Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Lauren Muñoz delivers a gripping, high-stakes YA mystery in Very Dangerous Things, blending an immersive murder investigation with the perfect amount of drama and suspense. Set against the eerie backdrop of J. Everett High’s annual murder mystery game, the novel follows true crime-obsessed Dulce Castillo as she’s pulled into a real-life whodunit when a staged “victim” turns up actually dead.

The book thrives on its intricate plotting and dynamic characters, particularly Dulce, whose determination and sharp instincts make her a compelling lead. The tension between her and accused ex-best friend Sierra Fox adds an emotional depth that enhances the stakes of the mystery. As the clues pile up and secrets unravel, Muñoz expertly keeps readers guessing with plenty of red herrings and shocking twists.

Perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Truly Devious, Very Dangerous Things is an addictive page-turner packed with intrigue, betrayal, and a relentless sense of danger. A must-read for mystery lovers who enjoy a dark academia vibe with a fresh, modern twist.

“Very Dangerous Things” takes readers on a thrilling journey through the final project at an elite private school, where students are tasked with solving a fictional murder that quickly escalates into a deadly reality. The stakes have never been higher, and the question of who the real killer is becomes not just a game—but a fight for survival.

The concept of an immersive, "whodunit" final project is was so much fun, blending elements of mystery and psychological drama with the allure of high-stakes competition. I was immediately drawn to the idea of exploring dark, twisted motives in an academic setting, all while the characters grapple with their personal ambitions and a hefty scholarship dangling in the balance. The added tension of a real murder taking place within the confines of a seemingly controlled game made for an a very fun story.

The plot is solid, with numerous suspects each carrying their own secrets and motives. While I was able to piece together the mystery within the first ten chapters, this didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. Instead, I found myself excited to go on this journey of uncovering how the various threads would come together, and whether or not the characters would be able to put aside their differences and solve the case in time.

Dulce, is a standout character. Her reluctance to dive into the investigation, rooted in past trauma, is completely understandable and makes her development throughout the story all the more compelling. Despite her reservations, her natural curiosity and sharp investigative skills make her an invaluable asset to the case. Dulce is smart, resourceful, and more than willing to bend the rules to uncover uncomfortable truths—both about this crime and the secrets surrounding her mother’s death. Watching her grow from a reluctant participant to a key figure in the investigation is one of the book’s greatest strengths.

The supporting cast of characters, while sometimes fitting familiar archetypes, bring a necessary layer of complexity and emotional depth to the story. Their varying perspectives and relationships with Dulce add intrigue and spark moments of tension that keep the narrative moving forward. The romance, though secondary to the plot, provides a nice balance—subtle yet sweet, without overshadowing the main focus of the mystery.

In the end, ‘Very Dangerous Things” delivers an entertaining, fast-paced mystery with satisfying twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat with an author I would be excited to follow into another murderous world again.

**special thanks to to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

"Very Dangerous Things" by Lauren Muñoz is a top-notch YA whodunit with a unique setting, colorful characters, and plenty of red herrings. A murder mystery game turns deadly at J. Everett High, a private criminology school, turning everyone into a suspect and forcing a criminology student to crack the case.

Every year, the school stages a murder mystery to test its students. This year, crime junkie Dulce Death Castillo is determined to win the big prize. A longtime fan of Lord Wimsey, the literary detective created by Dorothy L. Sayers, she applies his methods to her own life. The plot thickens when the student playing the victim, Xavier Torres, is found poisoned in the school’s greenhouse - and suspicion falls on Sierra Fox, her ex-best friend and Xavier’s ex-girlfriend.

Sierra begs Dulce to prove her innocence, but Dulce refuses at first, still resenting her for abandoning her after her mother’s accidental death. Meanwhile, her best friend Emi starts investigating on her own, growing closer to another student, much to Dulce’s dismay. Then there’s Zane, a new student with a shady past and secrets of his own. Hoping to uncover the truth about both the murder and her mother’s accident, Dulce joins the investigation, applying her keen powers of observation - and Lord Wimsey’s methods - to catch a murderer and seek justice.

I loved this book! It's one of the best YA novels I’ve read recently, packed with twists and turns that will leave you spinning. The writing is sharp and engaging, pulling you in from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and well-rounded, with interactions that feel authentic and reveal glimpses of their pasts.

The story explores themes of grief, loss, betrayal, and friendship, and I love how the author expresses these emotions in such a relatable way. There’s even a bit of romance, though it never overshadows the mystery. The suspense keeps you hooked while making you root for the protagonists. Some moments may require a suspension of disbelief, but they don’t take away from the story’s impact.

Each chapter begins with a Dorothy L. Sayers quote, adding another layer of depth to the book. I’ve read a few of Sayers' novels, but after finishing this, I feel an even stronger urge to read the rest. That said, prior knowledge of Sayers’ work isn’t necessary to enjoy the story.

I adored everything about this book and found Dulce incredibly relatable. She is observant and perceptive, and I loved reading her thought process and the way she analyzed others’ behavior. Her attempts to step into Lord Wimsey’s shoes, along with her character development, were a joy to follow.

The plot moves at a great pace, with just enough detail to paint a vivid picture of the characters and setting without becoming tedious. I didn’t guess the identity of the murderer, which made the reveal even more satisfying. It’s not a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller, but there’s plenty of suspense to keep you engrossed.

