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We Had a Hunch: A Mystery
Nancy Drew meets Yellowjackets in a new small-town cozy mystery from USA TODAY bestselling author Tom Ryan that asks a simple what happens to your favorite teenage detectives when they grow up?
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Few stories captured the public’s imagination in the year 2,000 like the friendly rivalry between the Teen Detectives of Edgar Mills, Massachusetts. Twin sisters Alice and Samantha VanDyne were thrust in the spotlight when they helped their father Sheriff Bill VanDyne identify and track down a slippery drug smuggling ring. Across town, introverted and bookish Joey O’Day proved himself to be a talented investigator of a different sort when he used his computer skills and idiosyncratic mind to expose an online grifter who had been preying on elderly victims.
The fact that Edgar Mills had not one, but two sets of teenage sleuths did not escape the notice of the press. As the trio began jockeying to outdo each other, solving one low level crime after another, the wider world began to pay attention. Before long, they were a sensation, appearing on talk shows and the covers of teen magazines.
But when a brutal series of murders rocked Edgar Mills, a deadly miscalculation on the part of the VanDyne twins led to the shocking and gruesome deaths of their father, Sheriff VanDyne, and Alice’s boyfriend. The killer, Bruce Phillip Kershaw— better known as The Janitor—was ultimately captured with the help of Joey O’Day, but both Edgar Mills and their beloved Teen Detectives would never be the same.
Today
It’s been a quarter century since The Janitor terrorized Edgar Mills, and the Teen Detectives have grown up. Samantha and Joey have Sam to Los Angeles and a life as a B List reality TV star, and Joey to a lucrative tech career in Boston. Alice, on the other hand, still lives in Edgar Mills, her guilt and heartbreak having taken root and kept her stuck in this town.
When Edgar Mills is shaken by a new murder that appears to follow The Janitor’s MO, Bruce Phillip Kershaw offers, from his maximum-security prison cell, to provide new information that might help crack this new case. The catch? He’ll only talk to the Teen Detectives that put him away.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Few stories captured the public’s imagination in the year 2,000 like the friendly rivalry between the Teen Detectives of Edgar Mills, Massachusetts. Twin sisters Alice and Samantha VanDyne were thrust in the spotlight when they helped their father Sheriff Bill VanDyne identify and track down a slippery drug smuggling ring. Across town, introverted and bookish Joey O’Day proved himself to be a talented investigator of a different sort when he used his computer skills and idiosyncratic mind to expose an online grifter who had been preying on elderly victims.
The fact that Edgar Mills had not one, but two sets of teenage sleuths did not escape the notice of the press. As the trio began jockeying to outdo each other, solving one low level crime after another, the wider world began to pay attention. Before long, they were a sensation, appearing on talk shows and the covers of teen magazines.
But when a brutal series of murders rocked Edgar Mills, a deadly miscalculation on the part of the VanDyne twins led to the shocking and gruesome deaths of their father, Sheriff VanDyne, and Alice’s boyfriend. The killer, Bruce Phillip Kershaw— better known as The Janitor—was ultimately captured with the help of Joey O’Day, but both Edgar Mills and their beloved Teen Detectives would never be the same.
Today
It’s been a quarter century since The Janitor terrorized Edgar Mills, and the Teen Detectives have grown up. Samantha and Joey have Sam to Los Angeles and a life as a B List reality TV star, and Joey to a lucrative tech career in Boston. Alice, on the other hand, still lives in Edgar Mills, her guilt and heartbreak having taken root and kept her stuck in this town.
When Edgar Mills is shaken by a new murder that appears to follow The Janitor’s MO, Bruce Phillip Kershaw offers, from his maximum-security prison cell, to provide new information that might help crack this new case. The catch? He’ll only talk to the Teen Detectives that put him away.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2025
113 people are currently reading
16988 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
November 11, 2025
A new take on a mystery novel, We Had a Hunch felt a bit like the Hardy Boys or Veronica Mars, only it shot us into the future so that all of the characters were now middle-aged. Giving a found family vibe while also providing plenty of on-point amateur sleuthing, it was an intoxicating combo that made for a quick, easy read. You see, from the tragic history to the traumatized characters, the edgier feel to this book pushed me past seeing it as a YA novel all grown up into a somewhat darker take on a cozy-ish whodunnit. While glossing over most of the blood and gore, there were still a handful of scenes that made it hit home for this thriller lover. Twisty and fun but also mildly chilling at the same time, there was definitely plenty to love inside of what I hope is the first book in a new series.
The were sadly a few issues, however. The biggest one was how over-the-top the entire book seemed to feel. That being said, once I relabeled it in my head as a cozy-ish book with a dark side (which I loved), I happily suspended all disbelief and went along for the ride. With a nostalgic feel on top of the original premise, I found it to be a solid read of long-buried secrets and mysterious suspects. So if you love books with small town settings, surprising reveals, and just-barely-there clues, this one’s for you. Just don’t go into it expecting a thriller. Geared more for readers who grew up on Nancy Drew, it packed a punch, just not in the thrill-delivery department. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Few stories captured the public’s imagination in the year 2000 like the friendly rivalry between the Teen Detectives of Edgar Mills, Massachusetts. Twin sisters Alice and Samantha VanDyne were thrust into the spotlight when they helped their father Sheriff Bill VanDyne bust a dangerous drug smuggling ring. Across town, bookish Joey O’Day proved himself to be a talented investigator of a different sort when he used his computer skills to expose an online grifter preying on elderly victims.
As the two sets of teenage sleuths began jockeying to outdo each other, they became a sensation, appearing on talk shows and the covers of teen magazines.
But when a brutal series of murders rocked Edgar Mills, a deadly miscalculation on the part of the VanDyne twins led to the shocking and gruesome deaths of both their father and Alice's boyfriend. The killer, Bruce Phillip Kershaw—better known as The Janitor—was ultimately captured, but both Edgar Mills and their beloved Teen Detectives would never be the same.
