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Let's Play Murder
Video games have never been more murderous.
Veronica wakes up trapped with four strangers in a sprawling manor house in a snow storm with a dead body, a mystery right out of an Agatha Christie novel. It feels so real - but it isn't. This is VR and this is THE Game; a rumoured Easter Egg hidden in other VR games that draws you into a competition for a prize beyond your wildest dreams. And there's no escaping the VR world until the Game is won.
But while Veronica and her fellow players are trying to figure out the puzzle, something is not right in the VR world. Blackouts, glitches, NPCs acting strange, and a mysterious figure haunting their footsteps. Then when a player dies, and also dies in real life, all hell breaks loose.
Without warning, the game Veronica thought she was playing gets overshadowed by a much darker, and much more real, mystery: who is killing us?'
It may not be a game Veronica wanted to play, but it's one that she has to win - or die trying.
Veronica wakes up trapped with four strangers in a sprawling manor house in a snow storm with a dead body, a mystery right out of an Agatha Christie novel. It feels so real - but it isn't. This is VR and this is THE Game; a rumoured Easter Egg hidden in other VR games that draws you into a competition for a prize beyond your wildest dreams. And there's no escaping the VR world until the Game is won.
But while Veronica and her fellow players are trying to figure out the puzzle, something is not right in the VR world. Blackouts, glitches, NPCs acting strange, and a mysterious figure haunting their footsteps. Then when a player dies, and also dies in real life, all hell breaks loose.
Without warning, the game Veronica thought she was playing gets overshadowed by a much darker, and much more real, mystery: who is killing us?'
It may not be a game Veronica wanted to play, but it's one that she has to win - or die trying.
328 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2023
36 people are currently reading
1706 people want to read
About the author
Kesia Lupo
3 books118 followersKesia Lupo studied History at Oxford University and Creative Writing at Bath Spa. She's currently an associate literary agent with the Bindery Agency.
We Are Blood and Thunder is her debut, a standalone YA fantasy published in the UK in April 2019. We Are Bound by Stars, her second novel, is another standalone story set in the same world and published in July 2020.
Let's Play Murder is a YA horror/thriller set in a VR game - published in April 2023.
We Are Blood and Thunder is her debut, a standalone YA fantasy published in the UK in April 2019. We Are Bound by Stars, her second novel, is another standalone story set in the same world and published in July 2020.
Let's Play Murder is a YA horror/thriller set in a VR game - published in April 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
January 25, 2023
The Game is a dark web virtual reality game unlike any other. The prize is to have your deepest and darkest wishes come true but, in order to gain them, you must first solve a murder and compete against other individuals before time runs out.
I loved the premise and, as the synopsis stated, it felt like an escape room plot with an Agatha Christie style mystery at its centre. I thought the dynamics of The Game were well introduced, aided by our protagonist's lack of knowledge about it. An early focus on the murder mystery was quickly developed as the set-up was addressed with enough information imparted to clue the reader up on what was occurring but without bogging them down in too much science or background knowledge.
As the primary characters' time within the game increased new developments occurred which split the focus between the mystery and the new, maturing ones. I became just as intrigued by these and was never quite sure who to trust or where exactly the novel was taking the reader.
This remained an interesting and immersive read. I did not feel truly bonded to many of the characters but, I believe, this was impossible to do given the many secrets all were hiding and the lack of trust each individual was able to provide the other with. Our protagonist remained one to root for until the novel's conclusion, where I was left open-mouthed and in awe of the final reveals placed there.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Kesia Lupo, and the publisher, Bloomsbury YA, for this opportunity.
I loved the premise and, as the synopsis stated, it felt like an escape room plot with an Agatha Christie style mystery at its centre. I thought the dynamics of The Game were well introduced, aided by our protagonist's lack of knowledge about it. An early focus on the murder mystery was quickly developed as the set-up was addressed with enough information imparted to clue the reader up on what was occurring but without bogging them down in too much science or background knowledge.
As the primary characters' time within the game increased new developments occurred which split the focus between the mystery and the new, maturing ones. I became just as intrigued by these and was never quite sure who to trust or where exactly the novel was taking the reader.
This remained an interesting and immersive read. I did not feel truly bonded to many of the characters but, I believe, this was impossible to do given the many secrets all were hiding and the lack of trust each individual was able to provide the other with. Our protagonist remained one to root for until the novel's conclusion, where I was left open-mouthed and in awe of the final reveals placed there.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Kesia Lupo, and the publisher, Bloomsbury YA, for this opportunity.
July 31, 2023
Veronica wakes up trapped with four strangers in a sprawling manor house in a snow storm with a dead body, a mystery right out of an Agatha Christie novel. It feels so real - but it isn't. This is VR and this is THE Game; a rumoured Easter Egg hidden in other VR games that draws you into a competition for a prize beyond your wildest dreams. And there's no escaping the VR world until the Game is won.
I really set out rooting for this novel and there were many aspects of it that I really enjoyed. I thought the concept was original and I loved the partnership with old school sleuthing Christie style alongside the more modern AI/VR conception which made for an intriguing pairing.
I liked Lupo’s characterisations, especially Veronica, the feisty yet felling protagonist but for me the overall plot was what brought the rating down. I felt there was a somewhat disconnect between the main storyline and the back stories of the characters and sometimes the VR aspects were so out there that it made the storyline ridiculous.
