3/5 stars! This story kind of works as a YA mystery story, but I couldn't find myself pulled into the story. I read it and it was fine, but nothing stuck out as special to me. I would probably try another book by this author to see if it's a one-off.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A dark and twisty thriller featuring a cast of very young characters, a closed circle plot and a murder.
It kept me reading and on the edge. The author did a good job and delivers a tense and fast paced story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I already know my students are going to be obsessed with this! A dark and twisty YA thriller that will have you guessing right up until the last moment.

I was really excited to read this as the blurb was really interesting, unfortunately i just wasn't a fan of the writing style and the characters were not my favourite i just couldn't connect to them.

I didnt know what to expect going into this novel but I absolutely loved it. The ending had me emotional which shocked me tbh. What an incredible mystery!!!

I did not manage to read this unfortunately, due to unforeseeable issues at home but I have bought this book as I’m very interested in reading it once I get the opportunity.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A YA murder mystery is not my usual genre, but I must admit I enjoyed it. A little predictable but a good read nonetheless. Recommended.

I have never read a book by Lauren Munoz and for that I'd like to thank the team at Netgalley and Hot Key Books for letting me receive an advance reader copy.

I wanted to love this but there was absolutely no way that I could. There was characteristics of the writing that I believed I would love but unfortunately for myself, the writing was absolutely abysmal. I'm not saying that I could have done a better job, but the plotting consisted of one of the characters hiding in a. secret passage and eavesdropping on police interviews for half of the book. This was highly unrealistic and just didn't make any sense. How can someone not realise that she was missing?

I wanted to love this because I love the 1920's era and yet it just flopped.

A really solid debut and a great YA murder mystery. I can tend to get a bit bored with locked room mysteries as I like a change of scenery but this has flashbacks with all the characters that will keep you guessing because of course everyone has a motive.

I loved the whole glitz and glamour of it being a 1920's themed getaway too. It made it feel that much more atmospheric.

Suddenly A Murder is a modern-day murder mystery with a 1920s twist. Izzy (Isadole) and Kassidy are best friends who love a 1920s movie filmed at Ashwood Manor. Izzy is stunned and excited to learn that for graduation, Kassidy has booked the whole Manor for a whole week - the catch being they and their other 5 friends have to give up their modern day belongings for a whole week (no mobiles, modern clothing etc) and live a 20s themed life. Although some of the group are reluctant at first, they soon warm to the theme. When tensions start to run high and a body is found, suspicions fall on who the killer is. Many have a motive, but who is the actual killer. This was a great YA mystery, which I devoured in two days. The twists and turns are so cleverly woven, and the ending was satisfying and conclusive. The book flicks between Izzys POV now and others POV on the months running up to the getaway, giving a great stepping stone to keep you guessing as to who did it. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

If you're looking for a YA thriller this is one I'd highly recommend; the only thing I'd say is there was just maybe one too many characters as I found myself forgetting who was who quite a few times. It's an interesting murder mystery in a really fascinating setting, with a twist I never ever saw coming! An easy read but a fantastic book nevertheless

A group of teenagers fall under suspicion when one of them is murdered on an island retreat following their high school graduation.

A group of privileged high school teens are on a private island to celebrate the end of high school, Izzy Morales joins her best friend Kassidy and five friends on a luxury 1920s-themed getaway at the glamorous Ashwood Manor. Kassidy's boyfriend and the host of the party then ends up stabbed to death and at first it seems we are following the story through the narration of the murderer - Izzy is telling us how she was the last one to see him alive, her plans to kill him and starts to unravel her story, but things aren't that simple. The remaining members of the party are then trapped on the island, in their vintage dresses and expensive diamonds as two detectives arrive to quiz them over the events leading up to the murder. We learn more about their back stories and links to each other, all the while Izzy seems sure that her story will be seen through, and her best friend Kassidy unravels and spirals into depression over what has happened.

The characters are fairly thinly drawn and it's difficult to get much of a handle on anyone except our narrator, Izzy, but it's all nicely reminiscent of a more old fashioned murder mystery with plenty of juicy secrets & twists. An entertaining read

This book was great fun! It was giving Agatha Christie vibes!