It’s been a quarter century since The Janitor terrorized Edgar Mills, and the Teen Detectives have grown up. Samantha and Joey have scattered: Sam to Los Angeles and a life as a B List reality TV star, and Joey to a lucrative tech career in Boston. Alice, on the other hand, still lives in Edgar Mills, rooted by her guilt and heartbreak.
When Edgar Mills is shaken by a new murder that matches The Janitor’s M.O., Kershaw offers, from his maximum-security prison cell, to provide information that could help crack this new case. The catch? He’ll only talk to the teen detectives that put him away.
Thank you to Tom Ryan and Atlantic Crime for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 14, 2025
Content warning: drug use, PTSD, adoption, blood, murder, kidnapping, mention of: gun and knife violence, domestic/child abuse
The were sadly a few issues, however. The biggest one was how over-the-top the entire book seemed to feel. That being said, once I relabeled it in my head as a cozy-ish book with a dark side (which I loved), I happily suspended all disbelief and went along for the ride. With a nostalgic feel on top of the original premise, I found it to be a solid read of long-buried secrets and mysterious suspects. So if you love books with small town settings, surprising reveals, and just-barely-there clues, this one’s for you. Just don’t go into it expecting a thriller. Geared more for readers who grew up on Nancy Drew, it packed a punch, just not in the thrill-delivery department. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Few stories captured the public’s imagination in the year 2000 like the friendly rivalry between the Teen Detectives of Edgar Mills, Massachusetts. Twin sisters Alice and Samantha VanDyne were thrust into the spotlight when they helped their father Sheriff Bill VanDyne bust a dangerous drug smuggling ring. Across town, bookish Joey O’Day proved himself to be a talented investigator of a different sort when he used his computer skills to expose an online grifter preying on elderly victims.
As the two sets of teenage sleuths began jockeying to outdo each other, they became a sensation, appearing on talk shows and the covers of teen magazines.
But when a brutal series of murders rocked Edgar Mills, a deadly miscalculation on the part of the VanDyne twins led to the shocking and gruesome deaths of both their father and Alice's boyfriend. The killer, Bruce Phillip Kershaw—better known as The Janitor—was ultimately captured, but both Edgar Mills and their beloved Teen Detectives would never be the same.
It’s been a quarter century since The Janitor terrorized Edgar Mills, and the Teen Detectives have grown up. Samantha and Joey have scattered: Sam to Los Angeles and a life as a B List reality TV star, and Joey to a lucrative tech career in Boston. Alice, on the other hand, still lives in Edgar Mills, rooted by her guilt and heartbreak.
When Edgar Mills is shaken by a new murder that matches The Janitor’s M.O., Kershaw offers, from his maximum-security prison cell, to provide information that could help crack this new case. The catch? He’ll only talk to the teen detectives that put him away.
Thank you to Tom Ryan and Atlantic Crime for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: October 14, 2025
Content warning: drug use, PTSD, adoption, blood, murder, kidnapping, mention of: gun and knife violence, domestic/child abuse
November 8, 2025
We Had a Hunch is marketed as a dark and suspenseful novel, but I wouldn’t describe it that way. It’s not especially dark, and I figured out the suspense element fairly early. Still, the premise is great: a mix of TikTok transcripts and former teen detectives that brings to mind Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. It has that same nostalgic, cozy feel, leaning more toward a gentle mystery than a gritty thriller.
I’ve read several of Tom Ryan’s books and always enjoy them. The books are pretty shorts and his writing is captivating. What keeps me turning the pages is how real his characters feel. The twins, Alice and Sam, and their childhood friend Joey, are all stuck in lives that feel too small. Alice is married and still living in her hometown. Sam is a B-list reality TV star. Joey has been in the same job for twenty years. When a new string of murders hits Edgar Mills, the three of them come alive again, drawn back into the thrill of solving something bigger than themselves.
I guessed the ‘whodunnit’ early on, but that didn’t bother me. This isn’t a high-stakes thriller. What kept me reading was the chance to spend more time with Alice, Sam, and Joey, and to see where life might take them next.
Thank you, Grove Atlantic and Netgalley, for this great ARC!
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I’ve read several of Tom Ryan’s books and always enjoy them. The books are pretty shorts and his writing is captivating. What keeps me turning the pages is how real his characters feel. The twins, Alice and Sam, and their childhood friend Joey, are all stuck in lives that feel too small. Alice is married and still living in her hometown. Sam is a B-list reality TV star. Joey has been in the same job for twenty years. When a new string of murders hits Edgar Mills, the three of them come alive again, drawn back into the thrill of solving something bigger than themselves.
I guessed the ‘whodunnit’ early on, but that didn’t bother me. This isn’t a high-stakes thriller. What kept me reading was the chance to spend more time with Alice, Sam, and Joey, and to see where life might take them next.
Thank you, Grove Atlantic and Netgalley, for this great ARC!
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September 26, 2025
We Had A Hunch follows the Van Dyne girls (Sam and Alice) who, years before had cracked a case that led to the arrest of a serial killer (The Janitor) and the death of their father. Since then Sam has run to the west coast and become famous for being an outcast, whilst Annie married her Levi Brakes, had a child and stayed in Edgar Mills.
The Janitor has been locked up for 25 years but now the killings have started again and The Janitor (Bruce Philip Kershaw) wants to meet the Van Dynes (and reluctant sidekick, Joey O'Day) to plead his case.
We Had A Hunch starts out really well with a look back to what happened the night the Janitor was arrested before taking us to the present day where we meet a variety of characters who may, or may not, assist in the apprehension of the new serial killer. The Van Dynes have to work out whether Kershaw, who claims he did not commit all the original murders (and there were only 3 which just scrapes in as serial killer status), is telling the truth while they try to solve the latest outbreak.
As I said, it begins well and there are several twists that keep you guessing and I was on board right up till the last 50 or so pages. After this the whole murder mystery becomes absolutely ludicrous. Two of the characters even say this:
"She frowns. "That's a bit farfetched, don't you think?"
Joey shrugs. "What part of this isn't farfetched? ..."
