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lynguy1's review
3.0
Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich is an engaging young adult mystery novel featuring eighteen year-old Natalie Temple and her mother Helen Temple, and alternates settings between current times in Ferry, Connecticut and about 19 years ago in Evanston, Illinois. Natalie is a true crime enthusiast. Therefore, when her favorite teacher is murdered, Natalie is determined to investigate even though she will have to hide that investigation from her mom. The other timeline gives us a look at Helen when she first went to college and how the events there have shaped her life and attitudes.
Although Natalie has a lot of typical teen emotions, actions, and feelings, she’s doesn’t tend to go to parties or date. She views her mother as overprotective, strict, and controlling. In her summer before college, she is purging stuff from her room, shopping for college, interning at the local newspaper, working in her mom’s diner, co-hosting a true crime podcast, and now investigating a murder.
Readers get some insight into Helen’s college personality, but her current emotions are mainly seen through Natalie’s eyes. Both Natalie and Helen make mistakes that could easily be avoided, but that also made them seem realistic. Despite their flaws, I cared enough to want to find out what happened. Natalie’s best friend Katie Lugo and childhood friend Jonathan Pressman are actually the most likeable characters and provide some humor and stability. The main and supporting characters are described well and I could easily visualize them.
The writing flows reasonably well and was descriptive enough to allow readers to easily visualize Ferry and the relevant characters, houses, and businesses. The plot is somewhat twisty, but the pacing seemed a little slow to me. Part of this may have been due to the somewhat overly long descriptions. One quibble that I have is that a little communication could have significantly reduced the angst. However, that added to the suspense. The pop culture references made the novel feel relevant and appropriate to the times. The highlight for me was the character interactions. However, there was one scene dealing with consent that seemed to be glossed over. Poor decisions and immature actions abound in this novel. The ending was a little predictable and fast, but tied up the loose threads with a beautiful bow. Themes include murder, grief, regrets, teen mistakes, friendship, parenting, and more.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book. Readers of young adult mysteries may want to check this one out.
Inkyard Press and Brenna Ehrlich provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for March 08, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3 star review will be posted 3-4 days after it is published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Although Natalie has a lot of typical teen emotions, actions, and feelings, she’s doesn’t tend to go to parties or date. She views her mother as overprotective, strict, and controlling. In her summer before college, she is purging stuff from her room, shopping for college, interning at the local newspaper, working in her mom’s diner, co-hosting a true crime podcast, and now investigating a murder.
Readers get some insight into Helen’s college personality, but her current emotions are mainly seen through Natalie’s eyes. Both Natalie and Helen make mistakes that could easily be avoided, but that also made them seem realistic. Despite their flaws, I cared enough to want to find out what happened. Natalie’s best friend Katie Lugo and childhood friend Jonathan Pressman are actually the most likeable characters and provide some humor and stability. The main and supporting characters are described well and I could easily visualize them.
The writing flows reasonably well and was descriptive enough to allow readers to easily visualize Ferry and the relevant characters, houses, and businesses. The plot is somewhat twisty, but the pacing seemed a little slow to me. Part of this may have been due to the somewhat overly long descriptions. One quibble that I have is that a little communication could have significantly reduced the angst. However, that added to the suspense. The pop culture references made the novel feel relevant and appropriate to the times. The highlight for me was the character interactions. However, there was one scene dealing with consent that seemed to be glossed over. Poor decisions and immature actions abound in this novel. The ending was a little predictable and fast, but tied up the loose threads with a beautiful bow. Themes include murder, grief, regrets, teen mistakes, friendship, parenting, and more.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book. Readers of young adult mysteries may want to check this one out.
Inkyard Press and Brenna Ehrlich provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for March 08, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3 star review will be posted 3-4 days after it is published at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
gggina13's review
2.0
Thanks to edelweiss and the publisher for this early copy!
