Killing Sadie

by Rachel Peterson

Perfect for fans of How to Survive Your Murder and Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets, this young adult thriller unspools the truth behind a tragic murder through multiple unreliable narrators who all have secrets to keep.

Here’s what we do there was a party at Trevor’s house last night, and things went horribly wrong. By the end of the night, there were two dead bodies in an upstairs seventeen-year-old Sadie Cooper and her killer, Mason McDonald. The murder was heartbreakingly witnessed by Sadie’s twin sister, Jayne, and Sadie died in her arms. Mason was killed by Sadie’s boyfriend, Ben, in an attempt to save Sadie.

Aside from figuring out Mason’s motive, it should be an open and shut case.

But it’s not.

The story unfolds just after the murders, and Jayne, Ben, and Sadie’s best friend, Liz, are telling the cops what transpired at the party and the events leading up to it. But little details don’t match. And those little details start to add up to big discrepancies. But who’s lying, and why?

The shocking truth is revealed in the third act, when the POV shifts to victim Sadie herself, in the days leading up to the party. Witness exactly what happened—and see if you can piece it all together. Because poor Sadie totally missed what was right in front of her.

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Rachel Peterson graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a degree in English and creative writing. Born and raised in Ohio, she started her career in advertising before spending nearly a decade in New York City as a marketing executive for technology companies. An avid traveler, Rachel now splits her time between Manhattan and the Midwest, where she lives with her husband Ken, their dog Olive, and horse Hope.

Reviews

[angelinabvby ۶۟ৎ {rest in peace estie}]

✨ 𝖆𝖗𝖈 𝖆𝖓𝖓𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙 ✨
GUESS WHAT

[Madi Etters · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG THIS BOOK IS INSANE!!! I received this advanced copy at NTTBF and could not wait to read it, so here’s my review!

This murder mystery is sooo compelling! I was hooked at the very beginning!! The timeline follows a story where a teenage girl, Sadie, is murdered. The three main characters, Liz, Sadie’s best friend, Jayne, Sadie’s twin sister, and Ben, Sadie’s boyfriend, are all being questioned for details of how Sadie’s murder occurred. But, sure enough, details aren’t lining up. Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?

The twists and turns of this book are THRILLING, the details of each point of view are INSANE, and so much more! This book releases in August, and I HIGHLY suggest you read Killing Sadie!!

[Sarah Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this story, there were a few things that kinda bothered me (no parents in the interrogation room and other basic police procedure things)
The story was fun and kept me guessing up until the end. I would definitely recommend to others.

[fanboyriot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an entertaining way of telling a murder. Seeing all the point of views and putting together what actually happened. The only thing I didn’t care for was the ending and how things played out. I highly recommend this for people who liked Pretty Little Liars (the book series), it had similar vibes with drama and finding out who the killer was.

(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)

POV: Multiple, First Person
Spice Level: (mentioned, closed door)
Sad Level: 💧💧💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): n/a
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🔪🍻🤐

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can never resist a YA mystery/thriller and I always like to support debut authors so when this book was available on NetGalley I immediately grabbed it.

This was told in such an interesting way, with shifts back in time from the present to the past. There are 3 narrators (Sadie’s boyfriend, best friend, and sister) giving their testimony of what happened the night that Sadie died and each narrator has something to hide. It was interesting to get into their heads and see what they were thinking. I also liked seeing their connection to Sadie.

I did suspect where the story was going but I still enjoyed the twists and turns to get there.

The writing was really solid and drew me in right away. I read over half of the book in a single sitting because I was just so intrigued.

My big complaint is the ending of the book. I don’t want to get too detailed because of spoilers but I’ll just say that the book definitely could have used an epilogue!

I’d definitely recommend this one if you enjoy YA mysteries. I’ll be on the lookout for this author’s next book.


Thank you Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Li313 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing debut. This is the kind of book I wish had existed when I was younger. The characters are well thought out and complicated — a reminder of how hard high school can be and a spot-on example of growing up in a small town. Cannot wait to see what the author does next.

