Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz

e-Audio, 09:16:06
Narrated by: Diana Bustelo
Release Date: September 5, 2023
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: September 1-5, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio App
TW: Child/Teacher Relationship, Death, Murder, Suicide, Drugs, Cheating 
For Readers Interested In: Historical Movies, Clue, Romance, Mysteries/Thrillers, Locked Room Mysteries

     Seven friends throw a 1920s-themed party, where it’s all pretend–until one of them is murdered. One of Us Is Lying meets Knives Out in this killer locked-room mystery.
     Someone brought a knife to the party.
     To celebrate the end of high school, Izzy Morales joins her ride-or-die Kassidy and five friends on a 1920s-themed getaway at the glamorous Ashwood Manor. There, Izzy and her friends party in vintage dresses and expensive diamonds–until Kassidy’s boyfriend turns up dead.
     Murdered, investigators declare when they arrive at the scene, and now every party guest is a suspect. There’s the girlfriend, in love. The other girl, in despair. The old friend, forlorn. The new friend, distressed. The brooding enigma. And then, there’s Izzy–the girl who brought the knife.
     To find the killer, everyone must undergo a grueling interrogation, all while locked in an estate where, suddenly, the greatest luxury is innocence.

*MY THOUGHTS*

I knew from the moment I saw this title that I needed to have it. I didn’t care who it was by, what it was about, I didn’t care about any of that. I truly added this to my TBR because of one word in the title. And we know what that word is….. Something is truly wrong with me lol

Ok so there’s this large group of friends who’s celebrating graduation with a 1920’s themed party on a getaway island where a famous old movie was filmed. This party has vintage style costumes, no cell phones, the whole 9 to fit the theme. When all of a sudden one of them turns up dead. Investigators are called in to figure out whodunit.

Ok so the main thing about this that I didn’t like about this was the convenience of everything. She heard everyone’s testimony in this passage and nothing ever came of it? That’s something serious because she could lie to manipulate evidence. Once they found out, someone should have said something. I would just really like to think the adults would at least give her a strong talking to and tell her about obstruction or something. And no I don’t think I’m being too harsh. I read teen sleuth novels all the time, but they at least get reprimanded. She just got told she’s had it bad before so I’m allowing you to get away with this DURING A MURDER INVESTIGATION. Like at the very least make her THINK she was in trouble so she doesn’t do it again.

I DID like the ending tho. It said they weren’t able to find them, so maybe it’s a series? Do we think the person is coming back for revenge on someone else? Do we think that they did this because of their family’s problems? I have so many questions. Also if there is a sequel, who tf are they coming back to get? Maybe there’s a spin off of some kind? Idk. But it just ended entirely too open for me.

I also really liked all the characters. I just wish we got to know them more. All of them were like just bodies. No one had a real personality or back story until it was time for them to be interrogated or they were dropping a bomb about the case. Yeah it would have been a lot of filler, but if we’re gonna give clue vibes, might as well go all out and tell a little about them too. But even with the surface level, I thought the MC was getting good at sneaking around. I’m not going to save detective work because she was literally just snooping lol

The narrator was really good tho. Idk if that was my first book from them or not, but she’s a large part of why I rated this the way I did. And y’all know I love me some OwnVoices Narrators. I was very happy to see this one had one. It always just makes the listening experience more authentic.

This was fun, but also still filled with ridiculous teen antics. I do think that there could have been some changes, but not too many. The vibes and the mystery were vibin. I just had issues with the characters as a character driven reader.

Overall, I give this

(I think if I had read this with my eyeballs I would have rated this a 3!)

Take Me Away

Diverse Book Blogger. Diverse YA Librarian. Wonder Woman enthusiast. Bookish Blerd. "GryffinClaw" Geek extraordinaire. Pitbull mom. She/her linktr.ee/take_me_awayyy