Murder Land

by Carlyn Greenwald

Murder Land opens tonight. Not everyone will survive. Buckle up for a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.

Seventeen-year-old Billie feels like she is on top of the world. She gets to spend the summer with her best friend, sparks are flying with her crush, and she has received a promotion to ride operator for one of the most buzzworthy new attractions in the theme park she works at. But the first night on the new job takes a dark turn when her creepy coworker mysteriously dies…on her ride, when she isn't authorized to be running it.

At first, it seems like he died by heart attack, but by the time she returns to the body with help, it looks like a broken neck. Had she just imagined him sitting upright a few minutes ago? It's as if someone is trying to pin his death on her, and she has one night to figure out who is really responsible before she is blamed.

Billie recruits the help of her friends to sneak around the park after-hours and search for the truth. But as the night stretches on and more people wind up dead, Billie realizes she may not make it out of Murder Land alive. And her friends may know more than they're letting on.

Genres: Thriller, Young Adult, Horror, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, LGBT, Fiction

339 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2025

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like giving such low ratings. Usually, I try to find some redeeming qualities, and I'll focus on them in my review and recommend the book to readers who like XYZ. Sadly, I can't do that with this book. There are no redeeming qualities. This book put me in a reading slump. I can't afford to be in a slump.

So what's wrong with this book? A lot of things. I can mention the pacing, the 4 characters with the same personality, the poor editing, there's just so much. But the one thing I will thoroughly expand on is the fact that the author was trying so hard to be pretentious that she wrote a book that reads as if it's in another language to me. I can't tell you how many times I had to reread a sentence because of how horribly it was structured. Most of the time, I just moved on because there was no deciphering it. Oh, and it also felt like the author made the characters queer because tHaT's WhAt'S pOpUlAr NoWaDaYs.

Overall, interesting idea for a book but extremely poor delivery, writing, and characters.

[Susan Carolynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent YA thriller, and it's the perfect intro-to-summer type read! I loved the theme park setting, and the characters were much more well-rounded than that typical of the YA thriller genre. Though it wasn't as fast-paced as I thought it'd be. I also anticipated a much scarier, edge-of-my-seat, a roller-coaster of fear book. It kind of under-delivered in that department. I wasn't really surprised by the twists or ending, but it was a quick read!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire for an ARC of Murder Land. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book.


🌟3.5🌟


There are many advantages to building experience as a reader. Some obvious, others not so much. One benefit that seems to fly under the radar, is the ability to be able to see books for what they are. Therefore being able to appreciate them accordingly. With that being said I feel I was able to enjoy this book to the fullest extent possible because I had a pretty good idea what I was going into before I started and it wasn't long into reading before my predictions were confirmed.

Think cheesy horror slasher film in the best possible way. This is a book that was written to be an enjoyment, fast, fun, perfect for a long commute, vacation read, or palate cleanser. And if you're aware of these notes going in, you're probably going to have a fairly good time over here! Especially if you're a thriller/suspense fan. However if you're a reader who loves deep and/or powerful stories, that leave you with all the feelings while pondering big life questions, you might not like it here as much.


Overall I would definitely recommend this book to those I thought would enjoy it. Especially if you're one of those lucky enough to be a faster reader, it's a quick read and it's a good time 🤷🏼‍♀️





Until next time,
Hades
🩵

[mackenzie (hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the fuck (derogatory)

[Jen (noelle w. ihli's version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

what in the actual fuck is this jumbled mess. lmao DNF
Do
Not
Fucking read this

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into Murderland expecting a dark, campy murder mystery set in a theme park — a concept I’m genuinely obsessed with. The tagline was intriguing, and as someone who loves theme parks and mysteries, I thought this would be right up my alley. Sadly, this book turned into one of the most frustrating reads I’ve picked up in a long time.

Right away, the book felt like it was trying too hard to hit current publishing checkboxes: every character’s ethnicity and sexuality is announced immediately as if that substitutes for actual personality development. It didn’t add anything meaningful to the plot or character arcs — it just felt performative.