Right off the bat, I don't think marketing "to a generation of murderinos" (a term at the very least popularized by My Favorite Murder) is cool when there's literally a line bashing a made up podcast that makes jokes and gets stuff wrong about crime details. I mean, sure, I'm sure that's not everyone's cup of tea when it comes to a crime podcast, but it's a *podcast*, it's not your criminal justice professor giving a lecture. It just feels a little misleading for me to have read this based on that pitch. But, anyway, that was just one line of this story.
This story starts with Natalie finding out her favorite teacher was murdered. Natalie already has a true crime podcast, but she wants to investigate her teacher's murder herself so that she doesn't get "forgotten." It's pretty brutal, though; this girl starts recording as soon as she gets to her teacher's memorial service.
The thing about her podcast is that I am never shown anything about her podcast prior to, or almost even during, the story. It's not like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder... there's no recording sessions other than Natalie sometimes remembering to record people's statements on her phone. It made me not care that she had a podcast, because I was really only told and not shown.
Natalie meets a boy named Kurt and they have a really weird relationship. He is sweet, but a little pushy, and Natalie even talks about how she feels like he stole their first kiss from her and feeling uncomfortable about it. I DID NOT LIKE THIS PART. Especially because she sees him the next day and decides that she does think it's okay that she likes him and never mentions the questionable consent kiss ever again. Even if this is a realistic situation that teens find themselves in, there needs to be something in the book challenging it, in my opinion. Teens aren't stupid and they don't need things spelled out for them, but with issues of consent I think it's important to cement the idea in their heads that consent isn't only important but necessary.
Natalie's mom is WILDLY protective. It is so annoying, lol. What's even more annoying is that her mom forgets to be protective when it's convenient for the story. You find out via flashbacks that her mom is like that because she also dealt with someone she knew becoming a victim of a crime. The flashback portions are fine and all, but it's just kind of there. It's hard to attach the version of Natalie's mom that you know to the college freshman in the flashbacks. What's REALLY weird is that we are all so old now that YA protagonist's MOMS have cell phones in flashbacks and the timelines check out for that. But, I digress.
The actual mystery ending is alright. All the loose ends tied up pretty well. I still had a little tear in my eye on the last page. But overall this just was another "true crime podcast" YA book and not the best one I've ever read, either.
Right off the bat, I don't think marketing "to a generation of murderinos" (a term at the very least popularized by My Favorite Murder) is cool when there's literally a line bashing a made up podcast that makes jokes and gets stuff wrong about crime details. I mean, sure, I'm sure that's not everyone's cup of tea when it comes to a crime podcast, but it's a *podcast*, it's not your criminal justice professor giving a lecture. It just feels a little misleading for me to have read this based on that pitch. But, anyway, that was just one line of this story.
This story starts with Natalie finding out her favorite teacher was murdered. Natalie already has a true crime podcast, but she wants to investigate her teacher's murder herself so that she doesn't get "forgotten." It's pretty brutal, though; this girl starts recording as soon as she gets to her teacher's memorial service.
The thing about her podcast is that I am never shown anything about her podcast prior to, or almost even during, the story. It's not like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder... there's no recording sessions other than Natalie sometimes remembering to record people's statements on her phone. It made me not care that she had a podcast, because I was really only told and not shown.
Natalie meets a boy named Kurt and they have a really weird relationship. He is sweet, but a little pushy, and Natalie even talks about how she feels like he stole their first kiss from her and feeling uncomfortable about it. I DID NOT LIKE THIS PART. Especially because she sees him the next day and decides that she does think it's okay that she likes him and never mentions the questionable consent kiss ever again. Even if this is a realistic situation that teens find themselves in, there needs to be something in the book challenging it, in my opinion. Teens aren't stupid and they don't need things spelled out for them, but with issues of consent I think it's important to cement the idea in their heads that consent isn't only important but necessary.
