Catch Your Death is a scintillating, scheming marvel of a book. Between this and This Book Kills, Ravena Guron is quickly emerging as a shining star of YA mysteries. Do not miss out on this incredible book.

This is one of the best mysteries I have ever had the joy of reading. I was buddy reading this and audibly gasped, then went overboard texting my buddy. Everything is just kept at such brilliance: the pacing, plotting, tension, twists, atmosphere, characters and setting. It is a layered and complex puzzle, but one that is so satisfying to see come together. Guron juggles a lot but keeps the pages flowing nicely, allowing you to slip into the beguiling trance this story offers. It is such a love letter to classic mysteries, with tropes and stock settings - the cut off house in a snowstorm with a deadly dinner party full of people who hate each other. I adored how she played with these expectations, sometimes fulfilling them and sometimes challenging them in sharp, interesting ways. That classic set up is done to a tee, but she injects new life into it with ingenious shocks, surprises and secrets. This is something thoroughly modern and different. There is so much more than first meets the eye and you will love unpicking this tangled web alongside Devi, Lizzie and Jayne.

Speaking of these three, they are phenomenal protagonists. Each has their own distinctive narrative voice right from the off and I welcomed each into my heart instantly. Devi is headstrong, intelligent and fiercely driven. She made me cackle with her humour and willingness to play detective as soon as she could. Lizzie was slightly more reserved, but also kind and heartfelt. Her friendships and loyalty are core drives for her, particularly with her family. Jayne was even more mysterious to start with, deliberately trying to camouflage herself and fade into the background. Behind her steel wall though there is a kindness and warmth that is so generous and unrelenting. All three were three-dimensional and believable and I adored reading their arcs over the course of the book. They were all so warm and passionate, while also having keen eyes. My detective notebook was firmly in use, with all of the little clues and details. It was such a rich and well-layered plot to uncover, so I am sure Guron has more for me to discover upon a second read.

This is hands down one of the best Young Adult mysteries I have ever read. It is so immaculately plotted with a wonderful homage to the Golden Age of Crime that grows into so much more. The initial opening section is gripping, but also drip feeds you the slow burning background of information needed to piece this dastardly jigsaw piece together. Guron cannily switches from past sections to the current day police interviews, allowing narratives to merge together in unexpected and challenging ways. You are kept hooked, but also allow yourself to sit back and wonder at Guron’s brilliance. I cannot exaggerate how phenomenal this book is. The twists are next level. They genuinely catch you off guard and completely flip your perspective on everything, as good twists should do. They marry together so well with the creeping atmosphere of dread and paranoia settling in. You know from the start the outcome of this fateful encounter, but our characters do not in their past narratives. In this sense, the reader is placed in a false state of omnipotence, only for Guron to completely rip that facade away.

Catch Your Death is YA mystery excellence at its finest. Cosy up with a blanket and hot chocolate and allow Guron to take you on a wild, twisty and wonderful journey.

Three girls are stranded at the grand Bramble Estate in the middle of a snowstorm and stumble into a murder plot. Someone poisoned wealthy Emily Vanforte at dinner and Devi, Lizzie and Jayne are stuck in the house with the murderer. Will they be able to solve the mystery where everyone is suspect and there are things like knives under floorboards and secret passageways?

I was so excited to read this after loving Guron previous book This Book Kills and it does not disappoint. This is a clever narrative that supplies info in a subtle, inviting way. The author certainly knows how to set the scene, the atmosphere is the right amount of ominous, and the characters' observations are on point. Little details grab our attention as we are naturally on the lookout for clues. The interview transcripts give the story more gravitas, make it feel more real and is a great way to convey more info and insight.

You instantly feel comfortable in the POVs. Even though the girls are telling the story and seem to be talking to us, you are 'living' it with them. Each girl's POV has its own distinct voice and delivers us a different part of the mystery, serving us the ugly of the family's dynamics, rounding out the story beautifully. Devi is a charming smart aleck, Lizzie is apprehensive, sort of shy, the most sensitive one and Jayne is a private person and blunt, quietly not taking shit from anyone.

Weird things start happening or being said early on and everybody looks suspicious. There is a generous build-up until the murder. The girl's thoughts make sense, spelling out suspicions & questions, several we the readers also have. I did not figure this one out AT ALL, and did not see that twist coming. It's a damn good twist. And there are a lot of jaw-dropping moments after, till the finale which made me cheer and want to applaud.

