Be careful who you fall for...Running away from her own past Lauren just moved to Happy Valley and is already in the center of a murder mystery. Hoping to start fresh in a new place with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend she can’t seem to shake the bad memories and trauma she so wished to leave behind. Making matters worse she starts hooking up with Robbie Cresmont who was recently accused of murder. A few girls on the soccer team try warning her about the Cresmont’s. Struggling to accept the truth of who Robbie might be Lauren begins doing some digging of her own.

This was such a fun, fast-paced, will have you on the edge of your seat page-turner. So many twists and turns you don’t know who to believe. The thrill of finding out who was behind the murders was such a wild ride until it was revealed. The author played the characters against each other so well I was for sure we had at least 4 potential suspects. But just when you think you know you’re so wrong.

I thought the twist with who the killer actually was made no sense. Clever maybe even a little jaw dropping cause it wasn’t expected. But the killer’s overall purpose for doing it didn’t fit the narrative. It felt unrealistic and made me feel like they did entirely too much just to kill someone.

Overall, I enjoyed it for the most part. The characters are complex each with secrets of their own making them all seem a little suspicious. The author successfully creates a perfect web of drama, mystery, and suspense that spiraled out of control by the end. If you’re looking for a YA high school murder mystery this is it. Special thanks to the author & @henryholtbooks for my gifted copy‼️

"The One That Got Away With Murder" by Trish Lundy presents a mystery with potential, especially for its target audience of younger readers, given its high school setting. However, there were some unnecessary elements, particularly in the early chapters, which just felt like too much and did not add any real depth to the story. It also did not build suspense or support the main mystery in any meaningful way, so it didn't capture my attention (and actually did the opposite).

The slow start was a drawback for me; it took more than twenty percent of the book for the story to really grab my attention. Additionally, the backstory didn't feel seamlessly integrated into the narrative, which hindered the flow of the plot.That being said, once the story picked up, it was entertaining enough to keep me engaged. While it may resonate more with a younger audience, I believe some streamlining would have enhanced its appeal.

I liked the story, characters, and thought the plot was interesting. The twist got me. This is probably best for older teens. Thanks for the advanced copy to review!

I actually got a physical arc alongside this e-book and it was a treat to turn those pages!

Because, this book was a definite page turner. Just when you think you know whodunit, you are shocked with another clue.

The plot has the high school drama, betrayals, teen angst, secrets and friendships galore.

I hope you will enjoy it too!

Thank you #NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for giving me the opportunity to read this!

The One That Got Away With Murder is an intriguing YA mystery thriller. The story follows Lauren as she tries to solve the murders in her town before she becomes the next victim.

I thought this was a well written debut novel, though it read a bit too young for my taste. Of course, I’m definitely way older than the target audience, and I think teens and younger adults will enjoy this book.

The main character made some really questionable decisions, in my opinion, and the ending was not my favorite. I did like the tense atmosphere and I enjoyed trying to figure out who committed the murders.

I would recommend this book to fans of YA murder mysteries, such as A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or The Cheerleaders.

A perfectly fine YA mystery that is definitely a little more YA than I would have liked. It was good but not exactly deep.

This is exactly what I want from a YA thriller: fast paced, engaging, some drama but not too much, and a few good twists.

Lundy grips the readers right away with not just one, but two mysteries to solve. There's the one about the Crestmont boys and their dead girlfriends, but Lauren also has ~something~ in her past that she's running from, which has caused her and her mom to move at the beginning of her Senior year and puts her just far enough outside normal high school social circles to make her the perfect detective on the Crestmont case.

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, I can't wait to see what Lundy writes next!

My only hang up about this book is that there's a little too much sex for me to feel comfortable directly recommending this to the teenage readers I know at my library, but that won't stop me from putting it where they can find it themselves!

This was a fun and fast-paced YA mystery/thriller! I really liked that it wasn't too cheesy with the romance and that the mystery was at the forefront without being completely predictable. This totally gave some Gossip Girl, Euphoria, and Pretty Little Liars vibes, and I totally loved it. Definitely recommend!

The One That Got Away with Murder is the debut novel by Trish Lundy. Full of nail-biting twists, The One That Got Away with Murder is a gripping debut about owning your past, the cost of our mistakes, and the hardest question of all: Was it him all along? Be careful who you fall for. Robbie and Trevor Cresmont have a body count—the killer kind. Handsome and popular, the Crestmont brothers have enough wealth and privilege to ensure they’ll never be found guilty of any wrongdoing, even if all of Happy Valley believes they're behind the deaths of their ex-girlfriends.

