A review by popthebutterfly
How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

5.0

 

Disclaimer: I picked this one up at my local library. Support your libraries! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: How to Survive Your Murder 

 

Author: Danielle Valentine 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: Biracial character 

 

Recommended For...: YA readers, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Murder Mystery, Flash Sideways, Time Travel 

 

Publication Date: August 30, 2022 

 

Genre: YA Horror 

 

Age Relevance: 16+ (gore, body horror, underage alcohol consumption, alcoholism, affair, language, romance, underage/potentially illegal relationship) 

 

Explanation of Above: The book focuses on a lot of murders, so there is a lot of blood gore and some body horror. Underage alcohol consumption is mentioned and alcoholism in an adult is also mentioned. An affair is mentioned. There is some cursing. There is a slight romance. There is a point where an underage and possibly illegal relationship between an older adult male and at least one younger female in high school is mentioned and that becomes a plot point. This is not shown in a good context, but I’m not sure of the legality of this relationship and the book doesn’t mention it as well. 

 

Publisher: Razorbill 

 

Pages: 299 

 

Synopsis: Alice Lawrence is the sole witness in her sister’s murder trial. And in the year since Claire’s death, Alice’s life has completely fallen apart. Her parents have gotten divorced, she’s moved into an apartment that smells like bologna, and she is being forced to face her sister’s killer and a courtroom full of people who doubt what she saw in the corn maze a year prior. Claire was an all-American girl, beautiful and bubbly, and a theater star. Alice was a nerd who dreamed of becoming a forensic pathologist and would rather stay at home to watch her favorite horror movies than party. Despite their differences, they were bonded by sisterhood and were each other’s best friends. Until Claire was taken away from her. On the first day of the murder trial, as Alice prepares to give her testimony, she is knocked out by a Sidney Prescott look-alike in the courthouse bathroom. When she wakes up, it is Halloween night a year earlier, the same day Claire was murdered. Alice has until midnight to save her sister and find the real killer before he claims another victim. 

 

Review: I saw a review on this book that basically said "wtf was that ending?" and I have to agree cause WHAT THE F??? And in a good way! This book was such a good rollercoaster ride. It has the markings of any good horror film and I loved the Flash Sideways premise. The book kept me on the edge of my seat and while I had already clocked the murderer early on in the read, thanks ADHD pattern recognition, I was still so shocked when it was revealed. I absolutely love this book, the world building, the characters, and just everything about it. I want a sequel where Alice goes toe to toe to be Final Girl-ing it against the two baddies of this story again.
 
 My only complaint is that the beginning does drag a little bit but I loved it regardless. 

 

Verdict: Such an underrated Halloween book! Definitely pick this one up for your spooky reads!