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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF because Alice is grating & I can't stand her.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Now, to be honest, I was in a sad mood when I bought this book. I saw the cover and title and just bought it. Because that’s what you do when you’re sad, you buy more books. So I didn’t read the blurb or anything before buying.
After reading the blurb, I was slightly deterred by the time travelling aspect. To me, it felt gimmicky, and I wasn’t used to such a thing in a thriller/mystery. But I gave it a go anyways.
This book was a rollercoaster ride of liking and not liking it.
Thriller fans will love the references towards classic thriller films such as Scream, Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Alice is a fan of horror films, so the mentions and references are laid on quite thick in the beginning but level out as the book goes on.
I immensely enjoyed the thriller aspect. It really felt like I was reading a slasher film, which was overwhelmingly my favourite part of this book. Most other books I read tend to focus more on the mystery, with some close calls with the killer, usually towards the end. The continuous high stakes made the pacing feel quite fast — which was good.
The only times the pacing seemed off was in the beginning, as it took a while from the introduction of the time frame (solving the mystery by midnight) to the reader getting a time check. So for a while, I was unsure how much time had passed. I found this annoying but easy to get over.
The other issue I found with the pacing was the time travel aspect and Sidney Prescott look-alike character. These scenes often felt like they were interrupting the story instead of moving it forward.
I was also disappointed with the lack of involvement and storylines for the side characters. It felt as though they were mentioned in the beginning and then barely seen or heard from again until the end.
The ending left me a little unsatisfied, as there’s no official update for a few characters that I liked. The end felt like a movie or TV series leaving things open for a sequel or second season. If Danielle Valentine (AKA Danielle Vega) were to write a sequel focusing on the aftermath of the first book, this would work well and solve those issues (my issues) with the ending.
“If you don’t come with me, I might die. Those were the last words my sister ever said to me.” — Alice Lawrence.
It may not sound like it from all my above nit-picking, but I did enjoy this book. Like I said earlier, many of my nit-pickings are things I can get over.
The thriller aspect was hands-down the absolute best. I’m so impressed with how much it felt like I was reading a slasher film. I hope Danielle Valentine (AKA Danielle Vega) writes a sequel.
I give How to Survive Your Murder 3 out of 5 stars.
If you enjoyed Happy Death Day and the Scream movies, this book is right up your alley.
After reading the blurb, I was slightly deterred by the time travelling aspect. To me, it felt gimmicky, and I wasn’t used to such a thing in a thriller/mystery. But I gave it a go anyways.
This book was a rollercoaster ride of liking and not liking it.
Thriller fans will love the references towards classic thriller films such as Scream, Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Alice is a fan of horror films, so the mentions and references are laid on quite thick in the beginning but level out as the book goes on.
I immensely enjoyed the thriller aspect. It really felt like I was reading a slasher film, which was overwhelmingly my favourite part of this book. Most other books I read tend to focus more on the mystery, with some close calls with the killer, usually towards the end. The continuous high stakes made the pacing feel quite fast — which was good.
The only times the pacing seemed off was in the beginning, as it took a while from the introduction of the time frame (solving the mystery by midnight) to the reader getting a time check. So for a while, I was unsure how much time had passed. I found this annoying but easy to get over.
The other issue I found with the pacing was the time travel aspect and Sidney Prescott look-alike character. These scenes often felt like they were interrupting the story instead of moving it forward.
I was also disappointed with the lack of involvement and storylines for the side characters. It felt as though they were mentioned in the beginning and then barely seen or heard from again until the end.
The ending left me a little unsatisfied, as there’s no official update for a few characters that I liked. The end felt like a movie or TV series leaving things open for a sequel or second season. If Danielle Valentine (AKA Danielle Vega) were to write a sequel focusing on the aftermath of the first book, this would work well and solve those issues (my issues) with the ending.
“If you don’t come with me, I might die. Those were the last words my sister ever said to me.” — Alice Lawrence.
It may not sound like it from all my above nit-picking, but I did enjoy this book. Like I said earlier, many of my nit-pickings are things I can get over.
The thriller aspect was hands-down the absolute best. I’m so impressed with how much it felt like I was reading a slasher film. I hope Danielle Valentine (AKA Danielle Vega) writes a sequel.
I give How to Survive Your Murder 3 out of 5 stars.
If you enjoyed Happy Death Day and the Scream movies, this book is right up your alley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
3.5⭐️
Fast paced, thriller/whodunnit, and with that ending? Is there an epilogue? I need a follow up and some answers!
Loved the movie references and the hints that kept me second guessing who the bad guy was the whole time.
Fast paced, thriller/whodunnit, and with that ending? Is there an epilogue? I need a follow up and some answers!
Loved the movie references and the hints that kept me second guessing who the bad guy was the whole time.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this book & the premise was interesting but omg it’s so convoluted lol like I think adding too much back and forth, both location wise and suspect wise starts to feel boring. I think she focused on Wes for too long and then like his death just felt like you didn’t even really care because you already thought he died and Alice barely reacts./ There were definitely too many characters and I had to keep rereading to figure out who was who. Also weird to throw in how all the girls her dad cheated with were technically above the age of consent. Like your dad is having multiple affairs with your teenage classmates that he coaches, it truly doesn’t matter what the age of consent is, it’s disgusting and abusive. Also reminded me of pretty little liars where they set up a huge dude as the killer then reveal it’s a skinny girl, like okay sure. I guess she’s tall and in a wolf costume but where tf was she keeping it in between killings because we know she had on her normal clothes and she ditched her car so? Make it make sense. I guess we just have to suspend disbelief and believe a teenage girl can commit like 50 murders and get away with it. Also, lastly, why didn’t they mention Wes as ppl Owen was accused of killing at the very end???/ I just feel unsatisfied, there was no true resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Vomit