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Hunt a Killer
Blood in the Water
It’s your turn to HUNT A KILLER in this original YA mystery based on the bestselling immersive murder-mystery game!
In the world of Hunt A Killer, players help PI Michelle Gray solve murders through a variety of games using clues from autopsy reports to police records, and more.
Now, Hunt A Killer is making the leap to the page in this YA mystery series! Follow an original character as he investigates a brand-new case. Can he solve the crime before the killer strikes again?
This second original novel follows a totally new set of characters solving a stand-alone mystery -- just like in the games!
In the world of Hunt A Killer, players help PI Michelle Gray solve murders through a variety of games using clues from autopsy reports to police records, and more.
Now, Hunt A Killer is making the leap to the page in this YA mystery series! Follow an original character as he investigates a brand-new case. Can he solve the crime before the killer strikes again?
This second original novel follows a totally new set of characters solving a stand-alone mystery -- just like in the games!
304 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
14 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Caleb Roehrig
19 books869 followersCaleb Roehrig is a writer and television producer originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Having also lived in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Helsinki, Finland, he has a chronic case of wanderlust, and can recommend the best sights to see on a shoestring budget in over thirty countries. A former actor, Roehrig has experience on both sides of the camera, with a résumé that includes appearances on film and TV—as well as seven years in the stranger-than-fiction salt mines of reality television. In the name of earning a paycheck, he has: hung around a frozen cornfield in his underwear, partied with an actual rock-star, chatted with a scandal-plagued politician, and been menaced by a disgruntled ostrich.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 18, 2022
Zac and his sister Ruby live with their father and spend all their free time helping him out at the family restaurant. When his uncle, a part owner of the restaurant who never helps out, is found murdered on the beach, the police begin to suspect his dad. Zac knows that cannot be true and sets out to prove it was Uncle Flash's longtime rival Shotgun McGinnis. Twists and turns and dead ends abound as Zac digs deeper into Flash's life. It turns out that Flash wasn't the perfect guy Zac and Ruby knew and the city of Barton Beach hides more secrets than they could imagine.
Very loosely based on the Hunt A Killer games, this novel moved quickly from one twist to another without going very deep into anything. If you're looking for a quick escape, this is for you! If you're looking for a tight, well thought out plot that will keep you guessing, keep looking. It was a fun, quick read but I had the mystery figured out very early on. 3 solid stars.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Very loosely based on the Hunt A Killer games, this novel moved quickly from one twist to another without going very deep into anything. If you're looking for a quick escape, this is for you! If you're looking for a tight, well thought out plot that will keep you guessing, keep looking. It was a fun, quick read but I had the mystery figured out very early on. 3 solid stars.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 1, 2022
Thank you so much to Edelweiss and Scholastic Inc. for providing me with an advance reader’s copy of this book!
I was ecstatic to be approved for an ARC of Blood in the Water, as Caleb Roehrig is one of my favorite authors of all time. He is a master of the mystery/thriller, and I recommend his books Last Seen Leaving and White Rabbit over just about any other title out there.
Unfortunately, this book did not floor me as much as Roehrig’s books usually do. It was decent, but I feel that Roehrig may have had to work under certain constraints from the company that he wrote this book for (Hunt A Killer), and that that altered his trademark writing style and diminished this book’s greatness.
For one thing, the main character in this book, Zac, fell flat for me. I’m shocked that I am critiquing one of Roehrig’s main characters, because I have loved each of his other main characters. They each had a unique voice and a specific place in the story that pushed them to be at the center of the action (for example, in White Rabbit, Rufus had to solve the murder to exonerate his estranged half-sister), and I eat up every single sentence they think. In Blood in the Water, however, I did not get as much of a window into Zac's head. He seemed like a vessel for readers to solve the mystery through, but not much more than that. I believe this is what the company was going for, but I wish Roehrig had more room to develop Zac’s character on the page.
Additionally, the mystery in this book was nowhere near as complex or unpredictable as the mysteries are in Roehrig’s other works. Roehrig is a master at keeping readers guessing, but I figured out the culprit in this story practically the moment they were introduced. I’m assuming that maybe Hunt A Killer had an outline for the story that Roehrig had to execute. Otherwise, he would have written more characters and motives into the story. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming, but I still predicted the perpetrator, so the overall result was the same for me - I had a fairly dull reading experience.
Adding onto my theory that this book was outlined by the company, most of the book is just the main character going around and interviewing people about what they know. Almost all mystery novels are more than simply transcripts of interviews the main character conducts. They involve the main character stumbling upon a clue that builds up a sense of tension in the book, or talking to characters who refuse to divulge any information. This adds more conflict to the plot. Otherwise, the reading experience of mystery books would be somewhat monotonous. In Roehrig’s previous works, these plot complications are present, but they are not present in Blood in the Water. I felt like the main character was just going through the motions of a fairly straightforward investigation.
