Down The Murder Path

by Sue Peric

Her love life one big frustration; her best friend withdrawn, while another fights their urges to come out and now Nicky is sure she's being followed. Perhaps, adding solving a murder to her list of issues was not her smartest move but she needs it. If she can’t control her life, murder is all she’s got.

Sixteen-year-old Nicky is not your average teen and once an idea pops into her head she is like a dog with a bone. Her assertiveness and determination on one hand are undermined by her low self-esteem when it comes to her own love life.

Having endured yet another dull summer break, Nicky and her group of teens are about to have more excitement tossed in their lives than ever expected. With severed fingers discovered at a local farm, Nicky persuades her friends that what they’re dealing with is murder, despite the police’s efforts to down-play the incident. Her relentless drive pushes the group down the murder path, the breadcrumbs they follow, closer to home than expected. Suspicions arise when Jess, Nicky’s best friend, shares a bombshell of a secret, the teens putting themselves in danger to discover the truth.

237 pages, ebook

Published December 1, 2023

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down The Murder Path was a bit of a mixed read for me. I am perhaps not necessarily the target audience in that I am no longer a teenager and have never been a reluctant reader, but I do still enjoy YA murder mystery books and still find myself drawn to them. Hence why I was happy / excited to read this one.

My favourite aspect of the book were the sections written from the perspective of the killer, and the woman who became his victim. I felt that these sections were the most well-written of the book, and provided insight in to the way in which the character’s mind worked. Personally, I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if there were more of these sections.

Although this book is YA, I think it is the teenage characters who tend to let it down. I found Nicky to be quite a frustrating character to read. I also found the relationship between Nicky and her boyfriend James quite uncomfortable to read and found that it tends to draw away from the central plot surrounding the murder. Although romance does often feature in YA mystery books, I think in this case there is something of an imbalance between the time spent on the relationships and the murder plot – and that it often felt like the murder was taking a back seat. This is a shame because the plot around fingers being found at a nearby farm – without the rest of the body – is very intriguing. I wish there had been more emphasis on the actual murder and the investigation in to it – because I felt that this was missing for much of the book.

There were a few other smaller plots on-going through the book, but they also felt a little rushed at times. The outcome with Jess’ parents felt off to me. I think that perhaps this should have been developed more as it felt like it resolved just a bit too easily / perfectly. This could have perhaps worked better as its own book separate to the farm murder.

I think the plot has a lot of potential but that unfortunately the actual murder mystery element ended up being quite unsatisfactory because of how secondary it felt to everything else. I was quite surprised to see the reference to Karen M. McManus’ Bayview books towards the end of this – but actually I could see this working quite well as a means of encouraging reluctant readers to pick up other books.

I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for a review.

[Vita Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts with a very intruiging premise - fingers are found missing at a farm, yet no rest of the body has turned up. As the mystery continues and our cast of characters bands together to solve the case, it becomes quite puzzling at times, and sometimes more questions are raised than answered (A shoe-box in a desk? What is Rob's task in the group that he was curious to do? What is Mr Lang transporting? Was there a change of plan in approaching Lang's house after the first retcon? Lang's sister? Melanie? Jess' mom?). Things start to come together more in the 2nd half of the book, and in the end the story is wrapped up in a satisfying way.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the characters. Something about the group of them reminded me of 80s films such as Stand By Me. Anayah is my favorite, and I loved reading about her. James is a tool but a well written one. I also enjoyed the scene with Mr Lloyd in which this teacher is eager to get to lunch inbetween classes - I can relate from my internship! The description of environments was also very pleasant to read, especially that of the hamsters' living quarters at the farm (though I am told you should not have more than 1 hamster together, fun fact). The scene with the seizure was disturbing and I really enjoyed George's character as well. I will be reading her other book too, curious to see what it will be like!

[Caroline Helenasdotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Down the Murder Path" by Sue Peric effortlessly immerses readers into a world where relatable characters navigate the complexities of adolescence and a gripping murder mystery. The book's resonance with the teenage audience is palpable, offering a thoughtful and relevant exploration of the challenges young individuals face.