[Victoria Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway win 🙌🏻

Fun quick murder mystery read! From a police standpoint.. rough but ignoring, it had a interesting plot twist and decent character

[Paige Bradish · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you don’t know me, My name is Paige, I am OBSESSED with anything true crime and young adult. Killing Sadie combines my two favorite things in one book, and I was excited to pick it up.

The story follows three teenagers: The bestfriend, The twin sister, and the boyfriend all in separate interrogation rooms, recounting the night (and days prior) that their, sister, girlfriend and best friend Sadie was murdered.

I enjoyed the set up in the beginning, but what I didn’t expect was basically the entire story to take place in the thoughts of three teens sitting in interrogation rooms. Don’t get me wrong, I love the aspect of the room, BUT when the writing changed into the italicized format what was supposed to be them recounting a memory to help the investigators ended up being mixed up in personal thoughts and feelings. There was not a clear line between what the teenagers were speaking to the investigators and what they were thinking. At one point, the investigator replied to something I thought was strictly in the head of one of the characters and that threw me off.

True crime is my favorite because it makes me feel as though I’m an investigator myself putting all of the puzzle pieces together while I’m reading. With that being said, I loved the fact that the entire time I was reading I kind of had an idea of what had happened and why. But there was a twist that ended up changing everything. I LOVE that, I very much enjoy being surprised while reading. BUT I will say by the time the twist was revealed and the book had ended I felt very unsatisfied. I had so many questions and I felt as though the ending was super rushed.

Many young adult books focus on gushy teenage feelings and its easy to get lost in that when reading this genre. Rachel Peterson made me feel as though I was reading an adult novel. Although I knew the characters were teenagers I didn’t feel bored and annoyed with childish themes, she did a great job fleshing out these characters considering they spent much of their time at an interrogation room table.

Although I was disappointed with the set up, the ending had me hooked and made me want much more, so you can bet I’ll be picking up anything Rachel Peterson in the future.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Pulse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you like messy, twisty mysteries where everyone is lying and no one is a good person, “Killing Sadie” by Rachel Peterson is definitely one to pick up.

The setup sounds simple at first: Sadie is dead, a loner named Mason supposedly killed her, and then Sadie’s boyfriend killed Mason in self-defense. Case closed, right? Yeah, not even close. Almost immediately, it’s clear things don’t add up, and the whole “open-and-shut case” starts unraveling fast.

The story is told through three perspectives—Sadie’s twin sister, her best friend, and her boyfriend—all being interrogated by the police. And honestly, this is where the book really shines. Everyone is telling the same events, but in completely different ways. The little inconsistencies? So good! It turns into this puzzle where you’re constantly trying to figure out who’s lying, who’s leaving things out, and what actually happened.

And trust me—everyone is hiding something.

Character-wise, yeah, don’t expect to love these people. The boyfriend is cheating (and still somehow jealous), the best friend is messy but at least a little self-aware, and the sister is super judgmental. They’re all flawed, sometimes frustrating, but that’s kind of the point. It makes the story feel more like a true crime-style case where no one is fully innocent.

That said, the beginning can feel a little slow. A lot of the early stuff focuses on teenage drama leading up to the party with relationships, secrets, family issues, and it can drag a bit before things really pick up. But once the interrogation starts digging deeper and the contradictions pile up, it gets way more interesting.

One thing I really liked was how interactive it felt as a reader. You’re basically playing detective the whole time, catching discrepancies like who talked to who, what actually happened at the party, and what doesn’t line up. It keeps you on edge because you know something bigger is going on.

And then the final stretch hits.

Without spoiling anything, you eventually get Sadie’s perspective, and that’s when everything clicks into place. It completely reframes what you thought you knew and exposes just how deep the lies go. The twist? Genuinely unexpected and really well done.

