From start to finish this was suitably terrifying and entertaining in equal measure. Elements of the story surrounding Keely felt rather underdeveloped, and I’m not wholly convinced that someone so dangerous would not have left some clues as to the risk they posed.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I genuinely could not put it down. The anticipation, the heart racing thriller that this book is, is so good. I have given this book 5 stars I’m definitely recommend to anybody that would like to read a book that they can’t put down and love a thriller. It’s just such a hauntingly good book.

You Wouldn’t Catch Me Dead by Tess James-Mackey follows 16 year old Keely on a school camping trip she didn’t want to go on in the first place, and is only proven right as her companions start disappearing. I have to admit I didn’t really like Keely in the beginning, but as we get to know her past a bit better, the reasons for her behaviour become more clear, and she becomes easier to like and root for. The book is quite spooky and has a wonderfully eerie atmosphere, being set in foggy Welsh mountains (on a sidenote, I loved the appearance of a Welsh speaking character). As bodies start to pile up and more and more strange things start happening, the book became harder and harder to put down. I think I’m becoming a fan of YA horror, as there are no really gory descriptions, and it’s way easier to forgive teenagers for doing stupid things (like going out in the fog alone) than it is adults. And while some parts of the backstory felt a bit underdeveloped to me, it was still an entertaining and exciting read. Definitely recommend if you like spooky stories!

You wouldn’t catch me dead isn’t quite spine chilling as the blurb suggested but it is a reasonable tale, it’s a bit slow to get into the characters and would suit young adults as even as the body count rises it’s not overly graphic.

2024 52 Book Challenge - 32) Timeframe spans a week or less

I really enjoyed this book! It was addictive and I didn't want to put it down once the story gripped me.

To begin with, Keely really annoyed me, but as the book evolved, and her backstory was explored, she became a much more likable and tragic character. I admit, I really wasn't a fan of her name because every time I saw it, I was like, where is the missing e, which distracted me from the plot a little.

I think the secondary characters were pretty solid, and I really liked Barry and the friendship that is developed between him and Keely.

I also really liked that it was set in Wales, with a character that speaks Welsh.

YOU WOULDN'T CATCH ME DEAD is the perfect book to read if you want an excuse not to go camping. In it, a school camping trip goes horribly, bloodily wrong.

For a book with a small cast (six students and two teachers, plus a few other people), the body count is impressive. So many people die in this camping murder-fest that, if the rain and isolation and cold hadn't put you off camping, then the body count would!

Beyond the body count, there's also a very uncertain, creepy atmosphere to the book. There's the uncertainty over certain characters' fate, strange things happening at night, and the terror of being isolated while bad things happen around you. It's very spooky, particularly the night time scenes where the author plays so well on a kids from the city/south-east England (with its light pollution) suddenly in the middle of nowhere with no light other than the moon and one torch.

There's also a ghost story woven into the tale, a monastery with a dark past and a history of tragedy arising from the crime. It plays well on the eeriness of the ruins and some of the darker chapters of monastic history. Plus it gives the kids an extra jumpiness in case it might just be a ghost or two out for revenge.

It's also a story of friendships - the strains they can go on under relationships (particularly coercive ones) and the difficulty opening yourself up to create new ones. I loved that there wasn't a romance at the heart of this story. Instead, the firmest relationship Keely makes across the book is purely platonic (and to have a m/f relationship at the book's heart without it being a romance was so nice to see.)

In all, a creepy tale that leans in to its surrounding well.

Heading out to the Black Mountains on a school camping trip, Keely is worried she is in the wrong place. When her teacher plunges to his death and her fellow camp mates disappear one-by-one, we can’t help but think she’s right!
From the outset this is tense.
As one by one her companions and people around them are killed in increasingly disturbing ways, Keely starts to wonder whether someone from her past could be searching for her.
Alongside the creepiness of the situation they’re in - and there are no punches pulled in the ways characters are despatched - the secrecy surrounding Keely definitely makes for an interesting story.
From start to finish this was suitably terrifying and entertaining in equal measure. Elements of the story surrounding Keely felt rather underdeveloped, and I’m not wholly convinced that someone so dangerous would not have left some clues as to the risk they posed. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this prior to publication.