I did enjoy the inner conflict Zac had about carrying on the family business - I felt like I was getting a peek at the Roehrig writing I’ve come to know and love. I also liked Zac’s interaction with Aditi, where he had to convince her to do him a favor. It reminded me of what a hard time Roehrig’s other main characters had at obtaining information, and how that made each reveal all the more significant. I also laughed a few times while reading this book, and I love it when a book can make me laugh - it's a very difficult task!
Overall, this book was not as bad as some of the other mysteries I’ve read this year, but it pales in comparison to Roehrig’s backlist. I think this book is geared towards younger readers, and that’s apt, because I feel a less-seasoned mystery reader will enjoy this much more.
I was ecstatic to be approved for an ARC of Blood in the Water, as Caleb Roehrig is one of my favorite authors of all time. He is a master of the mystery/thriller, and I recommend his books Last Seen Leaving and White Rabbit over just about any other title out there.
Unfortunately, this book did not floor me as much as Roehrig’s books usually do. It was decent, but I feel that Roehrig may have had to work under certain constraints from the company that he wrote this book for (Hunt A Killer), and that that altered his trademark writing style and diminished this book’s greatness.
For one thing, the main character in this book, Zac, fell flat for me. I’m shocked that I am critiquing one of Roehrig’s main characters, because I have loved each of his other main characters. They each had a unique voice and a specific place in the story that pushed them to be at the center of the action (for example, in White Rabbit, Rufus had to solve the murder to exonerate his estranged half-sister), and I eat up every single sentence they think. In Blood in the Water, however, I did not get as much of a window into Zac's head. He seemed like a vessel for readers to solve the mystery through, but not much more than that. I believe this is what the company was going for, but I wish Roehrig had more room to develop Zac’s character on the page.
Additionally, the mystery in this book was nowhere near as complex or unpredictable as the mysteries are in Roehrig’s other works. Roehrig is a master at keeping readers guessing, but I figured out the culprit in this story practically the moment they were introduced. I’m assuming that maybe Hunt A Killer had an outline for the story that Roehrig had to execute. Otherwise, he would have written more characters and motives into the story. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming, but I still predicted the perpetrator, so the overall result was the same for me - I had a fairly dull reading experience.
Adding onto my theory that this book was outlined by the company, most of the book is just the main character going around and interviewing people about what they know. Almost all mystery novels are more than simply transcripts of interviews the main character conducts. They involve the main character stumbling upon a clue that builds up a sense of tension in the book, or talking to characters who refuse to divulge any information. This adds more conflict to the plot. Otherwise, the reading experience of mystery books would be somewhat monotonous. In Roehrig’s previous works, these plot complications are present, but they are not present in Blood in the Water. I felt like the main character was just going through the motions of a fairly straightforward investigation.
I did enjoy the inner conflict Zac had about carrying on the family business - I felt like I was getting a peek at the Roehrig writing I’ve come to know and love. I also liked Zac’s interaction with Aditi, where he had to convince her to do him a favor. It reminded me of what a hard time Roehrig’s other main characters had at obtaining information, and how that made each reveal all the more significant. I also laughed a few times while reading this book, and I love it when a book can make me laugh - it's a very difficult task!
Overall, this book was not as bad as some of the other mysteries I’ve read this year, but it pales in comparison to Roehrig’s backlist. I think this book is geared towards younger readers, and that’s apt, because I feel a less-seasoned mystery reader will enjoy this much more.
September 14, 2022
I have a terrible memory. So frequently when I do these reviews, I refer back to the Goodreads blurb to remind me of details. You know...like the main characters name! 😜 Well, the blurb for this one doesn't tell you anything at all about the story. And since I read a digital ARC of this one, it's not quite as simple as picking up the book and flipping through for details. Also, I'm feeling super lazy. So, I'm not going to do an official review of the ARC for this one, but I'll try and tell you the plot anyway. Here goes:
A 16yo boy works at his family restaurant for his dad. He's unpaid and resents having to spend every waking moment there. The restaurant is a dive on the beach where they get a lot of spring break traffic, but the restaurant is falling apart and they're barely getting by. The boy's uncle, who is also part owner in the restaurant, was a famous surfer, but now he's mostly a deadbeat, getting his share of the profits from the restaurant for doing nothing and scamming tourists by selling seashells and such. The uncle turns up dead and the kid decides to solve the murder.
This is evidently the second one in a series where the books don't have anything at all to do with each other. And they're put out under the Hunt a Killer brand. I have no idea what that is...a game I think? I never would have picked it up except I love the author's other books, especially his mysteries. All his books have had LGBTQIA characters. Until now. So if you're looking for that in this one, keep looking.