But the ending is also kind of brutal in a different way. It wraps up the truth of what happened, but not necessarily in a neat, satisfying “everything is resolved” way. The investigation itself feels a bit rushed and leaves some loose ends, which might frustrate you if you like clear closure.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, twisty YA thriller that leans heavily into unreliable narrators and messy secrets. It’s not perfect, like how there are some pacing issues and a few things that require suspending disbelief, but it’s super engaging and keeps you guessing until the very end. If you’re into true crime vibes, multiple POVs, and stories where the truth is buried under layers of lies, this is a really solid (and addictive) read.

[Ryo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.

Interesting premise where the story is told from the perspectives of three people who knew a murder victim. It sets up an interesting mystery with distinct character voices, where we try to piece together what actually happened based on what three seemingly unreliable narrators are saying, but then the ending is a letdown, as it is quite unsatisfying and leaves a lot of things unanswered.

At a crazy high school party, homecoming queen Sadie is murdered, seemingly by Mason Vreeland, an artsy type who keeps mostly to himself. Sadie's boyfriend, Ben, then kills Mason, in an alleged act of self-defense. The next day, three witnesses speak to the police: Liz, Sadie's best friend; Jayne, Sadie's twin sister; and Ben, Sadie's boyfriend. They each have a distinct voice, with their own secrets. The setup is well-done, with enough backstory to flesh out the important characters without getting too bogged down with details, before getting into the actual night of the murders. Describing the party from three different perspectives, when memory is unreliable and people are also incentivized to lie in certain ways, sets up an interesting mystery where the reader has to figure out what the truth is.

There are italicized parts in each narrator's narration, which seems to be when they're giving testimony, but it's kind of fuzzy sometimes, since they also seem to be hiding things written in the italicized parts from the detectives interrogating them. It's unnecessarily confusing, with large blocks of text in italics, while the rest of the text just has regular dialogue as well. It seems like it would've been more consistent if these italicized parts were just turned into regular dialogue, with the parts that are supposed to be in the narrator's thoughts just left out of quotation marks, as they are in the non-italicized text.

The ending is quite a letdown. It's told from Sadie's perspective, shedding light on inconsistencies in the three narrators' stories. It provides answers to what happened the night of the party, and yet also leaves a lot of questions that are frustratingly unanswered. The motive seems a bit thin, and it seems like it boils down to certain people just being psychopaths, basically, which isn't that interesting. It doesn't really provide closure for the guilty parties, which is frustrating. It seems like some fairly rudimentary police investigation would uncover a lot of the truth, or at least expose a lot of the lies told by some of the narrators, but we don't get to see this part. I wish that the book showed what actually happened after these initial talks with the police, instead of just ending where it does.

It's an interesting story, and the three narrator setup is an effective way of creating a puzzle to solve about the crime that we already know about at the beginning of the book. I just wish that the book didn't end so abruptly with so many unresolved questions and a lack of closure for the guilty parties involved.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

The facts: another infamous barn party at the McClain family farm last night. Two teens end up dead by the end of the night: seventeen-year-old Sadie Cooper and her killer Mason Vreeland. The murder was witnessed by Sadie's twin sister Jayne, who held her while she died. Mason was killed by Sadie's boyfriend, Ben, in an attempt to save Sadie.

It should be an open and shut case. But it's not. As the story is told by Jayne, Ben, and Sadie's best friend Liz the little details don't match up. But who's lying, and why?

Tropes to look forward to:
Teenage love triangle dating drama
Twining but are they winning?
The third wheel best friend
Boyfriend with daddy issues
Secrets, secrets and more secrets

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon Pulse for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review contains spoilers.

Written as a multiple POV story that unfolds through recounting events while being interrogated by police, the main narrators of Liz (unreliable), Jayne (unconvincing), and Ben (unbelievable) it felt like the book was trying to hit every popular "who dun it" trope wrapped up in a teenage drama package. I know that this is meant to be for a YA audience, but there really wasn't much in the way of mystery for me. I picked out the twist in less than the first third of the book. The writing is simple, full of stereotypical behavior from the MCs and is quickly paced to the point it doesn't leave room for the mystery to build. It felt like I'd read it a hundred times before.