Maybe it was just me but I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did. The plot line was good and there was pleanty for those who like a fright but I just did not connect with the characters. I'm not the correct demographic for this book so maybe just me !

3.5 stars: a solid first read of 2024.
Keely is a troubled Year 11 who moved from Kent to the country to escape her past. She has closed herself off from making connections, yet has found herself on a school camping trip, which very quickly goes from bad to worse! This was an enjoyable YA thriller with plenty of twists and turns and a well-developed main character in particular. Definitely worth a read and it explores some important real-world issues. I’ll happily read more from this author!

Keely is reluctant to go on a school camping trip but it is the only way to maybe get into college. When she and the other students arrive in rural Wales, things go wrong from the start. Things become more and more dire as Keely wonders if this is tied to her past.

I thought this one was ok. I think it took too long to get into the suspense after the initial shock/death (don’t want to spoil who). The author could’ve made it more gradual than just a bunch of dead bodies at once toward the end. I also thought it was a little far-fetched that Reece had stalked Keely down and created this whole elaborate scheme to get revenge.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A tense thriller that unlikely as it all is still keeps the reader gripped from the start in a classic "no, don't go off on your own!" murder mystery. It is quite gruesome in places so not for the squeamish and the characterisation is not convincing in some cases, but otherwise a great whodunnit that will appeal to those that like a good Sunday evening B-movie or drama.

You wouldn’t catch me dead is a YA horror/thriller that follows Keely, a girl with a secret, as she navigates the Welsh wilderness with a group of her peers. The isolated, remote setting felt very real and added to the suspense of the story. While at times you may need to suspend your disbelief to remain immersed in the story, the plot is pacy and gripping and the writing is atmospheric and believable. There are some truly tense and creepy scenes that will appeal to the horror fans. The flashbacks were well-timed and added to the plot.
Thanks to Hachette and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fun thriller in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this book but I did feel that it became a bit too formulaic. Every chapter seemed to end with a cliffhanger but these were not varied or particularly exciting. I also didn't think it seemed very probable and that there were too many characters who contributed little more than someone else for the body count.

Having said that though, I did finish the book and I was engaged enough to want to read on. I also liked the main characters and thought that they were well-written. If you're prepared to suspend a good chunk of your logical thinking and want to read something pacy that won't require too much thought, you could do a lot worse than get stuck into this book.

I enjoyed this book, it was so well written and is a great book for both the young adult and adult market, I didn’t feel like this had to be exclusively marketed at young adults. The writing was great, and I liked the setting and story idea.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if it were in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗪𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗𝗡’𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗
—𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀-𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 | 𝟰.𝟮𝟱🌟

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
✨YA thriller
✨Isolated setting
✨Ghost stories
✨Prickly MC

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Keely is not known for her social appetite or friendly demeanor, but to get into college she has to join an extra-credits programme that sees a group of teenagers—including Keely—and two teachers camping in the Black Mountains in Wales. And there’s nothing like a teacher dying to bond a class together.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
I could barely put this one down! This book was incredibly fast paced, ridiculously immersive, and deliciously creepy. It had all the elements I love in a thriller: complex characters, delightfully disturbing setting, and a worthy villain.

I was always going to love this book with it being set in Wales. But the setting is actually based on Llanthony a remote hamlet bordering the Black Mountains that is home to this gorgeous 900-year-old Priory that almost has a sentient state in TJM’s story. Not only did the author choose Wales as the setting, they breathed life into the setting in a way that made me love this story even more.

I really enjoyed the character of Keely. I found myself getting frustrated with her in the beginning/middle but when more context is given for her off putting behaviour, I found myself really rooting for her!

Overall, this was such an entertaining experience that I found myself utterly enthralled with. The constant tension in this book could be cut with a knife (and possibly gave me a stomach ulcer) and this is an author I’d love to experience more of.

𝗞𝗮𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 | 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆

You Wouldn’t Catch Me Dead by Tess James-Mackey is centred around Keely, a recluse desperate to keep a low profile in a new town.

Forced to take part in a school camping trip with five of her classmates, she must learn to quickly adapt and interact with others.

Isolated in the Black Mountains in Wales, a freak accident means the tense group must work together to get help. Unfortunately, the area is remote. There is no signal, people or transport nearby.