The Main Character: Billie
Let’s talk about Billie. I’ve read some unlikable protagonists, but Billie is exhausting. She flip-flops between being a classic pick-me girl and an “oh my god, everyone’s obsessed with me” girl for no reason that makes sense. She assumes everyone’s in love with her — Leon, Sawyer, Grace — purely because… she’s Billie? Her confidence about being desirable to literally everyone is baffling, especially for someone so deeply insecure and catastrophically bad at reading people. She’s unrelatable, erratic, and endlessly self-centered.

Inconsistencies & Lazy Plotting
What truly made this book an aggravating read was the sheer number of inconsistencies and lazy plot holes:
• There’s a disguise subplot where Billie switches her hoodie for Sawyer’s jacket to go “incognito,” yet the book constantly flip-flops between calling it a hoodie and a jacket. Did no one fact-check this?
• The main murder mystery hinges on assumptions treated as facts. Characters guess who might have been killed or how — and then those guesses quietly morph into canon as the book progresses, without evidence or confirmation.
• The timeline of Gooseberry the animatronic, the park’s history, and prior murders shifts so often I had to start annotating pages like I was studying for an exam.
• When Billie smells Axe body spray and sees a pair of shoes, she immediately accuses Leon of being the murderer — because apparently no one else wears Axe except middle schoolers, and only Leon owns shoes. The leaps in logic in this book are Olympic.
• The murderer’s plan involving peanut oil and Grace’s fatal allergy makes no sense. How did Connor know exactly which hot dog Grace would eat? Did he inject one hot dog? Several? How was he sure it would get to her? And why did her severe peanut allergy take a whole hour to kick in when in reality, that would happen within minutes.

Connor: The Last-Minute Psycho
Connor, the big reveal murderer, was a frustrating character because the book never developed him beyond a couple throwaway lines. It’s eventually revealed he was being paid off by High Park higher-ups to cover up past crimes, and there’s literal money found being exchanged as evidence — but we barely get to know him. They awkwardly try to paint him as a psycho at the end, mentioning how a kid got trampled by a horse at another park and Connor coldly said “Glad we don’t have horses.” That’s as deep as his villain persona gets. I wish we’d run into him more throughout the story, had more tension-building scenes with him, or used other characters like Sarah to lay actual red herrings. Even simple clues like a ride photo they couldn’t find — it could’ve been discovered in Connor’s office or desk later. It’s a teen mystery; small, obvious clues would’ve been appropriate and satisfying.

Character Dynamics & Emotional Nonsense
The friend group is a disaster. Leon ignores Billie for months, they hooked up at a company party 6 months prior, nobody addresses it, and yet she thinks they’re met to be together and can’t wait to sleep with him after her shift. Grace is supposedly in love with Billie. Sawyer is the only halfway decent person and spends the entire book saving Billie from herself while Billie acts like a brat.
I wish we got a flash to the party to see how it went down- the side comments about it just didn’t add weight to the characters emotional motivations.

One line that epitomized the absurdity of this book: after Grace dies (horribly — falling in a lake while having an allergic reaction), Billie thinks, “I hope she was thinking about herself. And me.” Are you kidding? Grace is literally dying in agony and Billie centers herself in the moment.

The Phone Nonsense
Another frustrating detail: Billie jumps into the water to try to save Grace, damaging her own phone. Later, she has Grace’s phone (which had stayed on land and worked fine) but immediately smashes it against a wall in frustration not long after Grace’s death. It was her last tangible link to her best friend, and she destroys it without a second thought. Then later mourns it as though it’s some tragic loss — as if she wasn’t the one who literally threw it against a wall. She’s not the brightest.

The Park Map & Missing Timeline
One of the very few things the book did right was including a nice map of the theme park at the front. It was genuinely helpful to track where the characters were during chase scenes or as they snuck around. Unfortunately, what the book desperately needed alongside that was a timeline. Between the opening years of rides, when Gooseberry was supposedly installed and removed, and the history of past incidents and murders, it was impossible to keep track. The book inserts little interview transcripts and character one-liners that drop conflicting dates and facts. I still don’t fully understand when the park was built, which rides were original, when Gooseberry disappeared, or which murder Gooseberry was allegedly involved with. A simple timeline page would’ve saved so much confusion.

The Ending
The ending is a convoluted mess. Connor’s motives barely make sense. It’s confirmed he’s being paid off by High Park higher-ups, and though there’s money involved, the book never follows up on who exactly in the company orchestrated everything. It ends with a vague YouTube -style post hinting someone’s getting fired. Who? Why? The book can’t be bothered to explain.
Even a major death — Randy’s — is poorly handled. Initially said to be a heart attack, then possibly a broken neck, then poison. No one checks the body again or clarifies anything.