First, there was soccer star Victoria Moreno, Robbie’s ex, who mysteriously drowned at the family lake house. Then, a year later, Trevor’s girlfriend Jess Ebenstein died of a suspicious overdose. But the Crestmonts aren’t the only ones with secrets. Lauren O'Brian might be the new girl at school, but she's never been a good girl. With a dark past of her own, she's desperate for a fresh start. Except when she starts a no-strings-attached relationship with Robbie, her chance is put in jeopardy. During what’s meant to be their last weekend together, Lauren stumbles across shocking evidence that just might implicate Robbie.

Lauren is in a tough spot, not knowing whether or not to believe the rumors and if she made a mistake by getting involved with Robbie. If she continues her relationship, she will lose the trust of her new soccer teammates who have already made up their minds about Robbie and Trevor. With danger closing in, Lauren doesn't know who to trust. After a third death rocks the town, this time someone thought to be a killer, she must decide whether to end things with Robbie or risk becoming another cautionary tale.

Meanwhile, Lauren has her own problems to deal with when people start digging up her past which forces Lauren and her mom into moving to Happy Valley. No spoilers. Further complicating things is the fact that Trevor has a binder that seems to indicate that he has been investigating Jess and Vic's death, and it seems as though the investigation is now up to Lauren, Robbie, and his best friend John to find the proper evidence before yet another girl, maybe Lauren, is the next victim of a serial killer.

*Thoughts* The rating of this book is based on the fact that I truly didn't like much of the cast of characters. Lauren's past is finally revealed, and I said to myself that perhaps if she hadn't been doing half the things she claimed she was doing, she may have still been on her former High School's soccer team, she would likely still have friends, and a boyfriend, and her mother likely could have had a relationship. Robbie and Trevor are victims of their father's wealth, and nothing more. This story is certainly more on the darker side and probably geared towards a more mature reader. Some people may be triggered by things like drinking, smoking, drug use, sex, eating disorders, suicide, and of course murder to name a few.

I am usually not one to pick up a YA book, I don’t generally enjoy them. I almost didn’t finish this one but I did! And I am glad I did!

You follow Lauren through her senior year of high school, she meets a boy. This boy is believed to have killed his former girlfriend and has become public enemy number one. Her death is suspense and in an unlikely pairing, Lauren and him seek to find out what really happened.

I was blown away by the ending, I didn’t see that coming at all! I was about halfway through the book and thought, I need to be done. I don’t like the setting or the characters. I’m glad I hung on for the twists that deceived and the final I didn’t see! If you can get past the characters general unlikeableness, you are solid. Lauren was a major cry baby and entitled for absolutely no reason, I didn’t like how she treated her mother so all that was hard to muster through. Buuuttttt, that twist!

I went through a YA Mystery/Thriller phase awhile back. It's not usually what I read but I'm a mood reader and a Librarian so sometimes I branch out. I unfortunately have begun to lose interest at the moment and can't seem to be able to get into the plots.. This one definitely has '<i>How to Get Away With Murder</i>' the TV show, vibes. And I know many, especially some of my YA library patrons, will very much enjoy this book. They can't seem to get enough of YA murder mysteries. That's almost all they ask for. It's just not for me personally at this time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. For providing me with a review copy.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating 4 Stars

Trish Lundy, you are a writing master! This book literally kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop. The ending was crazy, yet so so satisfying as the novel came to a close and while I had my theories, I was SO wrong and that is not something that happens often for me. Incredibly fun, so well put together. HIGHLY recommend. New favorite author?

This book had it all: intrigue, secret pasts and, of course, murder (I mean if you couldn’t tell with the title, you knew we were getting that bit😂). This is the perfect edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have you guessing who is really telling the truth the whole way through the book

Our story follows Lauren, who has recently moved from California to Pennsylvania after a tragic event in her previous hometown has caused her to basically uproot her life with her mother and move to the opposite side of the country. You don’t learn about what this incident is so I’ll leave you a little intrigue 😉 arrives in the summer. She starts to hook up with the one guy, and she later learns that he and his brother have both dead girlfriends, and the crimes were never really solved, just brushed off as accidents since their families are very well off. Well, things start off at the beginning of the summer. They take a turn for the worst as we get into school, and of course, there’s more murder, but no one knows who has done it.

