The Murder Party

by Cindy R.X. He

When June Chan's older sister Lily is stabbed to death at a secret party in front of a dozen people, June learns about the exclusive murder mystery club Lily was in, and the themed games that members played.

The police rule Lily's death an accident caused by a malfunctioning prop knife and close the case. The school warns all the members—including Lily's boyfriend and best friends—and shuts Murder Club down.

Everyone seems fine to move on. Accept that life isn't fair and that Lily's death was just a tragic accident…everyone but June. Determined to find out more about the Club, its members, and exactly what happened that night, she dives into the personal lives of everyone who witnessed Lily's death.

As June begins to uncover secrets the club would prefer to remain hidden, it becomes clear Lily's death wasn't an accident. June realizes that the only way she can find out what really happened is to revive Murder Club and set a trap. To catch her sister's killer, she will have to host the deadliest Murder Night of all…

Genres: Thriller, Young Adult, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Murder Mystery, Suspense

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2026

About the author

Cindy R. X. He is an Edgar Award-nominated author who writes chilling and suspense-filled thrillers. Born and raised in multicultural Singapore, she currently resides in the French Alps with her husband, children, and rescue cat. She is the author of the YA thrillers Perfect Little Monsters, This Is Where We Die, and The Murder Party. Her debut adult psychological thriller/horror No One Else In Here will be out in May 18, 2027 with Union Square & Co.

Reviews

[Krickette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Murder Party written by Cindy R.X. He is a slow paced mystery novel filled with curious characters. While this novel had less thrill than I anticipated, it did deliver a clever plot with a few surprising moments.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching how a curiously suspicious June Chan uncovers the details of her older sister’s surprising death.

👉A peak inside:
Investigators quickly close this case just days after they found Lily Chan dead at a high school “murder club” party. Investigators citing the death was not a murder, but caused by malfunctioning drama props; an accident. June is immediately suspicious and a journey of discovery begins...June and her best friend, Zoey Williams are determined to find out what really happened that night at Murder Club and was Lily Chan murdered?!😳

👉A few things that made me take pause:
Written in the first person, this novel is narrated by June Chan. For me, the style of revealing the story felt slow and unhurried. There was a lot of “he said” and “she said” as she contacts members of the “club,” which made the story feel drawn out. Additionally, June always had jumbled thoughts crowded in her head, which at times made the story feel disjointed. But overall, this was a good book!

The Murder Party is a fun, easy read and will be a hit among young adults for sure! 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for the YA mystery novel.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

(Edited for typos.😩7/24/26)

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Won 🏆 via goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own.
-----
Side note: my arc copy has 336 pages before the acknowledgements
📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖 📖

This one I read in bits and pieces, not sure if I wanted to dip my toes into it just yet.. and somehow it hooked me without me realizing at first.

I fell into the story not too far into the book.
This was one of those where it's "I'll just read this chapter then take a break " and you've read a decent chunk of it 👍🏼.

It's a popcorn murder mystery suspense and it was a fun read 📚. Not something I'd read again but it did get me interested in reading more from this author.

Wouldn't be surprised if they made a movie of this one. I could picture everything perfectly.. and the way my concentration and fatigue has been because of a current medical issue I may or may not need surgery for... very grateful this one grabbed my brain and didn't let go.

Well done author 👏 👏.

I guessed a couple plot points and an errant (right word?) thought turned out to be dead on accurate 🕵️‍♀️ 🕵️‍♀️.

Would recommend 👌 Good read for spooky season 👻 🎃.

Happy reading 📚 😊!

[megs_bookrack]

ARC received! Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire!!!



I love this cover and will be picking this up VERY soon!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the pre-release copy of The Murder Party by Cindy R. X. He. Below you'll find my honest review.

I quite enjoyed this one for a YA thriller. It wasn't super heavy, despite the grief/loss in it, as the burn to solve her sister's death drives the story more than the grief part. It had some twists and turns, for sure, but nothing groundbreaking. The MC made some obvious mistakes that had me annoyed with her for parts (like telling multiple suspects her suspicions! dudette, what are you doing?!), but overall she was relatable. I loved the best friend - I want someone so eager and on board in that situation like Zoey!

All in all, it was a decent book. I would say I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5. And since no one lets me give partial stars and it wasn't a round down situation, I'll round it up to 4.

Recommended for fans of mysteries, thrillers, and YA high school situations (without it being annoyingly high school, if you know what I mean).

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fine read, but nothing memorable for me. Nothing I’ll really remember, unfortunately. And that’s a shame, because I thought I was going to like it more than I actually did. The murder mystery itself was the best part of the story, so that’s cool. It was predictable at times but all mysteries kinda are in a way, so it didn’t bother me. However, I did not like the murder’s motive and certainly not the misogynistic words at all, especially from one female character. It rubbed me the wrong way. Speaking of the characters, I did not particularly enjoy them. June did not stand out. And I definitely did not like the romance, I saw it coming from miles away and it annoyed me. Despite all that, it was easy and quick to read so I would still recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

The Murder Party 4.5/5⭐

My flabbers have been ghasted.

Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite clean books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity

✨Plot✨

When June's older sister, Lily, dies at a secret party with dozens of witnesses it is marked as an accident. A malfunctioning prop knife at her sisters exclusive secret murder mystery club. Everyone moves on-except June, who is convinced Lily's death wasn't an accident. With no one else willing to do anything she dives into solving the case on her own.

When she starts to discover secrets from the other club members past that they would rather keep hidden, she starts getting threats. Which makes it all the more clear it wasn't an accident. June realizes the only way she can solve Lily's murder is to host the deadliest murder night of all. . .

✨Characters✨

Overall the characters were very thriller-esk with secrets and suspicious behavior to throw you off from the real killer.

🔪June🔪

Imma be so for real I forgot to write this review, and I read it like 2 or 3 weeks ago and I forgot most of the characters personality by now.

She was a really fun character to follow though, and there were some really sad parts and having sisters was crazy to imagine something like this happening to one of them.

✨Romance✨

There wasn't really any romance.

✨Writing Style✨

✨GoRgEoUs✨ I literally couldn't put this down. Read practically in one sitting. I loved the twists and mind games!

The only thing I didn't like was how similar it seemed to be to AGGGTM at times. I'm not the biggest fan of AGGGTM so that was kind of a turnoff but once it got past that part I loveddd it!

✨⚔️Action⚔️✨

There wasn't much action until the end, but it was amazing and had me gasping.

✨Would I Recommend It?✨

PLEASE READ THIS!!! It is literally amazing!

[Marissa C · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

What happens when a high school murder mystery party turns deadly? Everyone says Lily’s death by stage prop knife was an accident, that it malfunctioned, but June thinks there’s more to it. This was a very enjoyable read for me that explored themes such as grief and friendship through a murder investigation by a high schooler. I appreciated that June felt like a very believable high school girl, with a variety of peers and struggles. For example, she struggled in the shadow of her “perfect” sister Lily. I felt the sibling struggle as well as the frustration towards her parent’s treatment of each girl. June was smart, yet sometimes was an overthinker, especially when it came to her crush on Alex, which was kind of charming for her character. Speaking of crush, there’s definitely some petty high school drama, and you definitely must suspend reality for a bit to find the investigation and reveal of the killer believable. However, I really found this to be a cute and fun read. I loved the murder mystery game and watching the game begin to unravel.

Trigger warning: sexual assault, cursing

[charlene ✿ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75
★★★★☆

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A YA murder mystery that did not disappoint and that took two afternoons to read.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 is a secret club of friends role playing a murder mystery game but one night the murder is real. Lily Chan is a victim of a horrible accident, or so everyone things but things are not adding up to her sister June. With the help of her friends, she investigates each members of the club.

A child and sister is dead and it deals with grief, loss and the explosive aftereffects of that.

June struggles. She has lingering regrets, unfathomable grief and is falling behind in school.

As her family try find a new normal in a world that keeps moving, June starts pulling on some dangerous threads that could place her and her friends in danger.

It has humour, beautiful friendships and is quite emotionally moving. A well executed mystery that I would recommend it for people who loved Good Girls Guide to Murder.

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[ellie · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.