I didn't really like this one. We were lacking background on a few things. Why was the father so adamant that they keep this failing restaurant? The place sounds gross, so why did it get so much business? Why was this random beach town such a tourist hot spot? It didn't sound like it had anything going for it? Why were the police such assholes to the kid? Why wasn't this kid smarter, especially about the seashells? There was a lot lacking in character building too. We don't really even know much about the main character. He had no real personality, except for crushing on one of the waitresses. 🤷♀️
Release Date: 11/1/2022
A 16yo boy works at his family restaurant for his dad. He's unpaid and resents having to spend every waking moment there. The restaurant is a dive on the beach where they get a lot of spring break traffic, but the restaurant is falling apart and they're barely getting by. The boy's uncle, who is also part owner in the restaurant, was a famous surfer, but now he's mostly a deadbeat, getting his share of the profits from the restaurant for doing nothing and scamming tourists by selling seashells and such. The uncle turns up dead and the kid decides to solve the murder.
This is evidently the second one in a series where the books don't have anything at all to do with each other. And they're put out under the Hunt a Killer brand. I have no idea what that is...a game I think? I never would have picked it up except I love the author's other books, especially his mysteries. All his books have had LGBTQIA characters. Until now. So if you're looking for that in this one, keep looking.
I didn't really like this one. We were lacking background on a few things. Why was the father so adamant that they keep this failing restaurant? The place sounds gross, so why did it get so much business? Why was this random beach town such a tourist hot spot? It didn't sound like it had anything going for it? Why were the police such assholes to the kid? Why wasn't this kid smarter, especially about the seashells? There was a lot lacking in character building too. We don't really even know much about the main character. He had no real personality, except for crushing on one of the waitresses. 🤷♀️
Release Date: 11/1/2022
April 18, 2023
Title: Blood in the Water
Author: Caleb Roehrig
Format: Audiobook
Quick Take: The town of Barton Beach is a popular summer destination known for its surfing, sandy beaches, and local restaurants. Or at least it was until Flash Fremont washes up dead on the shore. Flash’s sixteen-year-old nephew, Zac, is the only one who doesn’t believe that Flash died in a freak surfing accident. But his investigation reveals more than a few people who might have wanted to see Flash dead. As Zac keeps asking questions, more people start showing up dead. Flash’s killer is still out there. . . and if Zac isn’t careful, his blood could end up in the water next.
Thoughts: Caleb Roehrig has become one of my favorite YA authors, so when I saw this, I knew I had to read it. And even though I haven't played, I'm aware of the Hunt a Killer game, so that caught my attention as well. Blood in the Water is a quick read and I throughly enjoyed the narrator. The book was quick paced without feeling rush and the whodunit had a nice little subtle twist at the end. I'm looking forward to more books in this series of standalones and more from Roehrig.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Author: Caleb Roehrig
Format: Audiobook
Quick Take: The town of Barton Beach is a popular summer destination known for its surfing, sandy beaches, and local restaurants. Or at least it was until Flash Fremont washes up dead on the shore. Flash’s sixteen-year-old nephew, Zac, is the only one who doesn’t believe that Flash died in a freak surfing accident. But his investigation reveals more than a few people who might have wanted to see Flash dead. As Zac keeps asking questions, more people start showing up dead. Flash’s killer is still out there. . . and if Zac isn’t careful, his blood could end up in the water next.
Thoughts: Caleb Roehrig has become one of my favorite YA authors, so when I saw this, I knew I had to read it. And even though I haven't played, I'm aware of the Hunt a Killer game, so that caught my attention as well. Blood in the Water is a quick read and I throughly enjoyed the narrator. The book was quick paced without feeling rush and the whodunit had a nice little subtle twist at the end. I'm looking forward to more books in this series of standalones and more from Roehrig.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
November 17, 2022
Blood in the Water might not have been a complicated mystery, but it was an enjoyable one. I quickly made my way through the story because I was interested in the outcome. I found this second novel from the Hunt a Killer franchise much better ( for me) than their first. The main character felt believable, and despite having teen leads, the writer did not focus on high school life. I appreciated that.
February 4, 2023
I can’t say this is the best YA book ever—it’s more like a Nancy Drew:Hardy Boys for teens without a lot of depth. But if you have a reluctant reader this would be a great intro to reading, especially towards mysteries and suspense. I want to play Hunt a Killer now.
Read
December 8, 2022Alright! So firstly, thank you so much Scholastic for sending me this book to review. I have never played one of these games, mainly because no one in my family is interested in murder mysteries. What can I say? I am one of a kind in my family.