This book had everything I could have wanted, mystery, romance and intriguing characters.

I had high hopes for this book as it is the type of thing both myself and my students loved to read.

I loved that it was set as a 1920s party celebration for high school kids as it just added another element to the story for me transporting me away from the present.

Although, I found this to be a bit of a slow burner at first, once it got going, I couldn’t put it down. It kept me guessing pretty much to the end which I really liked.

It definitely reminded me of Gossip Girl/Veronica Mars which was a big plus for me.

I will be looking to get this for our Library! A really good debut novel with hopefully more books to follow.

Izzy is off to a luxury 1920s-themed getaway to celebrate the end of high school with her best friend Kassidy and 5 other friends at Ashwood Manor on Sparrow Island. While they are having their fun Kassidy's boyfriend turns up dead. Two savvy detectives come to solve the murder. A storm traps them all on the island. Everyone is a suspect, but Izzy brought the knife...

Starting with a prologue that may or may not be an unnamed 1st person perspective of the murder, this book had me hooked from the very beginning. Then it plunges into the world of these privileged young people and our narrator, with foreboding hints of things that have happened or will happen. I enjoyed how the narration is like we're in the know, but we're not in the know. Information seeps pleasantly into our knowledge primarily through our protagonist's thoughts, whispers of secrets everywhere.

The descriptions set the mood swimmingly and the straightforward narrative is peppered with flashbacks that bring us in on the characters' lives and the group dynamic. The author cleverly handles the event of the 1st person narrator also being a suspect, her suspicious thoughts adding to the ambiance.

You inevitably have intense feelings about the characters, but I think it's up to you who gives you positive or negative vibes. They gave me plenty of negative if not murder-capable vibes. There are different sorts of personalities to choose from, though spoiled-rich-kid plagues most of them. the digs they throw at each other *high-pitched whistle*. But not character is just one thing and that makes them more real.

Truth is some of the flashbacks for some of the characters felt non-essential, and sometimes they were lagging the story and jarring me out of it. Nothing wrong with the scenes, it just was like the timing for and of them was off. A good portion of them though amped up the intrigue.

A slow burner at the beginning, the story starts to roar after the murder and the fun of figuring out who did it really starts. Adding to that fun is the consulting detective Pilar de Leon, you know one of those secondary characters that steals the show. Close to the end like probably a lot of you I guessed the who but not the how. The success of the story was that the surprises didn't end there. This was an immensely entertaining murder mystery that touches on the complexities of friendship and the power of family. Izzy is off to a luxury 1920s-themed getaway to celebrate the end of high school with her best friend Kassidy and 5 other friends at Ashwood Manor on Sparrow Island. While they are having their fun Kassidy's boyfriend turns up dead. Two savvy detectives come to solve the murder. A storm traps them all on the island. Everyone is a suspect, but Izzy brought the knife...

Starting with a prologue that may or may not be an unnamed 1st person perspective of the murder, this book had me hooked from the very beginning. Then it plunges into the world of these privileged young people and our narrator, with foreboding hints of things that have happened or will happen. I enjoyed how the narration is like we're in the know, but we're not in the know. Information seeps pleasantly into our knowledge primarily through our protagonist's thoughts, whispers of secrets everywhere.

The descriptions set the mood swimmingly and the straightforward narrative is peppered with flashbacks that bring us in on the characters' lives and the group dynamic. The author cleverly handles the event of the 1st person narrator also being a suspect, her suspicious thoughts adding to the ambiance.

You inevitably have intense feelings about the characters, but I think it's up to you who gives you positive or negative vibes. They gave me plenty of negative if not murder-capable vibes. There are different sorts of personalities to choose from, though spoiled-rich-kid plagues most of them. the digs they throw at each other *high-pitched whistle*. But not character is just one thing and that makes them more real.

Truth is some of the flashbacks for some of the characters felt non-essential, and sometimes they were lagging the story and jarring me out of it. Nothing wrong with the scenes, it just was like the timing for and of them was off. A good portion of them though amped up the intrigue.

