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Something Terrible Happened Last Night
It’s Katie’s 17th birthday – the dancefloor is packed, the drink is flowing and Rave-fess, the Raven’s Hill School confession site, is alight with gossip. Then a huge fight breaks out, sending guests fleeing.
When Frankie, Jess and Sorcha go back to help Katie clear up her wrecked house before her parents get home, they find more than broken bottles … There’s a body on the living room floor.
The gripping teen thriller that will keep everyone guessing.
When Frankie, Jess and Sorcha go back to help Katie clear up her wrecked house before her parents get home, they find more than broken bottles … There’s a body on the living room floor.
The gripping teen thriller that will keep everyone guessing.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2023
46 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Sam Blake
12 books338 followersJoin Sam's Readers’ Club and get a free e-copy of her addictive thriller ‘High Pressure’! Info at www.samblakebooks.com
Sam Blake has been writing fiction since 1999 when her husband went sailing across the Atlantic for 8 weeks and she had an idea for a book.
Her debut novel 'Little Bones' (Bonnier 2016) was a runaway bestseller. Across all her books Sam has been an Eason No 1 bestseller an Irish Times No 1 and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards (in the crime or teen categories) five times. 2023 saw her multiple award shortlisted YA debut Something Terrible Happened Last Night hit the shelves. In 2024 Something's About to Blow Up won Irish Teen/YA Book of the Year.
Moving away from police procedurals, now writing 'deliciously twisted' (Daily Mail) bestselling psychological thrillers, Sam's focus is on strong female characters and 'creating genuine page turners with metronomic timing.' (Sunday Business Post).
Sam is originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire but has lived at the foot of the Wicklow mountains, for more years than she lived in the UK. Follow her on social @samblakebooks.
Visit www.samblakebooks.com for more!
Sam Blake has been writing fiction since 1999 when her husband went sailing across the Atlantic for 8 weeks and she had an idea for a book.
Her debut novel 'Little Bones' (Bonnier 2016) was a runaway bestseller. Across all her books Sam has been an Eason No 1 bestseller an Irish Times No 1 and shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards (in the crime or teen categories) five times. 2023 saw her multiple award shortlisted YA debut Something Terrible Happened Last Night hit the shelves. In 2024 Something's About to Blow Up won Irish Teen/YA Book of the Year.
Moving away from police procedurals, now writing 'deliciously twisted' (Daily Mail) bestselling psychological thrillers, Sam's focus is on strong female characters and 'creating genuine page turners with metronomic timing.' (Sunday Business Post).
Sam is originally from St. Albans in Hertfordshire but has lived at the foot of the Wicklow mountains, for more years than she lived in the UK. Follow her on social @samblakebooks.
Visit www.samblakebooks.com for more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 7, 2023
2.5*
Killing someone so you can be captain of the rugby team, lol
Killing someone so you can be captain of the rugby team, lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2023
Sam Blake is an auto-buy author for me; her murder mystery and crime thrillers are some of the best on the market.
It's Katie’s 17th birthday, and with her parents away, she has a ‘free gaff’, and her house becomes party central. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot, obviously, these teenagers have plenty of secrets, and there's plenty of double crossing going on, but no one would envisage the party becoming a crime scene.
After a huge fight breaks out, most of the kids scaper hastily, but Frankie, being the almost irritatingly good girl she is, returns to help with the clearing up along with new friend Jess and her cousin Sorcha. They soon find the body, of someone extremely close to Katie, behind a sofa in the kitchen - he's been quite literally stabbed in the back, presumably by someone he and they all knew.
The local Gardai soon leap to the obvious conclusion when they learn that Rob Doyle, a small-time drug dealer with a stabbing conviction on his youthful record, was at the party. But horrified by the chance of a wrongful conviction and the real killer let go free, wannabe future lawyer Jess suggests that these best pals get on the amateur sleuthing and crack the case.
This being the digital age of the 2020s, much of this involves trawling the school’s anonymous “confessions” website, Rave-fess, and piecing together video and pictorial footage from the party where getting a good selfie or reel was a top priority, plus they're racing against time to capture those time-sensitive stories shared in real time via Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and whatever else the youth are using these days.
This foray into Young Adult fiction doesn't disappoint. Think an Irish ‘Nancy Drew’ style read packed with some very relatable teens, loads of twisty page-turning suspense, and betrayal galore, all played out under the omnipresent and unforgiving glare of social media. This is a book easy to devour in one sitting, and I certainly want to read more books featuring these budding supersleuths! 4⭐
Thank you to the publisher @gillbooks for both a proof copy and an advance copy. As always, this is an honest review.
It's Katie’s 17th birthday, and with her parents away, she has a ‘free gaff’, and her house becomes party central. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot, obviously, these teenagers have plenty of secrets, and there's plenty of double crossing going on, but no one would envisage the party becoming a crime scene.
After a huge fight breaks out, most of the kids scaper hastily, but Frankie, being the almost irritatingly good girl she is, returns to help with the clearing up along with new friend Jess and her cousin Sorcha. They soon find the body, of someone extremely close to Katie, behind a sofa in the kitchen - he's been quite literally stabbed in the back, presumably by someone he and they all knew.
The local Gardai soon leap to the obvious conclusion when they learn that Rob Doyle, a small-time drug dealer with a stabbing conviction on his youthful record, was at the party. But horrified by the chance of a wrongful conviction and the real killer let go free, wannabe future lawyer Jess suggests that these best pals get on the amateur sleuthing and crack the case.
This being the digital age of the 2020s, much of this involves trawling the school’s anonymous “confessions” website, Rave-fess, and piecing together video and pictorial footage from the party where getting a good selfie or reel was a top priority, plus they're racing against time to capture those time-sensitive stories shared in real time via Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and whatever else the youth are using these days.
