Fisrt of all, I simply loved this book. I adored the satire and i loved the scandal. The thriller elements were absolutely to die for and the commentary had me rollling on the floor. Well Done!

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the debut of "The Lakeside U Mysteries", Meaghan Dwyer invites readers into the hallowed halls and secret societies of Lakeside University with her novel, **The Simmonds House Kills**. This first installment sets a high bar for the series, weaving a tapestry of intrigue and suspense that captures the reader from the first page.

The story centers around Emma Evans, a newcomer to the prestigious Simmonds House, who quickly finds herself embroiled in a deadly mystery. When a house party turns tragic with a member's sudden death, the police are quick to dismiss it as a suicide. However, Emma's instincts tell her there's more to the story, and she's determined to uncover the truth.

Dwyer's writing is sharp and engaging, with a narrative voice that strikes the perfect balance between wit and tension. The setting of Lakeside U is richly drawn, acting almost as a character itself, with its dark corners and whispered secrets adding to the atmosphere of the novel.

The dynamic between Emma and Henry Dalton, a criminology major and self-proclaimed "world's best student detective," adds a layer of humor and camaraderie to the plot. Their partnership, reminiscent of classic detective duos, drives the story forward as they unravel the layers of deceit within Simmonds House.

What sets this novel apart is Dwyer's ability to craft a mystery that is both complex and accessible. The twists are unexpected yet plausible, and the pacing is relentless, making it impossible to put the book down. The resolution is satisfying, tying up loose ends while leaving just enough unanswered questions to have readers eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

"The Simmonds House Kills" is a must-read for fans of young adult mysteries. It's a smart, suspenseful, and ultimately thrilling journey into the dark underbelly of college life. Dwyer has crafted a world that is both familiar and fresh, with characters that resonate and a mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

I REALLY wanted to love this one but I just didn’t. I don’t know if it was just because I wasn’t a fan of most of the characters or just the story in general but this one unfortunately just didn’t do it for me. The character dialogue seemed more high school than college with some lack of character development. While I do feel like there were some missed potential with this book, the story line wasn’t horrible but just wasn’t for me. I’ll probably still give this author another shot.

Thanks NetGalley & Carpenter Books for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this one! Twists and turns and I just couldn’t put it down! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. A fun whodunit. Perfect for fans of Good Girls Guide to Murder

A delightful and fun murder mystery for fans of a good girls guide to murder or academia setting books. I really enjoyed the characters.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
spice: no spice, very mild steam but this isn’t a romance
TWs: death on page, murder, mentions of suicide, abuse, bullying, death of a parent (recounted)
standalone: yes
final thoughts: this was a quick, fun read that I liked trying to figure out who the killer was! This started as a great closed-room murder mystery was, in my opinion, closed too quickly! We were told who the killer was with a good percentage of the book still to go so you lose the sleuthing on your own but it was still fun to follow along.

read this book if you love

😬 angst
🌀 plot twists
❓ mystery
🤫 hidden secrets
🏫college setting

This is a fun little mystery & and really quick read (I read the book in a little over a day) but can we please stop writing YA books set at college? That is my only complaint about the book. These characters don’t sound like college students but rather high school students trying to sound grown up.

Emma wasn’t sure what to expect when she was invited to move into Simmonds House and join the most exclusive society at Lakeside U. She didn’t exactly get the warmest of welcomes from all her new housemates, and on the night of the first house party someone ends up dead. Emma thinks there is more going on than the police seem to and so seeks the help from criminology student Henry Dalton to help uncover the truth. This is a solid thriller with a number of unexpected twists. This is just the first book in a new series and I’ll be looking forward to the next Lakeside U Mystery. Thanks so much to Carpenter Books and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an ARC of The Simmonds House Kills.

The Simmonds House Kills is book 1 in the Lakeside U Mysteries series by Meaghan Dwyer.
This was a twisty YA thriller debut.
There are many things I liked about this book, but the most I enjoyed is the fact that I did not see the twist coming!
Great. plot and pace, I was truly surprised by this book.
For a debut novel I thought this book was great.
Great characters with a fast moving plot that I literally could not put down.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Carpenter Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book had so much potential. It was reminisecent of the Good Girl's Guide To Murder series and had a great pace. However, the plot holes and very juvenile dialog were what ruined the book for me. The dialog was more along the lines of middle grades dialog than college students. I typically love books in the YA murder mystery genre, but this one just was not my cup of tea. I would have liked there to be stronger character development.