Natalie's mom is WILDLY protective. It is so annoying, lol. What's even more annoying is that her mom forgets to be protective when it's convenient for the story. You find out via flashbacks that her mom is like that because she also dealt with someone she knew becoming a victim of a crime. The flashback portions are fine and all, but it's just kind of there. It's hard to attach the version of Natalie's mom that you know to the college freshman in the flashbacks. What's REALLY weird is that we are all so old now that YA protagonist's MOMS have cell phones in flashbacks and the timelines check out for that. But, I digress.
The actual mystery ending is alright. All the loose ends tied up pretty well. I still had a little tear in my eye on the last page. But overall this just was another "true crime podcast" YA book and not the best one I've ever read, either.
lizmbones's review
3.0
The author/main character’s views of My Favorite Murder aren’t new or edgy and honestly have no place in this book, especially when the term murderinos is used in the marketing materials. The three stars are for the plot itself being interesting, especially the way the past and present tied together in the end. But the murderer is predictable, the motive spotty at best, and the podcast that this book is supposedly about is almost never shown (and the content of their podcast sounds a lot like MFM, again a podcast that the MC claims to hate). The amount of times I wanted to yell, “You’re not a journalist, you’re a teenager,” was far too many.
kgnade's review
2.0
I received an advanced reader copy of Killing Time from Inkyard Press via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion.
Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich is a story about friendship, growing up and realizing that adults make mistakes too. Natalie Temple recently graduated high school and is hoping to survive the summer without her strict mom, Helen, finding out about her true crime podcast. Mrs. Halsey, Natalie’s favorite teacher has been murdered- Natalie’s set on finding the killer while Helen becomes more overbearing.
With the help of her childhood friends, Katie and Jonathan, Natalie seeks the truth about Mrs. Halsey’s demise and falls for a local bad boy. Meanwhile Helen’s past is slowly revealed showing the events that shaped her into the person she is today.
This was one a slow moving book filled with unlikable characters. Killing Time is available now.
#brennaehrlich #killingtime #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #ya #yabooks #youngadult #youngadultbooks #mystery #mysterybooks #suspense #suspensebooks #readin2022 #inkyardpress #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
Killing Time by Brenna Ehrlich is a story about friendship, growing up and realizing that adults make mistakes too. Natalie Temple recently graduated high school and is hoping to survive the summer without her strict mom, Helen, finding out about her true crime podcast. Mrs. Halsey, Natalie’s favorite teacher has been murdered- Natalie’s set on finding the killer while Helen becomes more overbearing.
With the help of her childhood friends, Katie and Jonathan, Natalie seeks the truth about Mrs. Halsey’s demise and falls for a local bad boy. Meanwhile Helen’s past is slowly revealed showing the events that shaped her into the person she is today.
This was one a slow moving book filled with unlikable characters. Killing Time is available now.
#brennaehrlich #killingtime #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #ya #yabooks #youngadult #youngadultbooks #mystery #mysterybooks #suspense #suspensebooks #readin2022 #inkyardpress #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
smilesgiggle's review
3.0
I enjoyed the audio - though at times I was lost as to which character was speaking. The timeframe for the "then" character was confusing to me as well. Likely due to listening and performing other tasks.
Natalie's favorite teacher dies - and appears to be a suspicious death. Natalie is beyond devastated - the summer before college looming ahead. Natalie befriends Kurt, a roommate of a friend; with the promise of a reward, they work together to chase leads.
Helen's friend in a class disappears - Helen begins her own investigation. Her college newspaper assigns Helen the article - she finds herself at the mom's house, listening to stories. Though Helen and school have seemed to move on, Helen refuses to her friend's death disappear from the spotlight.
Great twists. Some slow areas but overall a good story.
Natalie's favorite teacher dies - and appears to be a suspicious death. Natalie is beyond devastated - the summer before college looming ahead. Natalie befriends Kurt, a roommate of a friend; with the promise of a reward, they work together to chase leads.
Helen's friend in a class disappears - Helen begins her own investigation. Her college newspaper assigns Helen the article - she finds herself at the mom's house, listening to stories. Though Helen and school have seemed to move on, Helen refuses to her friend's death disappear from the spotlight.