I felt like the relationship with Mason was forced, which the whole plot depends on for any kind of credibility. Even for a fling, the sudden connection in photography was unbelievable. The heavy reliance on teenage drunkenness for the murder plot to happen, the easy use of roofies by a teenager, and the incident between Ben and Liz came across as gimmicks for the plotline instead of emotionally charged events that could have carried the story better.

The only part I liked was that Jayne of all characters was very consistent. She was the only one who remained true to how she was written throughout the whole story. Even with her reveal at the end, the story lacked a solid finish. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who loves mystery/crime novels for the actual puzzle of the crimes.

Content Warnings:
Major - Murder, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship
Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Cursing
Minor- Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence

[Rebeccah Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Shuester, and Simon Pulse for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

The McClain family farm is the perfect place for parties, and usually, they’re pretty wild.

But at this party, things went horribly wrong. By the end of the night, there were two dead bodies in the old McClain barn: Sadie Cooper, and her killer, Mason Vreeland. The murder was witnessed by Jayne Cooper, Sadie’s twin, who held her sister in her arms as she died. Mason was killed by Sadie’s boyfriend Ben, in a desperate attempt to save her.

Aside from Mason’s motive, the case looks like an easy open and shut.

Except it isn’t.

The next morning, Jayne, Ben, and Sadie’s best friend Liz are brought in to recount the night and the events leading up to it. But some details aren’t matching up. And slowly, they pile up into larger discrepancies. So the question becomes: who’s lying, and why?

The truth comes to light when we drop into the POV of Sadie herself in the lead up to the party, and find out what truly happened in that old barn that night.

I absolutely loved this book; I am a sucker for a multi-POV story, especially when it’s a murder mystery. And the unreliable narrator(s) trope! It really had so many of my favorite things in one book, and it executed them really well.

The characters were written really well, and you slowly find yourself doubting what actually happened and who the true killer is.

I will say, the twist at the end was really well done, but the ending itself felt a bit unfinished. If there was another book in the works, I could maybe understand the ending being the way it was. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. I wish it ended differently, or simply cut out that final piece. But that is really my only major issue with the book.

I really enjoyed it, and I think it’s definitely a good read, especially for its release time frame. A beach read you’ll wanna finish in one sitting!

[Mystyc Metrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soooooo good! I loved it for all of the melodramatic high school feelings, the engaging murder mystery, and the three unreliable narrators. The story is told through several points of view, occurring after the murder of Sadie Cooper. Through police interviews with her twin sister, Jayne Cooper, her best friend Liz Stratton, and her boyfriend, Ben Carrera, the narrative of what happened that night at Trevor Maclain's party is constructed. Two of the stories match fairly well, but the inconsistencies will leave the reader questioning everything, never knowing who to believe. As the story went on, I started to get an inkling of what may have happened due to some of the private feelings of some of the characters, but the ending, told through Sadie's perspective, lays it all out for the reader. As you read through the harrowing events of that night, you'll learn who was telling the truth, who was lying (and why), and who really killed Sadie Cooper.

This story is definitely a must for people who like unreliable narrators, trying to solve the mystery for yourself, and the high school murder mystery genre. The characters are compelling, although not necessarily likable, and there are enough clues dropped throughout that you can see where the mystery is going if you're perceptive enough. I think Rachel Peterson captures the "voice" of high schoolers very well, and I read the whole thing quite quickly. It's a page-turning, gripping read and I will be recommending it to my friends!

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone says Mason Vreeland killed Sadie Cooper. With three witnesses making the same accusation, the murder should be an open-and-shut case—until their stories begin to unravel. Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson hooked me immediately as I delved into the details of Sadie’s life leading up to her final night.

The story is told from the perspective of Sadie’s twin sister Jaynie, her best friend Liz, and her boyfriend Ben. Each of them is being interrogated by the police and tells their version of the events of that night. Of course, just to keep readers on their toes, each of them also has their own secrets to hide.

What I Liked: The multiple perspectives are the perfect vehicle for this story, constantly forcing the reader to decipher who is telling the truth. The characters are well-written but intentionally unlovable. Ben has a volatile temper, Jaynie acts like a superior know-it-all, and Liz is the quintessential wild child. I found myself constantly switching theories on who had the motive and means to kill Sadie. It’s rare for a book to keep me on edge until the very last page.

Readers who love twisty true crime-style mysteries will want to snatch up Killing Sadie.

This review first appeared on YA Books Central and can be found here: https://yabookscentral.com/killing-sa...

[Znowaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster's Children's Publishing for sending me this e-ARC. "Killing Sadie" was certainly messy, to say the least, and it definitely aligned with its blurb. With all the secrets and unreliable narrators, I truly had a hard time figuring out who to trust. I thought I had it figured out at the beginning, but then changed my mind because this particular character could not possibly be involved. Should've trusted my gut, because that ending was a slap in the face (and somewhat psychotic).

Jayne, Ben and Liz were written really well. They were infuriating because they kept withholding info, but their immense grief made you really feel for them, especially Jayne. However, by the time I got to the end, I still didn't fully understand the motive for the murder. All of a sudden, they got sick of Sadie being in the spotlight? I think that should have been expanded on more, although the open ending with the text messages was perfect - it really cemented the shock and horror of the story.

My biggest quip is that I would have appreciated if there were content warnings in the blurb, since there was quite a bit of adult romantic content for a YA book.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks SimonTeen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This was such a thrill! One night, at a party, Sadie is killed. Her attacker, Mason, is also killed by Sadie’s boyfriend Ben. He was trying to protect Sadie and killed Mason in self-defense. Sadie’s twin sister Jayne was also there and Sadie’s best friend Liz showed up shortly after. Now the three are being questioned by the police. They’re trying to figure out what happened, but how reliable are their stories? After all it was a party how much had they been drinking? I mean everyone knows Liz is the party girl, Jayne is the girl who’s above the whole high school experience, and Ben’s the king of the school (plus his father is probably also a murderer). Each tells the story of how the night unfolded from their own perspective. But what are they hiding? What secrets are they covering up? And why would Mason kill Sadie? A fast paced thriller that kept me hooked! The secrets, lies, manipulation, all played out well in this one! Rachel Peterson’s book is packed with suspense, twists and turns, and an ending that I did not see coming and left me shook!

[Krystin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I received an advance copy via NetGalley and found it to be quite a compelling read. It's YA, focusing on three high school seniors who just experienced the murder of two others, but it's pretty focused on the case at hand rather than tons of other YA tropes.

I mostly enjoyed the choice to tell the story via law enforcement interviews, but the amount of the book written in italics was a bit over the top. I also enjoyed the multiple perspectives, including Sadie's (the victim herself) at the end. That said, another reviewer mentioned being glad it wasn't "hear from Sadie's ghost," but it was a bit unclear to me what it WAS, exactly. Written in first person past tense did kind of give the impression of "ghost."

The story and changing viewpoints kept me engaged throughout, but the ending happened quickly and there were some loose ends remaining. I need to know more about the "why" behind what happened, and while it wasn't necessarily required for the story, I kind of want to get to the bottom of Ben's dad maybe killing his own brother. And WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE PEOPLE after the fact?! Did the truth come out?

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Pulse and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson is told in three points of view by three very unreliable narrators. Much of the story is told through flashbacks, taking place in the police station interrogation rooms the day after Sadie and Mason, two high school seniors, are killed at a party. We get to hear three conflicting versions of the story from Jayne (Sadie’s twin sister), Liz (Sadie’s best friend), and Ben (Sadie’s boyfriend). Finally, we also get to hear the story from Sadie’s point of view.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it for teens, adults (it honestly didn’t read like a YA book), and anyone who enjoys true crime and mysteries. I spent most of the story trying to figure out which version of events was real and who was lying. Even though I had an idea about who could be the villain, there were a few twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming. It took me a little longer to get into the story, but once the puzzle started coming together, this book was hard to put down.

