What do you think?
Rate this book
Chased #1
Sneaking Out
Could you sleep next to a murderer?
Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.
For fans of “A Study in Charlotte” and boarding school lit, “Sneaking Out” (book one in the “Chased” series) immerses readers in the privileged prep school world, with a mystery that exposes the dark side of life on a residential high school campus.
Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.
For fans of “A Study in Charlotte” and boarding school lit, “Sneaking Out” (book one in the “Chased” series) immerses readers in the privileged prep school world, with a mystery that exposes the dark side of life on a residential high school campus.
- GenresMysteryYoung Adult
404 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2018
2 people are currently reading
757 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 13, 2018
I was on the promotional blog tour for this book! Stop by my blog for the full post and to enter an international giveaway!: https://marriedtobooksreviewsandblog....
I always love a good mystery and Sneaking Out was definitely a well crafted one. Set in the grounds of a posh school, a group of teens venture outside into the woods at night even though the rules clearly state that this isn’t allowed. The following morning, the body of a woman that is connected to the school is found near the place where the teens were. One of the teens called Oscar gets accused of murder, with tensions running high, it’s up to the main character Luke and his friends to track down the real killer responsible. The plotline and settings were reminiscent of a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew mystery, I personally do enjoy reading stories that have a school as a setting with one such example being Enid Blyton’s St Clare’s/Malory Towers series. It had a great pace to it, once all of the final details started to be revealed, it did make for an interesting climax. The second book in the series does follow a little plot twist mentioned in Sneaking Out but with another mystery to try and solve. I did struggle to connect to Luke as a character at times, however, it was exciting, great dialogue that left me feeling satisfied.
PS: Also for fans of A Study In Charlotte! (side note- I need to read that book!)
I always love a good mystery and Sneaking Out was definitely a well crafted one. Set in the grounds of a posh school, a group of teens venture outside into the woods at night even though the rules clearly state that this isn’t allowed. The following morning, the body of a woman that is connected to the school is found near the place where the teens were. One of the teens called Oscar gets accused of murder, with tensions running high, it’s up to the main character Luke and his friends to track down the real killer responsible. The plotline and settings were reminiscent of a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew mystery, I personally do enjoy reading stories that have a school as a setting with one such example being Enid Blyton’s St Clare’s/Malory Towers series. It had a great pace to it, once all of the final details started to be revealed, it did make for an interesting climax. The second book in the series does follow a little plot twist mentioned in Sneaking Out but with another mystery to try and solve. I did struggle to connect to Luke as a character at times, however, it was exciting, great dialogue that left me feeling satisfied.
PS: Also for fans of A Study In Charlotte! (side note- I need to read that book!)
March 30, 2018
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
WARNING: REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
This isn't the type of book I'd usually go for, but wow, IT WAS SO GOOD. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, and also Enid Blyton's novels set in boarding schools - Mallory Towers, St Clare's and The Naughtiest Girl, and this book's like a mash-up of all those books.
This book was, as I said above, so hard to put down!
I am a sucker for books set in boarding schools. There's something magical about boarding schools, don't you think? Your classmates are more than just your classmates - they are a huge part of your life because you live and spend time with them almost 24/7. And I just love the midnight feasts and all the deep talks with dorm mates! (I don't study in a boarding school, so I'm not sure if these things happen in real life? According to one of my former classmates who's now studying at a boarding school in the UK, boarding school life is nothing like what happens in the books.)
At first I found it a little bit hard to really get into the story, because the book began with Luke, Oscar, Pippa and Kelsey sneaking out to meet in the woods. I kept mixing up the four of them and I had no idea what was going on? I don't know if it's just me because this kind of stuff - not getting into the story until I reach about 25% of the book - happens to me all the time. I got bored trying to figure things out, and put the book aside for a while.
After a few days I finally decided to pick the book up again because I was running out of time to read it and I'm a very responsible tour host *winks* so of course I had to finish it! I'm so glad I gave this book another chance because THE MYSTERY WAS SO GOOD I was swiping on my Kindle like crazy because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEAN'S WIFE. I kept a mental list of suspects and tried so hard to solve the mystery but miserably failed lol. I suck at solving mysteries.
I wasn't a big fan of Luke in the beginning because he seems like a terrible person - it was mentioned many times that he "wants to hook up with the hot British chick, Pippa" and that's just WRONG because he wants to hang out with Pippa only because of her hotness. Like, Pippa is a totally bish to him and he still continues pursuing her because of her "hotness". However, when they start to hang out with each other more, it's clear that they really care about each other. Also, they make really great partners in solving crime!
I really liked Oscar and Luke's bromance. The two of them are really good "bros" and look out for each other all the time (Except for the part where Luke is brought to the headmaster's office and is told that Oscar is being suspected of committing the murder. He starts doubting Oscar, but when Oscar tells him his side of the story, he instantly believes him and feels ashamed of not trusting Oscar at the very beginning.) When Oscar is suspended from the campus, Luke promises to clear his name and at last, with the help of Pippa, solves the murder.
Overall rating
★★★★
GOSH THIS IS SO GOOD THIS IS WHY I USED TO (AND STILL) LOVE MYSTERY NOVELS SO MUCH. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the Chased series :)
WARNING: REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
This isn't the type of book I'd usually go for, but wow, IT WAS SO GOOD. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, and also Enid Blyton's novels set in boarding schools - Mallory Towers, St Clare's and The Naughtiest Girl, and this book's like a mash-up of all those books.
This book was, as I said above, so hard to put down!
I am a sucker for books set in boarding schools. There's something magical about boarding schools, don't you think? Your classmates are more than just your classmates - they are a huge part of your life because you live and spend time with them almost 24/7. And I just love the midnight feasts and all the deep talks with dorm mates! (I don't study in a boarding school, so I'm not sure if these things happen in real life? According to one of my former classmates who's now studying at a boarding school in the UK, boarding school life is nothing like what happens in the books.)
At first I found it a little bit hard to really get into the story, because the book began with Luke, Oscar, Pippa and Kelsey sneaking out to meet in the woods. I kept mixing up the four of them and I had no idea what was going on? I don't know if it's just me because this kind of stuff - not getting into the story until I reach about 25% of the book - happens to me all the time. I got bored trying to figure things out, and put the book aside for a while.
After a few days I finally decided to pick the book up again because I was running out of time to read it and I'm a very responsible tour host *winks* so of course I had to finish it! I'm so glad I gave this book another chance because THE MYSTERY WAS SO GOOD I was swiping on my Kindle like crazy because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEAN'S WIFE. I kept a mental list of suspects and tried so hard to solve the mystery but miserably failed lol. I suck at solving mysteries.
