Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:
Synopsis for Suddenly a Murder (from Goodreads):
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.
Author: Lauren Muñoz
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First & Third Person
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I’ll admit that the cover and title drew me into this book while I was browsing my library’s audiobooks. But I do enjoy a good murder mystery and this seemed like it would be an enjoyable standalone listen.
The Plot:
I did like the flow of this plot. The past and present are weaved together nicely in a way that builds the suspense as you read. I was engaged in figuring out the mystery and I liked that I didn’t have the solution completely figured out.
But, I was underwhelmed by the final reveal; well, more like how the characters react to it and the consequences. It just didn’t work for me and took away from the characters’ stories.
The Characters:
I liked the presentation of making Izzy an unreliable narrator by using her first person POV for the present and then a third person POV to narrate the past. It added a layer of suspense that you don’t always get in YA mystery novels.
But at the same time, it made me feel disconnected to these characters. I mean, you are also suspecting all of them for murder at one point or another so that doesn’t help either. I just didn’t find anyone to be very likeable.
The Romance:
While not a huge focus, the complicated romantic relationships add to the mystery in a positive way but are nothing to write home about.
My Audiobook Experience:
This was a great listen and I think I enjoyed it more listening to it than reading the text version. It just helped to bring the characters to life a bit more.
My Rating: 3/5
This was a decent summer’s read for me and I think if you go in with the right expectations (Knives Out it is not in my opinion), you’ll enjoy it.
Read if You Like: murder mysteries, unreliable narrators
Avoid if You: dislike mysteries
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Series #1)
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