What stands out is Peric's ability to craft a narrative that flows seamlessly, avoiding repetitiveness and ensuring an encapsulating reading experience. The story's intrigue is heightened by a well-executed mystery element, offering brief glimpses into the killer's perspective. This narrative choice adds a layer of suspense that is both captivating and skillfully handled. The characters' depth and authenticity make it easy to connect with their journeys, enhancing the overall reading experience.

"Down the Murder Path" is not just limited to its target audience; it transcends age barriers, making it a compelling read for a broader readership. The novel's thematic richness, combined with its engaging storytelling, makes it a recommended choice for those who enjoy mysteries, murders, and Young Adult literature.

Sue Peric skillfully blends suspense, relatable characters, and an intriguing mystery. I highly recommend it.

[Sandhya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down The Murder Path is a fun YA novel with some mystery, some thrill, and some angsty teen drama. A group of teenagers following clues to solve a crime while also tackling with their personal issues was an interesting premise. I loved Nicky's friend group and enjoyed how different their friendship dynamics was from the cliche friend groups in YA novels. Their loyalty and unwavering support for each other in times of need is heartwarming. I felt as eager as them to follow the breadcrumbs and to find out how the dots connected. The killer in this story is revealed early on, but the mystery aspect is maintained as to how the killer is connected to the group and who the dead woman is.

I really liked the chapters from the killer's and victim's POV, but some sub-plots were a little frustrating to read. I wanted to shake some sense into Nicky often when she justified or plain ignored her boyfriend's irrational behaviors. I also felt the epilogue didn't properly resolve Andy's fate. Overall, Down The Murder Path was a quick, intriguing read, and I finished it easily because of the short chapters. I'd definitely recommend it to YA readers who enjoy a little bit of drama and mystery.

[Curly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book vaguely reminded me of ‘A Good Girls Guide To Murder’ by Holly Jackson, which I say as a compliment.

The murder mystery side of the story I thought was quite good, it is an interesting idea and the plot keeps you guessing. This book includes sections from the killer’s perspective, which I thought were written very well. I like it when books do this as I think it adds more depth and intrigue to the story.

Although I enjoyed the main plot line of the murder, there were some subplots that I was less keen on. Firstly, I did not like the relationship between Nicky and her boyfriend. Secondly, there was a subplot involving the main character’s best friend. I thought it was fine up until the ending which just felt wrong to me.

Overall, I think the book was good. It was not very long so would lend itself to readers who are either reluctant to read or trying to get into reading.

I received and eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Yngve · Rating 4 out of 5]

When body parts are discovered on a nearby farm, Nicky and a group of friends from school goes searching for the killer. They soon start to suspect that it may be someone close to them.
“Down the murder path” is a YA drama with an added murder mystery. It follows a group of teenage friends and their daily struggles with boyfriends, teachers and parents.
The parts of the story that I enjoyed the most were the ones told (very well) from the killers POV. I would have liked to see more of those and less of the main character’s romantic predicaments.
Having said that, I’m not among the book’s target audience, and the story’s mix of teen romance, teen frustrations, teen conflicts (and murder) is sure to resonate strongly with its intended readers.

[Andrew McCusker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book pre-publication.
I felt the writing and storyline depicted our current society.
I particularly enjoyed and as far as possible emphasised with the characters.
I can see the target teenage audience reading and relating to 'Down the murder path' and expressing their opinions positively. I enjoyed this book finding it relevant and thoughtful.
The writing flowed was not repetitious to me a good and encapsulating read.

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was interesting enough. The mystery aspect of the story was pretty well done. Getting brief glimpses of the killer’s point of view is certainly not uncommon in crime novels, and I can think of at least five cases when I really appreciated the insight.

I suggest this book to people that like mysteries, murders and Young Adult reads.

[Vikram Kambo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character dynamics are something that I wouldn't normally look for, but in this book, they were second to none! Worth a read for fans of all genres, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this!

[Ervina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book easy to read and engaging from start to finish. Excellent pitch and a great title. The book is tense from beginning to end. It is quick and easy to read, but not easily predictable, which is great. I like the title of the book and the cover that draws the reader in at first.

[Colby Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to read if you like murder mystery. The characters are set up well and it's easy to feel like you're a part of their world while reading. Well-written and interesting, I recommend spending some time to sit back and read it.

[Anne Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good teenage thriller with a really interesting main character. I liked how the story moved along and there are twists and revelations along the way. Good stuff.