Great twists. Some slow areas but overall a good story.
so_that_happened_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book, but it wasn’t my favorite. There was never really anything super surprising happening, no major twists, and while I enjoyed the characters for the most part, they weren’t my favorite. It was a nice, easy read, and the only reason it took me a month to read was because I forgot I was reading it.
ashleysumm's review
4.0
She won't let this story go untold...
Natalie can hardly believe the news that her favourite teacher, Mrs. Halsey, has been murdered. Mrs. Halsey has always encouraged Natalie's fascination with crime and murder. This means everything to Natalie, as her mom, Helen, is very strict and disapproving of her interests. As an aspiring journalist, Natalie decides to investigate Mrs. Halsey's murder and report the facts. Sifting through rumours, tips, and difficult emotions, Natalie leans on her best friend and a mysterious boy for help with her investigation. Can Natalie set the record straight, or is she in over her head?
As someone who loves to play detective, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the alternation between Natalie's story and her mom's story. I loved that I was able to understand Helen better while reading her chapters. I was pleased that some of my theories ended up being correct. I read the eARC for this novel and listened to the audiobook. I was a little turned off by the unnecessary, negative comments that seem to be directed at the My Favorite Murder podcast. Everyone likes different things, but I found it inappropriate and off-putting. I enjoyed the narrator's portrayal of the characters but I was pulled out of the story at times when the mic made her breathing seem loud. Despite these minor setbacks, I loved this novel and would recommend it to YA thriller readers!
Natalie can hardly believe the news that her favourite teacher, Mrs. Halsey, has been murdered. Mrs. Halsey has always encouraged Natalie's fascination with crime and murder. This means everything to Natalie, as her mom, Helen, is very strict and disapproving of her interests. As an aspiring journalist, Natalie decides to investigate Mrs. Halsey's murder and report the facts. Sifting through rumours, tips, and difficult emotions, Natalie leans on her best friend and a mysterious boy for help with her investigation. Can Natalie set the record straight, or is she in over her head?
As someone who loves to play detective, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the alternation between Natalie's story and her mom's story. I loved that I was able to understand Helen better while reading her chapters. I was pleased that some of my theories ended up being correct. I read the eARC for this novel and listened to the audiobook. I was a little turned off by the unnecessary, negative comments that seem to be directed at the My Favorite Murder podcast. Everyone likes different things, but I found it inappropriate and off-putting. I enjoyed the narrator's portrayal of the characters but I was pulled out of the story at times when the mic made her breathing seem loud. Despite these minor setbacks, I loved this novel and would recommend it to YA thriller readers!
notlikethebeer's review
5.0
I reaaaaaally enjoyed this!!! I love a podcast novel, but I felt like this particularly excelled in it's exploration and dissection of the genre - to that end, I really loved the 'message' of the book. There were hella twists, and I liked how the dual plot line was utilised. I also felt like the storyline involving the person with a sex offence conviction was really well handled. My main question was how the main character got away with so much! - but other than that, a truly fantastic book.
missprint_'s review
3.0
With so much small town charm, it's easy to think that bad things don't happen in Ferry, Connecticut.
Which is why everyone is so shaken when local teacher Mrs. Halsey is found dead. Murdered. Even the local crime reporters are shocked by the violence of the crime.
Natalie Temple always thought she'd have a chance to apologize tom Mrs. Halswy after their in the middle of senior year. Mrs. Halsey is the reason Natalie is going to her dream school to study journalism.
Instead, Natalie's favorite teacher is dead and no one knows why or who to blame.
Mrs. Halsey taught Natalie and her best friend Katie all about the power of true crime as a genre--an interest Natalie's strict and overprotective mother has never been willing to entertain. Now, Natalie knows the best way to honor Mrs. Halsey is to find her killer. The investigation could also help Natalie take her "blood drenched" podcast Killing Time to the next level--something she's sure no one would appreciate more than Mrs. Halsey.