This foray into Young Adult fiction doesn't disappoint. Think an Irish ‘Nancy Drew’ style read packed with some very relatable teens, loads of twisty page-turning suspense, and betrayal galore, all played out under the omnipresent and unforgiving glare of social media. This is a book easy to devour in one sitting, and I certainly want to read more books featuring these budding supersleuths! 4⭐
Thank you to the publisher @gillbooks for both a proof copy and an advance copy. As always, this is an honest review.
March 31, 2024
Wait. Why the massive lambasting (and eventual exile of) the female character who has cheated with the victim, yet the guy, the victim, remains the Golden Child??? He's the one who's been carrying on behind his girlfriend's back, yet god forbid we should ever speak ill of the dead, or hold the fella accountable for his responsibility and betrayal.
This is exactly the kind of base 'Cornflake Girl' internalised misogyny, girls-hating-girls, that Tori Amos sung about never being a part of. I'd rather hang with the Raisin Girls.
This is exactly the kind of base 'Cornflake Girl' internalised misogyny, girls-hating-girls, that Tori Amos sung about never being a part of. I'd rather hang with the Raisin Girls.
May 2, 2023
Something Terrible Happened Last Night by Sam Blake will publish May 4th with Gill Books and is described as ‘the gripping teen thriller that will keep everyone guessing’. This is Sam Blake’s YA debut, following on from her multiple bestselling crime fiction novels. It is set against the backdrop of Raven’s Hill, an elite Irish private school, in the fictional town of Kilmurray Point.
It’s Katie’s 17th birthday. Her parents have flown to Italy for a family occasion but have given her their permission to host a party for her friends. Katie is popular in school and has been going out with Josh, the captain of the rugby team, for quite some time. Kate and Josh are always considered the perfect couple. After he received a scholarship to Stanford, Kate immediately put plans in place to follow him there once they were both finished school.
Katie’s best friend is Frankie but two more girls also join their friend group, Sorcha, Frankie’s cousin, and Jess, who has just recently moved from London. All four click immediately, with the gossip very much centred around Katie’s upcoming party and Rave-fess, the new online chat forum for students of Raven’s Hill. A so-called confession site, Rave-fess appeared out of nowhere by an anonymous hand and all the girls are obsessed with it, trying to figure out who’s behind all the comments. It’s just a bit of fun, isn’t it?
As the night of the party comes closer, the conversation turns to who will be there, what will they wear and what will they be drinking. Typical teenage conversations happen over coffees and socials as the excitement mounts. Katie lives in a huge house with a pool so the expectations are high for it being the party of the year.
On the night of the party, Katie loses control of the guests. The house is packed with teenagers let loose. Jess and Sorcha make a decision not to go as they are new to the school and the party scene is not really their thing. They join forces at Jess’s place and follow the action on Snapchat getting a birds-eye view of all the action almost live.
Frankie has her eye on Patrick, a rugby player that she is hoping to hook up with. He has already requested her photography skills and she plans to corner him at the party to see if they have any chance of getting together. But, with the huge crowds, Frankie is struggling to keep up with everyone.
As the alcohol kicks in, tempers are frayed and two rival rugby teams get involved in a brawl. Screaming and panic ensues and Katie is unable to calm the crowd. Her house quickly gets trashed and Katie is left distraught and afraid until Ollie, Frankie’s older brother, arrives and the situation gets back under control. After he clears the house, the plan is that Jess and Sorcha, with Frankie, will help Katie clean the place up before her parents return home. But that plan changes dramatically when a body is discovered behind the sofa in the living room. The dream birthday party quickly develops into a nightmare as the shock kicks in. Was it an accident? Was it intentional? Was it murder?
As the girls come to terms with what happened they begin to piece together the events leading up to the party in an attempt to unearth the truth. The Gardaí have someone in mind but the girls have other ideas. Together they become a formidable team, analysing facts and creating possible scenarios as they try to uncover the truth about what really happened that terrible night.
Something Terrible Happened Last Night is a fast-paced mystery with a great build-up and some unexpected twists and turns. It is set in a wealthy part of Dublin with a bunch of very confident and assertive young women. Using modern technology and common sense, the girls are super smart, piecing together photos and videos from the night in question unravelling important little snippets along the way.
There is a generation of teenagers who immersed themselves in the wonderful books of Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine. Now, as they are a little older, Something Terrible Happened Last Night seems to me to be a logical next choice. Aimed at 14+, it is a fun read, a whodunit with a modern twist yet also with a touch of an Agatha Christie plot. Not too gritty but with a few sharp edges, Something Terrible happened Last Night is an engaging YA novel in an academic setting. Think teen Charlie’s Angels!
It’s Katie’s 17th birthday. Her parents have flown to Italy for a family occasion but have given her their permission to host a party for her friends. Katie is popular in school and has been going out with Josh, the captain of the rugby team, for quite some time. Kate and Josh are always considered the perfect couple. After he received a scholarship to Stanford, Kate immediately put plans in place to follow him there once they were both finished school.
Katie’s best friend is Frankie but two more girls also join their friend group, Sorcha, Frankie’s cousin, and Jess, who has just recently moved from London. All four click immediately, with the gossip very much centred around Katie’s upcoming party and Rave-fess, the new online chat forum for students of Raven’s Hill. A so-called confession site, Rave-fess appeared out of nowhere by an anonymous hand and all the girls are obsessed with it, trying to figure out who’s behind all the comments. It’s just a bit of fun, isn’t it?
As the night of the party comes closer, the conversation turns to who will be there, what will they wear and what will they be drinking. Typical teenage conversations happen over coffees and socials as the excitement mounts. Katie lives in a huge house with a pool so the expectations are high for it being the party of the year.
On the night of the party, Katie loses control of the guests. The house is packed with teenagers let loose. Jess and Sorcha make a decision not to go as they are new to the school and the party scene is not really their thing. They join forces at Jess’s place and follow the action on Snapchat getting a birds-eye view of all the action almost live.
Frankie has her eye on Patrick, a rugby player that she is hoping to hook up with. He has already requested her photography skills and she plans to corner him at the party to see if they have any chance of getting together. But, with the huge crowds, Frankie is struggling to keep up with everyone.
As the alcohol kicks in, tempers are frayed and two rival rugby teams get involved in a brawl. Screaming and panic ensues and Katie is unable to calm the crowd. Her house quickly gets trashed and Katie is left distraught and afraid until Ollie, Frankie’s older brother, arrives and the situation gets back under control. After he clears the house, the plan is that Jess and Sorcha, with Frankie, will help Katie clean the place up before her parents return home. But that plan changes dramatically when a body is discovered behind the sofa in the living room. The dream birthday party quickly develops into a nightmare as the shock kicks in. Was it an accident? Was it intentional? Was it murder?
As the girls come to terms with what happened they begin to piece together the events leading up to the party in an attempt to unearth the truth. The Gardaí have someone in mind but the girls have other ideas. Together they become a formidable team, analysing facts and creating possible scenarios as they try to uncover the truth about what really happened that terrible night.
Something Terrible Happened Last Night is a fast-paced mystery with a great build-up and some unexpected twists and turns. It is set in a wealthy part of Dublin with a bunch of very confident and assertive young women. Using modern technology and common sense, the girls are super smart, piecing together photos and videos from the night in question unravelling important little snippets along the way.
There is a generation of teenagers who immersed themselves in the wonderful books of Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine. Now, as they are a little older, Something Terrible Happened Last Night seems to me to be a logical next choice. Aimed at 14+, it is a fun read, a whodunit with a modern twist yet also with a touch of an Agatha Christie plot. Not too gritty but with a few sharp edges, Something Terrible happened Last Night is an engaging YA novel in an academic setting. Think teen Charlie’s Angels!
February 18, 2024
2.5 stars
It sucks to give a bad rating to a book, never mind a review, but unfortunately this felt warranted to me.
Blake's pacing is off, the structure is weird, and logic rarely aligns with the prose. It took me ages to read, maybe because there was zero tension or any real desire in me to solve the mystery. Particularly irksome for me was the immediate cut off in the action the second it peaks in the climax, followed by a big revelation in the epilogue of all places.
Whilst an epilogue can be a great place in a mystery for a final twist that turns the plot on its head, Blake doesn't do that. Instead, it's a continuation of what we know and could easily have taken place in the rest of the novel.
I'm also not comfortable recommending this book to other queer readers, because of the way homophobia and related content is treated. Major spoilers, but a queer character stabbing someone who threatens to out them DESPITE knowing that said queer would be kicked out and made homeless, is something that readers could have found sympathetic. Especially seeing as the argument started because Patrick caught Josh about to cheat on his girlfriend!! At her own birthday party!! (It was also implied that Josh was planning to SA Ruth, but this gets exactly one mention and then Blake returns to slut shaming Ruth and has a character blame her for Josh's death????)
Yeah IDK, there were some gross things that I'm pretty sure Blake didn't intend to add, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. If I'd been the editor on this, I'd have had a fair few thoughts on how to handle the above without it coming across like "nasty closest boy and skanky girl are responsible for Nice Guy TM's murder".
Can't say I'll be picking up another of Blake's books any time soon.
It sucks to give a bad rating to a book, never mind a review, but unfortunately this felt warranted to me.
Blake's pacing is off, the structure is weird, and logic rarely aligns with the prose. It took me ages to read, maybe because there was zero tension or any real desire in me to solve the mystery. Particularly irksome for me was the immediate cut off in the action the second it peaks in the climax, followed by a big revelation in the epilogue of all places.
Whilst an epilogue can be a great place in a mystery for a final twist that turns the plot on its head, Blake doesn't do that. Instead, it's a continuation of what we know and could easily have taken place in the rest of the novel.
I'm also not comfortable recommending this book to other queer readers, because of the way homophobia and related content is treated. Major spoilers, but a queer character stabbing someone who threatens to out them DESPITE knowing that said queer would be kicked out and made homeless, is something that readers could have found sympathetic. Especially seeing as the argument started because Patrick caught Josh about to cheat on his girlfriend!! At her own birthday party!! (It was also implied that Josh was planning to SA Ruth, but this gets exactly one mention and then Blake returns to slut shaming Ruth and has a character blame her for Josh's death????)
Yeah IDK, there were some gross things that I'm pretty sure Blake didn't intend to add, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. If I'd been the editor on this, I'd have had a fair few thoughts on how to handle the above without it coming across like "nasty closest boy and skanky girl are responsible for Nice Guy TM's murder".
Can't say I'll be picking up another of Blake's books any time soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2023
I mean it wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t great
March 16, 2024
quite entertaining and a recommended read for 12-14 year olds i’d say! though tara deserved to know maeve cheated on her!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2023
Another great book from the Number 1 bestselling crime writer @Sam Blake. This one is classed as YA but really its a fascinating read for young and Older Adults. A perfect holiday read, I actually could not put it down from the first chapter and I whizzed through it way to fast. A easy really enjoyable read.
October 25, 2024
Voll cool dass es in Dublin spielt wenn ich es da gekauft habe
August 9, 2025
Something Terrible Happened Last Night is a young adult mystery novel written by Sam Blake.It is about friendship ,loss,and truth-seeking.It is one of the best novels I’ve read so far 。
The story begins when Katie, a popular girl at her school Raven’s Hill ,hosts her seventeenth birthday party while her parents are away. Frankie, her cousin Sorcha, Jess are among the guests. Drinking and tensions between rival rugby teams lead to a fight, sending people fleeing. When the three girls return to help Katie clean up, they find the body of Josh, Katie’s boyfriend, hidden behind the sofa — stabbed to death. The Gardaí suspect Rob Doyle, a boy with a criminal record, but the friends believe the truth is more complex. They launch their own investigation, using photos, videos, and an anonymous school confession site. Bit by bit, they uncover betrayals, shifting loyalties, and cheating, finally confronting the murderer and recording a confession with a hidden mic.
The crisis tests each girl: Frankie realizes that not everyone is what they seem, and learns to balance responsibility with vulnerability; Sorcha—smart,ambitious and eager to fit in ,makes new friends and gets her social footing.Faced with Josh’s murder,she channels her analytical skills into gathering evidence; Jess quietly supports her friends while coping with family loss. Their bonds deepen through hardship, and Frankie stands out to me as a caring and reliable friend.
This book is very realistic.It gives me an approximate picture of life in secondary school,so that even if it is only a novel,it can still make me a little less nervous about starting in the Junior Cycle this September.It also helped me learn about names with Gaelic origin,like Sorcha,Cian,Maeve,Caitriona,and O’Sullivan.
I highly recommend this young adult crime novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to put down, yet it contains no violence,perfect for teenagers and young adults.
The story begins when Katie, a popular girl at her school Raven’s Hill ,hosts her seventeenth birthday party while her parents are away. Frankie, her cousin Sorcha, Jess are among the guests. Drinking and tensions between rival rugby teams lead to a fight, sending people fleeing. When the three girls return to help Katie clean up, they find the body of Josh, Katie’s boyfriend, hidden behind the sofa — stabbed to death. The Gardaí suspect Rob Doyle, a boy with a criminal record, but the friends believe the truth is more complex. They launch their own investigation, using photos, videos, and an anonymous school confession site. Bit by bit, they uncover betrayals, shifting loyalties, and cheating, finally confronting the murderer and recording a confession with a hidden mic.
The crisis tests each girl: Frankie realizes that not everyone is what they seem, and learns to balance responsibility with vulnerability; Sorcha—smart,ambitious and eager to fit in ,makes new friends and gets her social footing.Faced with Josh’s murder,she channels her analytical skills into gathering evidence; Jess quietly supports her friends while coping with family loss. Their bonds deepen through hardship, and Frankie stands out to me as a caring and reliable friend.
This book is very realistic.It gives me an approximate picture of life in secondary school,so that even if it is only a novel,it can still make me a little less nervous about starting in the Junior Cycle this September.It also helped me learn about names with Gaelic origin,like Sorcha,Cian,Maeve,Caitriona,and O’Sullivan.
I highly recommend this young adult crime novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to put down, yet it contains no violence,perfect for teenagers and young adults.
December 16, 2024
Nuorten trillerit ovat joko parasta viihdettä tai vähän kökköjä, ja tämä menee nyt siihen jälkimmäiseen kategoriaan. Tässä oli vähän outo ja sävelkuuro tapa käsitellä homofobiaa, mistä tuli hitusen paha mieli. Parasta tässä oli se, että kirja oli ihan luettava, ja periaatteessa halusin pitää kirjasta, mutta ei nyt vaan lähtenyt. En erityisemmin suosittelisi.
August 2, 2023
Solid 3.5. Incredibly entertaining, finished it on a single plane ride, and loved all the Irish slang!
August 17, 2023
Evil gay jock? Based.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2024
Well written and loved the characters but slightly too predictable
Read
May 4, 2023Something Terrible Happened Last Night is the first Young Adult novel from Sam Blake, known for her bestselling crime fiction.
Described as a mix between Gossip Girl and Agatha Christie, you know I was excited to read this one!
Set in Kilmurray Point, a fictional Irish town, and focusing mainly on the local private secondary school; Raven’s Hill, we meet 17 year old pals Frankie, Jess, and Sorcha.
They have a wider group of friends including Katie who is planning her own birthday party in her house (free gaff! Woo! 🙌), where everyone is invited, including her popular rugby-playing boyfriend Josh, all his mates, and a whole gaggle of people no one actually knows..add in a lot of alcohol, and testosterone, and soon the party has completely devolved and the house is in bits.
The gals stay to help Katie clean up, but are utterly horrified when they find a dead body behind the couch, dramatically changing the course of all their lives.
Using social media to piece together where everyone was that night, the girls become a formidable team, determined to solve the case before the Gardaí arrest the wrong person.
Added into the mix is Rave-fess, an online anonymous gossip forum all the local teens use..all manner of secrets are revealed on there, which could be a help or a major hindrance to the investigation.
This is a fun, fast paced read. I absolutely did not guess who the victim was going to be, or in fact the murderer! I really enjoyed how this book doesn’t talk down to teens; the characters are smart and supportive of each other, and use their knowledge of social media and technology to help solve a crime. You love to see it!
I’d say this is suitable for 14+, I always find it hard when people ask what age books are appropriate for cause I was reading Stephen King at that point (😅😬) but while there are some darker moments in here, there’s nothing too graphic.
Again, I find myself bemoaning the fact that YA as a genre wasn’t really a thing in Ireland in the 90’s. I wish I had books like this back then!
With huge thanks to @gillbooks for the opportunity to read #SomethingTerribleHappenedLastNight, available to buy as of today!
Described as a mix between Gossip Girl and Agatha Christie, you know I was excited to read this one!
Set in Kilmurray Point, a fictional Irish town, and focusing mainly on the local private secondary school; Raven’s Hill, we meet 17 year old pals Frankie, Jess, and Sorcha.
They have a wider group of friends including Katie who is planning her own birthday party in her house (free gaff! Woo! 🙌), where everyone is invited, including her popular rugby-playing boyfriend Josh, all his mates, and a whole gaggle of people no one actually knows..add in a lot of alcohol, and testosterone, and soon the party has completely devolved and the house is in bits.
The gals stay to help Katie clean up, but are utterly horrified when they find a dead body behind the couch, dramatically changing the course of all their lives.