And I agree wholeheartedly. Had the book stuck to one or two twists it would have been great but the final twist is so utterly preposterous that my eyes almost rolled out of my head.
A great start followed by a laughable ending.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
The Janitor has been locked up for 25 years but now the killings have started again and The Janitor (Bruce Philip Kershaw) wants to meet the Van Dynes (and reluctant sidekick, Joey O'Day) to plead his case.
We Had A Hunch starts out really well with a look back to what happened the night the Janitor was arrested before taking us to the present day where we meet a variety of characters who may, or may not, assist in the apprehension of the new serial killer. The Van Dynes have to work out whether Kershaw, who claims he did not commit all the original murders (and there were only 3 which just scrapes in as serial killer status), is telling the truth while they try to solve the latest outbreak.
As I said, it begins well and there are several twists that keep you guessing and I was on board right up till the last 50 or so pages. After this the whole murder mystery becomes absolutely ludicrous. Two of the characters even say this:
"She frowns. "That's a bit farfetched, don't you think?"
Joey shrugs. "What part of this isn't farfetched? ..."
And I agree wholeheartedly. Had the book stuck to one or two twists it would have been great but the final twist is so utterly preposterous that my eyes almost rolled out of my head.
A great start followed by a laughable ending.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
October 27, 2025
I hate misleading jacket copy, in what way is this in any way related to Yellowjackets? Frankly, even Nancy Drew is a huge stretch. Nancy is sharp, she has her shit together, this crew of bumbling sleuths needs to stop crime solving and visit their therapists. It feels super YA, while also weirdly having a large chunk of its plot feel very similar to Scream 4 with a dash of 3 tossed in the mix. I almost gave up at 40% but because so many Goodreads readers waxed poetic about the amazing twists I stuck it out. My first hunch was correct and I should have abandoned it earlier.
October 11, 2025
The coolest thing about this book is the backstory of the main characters--the teen detectives. But we get almost none of that, sadly. It is an afterthought, a bit of required backstory, and we don't get to play around in it at all. A bummer. You can't bring us in by dangling teen detectives and then not do anything about it!
I almost quit this book because I was getting bored but I stuck it out as I often do in mysteries because I want to see who did it. And this one was DEFINITELY not worth sticking around for unless you would like a really bad ending. (It was half incredibly obvious from the very beginning and half so ridiculous that you wouldn't guess it and not in a good way.) The character development is minimal. The original crimes are glossed over so much that it's not clear why they happened the way they did or what it means. (WHY on earth would a killer pour cleaning fluid on their victims? Why would everyone just be chill about that and not ask a million questions?) And once you get to the terrible ending, you understand why. Because the original killings don't actually make any sense, and the pieces were all there just so the puzzle could have pieces.
So many parts, nowhere near a cohesive whole. And not much fun either!
I almost quit this book because I was getting bored but I stuck it out as I often do in mysteries because I want to see who did it. And this one was DEFINITELY not worth sticking around for unless you would like a really bad ending. (It was half incredibly obvious from the very beginning and half so ridiculous that you wouldn't guess it and not in a good way.) The character development is minimal. The original crimes are glossed over so much that it's not clear why they happened the way they did or what it means. (WHY on earth would a killer pour cleaning fluid on their victims? Why would everyone just be chill about that and not ask a million questions?) And once you get to the terrible ending, you understand why. Because the original killings don't actually make any sense, and the pieces were all there just so the puzzle could have pieces.
So many parts, nowhere near a cohesive whole. And not much fun either!
October 5, 2025
Nostalgic-laden Nancy Drew pc game vibes but make it multi-pov, darker, and more adult
Gets a little crazy toward the end (courtesy of past-and-present day serial killings) but sometimes you just need a denouement with relentless twists
Gets a little crazy toward the end (courtesy of past-and-present day serial killings) but sometimes you just need a denouement with relentless twists
November 8, 2025
Was going to give this two stars but had to bump my rating down just for the crime of wasting the potential of such an awesome premise. The characters were so flat with nothing to distinguish each of them (unless you count life circumstances as personality traits), the writing was so dry and flavourless, and the ending and culprit motivation(s) were completely ludicrous and implausible. It felt like there were twists just for the sake of twists, which only served to make the reveal more unbelievable.
And could I get a single DROP of atmosphere please, Mr Ryan?
And could I get a single DROP of atmosphere please, Mr Ryan?
September 13, 2025
We Had a Hunch by Tom Ryan. Thanks to @atlanticcrime for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Van Dyne twins were famous for solving a crime as teens in 2000, despite their miscalculation which led to two gruesome deaths. Now the murders have started up again.
I was super into this in the beginning, especially with the explanation of the past when they were teens. I loved the idea of amateur teenage investigators; not as much as adult amateur investigators. The pacing in the middle slowed a little bit for me but then it picked back up again. I also loved the small town feel and the twins and their dynamic with each other.
“Twenty-five years ago, two murders and an attempted abduction were only the first phase of the terror that fell on Edgar Mills. And if history really is repeating itself, the next act is about to be much messier.”
We Had a Hunch comes out 10/14.
The Van Dyne twins were famous for solving a crime as teens in 2000, despite their miscalculation which led to two gruesome deaths. Now the murders have started up again.
I was super into this in the beginning, especially with the explanation of the past when they were teens. I loved the idea of amateur teenage investigators; not as much as adult amateur investigators. The pacing in the middle slowed a little bit for me but then it picked back up again. I also loved the small town feel and the twins and their dynamic with each other.
“Twenty-five years ago, two murders and an attempted abduction were only the first phase of the terror that fell on Edgar Mills. And if history really is repeating itself, the next act is about to be much messier.”
We Had a Hunch comes out 10/14.
June 9, 2025
Tom’s New mystery novel absolutely delivers: sharp writing, layered characters, and a twisty plot that kept me flipping pages late into the night! With a full cast of characters, I thought I had parts figured out, and was kept guessing right to the end! The characters were great and I enjoyed the two timelines of murders and how they connected with each other!
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If you love small-town secrets, strong friendships, and characters with big hearts (and sharp minds), mark this one for your TBR!