I wasn't a big fan of Luke in the beginning because he seems like a terrible person - it was mentioned many times that he "wants to hook up with the hot British chick, Pippa" and that's just WRONG because he wants to hang out with Pippa only because of her hotness. Like, Pippa is a totally bish to him and he still continues pursuing her because of her "hotness". However, when they start to hang out with each other more, it's clear that they really care about each other. Also, they make really great partners in solving crime!
I really liked Oscar and Luke's bromance. The two of them are really good "bros" and look out for each other all the time (Except for the part where Luke is brought to the headmaster's office and is told that Oscar is being suspected of committing the murder. He starts doubting Oscar, but when Oscar tells him his side of the story, he instantly believes him and feels ashamed of not trusting Oscar at the very beginning.) When Oscar is suspended from the campus, Luke promises to clear his name and at last, with the help of Pippa, solves the murder.
Overall rating
★★★★
GOSH THIS IS SO GOOD THIS IS WHY I USED TO (AND STILL) LOVE MYSTERY NOVELS SO MUCH. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the Chased series :)
March 22, 2018
Sneaking out is a book that is quite outside my comfort zone. I don’t usually read murder/mysteries, but this synopsis intrigued me (okay and also the cover… :P). I really enjoyed this book, the characters were great. I especially liked the girl (whose name I forgot), but Luke was also really interesting. They had interesting personalities and I loved the group dynamics. Since the book is about a woman being murdered at a boarding school, there’s quite a lot of mystery involved. I immediately got intrigued by the strange death and it got me hooked, I really wanted to know who had done it and why. As I normally don’t read these kinds of books, I don’t know whether it’s just something I’m not used to, but I thought there were a little too many suspects and clues for me to keep up with. I’m not that good with remembering names, and that definitely got me confused at times while reading this.
I think this book was a lot of fun, and it got me interested to go outside of my comfort zone more often. I’m giving this book 4 stars because it was really enjoyable! I definitely recommend this book if you like to read YA murder/mystery or if you want to read something outside of your comfort zone.
I think this book was a lot of fun, and it got me interested to go outside of my comfort zone more often. I’m giving this book 4 stars because it was really enjoyable! I definitely recommend this book if you like to read YA murder/mystery or if you want to read something outside of your comfort zone.
January 28, 2019
This was a pleasant surprise--unknown book by an unknown author that really delivered on a gripping story. Didn't end with a cliffhanger but an ending that made me glad that this book is described as #1 in a proposed series. I like the main student characters. The faculty at this private school weren't fleshed out a great deal but enough. And "enough" means to make them interesting, to this plot but also to further story, I believe. I was just about convinced that I knew whodunit when Vance started weaving all the clues together, so I was very satisfied that I too had solved the murder. That's why we read mysteries, isn't it? To show off our own deductive skills? This isn't likely to change anyone's life but it's an enjoyable read.
January 5, 2018
I am a twelve-year-old boy and found this book very exciting to read. From the moment I started reading it, I was captivated by both the humor and the many twists and turns throughout which kept me on the edge of my seat. The main characters are hilarious, well developed, and very realistic, making it seem as though these people actually exist. The end of the book left me wanting more and incredibly excited to read the next book in the series when it comes out. Fans of books such as the Theodore Boone series and "One of Us Is Lying" would definitely enjoy this. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any young adult I know!
March 21, 2018
Transported to a small town, where the local boarding school is the town’s lifeblood, the reader is immediately immersed in Luke and Oscar’s friendship dynamics. Bad boy, Oscar, convinces Luke to betray his good-boy ways to sneak out to the woods to meet up with girls after hours. The punishment for being caught is expulsion, so when they suddenly begin to hear voices in the woods their objective suddenly becomes focused on returning to their room unscathed. However, when a body of the dean’s wife turns up the next day, bad boy Oscar is quickly made a suspect. With no previous sleuthing experience, Luke quickly works to clear Oscar’s name. Although painful memories from the past will be dragged out in the process, for all those involved.
When I read that this book was “for fans of A Study in Charlotte” I knew I had to get my hands on it. I LOVE the Charlotte Holmes series and any YA fiction that even slightly resembles it, and Sneaking Out did not disappoint. While I had a few hesitations, I found the overall storyline was not compromised by them. My hesitations included: (1) The number of adult characters that were introduced, for instance one ex-ex-wife was tracked down and provided us with insignificant dialogue that did little to sway the path of Luke’s investigation and (2) The lack of detail provided about Luke’s past. It is clear Luke has undergone a kidnapping and subsequent survivalist escape, but otherwise Luke’s family, history and upbringing are hardly touched upon. It is possible Luke’s past was kept minimal for future books in the series, but as the lead off book it would have been helpful to have been given a few more glimpses of our main character’s background.
Regardless, the author left it clear that book two would further dive into characters’ pasts while continuing the action, excitement and adventure that made book one, Sneaking Out, so enjoyable.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordp...
*Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy of this book as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.
When I read that this book was “for fans of A Study in Charlotte” I knew I had to get my hands on it. I LOVE the Charlotte Holmes series and any YA fiction that even slightly resembles it, and Sneaking Out did not disappoint. While I had a few hesitations, I found the overall storyline was not compromised by them. My hesitations included: (1) The number of adult characters that were introduced, for instance one ex-ex-wife was tracked down and provided us with insignificant dialogue that did little to sway the path of Luke’s investigation and (2) The lack of detail provided about Luke’s past. It is clear Luke has undergone a kidnapping and subsequent survivalist escape, but otherwise Luke’s family, history and upbringing are hardly touched upon. It is possible Luke’s past was kept minimal for future books in the series, but as the lead off book it would have been helpful to have been given a few more glimpses of our main character’s background.
Regardless, the author left it clear that book two would further dive into characters’ pasts while continuing the action, excitement and adventure that made book one, Sneaking Out, so enjoyable.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordp...
*Disclaimer: I was provided a review copy of this book as part of a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Sneaking out was a right of passage for all boarders at St. Benedict's, but maybe Luke would have been better off keeping to the straight and narrow. What should have been fun, put him right in the middle of a murder mystery, and re-awakened fears he has buried from his past.
•Pro: Boarding school settings are a favorite of mine, and Vance actually gives us a pretty good look into school life and the culture of St. B's.
•Pro: Luke's backstory was awesome. The whole Kidnap Kid thing really added an extra layer to Luke, and I liked the way Vance worked in the flashbacks and complications that accompanied his resulting fame.
•Pro: Pippa also had an interesting backstory, and I hope the teaser at the end of the book was legit, because I think it would be fantastic if her mystery was part of the the Chased series.
•Pro: Vance assembled quite a suspect list, and he did a really good job keeping me guessing. There were many times I was ready to dismiss a suspect, and he would reveal something that would create doubt in my mind. That's the way I like my mysteries.