To sum up, this is an absolute page-turner, highly recommended for fans of suspense and dark academia. I’d love to read more books featuring this heroine!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

A satisfying sophomore effort from Lauren Muñoz, Very Dangerous Things is a well-constructed YA mystery that manages to be a smart, meta whodunit, a thoughtful exploration of grief and trauma, and a love letter to Lord Peter Wimsey. Full of likeable characters, sharp twists, and seedy small-town darkness, it cements Muñoz as a genuine mystery talent on the rise.

What a fun "whodunit". I think this was an improvement from Suddenly a Murder. There were a few small plot holes but nothing that upended the whole book. It was a real mystery in a fake mystery which gave some fun campy feel and the conflict between the characters added a great element.

Dolce attends a criminology high school that hosts a murder mystery each year for its students to solve. Only this year, the murder is real.
This was a fun murder mystery with lots of twists and turns and great characters. With that said, all of the adults in this book were ridiculous (as is common in much YA).
While not necessarily believable, this was a fun ride.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.

Very Dangerous People was not what I expected. I expected it to be your regular murder mystery but this was far better. I was sucked in from the prologue. The twists and turns of this book were thrilling. I had so many suspicions and accusations to make but it turns out not everyone is as they appear. I wanted to scream and laugh and just stare blankly at my kindle screen.

Okay this was so much fun to read! Definitely not a five star because I think it had so many plot holes, but nevertheless super entertaining. I was HOOKED! The premise was quite interesting with characters all being criminology students. I can't be certain of it but I think the author's background as a lawyer sets this book apart from some other YA mysteries I've read. The book has a ton of Dorothy L. Sayers quotes and the MC Dulce idolizes Lord Wimsey referring to him every now and then. Unfortunately, I know nothing of the referenced author or character and having anywhere near that passion would probably add more to the reading experience.

I wish I could say more about the story itself, but I doubt I can without giving away anything that isn't already on the blurb. I'll be keeping an eye out for more by this author.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Set in a high school for future criminologists, Very Dangerous Things is a strange but fun YA mystery.

The setting alone is enough to make this book compelling, but the protagonist (Dulce) brings a lot to the story. Observant and perceptive, she models herself after Lord Wimsey, and there are Dorothy L. Sayers quotes throughout the book. It is a cute conceit, and it is fun to watch Dulce grow and mature as a character.

The mystery itself (a student is murdered for real during a staged murder mystery event) is intriguing, though the idea of the school itself (while completely fun) is a bit nonsensical, and it veers a bit over the top. Allowing for a suspension of disbelief, this book will have an audience, and it would be nice to see if more is done with Dulce in the future.

Very Dangerous Things is a murder mystery that takes place in a private criminology based high school. A popular student is chosen to play the murder victim in a school wide mystery game, but he ends up a real corpse. Dulce, the main character who has a canny eye for details, leads a student run investigation when it appears that the police are accusing the wrong person. The book has romance, suspense, more attempts at murder and a twisting ending that will leave ya mystery enthusiasts satisfied with the ending. Very Dangerous Things contains strong language, themes of parental death, infidelity, violence. I would recommend it for high school readers.

I was given a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I always enjoy a good high school murder mystery, and this was no exception. Dulce Death Castillo, our protagonist, is a big fan of Lord Wimsey, a literary detective, due to the interest of her late mother. Dulce is a student at J. Everett, which is a school dedicated to subjects such as detecting, forensics, and journalism. Every year, there is a murder mystery with a major prize, and this year Dulce has her heart set on the $30,000 so that she can take her mother's dream tour of England. Xavier, the guy tagged as the victim, turns up dead for real, and all evidence points to his girlfriend, Sierra Fox, Dulce's former friend. Dulce finds herself pulled into the investigation by her best friend Emi, but the evidence keeps pointing in different directions. Dulce will have to decide who to trust - Sierra, who betrayed her once before? New boy Zane, who stole her coroner's internship? The sheriff, who has clearly been involved in a cover up before? Readers will enjoy Dulce's fact collecting/conclusion drawing asides and will be eager to piece together the flashbacks and evidence alongside Dulce. I'd definitely recommend for fans of other high school mystery writers!

Calling all fans of Holly Jackson and Truly Devious!

It’s a new school year at the Dr. James Everett School of Criminology. This year, Dulce Death Castillo is determined to win the annual murder mystery. But when the mock murder of class president and previous winner, Xavier Torres, turns into a genuine murder mystery, Dulce must put aside her bad blood with her ex-best friend turned accused murderer Sierra Fox. Dulce and her ragtag team of friends soon discover that not everyone is as innocent as they claim to be, even those closest to her. But the real question is can a faux detective solve a very real murder?
Muñoz concocted a well-rounded YA mystery novel that had me guessing until the very end! I’m usually one to guess quite early on, but I was wrong every single time. Very Dangerous Things kept me hooked from beginning to end, so much so that I read it in two days! Mark your calendars for July 29th because this was one wild ride you don’t want to miss!

A special thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Really fun, only slightly dangerous. My biggest concern, which, in the scheme of things isn't too bad, is that the school itself didn't really make sense. A handful of transplants from other parts of the country who were vying to go to this prestigious and unique school would have gone a long way.

I love a good murder mystery, and this is one. Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I guessed the killer multiple times and was wrong every time. Just an awesome book and I really loved the characters as well. If you love YA and love murder mysteries, you should definitely give this one a go.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC! This will be out in late July 2025. Make sure to add it to your list!