Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Munoz is a thrilling new mystery novel that explores themes of betrayal, fear, jealousy, sibling bonds, and the nature of humanity. The book follows recent high school graduate Izzy Morales, who goes on a 1920s-themed graduation getaway to the luxurious Ashwood Manor with her best friend, Kassidy, and five other friends.

After five days of wearing fine dresses and eating the lavish foods, Kassidy’s boyfriend is found dead, believed to be murdered. As the only people on the secluded island , everyone in this friend group is a suspect. Even more so for main character Izzy Morales, the girl who brought the knife.

Readers who like books with a fascinating premise and “strange” characters will find this book is exactly what they need. The characters are relatable enough but what makes the story is the setting. Munoz’s combination of modern-day ideologies with the fancy 1920s experience is truly fascinating. The mystery aspect of the book is nothing new, but it’s done wonderfully to contrast the character’s main archetypes. With the amount of drama this group of friends seems to engage in, it seems almost impossible that any of them were ever friends to begin with.

As with a lot of other YA mystery novels, the ending is predictable but if readers can look past the plot, they’ll have a great experience. The ending doesn’t take away the main appeal of the book, but it is something to note for those looking into the more serious side of the mystery genre. This mystery novel is also the kind of story that would benefit from a sequel to further explain the ending and provide a deeper look at who the characters end up being.

As Lauren Munoz’s debut book into the world of literature, Suddenly a Murder is a fascinating read for anyone who wants a classic murder mystery tale to keep them up at night.