Nevertheless a good enough read and I will definitely keep an eye out for more of Lupo’s work.
I really set out rooting for this novel and there were many aspects of it that I really enjoyed. I thought the concept was original and I loved the partnership with old school sleuthing Christie style alongside the more modern AI/VR conception which made for an intriguing pairing.
I liked Lupo’s characterisations, especially Veronica, the feisty yet felling protagonist but for me the overall plot was what brought the rating down. I felt there was a somewhat disconnect between the main storyline and the back stories of the characters and sometimes the VR aspects were so out there that it made the storyline ridiculous.
Nevertheless a good enough read and I will definitely keep an eye out for more of Lupo’s work.
July 14, 2023
This book didn’t work for me. I was inches away from stopping reading the book for most of the book and here’s why…
I detested the first two hundred pages of this book. To me the blurb and title felt so promising, and I felt the writing didn’t deliver. I just didn’t feel the book was at all ‘what it said on the tin.’ I don’t think that plot is necessarily bad it wasn’t what I had hoped.
I also really struggled to connect with our narrator. I normally find my self rooting for the narrator from the get-go, but in this case, I found myself not wanting to support our narrator. She didn’t feel at all well characterised and I felt a lack of sympathy for her. To be honest, I didn’t particularly like and of the characters as they felt rather simple.
Maybe it was bad timing for me to read this book? I read this VR related book right after I had finished another VR related book which easily gained five stars. So, I wonder if my expectations were too high from the start.
However, the book was somewhat saved by the last 40 or so pages. Till that point the plot felt very disjoined and not at all enjoyable to read. However, on realising the narrator was unreliable made the whole thing make a lot more sense. I love books written with an unreliable narrator – but normally I realise they are unreliable from the start, but this case it took so much longer and therefore I felt I would need to restart the book knowing this information to enjoy it.
I must also admit, I genuinely did like the murder mystery aspect of ‘The Game’ – I just wish that it had been left at that and there wasn’t another murder mystery added as an extra level and for me these added murders ruined my enjoyment of the plot. I think the author crammed too much action in one book – this book would work better as three totally separate, unrelated plot lines.
Overall, this wasn’t a poorly written book – the plot just didn’t work for me. I feel that if the book were rebranded differently, I would have loved it. It just was not what I wanted/ expected it to be - it was much worse. In the end, it just wasn’t an enjoyable read.
2/5
I detested the first two hundred pages of this book. To me the blurb and title felt so promising, and I felt the writing didn’t deliver. I just didn’t feel the book was at all ‘what it said on the tin.’ I don’t think that plot is necessarily bad it wasn’t what I had hoped.
I also really struggled to connect with our narrator. I normally find my self rooting for the narrator from the get-go, but in this case, I found myself not wanting to support our narrator. She didn’t feel at all well characterised and I felt a lack of sympathy for her. To be honest, I didn’t particularly like and of the characters as they felt rather simple.
Maybe it was bad timing for me to read this book? I read this VR related book right after I had finished another VR related book which easily gained five stars. So, I wonder if my expectations were too high from the start.
However, the book was somewhat saved by the last 40 or so pages. Till that point the plot felt very disjoined and not at all enjoyable to read. However, on realising the narrator was unreliable made the whole thing make a lot more sense. I love books written with an unreliable narrator – but normally I realise they are unreliable from the start, but this case it took so much longer and therefore I felt I would need to restart the book knowing this information to enjoy it.
I must also admit, I genuinely did like the murder mystery aspect of ‘The Game’ – I just wish that it had been left at that and there wasn’t another murder mystery added as an extra level and for me these added murders ruined my enjoyment of the plot. I think the author crammed too much action in one book – this book would work better as three totally separate, unrelated plot lines.
Overall, this wasn’t a poorly written book – the plot just didn’t work for me. I feel that if the book were rebranded differently, I would have loved it. It just was not what I wanted/ expected it to be - it was much worse. In the end, it just wasn’t an enjoyable read.
2/5
May 18, 2023
THE BIGGEST PLOT TWIST AMAZINGGHHH
June 19, 2023
4,5*
The first thing you need to know about this book is that it is so addictive, the moment you start you will not be able to put it down until you are finished.
The second thing you need to know is that it will take you on an amazing adventure full of surprises.
Veronica was playing a VR game with her brother when she suddenly wakes up trapped with four strangers in a manor in the middle of a snow storm.
To make things worse, there is a dead body.This is a mystery right out of an Agatha Christie novel. It feels so real - but it isn't. This is VR and this is THE Game.
People are randomly selected to join this special game that has a big monetary prize. The players need to solve the murder mystery before they run out of time.
This was Cluedo meets Ready Player One in an intense adventure that will have you guessing and playing detective together with our characters.
Definitely a really strong YA Horror Mystery Thriller that combines the modern technology of VR gaming with the classic murder mystery investigation of a Cluedo board game.
The first thing you need to know about this book is that it is so addictive, the moment you start you will not be able to put it down until you are finished.
The second thing you need to know is that it will take you on an amazing adventure full of surprises.
Veronica was playing a VR game with her brother when she suddenly wakes up trapped with four strangers in a manor in the middle of a snow storm.