•Pro: Luke's mentor is sort of creepy and scary, but I am intrigued as to what he has in store for us.
•Pro: Bromances always make me happy, and I especially like when they arise between two unlikely people, such as Oscar and Luke.
•Pro: I am really excited to get the next book. That speaks volumes for how fun and entertaining this book was.
Overall: A fabulous mystery that kept me guessing and has me wanting more.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Sneaking out was a right of passage for all boarders at St. Benedict's, but maybe Luke would have been better off keeping to the straight and narrow. What should have been fun, put him right in the middle of a murder mystery, and re-awakened fears he has buried from his past.
•Pro: Boarding school settings are a favorite of mine, and Vance actually gives us a pretty good look into school life and the culture of St. B's.
•Pro: Luke's backstory was awesome. The whole Kidnap Kid thing really added an extra layer to Luke, and I liked the way Vance worked in the flashbacks and complications that accompanied his resulting fame.
•Pro: Pippa also had an interesting backstory, and I hope the teaser at the end of the book was legit, because I think it would be fantastic if her mystery was part of the the Chased series.
•Pro: Vance assembled quite a suspect list, and he did a really good job keeping me guessing. There were many times I was ready to dismiss a suspect, and he would reveal something that would create doubt in my mind. That's the way I like my mysteries.
•Pro: Luke's mentor is sort of creepy and scary, but I am intrigued as to what he has in store for us.
•Pro: Bromances always make me happy, and I especially like when they arise between two unlikely people, such as Oscar and Luke.
•Pro: I am really excited to get the next book. That speaks volumes for how fun and entertaining this book was.
Overall: A fabulous mystery that kept me guessing and has me wanting more.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 11, 2018
Thank you #kidlitbookexchange for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own. This ARC has me very excited for the rest of the series and unfortunately I’m going to have to wait to read them.
I love a good mystery and this one didn’t let me down. Luke Chase and his roommate Oscar sneak out of their boarding school, St. Benedict, late one night to meet some girls in the woods. The group gets more than they bargained for when they hear a conversation and strange noises. The next morning they find out there has been a murder and realize that they know more than they should.
The group decides not to tell anyone where they were and to try to figure out who committed the murder on their own. It isn’t long before one of them is accused of the crime. With a wide range of suspects will they be able to figure out who the murderer is before the murderer finds them?
I loved the main characters. They are stereotypical typical teenage characters that aren’t overly exaggerated. I would recommend this book for a high school library or for a good YA mystery lover.
I love a good mystery and this one didn’t let me down. Luke Chase and his roommate Oscar sneak out of their boarding school, St. Benedict, late one night to meet some girls in the woods. The group gets more than they bargained for when they hear a conversation and strange noises. The next morning they find out there has been a murder and realize that they know more than they should.
The group decides not to tell anyone where they were and to try to figure out who committed the murder on their own. It isn’t long before one of them is accused of the crime. With a wide range of suspects will they be able to figure out who the murderer is before the murderer finds them?
I loved the main characters. They are stereotypical typical teenage characters that aren’t overly exaggerated. I would recommend this book for a high school library or for a good YA mystery lover.
March 10, 2018
love books set at boarding school and this one really got that setting right--some don't. the mystery was great and kept me guessing. fun read.
March 22, 2018
It started out a teensey bit slow for me but soon eased itself into quite a respectable little mystery. In the end it was not who I expected at all. I had my ideas/theories, and not the obvious ones either, and still I was wrong.
While the first half was, as I said "a little slow" the last half was un-put-downable. I was swept up into their boarding school world. I loved the setting - I have always had a thing for books about boarding schools. In this one - the police are either too slow or getting it all wrong. Either way Luke takes the investigation into his own hands (with the help of his friends and a certain teacher, but can Luke trust any of them?).
Great character development! I loved the kids - Luke, Oscar, Pippa (loved Pippa and love the name!) and I loved the teacher - Mr. Tadeckis (I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him, at least I hope not). I loved the whole "sneaking out" idea, reminds me of my teen years shhhh, my mom still doesn't know! At the end there is a hint as to what the next book might be about. Sounds like a fun one!
If you love books about teen sleuths, boarding schools, or just good mysteries - try this one our for size!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours - Thank You!!
While the first half was, as I said "a little slow" the last half was un-put-downable. I was swept up into their boarding school world. I loved the setting - I have always had a thing for books about boarding schools. In this one - the police are either too slow or getting it all wrong. Either way Luke takes the investigation into his own hands (with the help of his friends and a certain teacher, but can Luke trust any of them?).
Great character development! I loved the kids - Luke, Oscar, Pippa (loved Pippa and love the name!) and I loved the teacher - Mr. Tadeckis (I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him, at least I hope not). I loved the whole "sneaking out" idea, reminds me of my teen years shhhh, my mom still doesn't know! At the end there is a hint as to what the next book might be about. Sounds like a fun one!
If you love books about teen sleuths, boarding schools, or just good mysteries - try this one our for size!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours - Thank You!!
February 19, 2018
Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. The copy used in this review is an uncorrected copy from Dunemere Books.
First off, Chuck Vance did a great job capturing my attention this entire novel. This young adult fiction book provides a thrilling mystery between these pages. This book is well written, and the plot twist was fantastic. The entire novel I thought one character killed Mrs. Heckler, but in the end, it was someone else. I was extremely confident in my detective skills, and I was on the edge of my seat. I prevented myself from looks to the end of the book to ease the pressure of finding out who did it. In this “whodunit” novel it is hard not to love the writing style and the cliffhanger at the end. Sneaking Out is book one of the Chased Series, so I am curious to see what other things Chuck Vance has up his sleeves. I recommend this book to any young adult or adult looking for a great mystery novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
You can view the full review on my blog at Librariel Book Reviews
First off, Chuck Vance did a great job capturing my attention this entire novel. This young adult fiction book provides a thrilling mystery between these pages. This book is well written, and the plot twist was fantastic. The entire novel I thought one character killed Mrs. Heckler, but in the end, it was someone else. I was extremely confident in my detective skills, and I was on the edge of my seat. I prevented myself from looks to the end of the book to ease the pressure of finding out who did it. In this “whodunit” novel it is hard not to love the writing style and the cliffhanger at the end. Sneaking Out is book one of the Chased Series, so I am curious to see what other things Chuck Vance has up his sleeves. I recommend this book to any young adult or adult looking for a great mystery novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
You can view the full review on my blog at Librariel Book Reviews
April 8, 2018
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and murder)
Pages: 379
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received this book through KidLitExchange. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.
It’s been awhile since I had a ya mystery book and I legitimately enjoyed this one. I thought this book was pretty good. The plot and pacing kept me entertained and the book kept me guessing on the whodunit.