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If you love small-town secrets, strong friendships, and characters with big hearts (and sharp minds), mark this one for your TBR!
October 16, 2025
DNF on p.44. The writing is so awful, there is no way I could force myself to continue. Skipped to the final chapter just out of morbid curiosity, and I have to say that I definitely made the right choice not to waste any more time on this book.
November 22, 2025
Really enjoyed my first book by Tom Ryan.
Easy to read and I was still guessing til the very end. The copycat murderer plot kept things interesting as you were never sure if you were trying to figure out the identity of one killer or two killers.
Nice open-ending for a series.
Easy to read and I was still guessing til the very end. The copycat murderer plot kept things interesting as you were never sure if you were trying to figure out the identity of one killer or two killers.
Nice open-ending for a series.
September 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
We Had a Hunch.
** Careful! Spoiler at the end **
The premise drew me in, naturally, as a huge fan of Nancy Drew growing up.
The nostalgia, the friends working together vibe, the small town setting all sparked my interest and I dove into this with eagerness.
I liked the Van Dyne twins, it's always a plus when women lead the charge and the investigation and work together despite their mild estrangement.
I loved how their former friends all joined in to help solve the case, never letting anyone do anything on their own.
There is a lot of information, minor and supporting characters and clues that led in multiple directions as the twins and Joey chase down on their own.
At the same time, the twins and Joey need to confront the trauma of their past and break free from the guilt that continues to bind them in the present day.
The writing was good and most of the characters likable but my biggest caveat was the ending.
Even though I guessed whodunit correctly, it was TOO hard to suspend disbelief for.
I mean, seriously?
And what are the odds there are two serial killers in the same small town?
OK, that's maybe more believable than whodunit.
** Careful! Spoiler at the end **
The premise drew me in, naturally, as a huge fan of Nancy Drew growing up.
The nostalgia, the friends working together vibe, the small town setting all sparked my interest and I dove into this with eagerness.
I liked the Van Dyne twins, it's always a plus when women lead the charge and the investigation and work together despite their mild estrangement.
I loved how their former friends all joined in to help solve the case, never letting anyone do anything on their own.
There is a lot of information, minor and supporting characters and clues that led in multiple directions as the twins and Joey chase down on their own.
At the same time, the twins and Joey need to confront the trauma of their past and break free from the guilt that continues to bind them in the present day.
The writing was good and most of the characters likable but my biggest caveat was the ending.
Even though I guessed whodunit correctly, it was TOO hard to suspend disbelief for.
I mean, seriously?
And what are the odds there are two serial killers in the same small town?
OK, that's maybe more believable than whodunit.
October 28, 2025
ok but why did they name that boy Evan Stevens
November 4, 2025
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We Had A Hunch: Or Why You Should Trust Your Gut (And Put This Book Down)
Look, I love teen detectives. I really love teen detectives. It started with Harriet The Spy when I was a kid—You mean you read something other than cereal boxes?—and evolved into a full-blown obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So when I heard about a book featuring three teen detectives reuniting 25 years after a horrific crime, I was all in. Finally, a chance to relive my glory days of solving crimes from my couch while eating snacks. That's not solving crimes, that's watching TV. Whatever.
The Setup (Which Sounds Amazing)
Tom Ryan's "We Had A Hunch" opens with twins Sam and Alice Van Dyne, who became famous as teenage detectives in 2000, helping their police chief father solve crimes in their small town. Then everything went horribly wrong when they tried to apprehend a serial killer called The Janitor. Great name for a serial killer, very menacing. Their father died. Alice's boyfriend died. The twins' lives were destroyed. And now, 25 years later, The Janitor—currently in prison—claims he didn't commit all the murders he was charged with. Oh, and there's a copycat killer on the loose. And a 14-year-old kid posting TikToks about it.
This is the kind of premise that makes you cancel your weekend plans. You didn't have weekend plans. Fine, it makes you feel like you're canceling weekend plans.
The Problem (There Are Several)
Here's where things get tricky. The book promises us the backstory of these teen detectives—how they solved crimes, what made them special, the whole detective origin story. But we get almost none of it. It's treated like required homework the author had to turn in before getting to the "real" story. So like when you have to eat vegetables before dessert? Exactly, except there's no dessert.
You can't dangle "teen detectives" in front of me and then refuse to let me play in that sandbox. That's like inviting me to an all-you-can-eat buffet and then serving me a single cracker. You would be upset about that. I WOULD BE VERY UPSET.
The book is structured like a TV series—jumping between past and present, multiple storylines, plenty of characters. And like many TV series, some episodes are solid and some make you wonder if the writers' room ran out of coffee. There's Alice, still living in their hometown, married to Levi (her dead boyfriend's brother, because that's not weird at all). There's Sam, living in L.A., who became briefly famous on a reality show called "Rebel House" where her catchphrase was "you suspicious bitch." That's actually pretty good. I know, right? And there's Joey, the nerdy computer hacker who grew up to be a handsome tech expert with a husband and plans to maybe adopt a baby or move to Paris or something.
The Cast of Thousands
Then there are the subplots. Oh, the subplots. Can Alice's marriage be saved? Will she leave Levi for her platonic stoner friend? Will Joey and his husband adopt that baby? Should we trust the family lawyer? What about the twins' old music teacher? And the new police chief? And the imperious state investigator? And the neighbor kid with the true crime podcast? And his domineering father? And the girl who was secretly dating one of the victims?
By the time I got halfway through, I needed a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. You don't know how to use spreadsheets. Which is why I gave up and just kept reading.
The Ending (Spoiler: It's Bad)
I almost quit this book. I was bored. But I'm one of those people who has to know whodunit, even when I suspect the "dunit" isn't going to be worth it. That's not healthy. I'm aware.
And folks, it was not worth it.
The ending is half incredibly obvious from the very beginning and half so ridiculous you'd never guess it—and not in a fun, clever way. More like a "the author wrote themselves into a corner and just threw something at the wall" way. The original crimes are glossed over so much that basic details don't make sense. Like, why would a serial killer pour cleaning fluid on victims? Hence the name "The Janitor"? I guess, but nobody in the book seems to think that's worth exploring! Everyone's just chill about it, like "Oh yeah, the cleaning fluid guy, totally normal serial killer behavior."
