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that_1_readergurl's review against another edition
I really just had something else I wanted to read and completely forgot about it.
rnightser's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
majorharris162's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fine mystery book. The plot twist was predictable and the ending left some plot points unfinished. But I loved the murder mystery aspect and all the clues leading up to the big reveal.
sirensaria's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning was great, but the middle just kept dragging. I ended up skimming through a god portion of the middle because it was boring. The murderer didn't quite surprise as much, either. It wasn't bad, just wasn't as great as I thought it could have been.
allbettesareoff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Set at a prestigious private school in mid-October, The Murder Game is exactly what cozy mystery readers are looking for. Carrie Doyle crafts a believable setting and a compelling puzzle with a well-planned payoff, if more suited to a younger audience. The story is not so complex for the likes of Agatha Christie fans, but it should satisfy readers of young adult authors such as Holly Jackson.
Luke Chase and his best friend Oscar sneak out of the dormitories one autumn midnight to meet two girls in the woods. Just trying to have a fun night out, the four students stumble upon an incoherent scene in which something seems off. It isn’t until the next morning, when the school announces the discovery of a dead body on the grounds, that they realize what they witnessed. Follow Luke as he races to discover what really happened that night and what lies his friends are telling him. Who can he trust?
Full of red herrings, untrustworthy adults, and relational strife, The Murder Game is a classic YA murder mystery. It follows the mainstream, but it follows it well. Those looking for a private school mystery more unique may be better suited for Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson or If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, but for the reader who just wants to sit down with a candle and a cup of tea and ride the simple Ferris Wheel of a by-the-book mystery, Doyle’s novel is the perfect read.
Follow the clues of The Murder Game and find out how a seventeen-year-old boy can become a small-town hero.
cutenanya's review against another edition
2.0
The Murder Game is a YA mystery that follows Luke Chase, a student at a boarding school where a teacher is found murdered. Luke tries to clear his best friend Oscar’s name, who is accused of the crime, by using his survival skills and investigating the case himself. Along the way, he uncovers secrets, lies, and danger.
I was disappointed by this book. There are so many illogical points about this book I don’t know where to begin. As with the problem of most sleuthing novels, when there’s a murder, you don’t try to stick your noses into police business. Police is certainly not dumb and I think the characters interefering with police investigations is what makes a murder harder to solve.
Then, I have serious trouble liking any of the character. From the synopsis, I was picturing Luke as a great guy helping his friend but turns out he’s not very moralistic himself and I have a hard time following the decisions he made. Then, there’s Pippa, the mysterious British girl with a dark past and Luke’s potential love interest. She’s proably the only likable character in the novel with an attitude.
Perhaps the worst thing in this book is the staff of the school. They have the worst moral standards of all and I would never send my kids to a school that pick staff like this.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a realistic and engaging mystery. It was predictable, clichéd, and poorly written. The title and the cover also have nothing to do with the plot, which is misleading and frustrating. This book was a waste of time and money.
I was disappointed by this book. There are so many illogical points about this book I don’t know where to begin. As with the problem of most sleuthing novels, when there’s a murder, you don’t try to stick your noses into police business. Police is certainly not dumb and I think the characters interefering with police investigations is what makes a murder harder to solve.
Then, I have serious trouble liking any of the character. From the synopsis, I was picturing Luke as a great guy helping his friend but turns out he’s not very moralistic himself and I have a hard time following the decisions he made. Then, there’s Pippa, the mysterious British girl with a dark past and Luke’s potential love interest. She’s proably the only likable character in the novel with an attitude.
Perhaps the worst thing in this book is the staff of the school. They have the worst moral standards of all and I would never send my kids to a school that pick staff like this.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a realistic and engaging mystery. It was predictable, clichéd, and poorly written. The title and the cover also have nothing to do with the plot, which is misleading and frustrating. This book was a waste of time and money.
mtayl341's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0