However, I did have quite a few issues with it. The character development was a bit… weird? Some of the characters seem very over-exaggerated in their roles, such as Pippa who annoyingly mentions a British slur in everything she says. I read more British slurs in this book then I heard in my time in the UK. I thought the murderer was a bit weird as well. The characters really made this book less enjoyable for me.
Verdict: If you like mysteries and blunt characters then this book is for you.
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and murder)
Pages: 379
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received this book through KidLitExchange. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Luke Chase—yes, that Luke Chase, a modern hero ripped from the headlines—didn’t mean to get caught up in Mrs. Heckler’s murder. He just wanted to hook up with the hot new British girl at St. Benedict’s, and if that meant sneaking out to the woods after hours, then so be it. But little did he know someone would end up dead right next to their rendezvous spot, and his best friend and roommate Oscar Weymouth would go down for it. With suspects aplenty and a past that’s anything but innocent, Luke Chase reluctantly calls on his famous survival skills to find the true killer.
It’s been awhile since I had a ya mystery book and I legitimately enjoyed this one. I thought this book was pretty good. The plot and pacing kept me entertained and the book kept me guessing on the whodunit.
However, I did have quite a few issues with it. The character development was a bit… weird? Some of the characters seem very over-exaggerated in their roles, such as Pippa who annoyingly mentions a British slur in everything she says. I read more British slurs in this book then I heard in my time in the UK. I thought the murderer was a bit weird as well. The characters really made this book less enjoyable for me.
Verdict: If you like mysteries and blunt characters then this book is for you.
April 5, 2018
This was pretty good. I like the main character and his friends are pretty cool too.
The school he goes to is pretty neat. It is a boarding school. Nothing like anything I'm familiar with but sounds like a cool place to learn. Except for the weird teachers. But then again you have at least one of those in every school.
There is a murder on campus and Luke has to figure out who-dun-it to save his friend from being accused (or so he thinks anyway).
Really good sort of murder mystery/adventure/romance.
Would love to read more from this author especially about the main character. I hope this turns out to be a very long series.
The school he goes to is pretty neat. It is a boarding school. Nothing like anything I'm familiar with but sounds like a cool place to learn. Except for the weird teachers. But then again you have at least one of those in every school.
There is a murder on campus and Luke has to figure out who-dun-it to save his friend from being accused (or so he thinks anyway).
Really good sort of murder mystery/adventure/romance.
Would love to read more from this author especially about the main character. I hope this turns out to be a very long series.
March 21, 2018
I LOVE THIS BOOK
FULL REVIEW UP SOON!
FULL REVIEW UP SOON!
January 27, 2018
I don’t know what it is about the reclusive private school murder mystery sub genre that makes me love it so much, but here we are again with a new story and list of suspects with a few twists and turns that make it really hold its own among the rest.
“Sneaking Out” begins like any other with a group of kids doing exactly what the title suggests only to wake up the next day and find out that in the very spot that they spent their night someone was murdered and now not only do they have to look at who could be responsible among their peers and teachers, but also among themselves.
What I enjoyed most about this book is the background information for Luke that we are teased with for a majority of the story and I really hope it’s something that we see more of in the future books because it’s such a defining characteristic that I can’t imagine it being only plot relevant for one aspect of the series. That’s one thing this book did really well in providing just enough motive for enough of the suspects to keep you guessing and I hate to admit it but I made a few wrong picks over the course of my read.
Part of the stuff with the victim was a bit iffy just in the sense that I feel like so many of the characters had fleshed out qualities and the ones who didn’t, apart from her, were purposely made that way in order to build the tension and intrigue for later while she was categorized as just one thing and in some parts it sort of came off as victim blaming in a sense and that’s never cool, there’s a way to balance a not so great person while also not repeatedly demonizing them when they can’t exactly offer a counter to all the things being said about them.
Overall this is a quality murder mystery with a lead character who I look forward to seeing more of over the course of this series and I have to say I don’t really get the choice of a 1950s noir type cover but I really love it!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“Sneaking Out” begins like any other with a group of kids doing exactly what the title suggests only to wake up the next day and find out that in the very spot that they spent their night someone was murdered and now not only do they have to look at who could be responsible among their peers and teachers, but also among themselves.
What I enjoyed most about this book is the background information for Luke that we are teased with for a majority of the story and I really hope it’s something that we see more of in the future books because it’s such a defining characteristic that I can’t imagine it being only plot relevant for one aspect of the series. That’s one thing this book did really well in providing just enough motive for enough of the suspects to keep you guessing and I hate to admit it but I made a few wrong picks over the course of my read.
Part of the stuff with the victim was a bit iffy just in the sense that I feel like so many of the characters had fleshed out qualities and the ones who didn’t, apart from her, were purposely made that way in order to build the tension and intrigue for later while she was categorized as just one thing and in some parts it sort of came off as victim blaming in a sense and that’s never cool, there’s a way to balance a not so great person while also not repeatedly demonizing them when they can’t exactly offer a counter to all the things being said about them.
Overall this is a quality murder mystery with a lead character who I look forward to seeing more of over the course of this series and I have to say I don’t really get the choice of a 1950s noir type cover but I really love it!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
January 23, 2018
How am I EVER supposed to wait for the next book?!?! Luke Chase is an awesome character . . . so easy to fall head over heels for a guy with such skills. The story is so much fun (ya' know, if you ignore the part about a murder taking place), and it leaves you with the need to go back and re-read to see if you can pick up on the details. There is prompting that we all need to look at what's in front of us . . . not a bad lesson to learn. Seriously though . . . binge-worthy!
December 22, 2017
Official review will be in SLJ
April 27, 2018
Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A mystery book will always be one of my favourite way to relax, but I never thought I would find a YA mystery to entertain me and be quite close to the traditional whodunit book, yet in a modern way.
Let’s start with the amazing boarding school setting – it doesn’t get better than this. My favourite mystery books are set in small enclosed locations like small towns or trains (Murder on the Orient Express, anyone? Oh, that book is so good) or in the Cluedo house of the famous board-game. It was just perfect for a crime, especially when there is also a legend of a murder that happened years ago.
Since it’s a YA book, our detectives are a bunch of teenagers, so there is a bit of romance (but no insta-love), some teenage drama, and even better, there is a lot of bro-mance, which I enjoyed tremendously. Plus the friendship presented in the book comes with the good and the bad (and sometimes the ugly) of a relationship, but in spite of all this, these guys will always do anything for each other.
As for the most important part (for me personally): the murder mystery! The book sets the murder just right: our teenagers sneak out for a night of fun, only to have their time ruined by other characters. And it has all the necessary ingredients to make the reader curious and intrigued. I did like how most of the clues and red herrings were handled, how our main character was doubting himself at times while trying to make sense of every piece of information he was getting, but it did bother me that it was a tad bit too easy for the reader to guess and if I paid enough attention (and I do that well when it comes to crime novels) there is only one simple and random observation of the main character that made me guess, but after that there wasn’t anything else to make me doubt myself.