To make things worse, there is a dead body.This is a mystery right out of an Agatha Christie novel. It feels so real - but it isn't. This is VR and this is THE Game.
People are randomly selected to join this special game that has a big monetary prize. The players need to solve the murder mystery before they run out of time.
This was Cluedo meets Ready Player One in an intense adventure that will have you guessing and playing detective together with our characters.
Definitely a really strong YA Horror Mystery Thriller that combines the modern technology of VR gaming with the classic murder mystery investigation of a Cluedo board game.
February 16, 2024
Content warnings: murder, drowning, death of a sibling (in the past), death of a friend, hospitalisation of a sibling, terminal illness, bullying, ableism, gaslighting
The premise of this sounded extremely cool - girl gets sucked into a VR game unexpectedly, game turns out to be a murder mystery, participants start actually dying for real. Unfortunately, the main character was utterly unlikeable and the other characters weren't much better. I felt like we didn't really get to know the characters very well and as a result I didn't really care when they started to die.
So yeah. I wanted to love this. But ultimately, this wasn't for me.
The premise of this sounded extremely cool - girl gets sucked into a VR game unexpectedly, game turns out to be a murder mystery, participants start actually dying for real. Unfortunately, the main character was utterly unlikeable and the other characters weren't much better. I felt like we didn't really get to know the characters very well and as a result I didn't really care when they started to die.
So yeah. I wanted to love this. But ultimately, this wasn't for me.
October 5, 2023
4.5 stars.
Ok, I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Guys, it was so good! I finished it last night at midnight… that’s right, in 2 days.
Let me dot point the ways:
— The premise: a V.R (virtual reality for the uninitiated) murder mystery that basically has players trying to solve the mystery in order to win a cash prize. The murder mystery is setup very Cluedo-like, the characters have to work out who the murderer is, how they killed the victim, and why. And being V.R the characters basically walk around interviewing NPCs and looking for clues.
— The setting: this is twofold as I’m talking about both the V.R setting and the selected time period. The V.R was just really cool and done in a fun way that wasn’t bogged down by over-explaining, it just existed. On top of this, the selected time period for the murder mystery setting was 1989 (Taylor’s Version… sorryyy). So all of the equipped items the characters had in order to solve the murder mystery were 80s coded; a brick mobile phone, a Walkman etc So fun!
— The Genre-bending: I thought this was going to be a straight out thriller but there’s actually quite a bit of horror involved. The vibes were creepy and eerie and I am here for it 👏🏻
— The Plot Twist: it was goooooood. That’s all I’m saying.
On to the next spooky October read! 🎃
Ok, I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. Guys, it was so good! I finished it last night at midnight… that’s right, in 2 days.
Let me dot point the ways:
— The premise: a V.R (virtual reality for the uninitiated) murder mystery that basically has players trying to solve the mystery in order to win a cash prize. The murder mystery is setup very Cluedo-like, the characters have to work out who the murderer is, how they killed the victim, and why. And being V.R the characters basically walk around interviewing NPCs and looking for clues.
— The setting: this is twofold as I’m talking about both the V.R setting and the selected time period. The V.R was just really cool and done in a fun way that wasn’t bogged down by over-explaining, it just existed. On top of this, the selected time period for the murder mystery setting was 1989 (Taylor’s Version… sorryyy). So all of the equipped items the characters had in order to solve the murder mystery were 80s coded; a brick mobile phone, a Walkman etc So fun!
— The Genre-bending: I thought this was going to be a straight out thriller but there’s actually quite a bit of horror involved. The vibes were creepy and eerie and I am here for it 👏🏻
— The Plot Twist: it was goooooood. That’s all I’m saying.
On to the next spooky October read! 🎃
July 20, 2023
Also on Snow White Hates Apples.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
If you ever find yourself trapped in a VR game and the only way out is to solve a murder mystery while your life (and the life of the other players) is at risk, what would you do? Try to win the game? Not play at all? Or try other means of escape?
In Let’s Play Murder , a group of teens suddenly find themselves stuck in this very situation where the only way out is death or winning the game. To up the stakes, death by character equates to death in real life — and there’s eerie paranormal activity thrown in too. Without a doubt, the plot’s thrilling. The twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat, and the moment it was revealed that the reliable character had been unreliable all the while blew my mind.
The only thing that brought this book down was the characters. As much as I appreciated how diverse they are, that appreciation wasn’t enough to hide the fact that they’re so shallow, so basic, so two-dimensional. I cared for neither them nor their plights, especially since they felt strongly like they were there just to move the plot forward. Though, I surmise the lack of strong characters here is due to the many secrets they kept to themselves and they can’t reveal them too soon just for the sake of character building and risking the element of surprise.
All in all, if you’re looking for a read that has you constantly guessing and second-guessing your answers and the clues to solve the mystery, Let’s Play Murder is just the right book for it.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
If you ever find yourself trapped in a VR game and the only way out is to solve a murder mystery while your life (and the life of the other players) is at risk, what would you do? Try to win the game? Not play at all? Or try other means of escape?
In Let’s Play Murder , a group of teens suddenly find themselves stuck in this very situation where the only way out is death or winning the game. To up the stakes, death by character equates to death in real life — and there’s eerie paranormal activity thrown in too. Without a doubt, the plot’s thrilling. The twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat, and the moment it was revealed that the reliable character had been unreliable all the while blew my mind.