And once you get to the ending, you understand why. Because the original killings don't actually make sense. The pieces were all there just so the puzzle could have pieces. It's like dumping out a jigsaw puzzle box only to discover half the pieces are from different puzzles and some are just crackers. Why are there crackers in your puzzle? IT'S A METAPHOR.
The character development is minimal. The conclusion reads like a TV cliffhanger designed to set up Season 2. And the whole thing left me feeling like I'd just spent hours investing in something that didn't respect my time.
The Verdict
"We Had A Hunch" had so much potential. Teen detectives! Cold cases! Family drama! TikTok culture clashing with old-school detective work! But it's overstuffed with subplots that go nowhere, populated with characters we barely care about, and culminates in an ending that feels both predictable and nonsensical at the same time.
You sound bitter. I spent valuable reading time on this! Time I could have used to rewatch Veronica Mars!
If you're a die-hard teen detective fan willing to overlook significant plot holes and disappointing character development just to see how it ends, maybe give it a shot. But if you want a satisfying mystery with actual detective work and a coherent resolution, you should probably trust your hunch and skip this one.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go read some Hardy Boys to cleanse my palate. They solved crimes in ten minutes.
Don't rub it in.
We Had A Hunch: Or Why You Should Trust Your Gut (And Put This Book Down)
Look, I love teen detectives. I really love teen detectives. It started with Harriet The Spy when I was a kid—You mean you read something other than cereal boxes?—and evolved into a full-blown obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So when I heard about a book featuring three teen detectives reuniting 25 years after a horrific crime, I was all in. Finally, a chance to relive my glory days of solving crimes from my couch while eating snacks. That's not solving crimes, that's watching TV. Whatever.
The Setup (Which Sounds Amazing)
Tom Ryan's "We Had A Hunch" opens with twins Sam and Alice Van Dyne, who became famous as teenage detectives in 2000, helping their police chief father solve crimes in their small town. Then everything went horribly wrong when they tried to apprehend a serial killer called The Janitor. Great name for a serial killer, very menacing. Their father died. Alice's boyfriend died. The twins' lives were destroyed. And now, 25 years later, The Janitor—currently in prison—claims he didn't commit all the murders he was charged with. Oh, and there's a copycat killer on the loose. And a 14-year-old kid posting TikToks about it.
This is the kind of premise that makes you cancel your weekend plans. You didn't have weekend plans. Fine, it makes you feel like you're canceling weekend plans.
The Problem (There Are Several)
Here's where things get tricky. The book promises us the backstory of these teen detectives—how they solved crimes, what made them special, the whole detective origin story. But we get almost none of it. It's treated like required homework the author had to turn in before getting to the "real" story. So like when you have to eat vegetables before dessert? Exactly, except there's no dessert.
You can't dangle "teen detectives" in front of me and then refuse to let me play in that sandbox. That's like inviting me to an all-you-can-eat buffet and then serving me a single cracker. You would be upset about that. I WOULD BE VERY UPSET.
The book is structured like a TV series—jumping between past and present, multiple storylines, plenty of characters. And like many TV series, some episodes are solid and some make you wonder if the writers' room ran out of coffee. There's Alice, still living in their hometown, married to Levi (her dead boyfriend's brother, because that's not weird at all). There's Sam, living in L.A., who became briefly famous on a reality show called "Rebel House" where her catchphrase was "you suspicious bitch." That's actually pretty good. I know, right? And there's Joey, the nerdy computer hacker who grew up to be a handsome tech expert with a husband and plans to maybe adopt a baby or move to Paris or something.
The Cast of Thousands
Then there are the subplots. Oh, the subplots. Can Alice's marriage be saved? Will she leave Levi for her platonic stoner friend? Will Joey and his husband adopt that baby? Should we trust the family lawyer? What about the twins' old music teacher? And the new police chief? And the imperious state investigator? And the neighbor kid with the true crime podcast? And his domineering father? And the girl who was secretly dating one of the victims?
By the time I got halfway through, I needed a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. You don't know how to use spreadsheets. Which is why I gave up and just kept reading.
The Ending (Spoiler: It's Bad)
I almost quit this book. I was bored. But I'm one of those people who has to know whodunit, even when I suspect the "dunit" isn't going to be worth it. That's not healthy. I'm aware.
And folks, it was not worth it.
The ending is half incredibly obvious from the very beginning and half so ridiculous you'd never guess it—and not in a fun, clever way. More like a "the author wrote themselves into a corner and just threw something at the wall" way. The original crimes are glossed over so much that basic details don't make sense. Like, why would a serial killer pour cleaning fluid on victims? Hence the name "The Janitor"? I guess, but nobody in the book seems to think that's worth exploring! Everyone's just chill about it, like "Oh yeah, the cleaning fluid guy, totally normal serial killer behavior."
And once you get to the ending, you understand why. Because the original killings don't actually make sense. The pieces were all there just so the puzzle could have pieces. It's like dumping out a jigsaw puzzle box only to discover half the pieces are from different puzzles and some are just crackers. Why are there crackers in your puzzle? IT'S A METAPHOR.
The character development is minimal. The conclusion reads like a TV cliffhanger designed to set up Season 2. And the whole thing left me feeling like I'd just spent hours investing in something that didn't respect my time.
The Verdict
"We Had A Hunch" had so much potential. Teen detectives! Cold cases! Family drama! TikTok culture clashing with old-school detective work! But it's overstuffed with subplots that go nowhere, populated with characters we barely care about, and culminates in an ending that feels both predictable and nonsensical at the same time.
You sound bitter. I spent valuable reading time on this! Time I could have used to rewatch Veronica Mars!
If you're a die-hard teen detective fan willing to overlook significant plot holes and disappointing character development just to see how it ends, maybe give it a shot. But if you want a satisfying mystery with actual detective work and a coherent resolution, you should probably trust your hunch and skip this one.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go read some Hardy Boys to cleanse my palate. They solved crimes in ten minutes.