The book has a lot of action at the end, a bit too much for my taste – and I am sure there is a plot hole, because of all those things going on at the same time at the end, there one bit of information that it doesn’t really add up. However, it was fun, entertaining, and a pretty good mystery especially for young readers who might be more interested in having a “detective” their own age rather than a nice old lady or a grumpy Belgian guy obsessed with his moustache.
Oh, and the cover is gorgeous! To be honest, this is the main reason I picked up this book. But now I am looking forward to hear more about Luke Chase and his next murder case!
You can read this review on my blog: https://cheekylines.wordpress.com/201...
A mystery book will always be one of my favourite way to relax, but I never thought I would find a YA mystery to entertain me and be quite close to the traditional whodunit book, yet in a modern way.
Let’s start with the amazing boarding school setting – it doesn’t get better than this. My favourite mystery books are set in small enclosed locations like small towns or trains (Murder on the Orient Express, anyone? Oh, that book is so good) or in the Cluedo house of the famous board-game. It was just perfect for a crime, especially when there is also a legend of a murder that happened years ago.
Since it’s a YA book, our detectives are a bunch of teenagers, so there is a bit of romance (but no insta-love), some teenage drama, and even better, there is a lot of bro-mance, which I enjoyed tremendously. Plus the friendship presented in the book comes with the good and the bad (and sometimes the ugly) of a relationship, but in spite of all this, these guys will always do anything for each other.
As for the most important part (for me personally): the murder mystery! The book sets the murder just right: our teenagers sneak out for a night of fun, only to have their time ruined by other characters. And it has all the necessary ingredients to make the reader curious and intrigued. I did like how most of the clues and red herrings were handled, how our main character was doubting himself at times while trying to make sense of every piece of information he was getting, but it did bother me that it was a tad bit too easy for the reader to guess and if I paid enough attention (and I do that well when it comes to crime novels) there is only one simple and random observation of the main character that made me guess, but after that there wasn’t anything else to make me doubt myself.
The book has a lot of action at the end, a bit too much for my taste – and I am sure there is a plot hole, because of all those things going on at the same time at the end, there one bit of information that it doesn’t really add up. However, it was fun, entertaining, and a pretty good mystery especially for young readers who might be more interested in having a “detective” their own age rather than a nice old lady or a grumpy Belgian guy obsessed with his moustache.
Oh, and the cover is gorgeous! To be honest, this is the main reason I picked up this book. But now I am looking forward to hear more about Luke Chase and his next murder case!
You can read this review on my blog: https://cheekylines.wordpress.com/201...
April 21, 2018
Luke Chase is your typical over-achieving high school junior. He not only gets great grades and participates in multiple academic clubs, but he is also a great soccer and lacrosse player. All in all, he’s a pretty popular kid. His grades and athletics aren’t the only things that make him popular, though.
Three years ago, he suffered through something he doesn’t like to speak about, and now he’s known as the Kidnapped Kid. He came to St. Benedict’s, a boarding school in Connecticut, to escape both that nickname and his past, but they’re about to come back to haunt him. On one fateful night, Luke, his best friend Oscar, and a couple others sneak off campus to hang out in the woods that surround the campus. They aren’t exactly supposed to be out there, but they’re willing to risk it for an evening away from schoolwork.
The next day, they hear that one of their teachers has been murdered. Not only that, but she was found out in the woods near where the kids snuck off just last night. After some evidence presents itself, it leads both the police and the school staff to believe that Oscar is the murderer. Luke must draw on both his hidden past and all his detective skills to find the real murderer and clear the name of his best friend. It won’t be that easy, though. With the real murderer thwarting him at every turn, can he gather all the clues and solve the mystery?
Opinion:
Sneaking Out was an amazing book that was jam-packed with action and suspense. The book’s fast pace kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. Every character was developed well, and they each had their own individual personalities. A lot of times, a bunch of characters in a book will seem like they are essentially the same person, but that definitely wasn’t the case here.
The one problem I had with this book was that every once in a while a completely unrealistic piece of information or dialogue would get thrown out. For example, at one point in the book someone was giving Luke a ride back to campus, and they were having a completely normal conversation. After they got there and Luke got out, though, the person giving Luke a ride says, “I’ve got my eye on you now, boy. You better watch out.” That completely threw me for a loop and left me blinking. Other than a couple of these odd moments, the author did an impressive job.
I will anxiously be awaiting the next book in the series.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer Age 16
Three years ago, he suffered through something he doesn’t like to speak about, and now he’s known as the Kidnapped Kid. He came to St. Benedict’s, a boarding school in Connecticut, to escape both that nickname and his past, but they’re about to come back to haunt him. On one fateful night, Luke, his best friend Oscar, and a couple others sneak off campus to hang out in the woods that surround the campus. They aren’t exactly supposed to be out there, but they’re willing to risk it for an evening away from schoolwork.
The next day, they hear that one of their teachers has been murdered. Not only that, but she was found out in the woods near where the kids snuck off just last night. After some evidence presents itself, it leads both the police and the school staff to believe that Oscar is the murderer. Luke must draw on both his hidden past and all his detective skills to find the real murderer and clear the name of his best friend. It won’t be that easy, though. With the real murderer thwarting him at every turn, can he gather all the clues and solve the mystery?
Opinion:
Sneaking Out was an amazing book that was jam-packed with action and suspense. The book’s fast pace kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. Every character was developed well, and they each had their own individual personalities. A lot of times, a bunch of characters in a book will seem like they are essentially the same person, but that definitely wasn’t the case here.
The one problem I had with this book was that every once in a while a completely unrealistic piece of information or dialogue would get thrown out. For example, at one point in the book someone was giving Luke a ride back to campus, and they were having a completely normal conversation. After they got there and Luke got out, though, the person giving Luke a ride says, “I’ve got my eye on you now, boy. You better watch out.” That completely threw me for a loop and left me blinking. Other than a couple of these odd moments, the author did an impressive job.
I will anxiously be awaiting the next book in the series.
Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer Age 16
March 26, 2018
*I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*
Sneaking Out tells the story of Luke, who sneaks out after hours to make out with a cute girl, but ends up waking next to a dead body instead. His best friend is blamed for the murder and he is determined to prove his innocence, by finding the true killer!
I prefer going into Mystery novels without knowing anything particular so, the synopsis of the plot in this review is vague and extremely short! I love these types of novels and when I read the description of Sneaking Out, I knew that I would end up enjoying it! The beginning of this one was very intriguing and the author managed to keep the suspense going, without making the story feel rushed and underdeveloped Luke's adventure was very engaging and fast paced, making me a part of it quite easily!