I love that there is a page again that gives you the chance to solve the murder before the conclusion and win stuff. Guron solidifies her place with this absolutely readable story as a YA murder mystery master.

I adore how things were tied up. I love how purely engaging this story was, this is the PERFECT book club read, particularly for those who are searching for the next One of Us is Lying. The plot to this is nothing short than diabolical and I feel very satisfied and smug after reading this, even if my skills as a sofa detective only guessed two plot points in this entire novel.

Catch your death

Several POVs telling events to the police

This is the second Guron book I've read and she's now solidified as a new favourite for me! I loved this so much. Having the three strangers tell their stories to the inspector was a great way to introduce us to everyone and keep us on our toes guessing along with what happened. There were several big twists along the way, some more predictable than others but all enjoyable. Adding in interactive elements and pages for the readers to write down their guesses is genius, I'd love to see this in more books in the future!

I loved the distinct voices in the different POVs, sometimes books can suffer from making them too similar and I have to double check who is actually speaking at the time, and even though the three girls are the same age it was always clear who was who.

Easily a 4.5 rounded upto a 5 from me. It has all the classic murder mystery elements with some additional gems along the way, the characters were all interesting and well developed, the twists kept readers guessing, and the ending was very satisfying and well wrapped up, what more could we ask for! Highly recommended for any fans of good girls guide to muder!

My thanks to Usborne Publishing for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Catch Your Death’ by Ravena Guron.

In January I read Ravena Guron’s ‘This Book Kills’ and observed that while marketed as YA that it would appeal to mystery lovers of all ages. I would say the same about this second novel.

It has a classic locked room murder mystery set-up as three teenage girls find themselves stranded at the grand Bramble Estate during a severe snowstorm and inadvertently stumble into a murder plot.

Devi Mistry was on the way to visit her grandmother when the snowstorm becomes too much. She sees a sign for the Bramble Estate and has a vague memory that her grandmother had mentioned it as a hotel so turns into the property. When the door is answered by the posh Emily Vanforte and her daughter, Lottie, Devi realises that she has made a mistake and it’s a family home. While Emily’s husband, Charles, is all for Devi hitting the road despite the raging blizzard, Emily insists that she stays over.

Meanwhile Elizabeth (Lizzie) Newton-Hill has been sent by her mother to hand deliver an expensive necklace to Emily Vanforte, who wants to wear it for the lavish family dinner that she is hosting that night. Again, the worsening weather leads to an invitation for Lizzie to stay over. Finally, Jayne Faraway works part time at Bramble and was helping the housekeeper, Mrs. Bromley, with the meal and given the storm she is also staying over.

Emily Vanforte locks all three in the West Wing of the mansion ‘for everyone’s privacy’. Then during the dinner with only four others present, Emily keels over apparently poisoned. Alarmed that they are now trapped in a house with a murderer, Devi, Lizzie, and Jayne begin to investigate. No further details to avoid spoilers.

The novel moves between various points of view and also includes transcripts from police interviews. The author and publishers give their readers an opportunity to play detective twice in the novel. While this didn’t quite work for me, it was easy enough to skip over.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘Catch Your Death’ finding it an engaging mystery with plenty of twists.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

If you wanted to practice your sleuthing skills on a book, then this book is for you!! There is even a few pages available to note down the clues and your conclusions .
In this YA story, the first chapter tells of Emily Vanfort, who owns a beautiful house in the countryside. One night, an important one for her family as she has some big news, is crashed by a young girl(Devi), with a broken down car and a satnav that has sent her way off course As it’s snowing badly, they have no choice but to offer her a room for the night. A courier(Lizzie), bringing a necklace for Emily, also becomes stuck there. On Emily’s staff is a young teenage girl (Jayne),who Emily puts up together with the other two girls in the same wing of her house, to wait out the storm. They are told under no circumstances are they to interrupt her family dinner.. Emily tells them the door out of their wing will be locked but they can access the kitchen through another door.
There are various clues as it becomes apparent that Emily is dead and very possibly murdered! There is space for your conclusions and then the explanation comes into play.
I really liked how it was all set up and although I found the story a little slow to begin with, it soon picked up the pace and I was engrossed! Very cleverly written.
Many thanks to Usbourne Publishing for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #usbourneya, #ravenaguron.

The wealthy Emily Vanforte has called a dinner party at the Bramble estate for an important reason - one of the guests has a secret and she intends to out them. Attending are herself, her husband, her daughter, her nephew and her daughters boyfriend. She's purchased a fabulous new necklace for the occasion and Lizzie, the shop owners daughter, comes to deliver.