The only thing that brought this book down was the characters. As much as I appreciated how diverse they are, that appreciation wasn’t enough to hide the fact that they’re so shallow, so basic, so two-dimensional. I cared for neither them nor their plights, especially since they felt strongly like they were there just to move the plot forward. Though, I surmise the lack of strong characters here is due to the many secrets they kept to themselves and they can’t reveal them too soon just for the sake of character building and risking the element of surprise.
All in all, if you’re looking for a read that has you constantly guessing and second-guessing your answers and the clues to solve the mystery, Let’s Play Murder is just the right book for it.
Thank you so much Pansing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Let’s Play Murder by Kesia Lupo is available at all good bookstores.
March 18, 2023
Well holy heck this book took me on an absolute ride. There’s just something about a YA murder mystery that really satisfies me, add in a cool VR element and you have yourselves a fun time. I was absolutely rooting for Veronica for the majority of the book, along with Aaron and Nate too, Charlie not so much… (sorry fellow Charli). I was actively trying to figure out what was happening with the VR murder that when a player died for real I was thrown, and then we have the whole ghost situation happening in the game which was freaky enough, but top all of that with a damn plot twist I never saw coming (BECAUSE HOW COULD I) and then an equally WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING ending and you have this absolute masterpiece of YA literature.
I don’t know if there will be a book two, but I absolutely NEED one. Please. Like right now.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending my a proof of this incredible read.
I don’t know if there will be a book two, but I absolutely NEED one. Please. Like right now.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending my a proof of this incredible read.
May 1, 2023
This book has a massive twist at the end that was so genuinely surpring. I have read loads of murder mysteries and this one stood out as the ending was so good. A perfectly planned mystery.
One question - at the end of the book ... who's side are you on...?
Really good book!!!!
One question - at the end of the book ... who's side are you on...?
Really good book!!!!
July 18, 2023
Such a good storyline and buildup, unfortunately the author completely blew the ending (in my opinion).
Kind of like when you're bored of a book and don't know how to progress further so you basically mess things up.
Kind of like when you're bored of a book and don't know how to progress further so you basically mess things up.
May 21, 2023
The way i guessed the plot twist early on, but that is because i read a lot of thriller/murder mystery books.
I really enjoyed this one!!!
I really enjoyed this one!!!
March 20, 2023
‘No shit, Sherlock,’ Aaron muttered from the shadows by the front door. ‘Wouldn’t be a clue if it didn’t lead somewhere.’ ‘I thought he wasn’t playing?’ Nate murmured, irritation
in his voice.
‘What are you doing?’ said Charlie, her voice laden with disgust. ‘How come you, like, literally fainted when you saw the body earlier and now you’ve gone all Agatha Christie?’
‘Agatha Christie was an author, not a detective,’ Veronica said automatically, immediately feeling her cheeks redden. ‘Why do you have to be such a know-it-all?’ Em’s voice rang through her mind.
Charlie stared at her with utter disdain. ‘Sherlock bloody Holmes then,’ she growled. ‘Question stands.’
This YA murder mystery takes place in virtual reality! I was so intrigued by that concept. Like in Freddy Krueger style if you die in the game you die for real.
We follow teenagers as they got swept into ‘The Game’ while playing their respective games. The unconscious gets uploaded to the VR and the only way out is to play.
in his voice.
‘What are you doing?’ said Charlie, her voice laden with disgust. ‘How come you, like, literally fainted when you saw the body earlier and now you’ve gone all Agatha Christie?’
‘Agatha Christie was an author, not a detective,’ Veronica said automatically, immediately feeling her cheeks redden. ‘Why do you have to be such a know-it-all?’ Em’s voice rang through her mind.
Charlie stared at her with utter disdain. ‘Sherlock bloody Holmes then,’ she growled. ‘Question stands.’
This YA murder mystery takes place in virtual reality! I was so intrigued by that concept. Like in Freddy Krueger style if you die in the game you die for real.
We follow teenagers as they got swept into ‘The Game’ while playing their respective games. The unconscious gets uploaded to the VR and the only way out is to play.
May 8, 2023
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the ARC! This was very enjoyable and a great mystery read for me. Very engaging characters and plot too. I appreciated the different storylines within the book and characters. Victoria took me by surprise, she felt like a wet wipe for most of the book. Charlie was just irritating. I have to say the plot twist at the end was a little predictable for me but it still did take me by surprise and I was genuinely shook by it.
December 25, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
That was one of the fastest paced plots I’ve ever read. It wasn’t horrible, I liked where it was going. but I didn’t really feel a connection to the characters. So when the plot twist happened, which I dit not see coming, I felt nothing. It was good in theory, but that’s all.
That was one of the fastest paced plots I’ve ever read. It wasn’t horrible, I liked where it was going. but I didn’t really feel a connection to the characters. So when the plot twist happened, which I dit not see coming, I felt nothing. It was good in theory, but that’s all.
July 14, 2023
C- 8.5
A- 10
W- 9
P- 9.5
I- 9
L- 8.5
E- 9
A- 10
W- 9
P- 9.5
I- 9
L- 8.5
E- 9
October 16, 2023
LOVED this!!! So much so that it features on our podcast - YA Book Jam.