Final Thoughts
I’ve read plenty of flawed books, but Murderland was uniquely aggravating. It felt like a first draft that no one properly edited or fact-checked. The characters are inconsistent, the plot is riddled with holes, and the dialogue ranges from awkward to cringeworthy. No humor, no swooning, no satisfying mystery payoff.

Verdict:
Unless you’re morbidly curious about how not to write a murder mystery, skip this. The only thing murdered here was narrative logic.

Honestly just read Fantasicland instead

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting young adult horror story. A theme park in California found its niche with adding a ride about true crime finds itself the subject of true crime podcasts instead. A group of friends finds nothing of what they expected for opening night of the new ride and their lives won’t be the same. I listened to the audiobook for this one and I liked the narration quite a bit. There were a few bits that didn’t fully make sense but overall I really liked this story. It was a fun mystery and it would make a good movie. The ending was a little odd, but it was still overall satisfying and I liked it.

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 9 hours 53 minutes
🎤: Emily Norman
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Format: single pov/timeline

General Thoughts:
This was a Y a thriller with a really good premise and an exciting storyline that just had a few problems that kept it from being completely enjoyable. I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator. Her voice was very soothing and lent a lot of emotion to the characters. I really enjoyed her tempo and I enjoyed the presentation of her voice.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this. However, there was several things within the story that really just got on my nerves. Or didn't make sense to the story in general. What do you mean after the main character's best friend is murdered the main character and the murdered girls girlfriend start, flirting and admitting feelings for each other? That is so weird to happen on the literal end of the murder. It honestly gave me the ick. It also felt like there was literally no grieving for the murdered best friend. It just seems like they went right to acceptance and then moved on with their lives me hours after the death. It was just very weird. I also don't understand the friends roles in this novel. It's like they were only there to further the plot line through inconsistent dialogue. I didn't understand what their purpose was being there to investigate. I figured out pretty early on the murderer was so I wasn't surprised when it was revealed, but the ending also felt like it just wasn't very cohesive. I felt like there was a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the animatronics.

overall, an interesting story that just had some inconsistencies and problems that kept me from fully enjoying. I still recommend it for someone who is looking for something thriller based, but still kind of not so serious. Where these little problems might not bother them.

Disclaimer: I read this audiobook via free ALC through NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[rachel x]

"Pitched as Bodies Bodies Bodies meets a queer One of Us Is Lying set at a pseudo-Disneyland"

i dare you to pitch me a book i'll preorder quicker

[Oliver Jasinski · Rating 2 out of 5]

WOMP WOMP FLOP ALERT. Actually so bad. Somehow unbelievably boring while also managing to be ridiculous and A.W.F.U.L.L.Y written. I’ve been procrastinating writing this review for so long because I had so much I wanted to say and then I waited too long that now I kinda forget this book. But here I go. First of all, I genuinely believe this author was very very hungry while writing this. Like omg. Take for example:

She drops the sizzling pickles onto the drying rack. "Well, okay.
But the Axe. Yeah, no one else over the age of twelve wears that"
"What was your theory?"
"I was just thinking about that list of people who'd gone into the room throughout the night who could've poisoned the hot dog." She puts the food into one of the commemorative buckets with all the GooseBeary and Friends characters on it. "Vince was on the list, yet he absolutely would never do something like that? She sets the bucket onto the serving counter and returns to the kitchen.
When I stand up to get it, I'm dizzy. Not strong, but I'll survive. If only this meal also came with deep-fried ibuprofen. "You don't think?"
The fridge rips open. Sawyer rifles through as she speaks. "No way. Leon makes sense. He is unemployed and could use the money if Californialand was trying to cover something up. But I thought of something else that could be a motive." She emerges through the door to the kitchen, holding various dipping sauces. She sets them down and brings her own water to her lips. "But it'd kinda be insane if it was real" I lean in, my stare boring into her. Willing her to look at me as she finally sits down. "Any more than us entertaining this theory?" I say as I pluck a spicy nugget from the mix. It doesn't have the crunch I want, but the meat mixed with soft shock of spice is really hitting the spot.