Like her peers, Keely remains on edge in the wilderness. However, she has more than current events haunting her. In this terrifying situation, she is triggered by her past, swept away often in her grief.

As things continue to go wrong, she becomes suspicious that there’s something nefarious going on. Together, these ambitious students must get help – and quickly.

The novel has a nice pacing. The flashback chapters were useful in adding depth to Keeley’s character and understanding her somewhat steely personality. In addition, the final few chapters were fast-paced, throwing you into turmoil.

The remote setting is spectacularly spooky and sinister. The scenic descriptions add to the uneasy feeling throughout.

I particularly liked the way James-Mackey explored and illustrated grief. I thought it was very realistic and poignant.

Overall a thrilling and at times sinister youth adult novel with well-developed main characters. It’s certainly worth a read in 2024.

After reading Tess James-Mackey previous book Someone is Watching You, I was delighted to be given the chance to read You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead and I knew already going into this book I was going to enjoy reading it.

This book is a perfect YA thriller/horror that can be read as a stand alone. Keely finds herself enrolling in a new school and just wants to be left alone and get through school so she can go to college but whilst doing this she enrols herself in a programme where some of her classmates go on a camping trip in the wilderness. How hard can this be right but as the trip goes on and the body count goes up, we have questions such as is Keely’s past catching up to her and what is it that made her and her family decide to uproot themselves and start a new life?

You Wouldn't Catch Me Dead is a tense thriller that has aspects of horror and mystery. The tension is palpable and quickly builds up as the book goes on. I liked reading about the different characters and how they were portrayed. Filled with so much thrills and questions this book will keep you engaged and wanting to find out the backstory and what is happening.

A perfect read for readers who enjoy thriller/ suspense mysteries, it will draw you in once you start and you can’t wait to get to the end to answer questions you will want to solve. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to fellow book readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, publishers, Hachette Children's Group and Hodder Children's Books for the copy of this arc in exchange of my honest review.

This is an entertaining stand alone horror thriller. I think it is good that Tess Jane’s-Mackay has aimed this book at teenage readers, but everyone older can enjoy this book too. The Welsh hills are once again the site of dastardly deeds as a group of school teenagers and teachers are picked off while they are meant to be involved in team building activities on a camping expedition. Their emotions are going to be stretched and they will need to work together to survive. Nice plot, with maybe more than a few questionable actions from the pupils. But they are teenagers so we can forgive them (the villains do not deserve to be forgiven). Thank you to Hatchette Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

Finding herself in a new school, Keely just wants to be as invisible as possible. She's not there to make friends or have fun - all she wishes is to be left alone. But, in order to go to college, she enrols into a programme that involves camping in the Welsh wilderness with five of her schoolmates. Surely, she can go through a few days sleeping under her tent-for-one and keeping herself to herself.
Except.. The thing that happened not so long ago and forced Keely's whole family to uproot temselves and start a brand new life, might be ctaching up with her. As the body count creeps up, Keely has to ask herself, did she really escape from the past?

You Wouldn't Catch me Dead is a terrifyingly well built thriller, laced with tension and a hint of horror. The deaths start with an 'accident' but, as more people meet a sticky end, the survivors have to face the stark reality: someone is out to get them. But why? The children are camping near the ruins of an ancient abbey - blood-chilling stories about dead monks and their vengeful spirits abound. As you read about them, you fight against the horror of believing they are the ones taking people out one by one and so does Keely. Until... I don't want to reveal too much but the story has the perfect balance of supernatural, twists and flesh-and-bones killers. Gripping.

This was my first Tess James-Mackey book though I'm a huge fan of YA thrillers (Karen M McManus in particular) so any chance to try out a new author in the same vein is a must for me. I found this book really easy to get into and the writing was good - no issues there at all. There was enough intrigue to keep me going, and quite a few red herrings meant to misdirect the reader. It wasn't too hard to figure out in some respects as the antagonist felt a little obvious from the beginning - both of them - but I still enjoyed reading about the characters and the new friendship developed throughout their ordeal. It was nice that the focus was on friendship and not romance developing, and the traumatic history of the protagonist was very realistic - it felt like something that could have happened to myself or a friend when we were silly teens. It was really well done. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and if you're a fan of YA thrillers I'd recommend it. Much better written than some of the others out there and a different though realistic setting!