A slow burner at the beginning, the story starts to roar after the murder and the fun of figuring out who did it really starts. Adding to that fun is the consulting detective Pilar de Leon, you know one of those secondary characters that steals the show. Close to the end like probably a lot of you I guessed the who but not the how. The success of the story was that the surprises didn't end there. This was an immensely entertaining murder mystery that touches on the complexities of friendship and the power of family.

I was drawn to this book mainly because of the cover, I mean, that is one stunning book cover and very gossip girl-esque! This was a gripping murder mystery set in the modern day, but fitted around a 1920's getaway before a group of students went away to university. It focuses mainly on one character in particular, who seems a rather fitting choice to be the murder, however I knew this would be far too obvious, therefore the search for the true murdered commenced. I couldn't have put my finger on the murderer, no matter how hard I tried but I really enjoyed the big reveal and it's conclusion. It was a very clever and enticing murder mystery, I would highly recommend to everybody.

I admit, I went into this one thinking I had it all worked out. I was incredibly wrong.

This was an intriguing murder mystery. I loved the setting, the atmosphere, and the plot. It started slow but about a third of the way through it picked up the pace and I was racing through to the conclusion.

This books sets it up to make you think you know who the murderer is, but it’s full of twists and turns. I didn’t know what to think or who to trust!

It was incredibly enjoyable, insanely clever, and very character driven.

It’s not often I sob at the end of a murder mystery by the way, but this one had me emotional. I was a mess by the end!

Highly recommend.

I was provided with an ebook arc copy of this story in hopes that I would leave an honest review after having read it .

The story starts out as our characters leaving school and heading to college was . They all come from wealth and power. All accept Izzy who is the daughter of one of the schools teachers.

She is drawn into the group because she is best friends with Kassidy.

To celebrate the end of their time as high school students before they go their separate ways Kassidy throws an all out exclusive 1920s themed party.
Part of the party experience they go away to a large house on a secluded island.

They play at being decadent dubtants, and then the murder happens.

Through out our author gives us flash backs, little peaks into the lives before the party of each of our suspects. Thrilling and very well written indeed

I do so love a mystery and this was brilliant!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I really liked the atmosphere created by the 1920s-themed getaway the characters are on, it made for the perfect murder mystery setting. As for the characters, it was slightly hard to tell them apart at the beginning but as we got to know more about each person, it became easy to follow and distinguish between them. There was a little bit of romance which was cute and I appreciated how it wasn’t rushed or used as a plot device (which can sometimes be the case when adding romance to mystery novels).

The mystery/murder itself was interesting too and the whole locked room setting created great tension. There were lots of misdirects and reviled that added layers and constantly made me jump between which character I thought was guilty.

A group of seven friends (or should that be frenemies) travel to Ashwood Manor, a mansion which is being turned into a museum. Before the big opening the group get to stay at the Manor, isolated on Sparrow Island, for a week's holiday after graduating. Izzy Morales is there with Kassidy, latest crush Marlowe, Kassidy's boyfriend, Blaine, school athlete & rower Ellison, theatre kid Fergus, & newcomer to the group Chloe. There are tangled group dynamics & secrets galore, one of which culminates in a murder. Two detectives arrive from the mainland to question the group, & they are suddenly all trapped there whilst a storm rages. Whodunnit & why, & are they finished with just one?

I was looking forward to this from the synopsis & it turned out to be rather Agatha Christie-esque in parts: a group isolated in a grand house, a murder, lots of suspects all with motives, & the big reveal by the detectives at the end. I loved the setting & the fact that the friends were having a 1920s themed stay - it's one of my favourite historical eras. I found that apart from main character Isadora (Izzy) & Marlowe (to an extent) the rest of the group's characters were just 'bored rich kid'. I also found it amusing that Izzy would say she was just nipping to fetch more tea or get a book or something & would disappear down a secret passageway & eavesdrop on the detectives interviewing the group one by one. She must have been gone quite a while each time but the rest hardly ever wondered where she had been for all that time. Odd. Anyway, it was interesting enough to finish reading but I can't say as I would be in a rush to re-read it.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bonnier Books UK/Hot Key Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.