[Christine Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killing Sadie will keep readers on their toes from beginning to end. Sadie, a teenage girl, discovers that someone is targeting her and that she may be in serious danger. What starts as an innocent barn party on a fateful weekend brings Sadie, her twin sister Jayne, her boyfriend, and her best friend together. These are the people she trusts most—or so she thinks.
She must figure out who it is trying to kill her before there are terrifying consequences. Although the book does not feature distinct cultural or racial representation, the characters are developed in a broadly relatable way that may allow many readers to identify with them.
Killing Sadie excels at building suspense. Rachel Peterson has created a real page-turner with continual twists and exciting moments that keep readers engaged. The short chapters, each told from a different character’s point of view, help the story move quickly and add to the mystery. This style also makes Killing Sadie a great choice for reluctant readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers.

[Mrs. G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie has been murdered and her boyfriend, Ben, has killed the murderer. Two deaths, three witnesses with very different stories. What has happened to Sadie and who should we believe?

Fans of Beth is Dead or How to Survive Your Murder will enjoy this unreliable witness murder mystery. Track the timeline and each person's story to see who you think is telling the truth? Or are they all lying?

Opinions below, but may result in a SPOILER if you solve mysteries quickly....




I enjoyed the format of the chapters, alternating POVs. I also enjoyed having Sadie's side of the story told at the end (which validated my suspicions). I felt for some characters and straight of hated others. I personally was a little disappointed at the end - only because I wanted justice. I knew this was coming, but it still made me so sad/mad. Overall - the book made me feel and I like that in a book. So take a chance with this one, maybe you'll like the ending better than I did.

***NetGalley ARC Review***

[Lindsey Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I started reading it almost immediately after it was delivered.

I love books like this; very fast paced, lots of information that’s easy to absorb and an ending that, to me, was very unexpected. It does have multiple POVs that can be hard to follow if you’re not paying attention to chapter headers (me) but it doesn’t take away from the story in the slightest. (Really I just need to pay better attention when I’m lost in a book.)

Not going to lie during the first half of the book I was thinking “if everything is resolved, why am I sitting here?” but then I realized how many things did not add up so I started paying better attention. It wasn’t until the end that I realized the person I suspected all along was probably the only person telling the truth.

I can’t wait for other people to be able to read this so I can talk to them about how good it was. For now though, I will sit in silence and mourn a teenager who doesn’t exist.

[Lisa Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson was messy, addictive, and impossible to look away from in the best way. This is one of those thrillers where everyone feels suspicious, morally questionable, or just one bad decision away from disaster and somehow that makes it even more entertaining.

The pacing moved quickly, the tension kept building, and the social dynamics felt sharp and unsettling. Peterson leans hard into manipulation, ambition, and toxic relationships, creating a cast of characters that made me equal parts invested and irritated. I kept thinking I had the story figured out, only to realize I absolutely did not.

That said, the ending frustrated me more than I expected. I’m still sitting with it, and not entirely in a good way. But honestly? The ride there was so compelling that I can’t deny I had a great time reading it.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[M]

As a Children’s Librarian, which includes adding content to our YA section, I was happy to read this debut novel from Rachel Peterson.
Killing Sadie contains teen characters in the throes of high school love, angst, jealousy and family drama; topics all teens can relate to on some level. There was also some pent-up anger in the mix, leading to a tragic death and subsequent investigation.
Through police interrogations, readers get to know the cast of unreliable suspects and what happened the night of the big barn party at the MCCLain Family Farm.
The plot kept me captivated and guessing how things happened and who instigated the event. Focus starts to kick in when the POV focuses on Sadie, the victim.
A terrific older teen thriller! The entire cast of characters are unreliable so readers are always second guessing how events really happened the night of the big party.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon Pulse for the ability to read this ARC.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Killing Sadie!

Okay, I'm on a bit of a kick with YA thrillers right now, and let me tell you, this one is different and it does not disappoint . I was thoroughly hooked and loved that the entire story took place in about 4 hours during interviews and recounted flashbacks. I loved getting to find the inconsistencies of the stories myself and felt so excited when the state detective mentioned one that I had caught too. That's right folx, this girl is not an armchair detective, but a kindle detective!

The pacing was quick. The development was twisty and full of turns. And the last 10% or so will leave you feeling all sorts of waysssss !

If you want a fun quick read that will grip you by the throat and have you thanking it, give this book a shot!

[Gina Malanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one for sure!! This book has such an interesting construct, you hear from three of the major key players in the crime and then in the final act of the story you finally hear from the victim herself.

Sadie and Mason are both dead. Sadie was killed by Mason and Mason was killed by Sadie’s boyfriend as he tried to defend her but if that’s all true then why are the cops taking a deeper look at what’s going on?

As we continue to read, we realize that pretty much nobody in this story is a reliable narrator or witness to what happened with the exception of Sadie when she finally enters the chat and tells us what really happened. This book had me guessing and postalizing about what happened and who was involved and I had some wild theories going. All in all it was a very enjoyable read. I think my students will really like this one.

[Anica Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I was to say “thank you” to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication for an honest review.

This was a different POV than I have read for a mystery/ thriller and I enjoyed it. You got the first person POV from each suspect while they are interviewed by the police. It was entertaining and kept my interest peaked. I did guess who dunnit early, but I was second guessing myself throughout based on the tricks the author threw in. I would recommend this as a quick and easy mystery/thriller.

Why did I knock off a star? I wanted more from the wrap up of the story. I liked that the wrap up was the POV of the victim, but once it happened I just felt like it ended so abruptly. There was not enough given of the Jayne/Evan relationship, give me more!

[Annie Kwiatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite must-read for fans of We Were Liars, and for a nostalgic throwback (hear me out) those who grew up in the 90s as Sweet Valley High fans. It’s like if Jessica, Elizabeth, and their friends were a bit more gritty, real, and honestly a whole lot more interesting.

You know how when you read a book and you can immediately picture the TV series? This is one of those books that the writing paints the picture so clearly it’s like you’re watching it in your head. And it does a great job capturing the inner thoughts and complicated dynamics of teenagers.

Fast read - only reason I didn’t fly through it in one day is I had to work. Add to your list for when it’s released this summer as a great beach read thriller.

[Sydney Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a debut YA thriller/mystery, I’m impressed. I enjoyed the storyline being told from the POV of three teenagers who are being interviewed by detectives after two other teens are killed at a party. With variations in their accounts of what happened, it has you questioning if any of these unreliable narrators could be telling the truth. Have to say that I really appreciated being able to read the victim’s POV without it being told by their ghost. Admittedly, the end did frustrate me but that’s probably because I enjoy books with endings that are wrapped up with a pretty bow.

Highly recommend for YA readers, I think they’ll be hooked and taken by surprise by the twists.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid YA thriller/mystery with plenty of focus on the storyline rather than typical YA tropes.
Two teens are dead, and we are left to unravel the mystery by listening in to three friends/siblings of the victims while they are interrogated.

What I loved what how we had to see through each interrogated teen's lies, and they all had them. Unreliable and all unlikeable, you will change your mind about "who did it" several times over the story.

The ending is sort of "eh" and I would have loved some follow up on what happened to everyone, but this kept me entertained the entire time. Plus, that cover- it's great!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster's Children Publishing for an e-ARC.

[julia ashley]

heck! yeah!!!

took me a while to read (for personal reasons i had to put the book down for a bit) but i simply FLEW through the second half in like two days without even trying!

i think this is a great fit if you like murder mysteries/cases in tv shows because i think the structure of this book sort of follows that format.

overall, had a great time!! i wish i was in a better personal/mental headspace when starting this so that i could have been fully pulled into the story and finished it wayyy more quickly. i’m left with a mildly icky feeling (positive connotation) that i feel only comes after reading a very well-written book!

disclaimer!!! i do work for the publisher :’) however all opinions are my own!