Using social media to piece together where everyone was that night, the girls become a formidable team, determined to solve the case before the Gardaí arrest the wrong person.
Added into the mix is Rave-fess, an online anonymous gossip forum all the local teens use..all manner of secrets are revealed on there, which could be a help or a major hindrance to the investigation.
This is a fun, fast paced read. I absolutely did not guess who the victim was going to be, or in fact the murderer! I really enjoyed how this book doesn’t talk down to teens; the characters are smart and supportive of each other, and use their knowledge of social media and technology to help solve a crime. You love to see it!
I’d say this is suitable for 14+, I always find it hard when people ask what age books are appropriate for cause I was reading Stephen King at that point (😅😬) but while there are some darker moments in here, there’s nothing too graphic.
Again, I find myself bemoaning the fact that YA as a genre wasn’t really a thing in Ireland in the 90’s. I wish I had books like this back then!
With huge thanks to @gillbooks for the opportunity to read #SomethingTerribleHappenedLastNight, available to buy as of today!
May 27, 2023
If you’re looking for a murder mystery with brilliant characters and an Irish backdrop I’ve got the perfect recommendation for you ! Something Terrible Happened Last Night is the newest Ya novel by the amazing Sam Blake , @samblakebooks and like all of her books it was rich in suspense , keeping you hooked until the very last page .
Amidst the dancing , drinking and laughter of a 17th birthday party , a massive fight breaks out resulting in guests fleeing the scene. The birthday girl , Katie , is left with the aftermath - a home that has essentially been trashed as well as her birthday being ruined. Her friends Frankie , Jess and Sorcha step in and volunteer to help her clear up the disaster before her parents return home. This is when it all takes a turn for the worst. Unfortunately the scene isn’t the aftermath of a teenage party , but has become a crime scene . Among the bottles and rubbish , is a body , lying dead on the sitting room floor. Sending the town in a spiral , the dead teen at the party becomes the mystery of the local area , with guards and friends trying to piece together who was responsible for a death that is now ruled as a murder .
Along with the chaos , the Raven Hill’s gossip chat board is alight with snippets of rumours and stories from the party , and the power of social media becomes a key in the discoveries surrounding the incident.
Now the friend group must look inside their circle , who is to blame ? What caused the fight ? Will justice be served ?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - from the brilliant characters to the plot twists , it is absolutely jam packed - Sam Blake left no stone unturned . Even if you don’t normally read YA , I still believe this read will captivate you , simply fantastic story telling 📚
Thank you to Gill Books , @gillbooks for sending us a copy 📖❤️
Amidst the dancing , drinking and laughter of a 17th birthday party , a massive fight breaks out resulting in guests fleeing the scene. The birthday girl , Katie , is left with the aftermath - a home that has essentially been trashed as well as her birthday being ruined. Her friends Frankie , Jess and Sorcha step in and volunteer to help her clear up the disaster before her parents return home. This is when it all takes a turn for the worst. Unfortunately the scene isn’t the aftermath of a teenage party , but has become a crime scene . Among the bottles and rubbish , is a body , lying dead on the sitting room floor. Sending the town in a spiral , the dead teen at the party becomes the mystery of the local area , with guards and friends trying to piece together who was responsible for a death that is now ruled as a murder .
Along with the chaos , the Raven Hill’s gossip chat board is alight with snippets of rumours and stories from the party , and the power of social media becomes a key in the discoveries surrounding the incident.
Now the friend group must look inside their circle , who is to blame ? What caused the fight ? Will justice be served ?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - from the brilliant characters to the plot twists , it is absolutely jam packed - Sam Blake left no stone unturned . Even if you don’t normally read YA , I still believe this read will captivate you , simply fantastic story telling 📚
Thank you to Gill Books , @gillbooks for sending us a copy 📖❤️
July 13, 2023
Frankie & her friends go to a private school, Raven’s Hill, in the fictional town of Kilmurray Point in Ireland. Katie’s parents are away & she’s allowed to invite some friends over. This turns into a massive house party and things spiral out of control, with Frankie calling her older brothers to help clear Katie’s house out. Things turn from bad to worse when they discover a dead body behind the couch. The story then goes back a few days previously & builds up to the big day, setting up the cast of characters & plot lines that lead up to the deadly night and then beyond, as Frankie & co try to suss out what happened
This is a fun mystery YA book, it’s great to have contemporary Irish YA. Frankie and the gang are a great bunch of friends, I enjoyed their friendship. It includes new girl Jess and Frankie’s cousins Sorcha, who’s transferred from another school. The things the girls spoke and worried about (boys, clothes, family issues) felt realistic
It’s fast paced, with the girls trying to piece together what happened that night using social media and Raven-fess, an online anonymous gossip forum. I liked the use of social media in the story, sometimes books shy away from using it but it’s such a big part of life that sometimes it’s a big glaring omission when not mentioned
Fans of Karen McManus or Holly Jackson will enjoy this! I’d love to see another book with all the girls again as they’re friendship was great! Perfect if you’re looking for a mystery YA book this summer
This is a fun mystery YA book, it’s great to have contemporary Irish YA. Frankie and the gang are a great bunch of friends, I enjoyed their friendship. It includes new girl Jess and Frankie’s cousins Sorcha, who’s transferred from another school. The things the girls spoke and worried about (boys, clothes, family issues) felt realistic
It’s fast paced, with the girls trying to piece together what happened that night using social media and Raven-fess, an online anonymous gossip forum. I liked the use of social media in the story, sometimes books shy away from using it but it’s such a big part of life that sometimes it’s a big glaring omission when not mentioned
Fans of Karen McManus or Holly Jackson will enjoy this! I’d love to see another book with all the girls again as they’re friendship was great! Perfect if you’re looking for a mystery YA book this summer
September 6, 2024
I did it!!! 🎉
I somehow managed to read the second book that features the girls at Ravens Hill School first and as soon as I heard there was another, I just had to get it!
