This wasn’t a great one for me but I can’t say why. I think I just didn’t enjoy the story even though I do like mysteries. I think the way the book tried to be humorous and serious at the same time didn’t work for me. I felt the girls all looked so similar with different colour hair. This one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 rounded up

This was a very enjoyable murder mystery to follow along with. There were definitely a few things that left me confused, mostly about the logistics of the killings (how did the killer ensure this certain thing happened during their desired timeframe). The story of overcoming grief was interwoven well throughout the story, with Jill battling hers and the villain twisted by their own. The art had some funky moments but was overall very solid. I'd definitely recommend this quick read for anyone who likes YA murder mysteries.

I loved this, the mystery was very exciting and compelling, the art was also so well done, beautiful!

I really wish I liked this more! The concept is so so so strong, but sadly it felt rushed. It definitely needed a few more issues, especially since the last issue felt so compact, and like the story wrapped up way too quick.

Thank you to @onipress for making the ARC of 'Jill and the Killers Vol. 1' by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs available as an ARC on @netgalley

It's been a year since Jill's mother went missing, and she desperately wants to return to some kind of normalcy. Returning to school, she finds that things have changed dramatically, and the only thing that might allow her to reconnect with her friends is doinf her part to solve a murder mystery subscription box. When their first box leads to the discovery of a real crime, though, Jill and her friends find themselves caught up in a truly dangerous game.

With the rise in popularity of true crime, this story feels very on trend. And while the quippiness of the dialogue puts it firmly within the well-trod path of 'Veronica Mars,' et al, there's an ironic self-awareness to its use that helps to keep it fresh and funny.

Roberta Ingranata's illustrations are generally good, but really shine in those moments that she's able to explore the weirder, more uncanny parts of the story - and I wish there'd been more opportunities to explore that.bj Hu

I do think the tone might be a bit light at times, given the subject matter, but as long as you keep in mind that it's not meant to be horror, that's not that big of a deal.

It'll be interesting to see how long the concept can sustain itself without feeling a bit stale. For now, though, I'll be keeping an eye out for the next volume.

Rating: 4/5

'Jill and the Killers' comes out November 19 2024.

This started out kind of boring and annoying, but it ended up being really intriguing and entertaining! I can’t wait to read the next volume!! I figured out who the killer was as soon as they were introduced in the story, but it was still a fun read and I gotta know what happens next.

This is such a unique concept for a comic. I enjoyed it so much and the ending has me so curious for what is going to happen next. The artwork of course was stunning throughout and the comic as a whole is a work of art. I love that this medium is so conducive to unique storylines like this and the art adds a layer of visual storytelling that deepens the overall narrative.

I’ve always wanted to subscribe to one of those episodic mystery in a box kind of game. To take that niche and turn it into something connected to real life murders is so interesting. Add in the friendship, the past of Jill’s missing mother, and the taste of being in something and you have to solve it no matter what is what makes this so good.

It had me guessing and curious as to where the box clues would take them next. I am completely hooked and excited for the next volume!

Jill and the Killers is a really fun graphic novel about a group of teenagers who are trying to do a monthly true crime mystery subscription box, when they end up accidentally working on an actual crime. There was so much to love about this one! The snarkiness definitely gave Veronica Mars vibes, which was great. I liked that weird dynamics of high school girl friendships were also playing out during some super scary settings. Also, one of the first times I've seen a successful jump scare in a graphic novel, and I loved that. Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Cuartero-Briggs, and Oni Press for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

i seem to be in the minority here, but i didn't love this nearly as much as the other reviewers.

i did think the art was fun and perfect for the story i was reading, but everything else fell a little flat and bland for me.

i could honestly barely distinguish the characters from one another because they felt rather one-dimensional. what personality showed up from time to time, i wasn't the biggest fan of. the story itself felt long-winded and i disagree that the pacing was good, too. i thought it was way, WAY too slow for how dynamic the art was.

one last negative is the text for me. i am someone who mostly reads full-length novels but this still felt super wordy to me. sometimes i could not believe how much text there was squished on one page.

still a three because i thought the inciting incident was good, i technically liked the way it ended and i liked the art, like i said.

This was so much fun to read and I really enjoyed it! This follows a ragtag group of friends, who are rediscovering their bond with one another, as they look into mysterious disappearances and deaths in their town. It isn't until one of their own goes missing as well that they throw caution to the wind and vow not to stop until they bring him back home. The case in this wasn't super drawn out and it was able to be wrapped up nicely in this one volume but the ending did set things up perfectly for a series continuation. The cops in this were also so funny and ridiculous and I liked that that is how the police were approached in this story. Overall, the mystery was pretty solid and I would definitely continue to read more if the author puts them out.

