The Wilde Trials by Mackenzie Reed is a quick paced YA mystery thriller that will keep you turning pages until the end.

We start the story immediately with our MC Chloe finding out she's secured her spot in her school's Wilde Trials: a 2 week challenge for seniors about to graduate from an elite academy. The winner of seven physical and mental challenges gets to take home the title of valedictorian and, of course, a huge pot of prize money. Chloe, one of the only students on scholarship, is brilliant but also desperately needs the money to help her sick sister. But of course, she's thwarted every step of the way. Not only is her ex-boyfriend a competitor, but so are a few other former friends who didn't take her side in the breakup. And she's quickly targeted by a secret blackmailer trying to get her out of the competition. Ultimately, she teams up with her ex to figure out who's threatening her and in turn, help him solve the mystery of how and why his brother died in his Wilde Trials a few years before.

I enjoyed the higher stakes, creepy setting of being an a run down old mansion way out in the woods. I also always love a good competition, so it was great to be able to see what they had to accomplish for each challenge, but I wouldn't have minded spending more time on these. Chloe isn't my favorite MC of all time - she truly makes some terrible choices - but I think it's a relatively accurate portrayal of an 18 year old in this situation. And we do see some growth out of her over the pages. Overall, it's much more of a plot driven story than character driven, but that's my preference anyway. I can usually pick up the ending of a whodunit plot pretty early, but this kept me guessing a good way through! I wanted to keep reading, so I flew through this. 4.25 stars.

Mackenzie Reed is back with another binge worthy, high-stakes plot about family, friendship, and romance! I am always game for a competition thriller and The Wilde Trials did not disappoint.

I devoured this book in one sitting! I was immediately pulled in by Chloe’s plight and the premise of trials set among an abandoned estate. I loved the small inclusion of the history of the estate and the woman behind the Wilde Trials. Despite having quite few characters to keep track of, each were distinctly written and all played a unique role in the plot. I loved how there were dueling mysteries and how the action only picked up the more I read. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.