Don't rub it in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2025
The premise is super interesting, former teen detectives getting involved in a murder case that recalls their greatest case? Sign me up! But… while I thought the book was quite good, I feel like it didn’t live up to the potential, and some interesting stuff was left behind.
The main characters’ past as detectives was really interesting, but aside from the case that was connected to present day, there was no real talk about past cases. It was mentioned that the twins’ mother was a real stage mom who put them in all kinds of classes, like dance and music, but I never really understood why, aside from a need for attention, and it didn’t really go anywhere. At one point, the male MC meets someone who says she used to have a picture of him on her wall, but I didn’t really get why? He’s mentioned to have solved who was defrauding an old lady, which is not exactly front page teen magazine, and another character remarks that he was basically a footnote in the big murder case the teens solved, so I don’t know why he’s treated like a minor celebrity? Maybe it’s just me.
Another thing that really bothered me was that one of the twins (FMC1) was mentioned as being a former reality star, but it was not explored in any way, not how she got into it, how it shaped her world view, or even anecdotes from that time. Like the detective career, it was almost sort of glossed over? Instead, a lot of time was given to the MMC’s adoption storyline, which deeeeply frustrated me, because 1: that’s now how it works, you don’t sit down for what should have been a consultation and get told you’ll have a baby in three months, (I could talk a LONG TIME about that storyline, the MMC’s partner really pissed me off), and 2: it had no bearing whatsoever on the rest of the plot! At several points throughout the book, I thought that it might have just been more interesting and easier to give time to certain backstories if it had been one main character instead of three. The male main character could probably have been removed altogether without having to rewrite the whole book, (or at least remove his POV, which felt very, very unconnected to the other two POVs).
With the ending especially, I got the sense that this is being set up to be a series, (for instance, why would the author spend so much time on the adoption storyline when it had absolutely no connection to the case, if not to set up Joey’s family life in future books?), but it wasn’t presented as the beginning of a series, so it was frustrating to have so many interesting aspects unexplored. I want to know more about past cases, I want to know about Sam’s reality tv career, I want to know if the twins worked other cases with Joey, and if that explains why he hacked their email. I’m just left feeling a bit disappointed by what I was given in this book. The premise was interesting, the solution was a bit bonkers, but fine, but there was just… too much time spent on things that didn’t interest me. But if there is a sequel, I would be interested. I heard a tv show is in the works, and one can only hope that that at least will build on the unexplored aspects.
The main characters’ past as detectives was really interesting, but aside from the case that was connected to present day, there was no real talk about past cases. It was mentioned that the twins’ mother was a real stage mom who put them in all kinds of classes, like dance and music, but I never really understood why, aside from a need for attention, and it didn’t really go anywhere. At one point, the male MC meets someone who says she used to have a picture of him on her wall, but I didn’t really get why? He’s mentioned to have solved who was defrauding an old lady, which is not exactly front page teen magazine, and another character remarks that he was basically a footnote in the big murder case the teens solved, so I don’t know why he’s treated like a minor celebrity? Maybe it’s just me.
Another thing that really bothered me was that one of the twins (FMC1) was mentioned as being a former reality star, but it was not explored in any way, not how she got into it, how it shaped her world view, or even anecdotes from that time. Like the detective career, it was almost sort of glossed over? Instead, a lot of time was given to the MMC’s adoption storyline, which deeeeply frustrated me, because 1: that’s now how it works, you don’t sit down for what should have been a consultation and get told you’ll have a baby in three months, (I could talk a LONG TIME about that storyline, the MMC’s partner really pissed me off), and 2: it had no bearing whatsoever on the rest of the plot! At several points throughout the book, I thought that it might have just been more interesting and easier to give time to certain backstories if it had been one main character instead of three. The male main character could probably have been removed altogether without having to rewrite the whole book, (or at least remove his POV, which felt very, very unconnected to the other two POVs).
With the ending especially, I got the sense that this is being set up to be a series, (for instance, why would the author spend so much time on the adoption storyline when it had absolutely no connection to the case, if not to set up Joey’s family life in future books?), but it wasn’t presented as the beginning of a series, so it was frustrating to have so many interesting aspects unexplored. I want to know more about past cases, I want to know about Sam’s reality tv career, I want to know if the twins worked other cases with Joey, and if that explains why he hacked their email. I’m just left feeling a bit disappointed by what I was given in this book. The premise was interesting, the solution was a bit bonkers, but fine, but there was just… too much time spent on things that didn’t interest me. But if there is a sequel, I would be interested. I heard a tv show is in the works, and one can only hope that that at least will build on the unexplored aspects.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
A deeply adequate thriller. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This is perfectly serviceable for most of its length, erring on the side of too slow for its own good. I lost a lot of investment once it became clear to me that this book wasn't doing any sort of commentary on the teen sleuth subgenre. Everything was played very straight: no commentary on what teen sleuths' involvement in the American justice system might mean, no commentary on the American justice system in general. Being as I requested this thinking there would be some examination of that (and my nostalgia for reading Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid), I was rather disappointed. It picks up at about the 60% mark, so at least it's more interesting to read, but I found the resolution a little... gauche? Corny? It's very much a "crazy people are crazy and do crazy stuff" sort of ending, which I really did not care for (with some sequel bait as a bonus!). It goes through all the motions that a mystery story should go through, but none of it managed to interest me.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting. They all felt fairly one-note. Will was probably the person I liked the most, but that was because he was the most sensible person in the town. Frankly I think we need to kill Joey for not telling his husband of ten years that he was deeply on the fence about kids; the communication issues in that relationship gave me hives. Also Alice sneaking out of her house to smoke weed being treated as though she's doing hard drugs was HILARIOUS.
Not for me. I'd love to see someone really play with the implications of teen sleuths, and if anyone can think of something like that, please let me know!