Well written, dark, terrifying and full of fantastic plot twists!
I highly recommend!
Well written, dark, terrifying and full of fantastic plot twists!
I highly recommend!
March 14, 2023
Hang on, I’m just glitching out after reading this immersive VR based creepy murder mystery. Need a reboot.
I got real ready player one vibes from this, it was brilliant !! Hooked just about covers it, but ‘consumed’ would be apt too. I couldn’t put it down and right from the beginning I knew it was going to be a 5 star. One of those entertaining, on the edge of your seat, intrigued books that you can’t get enough of.
I couldn’t believe how fast this book disappeared. Like, one minute I was at the start and the next, I was half way through and then I’d finished! It’s a true time portal book. Blink and you’re at the end!
Ah it was intense. I loved the element of creepy horror and the murder mystery vibe running throughout. I literally had no idea where it was going and wasn’t expecting the direction it took. I kept trying to figure it out and run with the clues the characters were collecting but I didn’t guess how it was going to end.
I loved the main characters that were thrust into this game. The nerdy Veronica who just wants the money to save her brother, the over confident Charlie, kind Yasmin, sultry Aaron and the mysterious Nate. There’s plenty to these character dimensions and they all bring something different to the story. The plot was great too and the writing was a perfect balance of everything it was meant to be.
Don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this before as it’s kind of a mix of all sorts of different genres and I was loving it. Definitely not a read I regretted!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
I got real ready player one vibes from this, it was brilliant !! Hooked just about covers it, but ‘consumed’ would be apt too. I couldn’t put it down and right from the beginning I knew it was going to be a 5 star. One of those entertaining, on the edge of your seat, intrigued books that you can’t get enough of.
I couldn’t believe how fast this book disappeared. Like, one minute I was at the start and the next, I was half way through and then I’d finished! It’s a true time portal book. Blink and you’re at the end!
Ah it was intense. I loved the element of creepy horror and the murder mystery vibe running throughout. I literally had no idea where it was going and wasn’t expecting the direction it took. I kept trying to figure it out and run with the clues the characters were collecting but I didn’t guess how it was going to end.
I loved the main characters that were thrust into this game. The nerdy Veronica who just wants the money to save her brother, the over confident Charlie, kind Yasmin, sultry Aaron and the mysterious Nate. There’s plenty to these character dimensions and they all bring something different to the story. The plot was great too and the writing was a perfect balance of everything it was meant to be.
Don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this before as it’s kind of a mix of all sorts of different genres and I was loving it. Definitely not a read I regretted!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
July 23, 2023
This was good. I didn't expect that ending. The twist was so good but so out of the blue.
Sometimes the writing or the story felt ya-ish but for the most part it didn't bother me that much. There was a bit of insta-love but not that much so no problem there either.
The murder mystery was interesting and the Game was something else.
I would really recommend this book to everyone. But you have to be aware of there beeing some gore so if you're squeamish then this might not be for you.
Sometimes the writing or the story felt ya-ish but for the most part it didn't bother me that much. There was a bit of insta-love but not that much so no problem there either.
The murder mystery was interesting and the Game was something else.
I would really recommend this book to everyone. But you have to be aware of there beeing some gore so if you're squeamish then this might not be for you.
March 15, 2023
The blurb of this book sounded right up my alley.
A modern version of a whodunit. A virtual reality escape room.
Veronica is visiting her little brother in hospital and has just overheard some devastating news when she wakes up in a snowy landscape. There are four others who find themselves in the same situation. They are all in The Game. A virtual reality game that you cannot choose to play. You are automatically transported there through easter eggs in other games.
They soon discover a sprawling mansion and a dead body. They are instructed to examine the house for clues. Speak to as many NPC's as they like and find out who the murderer is and why they killed the victim.
You cannot ask to leave. You cannot refuse to play. These 5 need to work together. It's the only way to leave the Game.
When they Game begins to glitch, Veronica and the others realise that all is not right in the Game. One of the others is killed - but that's ok, isn't it. They aren't really dead - not in the real world - or are they?
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the last half. I didn't take to any of the characters but since they were all hiding something, it's not surprising. I was left feeling as though something were missing from the end.
A modern version of a whodunit. A virtual reality escape room.
Veronica is visiting her little brother in hospital and has just overheard some devastating news when she wakes up in a snowy landscape. There are four others who find themselves in the same situation. They are all in The Game. A virtual reality game that you cannot choose to play. You are automatically transported there through easter eggs in other games.
They soon discover a sprawling mansion and a dead body. They are instructed to examine the house for clues. Speak to as many NPC's as they like and find out who the murderer is and why they killed the victim.
You cannot ask to leave. You cannot refuse to play. These 5 need to work together. It's the only way to leave the Game.
When they Game begins to glitch, Veronica and the others realise that all is not right in the Game. One of the others is killed - but that's ok, isn't it. They aren't really dead - not in the real world - or are they?
I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the last half. I didn't take to any of the characters but since they were all hiding something, it's not surprising. I was left feeling as though something were missing from the end.
October 31, 2024
This book may have given me severe trust issues…but it may have also been the best book I have ever read.
As someone who gets into a reading slump very easily and can get disinterested a lot, I was honestly so surprised that I was able to read this one in less than a week as it was so gripping. I loved all of the main characters as they became almost a found family dynamic towards the end yet individually felt so realistic and relatable.
The ending was so perfect, in my opinion, as it tied into the whole world that Lupo had created. Thoroughly enjoyed!
As someone who gets into a reading slump very easily and can get disinterested a lot, I was honestly so surprised that I was able to read this one in less than a week as it was so gripping. I loved all of the main characters as they became almost a found family dynamic towards the end yet individually felt so realistic and relatable.
The ending was so perfect, in my opinion, as it tied into the whole world that Lupo had created. Thoroughly enjoyed!
June 20, 2023
{51/2023} 4/5🌟 YA Thriller Fiction | 340 pages
I know I couldn’t enjoy VR. Probably, because of my age now, but perhaps specifically it was caused by my bad experience watching Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel in 3D a couple of years ago. I almost vomitted in the cinema. I think I would enjoy 2D video games more 🤷🏻♀️, not that I am good at any.
However, imagine if you were sucked into a VR video game which looks so real you almost thought it was the real deal, as in living it? You could feel, touch, smell and sense everything in the game like in the real world!
Veronica hated VR games due to past dark experience. However, while attending and spending time with his sick brother at the hospital and succumbing to her brother’s request of playing a VR game to kill the time with an old set left by previous patients in the room, Veronica accidentally got sucked into a dark-web VR game embedded in the game she was playing with her brother. The only problem? She couldn’t just left. She had to finish the game. Another problem? She would have to compete with four other contestants in the game. The catch? Cash prize with a very long number written on the cheque. Veronica knew that much of money could help to pay her brother’s cost of treatment at the hospital. She knew she must win the game.
In order to leave the game, the contestants would have to solve a murder mystery and find the killer. It should have been an uncomplicated stages of game but they were met with glitches, strange NPCs and Veronica could strongly affirm that she was being followed by a strange shadow that brought her down that dark memory lane - but it couldn’t be. This was a VR game and ghosts couldn’t virtually realised, could they? The other four contestants also didn’t seem to be like those whom you could trust. Veronica believed each of them had an ulterior motive and she trusted her guts more when one of the players died. Strangely, how?
Veronica knew this was a race against the time and she must win the game for his brother’s sake.
I love the setting of the story and the plots building. It certainly got the nerve of me and gave me goosebumps. The description of certain characters as well as the background of the VR setting scared me, I felt like I was in the game. The storytelling could certainly increase your heart rate 😅. If I were given the game, I know all I could do was nothing but cried my heart out. That scary.
I love how twisty the story could be and I certainly didn’t expect the plot twists and I think it was clever. However, I personally wished there were more background stories regarding “The Game” and of the characters so as to understand each of their predicaments.
The author acknowledged that this was a pandemic story when the world was in a lockdown and she had basically gotten inspired from it. I also love the extra part where there was a short interview with the author where she discussed about her perspectives on unreliable narrators and I think it is an interesting viewpoint in the creative process of a writer especially involving murder mysteries.
A recommended read if you love video games, VR and murder mysteries. Thank you #pansing for this review copy in exchange of an honest review.
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #JuneReads #JuneTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #heyjune #letsplaymurder #kesialupo
I know I couldn’t enjoy VR. Probably, because of my age now, but perhaps specifically it was caused by my bad experience watching Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel in 3D a couple of years ago. I almost vomitted in the cinema. I think I would enjoy 2D video games more 🤷🏻♀️, not that I am good at any.
However, imagine if you were sucked into a VR video game which looks so real you almost thought it was the real deal, as in living it? You could feel, touch, smell and sense everything in the game like in the real world!
Veronica hated VR games due to past dark experience. However, while attending and spending time with his sick brother at the hospital and succumbing to her brother’s request of playing a VR game to kill the time with an old set left by previous patients in the room, Veronica accidentally got sucked into a dark-web VR game embedded in the game she was playing with her brother. The only problem? She couldn’t just left. She had to finish the game. Another problem? She would have to compete with four other contestants in the game. The catch? Cash prize with a very long number written on the cheque. Veronica knew that much of money could help to pay her brother’s cost of treatment at the hospital. She knew she must win the game.
In order to leave the game, the contestants would have to solve a murder mystery and find the killer. It should have been an uncomplicated stages of game but they were met with glitches, strange NPCs and Veronica could strongly affirm that she was being followed by a strange shadow that brought her down that dark memory lane - but it couldn’t be. This was a VR game and ghosts couldn’t virtually realised, could they? The other four contestants also didn’t seem to be like those whom you could trust. Veronica believed each of them had an ulterior motive and she trusted her guts more when one of the players died. Strangely, how?
Veronica knew this was a race against the time and she must win the game for his brother’s sake.
I love the setting of the story and the plots building. It certainly got the nerve of me and gave me goosebumps. The description of certain characters as well as the background of the VR setting scared me, I felt like I was in the game. The storytelling could certainly increase your heart rate 😅. If I were given the game, I know all I could do was nothing but cried my heart out. That scary.
I love how twisty the story could be and I certainly didn’t expect the plot twists and I think it was clever. However, I personally wished there were more background stories regarding “The Game” and of the characters so as to understand each of their predicaments.
The author acknowledged that this was a pandemic story when the world was in a lockdown and she had basically gotten inspired from it. I also love the extra part where there was a short interview with the author where she discussed about her perspectives on unreliable narrators and I think it is an interesting viewpoint in the creative process of a writer especially involving murder mysteries.
A recommended read if you love video games, VR and murder mysteries. Thank you #pansing for this review copy in exchange of an honest review.
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #JuneReads #JuneTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #heyjune #letsplaymurder #kesialupo
June 26, 2025
3+
Questo romanzo aveva delle ottime premesse, ma l’esecuzione si è rivelata molto mah.
E poi devo ammetterlo: trovare anche su carta che i teenagers di oggi non hanno la minima idea di come funzioni un walkman è una freccia nel ginocchio.
Mi sento vecchia.
Ma torniamo a noi.
La trama è abbastanza semplice: i giochi VR sono tra i più popolari, ma uno in particolare del dark web ha catturato l’attenzione e l’interesse dei giocatori per la sua segretezza e il premio esorbitante: The Game. E quando Veronica si ritroverà a suo malgrado catapultata in esso senza la più pallida idea di come ci sia finita dentro, l’incertezza e lo scetticismo verranno messi da parte quando realizzerà che questa è l’occasione che aspettava per salvare il fratellino gravemente ammalato.
Ma non sarà l’unica sua parente invischiata in questo sequestro cybernetico, dato che lo spirito della sua sorella morta la seguirà nel gioco con conseguenze degne di un film horror.
E già qui le premesse ci stavano, considerando anche che gli altri concorrenti non erano affatto descritti male: in particolare Charlie, così perfetta che ti faceva salire la voglia di prenderla a badilate ogni volta che apriva bocca. In più il gioco a tema giallo aveva il suo fascino.
Se non fosse che tra bug e glitch, il tutto si è risolto senza delle spiegazioni esaustive e con plot twist sbrigativi. Aggiungiamoci pure un narratore inaffidabile e un’inclusività forzata e abbiamo una narrazione che zoppica, lasciando il lettore con poco niente nel piatto.
E poi sì, dai… il finale era del tutto prevedibile e cliché.
Nel suo piccolo è un romanzo che rispetta il target e si legge velocemente, ma ammetto che verso la metà il mio interesse era scemato drasticamente.
Insomma, carino se siete dei gamer.
Questo romanzo aveva delle ottime premesse, ma l’esecuzione si è rivelata molto mah.
E poi devo ammetterlo: trovare anche su carta che i teenagers di oggi non hanno la minima idea di come funzioni un walkman è una freccia nel ginocchio.
Mi sento vecchia.
Ma torniamo a noi.
La trama è abbastanza semplice: i giochi VR sono tra i più popolari, ma uno in particolare del dark web ha catturato l’attenzione e l’interesse dei giocatori per la sua segretezza e il premio esorbitante: The Game. E quando Veronica si ritroverà a suo malgrado catapultata in esso senza la più pallida idea di come ci sia finita dentro, l’incertezza e lo scetticismo verranno messi da parte quando realizzerà che questa è l’occasione che aspettava per salvare il fratellino gravemente ammalato.
Ma non sarà l’unica sua parente invischiata in questo sequestro cybernetico, dato che lo spirito della sua sorella morta la seguirà nel gioco con conseguenze degne di un film horror.
E già qui le premesse ci stavano, considerando anche che gli altri concorrenti non erano affatto descritti male: in particolare Charlie, così perfetta che ti faceva salire la voglia di prenderla a badilate ogni volta che apriva bocca. In più il gioco a tema giallo aveva il suo fascino.
Se non fosse che tra bug e glitch, il tutto si è risolto senza delle spiegazioni esaustive e con plot twist sbrigativi. Aggiungiamoci pure un narratore inaffidabile e un’inclusività forzata e abbiamo una narrazione che zoppica, lasciando il lettore con poco niente nel piatto.
E poi sì, dai… il finale era del tutto prevedibile e cliché.
Nel suo piccolo è un romanzo che rispetta il target e si legge velocemente, ma ammetto che verso la metà il mio interesse era scemato drasticamente.
Insomma, carino se siete dei gamer.
May 27, 2023
3 stars.
There are a lot of things right about this one: The premise and setting of 1980s VR is unique and interesting, and I thought the story was quite well-played in the murder mystery sense. . The VR element also means that there is that additional that I thought the author used well in the storytelling.
I can see many people enjoying this one. It's YA, and the language does reflect this (I quite liked this actually, made for a really easy read) but the plot is sufficiently convoluted even to keep adult readers engaged. My relatively low score is for a bit of a personal reason i.e. . I understood didn't like the general message that that ending presented. Otherwise it would probably have scored in the range of 4, as I did find also the middle section of the book a bit overly drawn out.
There are a lot of things right about this one: The premise and setting of 1980s VR is unique and interesting, and I thought the story was quite well-played in the murder mystery sense. . The VR element also means that there is that additional that I thought the author used well in the storytelling.
I can see many people enjoying this one. It's YA, and the language does reflect this (I quite liked this actually, made for a really easy read) but the plot is sufficiently convoluted even to keep adult readers engaged. My relatively low score is for a bit of a personal reason i.e. . I understood didn't like the general message that that ending presented. Otherwise it would probably have scored in the range of 4, as I did find also the middle section of the book a bit overly drawn out.