Luke, as the main character, was very likable and I found myself warming up to him from the very first chapters. He was loyal and determined to prove his friend's innocence and find the true killer, even if it meant risking his life in the process. I also really enjoyed how the author handled his development and provided enough background information, without revealing everything in order to keep us on the edge! Hopefully, this characteristic of Luke will continue during the next books as well, because it definitely adds a different kind of mystery to the story itself. Not providing enough information about a character's past in the first book of a series makes readers even more eager to keep on reading in order to discover more! Which kills me on the inside but, I find necessary in order to keep the suspense going and develop three dimensional characters with a certain depth that I can personally relate to!
Moreover, I appreciated the fact that, the actual mystery of the killer wasn't overshadowed by everything else that was going on, something that happens a lot in YA novels of this nature! I found myself guessing about the potential killer throughout the book and the wheels inside my mind never stopped spinning, in a futile attempt to predict what really happened. Impossible, let me tell you! The process was thrilling and the plot twist fantastic, making this a great start in the series, which undoubtedly has a lot of potential. The possibilities for future books are endless and I cannot wait to see what will follow the cliffhanger of Snaking Out!
Last but not least, the novel was beautifully written, with descriptions that made everything that happened stand out and become more vivid in my mind! Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys good quality YA Mysteries! You won't be disappointed!
Sneaking Out tells the story of Luke, who sneaks out after hours to make out with a cute girl, but ends up waking next to a dead body instead. His best friend is blamed for the murder and he is determined to prove his innocence, by finding the true killer!
I prefer going into Mystery novels without knowing anything particular so, the synopsis of the plot in this review is vague and extremely short! I love these types of novels and when I read the description of Sneaking Out, I knew that I would end up enjoying it! The beginning of this one was very intriguing and the author managed to keep the suspense going, without making the story feel rushed and underdeveloped Luke's adventure was very engaging and fast paced, making me a part of it quite easily!
Luke, as the main character, was very likable and I found myself warming up to him from the very first chapters. He was loyal and determined to prove his friend's innocence and find the true killer, even if it meant risking his life in the process. I also really enjoyed how the author handled his development and provided enough background information, without revealing everything in order to keep us on the edge! Hopefully, this characteristic of Luke will continue during the next books as well, because it definitely adds a different kind of mystery to the story itself. Not providing enough information about a character's past in the first book of a series makes readers even more eager to keep on reading in order to discover more! Which kills me on the inside but, I find necessary in order to keep the suspense going and develop three dimensional characters with a certain depth that I can personally relate to!
Moreover, I appreciated the fact that, the actual mystery of the killer wasn't overshadowed by everything else that was going on, something that happens a lot in YA novels of this nature! I found myself guessing about the potential killer throughout the book and the wheels inside my mind never stopped spinning, in a futile attempt to predict what really happened. Impossible, let me tell you! The process was thrilling and the plot twist fantastic, making this a great start in the series, which undoubtedly has a lot of potential. The possibilities for future books are endless and I cannot wait to see what will follow the cliffhanger of Snaking Out!
Last but not least, the novel was beautifully written, with descriptions that made everything that happened stand out and become more vivid in my mind! Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys good quality YA Mysteries! You won't be disappointed!
May 6, 2018
I forgot how much I love books that are set in a boarding school! I received a copy of Sneaking Out via eBooks for Review. Luke Case was one of the most popular boys at the school he is attending outside of a small town where he hoped he could get away from being famous. He is just looking for a normal life with kids his own age, no questions about his past and no news people constantly in his face. He is good at sports, is intelligent, is involved with as many extracurricular activities as he can get to ensure he can have a good shot at a top college. He is also great friends with his roommate. Then someone is murdered in the woods outside his school, the area in the woods where he and his friends just happen to be hanging out outside of curfew. Now the entire school is afraid and it is starting to look like his roommate just might have been involved.
Sneaking Out is a great mystery with a bit of action, full of red herrings, plenty of possible motives and a small town police force that appears to not really know what it is doing. Luke has decided that in order to protect his roommate maybe he should do a bit of investigating. Along the way, he finds out things about people he sees every day that he just would rather not know. He also finds out that maybe he should not be trusting the people that he has been seeing every day, possibly even the British girl that he has a crush on that seems to have a past that might make her a possible suspect as well. I am really looking forward to more books in this series. Review can also be seen at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
Sneaking Out is a great mystery with a bit of action, full of red herrings, plenty of possible motives and a small town police force that appears to not really know what it is doing. Luke has decided that in order to protect his roommate maybe he should do a bit of investigating. Along the way, he finds out things about people he sees every day that he just would rather not know. He also finds out that maybe he should not be trusting the people that he has been seeing every day, possibly even the British girl that he has a crush on that seems to have a past that might make her a possible suspect as well. I am really looking forward to more books in this series. Review can also be seen at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
April 24, 2018
@kitlitexchamge #partner
👤
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange
program- for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
👤
Luke and Oscar both attend St. Benedict a boarding school. One night they sneak out after hours to meet two girls in the woods. After strange noises and voices are heard the four head back to the school. Come to find out the next morning that a member of the faculty has been found dead. When its said that there has been a murder, Luke and Oscar along with the two girls keep their meetup a secret. Until one of them is being accused of being the murderer. It's up to Luke with the help of a school mate to clear his friends name and find the actual killer. But Luke's detective and survival skills he learned from his grandfather and a past he wishes to not be known for. With a long list of suspects and a feeling that he is being followed and also being threatened. Luke is not sure if he will be able to find the murderer in time.
👤
Sneaking Out had me on the edge of my seat from the very start. A murder mystery is my kind of book. Chuck Vance pulled me in with amazing characters and a well written story. I was trying to figure out who the murderer was and I thought I was going to be right but I didnt expect the plot twist at the end. I'm pumped for book two can't wait to see what other mysteries are in store for the Chased Series.
👤
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange
program- for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
👤
Luke and Oscar both attend St. Benedict a boarding school. One night they sneak out after hours to meet two girls in the woods. After strange noises and voices are heard the four head back to the school. Come to find out the next morning that a member of the faculty has been found dead. When its said that there has been a murder, Luke and Oscar along with the two girls keep their meetup a secret. Until one of them is being accused of being the murderer. It's up to Luke with the help of a school mate to clear his friends name and find the actual killer. But Luke's detective and survival skills he learned from his grandfather and a past he wishes to not be known for. With a long list of suspects and a feeling that he is being followed and also being threatened. Luke is not sure if he will be able to find the murderer in time.