I always say that I'll catch up with series like this and so rarely find/make the time! - but I loved Something's About To Blow Up so much that I just couldn't wait to dive in.
As I said in my review of book 2, both these books work so well as a standalone read. The mystery/case is complete and concluded nicely at the end. Although here we're left with a little sneaky twist that could have been referenced again - if it was, I hadn't noticed it?
It sounds odd saying that it was lovely to be back with the girls again, given this is the first book - but honestly, these girls (and their friends) will definitely find a place in your heart. Frankie especially!
Their determination and logic is inspiring to watch as it plays out through the story.
I love that they are so relatable and think that - ok, not everyone has quite such a disaster happen at their 17th party - but their experiences otherwise are similar to lots of teens this age and it's always great to read about characters having the same thoughts, feelings and concerns that you have.
I love the writing style which is intriguing and exciting the whole way through.
We join the group at the start of the party and things fly from then on.
I literally devoured this over just 2 days!
I think I'm obsessed!!
I'm really hoping that there's going to be many more adventures for the gang and I can't wait to see what they encounter next!
I somehow managed to read the second book that features the girls at Ravens Hill School first and as soon as I heard there was another, I just had to get it!
I always say that I'll catch up with series like this and so rarely find/make the time! - but I loved Something's About To Blow Up so much that I just couldn't wait to dive in.
As I said in my review of book 2, both these books work so well as a standalone read. The mystery/case is complete and concluded nicely at the end. Although here we're left with a little sneaky twist that could have been referenced again - if it was, I hadn't noticed it?
It sounds odd saying that it was lovely to be back with the girls again, given this is the first book - but honestly, these girls (and their friends) will definitely find a place in your heart. Frankie especially!
Their determination and logic is inspiring to watch as it plays out through the story.
I love that they are so relatable and think that - ok, not everyone has quite such a disaster happen at their 17th party - but their experiences otherwise are similar to lots of teens this age and it's always great to read about characters having the same thoughts, feelings and concerns that you have.
I love the writing style which is intriguing and exciting the whole way through.
We join the group at the start of the party and things fly from then on.
I literally devoured this over just 2 days!
I think I'm obsessed!!
I'm really hoping that there's going to be many more adventures for the gang and I can't wait to see what they encounter next!
May 20, 2023
*Review Copy
"Something Terrible Happened Last Night" by Sam Blake is an Irish YA mystery/thriller set during a house party.
The book opens with Frankie, waiting for her brother to pick her up from her friend Katie's birthday party - a fight has broken out and someone is lying dead on the living room floor.
We go back to the days and hours leading up to the party to try and discover exactly what happened - and who is responsible.
I really enjoyed this! I used to read (and enjoy) an awful lot of YA books, and it was lovely to read something contemporary set in Ireland. The characters in this one are almost all Fifth Year students, and have their own stuff going on - from family pressure to exam stress and grief.
I loved the inclusion of a trans character at an all-girls school, I loved that she was just there as herself and wasn't used as a plot device or some kind of 'gotcha'. More of this, please!
It's interesting and terrifying in equal measure to read about how dependent the teens are on social media - but I loved how it was used as a tool for the greater good, with the girls using videos and screenshots to try and piece together what happened that night.
A solid YA thriller that I'd recommend to teens, but also to adults who were big fans of books like Point Horror back in the day. Really enjoyable, and thank you so much to @gillbooks for sending me a copy!
"Something Terrible Happened Last Night" by Sam Blake is an Irish YA mystery/thriller set during a house party.
The book opens with Frankie, waiting for her brother to pick her up from her friend Katie's birthday party - a fight has broken out and someone is lying dead on the living room floor.
We go back to the days and hours leading up to the party to try and discover exactly what happened - and who is responsible.
I really enjoyed this! I used to read (and enjoy) an awful lot of YA books, and it was lovely to read something contemporary set in Ireland. The characters in this one are almost all Fifth Year students, and have their own stuff going on - from family pressure to exam stress and grief.
I loved the inclusion of a trans character at an all-girls school, I loved that she was just there as herself and wasn't used as a plot device or some kind of 'gotcha'. More of this, please!
It's interesting and terrifying in equal measure to read about how dependent the teens are on social media - but I loved how it was used as a tool for the greater good, with the girls using videos and screenshots to try and piece together what happened that night.
A solid YA thriller that I'd recommend to teens, but also to adults who were big fans of books like Point Horror back in the day. Really enjoyable, and thank you so much to @gillbooks for sending me a copy!
July 2, 2023
A strange thing happened as I was reading this. I found myself thinking that the characters were overly Irish. In fact, they're perfectly normal Irish (and one English), I'm just far more used to reading American or British characters, so reading Irish was a shock to my system, sad as that is to think.
And these are properly Irish characters; I work in a bookshop and overhear conversations and talk to teens, and the characters here would fit right in. It extends to the narration as well, with Hiberno-English constructions showing up here and there - shout out to 'hoosh' which I tested on American and Israeli friends and no one got it right! (The British one did though.)
The mystery is fantastic too - I love having the plan of the house to know what's happening where, and the idea of reconstructing everyone's movements through social media posts is fascinating! I'm constantly pleased that when I was a teenager, mumble years ago, there was no social media to host this kind of post.
I know that Sam has written adult novels, though I've never read them, but I sincerely hope this isn't her last teenage novel - I'll happily read plenty more in this style.
(Also, this has no bearing at all on the actual book, but I love the proof for this book! I love when a publisher puts some effort into their proofs and this is one of the coolest ones I've seen.)
And these are properly Irish characters; I work in a bookshop and overhear conversations and talk to teens, and the characters here would fit right in. It extends to the narration as well, with Hiberno-English constructions showing up here and there - shout out to 'hoosh' which I tested on American and Israeli friends and no one got it right! (The British one did though.)