April 3, 2023
Let's set the scene. There are rumours of a secret virtual reality murder mystery game on the dark web which you can only reach accidentally from another game. But once in, the only way out is by completing the story and hopefully picking up a large payout.
Let's Play Murder begins when Veronica, who hates VR, gets sucked in while she's playing a game to cheer up her sick brother. Her, and the other participants, are a bunch of young adults who by and large don't know each other - and by and large shouldn't be trusted, either. Can they work together to solve a murder mystery?
Tonally, it's a bit odd, and maybe it's meant to be. The first setting (ie the world the teens enter from) is 'near future' I'd say, but the murder mystery VR game is set in the 80s, complete with big hair, Walkmans, chunky cell phones and interesting fashion. But it's also set in a big country mansion with a butler and cook - where all the NPCs (non-player characters) they have to interview speak like they're from significantly older times. More Downton Abbey than 1980s.
As the game progresses, it also begins to break down around them. Everyone's in mortal danger - if they die in the game, they might die in real life! This adds a nice layer of tension, and a lot more action - but a part of me would've preferred more murder mystery or getting to spend more time with the individual characters.
There are twists and turns I think a YA audience will really like - whether it worked for me personally, I'm less sure. Ultimately there were lots of interesting things going on in this book, but I liked it rather than loved it.
Let's Play Murder begins when Veronica, who hates VR, gets sucked in while she's playing a game to cheer up her sick brother. Her, and the other participants, are a bunch of young adults who by and large don't know each other - and by and large shouldn't be trusted, either. Can they work together to solve a murder mystery?
Tonally, it's a bit odd, and maybe it's meant to be. The first setting (ie the world the teens enter from) is 'near future' I'd say, but the murder mystery VR game is set in the 80s, complete with big hair, Walkmans, chunky cell phones and interesting fashion. But it's also set in a big country mansion with a butler and cook - where all the NPCs (non-player characters) they have to interview speak like they're from significantly older times. More Downton Abbey than 1980s.
As the game progresses, it also begins to break down around them. Everyone's in mortal danger - if they die in the game, they might die in real life! This adds a nice layer of tension, and a lot more action - but a part of me would've preferred more murder mystery or getting to spend more time with the individual characters.
There are twists and turns I think a YA audience will really like - whether it worked for me personally, I'm less sure. Ultimately there were lots of interesting things going on in this book, but I liked it rather than loved it.
April 9, 2023
This is a unique take on a video game murder mystery using VR headsets to make it seem extra real. Each character has their own different personality and I loved how even though Veronica is the narrator, you aren't able to trust anyone. This is a fun read which gets quite dark and there is a brilliant twist which left me feeling surprised!
*I received a copy from Netgalley and leave my review voluntarily *
*I received a copy from Netgalley and leave my review voluntarily *
September 26, 2023
I am very biased as this book covers one of my favourite media tropes of high stake games/killing games, and I have never seen the trope covered in a book before so I was excited to see how it would be pulled off. I got invested in the characters and the world so quickly and each twist and turn in the plot caught me off guard every time! I love the idea of a glitching and unreliable VR setting, and I love how it was pulled off!
November 12, 2023
This book REALLY sucked me in! To the point I finished it in around 8 hours (with breaks too make food etc!)
It was amazing having the character list at the front, along with the map, so whenever I wanted too check something out I just flicked back too the front and checked things, It was so much fun playing along and trying too figure out who did it!
I managed too figure it out, when one detail was mentioned, but even so it still took a twist that I wasn't expecting which was great!
It was amazing having the character list at the front, along with the map, so whenever I wanted too check something out I just flicked back too the front and checked things, It was so much fun playing along and trying too figure out who did it!
I managed too figure it out, when one detail was mentioned, but even so it still took a twist that I wasn't expecting which was great!
January 20, 2024
i lowkey enjoyed this book. sometimes the writing was very amateurish but then again its a YA book
good plot twist - veronica became so unlikeable regardless of her trauma/past experiences
the ending also felt like an author bored of their own story and rushing to finish it. dont get me wrong i enjoyed it - ( spoiler) but there were four kids who died in the game and the police didnt think to question the one person who survived ? there were also some loose ends with the other characters but ig that doesnt matter too much because theyre dead
overall it was a good read with a satisfying finish. you’ll be surprised how quick the tables turn
good plot twist - veronica became so unlikeable regardless of her trauma/past experiences
the ending also felt like an author bored of their own story and rushing to finish it. dont get me wrong i enjoyed it - ( spoiler) but there were four kids who died in the game and the police didnt think to question the one person who survived ? there were also some loose ends with the other characters but ig that doesnt matter too much because theyre dead
overall it was a good read with a satisfying finish. you’ll be surprised how quick the tables turn
August 23, 2024
Well, I was hoping I would love like this book as much as ”Ready Player Number 1” by Ernest Cline or “The Game” by Anders de la Motte, but turns out to be a big disappointment, didn’t reach the level of those two Virtual Reality Game novels.
The way it was narrated the story while reading, made me felt less excitement and it’s sad, because it could have turned out a good VR Mystey novel.
So, sorry not Sorry !
⭐️⭐️
The way it was narrated the story while reading, made me felt less excitement and it’s sad, because it could have turned out a good VR Mystey novel.
So, sorry not Sorry !
⭐️⭐️
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