I read this book cover to cover, and what really kept me interested in the story was how it was formatted. This book is formatted where there are literal clues built into the novel, to help you solve the murders. It was an intriguing storyline, and hands on. I am someone who uses visuals and other things to help me understand things unknown to me. And the clues really helped.
Aside from the clues in the book out, this mystery was intense. Death everywhere, and the deaths were very mysterious. (See what I did there?). The writing was descriptive, and at some points a little too descriptive and didn't expect that much detail when it came to dead bodies. I enjoyed it because it was unexpected. And the ending? So shocking. My prediction was wrong, and I am OK with that. This is a must read for people who want a book to read fast, and have fun while doing it.
The characters were well thought out, and I could easily tell who was who, and in some mysteries it can get confusing. (The Inheritance Games). All of this made me really enjoy this book and let me devour it quickly. Mystery fans need to read this book.
I read this book cover to cover, and what really kept me interested in the story was how it was formatted. This book is formatted where there are literal clues built into the novel, to help you solve the murders. It was an intriguing storyline, and hands on. I am someone who uses visuals and other things to help me understand things unknown to me. And the clues really helped.
Aside from the clues in the book out, this mystery was intense. Death everywhere, and the deaths were very mysterious. (See what I did there?). The writing was descriptive, and at some points a little too descriptive and didn't expect that much detail when it came to dead bodies. I enjoyed it because it was unexpected. And the ending? So shocking. My prediction was wrong, and I am OK with that. This is a must read for people who want a book to read fast, and have fun while doing it.
The characters were well thought out, and I could easily tell who was who, and in some mysteries it can get confusing. (The Inheritance Games). All of this made me really enjoy this book and let me devour it quickly. Mystery fans need to read this book.
Read
May 30, 2023Harbour chief, Cormack O’Connell has lived on both sides of the law, as anyone who has worked or organised longshore men and other dock workers all their life. He knows everything that is happening in the harbour and what is going through the port. He often receives his tribute from various sources. Unfortunately, there is someone who no longer wants to pay a tribute while at the same time take control of the harbour and then move illegal drugs through the port. To be honest i feel like this book was very boring. It had alot of action but way to much and it just all went by so fast but other than that i think its okay and if you like murders and action then you should read this book.
Want to read
February 20, 2024An absorbing, puzzling narrative sure to entertain true-crime fanatics and murder mystery readers alike. When his uncle's death turns out to be more than an accident, Zac races to decipher the series of clues he uncovers before the murderer catches up to him. and it is really good book I like it any one can read it is a really good book
June 29, 2023
I like solving who dunnits. And this one was no exception. I figured out who was going to die and who the killer was. Very satisfying. Kudos to the author for staying consistent throughout which made solving it possible.
January 4, 2023
boring tbh
January 21, 2023
Not bad, a quick read.
January 27, 2023
It was good. A fast read. Not the best but not horrible. A good mystery for YA.
November 13, 2023
loved all the twists and turns, truly wasn't expecting that ending in the beginning.
April 28, 2025
The ending really let this book down 2.5 stats 🌟🌟
January 5, 2023
When Flash Fremont, surfer extraordinaire and local celebrity, is found dead on the beach things don’t add up for his nephew Zac. The sheriff is claiming it was an accident but Zac knows there is no way Flash drowned. Determined to find out the truth, Zac begins his own investigation into Flash’s death and begins to discover a seedier side to his uncle’s life than he realized. When more bodies start dropping he has to rev it up before his own father takes the fall.
• • •
Book #2 in the Hunt a Killer series based on the popular mystery game did not disappoint! The mystery is one that will keep you guessing for awhile and has a few twists that you might not be expecting.
There were some memorable characters - I adored Zac’s true-crime loving 12-year-old sister Ruby. Zac is a strong character who develops through the plot, which I love. It can be hard for us to process when our heroes fall from the pedestals that we place them on but Zac does a good job at processing that his uncle was not as great as he believes him to be.
• • •
💙🏄♂️☠️💵🔪🐚🌊💙
• • •
#2023reads #MsMcCallaRecommends #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #YAmystery #BloodintheWater #HuntaKiller
• • •
Book #2 in the Hunt a Killer series based on the popular mystery game did not disappoint! The mystery is one that will keep you guessing for awhile and has a few twists that you might not be expecting.
There were some memorable characters - I adored Zac’s true-crime loving 12-year-old sister Ruby. Zac is a strong character who develops through the plot, which I love. It can be hard for us to process when our heroes fall from the pedestals that we place them on but Zac does a good job at processing that his uncle was not as great as he believes him to be.
• • •
💙🏄♂️☠️💵🔪🐚🌊💙
• • •
#2023reads #MsMcCallaRecommends #bookstagram #audiobookstagram #YAmystery #BloodintheWater #HuntaKiller
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews