cult-ish, and a little spooky, these kids are the smartest and brightest, but the “head” girls are getting killed off, the little secret group they are put into is called Jewel and Bone (creepy right?). Kids kept dropping like flies, and the plot had promise though, it was fast paced but also random at times, and at the end??? I had some QUESTIONS!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy is a psychological thriller set in the elite world of Morton Academy. The students at the Academy have been hand-chosen to attend based on their intelligence and promise. The alumnae go on to the best universities and the top tier of society. Within this elite school, there is an additional group of the crème de la crème- the Jewel and Bone Society. Only the best of the best are chosen to be initiated into this group; only the best of the society are chosen to be Head Girl and Head Boy. There is one little problem this year…the position of Head Girl keeps shifting as they keep ending up brutally murdered.

The story starts out promising- Murphy creates a world that is believable, if not really geographically specific. Is it in England? The US? It‘s not really important, I guess, but it keep bothering me as I read. But you get the feel of the place- the old world ambiance, the stuffy corners, the cozy fires, the strange backstairs and creepy gardeners.

And the first deaths are mysterious and there are many possible suspects roaming around the halls of Morton. Murphy does her best to throw you off, and there are plenty of red herrings tossed about. BUT there are also plenty of clues as to the killers’s true identity- I figured it out fairly quickly.

While I think this will appeal to YA readers who are really into this genre, I was left feeling a bit meh. There is a big plot point involving a cult that just didn‘t make any sense to me; it didn‘t seem to fit the vibe of the rest of the story. And the final reveal was…anti-climatic for me. However, the way that there is no true resolution or accountability WAS a unique way to end the story. For that reason, I bumped up my rating a half. Would I recommend this? Sure to my students. I know they will enjoy it. I am perhaps too old to thoroughly enjoy. Random rating 3/5 stars. As always, thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in return for my honest review.

Thank you, Cynthia Murphy and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

A book about murder, cults, deception, and so much more. A book that will definitely have you guessing as to who the murderer truly is, and by the end of this book, your mind will be blown. I was wrong the two guesses I made to who I thought the killer was, so this was definitely a great book, in my opinion. It's fast-paced, and I never once lost interest. The school is a mystery in itself as with the cult. Want to know more? Read and find out.

I'm so glad I was allowed an arc of this book. I couldn't put it down the moment I started it. Multiple individuals are murdered and a school tries its hardest to keep it quiet. Of course, things like this can't be kept quiet long when a murderer is on the loose and has their own agenda. A group of students come together and try to piece together things, but can they find out who the killer is, or will they be next?

This is one of those books I enjoyed enough I plan to reread in the future. I hope to pick up on clues more easily on my next time reading through it.

The premise of this book is not that original. Prep school kids, secret societies, lies, and murder. However, that is exactly why these books are so entertaining.

This prep school is a bit different; it recruits extraordinarily smart teens who might not otherwise have clear paths to higher education. This isolated school offers advanced classwork, a social media free environment, and the opportunity to build connections that are essential to future success. However, it also creates an extremely competitive atmosphere, so when students start to die, the questions rise about who might be behind it.

Cynthia Murphy does a pretty good job of keeping the reader guessing until the end - is it the new boy that shows up? The "creepy" groundskeeper? The hidden brother? The traumatized teenaged girl? You will literally need to wait until the last chapter!

Win Lose Kill Die is a gripping literary adventure that caters to the insatiable appetite of horror aficionados. Packed with cleverly concealed Easter eggs reminiscent of classic horror movies, this novel is a delightful treasure hunt for fans of the genre. The story unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense and excitement, keeping readers eagerly flipping through the pages in anticipation of the next chilling revelation. With its captivating narrative and spine-tingling atmosphere, Win Lose Kill Die is an absolute thrill ride that ensures sleepless nights, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a heart-pounding, immersive experience in the world of horror literature.

A fun, quick read with cliffhangers that kept me moving forward and fun little horror movie Easter eggs!