I requested this book unaware that it was a teen book. The entire premise was far-fetched, including the backstory, that a teenager would be better at collecting clues, following leads, and solving a murder than the actual authorities. Let alone, sneaking around a heavily guarded school without being detected, eavesdropping on teachers, and numerous other unbelievable scenarios. Fantastic schemes aside, the timeline lacked momentum and very little pushed the reader to continue. Overall, the final result was an underwhelming mystery for any age.

Sourcebooks and NetGalley provided me with an advanced copy of this book. The opinions are my own. ( )

Four teenagers at a boarding school sneak out one night to meet up. Whilst out they overhear a heated conversation and see various members of the school community also out late in the grounds - and they are also separated from each other for short periods of time. They sneak back to their dorms undiscovered but the next morning wake to the news that the school's Dean's wife has been found murdered on the property. Did they hear or see someone who did it? Or is it one of them, especially when the rumor starts that she was having an affair with a student at school?
A murder-mystery who-dunit that will keep you guessing to the end. (I narrowed it down to two and was correct with one of my choices but was a bit confused with the "strange voice" red herring thrown in by the author.) I think that fans of One of Us is lying will enjoy this book. ( )

I wasn't aware that this was a YA novel until I was already into the story.
A group of teens at an exclusive boarding school sneak out to the woods. While there, they are frightened by voices and overhear a heated conversation. After returning to the dorms, it is revealed that someone was murdered in the woods. Years ago, someone had been strangled on the grounds, and now, there is another victim.
Luke Chase, one of the students, escaped a kidnapping years earlier. He and his friends decide to invesetigate the murder and catch the killer.
A bit far-fetched, and the writing became more juvenile the more I read. The story's conclusion leads me to believe this is the first in a series. ( )

This is a boarding school mystery. Luke, his roommate Oscar, and two girls Pippa and Kelsey sneak out late one night to a local make-out spot. They weren't expecting to overhear a murder.

Since they snuck out which could have consequences including expulsion, they want to keep their presence at the scene a secret. But Oscar is the sort of troublemaking kid who soon becomes a focus of the investigation. Luke is the stand-up, rule following kind of guy who has a past which includes his kidnapping and desperate escape through wooded country. He is trying to live down his reputation as the Kidnapped Kid but he still has the skills he needed when he was younger.

Once Oscar is accused, Luke becomes determined to find out who really killed the new Mrs. Heckler. He has lots of suspects besides his roommate who worked in her office to offset some demerits. Joanna Heckler was the sort of woman who always wanted the next new man which means that quite a few of the other male teachers now appear on Luke's suspect list along with her husband.

I liked Luke's growing relationship with Pippa who is a new student at the school. She left England under a sort of cloud because she was seen arguing with her best friend just before her friend was murdered. She was blamed but not charged and has come to the US to start over.

I liked the mysterious survival skills teacher who seems to know a lot more than he's saying and who pushes Luke to recover the skills that let him survive his own kidnapping.

This was an entertaining story and well-plotted mystery with interesting characters. I hope this isn't Luke's last adventure in crime-solving. ( )