Unfortunately, due to a bad snowstorm, it's not safe for Lizzie to return home and Emily generously invites her to stay the night, along with Devi whose car has broken down nearby. Jayne, the housekeepers assistant, is asked to stay over also to look after the girls. They can't come to dinner, but she's happy for them to be hosted in the kitchen.

During dinner, however, Emily collapses and dies....a tragic circumstance? Or a murder? Trapped by the storm, Devi, Lizzie and Jayne decide to investigate...just in case they could be next....

The story is told from each of the girls POV, with transcripts from police interviews also. I found Devi quite arrogant so I didn't like her chapters as much as the others.

The story is addictive, I really really enjoyed it. There's a section for writing your own thoughts and what you think happened, I'll say I wasn't completely correct but I was on the right track!

This is the second book I've read from this author and my favourite so far. Will definitely be looking her up in future.

Also posted to Goodreads but can't link account.

I loved the first book, but I was a hopeless detective, in that I had all the clues, and missed by a country mile who did the murder!!
So, second book, I wrote copious notes, really thought hard about the events and characters, and managed to solve one teeny tiny part of the mystery! I am 69 years old, and it’s really humiliating when you consider these books are pitched at the Teens and Young Adult market!
The story concerns three young girls, all strangers to each other and the occupants of a large isolated Mansion, who find themselves trapped there by a heavy snowfall. They are invited to stay until the weather improves, but that evening, the wealthy owner of the Mansion is murdered. There are so many suspects , each has a convincing back story, but from painful experience, believe nothing and trust nobody!
The Mansion is spooky, and who doesn’t love secret rooms and stolen weapons? The writing is crisp and the characters are all so believable and apparently honest.
The narrative is told through a series of past events and present day police interviews. Each clue leads to other startling events and the reader is again invited to show off their deductive powers. There are blank pages for the reader to sort out their clues, hunches and guesswork, this will work better in an actual book, and when the story resumes, the guesses made and deductions will in my case be wrong!
There are two opportunities to guess who did it, and that makes these books so intriguing. Real audience participation and so much fun.
Family gatherings will never be the same again!
A five star read. My thanks to Netgalley and to Usborne publishers for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave a review to Goodreads and Amazon UK.

A pacy murder mystery set in an eerie estate. The narrative was engaging and flowed well, alternating between the three girls' POVs as they pieced together what had happened. There were several very well done twists which I thoroughly enjoyed

This was a really engaging murder mystery and I was happily surprised by the twists and turns. I loved the three different POV's of the girls, each one having their own distinct voice and personality. I found Devi to be a little unlikable at times, especially when she was getting frustrated with Lizzie, but as the book went on, the girls began to understand each other more and Devi started to become a little more empathetic. They were all great characters to read and played their roles well in the book as a whole. I was glad we got their individual thoughts as well as their backstories.

I thought the mystery was really strong and I tried to guess who the killer was as I went on but was unable due to the red herrings and the different plot points. This was a good thing as I like to be kept on my toes when reading a mystery. This one had all my favourite tropes, secret passageways, hidden clues, and a locked room murder. I thought all of these elements were really well included and heightened the tension throughout.

Often in murder mysteries, the murderer is caught and the book ends. I was glad to see with Catch your Death, that there was an aftermath. The reader gets to see the trial and how the girls cope when it is all over. This was a great ending for me and I think it wrapped it up nicely.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This mysterious, twisty YA thriller is set at the bramble estate mansion and follows three young women, Devi, Lizzie and Jayne as they get stranded due to the snow.

Emily Vanforte has called an important dinner party on this night, and the women overhear her saying she will be revealing a secret to them all about one of them. With all of them seeming to have possible something to hide, the tensions run high.

Suddenly during the dinner Emily is poisoned, leaving the women stranded in the mansion with a murderer. They must work out how to survive the night and maybe also try and solve the mystery.

Will they survive? What secrets are the family keeping?

I like the style of this authors books as they not only go between the main characters through the chapters, but also includes excerpts from police interviews after the event. It adds to the mystery and leads to the identity of the killer.

The storyline is very mysterious and as I’ve said at the start is very twisty. You have chances to solve the clues for yourself and write your own theories of who you think the murderer may be.

The family certainly have a lot of secrets, meaning the tension builds between the other characters and cause even more possible suspects.

Overall, a mysterious, dark, twisty YA thriller where three stranded women must survive the night in a mansion with a murderer.