The mystery is fantastic too - I love having the plan of the house to know what's happening where, and the idea of reconstructing everyone's movements through social media posts is fascinating! I'm constantly pleased that when I was a teenager, mumble years ago, there was no social media to host this kind of post.
I know that Sam has written adult novels, though I've never read them, but I sincerely hope this isn't her last teenage novel - I'll happily read plenty more in this style.
(Also, this has no bearing at all on the actual book, but I love the proof for this book! I love when a publisher puts some effort into their proofs and this is one of the coolest ones I've seen.)
June 13, 2023
📖Something Terrible Happened Last Night is the first YA novel by crime writer Sam Blake. It tells the story of a group of young girls from Raven’s Hill College. When Kate’s parents are away she hosts a massive house part to celebrate her birthday. However a fight unexpectedly breaks out between two rival rugby teams and Kate, along with her friend Frankie and her brothers, kick everyone out and escort some people home. But when Frankie returns to help Kate clean up the wrecked house, they find a dead body down behind a couch…
💭I absolutely loved the hook of this story. I wouldn’t be one for crime books usually, but I couldn’t put it down! Sam is exceptionally clever with this book, because after the initial chapter, where the premise is set, we flash back a few days before the disastrous party. Forget about figuring out who the murderer is, this book doesn’t even reveal the victim until half way through! Frankie, the main character, is a hyper intelligent and caring person, and I love how she (along with friends Jess and Sorcha) try to solve the crime through social media posts, inner knowledge of teenage brains, and sheer determination. I also really loved how truly grounded in Ireland and the current age the book feels. Especially how the girls work with modern social media. Although the ending didn’t ring true for me, I did enjoy the journey there, and would still recommend this book to lovers of the genre.
Read this book if you like to read about:
☠️Murder mystery
🔀Complex social plots
🕵️♀️Intelligent female characters
🇮🇪Books set in Ireland
💭I absolutely loved the hook of this story. I wouldn’t be one for crime books usually, but I couldn’t put it down! Sam is exceptionally clever with this book, because after the initial chapter, where the premise is set, we flash back a few days before the disastrous party. Forget about figuring out who the murderer is, this book doesn’t even reveal the victim until half way through! Frankie, the main character, is a hyper intelligent and caring person, and I love how she (along with friends Jess and Sorcha) try to solve the crime through social media posts, inner knowledge of teenage brains, and sheer determination. I also really loved how truly grounded in Ireland and the current age the book feels. Especially how the girls work with modern social media. Although the ending didn’t ring true for me, I did enjoy the journey there, and would still recommend this book to lovers of the genre.
Read this book if you like to read about:
☠️Murder mystery
🔀Complex social plots
🕵️♀️Intelligent female characters
🇮🇪Books set in Ireland
May 4, 2023
At Katie’s 17th birthday party in an affluent Dublin suburb, a fight breaks out that steals away everyone’s attention. Guests flee, and Katie and her friends are left to clear up the mess. However, they find more than just red plastic cups among the damage - they find a body. In the weeks that follow, Katie’s friends must piece together what happened that night through social media posts and word of mouth, meanwhile making sure that they stay undetected by the person that they’re looking for.
This novel is a YA debut for thriller writer Sam Blake, and it’s a great introduction to thriller for YA readers. It’s relatable, full of suspense, and gets the reader involved. I found myself having to fight to put this book down because it was so engaging, which meant I ended up finishing it in two sittings!
At the start of the book, you’ll find a map of Katie’s house (this really helped me), so I genuinely felt as though I was watching a teen Netflix show as I read it. Think ‘13 Reasons Why’ meets ‘Scream’, but if it were set in Dublin.
BRB while I order Sam Blake’s adult thrillers 👩💻
This novel is a YA debut for thriller writer Sam Blake, and it’s a great introduction to thriller for YA readers. It’s relatable, full of suspense, and gets the reader involved. I found myself having to fight to put this book down because it was so engaging, which meant I ended up finishing it in two sittings!
At the start of the book, you’ll find a map of Katie’s house (this really helped me), so I genuinely felt as though I was watching a teen Netflix show as I read it. Think ‘13 Reasons Why’ meets ‘Scream’, but if it were set in Dublin.
BRB while I order Sam Blake’s adult thrillers 👩💻
May 26, 2023
I devoured this book in two sittings, and I wish I could read it all over again for the first time 🤣 I'm nearly ashamed to say this is my first Sam Blake. I haven't read any of her adult thrillers, but safe to say they've been swiftly added to my tbr. Something Terrible Happened Last Night is Sam's first YA novel and published early this month, it is already proving to be a huge hit!
Katie, Jess, Sorcha, and Frankie all attend Ravens Hill, where a new confession site is lit with gossip. While her parents are out of town, Katie throws a party for her 17th birthday, the party is buzzing but quickly turns sour. After everybody is kicked out, Katie and her friends discover a body. The book also includes a map of Katie's house, which I thought was a great touch and gave me a real feel of where everything was.
I have to say, I'm fond of a YA novel, and this one hit all the right buttons. It reminded me a little of One of Us is Lying crossed with Scream crossed with Gossip Girl. A fast paced, easy and entertaining read. 5⭐️
Katie, Jess, Sorcha, and Frankie all attend Ravens Hill, where a new confession site is lit with gossip. While her parents are out of town, Katie throws a party for her 17th birthday, the party is buzzing but quickly turns sour. After everybody is kicked out, Katie and her friends discover a body. The book also includes a map of Katie's house, which I thought was a great touch and gave me a real feel of where everything was.