👤
Sneaking Out had me on the edge of my seat from the very start. A murder mystery is my kind of book. Chuck Vance pulled me in with amazing characters and a well written story. I was trying to figure out who the murderer was and I thought I was going to be right but I didnt expect the plot twist at the end. I'm pumped for book two can't wait to see what other mysteries are in store for the Chased Series.
May 3, 2018
Rating: 3.5
Okay so first let me say that I really did enjoy Sneaking Out. I love murder mysteries and this one was done particularly well. Luke Chase is the golden boy of his boarding school campus (although he’s totally *deeper* and *different* than what everyone makes him out to be, but I’ll get to that later). He finds himself in over his head when his best friend, Oscar, is accused of murder and it’s up to Luke to clear Oscar’s name. The twist? They were both out in the woods during the murder (with two girls, Pippa and Kelsey) and witnessed the victim’s final moments.
There’s lots of misdirection and literally every character could have been the murderer, which is just how I like my murder mysteries. I did feel that the narration focused hard on background characters that seemed to be unlikely suspects while there were characters that would have been far more convincing, and it placed a lot of weight on evidence that seemed flimsy or hard to believe.
Every single character was fleshed out so well (they all had hobbies and lives, nobody was just there to advance the plot, which is so refreshing in any genre). There were SO MANY unique and interesting characters (like Mr. Tadeckis – I don’t know what’s up with him, but I like it). I loved Oscar, and it’s a shame he was less present in the second half of the book; I hope he comes back in the sequel.
Things started off a little rocky in the beginning, and even though the story jumps right into the plot, it rushes to dump a lot of backstory on the reader while also trying to set up a murder mystery. The result is an awkward conversation between Luke and Pippa about his kidnapping three years prior (Honestly you could play a drinking game with the phrase “what happened three years prior”). It was an interesting part of his backstory, but it could have been revealed a little later to remove the massive amount of exposition in the first few pages.
While I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a solid murder mystery that I would definitely like to continue, I did have one serious issue with it – namely the romantic side plot concerning Luke and Pippa.
So here we go (warning: there’s a few minor spoilers):
I genuinely did not like Pippa. Her main characteristics for the first half of the story were “mean” and “BRITSH” – and you know she’s British because every single piece of her dialogue includes some stereotypically British slang word or phrase. I cringed every time she spoke. It read like someone who had never heard an English accent trying to imitate one, and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a last minute decision to make her British.
This goes on to about the halfway point in the story then completely falls away. So does her awful, frigid personality. I really don’t understand why an “independent” and “strong” female character equals a girl who is cold and mean to everyone, or why the male characters are never put off by this at all (except for Oscar, who is refreshingly honest). She blows off Luke and bluntly cuts conversations short – it’s very awkward to read and for some reason this is sold off as her being “mysterious”. She’s such a hypocrite; she bluntly makes fun of Luke for a traumatic event in his past then acts mortified and betrayed when they bring up her own past. She also spends the first half of the book being blatantly mean to Kelsey then has no problem pointing out how “cruel” Kelsey is to laugh at someone who dropped a plate in the cafeteria (basically both of their personalities flip back and forth to suit the plot. The author pushed hard to make the reader dislike Kelsey but honestly I was pretty apathetic to her, and I liked her way more than Pippa).
But apparently, Pippa’s flaky, rude behavior turns around completely after she and Luke have a heart-to-heart and cry it out. From then on she’s warm and fuzzy and far less British. Her whole relationship with Luke (the good-looking all American boy who HATES high-maintenance girls who wear make-up because he’s super REAL and ORIGINAL) was generic and eye roll inducing. I kept hoping I’d be surprised but I wasn’t. It was just your standard, generic YA romance. Side Note: Based on all of Luke’s little comments about why he only dates “different girls” I’ll assume he’s rather high maintenance himself.
So overall, I did like the book and I’m definitely going to continue the series, I just hope there’s less Luke-and-Pippa drama in future books (and more Oscar. You can’t go wrong with more Oscar).
*I was given a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley*
Okay so first let me say that I really did enjoy Sneaking Out. I love murder mysteries and this one was done particularly well. Luke Chase is the golden boy of his boarding school campus (although he’s totally *deeper* and *different* than what everyone makes him out to be, but I’ll get to that later). He finds himself in over his head when his best friend, Oscar, is accused of murder and it’s up to Luke to clear Oscar’s name. The twist? They were both out in the woods during the murder (with two girls, Pippa and Kelsey) and witnessed the victim’s final moments.
There’s lots of misdirection and literally every character could have been the murderer, which is just how I like my murder mysteries. I did feel that the narration focused hard on background characters that seemed to be unlikely suspects while there were characters that would have been far more convincing, and it placed a lot of weight on evidence that seemed flimsy or hard to believe.
Every single character was fleshed out so well (they all had hobbies and lives, nobody was just there to advance the plot, which is so refreshing in any genre). There were SO MANY unique and interesting characters (like Mr. Tadeckis – I don’t know what’s up with him, but I like it). I loved Oscar, and it’s a shame he was less present in the second half of the book; I hope he comes back in the sequel.
Things started off a little rocky in the beginning, and even though the story jumps right into the plot, it rushes to dump a lot of backstory on the reader while also trying to set up a murder mystery. The result is an awkward conversation between Luke and Pippa about his kidnapping three years prior (Honestly you could play a drinking game with the phrase “what happened three years prior”). It was an interesting part of his backstory, but it could have been revealed a little later to remove the massive amount of exposition in the first few pages.
While I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a solid murder mystery that I would definitely like to continue, I did have one serious issue with it – namely the romantic side plot concerning Luke and Pippa.
So here we go (warning: there’s a few minor spoilers):
I genuinely did not like Pippa. Her main characteristics for the first half of the story were “mean” and “BRITSH” – and you know she’s British because every single piece of her dialogue includes some stereotypically British slang word or phrase. I cringed every time she spoke. It read like someone who had never heard an English accent trying to imitate one, and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a last minute decision to make her British.
This goes on to about the halfway point in the story then completely falls away. So does her awful, frigid personality. I really don’t understand why an “independent” and “strong” female character equals a girl who is cold and mean to everyone, or why the male characters are never put off by this at all (except for Oscar, who is refreshingly honest). She blows off Luke and bluntly cuts conversations short – it’s very awkward to read and for some reason this is sold off as her being “mysterious”. She’s such a hypocrite; she bluntly makes fun of Luke for a traumatic event in his past then acts mortified and betrayed when they bring up her own past. She also spends the first half of the book being blatantly mean to Kelsey then has no problem pointing out how “cruel” Kelsey is to laugh at someone who dropped a plate in the cafeteria (basically both of their personalities flip back and forth to suit the plot. The author pushed hard to make the reader dislike Kelsey but honestly I was pretty apathetic to her, and I liked her way more than Pippa).
