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Strange nature
Jasmin has always known that monsters are real. When she was a child, she witnessed her famous, adored grandfather attempt to kill her grandmother.
Now Jasmin is seventeen, watchful and curious. She hangs out at the local college, sneaking into the lectures of charismatic professor Theo Merrick and spying on an intoxicatingly cool group of older students. She can only dream of being part of their world.
Then, when a college student dies in mysterious circumstances, Jasmin seizes her chance to join the group as they try to solve the mystery - while unwittingly unraveling her own dark past.
Strange Nature is a richly layered thriller, a journey into mystery, myth and memory, and a story of love in all its forms.
Now Jasmin is seventeen, watchful and curious. She hangs out at the local college, sneaking into the lectures of charismatic professor Theo Merrick and spying on an intoxicatingly cool group of older students. She can only dream of being part of their world.
Then, when a college student dies in mysterious circumstances, Jasmin seizes her chance to join the group as they try to solve the mystery - while unwittingly unraveling her own dark past.
Strange Nature is a richly layered thriller, a journey into mystery, myth and memory, and a story of love in all its forms.
384 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2025
17 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 19, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4 stars.
I liked this dark academia mystery, it jumps right in with our main character who is a mystery to herself in a way with monsters from the past keeping her a closed book. Her past seems to bleed into the present as she makes new friends and follows clues to figure out a mysterious death. The story takes unexpected turns, you cannot trust anyone.
This felt like an academic setting scooby doo/A good girls guide to murder type scenario and I mean that in the best way.
I liked this dark academia mystery, it jumps right in with our main character who is a mystery to herself in a way with monsters from the past keeping her a closed book. Her past seems to bleed into the present as she makes new friends and follows clues to figure out a mysterious death. The story takes unexpected turns, you cannot trust anyone.
This felt like an academic setting scooby doo/A good girls guide to murder type scenario and I mean that in the best way.
July 30, 2025
Strange Nature is a slow-burn thriller that follows Jasmin, her traumatic past, and her new group of friends as they try to uncover a murder.
I was excited to pick this up, but the beginning felt incredibly slow for me. The pacing made it hard to stay engaged, and not everything early on seemed to contribute meaningfully to character growth. I only started to feel truly invested around the 70% mark, and from there I finished it quickly. Until then, I felt it dragged a lot.
The story is told in deep third-person POV. Even though I read an ARC/uncorrected proof, I thought it worked really well for the narrative. It’s clear how Jasmin sees and feels about the people around her. But aside from one obvious exception, the rest of the group blurred together a bit, and I found it hard to remember what made each of them stand out. Jasmin’s family dynamics, on the other hand, were more intriguing and held my interest. The initial hook tied to her trauma was what really kept me going.
There’s also a slightly overplayed supernatural vibe at times. I didn’t expect it to be fantasy, but certain moments made me wonder if it might go that way. It doesn’t, though, and for some readers, that might feel a little misleading.
I liked the final twists, and overall it was a decent read. But I didn’t fall in love with it, mostly because the slow pacing and group dynamics didn’t give me the kind of emotional connection I usually look for.
If you're into slow-burn thrillers with a dark academia vibe, this might be the perfect read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to pick this up, but the beginning felt incredibly slow for me. The pacing made it hard to stay engaged, and not everything early on seemed to contribute meaningfully to character growth. I only started to feel truly invested around the 70% mark, and from there I finished it quickly. Until then, I felt it dragged a lot.
The story is told in deep third-person POV. Even though I read an ARC/uncorrected proof, I thought it worked really well for the narrative. It’s clear how Jasmin sees and feels about the people around her. But aside from one obvious exception, the rest of the group blurred together a bit, and I found it hard to remember what made each of them stand out. Jasmin’s family dynamics, on the other hand, were more intriguing and held my interest. The initial hook tied to her trauma was what really kept me going.
There’s also a slightly overplayed supernatural vibe at times. I didn’t expect it to be fantasy, but certain moments made me wonder if it might go that way. It doesn’t, though, and for some readers, that might feel a little misleading.
I liked the final twists, and overall it was a decent read. But I didn’t fall in love with it, mostly because the slow pacing and group dynamics didn’t give me the kind of emotional connection I usually look for.
If you're into slow-burn thrillers with a dark academia vibe, this might be the perfect read for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!
17-year-old Jasmin spends her time hanging around the local university, where her grandfather once taught before he was sent to prison for a terrible crime. After a talk by famous scientist Theo Merrick, a student is found dead. Jasmin joins forces with a group of journalism students to find out what happened—but everyone is hiding secrets, and Jasmin’s own dark family history keeps coming back to haunt her.
Our protagonist, Jasmin, feels just like a real 17/18-year-old, with her desire to fit in, her anxieties, her impulsiveness. She’s likeable, but at the same time, has flaws. The idea of her as a ‘watcher’ was really interesting, and I enjoyed seeing her develop from passive witness, to investigator, to an active decision-maker.
Jasmin’s relationship with the four older students she becomes obsessed with is deliciously complicated. She’s lying to them, but it’s also clear that they’re lying to her, and even though at points they clearly do all get on well, there is an undercurrent of tension throughout. It’s complex, just like relationships are, and a neat display of the dangers of hero-worshipping real, complicated people.
Her relationship with her family is a nice contrast to this, and it’s nice to read a YA book where the protagonist does have a support system.
The plot is engaging and fast-paced. There are so many suspects for the murder, so many red herrings, and throughout it all, subtle hints at something not quite natural going on.
Overall, a twisting dark academia thriller I found hard to put down!
17-year-old Jasmin spends her time hanging around the local university, where her grandfather once taught before he was sent to prison for a terrible crime. After a talk by famous scientist Theo Merrick, a student is found dead. Jasmin joins forces with a group of journalism students to find out what happened—but everyone is hiding secrets, and Jasmin’s own dark family history keeps coming back to haunt her.
Our protagonist, Jasmin, feels just like a real 17/18-year-old, with her desire to fit in, her anxieties, her impulsiveness. She’s likeable, but at the same time, has flaws. The idea of her as a ‘watcher’ was really interesting, and I enjoyed seeing her develop from passive witness, to investigator, to an active decision-maker.
Jasmin’s relationship with the four older students she becomes obsessed with is deliciously complicated. She’s lying to them, but it’s also clear that they’re lying to her, and even though at points they clearly do all get on well, there is an undercurrent of tension throughout. It’s complex, just like relationships are, and a neat display of the dangers of hero-worshipping real, complicated people.
Her relationship with her family is a nice contrast to this, and it’s nice to read a YA book where the protagonist does have a support system.
The plot is engaging and fast-paced. There are so many suspects for the murder, so many red herrings, and throughout it all, subtle hints at something not quite natural going on.
Overall, a twisting dark academia thriller I found hard to put down!
July 27, 2025
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
STRANGE NATURE is a murder mystery with lots of avenues of investigation.
This is a twisty murder mystery about students at a university caught up in the orbit of a charismatic leader and the different ways students can be dismissed. There are so many suspect all with ties back to this professor and it feels like he must be involved but he seems insulated from it by them. Trying to find that connective thread kept me turning the pages.
The number of suspects was also compelling, providing Jasmin and her friends several avenues to go down, all these chances to stumble across what they needed. But there are friendship tensions and witnesses too scared to come clean making their job harder. There are so many turns and reveals and discoveries of other issues that makes it such a nice mystery to sink your teeth in.
I thought, initially, that this book was a contemporary fantasy - based on both this cover looking very SFF and Mary Watson's previous work. However, despite the characters referring to legends, this is very much a thriller without any fantastical elements. I kept expecting there to be some ritualistic element to the killing or some belief in magic that was propelling them along, but that never turned up, and it took me a while to get used to this idea.
STRANGE NATURE is a murder mystery with lots of avenues of investigation.
This is a twisty murder mystery about students at a university caught up in the orbit of a charismatic leader and the different ways students can be dismissed. There are so many suspect all with ties back to this professor and it feels like he must be involved but he seems insulated from it by them. Trying to find that connective thread kept me turning the pages.
The number of suspects was also compelling, providing Jasmin and her friends several avenues to go down, all these chances to stumble across what they needed. But there are friendship tensions and witnesses too scared to come clean making their job harder. There are so many turns and reveals and discoveries of other issues that makes it such a nice mystery to sink your teeth in.
I thought, initially, that this book was a contemporary fantasy - based on both this cover looking very SFF and Mary Watson's previous work. However, despite the characters referring to legends, this is very much a thriller without any fantastical elements. I kept expecting there to be some ritualistic element to the killing or some belief in magic that was propelling them along, but that never turned up, and it took me a while to get used to this idea.
August 21, 2025
Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.
I feel like I’m definitely re-entering my academic era, and Strange Nature is the perfect book to fuel that mood. The opening chapter hits hard—intense, atmospheric, and immediately leaving you wanting. It has that edge of dark academia but wrapped up in a fast paced YA thriller.
The story is tangled with obsession and passion, which mirrors our FMC Jasmin so well. She’s curious to the point of fixation, always chasing answers once something catches her eye. I really enjoyed her as a character. She is flawed, scarred by unresolved childhood trauma, but I feel that made her layered and real.
The friendship dynamic gave me such a wave of nostalgia for my own college days. That messy but exciting period where everyone’s trying to find themselves. Each character had their quirks that made them stand apart, yet somehow they worked as a group. They didn’t quite belong anywhere else, but they belonged to each other—and that sense of found family really hit me.
If anything, I wish we’d had more of Jasmin’s grandmother, Georgina (and yes, I loved seeing my own name in there). From the very beginning her story pulled at me, and I’d honestly love to see Mary Watson give her a full backstory novel one day.
Overall, this was a good 3.75 star read. Fast paced, addictive, and atmospheric. It was honestly hard to put down, and it left me wanting more in the best way.
I feel like I’m definitely re-entering my academic era, and Strange Nature is the perfect book to fuel that mood. The opening chapter hits hard—intense, atmospheric, and immediately leaving you wanting. It has that edge of dark academia but wrapped up in a fast paced YA thriller.
The story is tangled with obsession and passion, which mirrors our FMC Jasmin so well. She’s curious to the point of fixation, always chasing answers once something catches her eye. I really enjoyed her as a character. She is flawed, scarred by unresolved childhood trauma, but I feel that made her layered and real.
The friendship dynamic gave me such a wave of nostalgia for my own college days. That messy but exciting period where everyone’s trying to find themselves. Each character had their quirks that made them stand apart, yet somehow they worked as a group. They didn’t quite belong anywhere else, but they belonged to each other—and that sense of found family really hit me.
If anything, I wish we’d had more of Jasmin’s grandmother, Georgina (and yes, I loved seeing my own name in there). From the very beginning her story pulled at me, and I’d honestly love to see Mary Watson give her a full backstory novel one day.
Overall, this was a good 3.75 star read. Fast paced, addictive, and atmospheric. It was honestly hard to put down, and it left me wanting more in the best way.
August 18, 2025
At first, I was hooked. The first chapter had this dark academia, supernatural vibe and I was hyped. Then it started dragging on, and I was struggling to keep my focus. It even became repetitive in a way. In the end, I think the plot twist was a bit forced but it was a decent read.
The hints of supernatural througout the book were... misleading. Jasmin, the main character, keeps referring to an ancient text about monsters and shadowy figures, but all it does is add a hint of suspense, without actually delivering on that promise.
I also find it hard to believe how Jasmin came to be a part of the friend group. She asked them a question and all of a sudden they include her in everything? I don't think that's how it works in real life, but maybe that's just me.
Overall, the book was okay. It kept me hooked enough to finish it, and I enjoyed the personal story of Jasmin. The book has an emotional layer that I didn't expect from a YA murder mystery. It was kind of slow-paced, which is not my thing for thrillers, but if you're into that than this book might be just the one for you.
The hints of supernatural througout the book were... misleading. Jasmin, the main character, keeps referring to an ancient text about monsters and shadowy figures, but all it does is add a hint of suspense, without actually delivering on that promise.
I also find it hard to believe how Jasmin came to be a part of the friend group. She asked them a question and all of a sudden they include her in everything? I don't think that's how it works in real life, but maybe that's just me.
Overall, the book was okay. It kept me hooked enough to finish it, and I enjoyed the personal story of Jasmin. The book has an emotional layer that I didn't expect from a YA murder mystery. It was kind of slow-paced, which is not my thing for thrillers, but if you're into that than this book might be just the one for you.
October 14, 2025
This book turned out to be far more interesting than I expected. It had that perfect mix of mystery and tension that kept me wanting to see what would unfold next. The pacing was steady, but never dull, with each chapter adding new pieces that made the story feel layered and unpredictable. The characters’ interactions were sharp and full of unspoken emotion, and their chemistry was magnetic in a way that made even simple moments feel charged.
Beyond the relationships and tension, what impressed me most was how it handled deeper ideas. It explored several themes, from trust and manipulation to the blurry lines between morality and ambition. The topic of unethical investigation on humans stood out the most, giving the book a darker, more thought-provoking edge that’s rare to see done this well. The writing managed to stay accessible while still carrying depth, and it left me thinking long after I finished
Beyond the relationships and tension, what impressed me most was how it handled deeper ideas. It explored several themes, from trust and manipulation to the blurry lines between morality and ambition. The topic of unethical investigation on humans stood out the most, giving the book a darker, more thought-provoking edge that’s rare to see done this well. The writing managed to stay accessible while still carrying depth, and it left me thinking long after I finished
July 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this YA dark academia book. Set in Ireland, Jasmin is in the final year at school, feeling like an outcast, but then gets involved with a group of new older friends who are at university. There is a murder that they work together to solve, and the story pulls us through twists and turns as they try to find out what happened. I liked the character of Jasmin - she is easy to warm to, and her responses and family dynamic seem authentic to someone of her age. The ending wasn’t predictable, and there was a good amount of drama throughout. It was a tad long for me - I’m not a fan of the slow burn and I could have done with it picking up the pace. But that doesn’t take away from the great story, and it has full potential for a sequel.
This book is out on 14th August - I received an e-arc for my honest review. All views are my own.
This book is out on 14th August - I received an e-arc for my honest review. All views are my own.
October 11, 2025
Older teen/YA mystery thriller. Jasmin, MFC, is intriguing and some of her backstory brings mystery. There’s plenty of suspense, some twists amongst the very grey morals of others in the cast of characters. An ending that isn’t new but suits the story.
This is one of these, the Police/Garda can’t do the job, so the young will take on the job of putting themselves in danger without really demonstrating any self-preservation. But maybe that is a young person thing.
The author exposes the culprit by midway through if you’ve got any nonce at all.
But I go back to Jasmin, from the start it was her character that drew me through the book.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK) and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
This is one of these, the Police/Garda can’t do the job, so the young will take on the job of putting themselves in danger without really demonstrating any self-preservation. But maybe that is a young person thing.
The author exposes the culprit by midway through if you’ve got any nonce at all.
But I go back to Jasmin, from the start it was her character that drew me through the book.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK) and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
May 31, 2025
I picked this up on NetGalley as I was drawn in by the cover and the Blurb.
An academic thriller where a school girl Jasmin with a compulsion to know the answers, finds herself working with the university students she has admired from a distance to solve a murder.
Jasmin is a clever and determined character who whilst is still struggling with traumas of her past is not willing to let another life be lost and forgotten. Especially when she is worried an encounter the same day as the Murder may have been what triggered it all.
This is not just a story of a group of friends trying to solve a murder mystery but it is a story of growing up, complex friendships and the impact of past trauma. As the group work through their murder board and suspects their list of possibilities is growing and they uncover something much worse than the death of one student on campus.
It becomes a race against time to solve the murder and get the evidence needed before anyone else gets hurt. But lies always come out and they are not always forgivable….
This is not a fast paced thriller but you know that from the blurb going in, but with this story line it works. The risk is heightened as the book goes on and the pace picks up at the times you need it to building your emotions in the right places to be impacted by what is happening. The characters are unique in their own way but each bring something different to
the table.
Unexpected twists and turns make you want to consider your own Murder Board to work alongside the sleuth student detectives to pull together all the clues.
If you like academic thrillers, complex murder mysteries that expand into much more than just X murdered Y then I think you will enjoy this book. I was pleasantly surprised to also see a character with the same name as me in the book - granted it was a tall lanky male and not a short female like me but when you have an unusual name this almost never happens!
An academic thriller where a school girl Jasmin with a compulsion to know the answers, finds herself working with the university students she has admired from a distance to solve a murder.
Jasmin is a clever and determined character who whilst is still struggling with traumas of her past is not willing to let another life be lost and forgotten. Especially when she is worried an encounter the same day as the Murder may have been what triggered it all.
This is not just a story of a group of friends trying to solve a murder mystery but it is a story of growing up, complex friendships and the impact of past trauma. As the group work through their murder board and suspects their list of possibilities is growing and they uncover something much worse than the death of one student on campus.
It becomes a race against time to solve the murder and get the evidence needed before anyone else gets hurt. But lies always come out and they are not always forgivable….
This is not a fast paced thriller but you know that from the blurb going in, but with this story line it works. The risk is heightened as the book goes on and the pace picks up at the times you need it to building your emotions in the right places to be impacted by what is happening. The characters are unique in their own way but each bring something different to
the table.
Unexpected twists and turns make you want to consider your own Murder Board to work alongside the sleuth student detectives to pull together all the clues.
If you like academic thrillers, complex murder mysteries that expand into much more than just X murdered Y then I think you will enjoy this book. I was pleasantly surprised to also see a character with the same name as me in the book - granted it was a tall lanky male and not a short female like me but when you have an unusual name this almost never happens!
September 27, 2025
Thank you to the author and publisher for an early copy of this!!
This book was the perfect palette cleanser for me. It was fun, shocking and exciting. I really loved how all of the characters interacted with each other and I really feel like this author is great at capturing that new adult feel with friendships and interpreting the world. It was easy to get lost in this book and I was really excited to get back into it and read it whenever I was busy! There were plot twists that I didn’t expect (and tried to guess but failed), there was heartache, and there was a lot of banter. I really enjoyed this book and I think the author is so talented at getting you invested into this book!
This book was the perfect palette cleanser for me. It was fun, shocking and exciting. I really loved how all of the characters interacted with each other and I really feel like this author is great at capturing that new adult feel with friendships and interpreting the world. It was easy to get lost in this book and I was really excited to get back into it and read it whenever I was busy! There were plot twists that I didn’t expect (and tried to guess but failed), there was heartache, and there was a lot of banter. I really enjoyed this book and I think the author is so talented at getting you invested into this book!
August 31, 2025
Strange Nature is YA dark and twisty thriller. I loved the murder mystery plot with paranormal vibes. The FMC has a traumatic past and she is hyper vigilant. This made her pretty perfect for solving a case. She infiltrates a group of friends and I loved the dynamics this caused and this could have been expanded upon. It read a bit like Now, Conjurers and Scooby Doo. Overall the pacing was a bit slow but the ending is worth it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
October 2, 2025
My mind is blown, this is a slow start and by start I mean the first 50% i struggled with but after that half way point everything starts coming together and that twist WOW not even on my radar, its a great ending and I loved that feeling of something supernatural but it was just ordinary humans being the monster in the shadows. I do recommend reading just get through the slow start and winding roads for a mind blowing conclusion
August 29, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up
It was a decent murder mystery with a little mystical element thrown in but this is not a fantasy. It was just soooo slow until the last 1/4 of the book, I almost DNFed it but the end was good.
It was a decent murder mystery with a little mystical element thrown in but this is not a fantasy. It was just soooo slow until the last 1/4 of the book, I almost DNFed it but the end was good.
October 16, 2025
Yes, I predicted the killer right away. BUT, the journey of solving the mystery was so fun and there was enough mind-fuckery that by the end I half convinced myself I was wrong, just because I didn’t want to be right.
November 19, 2025
I felt this started with so much potential. I was really intrigued to see where it was heading. However as it went on I just felt that it became too padded out. Pretty much knew from the beginning who the culprits were. Could be great for someone else, just not for me!
August 10, 2025
DNF - Too slow a burn for me, and I found the main protagonist too annoying and immature
August 15, 2025
3.5 stars
September 23, 2025
I enjoyed this book from the very first chapter. It kept my attention and didn't want it to end.
October 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, it was a first time read for this author but they didn’t disappoint. The twist at the end really got me and I didn’t see it coming! Will defo look out your other books!
December 13, 2025
niet echt heel spannend, maar wel low Key leuk om te lezen.
November 19, 2025
Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of Strange Nature by Mary Watson.
Strange Nature is a dark academia murder mystery from the perspective of Jasmin. Everyone seems to be hiding something, including Jasmin whose dark family history haunts her.
This was a slow burn thriller full of unexpected twists and turns where you cannot trust anyone. I will say I found the pacing at the beginning quite slow, but once it got going it was hard to put down. I’m rating this 4 stars.
Strange Nature is a dark academia murder mystery from the perspective of Jasmin. Everyone seems to be hiding something, including Jasmin whose dark family history haunts her.
This was a slow burn thriller full of unexpected twists and turns where you cannot trust anyone. I will say I found the pacing at the beginning quite slow, but once it got going it was hard to put down. I’m rating this 4 stars.
December 14, 2025
Main protagonist was very annoying and I couldn't vibe well with her which is unfortunate because it seemed like a good plot. Was not for me.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews