A Reunion to Die For: A Novel

by K.J. Whittle

They all wanted their bully dead. Now someone's granted the wish. From the author of Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests comes the twisted tale of a school reunion turned murderous—and the suspects must catch the real killer before they're framed. Perfect for fans of Benjamin Stevenson and We Solve Murders.

It's a school reunion to die for.

In a dingy pub, a high school reunion brings six old friends back together. As they catch up, painful memories surface, all centered around their mutual high school bully. King of the school, a handsome sporting superstar with a hidden cruel streak that made each of them miserable. The more they drink, the more a morbid plan takes shape, with everyone tossing in ideas for how they could get the ultimate form of revenge.

The next day, heads-pounding and hearts racing, they discover their school bully has been found dead- in an eerily similar way to their drunken plan.

When a message containing a recording of their conversation from the night before starts to circulate, the group knows they need to act, and fast. Who was listening to them? Who arranged the reunion? And, most importantly, who carried out their murderous plans? Before they can become the main suspects, the group will have to come together to clear their names, or risk going down for a murder they planned, but didn't commit.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller

443 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 20, 2026

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC!

I thought this was such a fun mystery! I love books with dual timelines and I thought the author did a great job of slowly revealing pieces of information and tying it together across the different timelines and POVs. It was also very fast paced and didn’t feel like 400+ pages, and it kept me fully engaged the entire time. I did figure out a few things early, but I would rather have a twist be well plotted out than happen out of absolutely nowhere for the sake of shock value. I’d definitely pick up another book by this author!

[Trisha]

I really liked a previous title from this author - I can't wait to read this one!!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[a r u s h i · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

thank you to the publisher, netgalley and the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

this was such a fun, messy little thriller and honestly the premise alone had me hooked. a group of old friends reuniting years after high school only for old secrets, resentment and guilt to crawl back to the surface? yeah inject that straight into my veins. the whole “everyone has a reason to hate the victim” trope always works on me and this book definitely leaned into that chaotic energy well.

the writing style was very easy to get through and bingeable. the dual timelines and multiple povs slowly piecing together what actually happened on prom night kept me engaged throughout most of the book. i also really liked how every character felt morally grey in some way. nobody was completely innocent and the tension between the friend group felt believable and layered. eric especially worked well as this looming presence even before everything spiralled.

theme-wise, this book really explores jealousy, bullying, revenge, buried trauma and the way one person can continue to haunt an entire group years later. there’s also a lot about perception and how memory changes depending on who’s telling the story. i loved the dramatic atmosphere of it all. it genuinely felt like one long uncomfortable dinner conversation waiting to explode.

for me, the strongest part was definitely the character dynamics and the slow unraveling of past events. i do think the beginning took me a little while to fully settle into because of all the povs, and while some twists didn’t completely shock me, the overall ride was entertaining enough that i didn’t mind. the pacing stayed strong and i kept wanting “just one more chapter.”

if you enjoy character driven thrillers with reunion settings, messy friendships, revenge plots, anonymous messages and secrets from the past slowly resurfacing, this would be such a good pick. especially for readers who love fast paced mysteries that are more focused on drama and tension than super dark horror elements.

[Tami Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankful for the ARC provided by NetGalley

4.25 ⭐️

This was my second book by KJ Whittle, and once again, the author delivered a suspenseful “whodunit” packed with secrets, messy relationships, and buried truths from the past. The premise immediately grabbed me: a high school reunion tied to a prom night secret from 2006? I was all in.

The story follows a group of former classmates who reconnect years later as old tensions, betrayals, and unanswered questions slowly resurface. I loved the dual timelines between prom night and the present-day reunion because it kept me constantly trying to piece together what really happened all those years ago.

One of the book’s strongest parts was the character dynamics. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, and every chapter added another layer of suspicion. Between complicated friendships, old romances, jealousy, secrets, and hidden motives, I kept changing my theories on who was truly responsible and what everyone was covering up.

The suspenseful buildup to prom night and the lingering fallout kept me engaged throughout. While the middle section slowed slightly for me, the later parts of the book definitely picked up the momentum, and I enjoyed uncovering how everything connected.

I especially loved the classic murder-mystery feel mixed with modern twists, anonymous messages, and long-buried secrets threatening to come to light. I guessed several reveals correctly, but there were still enough surprises to keep the story entertaining and addictive.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable, character-driven mystery with strong atmosphere, multiple suspects, and plenty of drama and suspense to keep you turning the pages.

An engaging reunion mystery filled with secrets, lies, and prom-night fallout!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one falls right into that twisty, character-driven thriller / mystery category with a strong “everyone’s hiding something” vibe—and that’s exactly what kept me reading.

The story centers around a group of old friends reconnecting at a high school reunion, but it’s not your typical catch-up situation. Everything circles back to prom night twenty years ago and the one person they all have complicated (and mostly negative) history with—Eric. As the night goes on, secrets start surfacing, and what starts as drunk talk about revenge turns into something very real by morning.

From there, it turns into more of a whodunnit with psychological elements. There’s an anonymous message, recordings, and this constant feeling that someone is watching and pulling strings. You’re not just trying to figure out who killed Eric—you’re also piecing together what really happened back then, and how far each person might’ve been willing to go.

I liked how the dual timelines slowly filled in the gaps. Each character adds a different layer, and you start to see how jealousy, rumors, and past decisions shaped everything. It’s definitely more plot-driven than deeply emotional, but it keeps things moving and makes it an easy read.

It did take me a minute to settle into all the POVs at the beginning, and while the twist didn’t completely shock me, I still enjoyed how everything played out.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced, drama-filled thriller with messy friendships, buried secrets, and just enough suspense to keep you hooked.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
A solid, bingeable mystery if you’re in the mood for secrets, twists, and a little revenge storyline.

[Mackenzie Busalacchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Reunion to Die For is a unique, twisty, creatively written thriller with an interesting cast of characters. Five former friends are brought together in the back room of a local pub following their 20-year high school reunion. As beverages are consumed and nostalgia takes hold, the group not only relives some of their best memories but also rehashes some of their most devastating moments, including the disastrous prom night that ended their friendships. As past emotions begin to resurface and more alcohol is drunk, the group begins fantasizing what they'd do to their high school bully - the person responsible for most of the prom night drama. The next day, when the group awakes, their high school bully is found dead, and they each receive a text with a recording of their conversation in the pub the night before - the one detailing how they all wanted to kill the bully.

First, I absolutely love this author! I thoroughly enjoyed Seven Reasons to Murder your Dinner Guests and was hoping this would be just as good - and it was!!! A Reunion to Die for is an absolute great follow-up book. The story is told through multiple POVs over dual timelines. It's a diverse cast of characters- some likable, some despicable, and some relatable - all extremely convincing and well-developed. There are two mysteries/deaths that need solving (one in the present and one in the past). This book definitely made me NOT want to go to any reunion. This book is well-written and full of secrets, betrayals, and drama. It was honestly a super fun read. I will be recommending A Reunion to Die For to any mystery/thriller fan. Easy 5 stars!

[Lucy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

2.5 Stars

I love a twisty read that keeps me guessing, especially when all the characters seem to have a secret. I enjoyed the fact that many of the characters were unlikeable as this made me keep coming back to find out exactly what everyone was hiding. As a person who loves to try and guess the twist (and prefers to be wrong), I very happy that I didn't see this one coming!

However, the writing style felt very repetitive in places and I felt the book was slow to hook me in. The dialogue between characters felt stunted at times and I would've liked to see dialogue that felt more organic. Despite this, the author provides solid sense of who the characters are - I just would have liked more depth to each character. I would've liked the pacing of the book to be a bit faster as some parts did seem a bit slow, and some of the references to show the time period of each chapter felt slightly shoe-horned in. That being said, the pacing in the last 30% of the book was perfect and I could not put the book down from this point onwards.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the book and felt it was a good, twisty mystery that kept me guessing and wanting to find out what happens next. I'd recommend to anyone who is intrigued by secrets, unreliable characters and a shocking twist. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

[Renee Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twenty years after prom a group of friends return for a reunion and they each have something they're hiding. Their old school is scheduled to be torn down soon and if that happens, their lives will never be the same.

After school, Eric went on to become semi-famous, wealthy, and much loved; or so it seemed until we ends up dead the night of the reunion. The answer to the question, "Who hated him enough to kill him?" is everyone. The night of his death, those closest to him, including his ex and his lifelong best friend, have no alibi because they spent the night drinking and no one can remember much of anything.

But someone knows who murdered Eric and has lured them into a game where secrets from twenty years ago will be uncovered and they only have a few hours to play along before they're all turned in to the police.

A Reunion to Die For is told in a way where you instantly know everyone is hiding something and you can't wait to see how it ends.

[Jine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this story! This is my first book by this author and I really liked it!
We have dual povs and timelines and the story unfolds bit by bit which adds to the mystery! We have prom night 20 years ago a student went missing someone thought they killed someone else
We have Eric the goldenboy and he had so many tumultuous relationships with each character
His best friend his girlfriend his hookup with a boy and a girl now flash forward to the high school reunion and everyone has a reason to want him gone! We get to see the different prospectives of each character for each hour of prom night! What I love the most is how it all unfolded I didn’t see Eric’s killer coming but I love how it was all planned out; it keeps you interested and really karma came for those who deserved it truly!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Reunion to Die For is a tightly engineered, twist‑forward thriller where five former classmates gather for a casual pub reunion and are pulled back into the long‑unresolved missing person case tied to prom night. KJ Whittle leans into classic tropes—the charismatic golden boy who weaponizes popularity, the reunion that dredges up buried truths, the drunken “what if” that becomes real—when Eric Stewart, their manipulative yet widely adored ex‑bully, turns up dead exactly as they joked about killing him. Through multiple POVs, the group is blackmailed into retracing the disappearance they never fully understood, forced through sinister games designed to expose what really happened. The final twist lands cleanly, delivering a smart, ensemble‑driven mystery for fans of puzzle‑tight whodunits.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun one and something I just grabbed, I do love a dinner with a little death 😂

High-school reunions are stressful under normal circumstances, but imagine having to go to one where your biggest tormentor in life will be, eww.

But this guy apparently liked to fuck with a lot of kids back then because the reunion turns into, how would I love to kill him session as the drinks flow. Blowing off steam probably felt great until they wake up to old boy dead and the recording of last night's " how I hate my bully" discussion is found out to have been recorded, was it really one of them, or was it someone else entirely.

I absolutely loved how character driven this was, it's a who done it and it really gave you a cast to decide on, had me suspecting a few there for a bit too.

Very good vacation read.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book from the publisher - I’d been looking forward to it as I really enjoyed the author’s debut, Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests.

I think I’d say I enjoyed this one even more…an intriguing premise, great twists and really well drawn, convincing characters. This is what made it interesting for me - I felt so invested that I got a bit teary towards the end!

The quality of the writing sets it apart from other mystery/ thrillers I have read recently, and the backstories of all the characters add depth and nuance.

Can’t wait for the next one!

[HollyReadsAK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the beginning!

First off I love short quick chapters and POV changes and this book beyond delivered on that. The POV, the time, everything was clear and not confusing. Little hints were dropped the whole way that didn’t come together until they needed to.

This kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing who did what and when and for the most part I had nothing figured out. Eventually I saw who did something major but was soon humbled as that wasn’t even the point or the outcome of the story.

If you love a good edge of your seat whodunit. This is the book for you!!

[Linda O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant twisty thriller from this author. Her first book, Seven Reasons to Murder your Dinner Guests was fantastic, full of twists and a set of brilliant characters who rubbed each other up the wrong way, so much fun to read. A Reunion to Die For is a fantastic follow up, with another great cast of characters coming back together for the first time since high school, their lives moved on (or in some cases not moved on) in unforeseen ways. Old wounds re-open and the twists keep coming. So clever, so enjoyable!

[L.M. Chilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Who hasn't wanted to murder their school bully? It's a killer premise that's delivered with vicious precision by KJ Whittle.

Like Agatha Christie, I think Whittle's real skill is her characters. They're always feel "real", and A Reunion to Die For has a cast of wonderfully flawed killers, lovers and liars. There's an emotional core to the relationships that really pays off in the final pages.

A classic whodunnit with a modern twist, you won't be able to put it down until what really happened on that fateful prom night twenty years ago is revealed.....

[Laura Hine · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATY2026: an author’s sophomore novel
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
A stunning sophomore novel, with so much more action than the first. Non-stop twists and turns. I’m impressed the author managed to put a hook at the end of every single chapter.
It was fairly obvious what was going on, but seeing everyone’s information come together in real time kept it fresh and interesting. The characters seemed true-to-life, especially in their struggles and how they related to past trauma.

[LauraBeach123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved K.J. Whittle’s Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests, so I was excited to read A Reunion to Die For, and it was just as much fun to read!

A 20 year high school reunion ends in murder, and old secrets come back to haunt. It seemed like everyone had a motive and the ending surprised me a little bit!

This is a quick, twisty, easy to read book and I can’t wait for KJ’s next book!

[GruesomePages · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those mysteries where I changed my mind about the killer every few chapters. 😂 Every time I thought I had it figured out, another secret from the past came out and completely threw me off.

A high school reunion is already awkward enough, but add decades of grudges, broken friendships, and a murder? I was hooked. I really liked how the story slowly revealed what happened years ago instead of dumping all the answers at once. It made every chapter feel like another puzzle piece falling into place

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prom night 2006: four couples in the limo when one of the boys smashes the window. Fast forward to 2026 when they gather for a reunion and one of them suffers a horrible death. We discover all of the jealousies, couple fights, hidden emotions, and secrets as the. novel reveal their intimate relationships and how teens are volatile and often let peer pressure rule their lives!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Chibby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book pretty quickly. It took me a day to read it all. I felt like it was a pretty easy read, although the beginning was confusing a lot for me. I found myself tearing up in the end. I wasn't all that shocked at the plot twist but I still enjoyed it.

Thank you for the ARC. I look forward to reading more of your books!

[Ned · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not 100% sure but I think something happened 20 years ago at the prom. This had the bones of a good book but was about 100 pages too long. Trying to build suspense by constantly bringing up "that night 20 years ago" got irritating at around the 50% mark. The twist was interesting but didn't make up for the repitition.

[Shraddha Sahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two timelines, multiple suspects and so many secrets! Enjoyed the back stories of the characters and their equation with Eric. The suspense about the incident on prom night was telegraphed early (or then I'm quick!) but I loved the way everything leading up to the big reveal. A great read that makes you realise how jealousy, lies and rumours can ruin lives so easily.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whittle did not disappoint with another twisty turny thriller filled with suspicious characters. “A Reunion to Die For” takes you back and forth between a dramatic Prom night and high school reunion 20 years later. The beginning was slightly slow and repetitive but it was still a fun and unpredictable read.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booklist review! I enjoyed this book - it took me a while to get into it, but once I got to the part where the mysterious stranger starts manipulating the characters, it got really intriguing. I like that Whittle's books bring a freshness to the genre. The twists are both believable and surprising - the best kind!

[Kathryn Curran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley arc review
This book was filled with twists and turns. Five different perspectives split between the present and 20 years prior, honestly loved it and wanted to constantly know what would happen next. And it was never what I thought it would be

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something happens on prom night. Twenty years later, there is a reunion and a murder and a group has to figure it out before they are accused. Good plot and lots of history to make it interesting. I thought there were some good characters, but there was quite a hook to get me invested.

I received an early copy through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first murder mystery, and it had me itching to find out who did it. It was a quick read and kept me guessing and invested in the plot. Thank you sourcebooks landmark and the author for the arc!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the plot was good, the characters were decent but lacked depth. I felt that this was hard for me to get into and it dragged out way more than it needed to.

While the dual timeline was easy to follow, having so many characters and their perspectives made it hard to keep up

[Julie Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC!

I DNF'd this book at 60%. Maybe it just wasn't for me, but the characters were so boring and unlikable, that I just couldn't make it through.

[Sandi Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advance review copy received with thanks from the publisher and NetGalley.