I have to say, I'm fond of a YA novel, and this one hit all the right buttons. It reminded me a little of One of Us is Lying crossed with Scream crossed with Gossip Girl. A fast paced, easy and entertaining read. 5⭐️
February 8, 2025
As a 20 year old, i might be slightly older than the target audience, but unfortunately i just didn’t feel captivated, and a lot of the ‘teenage talk’ felt quite stunted and very clearly written by an adult.
when the reveal came, i wasn’t exactly shocked or fussed, and the reasoning behind it felt… lacking. i’m still unsure if he’d intended to kill josh, or purely meant to injure him so he couldn’t play in the game, but falling in the knife is what did him in, but if he hadn’t meant to kill Josh, he surely would have gone to the police regarding a stabbing anyway? and again- if he hadn’t intended to kill him, why did he end the book as a moustache twirling villain?
i’m not sure if there’s a second book, and if there is i’m not too fussed to read it, they work out the killer, the killer gets away because of… a shirt? but wait! the main character has screenshots of all his similar shirts! to me that feels closed, she’ll go back to the police with those photos and they’ll feel like dumbasses for letting him go on such a flimsy out.
when the reveal came, i wasn’t exactly shocked or fussed, and the reasoning behind it felt… lacking. i’m still unsure if he’d intended to kill josh, or purely meant to injure him so he couldn’t play in the game, but falling in the knife is what did him in, but if he hadn’t meant to kill Josh, he surely would have gone to the police regarding a stabbing anyway? and again- if he hadn’t intended to kill him, why did he end the book as a moustache twirling villain?
i’m not sure if there’s a second book, and if there is i’m not too fussed to read it, they work out the killer, the killer gets away because of… a shirt? but wait! the main character has screenshots of all his similar shirts! to me that feels closed, she’ll go back to the police with those photos and they’ll feel like dumbasses for letting him go on such a flimsy out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
I personally really liked this book, I think I’m going to get more into ‘murder mystery’ types of stories. But the few things I didn’t exactly like about it was that the characters were a bit too predictable, (except for who started rave-fess… that was a shock!) and I also didn’t really like how the parents of these main characters had basically nothing to do with their children investigating a MURDER CASE!! It was very… unrealistic with the parents due to how they weren’t very involved at all. I like the book because of how well written it is and how well written the characters and plot is. I also personally would’ve liked if Katie had atleast something to do with the murder, it would’ve been an amazing plot twist, but the book in general was very good! Planning on reading the other Sam Blake book with these characters reappearing, very excited to read! I rated it overall 4/5 stars because of how interesting it was and how it kept me hooked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2023
Somewhere inside this Gen Xer is a teen devouring YA mystery/crime novels. Sam Blake's 'Something Terrible Happened Last Night' hit that spot for me - an interesting mystery with a group of friends collaborating to solve it. While I eventually worked it out, I originally thought someone else would be the victim, with another person as the culprit.
This book touches on misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, but its done so in a way that feels natural and realistic. I adored the friendship between Frankie, her cousin Sorcha, Jess and Katie. Supporting characters were also well-rounded and interesting in their own right, such as Frankie's older brother Ollie and her colleague Danny. I could easily see this as a series, or even read these characters as adults.
This book is the perfect gift for your crime loving teen.
This book touches on misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, but its done so in a way that feels natural and realistic. I adored the friendship between Frankie, her cousin Sorcha, Jess and Katie. Supporting characters were also well-rounded and interesting in their own right, such as Frankie's older brother Ollie and her colleague Danny. I could easily see this as a series, or even read these characters as adults.
This book is the perfect gift for your crime loving teen.
May 14, 2023
I bought the paperback version of this book and couldn't put it down. This is Sam Blake's first YA thriller and it is superb. It's fast paced with fully developed characters, and some great twists. It’s YA but superbly done. Very realistic including the use of social media in the teen world today. We followed the characters of a girl's school in the aftermath of a 17th birthday party gone wrong. The girls are so realistic and all the teenage angst comes with it. I really enjoyed all the characters and didn't predict the outcome. I read the book in two sittings as I was completely absorbed in the story and how it was going to end.
Highly recommended for all crime readers even if you are 40+ like me
Highly recommended for all crime readers even if you are 40+ like me
November 6, 2023
THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE OF MY HOPES FOR THIS BOOK! I initially decided I would support this new, upcoming author by purchasing his latest novel.The idea sorrounding this book is amazing, what I didn't like is that the book had little depth compared to some other novels of this genre. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book to some extent and author, if you are reading please do not take offence to my review since I am trying to give you some constructive criticism. If you are planning on creating a similar style of book in the future, I strongly advise you take inspiration from Holly Jacksons series 'A Good Girls Guide To Murder' for ideas on how to give you're future novels a stronger plotline.
November 4, 2024
I like this author and their attitude and I am glad someone on social media pointed me to this book (sorry I can’t remember who). I just have a problem with this cultural moment - also prominent in the likes of Sex Education - where young people in Britain and Ireland seem to have these weirdly Californian lives. Most adults I know would balk at getting a round in in Starbucks, never mind a teenager. How do they have swim teams and maths teams? And bedrooms so big they have armchairs and stacks of throw cushions? And copious red Solo cups (that we are constantly told are red Solo cups)? Surely we can have some YA literature that connects more closely with the real lives of teenagers on this side of the pond and not this mid-Atlantic fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2025
I was in a pickle whether I should rate it 4 or 3 stars. I think it's more 3.5 star for me.
I am not an audience for this book, it aimed for a young adults in difficult situations, and I'm a bit older for that. But I know I'd loved this book when I was a teen.
It shows that everyone has problems and facing challenges. Even when you have a lovely home with loving family, something might happen that turn your world upside down.
Rating it 3 because of unsatisfying ending.
I am not an audience for this book, it aimed for a young adults in difficult situations, and I'm a bit older for that. But I know I'd loved this book when I was a teen.
It shows that everyone has problems and facing challenges. Even when you have a lovely home with loving family, something might happen that turn your world upside down.
Rating it 3 because of unsatisfying ending.
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