Wow! What a great story, with lots of twists and turns. I would never have guessed the outcome!
The story is told from the perspectives of 3 young girls, who for one reason or another find themselves spending the night at the Bramble Estate, the home of the Vanfortes.
Emily Vanforte is poisoned at dinner, and as the 3 girls were eating together in a separate part of the house, only 4 family members were present. Who is the guilty party, and will the girls survive the night?
I will be searching for other books by this author, for sure!

The first part of this book is like a gothic horror who Dunn it type story where in a snow storm various characters are stranded in a massive country house (with the obligatory secret passages and ghost stories). A death occurs and seemingly it’s a shoe in as to which family member is the culprit. However don’t be fooled by that description as this book is more than a gentle murder mystery. There are plot twists, volte face and intrigue! I really enjoyed reading this and will recommend to my friends who love a book that makes you change direction throughout. My only niggle is that the ages of the 6 younger characters didn’t correlate to their actions and characters and as previously stated I felt I was reading a gothic novel and not a modern take - for example with all the money Emily purportedly had, why wasn’t there any central heating?

This was a new author for me and I have to say I was very impressed. The plot was unusual and the story told from 3 different points of view. The mystery was full of twists and turns and kept me guessing to the end. A very entertaining story. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My second book by this author and a second to recommend to my students! Guron’s writing is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep you guessing as to whom the murderer might be. The three narrators all have distinct personalities and it was enjoyable reading from all three perspectives. The different sections of the narrative are well thought out, with many a red herring (particularly in the first section). Some of the smaller characters could have been better developed but it doesn’t hinder the plot. I’m looking forward to seeing what Guron does next.

Devi, Jayne and Lizzie were at the Bramble estate on the wrong night. Emily Vanforte the lady of the house is dead. And now, the three girls tell their side of the story... Only four people were in the room with Mrs Vanforte when she died and every single one of them had a reason to kill her!

I enjoyed this immensely. I got pulled in in the very first chapter and could not stop reading. I loved that it went from interviews to points of view. It was captivating and I wanted to figure out what happened so badly. I saw none of the twists coming and I was gasping throughout most of the book. Even when I did figure out some plot points, I was just so surprised that I got it.
I had a real soft spot for Devi but I really liked all three of the points of view. I felt like they all brought something different to the story.
Basically, this was killer book and I loved it so much. I cannot wait for more books by Ravena Guron.

Catch Your Death by Ravena Guron is an exciting Young Adult mystery.
I thought the writing was incredible, the plot was easy to follow, the story was intriguing, the characters were well developed and relatable and overall this book is a really great read.
The perfect mystery to get sucked into.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

Devi and Lizzie are teenagers and find themselves stuck at Bramble Mansion with a dysfunctional family during a snowstorm. They are joined by the kitchen help, Jayne.
The family are dining alone during a power cut and Emily Vanforte dies - it looks like murder. Who did it and why?
Then there’s another murder - connected or not?
Twists and turns keep you guessing right until the very end.
Great YA read.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Another well written book by Ravena Guron that definitely will be popular with my students.

I personally didn’t feel that it was as strong as some of the other authors in the Young Adult category but it definitely stood its own.

Good characters and a solid plot. Would purchase for our library.

Catch Your Death is an inventive murder mystery where every page leaves you guessing. I wouldn’t say I was massively gripped by the mystery, probably because it took me a little longer than I wanted to get through this, but it was a good read.

Firstly, the characters were all well rounded and very thought out. They all had little personality quirks and background details that played well into the final outcome. There’s a little breadcrumb of clues that feed into the plot twist (which isn’t a spoiler as all mysteries have a plot twist) and it was very clever.

I’m a huge fan of mysteries that have interesting formats and I loved the police interviews. They helped break up the long chapters whilst still providing important information.

I’m not going to mention any spoilers but I will say that I guessed where the book was going after the midway point. I’m not giving anything away by saying this is a case of an untrustworthy narrator, but not how you’d think. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome and it was very interesting. Although, I’m not sure how well it worked because as I said at the beginning of this review, it took me a while to read, so I definitely forgot some of it.

I wouldn’t say this is a favourite mystery of mine, but it is quite good. You can’t really go wrong with a murder in a mansion. They are always creepy.

Apologies for the shorter length of this review, I never know what to say about mysteries without giving anything away. What I can say is, Catch Your Death is a good read and it’s fun trying to figure out what is going on.