it’s only downhill from here:

“Are you trying to get me to say something?”
I shrug, burying a smile in a fried pickle. “Do as you will.” “ I cared about what happened to you.” She says the magic words through the mouthful of a waffle fry. The terror of the last hour sits in my mind the way a storm brews around a ship. Somehow, I’ve made it into the eye of the storm. The pelting of the rain is done, my skin and clothes have dried, and I just feel okay soaking in the pocket of sun. I know it won’t last. But it doesn’t make the strong salty food filling me or Sawyer’s words warming my cheeks and neck and belly feel less incredible. Our fingers touch as I reach for an onion ring. Ordinarily, even with someone like Grace, I would’ve pulled back first. But I finish grabbing what I was going to grab and Sawyer takes something else.


actually what is that. Please someone tell me. Like what is this author trying to convey with “I finish grabbing what I was going to grab.”

Here’s another section that made me cackle. I guess this is kinda spoilers so don’t read if you don’t want to be spoiled:


And there are people outside of this park. I’m not the same lost, friendless girl I was when I first met Grace. Nobody will ever compare to her, but there are people I befriended in the Northwestern early admission discord who love anime as unabashedly as I do.

Her best friend just died and she’s like oh it’s okay though! Because I’ve met some anime lovers on discord🤩🤩

AND THEN LIKE A PARAGRAPH LATER SHE REPEATS THE EXACT. SAME. THING. JUST IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WORDING:

I’m not alone. I do have friends besides Grace. There will never be someone who will replace Grace. I never want there to be one. It won’t make the next days, weeks, years easier, but I won’t have to be alone. I won’t be unloved. WHY DID WE COPY PASTE THE SAME CONVERSATION. CE N’ÉTAIT PAS NÉCESSAIRE

Also this:
Somewhere in one of my elementary school diaries, I wrote down my own personal worst way to die: in a confined space, limited air supply running out, elements around you destroying the very building blocks of your body, knowing you can see a way out but can never reach it alive.

you did not write that in your elementary school diary. you just did not.

These aren’t the best passages to convey my feelings but the writing was just… you know. Also I couldn’t take this book seriously because it was just so stupid. I finished this a while ago so I kinda forget but they were like terrified of this cursed stuffy or something and it was just so unserious. Please don’t hate me author I’m sure you’re lovely☺️☺️☺️

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Murder land is an interactive theme park. You have the opportunity to solve 4 different murders with clues and information scattered across the park, even clues with employees! It had murdered themed roller coasters, food, and midway. This park sounded amazing and I wish I knew of a real one. The employees having clues that you need to ask for sounded so fun!

So having a serial killer loose on the opening night should have been a very entertaining read. There were so many opportunities to make it both spooky and slasher fun. But I found the story confusing, convoluted, and so slow. I kept trying to figure out why no one was sweeping the park and Billie and and her friends were able to roam, at times, behind the scenes and in employee areas when the park had been closed for hours. I found the interview chapters as distracting additions that may have held interesting previous facts about the park but I felt the often even further distracted from the story and only seemed to slow it down further. I wish I'd liked this one but sadly, it just didn't work for me.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

For a book with blood dripping down the cover, this plot is pretty lacking on the deaths. I was expecting a slasher. I wanted a slasher. I got... a book. I don't know. It doesn't really overpromise. It doesn't really under-deliver. It just sort of exists. My biggest issue with this book was that I couldn't figure out why these characters were making any of the decisions they were making. Not because they were being stupid, per se. They just weren't doing anything reasonable. There was no justification. There was just doing stuff. So... yeah.

Anyway, enough of that for now. I've still got a full review to write, which will be going live at Gateway Reviews on May 9, 2025. Do stop by!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Madeleine Knutsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Welcome to Murder Land, where the plot is as twisty as the roller coaster Billie probably should’ve stayed far away from. This book gave me whiplash—and not in the OMG, I didn’t see that twist coming! way, but more like Wait, WHAT is happening now?

Billie’s decision-making ranged from eh, okay to Why are you like this? Her friends? A little too sketchy to be trusted, but honestly, by halfway through, who wasn’t suspicious? And the big villain reveal? Less mind-blowing twist and more That make sense, I guess.

The dialogue tries to be clever, but every now and then, it swerves straight into awkward town. Case in point:
“To think that I got what I always wanted from you tonight. Your attention.”
I find myself smiling. “No one’s ever wanted my attention that badly.”

Read the room! Her best friend (and your girlfriend, might I add) just died—maybe save the poetry for literally any other moment? If I were the best friend, I’d be floating over thier shoulder with the most epic ghostly side-eye imaginable.

Overall, Murder Land is like a theme park ride that looks thrilling from afar but leaves you stuck at the top of the loop-de-loop wondering how you got here. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re in the mood for a chaotic fever dream. But hey, at least it’s a ride you won’t forget anytime soon!

[Syd Over · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe like 1.5, because even though I basically DNF’d this at 50%, I still skimmed the back half to get some closure.
Poorly written, super weird grammar choices, honestly not sure how this could have possibly made it through every round of editing.

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy, quick read. Pretty average overall. I generally don't prefer first person point of view because I find it limiting, and causes the writing style to be too simple, and that did happen here. I wasn't emotionally attached to any of the characters, nor did I care for any of them. It was hard to get to know the characters since the time frame of the story was so short. 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3. I might read more by this author, IF it's written in third person. Thank you to Netgalley for offering this title in their catalog.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Land follows Billie on opening night of the new attractions at the theme park she works at. Everything is going in her favour—her best friend and crush are spending the night at the park and she got a promotion to ride operator with a crazy new twist. But when her and her friends test out the new ride with a coworker, the coworker dies. At first, it looks like a heart attack but when she returns with help, his neck is broken. Billie could lose her job so she convinces her friends to sneak around the park to uncover the truth. But with a killer lurking, no one is safe—including Billie and her friends.

As someone who just went to Disneyland, this was the perfect time to read this! I had a lot of fun and was so fascinated with Californialand. I haven’t read tons of mystery/thrillers at theme parks but I really wish there were more because its just a fun concept that hits so well. This book is no different and has great pacing and a great twist that I had no idea was coming. The author balances the reveals and theories from the characters so well to the point where I really couldn’t begin to guess. It felt like it could be anyone. The theme park the author created was so cool and I adored getting to see the characters sneak around and also see them explore behind the scenes. Really great concept that was executed very well!

The characters were so entertaining. Billie is a great main character and I really enjoyed that her grief was really explored and given a space. It wasn’t brushed over and I really liked that we got to see her process and struggle but also come out the other side by the end. Her friendship with Grace was so wholesome and Grace was such a fascinating character. I loved how obsessed Billie and her were with the park. Sawyer was such a good logical sounding board to keep the others in check and I love where her and Billie’s relationship grew to.

Overall, this is such a fun, entertaining mystery/thriller and if you love theme parks, I’d highly recommend giving it a try!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Stacy40pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald. Thanks to @sourcebooksfire for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Billie has been promoted to operate the new hot ride at the theme park she works at. On her first night a coworker mysteriously dies on her ride. As she and her friends try to figure out what happened, more wind up dead.

This one was twisty and turny and if you enjoy a theme park trope, you’ll love this one. The characters was great for a young adult read but her immaturity and decisions frustrated me as an adult reader. The action of this one keeps going and does not let up.

Murder Land comes out 5/6.

[kiki thelibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was *so* stoked for this book when I first heard about it. Sadly, it’s poorly written grammatically, the pacing was off, it lasted for-ev-er, and the characters were all over the place! Not sure if I’d recommend this and I’m the one who just bought it for my library! 🫣 Mistakes were made! Go read Truly, Devious instead!

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid whodunnit with enough twists to keep you curious. As a YA thriller, it delivers the atmosphere, teen drama, and theme park creepiness you expect, making it an enjoyable read for YA thriller fans.

The audiobook narration was great, it was engaging and matched to the story’s tone. The narrator really helped bring the tension and characters to life. The setting and animatronic horror vibes definitely reminded me of the movie Five Nights at Freddy’s, which added to the overall reading experience!

Overall, it was an entertaining listen & definitely worth trying if you enjoy YA mysteries with a theme park twist. Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy.

Publication 🗓️ : 11.25.25

[Taylorrrr · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you’re thinking about reading this… DONT

[Ashlee Shahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was here for the vibes of a theme park turned murderous. Not a long triangle between three girls and one guy and for the majority of the book, that is what it was. This was a train wreck.

[emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

absolutely not. can't believe i spent my own money on this 😞 i want my $12.99 plus tax back.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you pick up a book wanting to be the outlier—the one who saw the magic everyone else missed. This wasn’t that moment.

I truly wanted to love this. It had so much potential, so many pieces I normally gravitate toward. But the execution… fell flat, to put it kindly. At one point I genuinely checked who published it because I couldn’t wrap my head around how this draft made it to print. I briefly wondered if it was an indie release by an author with a strong idea but no editorial support—because that happens!—but no. This is from a major publisher whose YA titles I usually devour.

To keep it brief, the plotting was sloppy, choppy, and wildly inconsistent. The author clearly has a passion for Los Angeles history—easily the strongest part of the book—but the story desperately needed a full developmental edit on top of standard copy and line edits. Inconsistencies were everywhere, and the sentence structure was rough more often than not.

The book released earlier this year, but I listened to the delayed audiobook (out Nov 25th) for review purposes. And while audiobooks often smooth over bumps, the issues here still showed through despite having a solid narrator.

Emily Norman is the reason I landed on a 3-star rating instead of lower. She handled the material with skill, and her delivery elevated what she could. That said, I do think she was miscast; she didn’t sound like a teenager, partly due to her vocal tone but also because the prose itself doesn’t sound authentically teen. That’s not on her.

In the end, I can’t recommend this one—and I hate that. I adored the nods to LA mysteries like the Black Dahlia and beyond, and I wanted to root for this book so badly. But the emotional disconnect was glaring. Our FMC’s best friend is murdered, and she shows virtually no grief… while simultaneously flirting with said best friend’s girlfriend. It’s jarring at best and deeply unearned at worst.

And lastly: I love representation. I love teens seeing themselves on the page. But representation needs to feel authentic, not like a checklist of identities thrown in for the sake of optics. That kind of box-ticking does more harm than having none at all.

A great concept weighed down by poor execution—this one just didn’t deliver the story it promised.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

[Grace Scharf · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good premise- the atmosphere/descriptions were great, but the story was boring and it lacked much of the intensity I’d expect from a horror/murder book. The characters didn’t really catch my attention- lots of the book they were running around. The ending was predictable and lacking. Overall 2 stars for me.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carlyn Greenwald's Murder Land transforms the magical world of theme parks into a nightmare landscape where corporate greed meets deadly consequences. This standalone YA thriller marks a bold departure from Greenwald's previous romantic works like Sizzle Reel and Director's Cut, showcasing her versatility as she ventures into the darker corners of young adult fiction with remarkable success.

The novel follows seventeen-year-old Billie Cooper, a scrappy theme park employee who finds herself trapped in a web of murder and conspiracy during the preview night of Californialand's newest attraction. What begins as a dream promotion quickly becomes a fight for survival when her elderly coworker Randy dies mysteriously on her ride, setting off a chain of events that will test every relationship Billie holds dear.

Plot Mechanics: A Masterclass in Escalating Tension

Greenwald constructs her thriller with the precision of a master architect, building tension through a carefully orchestrated series of revelations that keep readers guessing until the final pages. The story unfolds over a single night, creating a pressure-cooker atmosphere that mirrors the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a theme park after hours.

The mystery begins with Randy's death, which Billie initially witnesses as a heart attack but later discovers appears to be a broken neck. This discrepancy becomes the catalyst for everything that follows, as Billie refuses to accept the easy explanation and instead digs deeper into the park's dark history. Greenwald skillfully plants clues throughout the narrative, from the mysterious purple fur to the missing employee files, creating a trail that feels both logical and surprising.

The author's decision to set the entire story within the confines of a theme park proves ingenious. The familiar setting of childhood wonder becomes increasingly sinister as darkness falls and the crowds disappear, leaving only shadows and hidden secrets. Each themed land takes on its own personality, from the noir atmosphere of Murder Land to the nostalgic decay of Gold Rush Land, creating a rich backdrop for the unfolding horror.

Character Development: Complex Relationships Under Pressure

Billie emerges as a compelling protagonist whose working-class background and family struggles make her immediately relatable. Greenwald avoids the trap of creating a perfect heroine, instead presenting a flawed teenager whose determination sometimes borders on recklessness. Billie's grief over her parents' divorce and her fierce loyalty to her best friend Grace provide emotional depth that elevates the story beyond mere plot mechanics.

The supporting cast feels equally authentic, particularly in how their relationships shift under pressure. Grace, initially presented as the perfect best friend, reveals hidden depths and secrets that complicate the narrative. Sawyer, who could have been a simple antagonist as Grace's difficult girlfriend, instead becomes a complex character whose motivations and loyalties remain uncertain until the climax.

Leon's character arc represents one of the novel's strongest elements, as readers watch him transform from potential love interest to suspected killer and back again. Greenwald expertly manipulates reader expectations, using our assumptions about romantic subplots to create genuine surprise when the truth is revealed.

The relationship dynamics between these four teenagers feel remarkably authentic. Their conversations capture the specific cadence of teen dialogue without falling into the trap of trying too hard to sound cool. The romantic tension between Billie and both Leon and Sawyer develops naturally within the context of the thriller plot, never overwhelming the mystery elements.

Thematic Depth: More Than Just Murder

While Murder Land functions excellently as a straightforward thriller, Greenwald weaves in deeper themes that give the story additional weight. The novel serves as a sharp critique of corporate culture and the disposability of working-class employees. The revelation that Californialand has been covering up worker deaths for decades transforms the story from a simple whodunit into a condemnation of capitalist exploitation.

The theme park setting becomes a metaphor for the way corporations package and sell sanitized versions of reality while hiding their darker truths. The contrast between the bright, cheerful facade of Californialand and the corruption beneath mirrors broader societal issues about how institutions prioritize profit over human lives.

Greenwald also explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the painful process of growing up. Billie's relationship with Grace serves as the emotional core of the story, and the way their friendship is tested and ultimately strengthened through tragedy feels authentic and moving.

Technical Execution: Strengths and Minor Weaknesses

Greenwald's prose style adapts well to the thriller genre, maintaining the accessibility of her previous work while adding an appropriate edge of darkness. Her pacing is generally excellent, with the single-night timeframe creating natural urgency. The author demonstrates particular skill in action sequences, making the chase scenes and confrontations feel visceral and immediate.

The mystery plotting shows considerable sophistication, with red herrings that feel organic rather than forced. The revelation about GooseBeary's significance and the corporate conspiracy behind the murders pays off seeds planted early in the narrative, creating a satisfying sense of closure.

However, the novel occasionally suffers from slight pacing issues in the middle section, where some of the investigative sequences feel repetitive. A few plot conveniences, such as the protagonists' ability to move freely through the park despite security, strain credibility slightly. Additionally, some readers may find the corporate conspiracy elements somewhat over-the-top, though they serve the story's thematic purposes effectively.

The Horror Elements: Psychological Rather Than Graphic

Unlike many YA thrillers that rely on gore or shock value, Murder Land creates its horror through psychological tension and atmospheric dread. The theme park setting after dark becomes genuinely creepy, with familiar attractions taking on sinister overtones. Greenwald shows restraint in her violence, focusing more on the emotional impact of death than graphic descriptions.

The horror comes primarily from the violation of trust and safety that the murders represent. The theme park, a place associated with childhood joy and security, becomes a hunting ground where corporate interests supersede human life. This approach makes the story accessible to younger readers while still delivering genuine scares.

Cultural Context and Relevance

The novel arrives at a time when young readers are increasingly aware of corporate malfeasance and worker exploitation. Greenwald taps into contemporary anxieties about the gig economy, workplace safety, and the power imbalances between employees and employers. The story's focus on working-class teenagers fighting against institutional corruption feels particularly timely.

The theme park setting also allows Greenwald to explore ideas about nostalgia and the commodification of childhood experiences. The way Californialand packages and sells sanitized versions of California history while literally burying its crimes resonates with broader cultural conversations about how institutions shape historical narratives.

Final Verdict: A Thrilling Success with Minor Reservations

Murder Land succeeds admirably as both a page-turning thriller and a thoughtful exploration of deeper themes. Greenwald demonstrates impressive range in adapting her writing style to a new genre while maintaining the character-driven focus that made her previous works engaging.

The novel's greatest strength lies in its authentic character relationships and the way it uses its thriller elements to explore meaningful themes about corporate power and working-class exploitation. While occasional pacing issues and plot conveniences prevent it from achieving perfection, the book delivers consistent entertainment and genuine emotional impact.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Land is an absolute thrill ride for theme park lovers—and anyone who enjoys a good, heart-pounding murder mystery! Imagine a twisted, almost-too-real amusement park backdrop, where dark secrets lurk behind every cotton candy stand and roller coaster. From the very first page, this story had my pulse RACING, and it didn't let up.

Meet Billie, an employee at Murder Land, who seems to find herself ensnared in a web of secrets, lies, and—yes—murder. What makes this story even more gripping is the colorful ensemble of characters that each add depth and intrigue to the plot. The author’s brilliant pacing gives us time to focus on select characters, peeling back layers of hidden motives, secretive pasts, and shocking twists—much like a vintage Agatha Christie novel or a high-stakes Knives Out mystery. Each chapter keeps you guessing, narrowing down the suspects while opening up more questions.

The plot itself is a non-stop sprint. It kicks off at full speed and doesn’t slow down as the body count rises and the stakes get higher. What really kept me hooked, though, was the fascinating backstory of the theme park itself. It’s easy to draw parallels to real-life theme parks, but the inspiration behind Murder Land adds a whole new layer of fun (and a little bit of darkness) to the mystery. Stick around for the acknowledgements, too—you’ll get a fun tidbit that sheds more light on the park’s twisted origins!

That said, I did feel one death came a bit too out of left field. While it definitely pushed the plot forward, it felt almost rushed compared to the carefully built tension leading up to it. It was shocking, yes, but I would have loved to see just a bit more buildup to make it land with the impact it deserved.

In the end, this book is a wild, rollercoaster of a read, and I’d recommend it to fans of Hide by Kiersten White and anything by Natasha Preston. Murder Land delivers the thrills, chills, and whodunit intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page!

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Murder Land releases May 6, 2025

An hour into the opening night of Murder Land — a new attraction at the Californialand theme park — the ride that Billie has been promoted to operate has malfunctioned.
When she goes off script and takes a private ride with her best friends and one of the theme parks custodians, the last thing she expects to find at the end of the three minute ride is one of them dead.

To put her mind at ease, Billie is determined to prove that the custodian died of a heart attack, and not by a broken neck from a ride she was operating. But before the night is over, another person close to her dies.
Are these deaths freak accidents? Is a disgruntled ex-employee seeking out retaliation? Or did someone dig too deep into something they weren’t supposed to know about?

I liked that this story was isolated to a time period of just over twelve hours, but I didn’t enjoy how heavy-handed the teen relationship drama was. Having all three of Billie’s friends pining after her made her seem like a not-like-other-girls/pick me.

“To think that I got what I always wanted from you tonight. Your attention.”
I find myself smiling. “No one’s ever wanted my attention that badly.”
Ew. Was I supposed to swoon from reading that? Why would you say something like that when it took your girlfriend/best friend literally DYING to get the attention of another girl? I’d be rolling in my grave.

[★♥︎Connor♥︎★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was extremely excited when I found out about this book, seeing as I am a HUGE theme park enthusiast as well as a thriller book lover. And I do think that the history behind the fictional theme park in this book was intriguing to read about. However, there were some flaws with the book. Firstly, the book was predictable. I immediately figured out who the killer was after the first death, and I pretty much spent the rest of the book waiting for Billie to figure it out too. I also was not a fan of the relationship that comes about later in the book, although I cannot describe that without spoiling one of the deaths. On a brighter note, I liked Billie as a character, and I found the mystery surrounding the theme park to be super interesting. The book was also very easy to read, despite the writing being a little bit repetitive. Overall I’d give this book a 3.5 star rating ⭐️

[Sidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Land follows young theme park worker Billie over the course of one night trying to solve a mysterious death that happened on a ride she operates. I really enjoyed this story. The author’s passion for Los Angeles history shines through and she created fun and interesting lore throughout the world-building. The pacing was fast and the young heroine sometimes made very questionable choices that brought the YA feel of the novel to life. After one of the major twists, I could not put the book down. I had to know whodunit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[lily · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

this had some redeeming qualities, hence the extra .5 instead of it just being a 1 star read