The questions just keep piling up along with the bodies and you are left helping Lauren and Robbie try to figure out who in their town is actually committing these crimes. If you are a fan of Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, then this is the book for you. I absolutely flew through this once I got into it and that ending had me shook.

I'm looking forward to my next read on this author. It's a little bit of a slow burn at first but does pick up setting up the twists and turns that you do not see coming. I grew up reading YA Thrillers and this one does not disappoint.

"The One That Got Away with Murder" by Trish Lundy is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Lundy masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, betrayal, and unexpected twists that will leave you guessing until the very end. The characters are richly developed, and the plot is intricately crafted, making it impossible to put down. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers!

What if you moved to a small town, started hooking up with a boy, and then found out the entire town suspected him of murder? This is the question that the MC of this book must face.

As with any good mystery, there are tons of twists and turns. However, I figured out who did it early on. I also thought everyone in town acted oddly when one person was cleared. Everyone just immediately accepted them, which felt off, given the circumstances.

It was also odd that the author chose September 11 for the day that something noteworthy happened. It kept being brought up and made me wonder if today’s youth doesn’t connect September 11 to the terrorist attacks on the U.S.

All in all, this was a decent read, despite my criticisms. 3 stars.

This was such a quick read for me and I think a lot of people would enjoy this book...
However....I think while reading this, I realized that young-adult mysteries are just not for me anymore.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book, it's fast-paced and the storyline flows well. It just wasn't for me. I found it hard for me to keep my own interest in it and thought I was just glazing over pages sometimes because I wanted to move on. I couldn't get myself into the characters and felt very detached to the story in general.

While the book has some substance to it, I still thought it was pretty cheesy. I think that is just a re-occurring theme with a lot of YA books.
Overall, if you enjoy YA I would give this book a read. But if not, then pass.

Lauren, due to a traumatic incident (which is revealed through a series of flashbacks throughout the book) at her last school, has moved across the country her senior year. Here she meets Robbie (who kind of reminds me of a Dylan McKay type). Robbie's family is extremely wealthy, and rumor has it that because of his wealth, he and his brother have gotten away with the murder of their girlfriends.
I really enjoyed this book, there were a few red herrings and I didn't really suspect who the killer was in the end.

WOW. I am just now emerging into murder and murder mystery novels and this one had me HOOKED. From the very beginning until the very end I had absolutely zero clue who committed the crime. As a listener you would be led to believe it was clearly one person and then SWOOP turns out it isn't that person. I loved the way this book was written. I loved the narrator -- you also get a secondary narrator at one point (no spoilers though so I can't say when). I cannot recommend this book enough. Easy 4 stars.

I also need someone else to read this so I can see if it truly does leave you in the dark the whole time or I'm just a newb in the mystery novel world.

Trish Lundy's debut YA thriller, "The One That Got Away with Murder," is a captivating and suspenseful page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The novel follows Lauren O'Brian, a girl with a dark past who is desperate for a fresh start, as she becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship with Robbie Cresmont, a handsome and privileged teenager suspected of murdering his ex-girlfriends.
Lundy's writing is both elegant and accessible, drawing the reader in with vivid descriptions and sharp dialogue. The pacing is impeccable, with the narrative building in intensity and suspense until the final, jaw-dropping conclusion. The author skillfully weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives to create a complex and intriguing narrative, constantly keeping readers guessing and second-guessing the characters' motives and the true nature of the events that unfold.
One of the novel's strengths is its well-developed characters. Lauren is a flawed and relatable protagonist, struggling with the weight of her past and the uncertainty of the present. The supporting cast, particularly the enigmatic Robbie and his brother Trevor, are equally compelling, each with their own secrets and agendas that add depth and complexity to the story.
Lundy's ability to create a world where appearances deceive and danger lurks around every corner is truly commendable. "The One That Got Away with Murder" serves as a reminder that beneath the veneer of wealth and privilege, even the most charming individuals may possess dark secrets that can have deadly consequences.
In conclusion, "The One That Got Away with Murder" is a compelling and chilling tale that will keep readers engrossed from beginning to end. Trish Lundy showcases her prowess as a storyteller, expertly crafting a narrative packed with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists. Brace yourself for a thrilling ride through the shadows of Happy Valley, where the line between love and obsession blurs, and the consequences of the past can be deadly