Thank you Carpenter books for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Fun, easy read, enough wit and characters for us to like and loathe. Detective crime thriller for teenage and YA reader, and up. What is a crime thriller to meant do - give you the clues and see if you can work it out with a big reveal, and entertain while doing so. For the intended reading group this meets that brief perfectly. First in a series which I look forward to reading. Thank you to Carpenter Books for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

"The Simmonds House Kills" is an enthralling and delightfully twisted whodunit that had me hooked from start to finish.

One of the book's standout features is its well-rounded characters. Emma Evans, the determined and resourceful protagonist, leads the charge in uncovering the dark secrets of the elusive Simmonds House. Her curiosity and persistence make her an instantly relatable character, and you can't help but root for her as she dives headfirst into the enigmatic world of this exclusive society.

Henry Dalton, the self-proclaimed Sherlock Holmes fanboy and criminology major, adds a unique and humorous dimension to the story. His quirks and encyclopedic knowledge of detective work not only provide comic relief but also contribute to the book's clever and witty atmosphere. The chemistry between Emma and Henry adds a delightful touch of romance to the narrative, making their dynamic all the more engaging.

The mysterious and chilling atmosphere of Lakeside U's Simmonds House is beautifully crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The author's ability to weave a compelling plot full of unexpected twists and turns keeps the intrigue alive, and the quest to uncover the truth becomes an addictive journey.


In "The Simmonds House Kills," the author masterfully combines suspense, humor, and romance to create a story that's impossible to put down. It's a thrilling rollercoaster ride with well-crafted characters that you can't help but fall in love with. If you're a young adult reader seeking a suspenseful and funny murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, this book is a must-read. Emma and Henry's escapades will leave you eagerly awaiting more from this talented author.

THE SIMMONDS HOUSE KILLS is the first installment in the new Lakeside U. Series, a New Adult Mystery/Romance/Puzzle Deduction series set in and around a small, expensive but not high-quality university in New York State, University of Lakeside. The characters in this novel are extremely polarized, pitting the elite wealthy of Simmonds House *a membership-only society) "against the world" viewed as low-class and crude [translation: not wealthy].

Emma is about to be a brand-new member, albeit an unwanted one. But Emma has her own secrets and agenda, including a burning passion for justice. A terrible event on her first night soon pairs her with a nerdy student, Henry, who aims to emulate Sherlock Holmes, and they combine wits to uncover truth.

I enjoyed the dynamic of this mystery whodunit. I'm a fan of mystery and crime novels so this satirical take was enjoyable to read.

although i really liked the plot and premise of this book, it read a little too young for my liking. even as a ya novel, the language of the characters seemed high schoolish or younger. 3/5 stars

Netgalley ARC, DNFed at 87 pages.

I was really excited for this one but I couldn't make myself slog through. I know this is YA but the characters act like they're 12 (they're supposed to be in college??) and the writing style was difficult to enjoy. If you like short sentences, out of place descriptions of someone's hair and makeup, and completely unbelievable characters, this one may be for you.

"The Simmonds House Kills" is a ya mystery thriller written by Meaghan Dwyer.

I found it a captivating and enjoyable book, with some aspects that didn't fully convince me.

The pace is fast and compelling, full of action and events. Between intrigue, subterfuge, mysteries and investigations to uncover the truth, I didn't feel any moments of boredom or heaviness. In my opinion, it is a style capable of keeping readers' attention, teasing them to continue and to know. The simple and light writing, easy to follow and understand, relaxed me a lot. I finished it without almost realizing it! I found the descriptions of the various settings to be quite vivid and interesting. In contrast, I admit that I was dissatisfied with the characters and dialogues.

The plot proceeds intriguingly and briskly, thanks also to the atmosphere of uncertainty that hovers between the pages. I think the author did an excellent job of handling the veil of mystery that envelops the story. I was captivated by Simmonds House with its red walls, by the ambiguity that swirls within. I admit that I spotted the solution in advance, but that does not affect my enjoyment.

The characters, main and secondary, unfortunately did not convince me. They seemed superficial, underdeveloped. Okay, maybe in the case of the secondary characters it can be there, to increase the doubts, yet it seemed excessive to me. Yes, they are functional to the story, but they left me indifferent. Emma, the protagonist, did not convey anything to me. I was unable to bond with her, to become attached. This is a pity, because she had the potential to like me a lot! Also, the dialogues seemed to me really absurd, exaggerated and artificial, so much so that I found myself rolling my eyes on more than one occasion.

Romance is another one of those elements that didn't say much to me. I liked the dynamic, but because of the poor characterization of the characters and a bit of a rush in handling the relationship, the couple left me lukewarm.

All in all, it is a ya mystery thriller with excellent settings and a fast pace, not without flaws but still enjoyable, which I recommend to lovers of the genre!

Thank you to NetGalley and Meaghan Dwyer for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.