Jill and the Killers is a good read. Jill Estrada and her friends and acquaintances send away for a mystery box and get more than they expected. Soon they are solving a real crime and dealing with some very real emotions.

I enjoyed reading this. The mystery wasn't super difficult to figure out, but the journey was good and I liked the characters. There's also a nice amount of humor to balance out some of the seriousness.

I would enjoy reading the further adventures of Jill Estrada and her friends.

Fun and exciting read about fierce women. I love the illustrations! I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

I really enjoyed this thrilling graphic novel. I opened it just to see what the format was like, with the intention of finishing my current book and then coming back to it. Well, that didn't happen! I couldn’t put it down. I was drawn into the story straight away.

The illustrations are really cool and the teenagers are portrayed realistically. I even laughed out loud at some parts. Some of the language was a bit odd but that was mainly one quirky character. There are also some back story elements that are not resolved which makes you eager for more.

All in all, an exciting quick read with an interesting unpredictable storyline. Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the eARC.

I didn't manage to get into the story and the graphic style didn't really get me... too bad, this comic didn't do it with me, it happens!

I think this book is written for someone, just not me. I went into this book looking for a graphic novel version of Scream! That's, at least, where it was trying to go, all tropes included. The lackluster twist was predictable and the characters were so on-brand/trope that they were unlikable. I was hoping for more from this powerful collection of creatives. I'd skip this one and read another slasher comic instead.

Both the cover and title is what drew me to this graphic novel. Sadly, the art isn’t the same on the inside. It’s still a cool style, but this cover is seriously stunning so I’d hoped for more. The title did deliver though, there was a killer and it’s not someone you’d guess.

Although I was sad the illustrations didn’t match the style on the cover, the artist did a great job. The character designs were interesting and the colours were great. I don’t think I could ever say anything completely negative about an art style as I understand how much time and work goes into creating a graphic novel. One area that I absolutely loved was the environment. I feel like often people focus purely on the characters and don’t really appreciate the background, however, I love finding small details in the background that really bring the scene to life. The bedrooms of the main groups were especially interesting, they gave the characters another layer of personality.

My biggest issue with the written parts was how the main group talked. I haven’t been a teen for a while now but I’m pretty sure they don’t talk how Jill does. She says ‘awesomesauce’ multiple times and it made her seem much younger than she was. Which made the whole situation seem completely ridiculous.

Although saying that, what a cool concept for a graphic novel. I love a murder mystery and Jill and the Killers is being set up to be an epic one. I’ll definitely be continuing this when new volumes are published. I need to know what’s going on with Jill’s mom and I’m curious to see what the next investigation will be.

Rating: 3.5

Jill just wants to go back to school and feel normal after her mother's disappearance and her absence. However, when she gets back to school, she finds that her friends have moved on without her, and she still has some trauma to work through. Her friends are now into true crime stuff, and to get back into their good graces, she volunteers to get a big box of a crime tailored to her. They got a box that ended up being for a real crime. The mystery of her missing mother and cases being sent to her, and a young group of teens to figure out the case.

I'm rounding up, but this was more of a 3.5 for me. I'm intrigued by the plot, and since it seems like the first of a series they're planning to really develop I think it could be a good starting point, but the plot points felt a little all over the place. I'm intrigued by the overarching plot of Jill's missing mother, and the dynamics between Jill, Ginger, and Clyde, but many of the plot points felt forced or overly convenient. It's got a queer Nancy Drew vibe though, which is very fun, and having a monster of the week style series with greater plot linking the stories together is a style I really enjoy and can see building well on itself. I'm interested enough to read further as more issues/volumes come out.

"Jill and the Killers" is fun, fast paced teen noir drama with heavy suspense and horror elements that will charm fans of the genre. Jill, the titular protagonist, is a whip smart and channels both Nancy Drew and Rene Montoya while emerging as a wholly new and original character. The story incorporates familiar elements of loss and suffering but remains both hopeful and unpredictable. Expect a tight and edgy mystery, a group of compelling and original Scoobies, a well meaning but ineffective police force and a troubled heroine who never gives up. This book is recommended for anyone who thought "Veronica Mars" was not dark enough.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Oni Press, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The daughter of a missing detective orders a new true crime subscription box to reconnect with her friends only to realize the mystery is a little too personal. When the clues lead them to a real dismembered body related to a missing persons case, Jill and her friends become enmeshed in a decades old case that still needs solving. And when their friend O'Brian becomes the latest victim, they'll have to race against time to solve the crime and save him before he ends up like the others. This was a really fun, fast-paced read. Some of the dialogue felt unrealistic, but the story was exciting enough that I was able to get past it. Definitely one I'll want to read more of!