This is perfectly serviceable for most of its length, erring on the side of too slow for its own good. I lost a lot of investment once it became clear to me that this book wasn't doing any sort of commentary on the teen sleuth subgenre. Everything was played very straight: no commentary on what teen sleuths' involvement in the American justice system might mean, no commentary on the American justice system in general. Being as I requested this thinking there would be some examination of that (and my nostalgia for reading Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid), I was rather disappointed. It picks up at about the 60% mark, so at least it's more interesting to read, but I found the resolution a little... gauche? Corny? It's very much a "crazy people are crazy and do crazy stuff" sort of ending, which I really did not care for (with some sequel bait as a bonus!). It goes through all the motions that a mystery story should go through, but none of it managed to interest me.
I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting. They all felt fairly one-note. Will was probably the person I liked the most, but that was because he was the most sensible person in the town. Frankly I think we need to kill Joey for not telling his husband of ten years that he was deeply on the fence about kids; the communication issues in that relationship gave me hives. Also Alice sneaking out of her house to smoke weed being treated as though she's doing hard drugs was HILARIOUS.
Not for me. I'd love to see someone really play with the implications of teen sleuths, and if anyone can think of something like that, please let me know!
October 7, 2025
I am a huge lover of teen detectives. What started with Encyclopedia Brown became an obsession with Veronica Mars. So I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book that told the story of three teen detectives 25 years after a horrific crime changed their lives.
Sam and Alice are twins who have never been the same after their father was killed as a result of their actions. The killer has been in jail, but suddenly has asked to see them once a copy cat murder has been committed.
Sam and Alice, along side tech wiz Joey, go to see the accused killer in jail, where he tells them he didn’t commit all the murders he was charged with 25 years ago. The three of them don’t know whether to believe him or not, but are made even more curious when 14 year old Evan begins posting TikToks about the crime. They begin to do their own investigation and suddenly things don’t seem as clean cut as they did 25 years ago.
This book was so entertaining! I couldn’t put it down. My only complaint is the ending. There is a twist I didn’t think was very logical the ending as a whole was just too farfetched. Sometimes that’s enough for me to not enjoy a book overall, but that’s didn’t happen here. I still enjoy this book so much and thought it was incredibly entertaining!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sam and Alice are twins who have never been the same after their father was killed as a result of their actions. The killer has been in jail, but suddenly has asked to see them once a copy cat murder has been committed.
Sam and Alice, along side tech wiz Joey, go to see the accused killer in jail, where he tells them he didn’t commit all the murders he was charged with 25 years ago. The three of them don’t know whether to believe him or not, but are made even more curious when 14 year old Evan begins posting TikToks about the crime. They begin to do their own investigation and suddenly things don’t seem as clean cut as they did 25 years ago.
This book was so entertaining! I couldn’t put it down. My only complaint is the ending. There is a twist I didn’t think was very logical the ending as a whole was just too farfetched. Sometimes that’s enough for me to not enjoy a book overall, but that’s didn’t happen here. I still enjoy this book so much and thought it was incredibly entertaining!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2025
3.5 stars
This is a small-town thriller with a fun, nostalgic vibe. It's part Nancy Drew, part CW teen drama. I liked the premise more than the execution, but it still makes for an enjoyable read.
Structurally, it’s solid. The story flows well and has good bones. The rhythm of the read is good and an it has an ending twist that, while a bit obvious, still lands nicely. My biggest wish was for more subtlety in both plot and character writing. A little more nuance would have made the twists sharper and the emotions less scripted. It's a book where you can settle into the turns and changes, and that's comforting in a book like this, but surprises at the right moments can add depth to the read.
The standout characters for me were Joey, Annie, and Samantha (Sam). They carried the story, even when some dialogue or scenes weren't focused. I enjoy Tom Ryan’s work, and this one still has plenty to like. A small-town setting, the serial-killer mystery, the amateur-sleuth energy. All things I enjoy in mysteries and other genres, and the book does make good use of the small town energy and peculiarities.
A story that gave off strong 90s teen movie vibes, which I loved, but that also made me think this may have worked better as a YA book. Something about the way the story unfolds just called out YA gold to me. Still, it’s a solid and readable mystery and thriller that many will enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley for a providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a small-town thriller with a fun, nostalgic vibe. It's part Nancy Drew, part CW teen drama. I liked the premise more than the execution, but it still makes for an enjoyable read.
Structurally, it’s solid. The story flows well and has good bones. The rhythm of the read is good and an it has an ending twist that, while a bit obvious, still lands nicely. My biggest wish was for more subtlety in both plot and character writing. A little more nuance would have made the twists sharper and the emotions less scripted. It's a book where you can settle into the turns and changes, and that's comforting in a book like this, but surprises at the right moments can add depth to the read.
The standout characters for me were Joey, Annie, and Samantha (Sam). They carried the story, even when some dialogue or scenes weren't focused. I enjoy Tom Ryan’s work, and this one still has plenty to like. A small-town setting, the serial-killer mystery, the amateur-sleuth energy. All things I enjoy in mysteries and other genres, and the book does make good use of the small town energy and peculiarities.
A story that gave off strong 90s teen movie vibes, which I loved, but that also made me think this may have worked better as a YA book. Something about the way the story unfolds just called out YA gold to me. Still, it’s a solid and readable mystery and thriller that many will enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley for a providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2025
Teen Detectives & twin sisters Sam and Alice have left their days of solving crimes behind when their last one ended in tragedy. They, along with Joey O'Day, their former Teen Detective rival, are just trying to get on with their lives when a murder in their home town seems eerily similar to the Janitor killings, the last case the teens dealt with back in 2000.
When they get a call from local police telling them the man they put away for murder knows something but will only speak to the three Teen Detectives, they all show up. Can they brush off their skills and come back together to solve the crimes once and for all?
With nostalgic vibes and quick pacing, I absolutely flew through this novel! I even stayed up past my bedtime, glued to the pages, and, if you know me, you know that's a big deal for me on a work night. Everyone was a suspect to me at one point or another, and I did not guess some of the twists and turns. The ending was a bit far fetched, but I suspended disbelief early on and just went along for the ride. And it was a fun one! And the ending sets up potential for a series, which I'd be excited to see.
When they get a call from local police telling them the man they put away for murder knows something but will only speak to the three Teen Detectives, they all show up. Can they brush off their skills and come back together to solve the crimes once and for all?
With nostalgic vibes and quick pacing, I absolutely flew through this novel! I even stayed up past my bedtime, glued to the pages, and, if you know me, you know that's a big deal for me on a work night. Everyone was a suspect to me at one point or another, and I did not guess some of the twists and turns. The ending was a bit far fetched, but I suspended disbelief early on and just went along for the ride. And it was a fun one! And the ending sets up potential for a series, which I'd be excited to see.
October 18, 2025
WE HAD A HUNCH
📖 book review
PUB WEEK!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
teenage sleuths help find a serial killer and put him behind bars. twin sisters, Alice & Sam, have figured iut a case and think they have a serial killer trapped. But things go terribly wrong and even though the killer is caught, two people close to them lost their life. now, 25 years later, there is a copycat killer in their hometown and they’re asked to get involved to help solve the case.
this was like an adult version of a Nancy Drew book! The mystery continues to the very end with a couple of twists I couldn’t figure out. it starts out pretty fast paced and doesn’t really let up at all. Told in multiple POV (the twins) and the friend Joey who was also there the night things ended badly 25 years ago. A book you can easily read in one or two sittings that I would classify as somewhere happily in the middle of a cozy mystery x thriller
Thanks so much to @atlanticcrime for my gifted ARC!
📖 book review
PUB WEEK!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
teenage sleuths help find a serial killer and put him behind bars. twin sisters, Alice & Sam, have figured iut a case and think they have a serial killer trapped. But things go terribly wrong and even though the killer is caught, two people close to them lost their life. now, 25 years later, there is a copycat killer in their hometown and they’re asked to get involved to help solve the case.
this was like an adult version of a Nancy Drew book! The mystery continues to the very end with a couple of twists I couldn’t figure out. it starts out pretty fast paced and doesn’t really let up at all. Told in multiple POV (the twins) and the friend Joey who was also there the night things ended badly 25 years ago. A book you can easily read in one or two sittings that I would classify as somewhere happily in the middle of a cozy mystery x thriller
Thanks so much to @atlanticcrime for my gifted ARC!
November 9, 2025
3.5 rounding up. This was a solid read and I enjoy the trope of teen detectives growing up. I found one of the motives to be too weak to carry the story but it’s a fun wild goose chase
Sam and Allie were famous teen detectives but their last serial killer case goes sideways and ends with their dad and Allie’s boyfriend drying. Now decades later it looks like the serial killer is back as new bodies pile up in their hometown. The twins will have to investigate not only the new murders but their own past to solve the mystery this time.
I enjoyed all the scenes with Joey who felt more nuanced than the rest but the twins and the side characters often felt flat. It appears that this might be the start to a series so it’s possible it goes up from here
Sam and Allie were famous teen detectives but their last serial killer case goes sideways and ends with their dad and Allie’s boyfriend drying. Now decades later it looks like the serial killer is back as new bodies pile up in their hometown. The twins will have to investigate not only the new murders but their own past to solve the mystery this time.
I enjoyed all the scenes with Joey who felt more nuanced than the rest but the twins and the side characters often felt flat. It appears that this might be the start to a series so it’s possible it goes up from here
May 4, 2025
I love an amateur sleuth story!
With that disclosure, I was pretty sure I had it all figured out with my first hunch by chapter 6. Obviously, I didn't, or I wouldn't be giving this one 5 stars.
I really enjoyed the pace of this book, and by chapter 19, that pace jumped up, and I just couldn't put it down. There were twists and turns, and I was obsessed with getting to the bottom of it. The multiple POVs adds so much to the story.
Think Nancy Drew all grown up, and one of her old cases forces her back into her old, sleuthing ways!
With that disclosure, I was pretty sure I had it all figured out with my first hunch by chapter 6. Obviously, I didn't, or I wouldn't be giving this one 5 stars.
I really enjoyed the pace of this book, and by chapter 19, that pace jumped up, and I just couldn't put it down. There were twists and turns, and I was obsessed with getting to the bottom of it. The multiple POVs adds so much to the story.
Think Nancy Drew all grown up, and one of her old cases forces her back into her old, sleuthing ways!
December 16, 2025
The year 2000 and a serial killer is roaming Edgar Mills Mass. Two teenage detectives think they know who it is. But in trying to confront the killer leads to tragic events. Skip to 2025 and a copycat killer seems to have come to Edgar Mills. The twins along with the techie who had a role in the original case are drawn back into the mystery. Lots of twists and turns makes it a great page turner.
November 28, 2025
Engaging, but even the least careful of readers will have sussed out the culprits well before the final curtain. That doesn't make it a bad book, though. Well written, artfully plotted, and nicely handled overall.
November 10, 2025
This was a fun, quick read and one of the best mysteries I’ve read this year.
November 12, 2025
Solid, 4-star mystery read. Very readable, would benefit from some atmosphere in the writing but worth a read.
November 17, 2025
This was fun! A Nancy Drew-like feel with a kinda a crazy ass mystery. The two timelines and the shocking reveals made for a great read! I totally wont mind a sequel either!
November 23, 2025
Gifted Copy/Overall Story: 4/5
Audiobook/Narration: 3.5/5
Audiobook/Narration: 3.5/5
November 26, 2025
Fun and fast-paced. Feels so much like the mysteries of childhood with a middle-aged emphasis. Looking forward to the authors next book!
December 15, 2025
The Treasure Hunters Club was one of my favorite books of the year, so I had high expectations for We Had a Hunch. It delivered! This was a fun, fast-paced read and I enjoyed every second of it! The mysteries were intriguing, the characters were great, and the twists were shocking. The ending is satisfying but is also left open for a possible sequel and I would love that. Tom Ryan has cemented himself as a must-read author for me and I already can't wait for his next one! Highly recommended!
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