Investigating the murder will bring Natalie face-to-face with the seedier side of Ferry--and some uncomfortable truths about her own family history--as Natalie learns that secrets never stay buried forever in Killing Time (2022) by Brenna Ehrlich.
Killing Time plays out in two timelines alternating between Natalie's investigation into Mrs. Halsey's death and flashbacks to her mother Helen's first year at college. All main characters are presumed white.
Natalie's first person narration is filled with smart references to narrative conventions in true crime stories and observations about the divisions between East and West Ferry--parts of town separated by train tracks as much as income brackets. Unfortunately, Natalie's singular focus on her investigation leaves little space for Natalie to gain dimension beyond her fixation on solving Mrs. Halsey's murder--most of the on page interactions with her best friend revolve around the podcast. Although Ehrlich explores more of Helen's past in the flashback chapters, Natalie's relationship with her mother remains very one note for most of the story without fully exploring any of the dynamics inherent to growing up with not just a single parent but one who had Natalie very young.
Where Killing Time excels is in highlighting the knife edge journalists and true crime afficionados walk while trying to balance morbid interest with compassion for the real people who are impacted by these crimes. As with many ethical questions, there are no right answers but Ehrlich explores both the good and the bad through Natalie and Helen's timelines.
Readers looking for a new true-crime-fueled story in the vein of Courtney Summers or Holly Jackson will fine a lot to enjoy in Killing Time.
Possible Pairings: They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, The Cousins by Karen M. McManus, Sadie by Courtney Summers, The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration.*
Which is why everyone is so shaken when local teacher Mrs. Halsey is found dead. Murdered. Even the local crime reporters are shocked by the violence of the crime.
Natalie Temple always thought she'd have a chance to apologize tom Mrs. Halswy after their in the middle of senior year. Mrs. Halsey is the reason Natalie is going to her dream school to study journalism.
Instead, Natalie's favorite teacher is dead and no one knows why or who to blame.
Mrs. Halsey taught Natalie and her best friend Katie all about the power of true crime as a genre--an interest Natalie's strict and overprotective mother has never been willing to entertain. Now, Natalie knows the best way to honor Mrs. Halsey is to find her killer. The investigation could also help Natalie take her "blood drenched" podcast Killing Time to the next level--something she's sure no one would appreciate more than Mrs. Halsey.
Investigating the murder will bring Natalie face-to-face with the seedier side of Ferry--and some uncomfortable truths about her own family history--as Natalie learns that secrets never stay buried forever in Killing Time (2022) by Brenna Ehrlich.
Killing Time plays out in two timelines alternating between Natalie's investigation into Mrs. Halsey's death and flashbacks to her mother Helen's first year at college. All main characters are presumed white.
Natalie's first person narration is filled with smart references to narrative conventions in true crime stories and observations about the divisions between East and West Ferry--parts of town separated by train tracks as much as income brackets. Unfortunately, Natalie's singular focus on her investigation leaves little space for Natalie to gain dimension beyond her fixation on solving Mrs. Halsey's murder--most of the on page interactions with her best friend revolve around the podcast. Although Ehrlich explores more of Helen's past in the flashback chapters, Natalie's relationship with her mother remains very one note for most of the story without fully exploring any of the dynamics inherent to growing up with not just a single parent but one who had Natalie very young.
Where Killing Time excels is in highlighting the knife edge journalists and true crime afficionados walk while trying to balance morbid interest with compassion for the real people who are impacted by these crimes. As with many ethical questions, there are no right answers but Ehrlich explores both the good and the bad through Natalie and Helen's timelines.
Readers looking for a new true-crime-fueled story in the vein of Courtney Summers or Holly Jackson will fine a lot to enjoy in Killing Time.
Possible Pairings: They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, The Cousins by Karen M. McManus, Sadie by Courtney Summers, The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration.*