The Murder Party is a decent, well-paced YA mystery that’s quite perfect for spooky season. It’s one of those teen thrillers you stumble upon looking for a quick read. The storytelling was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. He’s portrayal of grief, loss, and denial was very profound and that’s what I liked the most about this book. I felt for June, her regrets, and her strong determination. It’s also fascinating that the plot starts out by “Lily's death was an accident” before everything goes downward. But, I also have something to say about this later. And what really put me off was the appalling amount of pop culture references. I normally don’t mind reading about tv show titles, movie references, and such in books. However, I don’t think there’s any reason to really mention “ChatGPT” and “Meta” in a contemporary thriller. And also the author mentions The Epstein Files in a certain chapter. Why? It’s not a good idea and it put me off even more.

As for the plot, I was extremely confused why a murder scene with a retractable knife was considered an accident and was never further investigated. Regardless if the characters are teenagers. Moreover, I think the killer was dumb AF. Especially towards the last few chapters. It was anticlimactic and for a victim like Lily to have gone through so much suffering and sadness, I think the book should’ve had an overall, better conclusion. The ending was anticlimactic that it felt like a slap on the wrist. I really wanted to love this, because I liked it enough. But the book lacked a strong enough conclusion.

[Axellesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

When June's sister is killed by a malfunctioning knife during a secret party, June is not satisfied with the police calling it an "accident". So she takes matters into her own hands and starts her own investigation. She's determined to find out how these murder game parties went and how this could happen. And she goes to great lengths for this....

This YA murder mystery has a fast pace which makes this book a quick read. It's also really thrilling to find stuff together with June as a reader. It's really. Although the real investigation isn't that big from the start, the pacing made me want to continue with the story. The writing style is straight to the point which suits the story really well.

June is a nice main character to follow. She has her flaws, but it kinda helps her to find her sister's murderer. Her determination is admirable. She's going to do everything to find out who did it. The side characters, well the likable ones, were nice to follow as well. Even the 'bad ones' were written really well, I mean, I disliked them together with June. It's just that you feel everything June feels as a reader.

I really liked this YA murder mystery and would recommend reading this if you love this genre! It's a quick, enjoyable and nice read!

[RollTide.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲︱𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸︱𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘆, 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 #Gifted 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆!

𝘘𝘖𝘛𝘋: 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘊𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬! 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦, 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮, 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨?

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭 ︱𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ︱𝗠𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

The ultimate whodunit that made me instantly care about the MC. June, our MC, was everything I want in my favorite YAs. She was fierce, smart, caring and very intuitive. I adored her and loved how this plot unfolded. I won’t spoil anything here! Just know I ate this UP and it got me back in to the spooky season spirit! Absolutely grab this. It was the ultimate "just one more chapter" read for me! If you guess the ending you get all the kudos!

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
🔪 whodunit
🔪 a diverse set of MCs (Asian MC / family)
🔪 real villains
🔪 YA thriller vibes
🔪 MCs you care about and want to win
🔪 tragedy with the peace that comes from it
🔪 a twisty plot, with enough context to navigate well
🔪strong characters and relationships formed between them

🏷️ @coloredpagesbt #TheMurderPartyTour #ColoredPagesBookTours #BookTour #CindyRXHe @sourcebooksfire @sourcebooks @cindyrxhe

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

An exclusive club, a secret party, and a murderer hiding in plain sight. From the author of Perfect Little Monsters and This Is Where We Die comes a twisted thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

When June Chan's older sister Lily is stabbed to death at a secret party in front of a dozen people, June learns about the exclusive murder mystery club Lily was in, and the themed games that members played.

The police rule Lily's death an accident caused by a malfunctioning prop knife and close the case. The school warns off all the members—including Lily's boyfriend and best friends—and shuts Murder Club down.

Everyone seems fine to move on. Accept that life isn't fair and that Lily's death was just a tragic accident…everyone but June. Determined to find out more about the Club, its members, and exactly what happened that night, she dives into the personal lives of everyone who witnessed Lily's death.

As June begins to uncover secrets the club would prefer to remain hidden, it becomes clear Lily's death wasn't an accident. June realizes that the only way she can find out what really happened is to revive Murder Club and set a trap. To catch her sister's killer, she will have to host the deadliest Murder Night of all…

---------------------------------

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[Susan Belman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I thought the whole idea of a **murder mystery party actually turning into a real murder** was such a fun and different setup. I don’t remember reading anything quite like it before, and it definitely pulled me in.

This is YA, but thankfully we didn’t get a ton of that *“young love trying really hard to be mature”* stuff. 😂 There were definitely a few cringe moments, but honestly? I FELT those in my soul. Looking back at my own teenage love years, I was like…ohhhhhh, yep. I remember being this ridiculous. 😂 There are quite a few characters, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easily I could keep them all straight. I liked getting to know everyone and seeing how their relationships and secrets started coming together. The pacing was pretty even throughout, and while I did figure out where things were headed, it wasn't one of those books where the killer and motive are basically screaming at you from page 50.

June was determined to figure out what really happened to her sister Lily after her death was ruled an accident, and I liked watching her dig into the Murder Club and all the secrets surrounding that night. Eventually, she realizes the only way to catch the person responsible may be to bring the club back together for one more deadly game.

Overall, this was a **really fun YA thriller** with a unique premise, a good cast of characters, and enough secrets to keep me guessing along the way. I had a good time with it!

[Austin G · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most anticipated new releases!!!
Cindy R.X He is one of my favorite authors. She comes out with a new book that I guarantee will be at least 5 stars!

Post-Read:
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD!!! I loved it.
I have no words. I thought that Perfect Little Monsters would be her peak, and although it is my favorite she has 3 consistently amazing books. None have been worse than the others.
I need 1000 more, please!!!

Perfect Little Monsters: 6.00/5.00
This Is Where We Die: 6.00/5.00
The Murder Party: 6.00/5.00

[Jackson G (Elizabeth Williams is the best) · Rating 5 out of 5]

so goooooooddd, I love it so much, it's so goooddd.

The Murder Party: 5.00/5.00
Perfect Little Monsters: 6.00/5.00
This is Where We Die: 5.00/5.00

[M.K. Pagano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cindy R.X. He does not miss! This is the story of June, trying to solve her sister Lily's "accidental" death in the murder club she was a part of. To catch the real killer, June sets up another murder party and invites all the suspects. I loved all the suspects and red herrings, and genuinely had no idea who did it, which is rare for me. The ending absolutely blew me away. So good!

[Cindy R. X. He · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear reader, I hope you'll love this book as much as I do. If you've pre-ordered it, please keep the receipt as there will be a special treat coming your way.

[Lia Anshar · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Colored Pages Book Tours for allowing me to be part of this book tour.

After her older sister, Lily, is killed at a secret party that connects to a Murder Club that Lily was in, June isn't convinced it was just an accident. The police close the case, and the school shuts down the club, but June still has too many questions about her sister's death. Determined to find out what really happened, she starts digging into the lives of its members. And when she discovers secrets the club members would rather keep hidden, she decides to bring the Murder Club back. Only this time, she's playing to catch a killer.

I really liked the Murder Club concept! It's such an interesting setup for a murder mystery, and I loved how June used the games as part of her investigation. The mystery was definitely my favorite part. There were so many possible suspects, and I kept trying to figure out who did it. I had a few guesses, but the twists still caught me off guard! The characters were also well-developed, which made guessing the killer even more fun.

Even though this is a YA mystery, I think adult readers can enjoy it too. It doesn't feel "childish", and honestly, I've read adult mysteries and thrillers that weren't as good as this one. Just a heads-up: if you're considering it for younger readers, there are a few stronger swear words.

Overall, this was a thrilling mystery that kept me guessing, with an interesting premise and twists I didn't see coming. If you enjoy YA mysteries with plenty of suspects and secrets to uncover in a secret club setting, you must add this one to your TBR!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE MURD*R PARTY by Cindy R.X. He (October 13, 2026)

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eArc

After June Chan's sister is stab*Ed at a secret m*rder mystery party, her d*ath is ruled an accident. Jane doesn't believe it. While everyone starts to move on, she begins investigating everyone who witnessed the d*ath, soon uncovering secrets worth k*llings for. To find out who really kil*ed Lily, she revives the club and sets a trap.
THE MURD*R PARTY is a YA mystery that is part "Murd*r Mystery game night".and part "a sister stopping at nothing to get justice for her sister." This is He's third YA novel, and after THIS IS WHERE WE D*E (one of my favorite reads of last year), I had a lot of expectations. I really enjoyed this one. It wasn't as high-stakes as what was mentioned before, but it was almost as twisted. Throughout the whole thing, I never landed on a suspect. Everyone June looked into had means and opportunity, so yeah. There were actually a few times where I thought maybe it really was an accident, He squashed that really quick as June uncovered more and more secrets having to do with the club.
One of the things I liked most about this book was that über dramatic ending. The reveal, the aftermath. Honestly, that was crazy. I can't say much without spoiling it, but I did not see that reveal coming or anything else after the fact. Highly recommend.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so GOOD! I read it in three days because I seriously couldn't put this down! I had read THIS IS WHERE WE DIE, Cindy's last book last year and also read that incredibly fast, so I guess I'm just a big fan of this author's work!

The concept was so interesting, and it didn't disappoint! From the first chapter, I was pulled in instantly by Cindy's writing. She does such a good job of capturing a reader's attention right away with June's voice/POV. I instantly related to June, and her grief, guilt, and anxiety was so realistic, especially for a YA book.

I LOVED her best friend Zoey's character. She's funny, smart, and a great friend to June. The dynamic/chemistry between Alex, Zoey, and June was so realistic and relatable. I also like how Cindy took the time to describe the murder mystery games, how each character could seem guilty with their motives (and nobody is perfect), and I definitely went back and forth on who was the killer, because all the motives were valid. I think this was also written in such a smart way, it's twisty, and definitely a page turner!

If you like similar books to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, oh, this one is so for you! Get ready to read a book that you can't put down!

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this author. I have read her two previous books as well and she is just such a solid writer, drawing you into the story and the characters so quickly. This one is no different, dropping you directly into the action. The Murder Club aspect is so fun! A group of people get together and create whole storylines, entire mysteries with roles, costumes, dialogue, and murder... and they act it all out and try to figure out who the "killer" is. When June's sister Lily is actually murdered during one of these gatherings, initial signs point to an accidental death. The investigation is closed and The Murder Club is disbanded... but June is NOT convinced this was an accident at all. Dealing with the torrent of grief from losing her sister and all of the what-ifs, June cannot move on until she uncovers the truth. She will have to infiltrate The Murder Club and find out for herself what really happened.

You really feel the heartache from June and her parents, and as you go deeper into the story, you become just as invested in the truth, needing to know more. I had such a great time with this one. This was fun and original. Highly recommend!

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Five Stars!! I haven't read a YA thriller this good in a while! This reminded me of two of my favorite YA thrillers: The Mary Shelley Club for the Murder Club and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder for the investigation and budding romance aspect. If you've enjoyed either of these books, you'll like this one too.

I thought the concept of the Murder Club was really fun and thought it was clever that June used that as a basis for investigating her sister's murder. The pacing of this book was great, and I wouldn't have put it down if I had time to read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the side characters, especially Zoey and Alex, and thought the ending was satisfying.

Plot Summary: June's sister is killed in a supposed freak accident during a meeting of the Murder Club, which she had no idea Lily was a part of. June suspects there is more to the incident and starts asking questions of the other members while simultaneously grappling with her own guilt about how she treated her sister before she was killed.

**ARC provided by NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of murder mystery games — this story is for you! I enjoyed reading the different game scenarios, learning about how the games are played, and I especially loved reading the character sheets.

Like her previous novels, He does a great job casting an aura of suspicion on all her characters. I always love when the writer is able to make you, the reader, feel a part of the investigation taking place within the pages, and He accomplishes this in spades. Just as blame was diverted from one suspect, it was cast back on another, keeping me guessing throughout the novel. I found the conclusion both plausible and satisfying, playing out almost like a live mystery game.

He is one of my go-to authors when I’m craving a thriller! Her novels capture the essence of teen angst, but the themes resonate beyond generations. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set the scene.

It's what a playwright does with the set. It's what a movie director does with the opening shot. It's what an Author does with the start of the book. For all three, it's essential for the intended audience.

Happy to say that the Author did this exceptionally well with the Prologue. It gave the Reader a roadmap for the rest of the book. As the mystery unraveled, that initial scene remained with the Reader. The Prologue segued into the first chapter showcasing the emotional disconnect June felt from her parents and best friend.

Also, appreciate the Author's main characters' Chinese American background as too often contemporary novels will have minority characters as secondary characters. Moreover, the references to superstitions and familiar dishes are blended seamlessly into the story.

The motive for the killer was believable, not far fetched. Too often, YA mystery novels will have a 'big reveal' leaving the Readers shaking their heads in disbelief in the improbability of it all. Not so in this read.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Fire | Sourcebooks Fire for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to author @cindyrxhe, @coloredpagesbt and @sourcebooksfire for having me on the book tour for this incredible book!

First, we must be fair to the author and their incredible work as I am older and do not typically gravitate towards young adult books. This book would definitely appeal to its target audience. The writing style is very easy to read, flows nicely and keeps a great pace throughout the entire novel. There are many scenes and circumstances that I would relate to if I was still 18 years old. Those parts stayed with me, and in my opinion, this book is very well written and will pull at the hearts of young adult readers.

The beginning draws you right in to the mystery. Throughout the plot you are trying to discover what is relevant and why right along with our main female character. And the twisty end, chef's kiss.

I recommend this to readers who enjoy reading mysterys that have a high school vibe with young adult characters that may just transport you back to high school... for the good, the bad and the ugly.

#TheMurderPartyTour #coloredpagesbooktours #Thriller #suspense #youngadult

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to thank Sourcebooks Fire for providing me an early copy for review.

I feel like The Murder Party is an absolute must-read for YA thriller lovers.

TMP follows June down a path of uncovering secrets about her older sisters "accidental" stabbing. This reminds me a lot of Good Girl's Guide to Murder, but with it's own personality. It had me staying awake late and reading in my car in between work calls. That's how obsessed I am with this book.

The characters are amazing, I absolutely adore June and Zoey. I was skeptical about Alex at first, but he won me over. The rest of the Murder Club members also had their distinctive personalities that kept the book interesting.

Again, absolutely a must for the spooky season.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good fast paced book. I love YA thrillers/horror and this was so well written, it really stands out in the genre. I also fear I wouldn’t have joined Murder Club back in high school! This is such a unique take on the murder mystery party trope (one of my faves) and I LOVED it! These characters were really written and our FMC was so complex and well written. I didn’t guess the ending either, which is always a bonus. A fun read. I look forward to more from Cindy R X He.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

[DoneReadThat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an eARC of this book from the publisher thru NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Murder Party by Cindy R. X. He
4.5⭐️s

Unofficial high school club that gets together and plays murder mystery games. Until one of them is killed. The victim's sister doesn't believe the story told by the club members and police.

This was a great read. I really enjoyed that the characters weren't all garbage people. There were parts where the main character's grief brought me to tears.

The baddie wasn't wholly unexpected but definitely surprising.

[Raelee Rapley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this thriller was written from the POV of a 16-17 year old younger sister of a murder victim, trying to find justice for her sister and her parents. i thought i was living in June’s mind at times, trying to figure out the case too, and that’s what made this read SO good!! she didn’t know who trust, but she went with her gut, and that led to the crime being solved, i just didn’t think it was going to be that gruesome of an ending for her sister! i know that Lily (her sister) and her parents were so proud of her!

[Dana Vit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Cindy R. X. He, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️
This was a cute YA murder mystery. Was it unrealistic and far-fetched? Absolutely. Was it predictable? Also yes. But what are we expecting from a teenage girl in high school trying to solve her sister’s murder on her own? I liked the idea of the Murder Club, it’s something I would’ve loved to be a part of in high school! Same with this book. I know I would’ve loved this book even more as a teenager. Alas, as an older person, it was enjoyable, but not outstanding.

[Jenni Howell]

Loveddddd the way Cindy wove murder mystery parties into almost every aspect of this book. So many times a premise promises a certain aesthetic and then it’s just… a piece of a character backstory. She didn’t hold back and I was HERE for it!!! Also that finale holy heck I shrieked!! She got me 🤣