But apparently, Pippa’s flaky, rude behavior turns around completely after she and Luke have a heart-to-heart and cry it out. From then on she’s warm and fuzzy and far less British. Her whole relationship with Luke (the good-looking all American boy who HATES high-maintenance girls who wear make-up because he’s super REAL and ORIGINAL) was generic and eye roll inducing. I kept hoping I’d be surprised but I wasn’t. It was just your standard, generic YA romance. Side Note: Based on all of Luke’s little comments about why he only dates “different girls” I’ll assume he’s rather high maintenance himself.
So overall, I did like the book and I’m definitely going to continue the series, I just hope there’s less Luke-and-Pippa drama in future books (and more Oscar. You can’t go wrong with more Oscar).
*I was given a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley*
June 26, 2018
Sneaking Out (Chased #1)
by Chuck Vance (Goodreads Author)
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book — all opinions are my own.
*
I recommend this book to fans of boarding school narratives, like A Study in Charlotte, as well as mysteries led by lovable and intelligent characters! There are some descriptions of injuries and some darker themes, so I would rate this for 8th-grade readers and older.
*
Ever since he was kidnapped three years ago and escaped having done the unthinkable, the world sees Luke Chase as the All-American hero, especially at St. Benedict’s, the fancy boarding school his parents sent him to after…well, you know. Luke’s grown used to having the attention of his classmates, but when the dean’s wife turns up dead, everything changes. Suddenly, Luke’s roommate and best friend, Oscar, is being hauled away by the police as their prime murder suspect and Luke is left in total confusion thinking, could Oscar really have killed her? Determined to prove Oscar innocent, Luke begins his own investigation. As alibis collapse and secrets escape, Luke starts to wonder how well he really knew his roommate…or anyone else at St. Benedict’s. If Oscar didn’t kill her, who did? And why can’t Luke chase the feeling that someone is watching him?
*
Filled with suspense, humor, and mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
by Chuck Vance (Goodreads Author)
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book — all opinions are my own.
*
I recommend this book to fans of boarding school narratives, like A Study in Charlotte, as well as mysteries led by lovable and intelligent characters! There are some descriptions of injuries and some darker themes, so I would rate this for 8th-grade readers and older.
*
Ever since he was kidnapped three years ago and escaped having done the unthinkable, the world sees Luke Chase as the All-American hero, especially at St. Benedict’s, the fancy boarding school his parents sent him to after…well, you know. Luke’s grown used to having the attention of his classmates, but when the dean’s wife turns up dead, everything changes. Suddenly, Luke’s roommate and best friend, Oscar, is being hauled away by the police as their prime murder suspect and Luke is left in total confusion thinking, could Oscar really have killed her? Determined to prove Oscar innocent, Luke begins his own investigation. As alibis collapse and secrets escape, Luke starts to wonder how well he really knew his roommate…or anyone else at St. Benedict’s. If Oscar didn’t kill her, who did? And why can’t Luke chase the feeling that someone is watching him?
*
Filled with suspense, humor, and mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
March 30, 2018
Luke Chase is a modern day hero who managed to escape when he was held hostage by utilizing several survival tactics. When he was sent to St. Benedict's prep school, he was hoping to leave that all behind him and have a normal life, including hooking up with hot girls. He, however, didn't expect to get caught up in a murder investigation especially when his roommate is accused of murder. Luke will have to use his famous survival skills to outwit the murderer and bring him/her to justice. Who is behind the murder? Why would they try to kill someone from the school? Is someone from Luke's past trying to hurt him?
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book. The plot was perfect and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time along with being surprised by the ending. I liked how well developed the characters were even though I felt some of the characters were a bit too trusting. If I was in Luke's position, I would consider everyone a murderer and stay very far from them! I definitely can't wait to read more books from these amazing series!
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book. The plot was perfect and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time along with being surprised by the ending. I liked how well developed the characters were even though I felt some of the characters were a bit too trusting. If I was in Luke's position, I would consider everyone a murderer and stay very far from them! I definitely can't wait to read more books from these amazing series!
December 11, 2018
Oscar had one thing on his mind. He was bent on sneaking out at two in the morning to meet up with a couple girls from their boarding school. Nothing ever seemed to phase Oscar. If he got caught he’d probably just brush it off . . . no big deal. If Luke got caught, though, he could get expelled. Luke wasn’t feeling quite so brave, but still it seemed worth it to be meeting up with Pippa, the pretty new Junior at St. Benedicts. But then, while hiding under cover in the early hours the foursome overheard a hushed conversation, and the next morning they learned the Dean’s wife had been found on campus, dead from unnatural causes. And this time it looked like Oscar wouldn’t be getting off so easy. When it looks like Oscar is going to catch the blame for the murder, Luke sets out to find the true killer.
Sneaking Out, book 1 in The Chased series by Chuck Vance, is a suspenseful new YA murder mystery thriller. This book has all the elements of a good mystery. And to top it off, Luke possesses some pretty impressive skills to help him as he tries to find the killer. A solid plot with a strong backstory and well-developed characters helps this book really shine. Recommended for home and school libraries, Sneaking Out is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
Sneaking Out, book 1 in The Chased series by Chuck Vance, is a suspenseful new YA murder mystery thriller. This book has all the elements of a good mystery. And to top it off, Luke possesses some pretty impressive skills to help him as he tries to find the killer. A solid plot with a strong backstory and well-developed characters helps this book really shine. Recommended for home and school libraries, Sneaking Out is recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.
June 10, 2018
Kids solving murder mysteries is weird for me. So this book was slightly on the unbelievable side. Since they are at a boarding school, I guess it gives it more grounds but some of the plot pulled me out of the book due to it being teens and me being like wtf. Overall it was a well written mystery, I wasn't able to pick out the true killer so that is always a win in my book. But looking back I can definitely see the hints scattered throughout the story. All of the characters have many depths to them, and are all high school relatable.
March 24, 2018
I always am up to reading a mystery. The synopsis of Sneaking out had me intrigued so I was excited to read this one! I liked that the story was fast paced and kept me guessing. I love trying to figure out who the murderer is and this book kept me busy trying to figure it out. I loved the suspense and the characters are interesting and well written! If you enjoy a good mystery than I highly recommend Sneaking Out!
April 8, 2018
Sneaking out was a great winter read! The Characters had me wanting to learn more about their story! The story line was SUPER gripping and had me at the edge of my seat the whole time (literally). I highly recommend this book as a great fall or winter read! I can’t wait for the continuation of this series and I am looking forward to reading Sneaking Out again!
August 9, 2018
I loved this book! It is about a group of pupils who are conducting their own investigation in a murder that happened on the premises of their school. Fast paced and easy to read, it kept you guessing until the end. I recommend it for those into YA and thrillers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews